In This Section
|
« Top Chef
November 1, 2006: Spicy Ketcherella and Cravable Comfort Food
How 'bout that judges table, huh? That's what I'd call a rough session, brutal even. Plus, a line between the comfort-food experts and the fine-dining experts seems to be materializing. Last week, the comfort- fooders had a tough time with the sushi challenge; this week, the fine-diners are nervous because it's time to make some ice cream and a dish fit for TGI Friday's customers. But, a Top Chef must be diverse and, basically, be the entire package. So, whether it's food for the masses or food for the so-called "elite," these chefs need to know how to bring it every time. Advantage: repeat challenge-winners Cliff and Betty.
Quickfire challenge: Create an original flavor of ice cream for the man (or, in this case, kids) on the street
Winner: Cliff
Runners-up: Sam and Carlos
Bottom 3: Marcel, Emily and Marisa
My man Cliff won his second quickfire challenge in a row by knowing what the masses really want: cookies and marshmallow. It's not surprising that even though he claimed to have never made ice cream before, this kid-friendly concoction went over big. I really want to question Marcel's bacon and avocado combo. What was he thinking? That is someone who clearly lives in an entirely different world from everyone else. Loved the kids wiping their tongues with their napkins after sampling his ice cream. And Ms. Smug Pastry Chef herself (Marisa) is now 0-for-2 on desserts. She continued to stay on my bad side by confessing that she didn't think Cliff's winning had anything to do with the quality of his ice cream. What in the world does that mean?
Love that Sam succeeded in this challenge, especially since he's diabetic and doesn't eat or make ice cream. I'm putting him up there with Betty and Cliff as far as the really strong chefs who have shined in this competition thus far. However, I will forget that he ever said, "In it to win it." (Uttering these words is a big reality pet peeve of mine.) Emily apparently hates kids and doesn't really want to have anything to do with comfort food. We'll see how that bitter 'tude works for her in the next challenge.
Elimination Challenge: Create a dish for a TGI Friday's customer (and serve their dishes to firefighters)
Winner: Betty
Runners-up: Cliff and Sam
Bottom 3: Emily, Michael and Frank
Guest Chef: Stephen Bulgarelli, Sr. Director/Executive Chef, TGI Friday's restaurant
This challenge was even more important because the winning chef would have their entree featured on the Friday's menu. You'd think Mike would have a little bit of an advantage here, since he used to work at the restaurant as well as other restaurants much like TGI Friday's. Nope. Betty vs Marcel is shaping up to be quite the rivalry: She's a comfort-fooder, he's a fine-diner. Marcel also seems to be one of those teeth-clenchers; he talks without opening up his jaw more than a quarter of an inch. Bet he unclenched his teeth when he heard Betty go off on him. Do you guys think she was right to just call him out for being a complainer? I did think he could have just solved the problem of the deep fryer instead of whining and complaining, but that strong of a tirade seemed to come out of nowhere. Of course, Marcel didn't pass up the chance to bask in Betty's grill trouble. I think that if he had to be obnoxious, he could have been more quiet about it.
Sam's summer fruit-salad definitely seemed innovative, even though, at first glance, it didn't seem like the type of food the firefighters would go for. But they did. I think it didn't ultimately win because it was a little too out there. Not Frank's "Wonderland Mushroom Fantasy" out there, but a little too innovative for a Friday evening at Friday's. Betty served the firefighters grilled cheese with spicy roasted-pepper soup and won the elimination challenge for the second week in a row.
I hope the chefs in the bottom three wore thick skins for the judges table, because they were already thinking that not many of these dishes were "cravable." They called Michael's cheesesteak dish "sloppy," questioned his passion for cooking and wondered how he managed to screw up a steak sandwich. After all, "A steak sandwich is a steak sandwich." Tom, Gail and the guest chef felt Frank's was poorly executed and too conceptual, while Emily's surf and turf was overly salty and inedible. You really can't fight the whole "inedible" label, so Emily — who found herself in the bottom three of both challenges — packed up her knives, along with that perpetually sour look on her face, and went home. It was a toss-up for me as to who deserved to go more, Michael or Emily. I kind of wanted to see Michael gone, too.
Topics to Discuss:
— What did Elia say was the reason she and Marcel get along? I couldn't understand what she said. She seemed slightly proud of the fact that she's the only one who gets along with him.
— Didn't the "food for the masses" challenge remind you Project Runway fans of the assignment wherein the designers had to create an outfit for the "everyday woman"?
— Who do you think isn't getting enough play so far? Is there someone that you think is maybe too under the radar at this point?
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Nov 2, 2006 4:51 AM
|
I think Elia said something about her and Marcel had worked at a restaurant together and he was the Sous Chef. Betty may have been a bit hard on Marcel, but she had a point. Solve the problem, don't stand there and whine about it. By the way, who would want to each avocado and bacon ice cream? Yuck.
I was glad to see Emily leave. What a sourpuss. I think Michael, Marisa and Frank will be leaving shortly. It appears Betty and Cliff are the ones to beat, although they didn't show everyone's dish last night. So, there are some dark horses to consider. Thoroughly enjoyed the show.
|
|
Nov 2, 2006 7:07 AM
|
|
According to the blogs at the Top Chef website, the judges really liked Ilan’s Bacon Smoked Roasted Corn and Sam’s Summer Fruit Salad, but since they did not qualify as entrées they could not win.
|
|
Nov 2, 2006 8:46 AM
|
Great recap and comments, Tina!! I thought last night's episode was pretty good. We definitely got to see more of certain people but unfortunately that didn't bode well for Emily. I have to say that I did not end up liking her too much. I didn't dig the comment she made about the woman who said her ice cream was not sweet enough.
I am starting to favor Cliff. He seems to have a good balance between fine dining and developing comfort food. He didn't seem daunted by the task nor did he seem like he was not going to allow himself to shine because he didn't like the task.
I am a big Project Runway fan and I definitely see the analogy with the Everyday Woman challenge.
What was up with Marcel and his Bacon and Avacado ice cream? Why would he think that would be appealing? Is he that out there?
Is Marisa the worst pastry chef or is she having a lot of bad luck? lol I am not impressed with her skills so far at all.
I think that Michael needs to get himself together. To me it was telling that he put back the cheese for his dish and kept the $8 beer. Is he on the show to drink or to win Top Chef? His motivation isn't too clear at this point.
|
|
Nov 2, 2006 12:29 PM
|
Even though Emily is was not one of my favorites, I have to admit I would rather have seen a few others leave before her (Marcel, Elia and Marisa).
Marcel is this year's Steven, Elia has that snobbish European attitude that everything American is wrong - remember the cheese comments, and Marisa is just a total WITCH (and a hypocrit to boot). I am sure they will keep these three around for a while just to keep the drama up......that seems to be the trend with reality shows.
|
|
Nov 3, 2006 8:39 AM
|
I was happy to see Emily go, I would have been happier if they did a double elimination and kicked Michael out as well. His attitude drives me nuts, and if he lays one little finger on my Tom I might be tempted to hunt him down and fight him myself!
I LOVE Cliff, Sam & Betty. All 3 seem to really know what they are doing, and they aren't snobby. Sam is adorable, I'm having flashbacks to my lusty obsession with Harold last season...something about a cute boy that can cook just makes me all mushy....man is that a chubby girl comment or what 
Marcel is trying to be Stephen, my only problem with that is that at least Stephen made awesome looking dishes, so far I'm not really liking anything Marcel has attempted.
My pick for next to go is Marisa, personally I think she should have gone last week.
|
|
Nov 3, 2006 10:59 AM
|
For both challenges last night, I really wanted to see what Mia had made, as she is my favorite. I know they didn't show her ice cream flavor, but did they even show her Friday's entree?
NOPE, I remember now. It was some sort of Mama Mia sandwich which one of the firefighters didn't like. But still, we are seeing very little of her, yet she is clearly displayed in a majority of the promos. HMMM...
|
|
Nov 3, 2006 11:00 AM
|
|
Twin7Peaks - I was also upset we didn't find out what ice cream Mia had made. I wonder why they didn't even bother to tell us? I like her too and hope to see more of her in the future.
|
|
Nov 3, 2006 11:25 AM
|
RAIN388 - I totally agree with you... about Sam, Betty, and Cliff being my early favorites AND thinking Marisa should have been gone already.
My favorite line of the nite? Emily at the ice cream challenge when a woman suggested there wasn't enough sugar in the ice cream: "With your four teeth and fat ass, the last thing you need is more sugar!" I couldn't believe her audacity... Missing teeth? She looks like she's got no upper teeth whatsoever... in fact, with that sour puss and big forehead, I think she looks like Spongebob SquarePants! Good Riddance, Tiffany-Wannabe
|
|
Nov 3, 2006 12:41 PM
|
sorry, double trouble 
|
|
Nov 3, 2006 12:41 PM
|
I used to think Bacon would make anything better. Of course, even with that statement I never quite thought it would be used in ice cream.
I'm surprised no one really said they hated the Bacon and Waffle ice cream. Maybe the waffle flavor balanced it out?
|
|
Nov 4, 2006 4:21 PM
|
A true chef can handle any kind of food. The comments of the likes of Marcel and Emily about cooking upscale food and not comfort food may have been said to impress but had the reverse effect.
Happened to go to Marisa's Website and checked out her calendar. Lady, you just don't have it! Sexy? I'll take Betty any day.
Speaking of whom, she's my early favorite. Has the skills and a positive attitude. Team player.
Michael is a ass. I'd like to see him try to duke it out with Tom. Please, please send Michael home.
The lychee incident earlier was unfortunate. I wonder what impact it has on Otto's job. Not such a good thing for an instructor to do.
I always like when someone hears the challenge and goes on about how perfect that is for them and then they crash and burn like Marisa and her constant reminder of being a pastry chef and failing in everything related to that art. People, just shut up and let your dishes do the talking.
Well, that's my two cents.
|
|
Nov 7, 2006 4:37 PM
|
|
|
