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November 22, 2006: Give Thanks for Chocolate Meltdowns & Delusional Beliefs
In honor of Thanksgiving, I'm going to give thanks to this latest crop of Top Chef hopefuls for being so freakin' dysfunctional. Thank you for Marcel's arrogance (seems to be the word of the day with a few of these chefs); Betty's temper; Carlos' mantra that middle is good; Tom Colicchio's sheer frustration with this bunch; Elia's chocolate meltdown after losing the Quickfire challenge; Anthony Bourdain's colorful critcism; and, well, thank you Mike, for just being Mike.
Quickfire challenge: Make a tasty dish using canned goods
Winner: Sam, Cliff, Ilan, Frank & Mia
Guest Judge: Tom Colicchio
Loved Tom judging this challenge — I'm a big proponent of using Tom as much as possible. It was clear that those who chose to make some sort of salad with the canned food ingredients were going to have the most success. After all, they only had 15 minutes to complete this task. The show mixed things up by granting five of the chefs immunity: Sam, Cliff, Ilan, Frank and Mia. Last week, I wrote that she needed a good showing. And in the midst of telling us how she and her mom were once homeless, Mia stepped up to the plate with her 15-minute salad, earning her immunity and a day off. I guess I get where Elia was sort of coming from; Tom admitted he liked both her fruit salad and the beef hash — he just didn't think those two should have been served together. This odd pairing landed her on the loser's list and it sent her on a whine-filled journey that we were forced to endure.
Elimination Challenge: Make Thanksgiving Dinner — but give it an innvoative twist
Winner: Elia
Guest Judge: Anthony Bourdain
The task for the Bottom 5 was to cook Thanksgiving dinner for Tom, Gail, guest judge Anthony Bourdain and the Top 5 in four hours. The dishes had to be cutting edge, less traditional and more avant-garde. Unfortunately, most of the chefs forgot about that part of the competition.
Marcel: With his turkey roulade and cranberry gelée, he was the one chef who at least tried to adhere to the rules of the challenge. All the judges recognized this, they just didn't completely like the execution.
Michael: He seemed to go for broke in the most non-innovative way ever, creating turkey and egg toast canape, 2 different potatoes, a corn and a cheese plate. How classic was it when Bourdain praised his twice-baked potato despite it's "absolute Flinstonian execution?" He even seemed astounded at Mike's delusional belief in himself; and couldn't help admiring him for that. I loved all of his comments regarding Mike — they were hilarious.
Betty: She's disappointed two weeks in a row. This time she let loose with her creme brulee and when confronted with the fact that her dessert was neither creme brulee nor was it particularly innovative, she actually said that that's not her thing — comfort food was her thing. I know she probably just couldn't come up with a valid defense for her creation, but come on. This is Top Chef, not Comfort Food Chef; being well-rounded is the name of the game. Plus, she laid blame for her dessert on the fact that she elicited the help of two other people and that she should have done it all herself. What? Betty's quickly gone from a contender to someone that's barely holding on in two short weeks. She's also letting her temper get to her and — I can't believe I'm saying this — she's overreacting when it comes to Marcel. Sure, he's an annoying presence on the show, but he's starting to win some of their arguments and it's not making her look good. It also doesn't help that the judges asked her for her thoughts on who should go home and she didn't name names until everyone else had named names. Saying it with such "convction" after the fact doesn't mean she went out on a limb, it made her look kind of sad.
Elia: She pretty much whined the entire hour. The whole chocolate facial and the licking of the whisk was more weird than comic relief. Plus, she acted so arrogant that she actually questioned Tom's preference for Cliff's Quickfire dish. That's unacceptable in my book. Sure, she won this elimination challenge for her mushroom soup. But it seemed like a hollow victory; it seemed like the judges had to award it to someone, so they gave it to her because it tasted good; not because it was cutting edge.
Carlos: Somehow got stuck with the salad course. He pretty much took four hours to put together what Anthony labeled "pedestrian." He channeled his Episode 1 behavior (read: arrogance) and at one point blurted out: "Be Nice!" I understand he needed to defend his dish and his use of time, but the attitude was not cool and so I agree with the judges: he had to go home.
Topics to discuss:
—Betty vs. Marcel: who do you think won the latest battle?
—Has Betty peaked?
—Why does Mike keeping getting saved from elimination?
—What did you think about Sam sort of instigating a confrontation between Frank and Marcel over the toiletries on the floor? Did Frank overreact? Was Marcel in the wrong?
—The contenders: Cliff, Sam & Ilan
—Fading fast: Betty
—Needs a win: Marcel
For those of you not up to speed on all things Top Chef, Bravo's showing a Season 2 marathon Thanksgiving day.
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Nov 23, 2006 6:39 AM
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Why does Michael keep not getting cut? Well, would YOU want to piss off the love child of Betty Crocker and Charles Manson? Yeah, I didn't think so :D LOL!
I'd have to watch to see if Frank's toothbrush was actually on the floor - I though I'd seen it in a bag (which is what Marcel said he thought he did), but I'm not sure. If it was in a bag, then, yeah, Frank was way over the line. Even if he did put the toothbrush on the floor, though, I think Frank's threat was a bit much. I mean, he had a right to be upset with Marcel, but threatening physical violence just, IMO, should be reserved for real *serious* situations, not something petty like this.
As for Betty and Marcel, I think she's been just whack for most of this whole thing as far as he goes. The first indication of a problem was when she complained about his talking too much while doing the TGIFriday's contest. Then she didn't like it when he was frustrated about the fryer and rather than do something, just groused about it. Oh, horrors. So he's a whiny loudmouth, annoying, yes, but not the kind of thing you get all "anything that hurts you is fair as far as I'm concerned" over! No, he shouldn't have given in to temptation to give her a hard time about the grill not working as well as it should, but you gotta admit it, after her little tirade, it's kinda hard to blame him, eh?
As for Betty, I guess she really got on my bad side when she blasted into Marcel that first time up in the firehouse, and as soon as she was done and Marcel started to reply, she announces that she's not going to discuss it further now because she doesn't want to disturb Sam... I mean, she didn't seem concerned about disturbing Sam until AFTER she'd had her say, and then she wants to pull the old "I'm going to be mature and take the high road" card? Pfffft. Not buying it, lady.
Oh, and then tonight - the whole thing in the judges room was just CLASSIC. Oh, she's not going to name who should go home - until Carlos names here and then she not only names Carlos, but she does it so ferociously - then backs up a bit by saying that she'd really say that Marcel should go home. ::rolls eyes:: And her whole bit about how her Brulee would have been better if she'd done it all herself - well, all Marcel did was try to help her make the crispy sugar top - in her voice over when they were showing the scene, she said the problem was the stuff she put on the top along with the sugar (crystallized ginger, I think?) getting burned. That wasn't Marcel's fault - that was the result of Betty's bad choice. But in the jury room, she tried to blame the failure on having let people help her. And, of course, as far as the judges were concerned, a big part of the problem was that what she'd made was neither very avant-garde nor very good - it wasn't just the sugar not being crispy enough.
I do think Carlos was the right pick to go home, though. He's done some good things, but he really hasn't been trying to win - and 4 hours on a salad? Nah. Each one of them may have been individually responsible for a single dish, but as a whole they were responsible for the dinner, and I'm sure he could have made himself useful to help make sure that the people they were serving had a GOOD dinner. Or, he could have taken more time and been really creative with his salad - make homemade croûtons for it, whip up a dressing that has really complex flavours, make the presentation INCREDIBLE - you know, engage as many senses with it as you can.
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Nov 23, 2006 7:46 AM
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This episode really began to show the true colors of a few of the chefs. Marcel who has been cast in a negative light since the beginning of the season, emerged as actually a better person. I think that he has become the one the group loved to hate and therefore the rest of the group cannot be objective about him. I didn't like that while the five winners were eating his dish, none of them could acknowledge anything positive about the dish. Maybe the execution of the dish could have been better but he was the only chef to actually do something innovative and I think he should have gotten his props for that.
I think that Betty has peaked and that it's downhill for her. I think that she has already provided her best ideas and now she is out of her depth. I think that her excuses at the judges' table were lame.
Elia is bugging me so much. She won this challenge and I hope her attitude changes. She seems to think that her cooking is perfect and that the judges should fall in love with everything she does. The chocolate meltdown was way over the top and may indicate she isn't going to make too much farther herself.
Sam is an instigator. He showed his true colors by whipping Frank into a frenzy so he would go after Marcel. I don't think that Frank's toothbrush was on the floor but his toiletry bag was on the floor and it contained his toothbrush. Marcel could have shown more care by bringing his bag to his room. I don't think that what he did warranted the threat against his life. Frank does have some anger management issues.
Michael - At least he is in the game now. I don't think that he has the talent to stay in the game but he is acting like he wants to win now. It is time for him to go home.
I loved the twist with having five winners of the Quickfire Challenge. Having Chef Tom judge them did make them step up their game more.
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Nov 23, 2006 8:58 AM
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Betty is a mess. Good grief, I can't see that Marcel has done anything that warrants such angry comments from her. So he gets on her nerves. Tough. Not everyone has to like everyone else but since you have to be in this competition together, you could at least try to be polite. She started as one of my favorites, now I can't wait for her to go home.
Mike is in over his head.
Frank made a fool of himself and he lied. His stuff was in the toiletry bag and to be honest, if he had his crap on the kitchen counter then he wouldn't even have room to complain if it had been thrown on the floor. He should grow up and put his things away. His reaction to the whole incident was over the top and completely inappropriate. Could they please send Frank and Betty home in the same week? I'd be tempted to throw a party.
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Nov 23, 2006 9:39 AM
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Frank's toothbrush was in his toiletry bag on the floor and not on the floor itself. I don't see how he could be mad at Marcel. The winners' had to know both kitchen's in the lofts were going to be used and spent 5 minutes getting their personal stuff out of the way.
Betty needs to get over her obsession with hating Marcel. She also needs to get rid of that big smile every time Tom Collechio is around. It really bugged me last night when they walked into the kitchen for the quick fire challenge and she kept smiling at Tom as she was walking to her station. It reminded me of the little kid at the school pageant that smiles and watches their parent the whole time.
I was disappointed at the lack of innovation in the dishes. Marcel's dish was the closest to being creative although I personally have never had walnuts in Cream of Mushroom soup so I will give props to Elia. Mike should have stopped with the amuse bouche and let Carlos work on a side of some type involving squash or yams. Preparing 3 dishes might have hurt him especially since the Cheese course was served too late in the meal.
This team really needed to put aside their personal opinions and work together to plan the meal.
I think it's time for Betty to wake up and realize she's not the star she was the first couple weeks and she's on a downward spiral before it's too late. I am not a fan of Elia because of her constant whining but she did well after she questioned why she lost the Quick fire challenge so maybe the whining will stop. Michael needs to find a balance between not trying and trying too hard.
Was it just me or did anyone else notice that the more the 5 other chefs' dissed Marcel's Turkey dish the more Tom defended him? It almost made me think that the producers put the word in Tom's ear that they would like Marcel in the competition a little longer for the entertainment value.
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Nov 23, 2006 11:05 AM
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It's funny that last week Betty was all about doing a menu as a team, but this week, she practically dictated what she wanted them to do. Marcel and Mike, the two outsiders, had reasonable suggestions and they were brushed aside.
Marcel comes off as being arrogant, but I think he is okay as a team player, a lot better than that whiner Elia. She or Betty need to go soon.
I think the final three will be Sam, Cliff and Ilan.
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Nov 23, 2006 12:53 PM
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It is getting less and less possible to find someone worth cheering on.
Carlos: good riddence. You did a lousy salad. Didn't you think how that would go over? And I don't EVER recall having salad on Thanksgiving, even when I was a vegetarian. Lame excuses and lame reaction.
Elia: Was almost getting to like her, even with her blind devotion to Wolverine (apologies, Hugh Jackman). Then her attack on Tom was absurd. She did redeem herself later with some fun and also with her comments about respecting Tom and understanding. So, I guess she is still redeemable.
Betty: Loved her for so long but now she just seems a desperate, bitter shrew. Her thing with Marcel is childish. Sure, he is an obnoxious, antagonizing, arrogant twit, but enough already. He did offer to help and did help. The fact that her dish sucked had nothing to do with whom the torch was weilded. And the comfort food comment. When the likes of Marcel and Emily offered their whines about being high cuisine chefs, wasn't it Betty stating that chefs had to be versitile? So why is Betty saying that she's a comfort food chef and not a edgy chef. As for her delayed reaction of whom to send home, very petty. Wonder who she would have said if Carlos hadn't turned on her. And to bring in Marcel was more evidence of her pettiness.
Marcel: I'd just love to see Frank beat him until his own mother couldn't recognize him. But I'd settle for having his arrogant ass sent packing.
Sam: Wow. At one point he almost smiled. Turned out to be more of a smirk. And what's with the samurai hairdo? Get in the way? CUT IT! And he truly lost me when he instigated the confrontation between Frank and Marcel. He's got cotton balls.
Michael: A class A buffoon. He remains because every week there is someone who blew it worse than he. When he talks, he always has that expression of constipation on his face. His cooking is dull and his attitude irritating. How in hell did he get here?
Mia: Tired of the sour faces and the spoiled sport attitude.
Ilan: a subtle but pervasive arrogance here but tolerable to date.
Frank: Applaud his confrontation with Marcel, however misguided and instigated by Sam.
Cliff: Pretty much Teflon to date.
Yes, these comments have little to do with their food. Much of it looks good and sounds okay but, since I can't taste it, I can't comment. Each has had their food successes and failures.
Basically, this show gives chefs a bad name.
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Nov 23, 2006 5:45 PM
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Up until this week, I was wanting Betty to win. After her attitude this week, I just wanted her to go home. She was rude and childish.
Frank definately over-reacted. What I want to know is...who leaves their toiletries all over the kitchen anyway? Apparently, his wasn't the only junk in the way, so I think that Marcel was justified by packing it up and putting in on the floor. They only had an hour, and I think they said it took 15 minutes just to clean to the point where they could use the kitchen. Sam definately instigated the whole thing, but Frank shouldn't have let himself be manipulated like that.
Elia gets on my nerves. Her chocolate thing wasn't funny, just irritating.
Last season I had a definate person that I wanted to win, this season, I just don't know.
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Nov 24, 2006 10:19 AM
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So I don't dislike Marcel as much anymore. Is that weird? It's like a backwards universe where Marcel is now the good guy and Betty is the evil one. What is the world coming to?
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Nov 25, 2006 2:03 PM
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I have to say, that I'm really starting to dislike Betty, Mia, and Sam. They all have that stab you in the back quality that I've grown to hate. Sam may think he's "not that guy" but in diatetic challenge-pointing out that he thought people were cheating-made him THAT GUY. And in this challenge with the snarky comments about Marcel and the instigating the fight proved that. Clearly, he sees Marcel as a threat. Marcel has come close several times and if he can just figure out what the judges like, he'll have his win. Mia obviously views Betty as competition since their cooking styles are similar. It explains her ability to quickly turn on Betty in several challenges. And Betty---whoa---does that chick need to get a grip! The fact that she dislikes Marcel so much makes me feel sorry for him!
Ilan was the only one who had anything positive to say about Marcel's dish. He at least gave him credit for the innovation. CLEARLY, Ilan, Sam, Cliff, and Marcel are the ones with the most talent. Elia could be in that list with a little direction.
Betty vs. Marcel: who do you think won the latest battle? Marcel-absolutely!
—Has Betty peaked? And then some
—Why does Mike keeping getting saved from elimination? Its hard to kick a puppy. Likeable guy but WAY in over his head.
—What did you think about Sam sort of instigating a confrontation between Frank and Marcel over the toiletries on the floor? Pathetic. Sam sees Marcel as a threat and doesn't like him...but as I said before Sam is "that guy" that he likes to pretend he is not.
Did Frank overreact? That was a stupid exchange. Frank was over the top and needs to quit being a slob.
Was Marcel in the wrong? Nope...had a challenge that involved that space...Frank knew it, knew where he left his stuff, knew it would be in the way...should have moved it himself or gotten over it.
—The contenders: Cliff, Sam & Ilan I'd add Marcel-he clearly knows what he's doing and has taken enough hits that I think he's going to start figuring it out. He's just young and not wanting to come off his high horse-but its time! I also don't think Cliff is as much of a contender as Sam and Ilan. He's just not as innovative but he's quite competent.
—Fading fast: Betty Going, going, why isn't she already gone?
Next to leave will be Mia or Mike...they are in over their heads big time. Cooks aren't the same as chefs-these two (and Betty) are cooks.
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Nov 30, 2006 9:33 AM
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I'd like to see Sam and Cliff make out. I think the producers need to work that into one of the challenges somehow. Maybe I'll just save that for the Top Chef slash fanfiction.
Yeah, anyway. This show is ridiculous. A poor imitation of Project Runway and at least PR has a reason to flaunt Heidi in skimpy outfits. What is the point of Padma walking around in booty shorts and cleavage baring blouses? This has to do with cooking, how?
It's clear that half the people on the show were chosen for what they would bring to it, ratings/drama-wise and not for their culinary skills. As for Thanksgiving, I think the division of the two teams, pretty much separates the wheat from the chaff. Save for Elia, it's clear who the front-runners are and for all his blustering and pompousness, I don't think Marcel is that great of a cook. Has he even won a challenge yet? The top 4 will definitely be Cliff, Sam, Ilan and Elia. Frank is an idiot and should have been kicked off in the TGIF challenge for his LSD-induced "shroom kingdom". Betty had promise but I can't pay attention to anything she does anymore because I want to slap her as soon as I see her. I think Anthony Bourdain (love him!) basically made it obvious why Mikey/Michael is still on the show. He's perversely adorable and like a dumb puppy who poops on your rug, you just can't bring yourself to get rid of him. Until there's no one else worth getting rid of, that is...
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Nov 30, 2006 5:25 PM
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