In This Section
|
« Top Chef
November 8, 2006: Consider Yourselves on Probation
What's with all the cheating on Top Chef, huh? First Otto, now this. Here's a question: When is it the appropriate time for someone to speak up about fellow contestants possibly cheating? Right when you see the alleged infraction? Or when it's time to get your proverbial butt out of the frying pan of elimination? That latter tactic has worked on Top Chef twice now. Marisa didn't have to go home even though she deserved to, and now, no one's going home this week. You know what? I hope that means we're about to get a double elimination soon. And if I were Carlos, I'd lobby to get immunity for one more challenge. After all, he won the Quickfire challenge, but since no one went home, having immunity really meant nothing.
Quickfire Challenge: Create an amuse-bouche in 30 minutes
Winner: Carlos
Runners-up: Frank and Ilan
Guest Judge: Former Food & Wine Best New Chef Suzanne Goin (owner and executive chef of Lucques and A.O.C.)
Here's the kicker with this challenge: The chefs had to get ingredients for this amuse-bouche from the vending machines! I really commend them for being able to whip up something edible in 30 minutes using things like Corn Nuts and Doritos. My favorite part was when the show identified Mike's Cheetos and Snickers concoction as "cheese puff set in a chocolate candy bar." Speaking of Mike, how in the world is he still on this show? He keeps saying he wants to be there, but it's clear that he doesn't. He comes up with excuse after excuse as to why his food is bland and icky, but I don't think anyone's buying it. After he came up with squat in the vending-food department he said, "Screw the Quickfire today." Hmm... and then he wonders why awesome guest judge Suzanne Goin thinks he acts like he doesn't want to be around? She met him for like five seconds and came up with that assessment. Carlos stepped up and won the challenge with his inventive sunflower seed and carrot loaf that used Squirt as an ingredient. He's pretty much been off my radar since Week 1, so way to go, Carlos.
Immunity Challenge: Prepare an entrée, a side dish and a dessert for kids at a weight-loss camp; the entire meal cannot exceed 500 calories
Winner: Frank
Runners-up: Betty and Marcel
Wow. Yet another really difficult challenge. First of all, Betty and Marcel working together: that's very convenient, Top Chef producers. When the teams went grocery shopping, Marcel immediately tried to go with asparagus wrapped in prosciutto; meanwhile, Betty felt pizza would do the job. Let's fast-forward to the judges' table for a moment. When Betty, Marcel and Frank were asked who thought to cook pizza for the kids, Frank took the credit. But we were shown that it was Betty who actually came up with the idea, Marcel suggested sausage (turkey), and Frank suggested Italian chicken sausage. Am I just splitting hairs here? Frank should have won anyway, since he made the pizza; I'm just saying that he may have not initially come up with the idea. I'm just going by what we were shown.
I don't know about the chefs, but those nutritionists watching the calories add up made me nervous. Most were like me, however, impressed with what the groups were able to put together. I have to give it to Marisa — she scored with her fudge cake. Why did Mia and Marisa let Mike represent their team with the kids? It seemed like he was channeling the late Chris Farley when he played the inept talk-show host on SNL. You know, the one who always nervously uttered, "That was awesome." I loved those kids at the weight-loss camp; they were really savvy — especially when talking about the Orange Team's smoothie. Plus, this line cracked me up: "I want to go marry the hot diabetic over there."
So, I'm not sure how I feel about Sam bringing up the supposed cheating and then not naming names. And then there's Mia who did name a name and then didn't have the courage to 'fess up to her throwing Betty under the bus after a stern Tom told everyone they were safe. Tom seemed like he didn't know what to do with these people. It seemed like he really wanted to go off on so many different levels, but since they didn't really know if any cheating occurred, he kept things reined in. And I believe that was Cliff chugging Pepto-Bismol while everyone argued after the judges' table. I love him.
Topics to discuss:
— Betty's cookies: did she know what she was doing, or did she just misunderstand the rules?
— Was it fair not to send anyone home?
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Nov 9, 2006 6:44 AM
|
Depending upon how this show was edited, do we really know if the Chefs understood that they had to go with the recipes approved by the nutritionists, or whether or not they could modify the recipes, as long as they stayed under 500 calories.
I think the right thing was done to not kick anyone off the show, because it's better to error on the side of caution. But I do agree that Carlos' immunity should be carried over, since he didn't get a chance to utilize it.
I don't think Mia threw Betty under the bus, because Mia wasn't the one to initially bring up the fact that some of the other Chefs may have cheated. Sam was the chicken that complained, but didn't want to back it up his accusations. The only thing I think Mia is guilty of is not telling Betty that she was the one to name names, which surprised me. Mia gives me the impression that she isn't afraid of anyone, but she clearly didn't want to confront Betty. Based on Betty's reaction, I don't think she purposely tried to cheat, but she should have asked one of the judges if it was OK to alter her recipe.
Love this show. Can't wait to see what happens next week.
|
|
Nov 9, 2006 7:54 AM
|
Mia so threw Betty under the bus. And then didn't even have the guts to tell her. If you are going to do that sort of thing then be big enough to own your comments instead of being a snake.
I was up in the air about Mia but now she is one of my least favorite. She was very nasty at the panel. Obviously a backstabber, everyone should watch out for her. She always gets this nasty look on her face whenever anyone criticizes her - did you see her face at the quickfire challenge. If looks could kill the guest judge would have been dead when she told Mia she didn't follow directions and made a dessert. She is far worse than Tiffani and I hope she goes soon.
I feel bad for Betty, she definitely didn't do it on purpose and she was being singled out although others altered their recipes also - it wasn't the black team who used more olive oil. Actually I think I saw Mia's team with the squeeze bottle a couple of times.
|
|
Nov 9, 2006 8:20 AM
|
I never heard anything about locking in the recipes. Maybe that was to be understood. Betty did, however, say that she was adding the sugar but was still keeping the calories under 500. I don't think she was trying to cheat.
Lost respect for Sam. Bring it up? Then finish it. As for Mia, check her out. When she is singled out as one of the top, she's all smiles until someone else wins and then she looks like she just ate someone's vomit.
Michael should be sent packing. He's a buffoon. How did he get chosen? What did he present to get picked for the show? I'd sure like to know.
Carlos should have his immunity extended, unless it's determined that he was using a squeeze bottle. Otherwise, give him and the next Quickfire winner both immunity and have a double elimination. (Michael and Mia).
Liked when Betty was giving out kisses and planted one on Marcel, asking permission first.
I believe that if an infraction of the rules is perceived, it should be noted immediately. Wonder if Sam would have said anything if he was the winner or in the top group. Lost my respect for him on that note.
Yes, Betty did come up with the pizza idea, or so it seemed in the clips. However, when the judges asked, it seemed that she motioned to Frank.
Just wish these chefs would focus on their own cooking and stop criticizing everyone else.
|
|
Nov 9, 2006 10:38 AM
|
I never heard anything about locking in the recipes. Maybe that was to be understood. Betty did, however, say that she was adding the sugar but was still keeping the calories under 500. I don't think she was trying to cheat.
Lost respect for Sam. Bring it up? Then finish it. As for Mia, check her out. When she is singled out as one of the top, she's all smiles until someone else wins and then she looks like she just ate someone's vomit.
Michael should be sent packing. He's a buffoon. How did he get chosen? What did he present to get picked for the show? I'd sure like to know.
Carlos should have his immunity extended, unless it's determined that he was using a squeeze bottle. Otherwise, give him and the next Quickfire winner both immunity and have a double elimination. (Michael and Mia).
Liked when Betty was giving out kisses and planted one on Marcel, asking permission first.
I believe that if an infraction of the rules is perceived, it should be noted immediately. Wonder if Sam would have said anything if he was the winner or in the top group. Lost my respect for him on that note.
Yes, Betty did come up with the pizza idea, or so it seemed in the clips. However, when the judges asked, it seemed that she motioned to Frank.
Just wish these chefs would focus on their own cooking and stop criticizing everyone else.
|
|
Nov 9, 2006 10:38 AM
|
I got the feeling that several people didn't quite know what an amuse bouche was, and it was not explained well at all. I guess they were supposed to know that it couldn't be a dessert. I think Mia's face showed both that she didn't know what it was initially, and that she wondered why they didn't just say it wasn't supposed to be a dessert when she was judged. Mia's face is very expressive, and she always looks very disappointed when she doesn't win. I've only seen her look like she was kicking herself, not like she wants to kick a judge.
Although we didn't hear anything about locking in recipes, the point of using the nutritionists was to get an accurate calorie count. It seems obvious to me that you couldn't just go and change recipes without a re-check. Just think how much damage could have been done to the campers' calorie counts if everybody had just up and changed recipes, determining on their own that they were "probably" still under 500. Betty should have thought that through better, or asked before making the change. Duh, girlfriend.
I didn't see the use of squeeze bottles of oil, but I'm sure the cameras would have caught it, so why not just check the footage?
I'm not mad at Mia for speaking up, even if she didn't tell Betty what she had done. I'm more disappointed in Sam for being lame in his accusation. And anyway, these folks should have spoken up before the competition, not at the judges' table. Didn't they learn anything from the Otto situation?
Mike really gets on my nerves. He tries to mask his insecurities with nonchalance, and it doesn't work for him. I wouldn't have let him talk to the kids. He was lousy at that.
I think Frank may have come up with the idea of pizza. What we saw seemed to be the middle of a conversation, when Marcel came up with his ridiculous idea, and Betty seemed to be agreeing with an already suggested idea of pizza. Also, I'm sure if it had been Betty's idea, she would have spoken up and taken credit for it.
|
|
Nov 9, 2006 10:58 AM
|
I agree with the judge's decision not to vote anyone off last night. How could they with all the finger pointing at anyone but themselves? I know it makes for great television, but I am getting a little tired of the throwing someone under the bus at the judge's table long after the supposed offense was committed. I definitely don't think that Betty meant to do anything wrong or was trying to cheat or anything like that. I didn't realize they couldn't change the recipes until I watched the episode again. But since I am just watching the show, not scrambling around the kitchen trying to finish a meal, I can see where someone would misunderstand the directions of the challenge. And why were there suddenly squeeze bottles of olive oil at everyone's work space? I don't remember seeing them there the day before.
I do think that Carlos's immunity should carry over to next week, but I don't think that means that someone else can't gain immunity as well. That would be unfair. And I do hope that Betty shines again next week like she has been throughout the entire competition. She is one of my favorites along with Ilan and Cliff. Sam was, but after that stunt at the judge's table, I don't know. If you are going to backstab people to save your own skin, at least follow through with it. Don't say you suspect someone of doing something and not offer up the person. And Mia? Yeah, she should just not talk at all. You can't just say that Betty used only sugar in her remade cookies unless you actually saw her use only sugar. And definitely don't pretend that you didn't throw Betty under the bus when that is exactly what you did. I was disgusted by her last night.
|
|
Nov 9, 2006 11:13 AM
|
|
I just read Tom's blog on the Top Chef website and low and behold Mia was seen by several people adding sugar to her coleslaw on day 2 - wasn't inthe orginal recipe. Funny how she pointed the finger at Betty when she did the same thing. It is on page 4 of Tom's blog if you want to check it out. She is such a RAT!
|
|
Nov 9, 2006 12:37 PM
|
Ok, I was already pissed about Sam and Mia, but reading cosmo's previous comments about Mia adding sugar makes me even angrier. If you think you notice someone cheating, bring it up with them or a judge immediately. You shouldn't wait until the competition is over, let alone after a WINNER is decided. If they really thought Betty's decision was so wrong, they would have mentioned it earlier.
I don't think Betty fully understood the rules, I would have thought the exact same thing, that it was okay to add sugar if she thought she was within range. However, it would have been very easy to check with a judge to make sure, or maybe even bring a nutritionist back in. But to her credit, they were probably quite harried and stressed at this point.
Mike should have gone home, simple as that. I definitely don't agree with the decision to not send anyone home. They could easily watch the show's footage and look for evidence of cheating, but I think Mike's bad attitude is even more important. I haven't seen any evidence of him really wanting to be there.
|
|
Nov 9, 2006 12:56 PM
|
I don't think Betty understood that you could not change the ingredients. She just thought you had to stay under the 500 calorie limit. But how did she know she was still under the limit? The nutritionist was not there anymore.
As Lady Bug mentioned, it all depends on how the show was edited.
Either way, cookies or not, I'm pretty sure her team would have won anyway, I would have ordered the Pizza too. 
Tom just looked so frustrated and kind of disgusted, he just didn't know what to do. If he could he probably would have sent a whole team home.
|
|
Nov 9, 2006 3:50 PM
|
|
Lynn. The Black Team started at 440 calories per meal. 1 tablespoon of sugar has 48 calories and Betty added 2 tablespoons to the entire cookie mixture and put in fewer eggwhites to offset (eggwhites have 20 calories each). 96 extra calories into the entire batch of cookies will not bump up the individual serving calorie count by 60 and that was the margin they had.
|
|
Nov 9, 2006 4:05 PM
|
I have to say that Betty is my favorite here, and I was so upset at the thought of her going home, she brings so much fun and life to the show. I think that she misunderstood the rules, but the whole olive oil thing looks like others blatantly cheated. I would have been so upset if she had been singled out. She also admitted what she had done.
And to be honest, if the judges really wanted to know what was going on, they could just go to the tape and review the cooking segments. I mean really, its a television show where every move is taped.
|
|
Nov 9, 2006 8:37 PM
|
Overall, I thought this was a great episode. I am glad that the chefs didn't complain too much about the calorie counting. I have to say that I am tired of people not bringing up cheating at the time they noticed it. I didn't like the way that Sam handled the situation. If he felt strongly enough to bring up cheating then he should have named names. He says there was cheating and in the same breath he says he isn't the kind of guy who tattles. What up with that?
I wonder if they should have disqualified everyone including the winners because they claimed they couldn't determine who was really cheating. Don't they film everything? If they wanted to, they could figure it out.
That being said, my favorites are still Betty, Cliff and Sam. Elia is getting on my nerves. Michael needs to go home for his whining and lack of truly having the instinct to win. I didn't like how Mia threw Betty under the bus then couldn't tell her she was the one to tell the judges. If she could say it them, she should have been able to look Mia in the eye and tell her that she did it.
I will say that it was cool that Betty and Marcel rose above their fight and they were able to work professionally together. That says a lot about both of them.
|
|
Nov 9, 2006 11:09 PM
|
Thanks for the update from Tom's Blog. It's especially interesting, since from what we saw, the kids did not dig the slaw Mia made.
Overall though, I have to think the producers need to really re-think how they set up these competitions, if there are going to be rules. They need to set limits on when tattling can occur and be much more specific about how to follow instructions. This should be about the food. I agree that Betty's cookies probably didn't put her team's calorie count over the edge, but the idea is, she changed the recipe and the portion, when she knew this was something that was supposed to be controlled. I can understand why Sam was riled by that and the olive oil, because this is a condition he has to live with.
I, too, think Carlos should be immune another week. And, as long as we're talking about the quickfire... I was appalled that Padme had to sit there and explain what an amuse bouche is. I mean, I'm just a middle class girl from a suburb, and I know what it is and what it's for. I mean, if you're a frakin' chef, and you don't know what an amuse bouche is?!?!?! That's ridiculous. My problem with it initially was, I'm like, what, do they need to find things for Padme to do that she has to explain this to the contestants like they're idiots??? I thought it would be more effective to have a little produced instructional about what it is instead. And then, it was obvious from the challenge that some of them DIDN'T know. Weird.
They're painting Betty to be this nurturing good character, but after her confrontation with Marcel and Mia's obvious fear of her wrath, I wonder if she isn't a nasty B on wheels!!
Has anyone on the show said, "It is what it is," yet???
|
|
Nov 12, 2006 3:39 PM
|
Has anyone on the show said, "It is what it is," yet???
Thistletat - I remember hearing an "in it to win it" but not an "it is what it is" yet. Seriously. That was the best freakin' montage from the Season 1 reunion. The best. And didn't it end on: "it was what it was"? Hilarious.
|
|
Nov 12, 2006 7:38 PM
|
|
|
