Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert!In last night's episode of Top Chef, teams created dishes to serve at a block party in a Chicago neighborhood. First things first: This was one intense block party. We're talking moon bounce and dunk tanks. In fact, now that I think about it, the food didn't even look like the best thing there.In all fairness, however, I did enjoy this episode more than last week's (though the judges clearly didn't feel the same way about the food they tasted). The show has done a solid job of showcasing the chef's personalities by engaging them in absurd activities like foraging through random people's pantries for ingredients, and I definitely like the characters I'm seeing. Ryan has emerged as cute and sweet one to counter the craziness of Andrew and Spike, so it will interesting to see what happens after he gets kicked off in the coming weeks (he was in the bottom for both challenges this episode – I think his time is coming). Antonia is still my favorite, followed by lesbian couple Zoi and Jennifer. A Bravo Poll conducted during commercials showed that more viewers predict a woman Top Chef winner before a woman president, though I'm not sure whether that bodes well for this season or just poorly for Hillary.
On to the challenges: For the Quickfire, chefs had to reinvent an upscale version of a taco. A surprising number of competitors didn't understand the word upscale, and Erik (later eliminated for his sick-looking corn dogs) insisted that tacos are destined to remain street food forever -- a sad fate for both Erik and the taco. We knew he would be eliminated after he insulted guest-judge Rick Bayless. Richard won for his jicama taco with avocado, papaya and cilantro. He made enough for himself to eat, too, and it looked pretty darn good.
The elimination challenge was far more interesting because the Red Team (spearheaded by Andrew and Spike) was sure they would win, and didn't. The judges preferred the blue team's designer cinnamon chips (courtesy of winner Stephanie) to the down-home sliders and soggy Waldorf salad presented by the red team. I believe Andrew said he was so upset that, if eliminated, the show would have to "drag me out with security guards because I ain't going nowhere -- this is my house." Too bad, because that would have made for some excellent television.
Creating the ultimate Mother's Day gift for the carnivorous mom
Create less clutter with your Mother's Day gifts
Gifts for the vegetarian (or vegetable-loving) mom
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-27-2008 @ 10:58AM
Gian said...
So glad Erik is gone. He managed to insult Rick Bayless and Mexican cuisine in one fell swoop. Maybe he should dine at 'Topolobampo' or 'Fonda San Miguel' in Austin or 'Eduardo de San Angel' in Fort Lauderdale...just three amazing examples of restaurants that have forever changed how I once looked at "Mexican food".
Reply
3-27-2008 @ 11:55AM
Kat Kinsman said...
The Borat impressions MUST stop. I realize it was filmed last summer, but it was past its freshness date even then.
Dale always looks vaguely dyspeptic.
If it comes down to Richard, Stephanie & Manuel, I'll be a happy l'il chefling. It'll be lovely if excellent cuisine paired with a positive kitchen demeanor takes the win. Haven't seen that since the Harold days of yore.
Reply
3-27-2008 @ 2:22PM
RobynT said...
I don't think it's that the contestants didn't understand the quickfire; more like they were opposed to the concept. I'm sort of on the fence about that. I can see how they might want to critique the idea that upscale=better and hold on to the notion that the taco is great the way it is. Plus, I love Erik.
Also, I don't know what was so great about those cinnamon chips. When they first described it as fried gyoza wrappers and streusel, it sounded so carb-heavy to me. It seemed less so when they described the final product, but I didn't get a good look at it.
Reply
3-27-2008 @ 3:18PM
Numb said...
I agreed with the contestants that tried to keep the taco more akin to street food. As far as I'm concerned, very little Mexican cuisine belongs in fine dining - and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. It's still good stuff, just different.
Reply
3-27-2008 @ 6:17PM
olaamigoquepasa said...
The winning 'taco' of the quickfire wasn't really a taco, it was more of an enchilada. A taco is folded in half, that's it, end of story.
Reply
3-27-2008 @ 10:29PM
ruth Foster said...
As a lonely ex-patriated native Texan banished to Northern VA - I can certainly see why some of the chefs resisted the "upscaling" of the taco. Personally, I'd almost kill for some Tex-Mex of any variety! But, since it was the challenge - the chefs should have tried to do better - like Richard did- although I do agree that what he made should really be an enchilada and not a taco. However, he "called" it a taco and th judge bought into that - maybe just because it tasted good and because he wanted it on his menu! If you are there to win - you have to play as much their way as you can without compromising yourself. And just how many of the would-be Top Chefs really are on the level of most of the guest judges (not to mention Colichio)? They signed on to compete - and there are rules to the competition. I, personally, was a little offended by Andrew's outburst. After all, how many people know him from Adam?
Reply