Famous Death Row Last Meals
Debunking Beer Can Chicken: A Waste Of Good Beer, And Dangerous
Photo: David Giesbrecht / Bravo
Top Chef, how can you do this to us? Watching All Stars, the latest addition to the rapidly multiplying franchise, is like being forced to get back together with an old flame -- or, rather, all your old flames -- against your better judgment.
In one fell swoop, all of the thrills, the regret, the frustration are back. Maybe your flame was a crazed, bipolar egotist -- spicy, saucy and dripping with self-conscious sex appeal, but impossible to live with for more than a weekend (with a name like Spike, Fabio, Angelo... we could go on). Maybe the breakup was for the best.
Or maybe he or she was really, really nice but dreadfully bland. Someone to take home to your parents. Someone to watch Law and Order reruns while you both munch on plain popcorn -- you know, to watch your cholesterol and all (Elia, Stephen). But no matter how comfortable the relationship, your tastes have matured -- you're ready for something more.
Even the act of tuning in dredges up so much emotional baggage. (Angelo's psychosomatic fevers; Spike's frat-boy hats!) And, to be frank, we're ready to play the field with some new cheftestants -- not 18 almost-rans. But, that said, the first episode provided enough older-but-wiser tension, commentary and cattiness to keep us coming back for more.
We weren't the only ones having a sense of déjà vu: All of the cheftestants had to remake the dish that sent them home. As they all scrambled to cook, we jotted down a few select notes on some of them...
Spike: "Is this the craftiest motherf**ker who's ever been on the show?" judge Anthony Bourdain demanded to know, after seeing what the man did with frozen scallops. Spike's bravado may piss us off, but we must admit we were impressed with the way he used citrus and spice to leech out that tongue-numbing freezer-burn taste in his ceviche.
Fabio: The former fan favorite (and more recent Bravo web presence) with the slick hair managed to do the opposite with Bourdain. Always confrontational, Fabio more or less told Bourdain that, were they not, you know, on a TV show, he'd punch him in the face for all the "mean" things Tony said about his disgusting-looking crawfish-crab-and-pasta stew. From where we were sitting, this was the one time Tony wasn't being mean at all -- just truthful.
Elia: Oh, Elia. You couldn't even watch as the judges ate your banana-leaf steamed snapper -- always a sign a chef has done something shameful. So why go out on the floor and defend it? No matter how much she dressed it up, it couldn't hide the fact that parts of the fish were still raw. And -- maybe emboldened by Fabio's outburst, she couldn't help but demand to the judges, "don't eliminate me -- I mean it!"
Out of spite or just plain sick stomachs, the judges did, indeed, eliminate Elia, making for the first "nice" casualty in what will no doubt be one hell of a backstabbing season.
LOOK: Bank Vault Saves 22 Lives During Tornado
Live from Microsoft's New Generation Xbox event!
PHOTO: Dog Guards Dead Victim's Body After Oklahoma Tornado Disaster
Xbox Reveal liveblog on Joystiq
Dozens Killed in Oklahoma Tornado; Death Toll to Rise
Demi Looks FANTASTIC In A Bikini
Watch: Kansas Meteorologist Seeks Shelter From Tornado
Xbox One architecture panel liveblog!
Man Reportedly Beheaded In Brutal Assault In London Neighborhood
H&M's Plus-Size Model Jennie Runk Says She Chose To Gain Weight
Brave Woman Stood Down Armed London Attackers
Okla. Sheriff's Deputy Finds Dog Guarding Body Buried Under Destroyed Home
South American 'Crazy' Ants Are a Threat in Southern US
Mother Dies With Infant During Oklahoma Tornado
Justin Bieber Booed, Gets Standing Ovation at Billboard Music Awards
U.S. Acknowledges Four American Citizens Killed In Drone Strikes
Wolf Blitzer's Embarrassing Moment With Tornado Survivor
Mum-Of-Two Faces Down Woolwich Attack Suspects
Surgeon's Remove Giant Hairball From Tiger
60 Minutes Makes All The Difference For $360 Million Jackpot
Help For Heroes Killing
PHOTOS: Christie Brinkley Gets Back Into A Swimsuit At 59 Years Old
The World's Most Powerful Women
NY Times Eviscerates Obama White House
Singer Sues McDonald's, Claims Chicken Sandwich Incident Ruined Her Voice
PHOTOS: Tornado Aftermath Leaves Trail Of Destruction
Who Won 'DWTS'?
White Father Allegedly Suspected Of Kidnapping Biracial Daughters
PHOTOS: This Is The Best Response To Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries We've Seen Yet
Tara Ellison: Why I Gave A Toast At My Ex-Husband's Wedding
Tornadoes Strike Oklahoma
12-02-2010 @5:01PM domynoe said... Not surprised about the elimination—she melted down a few times in her first season and "gave up" more than once. She just doesn't have the temperament for it. And she didn't even do the actual challenge. There's standing by your dish, then there's being stupid about it.
Reply
12-03-2010 @3:59AM James said... Anthony Bourdain has really become a d***ebag. As Fabio said, there were nothing constructive about what Anthony Bourdain said. I used to like Bourdain, but it's the same shtick. Heard it all before. Got anything new?
Reply