Episode 8: "Common Threads" Options

[helencrump]

Hey, MicrowaveHo,

I saw your latest casting pic, and I just want to extend good wishes for your recuperation and happy times during such.

So, do what the doctor says and quit your whiny ass antics . . . get well!


So, good wishes for a happy recovery and let everybody do for you as they offer!!

It's a good thing!!

This post has been edited by helencrump: May 1, 2008 - 12:29 AM

[helencrump]

They just have no idea what's in store for them. You know it's gonna end in a disaster. You're right. They need to pick something else. I hate that they make them do the decorations, too. WTH

I'd look for a partnership with Martha Stewart for that . . . hello, BRAVO . . . and leave the food to the cheftestants!!

[WhataJoke]

With Judging this transparently questionable and Challenges as contrived and over the top as next weeks Wedding Wars I think I can safely say that this show has its waterskis, is on the ramp sporting a leather jacket and is about ready to jump the shark.

[helencrump]

Amen.... Hands WAJ a double... what's wrong with no protein? What's wrong with sweet? I'm getting a little biled just imagining tomato and peanut butter...

Maybe vegetarian . . . but I think there's still supposed to be protein in that from alternative sources.

The puker is tomato and peanut butter.

And I've been thoroughly experimental with tastes . . . I've tried strawberry ice cream topped with ketchup. Don't do it!!

I get apple and peanut butter and lots of other accompanyments . . . but tomato isn't one of them.

So, what gives??

This post has been edited by helencrump: April 30, 2008 - 11:27 PM

[MKL122788]

Top Chef is filmed what...4 or so weeks before it is shown? So we just dropped down to 8 and they are probably down to the final four in actuality...

Having said that, I feel Antonia is getting a good edit and I think she is probably the most likeable person in this competition...I am REALLY rooting for her

[helencrump]

Amen! There was a bit of creative editing but during the EC I saw Richard taste and I would almost lay money that the spoon went back into that pot but the little elves pulled a fast cut away to disguise it.
It was in his mouth *poof! cut-away* back in the pot

You know, partsgirl, after the taco QF when Richard stirred, tasted, stirred . . . and folks (perhaps us) noticed that and called it out, the cameras have been quick to flit and flitter.

I noticed on the EC after that week, we saw chefs tasting then a quick cutaway . . . so you don't know if they put the spoon back in the pot or not. Hmmmmmmmm! And the show was at least four cheftestants doing that.

So, who's using those spoons?? Nobody!!

[SivartAlappes]

Ok... so let's try out my game idea of "What would YOU have cooked?"


QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE: 15 MINUTES WITH UNCLE BEN'S MICRO-RICE
Holy CRAP! 15 minutes, that's it? I gotta not only come up with something amazing in 15 minutes time period but I need to incorperate microwavable rice!? Hmmmm.... Well, the very first thing that popped into my head is Egg-Foo Yung! But then, if it's this season, I see Dale over there and I'm like "crap! He's probably going to do some kind of oriental thing... probably half the kitchen is doing oriental because it's obvious! So on we go to the NEW plan A: I'm going to find the biggest freakin' chicken breast in the kitchen! I'm going to cut off all the skin and fat, and then butterflythe breast (BUT NOT TOTALLY IN HALF). I make sure it's still connected. Grill that sucker up real good and season it with some lemon, pepper, and thyme. Then I get some spinach on the grill (or a pan) and season it with salt, pepper, garlic and lemon until it's nice and compact. The chicken goes on the plate, and since it's cut in half it'll act like a sort of "hot dog bun". Inside I put feta cheese, the grilled spinace, and long grain rice. It gets served with a slice of lemon.


ELIMINATION CHALLENGE: $10 BUDGET MEAL FOR 4
I don't even consider this much of a challenge! I come from a pretty low-income family, so this $10 thing for a meal is about average. So my $10 shopping list will include: Broccoli, Couliflower, cream cheese, small shell noodles, shredded cheese (cheddar and mozz), sour cream, fresh bacon, milk, and 4 chicken legs. I'm assuming the kitchen already has flour and spices. I'm making fried chicken, mac&cheese with diced bacon, and fried broccoli/couliflower/creamcheese patties.

[partsgirl]

You know, partsgirl, after the taco QF when Richard stirred, tasted, stirred . . . and folks (perhaps us) noticed that and called it out, the cameras have been quick to flit and flitter.

I noticed on the EC after that week, we saw chefs tasting then a quick cutaway . . . so you don't know if they put the spoon back in the pot or not. Hmmmmmmmm! And the show was at least four cheftestants doing that.

So, who's using those spoons?? Nobody!!

I remeber that. I like how they cut away on some CT's but not others... very creative, indeed

[SivartAlappes]

Top Chef is filmed what...4 or so weeks before it is shown? So we just dropped down to 8 and they are probably down to the final four in actuality...

Having said that, I feel Antonia is getting a good edit and I think she is probably the most likeable person in this competition...I am REALLY rooting for her

Actually, go read the stuff that one has to fill out if they're trying out. Looks like everything's shot in about 3-5 weeks total LONG before the show airs.

[helencrump]

VISIBLY bad attitude, at that. Mark and Steph, like most on the chopping block, were standing at attention. Lisa, on the other hand, looked like a surly teenager called to the vice principal's office.

You know, there's something to be said for that arms crossed over the chest . . . it's virtually combative and if not that, at least passive-aggressive.

Now, I've noticed that Antonia has a leg stance of one draped over the other, and I'd take that to be equivalent. There have been two EC JT when her stance has been that way.

I take that to be just as combative as the arms crossed over the chest.

[helencrump]

And for those of you who missed it......I am Jim in NYC. My account and all my posts were deleted, no reason given, but if I had to guess, I'm thinking it's because of my frequent uses of "get-arounds"--using an exclamation point instead of an I, for example--for words that make the Bravo Board Censors wring their hands.

Fair enough. It's part of the Terms Of Use I clicked when I signed up. If this account disappears, too, it's been fun knowing all of you. If it stays, I look forward to many discussions in future.

Hey, Dr. SecondTry, I know you're Jim in NYC . . . and I'll keep that secret to my death!!

[SivartAlappes]

You know, there's something to be said for that arms crossed over the chest . . . it's virtually combative and if not that, at least passive-aggressive.

Now, I've noticed that Antonia has a leg stance of one draped over the other, and I'd take that to be equivalent. There have been two EC JT when her stance has been that way.

I take that to be just as combative as the arms crossed over the chest.

True... but as Dale said on a previous episode, she's always so negative!

[helencrump]

How is everybody this fine evening? I can barely breath.

Is this a real person? If so, she may need some assistance with her healthy lifestyle management.

[partsgirl]

Ok... so let's try out my game idea of "What would YOU have cooked?"


QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE: 15 MINUTES WITH UNCLE BEN'S MICRO-RICE
Holy CRAP! 15 minutes, that's it? I gotta not only come up with something amazing in 15 minutes time period but I need to incorperate microwavable rice!? Hmmmm.... Well, the very first thing that popped into my head is Egg-Foo Yung! But then, if it's this season, I see Dale over there and I'm like "crap! He's probably going to do some kind of oriental thing... probably half the kitchen is doing oriental because it's obvious! So on we go to the NEW plan A: I'm going to find the biggest freakin' chicken breast in the kitchen! I'm going to cut off all the skin and fat, and then butterflythe breast (BUT NOT TOTALLY IN HALF). I make sure it's still connected. Grill that sucker up real good and season it with some lemon, pepper, and thyme. Then I get some spinach on the grill (or a pan) and season it with salt, pepper, garlic and lemon until it's nice and compact. The chicken goes on the plate, and since it's cut in half it'll act like a sort of "hot dog bun". Inside I put feta cheese, the grilled spinace, and long grain rice. It gets served with a slice of lemon.


ELIMINATION CHALLENGE: $10 BUDGET MEAL FOR 4
I don't even consider this much of a challenge! I come from a pretty low-income family, so this $10 thing for a meal is about average. So my $10 shopping list will include: Broccoli, Couliflower, cream cheese, small shell noodles, shredded cheese (cheddar and mozz), sour cream, fresh bacon, milk, and 4 chicken legs. I'm assuming the kitchen already has flour and spices. I'm making fried chicken, mac&cheese with diced bacon, and fried broccoli/couliflower/creamcheese patties.

I'm still thinking..... Not as easy as it seems sometimes. The 15 minute challenge I would choose the plain Uncle Ben's because the flavored ones have enough sodium to choke a horse. I probably would have gone the stirfry route, as well. Pork, snow peas, baby yellow squash, and some julienned carrots in a plum sauce. Kind of a moo shoo pork route. The EC challenge... hmmm. I'm no stranger to stretching a buck but only in a homey kind of way. It depends on what's on sale and if I were at my own grocery store I would have done chicken paprika with egg noodles and use plain yogurt instead of sour cream (strain the whey first) with a side of lightly minted fresh sugar peas.

[helencrump]

Antonia is the most conventionally attractive woman competing this season. She'll get more "face time" if only for that. Why didn't she win a prize?

Stephanie has done better overall than Mark, but I don't have to taste chicken in peanut butter sauce over mushy overcooked couscous to know that it was foul.

So some weeks the guidelines matter and some weeks the best tasting dish matters, depending on which chef the judges prefer overall. I guess this is to prevent someone like Nikki from winning by being lucky?

Well, notevayas, you may not be so far from the truth!

In the past two EC, Nikki has been in a team that was so much in the middle that they didn't get to JT (that we saw).

That's a pretty comfortable position (make me a SeelyPosturePedic) to be in.

Interesting concept!!

[helencrump]

In grouchy gal's case, because her food just isn't that good.

Hey, wasn't bacon miso enough to coast for a while?

[kanigirrrrl]

And Guess what I just saw in Ted Allen's Blog. He's actually trying to claim that Antonia and Lisa did infact use polish sausage in their dish!!!!

Ted has to cover for the Producers.

Not to go back to tanning the horse-hide but WOW. Every instance shown last Wednesday had both chefs saying they didn't use polish sausage. Now a week later, VOILA, Ted points out in the online recipe the two ounces of polish sausage allegedly used? WOW. Manipulate much?

[helencrump]

The adjective "bizarre" also crossed his lips.......I think it's safe to say he really didn't like it.

Ha, "safe to say" . . . you're a master of the obvious, Dr. SecondTry!!

Hats off to you!! (not Spike's, mind you)!!

This post has been edited by helencrump: May 1, 2008 - 12:17 AM

[kanigirrrrl]

So is anyone else shocked that they Jobbed Mark off the show?

I mean how can you possibly justify keeping gross food that can't be salvaged?

I said this at 9:11 AM today and I'm sorry for Mark that the show is this transparent:

You know I was thinking about all the "Predict the Auffing" methods favored here on the boards. The "Too Much Early Face Time" (steph tonight), the "Worst Dish Always Goes Home" theory (steph again in my humble estimation) until I remembered the "Benefit of the Doubt" theory which happened when Gail said of steph's dish, "That's a telltale sign of a restaurant chef who doesn't cook at home very much" that I knew steph was safe. That dish looked nasty. And I love steph and thinks she's going to win.

[johnw]

Antonia is the most conventionally attractive woman competing this season. She'll get more "face time" if only for that. Why didn't she win a prize?

Stephanie has done better overall than Mark, but I don't have to taste chicken in peanut butter sauce over mushy overcooked couscous to know that it was foul.

So some weeks the guidelines matter and some weeks the best tasting dish matters, depending on which chef the judges prefer overall. I guess this is to prevent someone like Nikki from winning by being lucky?

I thought Stephanie's dish was a real clunker too. However, read guest judge Art Smith's blog on the Bravo Top Chef website. He says the Steph's dish may have sounded gross but the flavors were good.