Episode 8: "Common Threads" Options

[WhataJoke]

Well, I just responded to Ted's blog. He claims that Antonia and Lisa did indeed use Polish sausage for the now-infamous challenge, and uses the posted recipe as proof. I cited Steph & Jen's recipe (when I printed it out, the asparagus, goat cheese, and olive tapenade were missing) and Erik's corn dog recipe as examples of Bravo recipes that didn't match the show.

We'll see what, if anything, happens.

I either expect no responce or another attempt at revisionist history.

Good effort though

[partsgirl]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO K

NOTE TO SELF.......

WOMANS AWAKENING TO SHRINKAGE......

SEINFELD

DANG THAT SEINFELD

ALL THAT TIME PRECEEDING

WE HAD EM FOOLED

TAKE CARE OVER THERE

ALOHA

HAVE FUN

Yes but the heat more than makes up for it, right?

[WhataJoke]

OK, I've finally gotten through all the posts on this thread, so I will add a few disjointed thoughts of my own:

First, like dcjew/simplebear, I really liked this episode. I liked its focus on real-world, down-to-earth food realities -- i.e., how to cook a good, wholesome, nutritious meal for a family that is on a budget and needs something that the kids will eat without complaining. As someone who personally buys organic as much as possible and only grows organically in my garden, I loved the fact that this challenge was more concerned with health and nutrition than high-brow gimmickry. (I think that Richard is one of the most talented of this season's contestants, as were Marcel and Hung in the seasons before, but I honestly find myself gagging when they seem to revel in chemical cooking, rather than bringing out the natural, wonderful flavors of foods.)

Second, I can't help but agree with the numerous posters who found it ironic that the cooking on a budget challenge involved shopping at Whole Foods. It would have been a bit more real-world to march everyone down to Aldi's, a discount food chain that I know has at least a few stores in the Chicago area since some of my in-laws shop there. (But, since Whole Foods is one of the corporate sponsors of the Top Chef, I guess there's no way around that limitation.)

Third, after reading all last week's posts, I finally got convinced of the "worst dish loses" theory of judging. After this week's show, I'm not so convinced anymore. Up until last night, Stephanie was one of the three chefs I thought most likely to win (along with Richard and Dale). But last night, it is hard to believe that her food was not the absolute worst. The judges don't use words like "detest" unless something is really, horribly bad. I can't help believe that the judges chose to save someone who was the worst in one week because she has such a strong history of earlier performance (much like when Richard was saved despite the scales on his fish).

I think that, instead of eliminating one person with a really, really bad dish but otherwise proven culinary skills, they chose to eliminate someone with a record of nothing but mediocrity. The highest praise I recall Mark ever receiving was for making a dish where the NZ version of Vegemite actually, supposedly tasted good.

For me, however, the truth is that, if the judges were going to eliminate someone even if s/he did not produce the worst food, I wish they would have canned the chef whose last success was cooking bacon and who otherwise has demonstrated little other than having the absolutely most horrible personality in the history of Top Chef.

And KS too add to what you said, according to the guest judges blog (and I view all the blogs for show propaganda now) Lisa's food was bland and unseasoned and he liked both Mark and Stephanies food which is insane to me.

[partsgirl]

No need to card me, I'm old as dirt... or maybe I just feel that way!

Aunt Orpha, well she had this look - One did not mess with her! and as a child I was afraid of her (and "the Look!"). But I found out that it was just a big old facade...
One time she was babysitting us and I was trying to make myself a peanutbutter sandwich. These were the days when the peanutbutter came in big glass jars (why do I feel so OLD writing that?!) and it was a brand new jar. I was having trouble opening it and accidently dropped it on the floor. Broken glass and peanutbutter as far as the eye could see. I wanted to RUN! but was barefooted and could not. When AO came in I expected my young life to pianfully end. Her first question was if I was alright and then she made me stand still while she cleaned up all the peanutbutter and broken glass so I would not get cut. What an old softie!!! (But you would never have known it from "the Look"!).

I remember glass jars. I kind of miss them.
I bet it was quite a relief to find out that Auntie wasn't as cranky as she appeared, huh? That is a very sweet story! Thanks for sharing!

[ITSJUSTMEAOD]

DANG!! I KNEW I SHOULD NOT HAVE LEFT MS. PAULA AT THE PC ALONE ....WHAT THE HECK......IT'S OUT THERE TWO TIMES HOPEFULLY NOT THREE
Discuss the episode.

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO...................K

THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS EPISODE......

THE KNOCK KNOCK JOKE

THE BAD THING........................

EVERYTHING ELSE .............

OH....

FAREWELL TO THE MAORI WARRIOR

AND HIS GRUMBLIN STICK

TAKE CARE OVER THERE

ALOHA

HAVE FUN

[ITSJUSTMEAOD]

Yes but the heat more than makes up for it, right?

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..................K

NOTE TO SELF

HEAT HELPS IN RISING......................

GET NEW HEAT GUN...............................

USE OF STORY OF JONNY "HIDIN AND SEEKIN MAKIN SEARCHIN MORE FUN"

NO LONGER NEEDED ..............



DANG THAT SEINFELD



TAKE CARE OVER THERE

ALOHA

HAVE FUN

[SecondTry]

I either expect no responce or another attempt at revisionist history.

Good effort though

Like I said, I cited Erik's corn dogs--and the absence of a recipe for pomegranate ketchup--as an example of the recipes being inaccurate. If this results in Erik's ketchup recipe getting on the site, I'll consider myself to have done my good deed for the decade.

[ITSJUSTMEAOD]

Poppa???

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

LOOKS LIKE THE J1GG IS UP

DANG I TOLD THAT WOMAN I WAS SPONGE WORTHY

TAKE CARE OVER THERE

ALOHA

HAVE FUN

[bJason]

Well, I was a line cook in a restraunt for about 8 months. I was the same way there. The head chef got annoyed at my work station and made me clean it before making any other dishes at times... but he generally let it slide because I move around the kitchen extremely fast (I can do a table of 8 entrees in under 20 mintues), and all my stuff tastes great.

I consider myself to be a "soul chef". I don't bother with measuring stuff out unless it's the very first time I've made a certain dish, or I need to make a certain large amount (catering). I do everything by look, taste, and gut feelings. I trust my tastebuds. They've only done me wrong once (I thought one time I might try pasta with meatballs and bernaise... well, now I know what NOT to cook! )

As a frequent restaurant guest and a previous rest. owner - you should keep your station clean (cross contamination is but one of the worries). Plus, it makes one look like a hack if s/he can't keep up with hir station. Call yourself whatever you like - if you don't have the time to prepare your food AND clean up after yourself then you are overburdened and should not be in an "industrial" kitchen. IMHO

[bJason]

What is racist about condemning Rev Wright for claiming that the Govt introduced the AIDS virus to kill Blacks, or the American people brought 9/11 on themselves? It isn't so much about race but the fact that Rev Wright is spewing anti-American garbage. The Rev Wright may be the albatross that sinks Obama in November should he get the Democratic nomination which seems likely.

Not disagreeing but this seems OT to me!

And I'll GLADLY meet you there!

[ITSJUSTMEAOD]

CLEANUP!!!!!!!

UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT THERE NIC???

TAKE CARE OVER THERE

ALOHA

HAVE FUN

[ITSJUSTMEAOD]

Discuss the episode. YA YA YA LOTS OF BONES TO PICK..........BUT THERE WAS A SILVER LINING....KNOCK KNOCK JOKES

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..........K

KNOCK KNOCK................

WHOS THERE?

UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH DUNNO

UUUUUUUHHHHHHHHH DUNNO WHO

I DUNNO WHO EITHER ..................

BUT IT COULD BE FUN



TAKE CARE OVER THERE

ALOHA

HAVE FUN

[Mluv]

Hey, lady! Glad to see ya!

Hello again!

I tried to read, and read, and read, but I figured that it was safe to just jump in and put in my two cents.
It looks like we all agree that once again following the rules is the forgotten rule by the judges.

[partsgirl]

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

LOOKS LIKE THE J1GG IS UP

DANG I TOLD THAT WOMAN I WAS SPONGE WORTHY

TAKE CARE OVER THERE

ALOHA

HAVE FUN

Oh no, JME. Not Elaine! Oh, say it ain't so.

[SivartAlappes]

As a frequent restaurant guest and a previous rest. owner - you should keep your station clean (cross contamination is but one of the worries). Plus, it makes one look like a hack if s/he can't keep up with hir station. Call yourself whatever you like - if you don't have the time to prepare your food AND clean up after yourself then you are overburdened and should not be in an "industrial" kitchen. IMHO

Well, I keep dangerous foods from contaminating one another. I'm not STUPID! But when working in the restraunt, I cared more about getting the customers their food in a nice quick manner. Cleaning the station between each plate would make food take more time to get out.

[partsgirl]

Hello again!

I tried to read, and read, and read, but I figured that it was safe to just jump in and put in my two cents.
It looks like we all agree that once again following the rules is the forgotten rule by the judges.

I agree with ya, girl. I get confused week to week. Ah well, it does give us food for discussion on the ol' boards!

[sfekty]

Just jumping in here. Hi all!

This is the first season of TC I've watched, so cannot compare to previous seasons. Frankly, I've given up expecting there to be rules that are followed when it comes to choosing who wins and who goes home. I do like Stephanie a lot, and have been very nervous the last two episodes!

As far as recipes and blogs go, how nice to be able to change history.

[NiCi]

I remember glass jars. I kind of miss them.
I bet it was quite a relief to find out that Auntie wasn't as cranky as she appeared, huh? That is a very sweet story! Thanks for sharing!

Another sign of increasing age, when one starts telling sweet stories of ones childhood - just steal my false teeth if I start repeating myself! (thee, no theeth!)

This post has been edited by NiCi: May 1, 2008 - 07:28 PM

[partsgirl]

Another sign of increasing age, when one starts telling sweet stories of ones childhood - just steal my false teeth repeating myself! (thee, no theeth!)

Ya know... I'm 35 and even I can not believe how much things have changed. We didn't have malls. My grandmother had milk delivery up into the '80's. We didn't have a thousand tv channels or video games and we played outdoors! The good old days really weren't that long ago. Heck, I got bent out of shape when Quik starting coming in a plastic container!

[bJason]

Well, I keep dangerous foods from contaminating one another. I'm not STUPID! But when working in the restraunt, I cared more about getting the customers their food in a nice quick manner. Cleaning the station between each plate would make food take more time to get out.

Whatever you say, dear. I am glad that you can bring all of your experience to this endeavor. Best of luck. Hopefully you can bring your GF to TC and ask her what to cook anytime you need input.