Well...

Spike and Dale are what we think of when we talk of egomaniacal and, yet, strangely untalented chefs. Ryan is so stooopid that I'm shocked that they don't show us the person who ties his shoes every morning. I don't think his IQ is large enough to manage that on his own. The only thing the lesbians have done successfully so far is "cuddle". It's certainly not food preperation.

And the rest of the group makes them look like Thomas Keller. I know if I have to play "fun with molecular gastronomy" with Dickie Blais one more time I'm going to pop off to another room and slit my throat.

This show is becoming less and less interesting to me and, the fact that Bravo let their cash cow, "Project Runway", get away is just about the last straw for me. This sucks.

Youve got to be kidding me. This season is a flop? OMG,its 100 times better then season 3. I actually am enjoying this season very much. The boards have had so much TC discussion for once. Its still a bit early to be invested in any chef for anything other then looks and personality but I already really like a few. I also have enjoyed the challenges far better this year. Sure,I wish there were not so many team challenges but its still been a great season so far.


Im gonna take a shot in the dark here,feel free to correct me if Im wrong,but you are not happy that there is no gay men or Bears to be more specific,right? You do tend to be overly critical if no Bear is involved in something you might enjoy.

Then again,you just might not enjoy this season as much I do. Stranger things have happened,eh?

funneeeeeee

I really don't care if they're straight or gay, thin or bearish, I just want them to make something that would inspire me to go out of my way to eat their food.

In the zoo challenge a chef thought it was a good idea to present something their animal would not have eaten. The young lady should have been eliminated for being monumentally stupid.

A chef thought, in the neighborhood challenge ,that making corn dogs was not going to get him eliminated, though he, himself, admitted that they were going to get soggy and unappealing in the box, By the way, that guy was a Bear and a hack.

They did a challenge based on film, and none of them seemed to think of a good film to base their food on. It's no wonder that what they presented was dull and uninspired. I love "A Christmas Story" too, but was that the best they could come up with?

The season is almost a complete wash for me.

Are you asking me? I am not sure where "there" is but I will go for "gay and single". I'm getting tired of being alone.

I should know by now, but would you please define "a bear" and "a hack" ? Thank-you.

Can somebody else get this for me this time. I've written enough on the subject of Bears to last me a lifetime, and have you never heard of a "no talent hack"? Think of the game of golf, and you'll get there.

Bear.... I have to ask.... What do you do if you do not get good service? Do you A: No Tip....
B: Tip anyways but just less...
c: Tip as usual but not return to the restaurant.
What does "tip" mean? I always thought it was an acronym for "to improve production". Even in those restaraunts where the wait staff works for tips only the basis of the tip is service. Call me cheap or tight but before I tip I first have to get service. If my wait person fails to check on my needs, keep my tea or water filled or heaven forbid gets my order incorrect ( as in wrong... I do not hold the waiter responsible for food prep...only to get it right if I complain)then what I leave as a tip will be proportionate to the service I do get. Maybe I am wrong... I am certainly open to enlightenment on this issue and welcome other opinions. I have never waited tables as a job... I have done food service as a volunteer. I believe based on my own work ethic that I would endevor to take care of my patrons with a lot of attention. As a customer I want courtesy , accuracy and attention to my needs. If I get those things then I believe a "tip" is warranted.

Sorry...forget it....

oooo ooooh ME! i kno
do u mean these kind of bears?


so do i win a prize or something

National Sales Tax! Please! I've been preaching the idea since the '80s.

Now I know there are arguments against it, but I think most of them could be alleviated with just a few exemptions from the tax: food, utilities, necessary health care, and rent or mortgage payments on one average priced home.

If you want to see the wealthy pay more, make them pay a sales tax on their fleet of expensive cars, on their multiple homes, on every expensive toy they buy.

And, as people at the bottom end of the income scale purchase little else other than necessities, most would pay nearly nothing.

Then there is the fact that it would do away with a huge bureaucracy, the IRS.

Plus, a national sales tax has one advantage that none of the other methods have; they tax hidden income. Instead of being able to get away without paying any taxes, drug dealers and organized crime would be paying their fair share everytime they bought a new Ferrari or cigarette boat.

Let me add that i'm not talking about a value added tax (VAT). That is horribly inflationary. I'm talking about a tax at the final-user level only

I must admit that over the years I've heard a lot of fears and arguments about the idea, but I've almost always been able to allay those fears and win converts to the idea.

In fact, my biggest disappointment in the current administration is that nothing has been done to drastically change the tax system. At the beginning of 2001, there was a lot of talk on both sides of the aisle about finally doing something, either the flat tax or NST, but 9/11 took the whole idea off of the table, and we've never been able to generate much interest in it since.

Seems like the waters are getting testy in here tonight as well as the perceived testiness in the kitchen....Tater a "bear" is a gay man who is usually large and furry....like a bear...a "hack" is someone who doesn't do their job well.

I agree that so far nothing earth shattering or inspiring has happened during this cycle of TC. Stephanie, Mark, Richard and Antonia are piquing my interest, and I look forward to watching their progress. I am getting really tired of group challenges. Of course, that has been my complaint for the last couple of years. I look forward to the day when the numbers have been sufficiently winnowed to the point when we get to see individuals do their best work.

Heaven...I'm in heaven....la...la...la

Bill Gates gives away billions.... most of the incredebly wealthy do give... I believe they feel it is better to give it to some charity instead of the government in more taxes. Heck... it was just announced that the Clinton's gave over 10 million of thier last few years earnings to charity ( yeah ... I know ... alot was to the Clinton library but that was still a charity). Tiger Woods funds a foundation that encourages inner city kids to play golf... Boomer Esiason works for autistic kids (his son is autistic).... the list goes on and on. Yes the wealthy make a lot of money... I have to believe that those who can do try to good with what they have . Those that do not are the ones you read about in the Enquirer.

Thank-You.

the top 10% wealthiest of this nation already pay more than 65% of the tax...
what more do you want?

problem is not taxes, it's spending. taxpayers pay for frivilous expenditures like subsizdizing food service on amtrak trains so that they cost less than what a consumer would buy it for in the supermarket...doesn't make sense, does it?

Good Question... I subscribe to : Golf Digest, Cook's Illustrated and Cooking Light. I might purchase an occaisional Sports Illustrated.

I would love to see a flat tax or national sales tax. The sales tax would become the great leveler of revenue.... you would be taxed only on your personal consumption. The only fear I would have is that would open the door to a large "black market" of non-taxed goods. If we can't control the influx now of so many things imagine what it would be like then. As for the flat tax.....I am afraid industries like the housing industry would die if there was no tax incentive for home ownership.

At least most of us are discussing food and food-related topics, Haivart. Between the old epi and the new one, we do tend to get a little distracted. Trust me, though, when we get a new discussion board (if we do) for the new episode, we'll be all over it in no time, and being really, really relevant while we're at it, LOL!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

~L~

A wait staff gets a very small salary, so they depend on your tips for their livelihood, and, if you don't reach into your pocket, and give them at least the minimum tip then, you are taking up a space that could be occupied by tipping customers.

Because the staff gets a very small salary your tips make it worthwhile; It gives them a working wage. If the person waiting on you is good, then people will tip better, and there is incentive for the worker to give you better service. Now, if I waited on you once, you tipped like you said you do, and came back, then your service is going to be miserable. I have no incentive. other than to rush you, and get you out, so I can get a "worthwhile" tip from another customer.

If I get a string of customers like that, then speed is the only thing in my mind, and that makes it bad for a customer who would normally tip well, but I don't know, and put the "bums rush" on. In the end all of the customers that night will suffer.

That still begs Ford's original question:

What do you do if you do not get good service? Do you:

A: Not Tip....
B: Tip anyway, but just less...
c: Tip as usual, but not return to the restaurant ...

And what do you do if, in fact, you get terrible service?

Hey...KK.... watch out for those Mojitos.....even though they are made with rum you might end up like the girl in the song "Tequilla Makes Her Clothes Fall Off"!!!!

I didnt know there was such a thing as a Straight Bear until I came to these boards. Erik was a Bear? He didnt seem very large or furry to me.

I always tip, no matter how bad the service is. I may do a bad tip, with an explanation on how it could have been done to get a better tip, but I always tip. I've been there. The only reason I would not return is bad food. In fact, I've tipped really well for bad food that was served to me with speed and attention. Then I just didn't return.

The simple fact is D.C. is a small town, and there are very few times when I don't know a soul in that restaurant, so it's a given that I tip well. I may get bad service once in a year,and we eat out a lot. There are periods where we eat out 4 or 5 times a week. I have an excellent reputation, hence most waiters kiss my arse.

That assumes that I feel that my initial service was less than expected. If on my first trip I get served as I wish (and I do not think I ask too much) then I tip accordingly. We have several places here where we are regulars and wait staff knows us. I do not see them "running for cover" when we enter so I have to believe that I am on the right track.

Bear... maybe you are responding to a different market.... here in Calif. our list of places to go out to eat is huge and they ALL beg for our patronage. That coupled with California's wage laws some servers just "mail " thier time in. For that I will not tip..... I have even on one occasion have thrown the server "under the bus" when asked by a manager "how was my meal." I reitterate... I do not ask much but if I do not get much I will not pay extra for less.

Hi, everyone!

It's Spring nreak time for me ....

I am hoping that tonight's epi will come up with recipes that aren't centered around seafood. It wouldn't be a pretty sight for me to eat seafood - unless emergency rooms are your thing.

Also, here in my backwater place of very FEW restaurants, most managers like it when we show up. I guess we are the unofficial "wait staff final exam". If we get good service from the wait staff, we tip real good and also let the manager know we appreciated the service we got. On the other hand, if the service is lousy, we still tip since it is part of the salary taxed - as well as earned, but we also bring it to the attention of the waiter and manager as well. It could have been just a bad day or it could be something that "retraining" can easily fix for a better experience for everyone. I guess we are liked by those who have waited on us because hubby and I actually had 2 servers "fight" over who was going to get to serve us.

What I don't like is being MADE to pay a "tip" for a party of 8 or larger. Like I said, if the service is good, they will get more than what I was "expected" to tip. However, I don't like being "forced". I can understand the "why" behind the practice, but it still chaps my behind all the same.

I think leaving a quarter, which is what an aquaintance of mine did one time, is just an insult. I wouldn't want to have to take a chance of being back in that person's station anywhere. Who know's what might make it into the food .....

Having been a manager in retail, it was nice to know when things were going right as well as when things needed improvement.

And I say that I always tip, no matter how bad the service is. If I hadn't tipped poorly, with an explanation on how it could be done better, then I know of at least 4 waiters who would have quit the business. I'm not saying that I, personally, am the reason for that, but an informed, and informing, customer will help to make a great server.

I don't know you, so I can't say if you're expecting too much, not enough or just the right amount of service, but the fact that you continue to get good service from people who know you says that the tips are, at the very least, in the ballpark.

But it's you who are doing the tipping, so I can't say one way or the other. As long as you get good service then you should continue doing what you do.

Any large male who is bear-shaped....big belly....can be called a bear. And not all bears are furry...haven't you heard of the dreaded Alaskan Furless Bear? It suffers from frostbite?

That's what I like to hear thanks

so, where's this thread then? It's like 30 mins away????

There are many reasons why a mandatory tip for large gruops is reasonable. The server must make accomodations for the party usually by moving tables and setting up extra service. Keeping the orders straight when dealing with a large group is also more difficult unless you have a really good system set up. Getting all the drinks out/filled and the orders in to the kitchen and out on time is more difficult with a group that a couple. AND, usually large groups are notorious for demanding lots of attention and then skipping without leaving a tip. It doesn't happen all the time but it does happen.

ROTFLMAO

Is that "Californian" for "I'm bigger, and they beg for it"?

Yes, like I said know the "why" of it, it still chaps, though.

I guess I'm lucky that my young teen son likes to cook so I don't go out all that often. He can open up the spice cabinet and bake some d*mn good chicken and such. He doesn't know what you're SUPPOSED to do with the spices, he just sniffs them and used any sort of combos that you wouldn't think of. He's done this for a couple of years now and is expanding his culinary expertise to cover side dishes to boot.

I might have a future Top Chef contestant here if he keeps this up - except for the fact he doesn't like many veggies. He likes more than me, but still doesn't do mushrooms, broccoli, and other more off the norm veggies.

No new thread yet???? What's up with that Bravo??? Cmon show us that magical elf love.

I thought the fair tax sounded pretty good and my sister is all about it. I did hear one criticism of it once though which was about states and the gov. having to pay taxes on their purchases and well and that that could get crazy when they are buying things that are really expensive, like 37 milliion dollars and then tax on top of it. Someone feel free to enlighten me a little more on this one i you know what I am talking about. I also heard that it wouldn't affect state tax (I mean, unless all the states accepted it as well). I live in a state without state tax, so that wouldn't affect me, but....other than that is sounds pretty cool.

OK .....

It's 20 minutes 'til showtime and no new thread .....

okay, they aren't going to give us this thread are they? How disappointing.

2p2p I have to say, I miss the kitty in the bathroom. It was sooooo cute.

so, I need 50 bucks. I found a hedgehog on craigslist that is in need of a new home but they want a 50 dollar rehoming fee His name is Paco! I want him.

Dang! Zoi looks like a psycho when Richard says we won.

Anyone know the brand and style of wine glasses used at Elimination dinner?

LOL!!! Good thing their knives were put up already.

Well DR, kitty's a bit paranoid right now. Hopefully the urge to revisit the potty will come soon. After all, more than 1 person mistook me for 2pooped2PEE instead of 2pooped2SEE.

well, I guess we ain't gettin' a board tonight. Can I call firsties on this one! haha

that is funny, I have to say, sometimes I think 2pooped2pee too. hee hee. I think I even accidently put 2P2P on there didn't I? But I know better. It reminds of Lucy---are you unpoopular? Do you pop out at parties? try vitametavegimen.

today I saw a license plate that said "i'm only speeding b/c I have to poop"

How many times are they going to show that clip of Jenn saying she knows Zoi's skill....enough already.

Wow! Antonia seems really cool.

where is everyone? ARen't we going to post on here? am I missing something? Well, looks like Karcaw was right so far.

Loved the QF. Elimination looks fun.

Well, my moniker comes from me being too tired from grading papers and doing lesson plans to watch the episode when it first airs late in the evening - hence, I'm too pooped (tired) to see or 2pooped2see.

Well, Lisa's team looks like they are doing great so maybe she isn't going home. maybe that was the winner-maybe Lisa won. but she sure looked upset in the previews.

Looks like team Fire had the best food. Judges sure weren't impressed with Water, Earth or Air.

Who deserves a spanking for their attitude?????

I think the BBB does for not giving us an epi 5 thread!

Dale--She makes bacon air you f*in kidding me. She makes bacon and gets a trip to Italy??? I'm bitter.

well, it sounds like Dale just goes off b/c he is jealous that Lisa won.