Goody goody gum drops, the "Monkey bread hole" again... ...

Fishermen, actually like the Monkfish...There is a bone in their heads which looks like a crucifix(it's how the fish got it's common name)...But it IS one ugly fish...Tasty though...

'k I'm sure this has already been addressed...But IMHO Richard, really showed himself to not only be a proffessional, but a Gentleman, also, in giving his win to Steph...And she returned the favor by sharing it with him...That was probably one of the most "real" moments on this show EVER...
Richard, has "grown" on me; I really didn't like him at first(I dimissed him as a "Hung alike"-along with Dale,)but now I like him to win...His sharing his "win" showed he knows to give credit when credit is due...And is a "humble" guy...
On the other side...Dale...First I hated him, then I kinda liked him...I'm back to hating him again...He's just an "nese"(Chinese, Japanese, etc.)"gangsta"...Totally "getto"...(his gropping himself showed that)...I really don't know how he "skated" through this challenge...Only the "daunting" amount of "prep" he did saved him...(so Tom, it's NOT always about the food-but then we've(loyal Bravo viewers) have always known that)
Nikki, really should have stepped up...She knows Italian...so:
Buh, bye, now...

OK BBB WTF is this "You Don't have permision to post on this board"??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Get you act together...

NO... ...

Dale don't got enough meat to satisfy... ...He's "nese"...

No it's probably after the "disaster" of the first "Gay" wedding(boxed cake mix)Bravo, couldn't find any "straight"(or Gay)couples to risk it...
I mean really...Keeping the cheftestance awake all night...That is just cruel...NO caterer, or restraunteer, would be forced to work under those conditions...Even Gale Gand, herself, said that it takes THREE days to make a wedding cake(and you can bet she's WELL rested)...
They put the same time contstrants on the cheftestance in season one...Obvisly the producers didn't learn their lesson...A wedding can NOT be done in just a few hours...
Tom, was the moving force in this challenge...He for whatever "perverse" reason thinks this is a fair challenge...Frankly, I'd like to see HIM pull off a reception under the same "rules" and time constraints...I doubt he could do it(even with his considerable staff)...
I feel a "rant" comming on... ...

How do we get rid of Dale. I've never seen such a cry baby or someone so full of himself. He doesn't like anyone, and certainly doesn't work well with others. He thinks he's always right. He should have been eliminated tonight. I think the judges are a little full of themselves too. How dare they overlook his bad behavior, and yes, it does matter how a chef acts, in the kitchen and around clients. If I walked into a restaurant where Dale was the head chef, and I saw how he acted towards his staff, and his "I'm right, you suck" attitude, I'd walk out and head for McDonald's.

How about the classic, Italian Wedding Soup?

Just watched the epi again, did anybody notice no applauded Nikki when she left? or do you think it was edited?

KK, that you?

I signed up on bravotv.com solely to reply to this outrageous comment made by an obviously ignorant person. You psh3029840239 person, maybe you don't realize what you're saying. Let me make it clear to you. You don't say things like "He's just a 'nese' (Chinese, Japanese, etc.)." Good people don't do that. I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. Maybe that's okay from where you're from back in Illinois. But you know what? You put yourself out here to be judged, and I am judging you and telling you, You Are Wrong.

Number 1, Dale is filipino. Number 2, His heritage has NOTHING to do with his abilities as a chef. NOTHING. Number 3, I believe Dale is a talented chef. Of course, his behavior in the last episode is inexcusable. I can admit, respectable chefs are better than that. But if you look at the facts, he has put out great dishes and is very capable. He did the bulk of the work for the groom's portion of the wedding. He made a tasty ragu (?) according to the judges. Even Lisa, a contestant he doesn't get along with, can admit to that (as she did in the last episode, I believe).

I'm getting a little sidetracked because I am longtime fan of Top Chef and most Bravo tv shows. But the point I'm trying to make is, people really need to watch what they say. Before making the mistake of posting racist comments, they maybe need to reassess themselves. To you, the person behind the comment, please be aware of what you put out there, not just on public message boards on the Internet, but in real life. Phrases like that don't fly in real life. You singlehandedly managed to offend me, Dale, and I'm sure all those 'nese' and etc. people you so loosely address.

Yes, we must all be politically correct on this board. We don't put our selves on this board to be judged, let's leave that to the TC judges. This is just for friendly banter and to dicuss the topic. Also, where do you live? Phrases like this and alot worse are flying around where I live all the time. Don't say I didn't warn ya, you are going to get a backlash on this.

Also, psherman. Learn how to use "quotation marks". Sometimes, it's good to prune and proofread, to not quote every "word".

I totally agree. Andrew really ROCKED and made up the lost time! I have to admit I am new to watching the show. I only started a few weeks ago when Bravo had a weekend marathon, which helped me to get caught up. I actually HATED cooking shows (I have never cared for the dishes they make!), but I am so impressed with Richard that I tune in to see what he will accomplish next. Now I enjoy the whole cast (with a few exceptions, of course!) and can't wait to see what the next challenge will be. Thanks for having me here!

BTW how are the standings determined? According to my records, Andrew has only won 1 each of the quickfire and elimination challenges, yet he's ranked #2. Just curious how the points are given.

I remember that, butI don't remember from where.
Cookies, fav. peanut butter,, but have to limit since I'm "pre-diabetic"
Can live w/o the sweets, but gotta have my pizza.
Yea, I think I gotta crush, but I'm as straight as they come even on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Although early on, late on a Friday night and pictures of Margauritas, anything looked good.
Job problems, after training my last 4 managers (men) and being told that since I was in a male domanted job, men wouldn't accept me as a boss, therefore I would never be manager, I told them to shove it. If they only done it in writing I would have sued their butts. So I feel your pain, as I stated some time ago, everybody lies.
I would have kicked off Spike, missed a lotin the editing, but I don't think the judges said Nikkis food was bad? Not too upset by her leaving as she should have been gone long ago.
On my second cup of java hope I addressed everything. I just went back and re-read, Lord, please help me remember how to spell and use grammer correctly. LOL

I agree about Dale. He has an exceptional talent, but his prima donna attitude is hard to put up with. He still didn't deserve having to do all the work.

Me loves Bill O'Reilly most of the time.

We are constantly being judged. And I'm okay with that. What I'm not okay with is the fact that words are thrown around these days without consideration. I'm from San Francisco (Daly City, in fact), and I consider it a privilege. I have grown up never feeling it necessary to say racist things. But do hometowns really have a place here? There are PEOPLE everywhere. And making a generalization about Asians is making a generalization about real, live PEOPLE who are equally capable of emotional reactions. To me, there is no room for excuses. If you're ignorant because of how you were brought up or what surrounds you, pick up a history book, or even the current news. No matter what kind of backlash I'll receive, I still stand by what I believe. Watch what you say and maybe take heed of what others are saying and grow all the wiser.

I'm not trying to attack anyone, and he needs not to apologize. That's fine if he's sweet and didn't know. Now he knows. I hope now everybody knows. (Of course, sadly, that is beyond even wishful thinking.) And I hope I'm not sounding too harsh. You seem really sweet. It just really disappoints me, the things people say, how they still think and feel, or don't.

psh's "'nese" comment also caused my eyebrows to go up in questioning surprise. I don't recall ever reading a similarly questionable comment from him, so I really do think it was an unfortunate slip of the keyboard tongue. However, he did repeat it, coming back to use it a second time as a quick ethnic generalization to explain Dale's character.

Words really do matter, as do ethnic generalizations. My partner is Filipino. Just last week, we had a neighborhood lawn mowing guy come to our house trying to drum up business, saying that another neighbor had told him to come to the house with the "Chinaman." Both my partner and I were really quite offended.

This is not just a matter of being PC. It's a matter of basic personal sensitivity. If we called up someone for using the "n" word on these boards to describe an African American or the "f" word for describing an LGBT person, I don't think anyone would respond by accusing us of playing PC police. Inadvertent or not, psh's unfortunate turn of phrase falls into the same category of inappropriate comment.

Nevertheless, I do think this was an unintended slip, probably done more out of ignorance than any malicious, racist intent. I'm going to give psh the benefit of the doubt, but hope this is a learning experience.

O.K. Here's what I think and I KNOW I will get crusified for this. I don't judge anyone (on purpose, sometimes it slips out) there is only one that can judge and that's the great I AM. Also, I'm thinking you are kind of young, as we are all products of our past, I have a lot of past to me made up of. I've lived through the race riots of the 60's, the drugs and women's lib of the 70's, the Aids scare of the 80's, the Economic and technology of the 90's and the 9/11's of 2000's. A lot has influenced how I think and I try to treat people equally. All I'm saying is don't be so harsh on people or their belief's (tho I think Psh didn't realize the can ofworms he would open) You have not walked in their moccosans.
Since you're new to the board, you probably not aware that I am a right wing conservative god fearing christian. All also add my race: Human
(with a hint of 1/4 Cherokee, 1/4 Irish, 1/2 German. Pretty strong in my opinions, but VERY tolerant of everyone elses. Even yours.
HOW ABOUT THEM BEARS???

I'd like to add a few words in Nikki's defense---don't get me wrong I'm not unhappy that she gone but-----I think that even if she had tried harder to take the executive chef role for her team she wouldn't have stood a chance! She had already seen all three of her teammates behave badly. Shoot Dale even acted out in front of the judges after quickfire, he couldn't wait for the stew room. Lisa just has that asstitude and Spike told everyone in the Elements challenge he was gonna do what he wants---which he did. I think if Nikki had tried to be more assertive it may have ended up as a free-for-all. She ended up with the team of people who don't play well with others.

I do think she was one of the weakest competitors and lasted alot longer than she should have, but she showed a lot of class and the rest of the cheftestants should have been a lot more gracious for her exit.

Kristl, James Franco's attorney is on the phone for you, he's got a Cease & Desist Order about you comparing Franco to Spike. I can hear Franco in the background saying if you ever do that again, well... "I'm just sayin'... I know a guy. I make a call, bada bing bada boom, Kristl won't be doing that again."

Actually I think it's painfully obvious that with the hoodie and knit cap on his head, Spike has abandoned K-Fed and gone All Eminem on us. And that's what made the Smackdown between he and FiddyDale so inevitable.


Join us next week, when Spike begins channeling Tupac. Or, Biggie Smalls.

Yes, this is a game, but it's being played by "professionals." The Top Chef must be able to face all challenges facing them, and that includes having to work with others when called for. He doesn't have to be their buddy, but he can't consider himself superior to everyone and not even attempt to work with them. That's why the teams that don't work together always fail miserably at the judges' table.

One other thing I'd like to add----I felt so sorry for all of them at judges table. They were all freaking exhausted!! I have been that tired and I literally get sick. They all looked like crap. I know the point of having them cook all night is to heighten the drama but I think it's insane to put these people through that. Alright, have them cater a wedding but give them enough time to do a reasonable job of it.

Andrew----crispy chicken---didn't you learn anything??? And what is up with putting the spinach through a meat grinder??? Is this a new techinque I have to learn???

God I hope not. He is married to me!?!?!

Who wanted creamed spinach anyway. Not too many people like the stuff so I definately wouldn't want to have it at my wedding. Personally love the stuff.

For anybody who knows and can answer...

Is a Chilean Sea Bass dish a good choice for a wedding reception?

I've been to American wedding receptions, not a lot but some, I think never to any kind of Italian American reception... but I know I have never seen fish either chosen or served to people at an American wedding reception.

Shellfish, yeah, either some crustacean or some bivalve, something that suggests a bit of "lux" dining. Crab or shrimp, half a lobster one time, or maybe stuffed clams.

But I've not seen an actual fish course appear at any wedding reception. My guess would have been, well Americans aren't that crazy about fish, or whenever you have a big group there's always some who don't like fish.

Anyone enlighten me?

I don't recall Nikki screwing up a "Pasta" dish, exactly.

She did make a calamitous Macaroni & Cheese that made me think she doesn't understand as much as she probably should.

She baked that Mac & Cheese, then sealed it with a lid, put it into a hotbox, and let it sit there for up to 2 hours before service, and apparently did not realize all that starch in her macaroni would suck each and every molecule of H20 out of the cheese sauce surrounding it, just pull the water right out of her sauce. And turn the thing into a brick.

The bonus video from last nite's episode----extra judges table

http://video.bravotv.com/player/?id=248732


Dale is just an a$$

Parts, I saw this on some tribute to Julia Child on TV... Julia Child wrestling with, and introducing Americans to, a monkfish.



Just FYI, monkfish became popular only when other more familiar and favored species became severely overfished and rare.

Today, monkfish is severely overfished and is on the Please Don't Eat This seafood list. Has been, for quite a while.

But, this is Top Chef. Next week, tenderloins of Baby Panda.

Preview for next week

http://video.bravotv.com/player/?id=248973

Andrew is gonna stab somebody or cook some good food.

Exactly. Neither one of them would throw the other under the bus. They'd just cook their best w/o any sabatoge.

Maureen, on this carrots in the sauce issue... Lidia Bastianich *always* puts carrots into any of her long-cooked sauces and ragus. The long-cooked ones. Shredded carrot, minced onions, etc. She's definitely not a whoop de doo "Let's just innovate" chef.

As for the faster sauces, it may not be a centuries old practice, but carrots go quite well in a sauce, with other veggies, when you want a sauce with texture and solids, visual interest, some complexity. Helps a sauce avoid being a single monotonous flavor and texture.

Thanks again, and yes this show is like a drug. From the first show I watched, I kept saying, "Why are you WATCHING this? You hate food shows -- TURN IT OFF!!!!!" But I kept sitting there as one show led to another, then another, and by the end of the day I was HOOKED! Now I can't believe I have to wait a whole week to find out what happens next! I'm even curious about the previous seasons and wonder if I can see any of them. . .

Another show I've taken to watching is Throwdown with Bobby Flay. This is a fun show to watch, pitting Bobby against experts in their field. I think Bobby is courageous to go up against those who are exceptional in their specialized areas. I haven't seen Iron Chef or Hell's Kitchen, but now that I'm getting into it, I might just check them out (Thanks for letting me know that I may not like them -- I'll just check it out to see what the hype is all about ) .

I truly appreciate the warm welcome and look forward to future chats. Later!

Pshy, I've also heard that the Monkfish got its name because, once upon a time, it wasn't that common to catch one - they're deep-living bottom dwellers - and no one in a market would ever pay for one. So, the fish were given to the monks....

And, it's got to be the least amount of useable meat for the most amount of fish. What you saw was it, because the thing is all head and the "filet" is actually essentially the tail. Well, it seems that the liver is used by the Japanese .

If you want a good perpective of endangered species and species of which the fishing of them actually harms the environment, go here:

http://www.blueocean.org/Seafood/

They list a plethora of criteria that are graded, not just overfishing either. For instance, one of the things that gives monkfish a lower score (Mr. Monkfish is in the orange, not in the red on this scale) is the environmental impact trawling for them has since it disturbs the ocean floor (they lie on the ocean floor in wait of prey.

Psh, I realize you may not have intended to offend with this remark, but it is offensive and for more than just one reason.

One, please do not ever treat Asians or speak of Asians as if we are all the same, are interchangeable, that we're not worthy of people recognizing us as individual people, individual groups, individual nationalities. That "nese" remark is really very inappropriate, more so than you may realize.

Second, I'm all in favor of condemning Dale's bad behavior. I have no tolerance for the whole GaNgStA thing.

Do condemn him for the "gangsta" affect, but do not ever condemn him for being a "nese gangsta." That's far far too close to slamming someone for his ethnicity. And that's just not appropriate.

I should also add that when a person is kind of "hatin'" on an individual, expressing their dislike, and in expressing that dislike a person specifically invokes or references that individual's ethnicity or race... Well, just never do that. No matter how often others are still doing that. Leave those others on the ash heap of the 20th century.

You guys have me rolling this a.m. Such wit in one place.
PS. Monitor does not think Maxwell House is good to the last drop.

It was time for Nikki to go. I was very glad Dale didn't. Maybe we can get rid of sourpuss next week. I haven't seen the preview yet.

Rady, there must be more to American than I realize, as I've never been served any kind of creamed spinach at any celebratory gathering, banquet, or similar meal. Certainly not a wedding reception.

But, about putting it through a meat grinder. You know what? That might work. No promises but... that might actually work really well. For preparing really large amounts of spinach for a banquet, one doesn't want to get stuck chopping by hand - but a food processor is also too slow and will destroy the texture... A meat grinder... jeez.

Now, that scares me more than the monk fish.

Haha, thats a mental image thats going to make it hard to sleep tonight!!

I was surprised at the choice of creamed spinach. I guess the meat grinder did work.
I was also surprised at the fish dish--granted it was good but not usual wedding fare.

In fairness to Psh, I should point out that I did immediately understand, embrace, and agree with the observation about Dale doing his "nese gangsta" routine.

Lots of folks may have no clue about this, but among AsianAms, there are countless males, teens and young adults, who have never been to Da Hood, don't know where Da Hood is located exactly, would wet themselves if they ever found themselves in Da Hood... yet they adopt speech patterns, dress, body language, confrontational styles that they imagine are Fum Da Hood.

Truly, in every respect, the AsianAm equivalent of The Wiggah.

I find it unbearable, I think it's fantastically offensive to African Americans and just so obviously racist that I want to Let The Beatings Begin.

And if you don't know what this is all about and haven't been seeing it for years, you may well not believe me.

But I know exactly what I saw when Dale went all confrontational with Lisa. And it was more than just grabbing his crotch, watch all his body language during that episode. I've seen it for years.

Dale, by the way, is 29. And that is way past the Freshness Date on such behavior.

I agree with you totally. Didn't know you were in FL. Here's another opposite, I hate hot weather. But would love and come visit when its cold here. Don't work anymore, kids are grown, financially fit, so I could come anytime. Other than the summers. TCF get together, great Idea.
All for it. Oh, and I don't fly, long story there. Would have to drive, but that's O.K. cause I love the scenary. Do you have a dark haired "He" doll. Loves the dark haired, dark eyed darlings. Yet I married two blonde/blue eyed, Go figure. I could have a fantasy. LOL

It may be that I'm responding to CAKE in a guy way... but I don't get it, the criticism for the appearance of Lisa's cake and praise for Stephanie's.

Granted, I don't go to a wedding reception looking forward to the cake, and I don't usually think much of the cake.

But I'd be all over Lisa's cake before summoning any interest in Stephie's.

Lisa's is shouting chocolate to me. Chocolate, and nuts, and tons of chocolate shavings. Stephie's cake looks somewhat pretty and looks traditional, but it doesn't make me want to go grab my piece. Stephie's is kind of eh, OK... wedding cake.

But I'd be heading for Lisa's cake. And if someone next to me said, "Well it doesn't look that nice does it, and the other cake looks so much better," I'd be responding with "Yes, and what difference does that make right now, this one here's got the chocolate."

To borrow a line from Kiss Me Kate, looks like a clear case of "Much Ado About Nusing" to me!