ChelseaNH
June 3, 2006 - 03:50 PM
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Until the origin of the Pumpkin Lasagna Shrek cooked gets solved I refuse to giver her credit for the flavor of someone else's recipie.
So, now we have to do essentially a copyright search on all the recipes in the competition to make sure they weren't made first by someone else? Does Lee Anne lose her EC win in episode 6 because Tiffani came up with the idea for the stuffed gnocchi? Wasn't the whole point of that challenge that it didn't matter where the recipe came from, you were only being graded on what you did with it?
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Funy how you leave out the first part of the finale where everything Dave cooked was as good or better than Shrek's in flavor.
In the high roller challenge, for both of them, a guest judged liked the flavors, so basically a tie. In the poker room challenge, Tiffani got dinged for convenience but we didn't hear any comments about flavor, so indeterminate. The Cirque du Soleil challenge is the only one where he's clearly ahead of Tiffani.
Even if I credit all the indeterminate/tie scenarios to Dave, I think he just edges out Tiffani in number of wins -- which is not a "taste drubbing" overall.
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Not to mention the dessert course that was arguably the best dish of the second part of the finale for both chefs.
And Miguel apparently made the "magnificent" duo of beef that Harold got praise for. We don't know if it was his recipe or Harold's; they never showed and no one said. But it certainly looked like Harold was giving Miguel the assignment and the credit. Do we remove that dish from the final decision? Or do we accept that they were both judged on what came out of their respective kitchens, regardless of who actually did what?
katiecoolady
June 3, 2006 - 04:04 PM
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I cannot understand the sympathy that Chef Tom feels for Tiffani unless he sees a bit of himself in her. Both do not have a formal culinary education except Tom is an ultra success story of someone who comes up from nothing to being a culinary icon and self-made millionaire. However if Tom is going to be a judge again next season, he's going to have to leave his personal feelings and bias at home. As for the eggshells, I eat eggwhite sandwiches for breakfast at least 5 times a week and have been doing this for the 20 years. I can count on one hand the number of times I've had to remove eggshells from the cup I was collecting the eggwhites in. I would have to say that it was a bit suspicious that a professional chef vying for the title of Top Chef would leave eggshells in a cake mix knowing that her chief competitor would have to take the heat for it.
I found Chef Tom lacking in any kind of objectivity throughout the season. They seemed to have him *sort of* in the mentor role, then at the Judge's table rating the food for food's sake...sometimes. It was murky and I found HIM murky in terms of his bias, which was obvious in various scenes. I haven't read his blog because I frankly don't respect him and his passive aggressive/condescending ways toward the contestants. That kind of sarcastic "hey, just kidding!" thing makes me nuts. I've read enough about his blog entries to know it would just be more of the same. I really hope they find someone else for next season.
Oh, and it is really REALLY hard to screw up a cake mix. Leaving out an ingredient (of what...two?) and eggshells...well that would be about it. Ok, well forgetting to bake it would be another.
johnw
June 3, 2006 - 05:07 PM
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Until the origin of the Pumpkin Lasagna Shrek cooked gets solved I refuse to giver her credit for the flavor of someone else's recipie.
So, now we have to do essentially a copyright search on all the recipes in the competition to make sure they weren't made first by someone else? Does Lee Anne lose her EC win in episode 6 because Tiffani came up with the idea for the stuffed gnocchi? Wasn't the whole point of that challenge that it didn't matter where the recipe came from, you were only being graded on what you did with it?
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Funy how you leave out the first part of the finale where everything Dave cooked was as good or better than Shrek's in flavor.
In the high roller challenge, for both of them, a guest judged liked the flavors, so basically a tie. In the poker room challenge, Tiffani got dinged for convenience but we didn't hear any comments about flavor, so indeterminate. The Cirque du Soleil challenge is the only one where he's clearly ahead of Tiffani.
Even if I credit all the indeterminate/tie scenarios to Dave, I think he just edges out Tiffani in number of wins -- which is not a "taste drubbing" overall.
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Not to mention the dessert course that was arguably the best dish of the second part of the finale for both chefs.
And Miguel apparently made the "magnificent" duo of beef that Harold got praise for. We don't know if it was his recipe or Harold's; they never showed and no one said. But it certainly looked like Harold was giving Miguel the assignment and the credit. Do we remove that dish from the final decision? Or do we accept that they were both judged on what came out of their respective kitchens, regardless of who actually did what?
In Lee Anne's Napa Valley Blog she mentions that the fig stuffed gnochi in Ted Allen's challenge that Tiffani did not provide a recipe or help her with the dish. Lee Anne says she did the dish all by herself.
ChelseaNH
June 3, 2006 - 05:17 PM
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In Lee Anne's Napa Valley Blog she mentions that the fig stuffed gnochi in Ted Allen's challenge that Tiffani did not provide a recipe or help her with the dish. Lee Anne says she did the dish all by herself.
But she didn't come up with the dish all by herself. We didn't see Tiffani work from a recipe for her pumpkin lasagna in episode 1; the criticism is that she didn't come up with the dish. The explicit point of the dinner party challenge was to "steal" someone else's idea and make it your own. Which means that "stealing" is considered okay.
johnw
June 3, 2006 - 06:42 PM
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In Lee Anne's Napa Valley Blog she mentions that the fig stuffed gnochi in Ted Allen's challenge that Tiffani did not provide a recipe or help her with the dish. Lee Anne says she did the dish all by herself.
But she didn't come up with the dish all by herself. We didn't see Tiffani work from a recipe for her pumpkin lasagna in episode 1; the criticism is that she didn't come up with the dish. The explicit point of the dinner party challenge was to "steal" someone else's idea and make it your own. Which means that "stealing" is considered okay.
Being assigned someone else's dish by using the knife block isn't "stealing". But let's be honest. There are thousands of recipes on the internet. Pumpkin lasagna is no exception.
Ditto for any other recipe. Food and recipes have been around for hundreds if not thousands of years. Some have been documented and some haven't. If a chef comes up with a "new' dish, that chef may claim it as his/her own despite the fact that there was an identical recipe out there somewheres. I wouldn't call that "stealing". Rather it is an innocent mistake - sort of like Columbus "discovering America" and thinking that he was the first European to reach the North American continent - an honest mistake. So maybe Tiffani's pumpkin lasagna is an original dish and maybe it isn't. But what did Tiffani admit to the junior league ladies? That she has no problem with taking a prepackaged meal and cooking it for her friends and calling it her own dish? I believe she called that dish a "Tiffani".
WhataJoke
June 3, 2006 - 07:02 PM
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Until the origin of the Pumpkin Lasagna Shrek cooked gets solved I refuse to giver her credit for the flavor of someone else's recipie.
So, now we have to do essentially a copyright search on all the recipes in the competition to make sure they weren't made first by someone else? Does Lee Anne lose her EC win in episode 6 because Tiffani came up with the idea for the stuffed gnocchi? Wasn't the whole point of that challenge that it didn't matter where the recipe came from, you were only being graded on what you did with it?
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Funy how you leave out the first part of the finale where everything Dave cooked was as good or better than Shrek's in flavor.
In the high roller challenge, for both of them, a guest judged liked the flavors, so basically a tie. In the poker room challenge, Tiffani got dinged for convenience but we didn't hear any comments about flavor, so indeterminate. The Cirque du Soleil challenge is the only one where he's clearly ahead of Tiffani.
Even if I credit all the indeterminate/tie scenarios to Dave, I think he just edges out Tiffani in number of wins -- which is not a "taste drubbing" overall.
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Not to mention the dessert course that was arguably the best dish of the second part of the finale for both chefs.
And Miguel apparently made the "magnificent" duo of beef that Harold got praise for. We don't know if it was his recipe or Harold's; they never showed and no one said. But it certainly looked like Harold was giving Miguel the assignment and the credit. Do we remove that dish from the final decision? Or do we accept that they were both judged on what came out of their respective kitchens, regardless of who actually did what?
I'm not talking about copyrighting dishes, but if someone comes into the contest with a dish and its not their own and its a "signature dish" type of challenge then it says something about your own creativity and style.
The Octopus dish she won the QF on episode three with wasn't hers and she clearly had worked with it for a while. these are not her flavors she's creating mearly others dishes she's reproducing.
The Finale she Lost the poker challenge to Dave? how is that indeterminate? His food was better.
In the circque de sole challenge not only is his food the best but her food is barely edible, with the words rubbery, fishy being used to describe her offerings.
That is a "taste drubbing." Its so conclusive that Dave would have beaten Shrek is the show truely was "all about the food".
And as far as the duo of beef goes Harold never claimed it was 100% his own and gave miguel props for it infront of Tom himself. But the duo was different from its initial creation with the use of Kobe beef etc...
Shrek told Dave to run with his dessert and then infront of the judges they suddenly "discussed it at lenght". Clearly two differnet situations.
I'm sorry but I refuse to believe that a person who can't make cookies or even applesauce, something I CAN DO, is turely a good cook.
katiecoolady
June 3, 2006 - 07:50 PM
Applesauce! Kudos...I buy mine at Trader Joe's.
(but I can bake some serious cookies, alas, no pumpkin lasagna but I've had the butternut squash ravioli..also from T Joe's. )
britwriter
June 4, 2006 - 05:15 AM
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Seriously, no one on the planet would characterize Stephen as "humble," in ANY episode. I again invite you to show where this drunken jerk maintained a "humble" spirit throughout the broadcast. It didn't happen.
It's too pointless, at least IMO, to try and reason with someone who isn't able to be reasonable and rational to begin with, so I'll just leave you to blah, blah, blah...
And I'll leave you with your acknowledged inability to cite where Stephen demonstrated "humbleness" throughout the broadcast. Like I said: It didn't happen.
He was very humble in his appology to Candice. Any more tibbits of the show we can sort out for you? I know watching TV through a Bong induced haze can allow for some detail to go by the boards...
I will give you one thing...he was humble to Candi...and he said that he had learned a lot about himself after actually watching himself on screen, which says a lot about his character...But watch the "Bong" comments dude (or dudette) they are useful tools and do come in very handy if one uses one properly.
texbro1
June 4, 2006 - 06:45 AM
too funny!! easy to find a replica as tom is the middle of three brothers.
daverocks
June 4, 2006 - 10:13 AM
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The competition was cut-throat. They didn't act all "warm and fuzzy" until the final episode, when it appeared evident their rival Tiffani (whose culinary skills they were all jealous of since the first episode) might actually win.
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Both Harold and Lee Anne possess the likeability factor and had formed a warm relationship with nearly all of the contestants.
All of the chefs competed hard and most competed with the Top Chef prize as a goal. A few didn't like Andrea and maybe Lisa. But as far as being "cutthroat", the only one who was accused of lowering oven temperatures and turning off stove burners was Tiffani, the urban legend ex-lax queen.
though i am not going to speculate on the ovens, I will agree that Tiffani was the only one who seemed to make it cutthroat. everyone seemed very laid back. yes, they wanted to win but like Dave said at one point, we aren't saving a life and LeAnne pointed to the fact that when they were in the oven Tiffani was a different person and very -well I can't remember the exact words she said but something along the lines of her becoming very competitive. Even Harold as much as he wanted it was often willing to own up to mistakes even if it meant he might possibly go home. I thought that was a really intersting thing about this show actually. Miguel was always funny b/c he seemed to make it sound more cutthroat at times than it looked.
daverocks
June 4, 2006 - 10:38 AM
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LeAnne pointed to the fact that when they were in the oven Tiffani was a different person and very -well I can't remember the exact words she said but something along the lines of her becoming very competitive.
the oven...hahaha. I meant the kitchen.
ChelseaNH
June 4, 2006 - 11:21 AM
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I'm not talking about copyrighting dishes, but if someone comes into the contest with a dish and its not their own and its a "signature dish" type of challenge then it says something about your own creativity and style.
They weren't asked to do something creative. They were asked to express their personality through their food. Has no one ever made a shrimp risotto? Duo of beef? Jerk chicken? Lamb enchiladas?
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The Octopus dish she won the QF on episode three with wasn't hers and she clearly had worked with it for a while.
Are you going to review everyone's recipes to see where they came from? Cynthia didn't think up the idea of putting a cork in the water to tenderize the octopus; shall we disqualify her entry because she's obviously working off of someone else's knowledge base?
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these are not her flavors she's creating mearly others dishes she's reproducing.
How do you know what the flavors are? Did you taste Tiffani's octopus dish?
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The Finale she Lost the poker challenge to Dave? how is that indeterminate?
The comparison is not who won or lost, but whose flavors were better. The comments about Tiffani's food had to do with the convenience, not the flavor. One guy said it would have been his favorite if not for the napoleon, so they didn't hate the food. There's not enough information to compare Dave and Tiffani's entries on _flavor_.
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In the circque de sole challenge not only is his food the best but her food is barely edible, with the words rubbery, fishy being used to describe her offerings.
The pork was a "little" rubbery, not inedible. Her pork and beef dishes were about half-eaten, similar to Harold's dishes.
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And as far as the duo of beef goes Harold never claimed it was 100% his own
and gave miguel props for it infront of Tom himself. But the duo was different from its initial creation with the use of Kobe beef etc...
Shrek told Dave to run with his dessert and then infront of the judges they suddenly "discussed it at lenght". Clearly two differnet situations.
Not when it comes to giving credit to the chef for the work of the sous chefs. Either you do, or you don't.
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I'm sorry but I refuse to believe that a person who can't make cookies or even applesauce, something I CAN DO, is turely a good cook.
The judges say she is. Her competitors -- who don't even like her -- say she is. Her record throughout the show (not just the final) says she is. So the evidence is there. But you _refuse_ to believe it. And that's the problem I have with the way you think.
Rosebud66
June 4, 2006 - 11:29 AM
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And Miguel apparently made the "magnificent" duo of beef that Harold got praise for. We don't know if it was his recipe or Harold's; they never showed and no one said. But it certainly looked like Harold was giving Miguel the assignment and the credit. Do we remove that dish from the final decision? Or do we accept that they were both judged on what came out of their respective kitchens, regardless of who actually did what? Quote:
The recipe board has both Miguel's and Harold's duo of beef recipes listed. They are similar but not exactly the same. I think Harold just knew that Miguel was very capable of preparing that type of dish and let him go with his (Harolds) recipe.
WhataJoke
June 4, 2006 - 05:55 PM
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I'm not talking about copyrighting dishes, but if someone comes into the contest with a dish and its not their own and its a "signature dish" type of challenge then it says something about your own creativity and style.
And despite all her mistakes and obvious "borrowing" of others dishes you continue to assert that she is really a good chef, when the truth of the matter is that she is a glorified line cook/waitress who used every disperutible tactic available to curry favor with producers and advance in the competition.
Sorry but she was exposed for not only the substandard person that she was but the substandard chef as well.
They weren't asked to do something creative. They were asked to express their personality through their food. Has no one ever made a shrimp risotto? Duo of beef? Jerk chicken? Lamb enchiladas?
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The Octopus dish she won the QF on episode three with wasn't hers and she clearly had worked with it for a while.
Are you going to review everyone's recipes to see where they came from? Cynthia didn't think up the idea of putting a cork in the water to tenderize the octopus; shall we disqualify her entry because she's obviously working off of someone else's knowledge base?
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these are not her flavors she's creating mearly others dishes she's reproducing.
How do you know what the flavors are? Did you taste Tiffani's octopus dish?
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The Finale she Lost the poker challenge to Dave? how is that indeterminate?
The comparison is not who won or lost, but whose flavors were better. The comments about Tiffani's food had to do with the convenience, not the flavor. One guy said it would have been his favorite if not for the napoleon, so they didn't hate the food. There's not enough information to compare Dave and Tiffani's entries on _flavor_.
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In the circque de sole challenge not only is his food the best but her food is barely edible, with the words rubbery, fishy being used to describe her offerings.
The pork was a "little" rubbery, not inedible. Her pork and beef dishes were about half-eaten, similar to Harold's dishes.
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And as far as the duo of beef goes Harold never claimed it was 100% his own
and gave miguel props for it infront of Tom himself. But the duo was different from its initial creation with the use of Kobe beef etc...
Shrek told Dave to run with his dessert and then infront of the judges they suddenly "discussed it at lenght". Clearly two differnet situations.
Not when it comes to giving credit to the chef for the work of the sous chefs. Either you do, or you don't.
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I'm sorry but I refuse to believe that a person who can't make cookies or even applesauce, something I CAN DO, is turely a good cook.
The judges say she is. Her competitors -- who don't even like her -- say she is. Her record throughout the show (not just the final) says she is. So the evidence is there. But you _refuse_ to believe it. And that's the problem I have with the way you think.
ChelseaNH
June 5, 2006 - 08:16 AM
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And despite all her mistakes and obvious "borrowing" of others dishes you continue to assert that she is really a good chef
1. Mistakes: you cite the cookies and the applesauce. The cookies were fortune cookies; how often do you make those? Do you think the average homemade snickerdoodle would hold up very well dangled from a string and tied around a person's neck? As for the applesauce, I suspect there wasn't much sweetening, since the team was trying to keep things healthy, and it wasn't what the kids were used to.
2. How was the borrowing obvious? Would you have known if no one had mentioned it? The only _obvious_ borrowing was Chef Mike Yakura announcing he was going to steal the lychee mojito for Le Coloniale and Chef Hiro Sone announcing he was going to steal the sunchoke-creamed spinach for Terra. Does that make them glorified line cooks?
3. As I said, the judges say she's a good chef. The competitors who hate her say she's a good chef. People who know way more about cooking than I do say she's a good chef. I say, I believe them.
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when the truth of the matter is th at she is a glorified line cook/waitress who used every disperutible tactic available to curry favor with producers and advance in the competition.
So prove it.
Elbie
June 5, 2006 - 01:17 PM
"in the oven" Hee! daverocks, that was a cute Freudian slip. I think there were times when the other chefs would have liked to put Tiff in the oven.
I thought she certainly deserved being in the top four because of her creative dishes. However, looking at the "whole package" necessary to be a successful Top Chef in a working restaurant, I was really hoping for a Harold/Lee Anne finale.
As others have noted, that would have made for some great TV and it would have been so interesting to see how the sous chefs worked with them and made the decision about who they thought should win at the end.
I know creative talent is very important in any artistic field, but being able to inspire a team to really WANT your art to be well received and to maintain loyalty within the team is just SO important!
I just don't think anyone deserves to be "Top" anything if they think they don't have to treat others well. "I'm here to win, not to make friends." is just a sad pseudo-excuse to dismiss the feelings of other people. It is still true....Karma's a [expletive deleted]!"
ChelseaNH
June 5, 2006 - 01:25 PM
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I know creative talent is very important in any artistic field, but being able to inspire a team to really WANT your art to be well received and to maintain loyalty within the team is just SO important!
Well, it's important for material success. It's not necessarily important for personal satisfaction. So I guess it all comes down to how one defines success.
Elbie
June 5, 2006 - 01:39 PM
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I know creative talent is very important in any artistic field, but being able to inspire a team to really WANT your art to be well received and to maintain loyalty within the team is just SO important!
Well, it's important for material success. It's not necessarily important for personal satisfaction. So I guess it all comes down to how one defines success.
Good point! I guess I'm just thinking of how much better anyone's work environment is when people get along and want to help each other do well. What many "leaders" don't understand is that subordinates can find a million little ways to sabotage you if they don't feel valued.
ChelseaNH
June 5, 2006 - 02:18 PM
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I guess I'm just thinking of how much better anyone's work environment is when people get along and want to help each other do well. What many "leaders" don't understand is that subordinates can find a million little ways to sabotage you if they don't feel valued.
I think Tiffani can show subordinates that they're valued -- she was really working on it during the finale, at least -- but she doesn't have Harold's innate social focus. Tiffani is more task-oriented and I think she tends to focus deeply on what she's doing. If I'm doing something I enjoy and I'm doing it well, I don't want somebody coming over to pat me on the shoulder, because it disrupts my concentration. On the other hand, I want to be properly compensated and I don't want to be treated like a lackey, so it isn't _just_ about the work. If I were a cooking type, I actually might prefer working for Tiffani than Harold. But I suspect most people would find it easier to work for Harold. He's nice, he's collegial, and he does interesting work. Overall, he's definitely more of a Top Chef personality. I just think Tiffani has something to offer as well.
johnw
June 5, 2006 - 04:22 PM
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The competition was cut-throat. They didn't act all "warm and fuzzy" until the final episode, when it appeared evident their rival Tiffani (whose culinary skills they were all jealous of since the first episode) might actually win.
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Both Harold and Lee Anne possess the likeability factor and had formed a warm relationship with nearly all of the contestants.
All of the chefs competed hard and most competed with the Top Chef prize as a goal. A few didn't like Andrea and maybe Lisa. But as far as being "cutthroat", the only one who was accused of lowering oven temperatures and turning off stove burners was Tiffani, the urban legend ex-lax queen.
though i am not going to speculate on the ovens, I will agree that Tiffani was the only one who seemed to make it cutthroat. everyone seemed very laid back. yes, they wanted to win but like Dave said at one point, we aren't saving a life and LeAnne pointed to the fact that when they were in the oven Tiffani was a different person and very -well I can't remember the exact words she said but something along the lines of her becoming very competitive. Even Harold as much as he wanted it was often willing to own up to mistakes even if it meant he might possibly go home. I thought that was a really intersting thing about this show actually. Miguel was always funny b/c he seemed to make it sound more cutthroat at times than it looked.
Dave,
A few wanted it more than others, particularly those who were low in the culinary hierarchy in terms of wages(not all, but some). Tiffani wanted it the most, primarily because of the $100,000. She said that the $100,000 was her goal at the beginning of the show, and it was the last thing she said at the very end of the show. If what Andrea said was true then Miguel wanted it very bad. That's why she offered Miguel her immunity because she knew how bad he wanted to win. But Miguel was not truly cutthroat or ready to throw Andrea under the bus. She had immunity and Miguel couldn't hurt her. As far as Dave, Harold, Lee Anne and Stephen were concerned, they all wanted to win but I have to believe they stayed within the rules.
johnw
June 5, 2006 - 04:29 PM
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And Miguel apparently made the "magnificent" duo of beef that Harold got praise for. We don't know if it was his recipe or Harold's; they never showed and no one said. But it certainly looked like Harold was giving Miguel the assignment and the credit. Do we remove that dish from the final decision? Or do we accept that they were both judged on what came out of their respective kitchens, regardless of who actually did what? Quote:
The recipe board has both Miguel's and Harold's duo of beef recipes listed. They are similar but not exactly the same. I think Harold just knew that Miguel was very capable of preparing that type of dish and let him go with his (Harolds) recipe.
Earlier in the show, Miguel produced a very successful beef dish using just run-of-the mill beef. In the final, Harold had Miguel substiture Kobe beef ($100/lb) for the cheap stuff Miguel used earlier.
WhataJoke
June 5, 2006 - 08:31 PM
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I guess I'm just thinking of how much better anyone's work environment is when people get along and want to help each other do well. What many "leaders" don't understand is that subordinates can find a million little ways to sabotage you if they don't feel valued.
I think Tiffani can show subordinates that they're valued -- she was really working on it during the finale, at least -- but she doesn't have Harold's innate social focus. Tiffani is more task-oriented and I think she tends to focus deeply on what she's doing. If I'm doing something I enjoy and I'm doing it well, I don't want somebody coming over to pat me on the shoulder, because it disrupts my concentration. On the other hand, I want to be properly compensated and I don't want to be treated like a lackey, so it isn't _just_ about the work. If I were a cooking type, I actually might prefer working for Tiffani than Harold. But I suspect most people would find it easier to work for Harold. He's nice, he's collegial, and he does interesting work. Overall, he's definitely more of a Top Chef personality. I just think Tiffani has something to offer as well.
Yes I'm sure if she practices she will be able to reproduce somebodys food, from the plush kitchen in the house on the next season of The Surreal Life.
katiecoolady
June 5, 2006 - 10:45 PM
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Yes I'm sure if she practices she will be able to reproduce somebodys food, from the plush kitchen in the house on the next season of The Surreal Life.
I read that post out loud to my friend (who I watched TC with) and she burst out laughing and said "I wish I'd said that".
johnw
June 6, 2006 - 01:09 PM
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The competition was cut-throat. They didn't act all "warm and fuzzy" until the final episode, when it appeared evident their rival Tiffani (whose culinary skills they were all jealous of since the first episode) might actually win.
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Both Harold and Lee Anne possess the likeability factor and had formed a warm relationship with nearly all of the contestants.
All of the chefs competed hard and most competed with the Top Chef prize as a goal. A few didn't like Andrea and maybe Lisa. But as far as being "cutthroat", the only one who was accused of lowering oven temperatures and turning off stove burners was Tiffani, the urban legend ex-lax queen.
though i am not going to speculate on the ovens, I will agree that Tiffani was the only one who seemed to make it cutthroat. everyone seemed very laid back. yes, they wanted to win but like Dave said at one point, we aren't saving a life and LeAnne pointed to the fact that when they were in the oven Tiffani was a different person and very -well I can't remember the exact words she said but something along the lines of her becoming very competitive. Even Harold as much as he wanted it was often willing to own up to mistakes even if it meant he might possibly go home. I thought that was a really intersting thing about this show actually. Miguel was always funny b/c he seemed to make it sound more cutthroat at times than it looked.
Lee Anne's exact words were "Some people were out for blood." At that point in the show my thoughts were that Tiffani is from the same school of thought as Tonya Harding.
WhataJoke
June 6, 2006 - 08:26 PM
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The competition was cut-throat. They didn't act all "warm and fuzzy" until the final episode, when it appeared evident their rival Tiffani (whose culinary skills they were all jealous of since the first episode) might actually win.
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Both Harold and Lee Anne possess the likeability factor and had formed a warm relationship with nearly all of the contestants.
All of the chefs competed hard and most competed with the Top Chef prize as a goal. A few didn't like Andrea and maybe Lisa. But as far as being "cutthroat", the only one who was accused of lowering oven temperatures and turning off stove burners was Tiffani, the urban legend ex-lax queen.
though i am not going to speculate on the ovens, I will agree that Tiffani was the only one who seemed to make it cutthroat. everyone seemed very laid back. yes, they wanted to win but like Dave said at one point, we aren't saving a life and LeAnne pointed to the fact that when they were in the oven Tiffani was a different person and very -well I can't remember the exact words she said but something along the lines of her becoming very competitive. Even Harold as much as he wanted it was often willing to own up to mistakes even if it meant he might possibly go home. I thought that was a really intersting thing about this show actually. Miguel was always funny b/c he seemed to make it sound more cutthroat at times than it looked.
Lee Anne's exact words were "Some people were out for blood." At that point in the show my thoughts were that Tiffani is from the same school of thought as Tonya Harding.
LOL Shrek's no Tonya Harding. Even if she hired a guy to whack Harold in the wrist bone she would make sure to take full credit for it... or at least "discuss it at lenght" and "Give him direction" LOL
johnw
June 6, 2006 - 08:34 PM
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The competition was cut-throat. They didn't act all "warm and fuzzy" until the final episode, when it appeared evident their rival Tiffani (whose culinary skills they were all jealous of since the first episode) might actually win.
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Both Harold and Lee Anne possess the likeability factor and had formed a warm relationship with nearly all of the contestants.
All of the chefs competed hard and most competed with the Top Chef prize as a goal. A few didn't like Andrea and maybe Lisa. But as far as being "cutthroat", the only one who was accused of lowering oven temperatures and turning off stove burners was Tiffani, the urban legend ex-lax queen.
though i am not going to speculate on the ovens, I will agree that Tiffani was the only one who seemed to make it cutthroat. everyone seemed very laid back. yes, they wanted to win but like Dave said at one point, we aren't saving a life and LeAnne pointed to the fact that when they were in the oven Tiffani was a different person and very -well I can't remember the exact words she said but something along the lines of her becoming very competitive. Even Harold as much as he wanted it was often willing to own up to mistakes even if it meant he might possibly go home. I thought that was a really intersting thing about this show actually. Miguel was always funny b/c he seemed to make it sound more cutthroat at times than it looked.
Lee Anne's exact words were "Some people were out for blood." At that point in the show my thoughts were that Tiffani is from the same school of thought as Tonya Harding.
LOL Shrek's no Tonya Harding. Even if she hired a guy to whack Harold in the wrist bone she would make sure to take full credit for it... or at least "discuss it at lenght" and "Give him direction" LOL
Rather than whack Harold on the wristbone, she'd probably do something worse, like empty all his little Gin bottles down the kitchen sink.
SwtPeaches918
June 7, 2006 - 08:49 PM
LOL Shrek's no Tonya Harding. Even if she hired a guy to whack Harold in the wrist bone she would make sure to take full credit for it... or at least "discuss it at lenght" and "Give him direction" LOL
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LOL Too Funny!!
SwtPeaches918
June 7, 2006 - 09:14 PM
OFF TOPIC
Bravo if your reading these posts your new format SUKS!!! It looks like someone puked on the boards. I can't find a darn thing. GRRRRRR!
shewbe22
June 12, 2006 - 09:50 AM
Sure it does, because people like dull, obvious cue card reading, speech impediment (pronouncing L's like W's), my husband probably helped get me this job hosts. No thanks! I would rather watch paint dry...it's more exciting.
Big_Meat
June 12, 2006 - 08:18 PM
You must have missed the episode where they painted Katie Lee with the edible body paint and had the pussycat dolls lick off the various flavas. This girl oozes with culinary expertise. I cant wait to see her judge the cream pies. Katies always swallows instead of spitting the wine tastings.
momofnate
June 30, 2006 - 09:22 AM
Kim - e-mail me, please!!
Same old e-mail address...
bw
vendome
October 17, 2006 - 02:43 PM
Oh please! I'm addicted to this show and LOVE to observe the effete snobs, self-absorbed society wanna-bes, KoolAid in a Dom Perignon bottle drinking condescending phonies that inhabit this hour. Come on!! Who says, "The insouciance and piquancy of the truffle souffle overshadowed the gentle vibrato of the flippant filet?" Nobody! What a secure and socially comfortable person would say is, "The sauce tasted like cough medicine and the beef was full of fat and was as tender as a sneaker."
And what's with how it's served? The servers bring out dinner plates with a teaspoon-sized portion of the course lost somewhere in the center. And these judging fools sit with knives and forks and cut them into even tinier bites!
Tiffani almost had an orgasm when Perigourd truffles were introduced. I wonder if Tiff 'nose' (pardon the pun) that the truffles are very rare and are a fungus that grows at the base of a certain tree in and around Provence, France. The fungus is found by pigs that are attracted by their musty odor. So you have pig snot on the truffle, not to mention the scores of people that come into contact with the fungus that just HAVE to smell it. Add scores of human secretions to the pig snot and voila! A conoisseur's delight. I'll pass on the truffles.
One dish had as a main ingredient squid's ink. And the judge pronounced it "delicious." Yeah, right.
Lorraine Bracco, bless her, showed the real AND the phony 'gourmande' that seems to affect the judges and chefs like bi-polar disease. The first words out of her mouth to I think it was Tiffani, were "Ya got balls." How refined. How elegant. She soon lapsed into the pseudo-sophisticate "society speak" that is a prerequisite for these folks. She went from Tiff's "balls" to the wine adding an alarming acidic expression when combined with the sauce on the cauliflower medallions.
Come on people! You cook things. meat, veggies and, since no one had a waist smaller than a 42, desserts too. Forget the artificial and annoying airs and aspirations. You can take the girl (guy) out of Brooklyn, but you can't take Brooklyn out of the girl (guy).
sammybarb
October 18, 2006 - 03:47 AM
Then just doon't watch!! I like this show BETTER than PR< and I ove that one!
vendome
October 18, 2006 - 04:53 AM
You missed my point. I love Chef and Runway too. With Chef, however, you have the extra added attraction of observing pompous asses make fools out of themselves. On Runway, we have normal people who aren't afraid to admit to some self doubt where their creations are concerned.
In a nut-shell, Tiffani icily tells Dave that she requires quiet in the kitchen so that she can focus. On Runway, Angela shouts at Jeffrey to "shut up!" three times. No discussion of how the sequins on the bodice add panache to the ambiance of the creation. Just a loud "shut up!"
dh123
October 25, 2006 - 06:15 PM
Just want to comment about the host. I don't know if this is the right thread but whatever. I just think the new host of the show isn't doing a pretty good job. I just think that she's not a good host at all. Not that she can't improve on it but she just lacks the personality and the energy needed for a good show host.
sammybarb
October 25, 2006 - 07:15 PM
This post (the one I am replying to) is disgusting, and offensive.
Getting back to more appropriate comments, I was missing Katie at first, But I realy like Padma. She is more assertive and has more expertise in the input. I think she is the perfect match with Tom and Gail.
sammybarb
October 25, 2006 - 07:19 PM
I agree. Lorraine Bracco said she had enough "drama" behind the scenes in her show. Well, then, go back to your cop show! The point of the last team challenge WAS teamwork, and if it was happening in the back, it was showing in the front.
Come down off your High Horse, Ms. Bracco. Just because you have a vineyard, does not give you class and finesse.
midwest
October 25, 2006 - 07:47 PM
Kathie Lee did a good job. Would like to see her in another season. Padma is ok but seeing that she interjecting herself more that she needs too. That is the judges job. Minority amount of people thrashed Kathie Lee, I hope that did make the decision. Tom was very good as a judge. Gail was ok.
We will see how the rest of the season will go, but if Padma does not work out I say bring back KATHIE LEE JOEL!!!!
pmh724
October 27, 2006 - 01:11 PM
I really love the show, having been in the food busines for more years than I care to remember, I can relate to all the tasks and challenges. My one complaint is this years hostess. She is BORING, rarely smiles and shows no enthusiasim. I wasn't crazy about last years, but this years is the worst.
Giselle63
October 27, 2006 - 02:35 PM
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On Runway, Angela shouts at Jeffrey to "shut up!" three times. No discussion of how the sequins on the bodice add panache to the ambiance of the creation. Just a loud "shut up!"
Fleurchon creation is so intricate and requires silence lest the blossom not gather properly. How can one fault the crafty cow for demanding a quiet atmosphere.
Asia_Bistro
November 1, 2006 - 10:45 AM
In the latest season of Top Chef, the Judge Padma or Pardma, sorry, forgot how to spell her name, this girl either needs a new stylist, if Bravo provides one, or someone needs to tell her to class up her act as far as dressing goes. God, she looks like a hooker! This is a cooking show!!! About Chefs!! I realize she is a judge, but what are her credentials beside her boobs, I don't know. What I do know is that if I walked into a Manhattan restaurant and she were the hostess, I would turn around and walk out! I am not interested in seeing her boobs and her attitude! She could take alot of lessons from the other judge from Food & Wine!! Also, I just returned from Las Vegas, ate twice at Tom's Craft Steak or whatever the restaurant is called, the worst meals that I have had in Las Vegas ever! He needs to take a break from Judging on Bravo and get back to Las Vegas and do some quality control. Thanks for letting me vent. I won't bother with watching the rest of this series! Nina Zagat
ed534lake
November 1, 2006 - 06:00 PM
I agree. I think she is flat because she doesn't have the skills needed for a cooking show. I don't know why they didn't pick someone from the industry as a host instead of an actress/model. We can tell they were trying to find a "Heidi Klum-ish" host, but they didn't think it through. It makes sense to have a model on a fashion show, but what do models have to do with cooking? It would be better if they'd picked someone who actually looks like they've eaten something before. This woman is obviously from the salad/run-to-the-ladies-to-purge set. Sort of a weird choice for a cooking show.
They should try sending her on "vacation" for an episode and letting Tom or Gail host to see what happens. Might improve things.
OahuAmateurChef
November 1, 2006 - 07:19 PM
Padma, Katie, Tom, Gail, they all kind of blur into the same general person IMO. The hostess is more like a judge than a hostess. We need a character that uses their words and personality to enhance everything else in the show. I consider Padma like a kind of judge, as I did Katie. They both didn't seem like a host to me.
JayCiuM
November 1, 2006 - 07:34 PM
Quote:
In the latest season of Top Chef, the Judge Padma or Pardma, sorry, forgot how to spell her name, this girl either needs a new stylist, if Bravo provides one, or someone needs to tell her to class up her act as far as dressing goes. God, she looks like a hooker! This is a cooking show!!! About Chefs!! I realize she is a judge, but what are her credentials beside her boobs, I don't know. What I do know is that if I walked into a Manhattan restaurant and she were the hostess, I would turn around and walk out! I am not interested in seeing her boobs and her attitude! She could take alot of lessons from the other judge from Food & Wine!! Also, I just returned from Las Vegas, ate twice at Tom's Craft Steak or whatever the restaurant is called, the worst meals that I have had in Las Vegas ever! He needs to take a break from Judging on Bravo and get back to Las Vegas and do some quality control. Thanks for letting me vent. I won't bother with watching the rest of this series! Nina Zagat
I knew some would jump all over those shorts of Padma's even though they were going to be in a casual environment with heat!! I can't believe time was taken out to harp on them before the show was even over!! You must have run screaming to your pc to add that little nugget of jealousy!! I can only believe it's not as much prudishness as being very envious!! lol!! The guys I'm sure are loving it!! I could care less either way!! Let's judge the cooking, not the wardrobe; sheeshhhh!! We're over Marcel's hair and Padma's very revealing atire!!
HungryApe
November 1, 2006 - 08:21 PM
Why did they replace the host when its Tom that is the problem?
JayCiuM
November 1, 2006 - 08:43 PM
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Why did they replace the host when its Tom that is the problem?
As I and others have said in past posts, Katey was just too stiff and so much like a stepford wife!! This is supposed to be entertaining, drama filled, and very competative!! When she would drone on with such a monotone, it was a little distracting!! Padma has credentials and a following I hear from her other shows on tv!! I've never seen or heard of her before, but others seem to respect her!!
HungryApe
November 2, 2006 - 02:59 AM
Wow Tom just boggles my mind how he has managed to be so successful without being completely called out on his never ending bs. This man has no class at all. His blog for episode 3 of season 2 is very telling. He praises Cliff and his Mac n' Cheese as being "soulful" yet when Dave served it up last season Tom acted like he took a dump on the plate. This guy is a complete hypocrite. Thankfully last season when Dave served the Mac n' Cheese, there were a whole panel of much better chefs than Tom is to set the judging straight. Too bad he turned around and booted LeAnne off to make way for his favorite (maybe because her personality was as horrible as his) chef Tiffy. Which brings me to the really big problem with this so called judge. Tom plays favorites. I don't think that anyone has a chance in this competition if you don't kiss butt to Tom in the first two weeks. After reading this weeks blog I can tell that even if Marcel and Micheal made the most incredible food ever known for the remainder of the show that Tom will still find a way to have them booted. He has already made up his mind who should stay and who should go, and he will twist everything to make his own preconcieved notions come true. Sorry Tom, you are a first class snob, and you should really not judge Marcel when you have proven yourself to be 10 times the smug arrogant jerk that he could ever be. Why don't you just tell us who the winner is now and save us all the trouble?
zuzu
November 4, 2006 - 11:17 AM
I agree, also Ms Lakshmi, you're showing too much skin. This is a cooking show!!!
hectorious
November 4, 2006 - 04:15 PM
ok, swore I wouldn't get drawn into another 'reality show' or ever comment on one. However in my quest to watch something intelligent on television here I am again.
The show is so damn distracting with Padma wearing all those 'Hooter Hostess' outfits. She is a very pretty woman but so is the gal across the hall from me, the cashier at Starbucks down the road is hot, in short there are pretty woman all over LA. But come on, I tuned to watch a show called "Top Chef". If I wanted to watch a pretty woman I'd rather go out and meet one in person.
At the fireman competition, I fully expected Padma to slide down the fireman pole to welcome the chefs into the comfort food competition. At the beach/ice-cream I sighed a big 'thank you' when she didn't show up in a bikini.
I totally believe she is smarter than to allow herself to be objectified in this manner but then I guess we all gotta pay the rent.
As to the show itself, I know its not a cooking instruction show but perhaps maybe a little more of the 'thought process' that goes into the chef's inspiration and preperation on how to cater a meal for a thousand folks, or how to come up with an original ice-cream flavor for kids would be more entertaining and intelligent. Enough of the drama, the bitchy backstabbing nonsense.
And if the producers feel compelled to have the 'teen-wolf guy' comes on again semi-clothed or commenting that he's an avant-gard molecular scientist just one more time.... well, I guess thats the end of the show for me.
thanks.
h.
Giselle63
November 4, 2006 - 10:25 PM
All you heard from him the first show this season was that "A chef has to stand by their food." The next challenge when some did do that he handed them their rear on a plate.
Padma is ok. At least she has a background in cookinng is offering opinions where as the botoxed idiot they had last year was pathetic. Listening to the voice in the elevator telling you which floor your is more entertaining than the One Note Wonder.
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