Top Chef: Discussion - Bravo

I liked the first guy who went. Such a jerk. I'm no chef but I know meat cleavers and hacksaws are not the way to butcher a tenderloin. I loved that Tom was almost ready to completely embarass the guy just for the fun of it.

I started watching it on my DVR, got about 15 minutes in (right after that guy was sent out by Tom), next thing you know the signal cuts out (**** Dish) because it rained. I guess that's what I get for ruining Next Iron Chef :( Have it recording later in hopes I can actually see it again without having to watch online.

I agree, this is a great way to start. I remember one season they had to compete at things like chopping an apple and chefs were dropped for not finishing or other technique issues. But I love that they are taking it a step further and saying "no" even before judging for key things like butchering and plating. That is why this show is heads and shoulders above something like Chopped which seems like they will take anyone.

[QUOTE=molds13;286917]I do like the way this is starting, although I would have preferred all the cuts take place in the first episode.[/QUOTE] I feel the same way. The concept was great (earn your way on) but to drag it out over two episodes and not get into "the real season" was a bit disappointing. It should have been a 2 hour open, with the cast set going into episode two. That said, there were lots of cutting, Padma moments where she sent Chefs packing and I enjoyed the hour. Next week, it begins again - for real this time.

Completely agree with everything so far. It's way too dragged out. I remember reading the review in some magazine and when I read 29 chefs I thought I had read it wrong. Guess not. I'm seriously ready for the competition to get started. I liked Nyesha as well molds and obviously the really hot guy (whose name is failing me at the moment). I just hope he can cook. And now I'm hungry...ugh always after this show.

I thought this episode seemed twice as long as the last one. They better have some exciting stuff coming up (I do like the idea of being able to compete back into the show as, especially considering how hard-core they are being in judging).

I enjoyed the concept of them earning their way into the competition. Before this season, they were basically untested. I'm so glad the chef that had the cut to his hand and continued cooking got his chefs jacket. At least there is a different spin to the show this season. This looks like it's going to be a good season.

I thought tonight's episode was good and the right team seemed to be in the bottom. I'm kind of liking the idea of the Last Chance Kitchen thing, but it really does remind me way too much of Redemption Island from Survivor and we all know I'm over that. I do want to go and experiment and make some chili right about now though.

I intellectually like the concepts used in the new show, but it just doesn't grab me. It doesn't seem as dramatic and none of the chefs have really grabbed me yet. The dishes so far seem blah.

[QUOTE=fabulous788;288591]I thought tonight's episode was good and the right team seemed to be in the bottom. I'm kind of liking the idea of the Last Chance Kitchen thing, but it really does remind me way too much of Redemption Island from Survivor and we all know I'm over that. I do want to go and experiment and make some chili right about now though.[/QUOTE] The only time I ever liked Redemption Island was episodes 3-7 in this season when Christine was dominating. Otherwise, I've HATED it. I think it's stupid that the returnee from Last Chance Kitchen gets to compete in the Finals. What if it is an early boot who viewers forgot about?! Not everyone's going to take the time to watch online. And if they WIN in the end, it'll be just completely out of the blue. I know it's not likely that an early boot will return, but still. I think they should've made time for it on the actual show if they liked the idea so much.

I don't like the blue chef's coats--white was much better; and the lighting is darker, which gives the show an odd feel.

Oh wow!!! I won't say specifics in case you guys didn't watch it live, but I am shocked! Absolutely shocked. Didn't see that one coming at all.

Yeah definitely shocked and upset :(

I got the impression that they were lying in wait to send him home. He wasn't up for elimination the last couple of weeks, but as soon as his name was in the hat, they dropped the hammer. I would have thought the cupcake was the harbeinger of death.

[QUOTE=Bacchus;289071]I got the impression that they were lying in wait to send him home. He wasn't up for elimination the last couple of weeks, but as soon as his name was in the hat, they dropped the hammer. I would have thought the cupcake was the harbeinger of death.[/QUOTE] I thought cupcake guy was gone for sure as well, or at least the other Chris (the one that made the ugly cigar looking dish). This is what I like about Top Chef though, it's anybody's game and if you're amazing one week, you could be completely horrible the next week.

The cigar dish looked like somethin' else ROFL. Not really shocked by any of it. The way they film the food makes it all unappealing to me. It is like they blur into what would otherwise be a magazine shot and it just leaves all the food looking dark and mushy to me.

I'm 3/4 of the way through tonight's episode so I can not yet comment on the elimination. What I can comment on are the Chefs. This season is rife with people I can see being Top Chef.

[QUOTE=Bacchus;290709]I'm 3/4 of the way through tonight's episode so I can not yet comment on the elimination. What I can comment on are the Chefs. This season is rife with people I can see being Top Chef.[/QUOTE] I completely agree. There are some that really don't need to be there (in my opinion Heather or Beverly), but the others seem like they know what they are doing more so than some of the chefs of the past. I don't just have one favorite, I have around 4 or 5 that I want to win at this point. I'm also not really a huge fan of the Last Chance Kitchen at all.

[QUOTE=fabulous788;290710]I completely agree. There are some that really don't need to be there (in my opinion Heather or Beverly), but the others seem like they know what they are doing more so than some of the chefs of the past. I don't just have one favorite, I have around 4 or 5 that I want to win at this point. I'm also not really a huge fan of the Last Chance Kitchen at all.[/QUOTE] You named the two I don't like at all. I don't have a favorite either but maybe that will change in the next few weeks. There are a bunch I could see cheering for in the finale. As far as last chance kitchen, I have no idea what is happening there. I guess I will figure it out when someone eliminated earlier shows up.

[QUOTE=fabulous788;290710]I completely agree. There are some that really don't need to be there (in my opinion Heather or Beverly), but the others seem like they know what they are doing more so than some of the chefs of the past. I don't just have one favorite, I have around 4 or 5 that I want to win at this point. I'm also not really a huge fan of the Last Chance Kitchen at all.[/QUOTE] I don't have anybody I'm rooting for or against which is unusual for me at this point in the game. I like the idea of the Last Chance Kitchen, but they are trying to pack way more into the season than a 48 minute show of this format can handle I think. I applaud their efforts to change things up, but they really could do better with fine tuning it I guess.

At this point it does seem very wide open, especially with people I saw as favorites such as Chuy and Nyesha losing so early. Based on what we have seen so far, I would say that Paul, Chris C. and Grayson are likely to go deep. Also, while Last Chance Kitchen is great for getting to see more of losing chefs: it seems a waste of time. It will be near impossible to beat a ton of people in a row. Plus, if TV viewers do not watch it and someone comes back who lost 8th the viewers will have very little connection to that person.

[QUOTE=DScott;290797]At this point it does seem very wide open, especially with people I saw as favorites such as Chuy and Nyesha losing so early. Based on what we have seen so far, I would say that Paul, Chris C. and Grayson are likely to go deep. Also, while Last Chance Kitchen is great for getting to see more of losing chefs: it seems a waste of time. It will be near impossible to beat a ton of people in a row. [B]Plus, if TV viewers do not watch it and someone comes back who lost 8th the viewers will have very little connection to that person[/B].[/QUOTE] That is a very valid point. I have not watched any of them and am uncertain if the person gets an automatic reentry into the show of it is like in New Orleans when the people brought back had to win the elmination round to come back in as a regular contestant.

Is heather the fat one that's always trying to bully everyone, and has some kind of weird vendetta against beverly? The sooner she gets kicked off the better. It's painful watching her try to push everyone around.

[QUOTE=molds13;290802]The way I understand it, the reigning champion of LCK will be thrown back into the game at some point, but it's unclear as to when that's actually going to happen. I'm also not sure if they have to cook to get back into the competition, and if they do, if it's one of those "you have to get first place or else you're out for good" type things. I usually end up watching Top Chef OnDemand the next day, so I watch Last Chance Kitchen right after.[/QUOTE] I was under the impression that the person that wins LCK will automatically have a spot in the finale. It wasn't one of those "it could be any moment" type of deals. I only recall them saying that because I remember thinking that there is no way that would be fair to any of the chefs already in the finale. I could be wrong, but my feelings about LCK aren't good ones.

I am happy with the result.