Official Top Chef Las Vegas thread *Premieres 8/19*

[kaytieeldr]

Phooey, phooey, phooey! If only Robin had been on the Blue Team! Phooey!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Phooey, phooey, phooey! If only Robin had been on the Blue Team! Phooey!

Hey now...easy.... While Robin is not stellar, I do not agree with the crappy attitude she gets in the house. Of course being 44 myself doesn't help.
You know she is going home at some point. Her dish was good and I was actually amazed that she got such high marks from the judges & customers.

How disappointing to see how Mission ran their restaurant. All of them were to blame. Laurine was the sacrifical lamb. In all honesty I think Jen should have went home based on her poor decision making.

 

[Nancyg56]

That's what I mean about the producers bottom feeding. They seem to expect an audience who is into all the petty, trivial, immature, annoying stuff.

I wish this show was more like Iron Chef, where it is a real competiton about the cooking. The Top Chef Masters showed that this show can be about the food, not about backstabbing or sabotaging each other. That chefs can have self confidence and stand behind their cooking, instead of having to talk down about each other, as though that makes themselves and their dishes better.

I understand that these chefs are the young guns looking to make a name and their confidence level may not be at the same level as the Masters who have mentored them. I feel that the producers try to make more drama out of their nerves and their personalities than is necessary to make this a successful show. I look for the drama in the challenges, not in the endless bickering between Bryan and Michael or Robin and Eli. I thought that once I became an empty nester I would not need to deal with sibling rivalry and nonsensical Mother/son complexes.

I am shocked with the results of this challenge though, I was sure that once you put the four on the Blue Team together there would be a disaster in the kitchen. I never saw that coming!

 

[Nancyg56]

Phooey, phooey, phooey! If only Robin had been on the Blue Team! Phooey!

I don't know, she held her own this week and has had some good weeks. I think she has a homey style of cooking and that is not a bad thing. Her dessert did not need to be tinkered with in order to bring the flavor up to speed. Eli, her loudest detractor, his dish was just okay according to the judges. She also was strong enough to stand up for her dessert, Too bad Laurine allowed her lab to be served close to raw. I believe that is what sealed her fate.

I think these young chefs are not very tolerant of anyone who is different or who does not fit into their preconceived idea of who is a Top Chef. Yes, they are all very talented. Yes, most are classically trained. Robin is older, talks way too much, has a very different cooking style and probably is intimidated by the clique that seems to have formed but she does not deserve to be ridiculed or held in contempt because she is different. I am 53 and I think that being tossed into that group of wolves would be incredibly stressful I would never try to fit in though, nor would I get involved in that petty back and forth snipping. Those kids would not need to understand or like my cuisine but I would never stand for that kind of disrespect, each one of them has crashed and burned at least once.

 

[RUDisney]

While these chefs are young, many of them have won prestigious awards for their cooking like Michelin stars and James Beard awards. This is probably the most talented (on paper) group that Top Chef has ever had.

I think, at this point, most of the cheftestants have seen the show before and go in with an idea of how to act to get screen time. That, plus the producer's penchant for drama, makes that show what it is.

The Masters were brought in with a higher degree of abilities, and for all we know, it was written into their contracts to not show them in the bad, drama-light that is used on TC.

 

[4greatboys]

I was really worried Jenn would be sent home last night and from the looks of it she was too. She dishes failed big time but considering she is in the a lot it would have been a shame for her to go. Laurine has done nothing to stand out or to be a Top Chef imo.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

While these chefs are young, many of them have won prestigious awards for their cooking like Michelin stars and James Beard awards. This is probably the most talented (on paper) group that Top Chef has ever had.

I think, at this point, most of the cheftestants have seen the show before and go in with an idea of how to act to get screen time. That, plus the producer's penchant for drama, makes that show what it is.

The Masters were brought in with a higher degree of abilities, and for all we know, it was written into their contracts to not show them in the bad, drama-light that is used on TC.

I looked at the Masters as basically as a HUGE commercial for their names and restaurants. They were very careful to remain respectful to each other.
Plus they were just older and wiser. (Oh except for one person, who the name escapes me. He was a bit of a jerk.)

I mean when they made that wonderful food in a dorm room, that really showed how talented that they were. Some went into that challenge with one dish and altered it to create something top notch. In other words they would rather send out an empty plate than send out something that was not their best.

I believe that is where the difference lies with this group especially.

ETA...I do agree that they are just getting "face time" to put their name out there with this current group.

 

[LexiC123]

So Robin skates by, yet again. How many lives has she gone through now?

And Jen...wow. It's so obvious that she's all but given up. How ironic would it be if she ends up going home before Robin?!

And geez, Michael...bitter much? If there was ever a poster boy for the non-gracious loser, he is it!

Go Kevin!

 

[RUDisney]

Robin is the Marcell of this season. While we might not all hate her, we know that her cooking is sub-par to everyone elses. She is there for the drama and nothing else. They continually put her in the bottom and someone who is in the bottom for the first time (or second, I can't remember... wasn't Mike in the bottom for the salad at the military base?) gets eliminated.

I agree with the PP about Jen. Go home already, I'm sick of your whining about how tired you are. She really has given up.

Just watch, Robin will be in the top 4 like Hosea was last year when Kevin should just be given the accolades now. He's definitely the top chef of this season and I bet her could hold his own (or win) among previous season winners, too.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Um....Michael Vol. is a horse's BEHIND. Geesh....The horrible disdain he felt for Kevin over his dish. He needs to get over himself.
However with the previews it looks like he is out in full force next week.
Can we call him Gordon Ramsey JR???

Now with Michael Isabella he was just freaking clueless. He made the leek his main dish and then did not cook it thru, plus he expected Robin to go home. If you are going to be arrogant you better execute your dish properly or at least grovel for Pete's sake.

Poor Jenn, she is burnt and frankly at this point looks like she is cooking to go home. I expect her and Robin to be eliminated in the next 2 shows.

So we will be left with all guys. Someone said that earlier on this board and I am agreeing with them. I was hoping for at least Jenn to make it but she wants out. At least that is how I am reading it.

 

[mcco5543]

I still think Kevin's going to win this whole thing and I'm hoping he does. I'm also hoping Jenn pulls out of her slump. It must really truly be hard being in a continual pressure cooker. Mike Isabella is in the words of a previous poster Horses BEHIND. I think Mike V. isn't as much of a horses behind as he is just immature. he's 30 and some people still aren't grown up by then.

I'm still sticking up for Robin. I think she just does a totally different kind of food than the rest of the cooks and she's not classically trained. She deserves credit in her own right and I think she's there NOT just because of ratings. She's not been mean, nasty or hateful to anyone.. just appears to be irratating. It's far better to be irratating than a horses backside.

I was also rooting for Eli until he started being shown on camera to be so mean to Robin. I realize this isn't a niceness competition, it's a cooking competition but to me character matters no matter what you do. Kevin has some serious class going on and he can cook to boot. Go Kevin. Brian also seems to cook well and have some character as well.

 

[minniebeth]

I'm pulling for Kevin to win all the way, but despite Jen's slump lately, I do think she is talented and would love to see her at her full potential. I admired her drive in the beginning.

 

[Nancyg56]

And geez, Michael...bitter much? If there was ever a poster boy for the non-gracious loser, he is it!

Go Kevin!

I think that his behavior in front of the judges sealed his fate. He pretty much told them that his dish spoke for itself....awesome!!!!!!!!!!! I believe that was because he figured that Robin should go and he seems to imply that as well. The arrogance coupled with the lousy dish, nasty leeks and no protein kind of said that he was oblivious to the people who request vegetarian meals.

And Michael- he may be able to cook but he is a goat!

Um....Michael Vol. is a horse's BEHIND. Geesh....The horrible disdain he felt for Kevin over his dish. He needs to get over himself.

There is something very off putting about Michael. He can cook but he refuses to acknowledge that there are others in that group who may put out a better product than he does so he is a sore loser. It must be exhausting living with him

I don't have and issue with Robin. She may have a different style and she may not execute in the same way that some of the others do but she can cook. In this challenge she tried to address the needs of her customers. Vegetarian entrees should include a protein and her entree did that. I do not think she will make it to the end, I bet she and Eli will be next to go.

I really like Kevin. The reason he won this is that he thinks about his customers and then cooks for them. He is an honest chef, IMO. I do hope that Jenn snaps out of this funk she is in. I wonder how much of the bickering that goes on with this bunch has contributed to her exhaustion. It would have worn me out a long time ago.

 

[LexiC123]

I think that his behavior in front of the judges sealed his fate. He pretty much told them that his dish spoke for itself....awesome!!!!!!!!!!! I believe that was because he figured that Robin should go and he seems to imply that as well. The arrogance coupled with the lousy dish, nasty leeks and no protein kind of said that he was oblivious to the people who request vegetarian meals.

And Michael- he may be able to cook but he is a goat!

Actually, I was referring to Michael V. I probably should have called him a 'non-winner' to differentiate him from the other Mike.

I just thought his less-than-gracious comments about Kevin's dish were petty and uncalled for, banana polenta notwithstanding.

 

[momrek06]

Ok why do we have so many Chefs this season seeming like such DOWNERS....Michael V, Byran V, Jen.....

Robin lasts longer than Mike I.....wow!!!

WooHoo Kevin!!! I would so love to eat at HIS restaurant. I will say I thought his dish lacked color BUT it so WOWed the Judges and once again Kevin is the winner. I was trying to remember if this was the FIRST time Kevin won BOTH the QuickFire and the Challenge??? Hmmm.

 

[DVC Sadie]

Um....Michael Vol. is a horse's BEHIND. Geesh....The horrible disdain he felt for Kevin over his dish. He needs to get over himself.
However with the previews it looks like he is out in full force next week.
Can we call him Gordon Ramsey JR???

Now with Michael Isabella he was just freaking clueless. He made the leek his main dish and then did not cook it thru, plus he expected Robin to go home. If you are going to be arrogant you better execute your dish properly or at least grovel for Pete's sake.

Poor Jenn, she is burnt and frankly at this point looks like she is cooking to go home. I expect her and Robin to be eliminated in the next 2 shows.

So we will be left with all guys. Someone said that earlier on this board and I am agreeing with them. I was hoping for at least Jenn to make it but she wants out. At least that is how I am reading it.

I agree! You are spot on in regards to all of them.

Michael V. thinks he is a better chef than anyone on the planet let alone in the competition. His dramatics are getting tiresome to me.

I do like Kevin, Jenn and Brian V and hope they are the final 3.

 

[anniemae]

Go Kevin!! I love this guy, he is so down to earth, and seems fun!

What a sore loser Michael V. was by dissing Kevins dish saying it was "something he would make in his first year of cooking school." I'm glad his opinion does not matter because all the judges loved it. He made himself look like a jerk.

Wouldn't it be funny if he went home before Robin! What a kick in the pants that would be to him!

 

[1stluvispooh]

I still think Kevin's going to win this whole thing and I'm hoping he does. I'm also hoping Jenn pulls out of her slump. It must really truly be hard being in a continual pressure cooker. Mike Isabella is in the words of a previous poster Horses BEHIND. I think Mike V. isn't as much of a horses behind as he is just immature. he's 30 and some people still aren't grown up by then.

I'm still sticking up for Robin. I think she just does a totally different kind of food than the rest of the cooks and she's not classically trained. She deserves credit in her own right and I think she's there NOT just because of ratings. She's not been mean, nasty or hateful to anyone.. just appears to be irratating. It's far better to be irratating than a horses backside.

I was also rooting for Eli until he started being shown on camera to be so mean to Robin. I realize this isn't a niceness competition, it's a cooking competition but to me character matters no matter what you do. Kevin has some serious class going on and he can cook to boot. Go Kevin. Brian also seems to cook well and have some character as well.

I think Micheal V is the poster child for younger sibling trying to out shine big brother, who by the way has his own restaurant. Now before you say anything I'm the youngest in my family I just had the brains to go into a different profession than my siblings. I think Bryan is just waiting for his brother to implode! LIke I'm sure he has done a million times before.

 

[cristit14]

I am pulling for Kevin too. He consistently makes good dishes and seems like a nice guy too. I hope Jenn pulls it together soon. I don't hate Robin, but she doesn't seem as good as some. I was really happy that Mike I went home! He was so arrogant.

 

[nikkistevej]

I hope Kevin, Jenn, or Bryan win. I do think that Michael V cooks good, but so cocky and all, all of the other cooks there are good or better than him. I also hope Jenn can pull it together- or she may go home before Robyn- who does talk alot and seems annoying- but is still there.