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

[mcco5543]

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.

This could very well be true..maybe not immaturity, maybe insecurity. It's a shame too he seems like an excellent chef minus the attitude

 

[allison443]

Least surprising moment was when Natalie Portman was introduced and Eli was revealed to be a proud Star Wars geek!!

Did you notice Gail's face at the end when Jen kissed Mike Isabella goodbye?

I was glad Mike left...he had a bad attitude, also made too many sexist comments which may have been for the camera's benefit, but still..

 

[momrek06]

Speaking of Gail....what was she wearing last night??

 

[chell]

Kevin is an awesome chef and as many of you have stated an awesome guy too. I like that he makes a point to use sustainable items in his restaurant.

We need to plan a DIS meet at his restaurant!

 

[snykymom]

I'm not at all surprised that Michael I went home. First was his attitude. You don't get cocky with the judges. Period.

Second, how can anyone, much less a trained chef, stand there with a straight face and say to a vegetarian, "The leeks were the protein"???? Even when called on it ("You know leeks aren't protein, right?") And he wouldn't give up on that. Making a vegetable look like a protein doesn't come even close to satisfying a vegetarian diner's needs.

What a fool!

 

[klacey1]

I'm starting to get sick of Robin, like the contestants haha. At first I felt sorry for her that everyone hated it, but honestly...she's really annoying haha.
I did feel bad-ish for Mike Isabella. I really do like almost everyone that's left.

 

[hucifer]

Speaking of Gail....what was she wearing last night??

I was wondering the same thing.

I have to say, as a vegetarian, I was pretty disappointed in the chef's attitudes on this last challenge. I have been patiently waiting for a vegetarian challenge for a few seasons, and when I heard Natalie was one, I was pretty excited. And then...the comments... "I hate cooking vegetarian" ... "I just threw a bunch of vegetables together" BLAH.

There are SO MANY exciting and delicious and wonderful vegetarian recipes out there. All you have to do is pick up a cookbook. Do they seriously think that all we eat are VEGETABLES? I was so angry at most of the chefs.

I was also pretty disappointed that they didn't have any time to plan for this meal. Had they been given more time to consider what they were cooking, I know we would have seen some amazing dishes. I waited all this time for a vegetarian challenge and was seriously bummed out.

And -- is it just me -- or does anyone else have trouble distinguishing between the two brothers? I can't tell them apart for squat, not the way they look or the way they cook.

 

[mcco5543]

I was wondering the same thing.

I have to say, as a vegetarian, I was pretty disappointed in the chef's attitudes on this last challenge. I have been patiently waiting for a vegetarian challenge for a few seasons, and when I heard Natalie was one, I was pretty excited. And then...the comments... "I hate cooking vegetarian" ... "I just threw a bunch of vegetables together" BLAH.

There are SO MANY exciting and delicious and wonderful vegetarian recipes out there. All you have to do is pick up a cookbook. Do they

seriously think that all we eat are VEGETABLES? I was so angry at most of the chefs.

I was also pretty disappointed that they didn't have any time to plan for this meal. Had they been given more time to consider what they were cooking, I know we would have seen some amazing dishes. I waited all this time for a vegetarian challenge and was seriously bummed out.

And -- is it just me -- or does anyone else have trouble distinguishing between the two brothers? I can't tell them apart for squat, not the way they look or the way they cook.

I'm not vegetarian but I think I can see how you would be dissapointed in this challenge! Meat is only one category of food. There are so many other options. I also agree the brothers do resemble eachother something fierce, but Mike (the younger one) has some facial hair and his older brother Brian is clean shaven.

 

[Motherofboys]

I was wondering the same thing.

I have to say, as a vegetarian, I was pretty disappointed in the chef's attitudes on this last challenge. I have been patiently waiting for a vegetarian challenge for a few seasons, and when I heard Natalie was one, I was pretty excited. And then...the comments... "I hate cooking vegetarian" ... "I just threw a bunch of vegetables together" BLAH.

There are SO MANY exciting and delicious and wonderful vegetarian recipes out there. All you have to do is pick up a cookbook. Do they seriously think that all we eat are VEGETABLES? I was so angry at most of the chefs.

I was also pretty disappointed that they didn't have any time to plan for this meal. Had they been given more time to consider what they were cooking, I know we would have seen some amazing dishes. I waited all this time for a vegetarian challenge and was seriously bummed out.

And -- is it just me -- or does anyone else have trouble distinguishing between the two brothers? I can't tell them apart for squat, not the way they look or the way they cook.

Brian is hot and Mike is not, that's how I tell them apart I can't stand the attitude of the little brother - chip on my shoulder, I can be rude to whoever I want b/c I am brilliant and will apologize later Brian seems like the wise older brother just waiting for the little jerk to fall on his face!

I was very disappointed with the vegetarian dishes too. The vegetarian meal I had at Narcoosee's this fall was far better than anything any of the chefs made. Seriously, if you can't cook good vegetarian food when you have a kitchen FULL of great ingredients, what kind of chef are you?

 

[TwingleMum]

OMG I want to slap Jen across the face with a wilted stalk of celery and say "SNAP OUT OF IT GIRL!!" She is going to send herself home. She is so defeatist. I think the judges are already writing her off. Did you see Tom C look at her. Not good. WAKE UP JEN YOU CAN STILL PULL THIS OFF!!!!!!!!.

I still want Kevin to win but I don't want Jen to hand it to anyone.

 

[hucifer]

I was very disappointed with the vegetarian dishes too. The vegetarian meal I had at Narcoosee's this fall was far better than anything any of the chefs made. Seriously, if you can't cook good vegetarian food when you have a kitchen FULL of great ingredients, what kind of chef are you?

Yes, yes, yes!! Being a "Top Chef" is more than just cooking meat. IMO, a TRUE chef can handle any challenge -- vegan, gluten-free, etc. -- and they should do it with passion, because cooking (and cooking challenges) should be embraced, not dismissed. I honestly couldn't believe some of their attitudes.

I have walked into many restaurants that didn't have any vegetarian items on the menu, but the chef was more than willing to cook me a delicious meal. I've had some misses (served a head of broccoli on a plate ), but I've had MANY more hits. And of course, Disney World treats us veggies like kings and queens.

As far as the brothers, thanks for the hints. I'll pay more attention.

I'm so addicted to this show!

 

[RUDisney]

Mike has a tattoo sleeve and Bryan doesn't.

Bryan has brighter eyes than Mike. I think they are more open and alert. Mike's are more squinty, but not in a bad way, just not as open as Bryan's.

The vegetarian meals that I cook at home would never pass for vegetarian meals that would be eaten all the time. I don't take protein into account when I'm making a vegetarian meal.

For instance, my favorite non-meat meal is a pasta dish. I melt butter into a deep saute pan and add black and green olives, sun-dried tomatoes, asparagus pieces or broccoli (whichever is on hand), onions, mushrooms, marinated artichoke hearts (the whole jar with the liquid) and I finish it with grated cheese and fat-free half and half. It gets tossed with pasta and is delicious. This is hardly a meal that a vegetarian could eat all the time, though. Would this dish have won? I doubt it, because it wasn't a balanced meal, just a delicious one.

My DS (14) has been saying he wants to be a vegetarian. I told him he could be when he moves out of my house and teaches me how to cook for him. I don't know how to balance a vegetarian diet to make it healthy. Yeah, I can read cookbooks to learn, but I like meat too much to make a change to a vegetarian lifestyle.

 

[Nancyg56]

OMG I want to slap Jen across the face with a wilted stalk of celery and say "SNAP OUT OF IT GIRL!!" She is going to send herself home. She is so defeatist. I think the judges are already writing her off. Did you see Tom C look at her. Not good. WAKE UP JEN YOU CAN STILL PULL THIS OFF!!!!!!!!.

I still want Kevin to win but I don't want Jen to hand it to anyone.

Exactly! I really like Jen, I think she is talented and passionate. Her food is beautiful. I wish she would stop overthinking the challenges and just cook the way that she is comfortable, her mentor would not tolerate her second guessing her instincts.

I also like Kevin but I would hate to see Jen's nerves be the reason she is out

 

[RUDisney]

This week should be interesting. I like watching the former contestants cook together. Plus, Fabio is hosting the dinner.

 

[hucifer]

For instance, my favorite non-meat meal is a pasta dish. I melt butter into a deep saute pan and add black and green olives, sun-dried tomatoes, asparagus pieces or broccoli (whichever is on hand), onions, mushrooms, marinated artichoke hearts (the whole jar with the liquid) and I finish it with grated cheese and fat-free half and half. It gets tossed with pasta and is delicious. This is hardly a meal that a vegetarian could eat all the time, though. Would this dish have won? I doubt it, because it wasn't a balanced meal, just a delicious one.

If you served that to me in a restaurant, I would be VERY happy, despite the lack of protein. It sounds delicious. (Actually, the cheese adds protein.)

 

[kaytieeldr]

My DS (14) has been saying he wants to be a vegetarian. I told him he could be when he moves out of my house and teaches me how to cook for him. I don't know how to balance a vegetarian diet to make it healthy. Yeah, I can read cookbooks to learn, but I like meat too much to make a change to a vegetarian lifestyle.

Let him start now - why wait, if he's interested? And there's no reason you should need to learn to cook for him. He can cook for himself (assuming he doesn't think 'vegetarian' means a steady diet of peanut butter & jelly sandwiches). He can even cook for the whole family sometimes. There are plenty of delicious meatless meals.

 

[mcco5543]

If you served that to me in a restaurant, I would be VERY happy, despite the lack of protein. It sounds delicious. (Actually, the cheese adds protein.)

I'm not a vegitarian but man if you serve me this dish I may become one..sounds wonderful!

 

[RUDisney]

Let him start now - why wait, if he's interested? And there's no reason you should need to learn to cook for him. He can cook for himself (assuming he doesn't think 'vegetarian' means a steady diet of peanut butter & jelly sandwiches). He can even cook for the whole family sometimes. There are plenty of delicious meatless meals.

His idea of vegetarian would mean a steady stream of ramen noodles and bologna. (He's not really wanting to be a vegetarian, he just want to be one when I serve things he doesn't like.) If he was serious about it, I'd do my part to help him learn. Right now, he only wants to go meatless when it's convenient for him.

Thanks for your good comments about my meatless dish. I hadn't thought about the cheese adding protein. If you try this dish, it takes no time to prepare. When the pasta is cooked, it's time to eat. Oh, and I suppose pine nuts would be a good thing to add, too, for a little more protein.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Ah, finally getting down to the wire. Poor Jen, she really really wants to go home. She looked depressed at the fact she was still there.

No surprise that Robin went home, she was not going to make it anyway.

Eli has been surprising me with making decent dishes.

My guess is that Jen goes home next elimination. Eli wants to be there and he is going to step it up. Jen has lost her fire for the challenges.

 

[happygirl]

The judges must really love Jen she has been iin the bottom for a while now. I think she has given up on herself. The way the show started I was afraid Brian was going home. I'm really hoping for Kevin, ELi and Brian to be in the finale. I'm not sure who I want to win either Brian or Kevin

The way I tell Brian and Michael apart is Michael has tattoos sp?? and doesn't look like a chef