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

[chell]

Even though I understand why Ashley went home I was sad to see her go. There are others I would MUCH rather see sent home. I really liked Ashley.

Kevin is my pick to win. We want to take a trip to Atlanta to visit his restaurant.

 

[4greatboys]

Eli the hobbitt is getting irritating. Michael seems to have quite the chip on his should toward Bryan.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well that was interesting. I fully expected Laurine to go home. I mean they called her dish cat food.

Now I do understand that they voted off Ash because he said, "I am cooking my stuff now". And well, cold pork sounds really gross.

Now Robin defended her dish and that was probably why she didn't go home. She is certainly clueless about the need to shut up in the house. However they are pretty mean to her.

I think Kevin is going to be the winner.

 

[TwingleMum]

Wow. Michael came off as quite the jerk. He always seemed pissed when other people win and begrudge them their moments in the spotlight. But this week he was an @#$. I thought Kevin was sweet and perseptive when he talked about how Michael tried to set bombs off in Brian's head. Kevin seemed genuinely puzzled and a little upset by Michael's behavior towards Brian. Eli is really annoying. Someone called him a troll and I think thats an apt description. I think this group is more immature than previous groups. I understand Robin can be annoying but the way they all treat her and how much they make fun of her and talk about her getting booted. I don't know I don't think it speaks well of any of them. This is a competition. She isn't a great chef and should she go -yes but she also is a security cushion. You know you can out cook her so I wouldn't be looking to get rid of her any too soon. I also think Eli and Michael (I cook all the cuisines of the world) have an over inflated sense of their cooking abilities. More so Eli. I think the last three will be the V brothers and Kevin and I think Kevin will win. Also Kevin was soo cute winning last night. He was sooo excited. And I must have missed Michael V congratulating him because I saw Jennifer and Brian V hug and congratulate him but all I saw was Michael pouting and looking pi**ed off.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I think the last three will be the V brothers and Kevin and I think Kevin will win. Also Kevin was soo cute winning last night. He was sooo excited. And I must have missed Michael V congratulating him because I saw Jennifer and Brian V hug and congratulate him but all I saw was Michael pouting and looking pi**ed off.

I would not discount Jennifer yet. I do think Kevin is the shoo-in to win.

 

[snykymom]

Can we lose the other Michael, please?? I find his arrogance worse than Eli's immaturity. At least there's hope that Eli will grow up one day! But I just want to shove Michael's face down his throat!

 

[TwingleMum]

I would not discount Jennifer yet. I do think Kevin is the shoo-in to win.

I really think Jennifer is a great chef but I think it will still come down to Double V and Kevin.

 

[Imzadi]

Can we lose the other Michael, please?? I find his arrogance worse than Eli's immaturity. At least there's hope that Eli will grow up one day! But I just want to shove Michael's face down his throat!

Yes, please! I was happy to see the show finally do snippets with someone else other than Michael. But, then it turned out to be Eli, who was just as annoying.

It's like, what is wrong with the TC producers that they have to focus on all the annoying people? Are they bottom feeding in terms of demographics that they can't come up with better chefs to focus on? What does that say about the type of audience that they want to attract or think are interested in that annoying stuff? Can't they focus on a better - classier - demographic? I don't want to constantly keep hearing from that windbag, Michael each week. I think he detracts from the show. If the producers think Michael is interesting, wow, just wow. That's pathetic. This is supposed to be Top Chef, then they focus on low class windbags.


I think Jennifer will be in the top four with the V brothers and Kevin. I think Kevin will win it.

Everyone else is extraneous at this point. None of them have the fine palate, the imagination, experience or the class to pull off a winning dish.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Alright I am caught up with the show, but not the thread. Last night was good. I think Kevin was absolutely correct about Michael and his Brother. And the further we get the more I wonder if the bros. actually even like each other. I know its a contest but they strike me odd. Looks like putting htem together for Restaurant wars is not boding well.

Can we lose the other Michael, please?? I find his arrogance worse than Eli's immaturity. At least there's hope that Eli will grow up one day! But I just want to shove Michael's face down his throat!

AMEN

I was wondering whether I was the only 1 not liking him. I just want to hit him.

OK right now, my final 4 go Jennifer, the V bros, and Kevin. Jennifer could steal victory but I don't see it right now. Hard to choose ultimate winner. All in all a much better group than last season as far as dishes go. I hear lots less negative comments from the judges this go round.

 

[RunningGirl]

Kevin is definitely my pick; I agree with PP's about the final four. I think Jennifer might self destruct; she always seems to on the verge of catastrophe.

The other Michael is SO annoying. He, Eli and Robin can leave anytime. Ash was nice, but didn't seem to be up to par.

I was just wishing I had a ticket to that tasting party - wouldn't that be fun?

 

[chell]

Have to agree that they need to stop putting so much focus on Michael and Eli. We don't want to see their crap. The Hell's Kitchen crew acted better then them! I'm ready for both of them to leave.

Last Friday we went to a local street festival and had gyros. When I was teaching my friend how to properly say them I couldn't help but laugh at Michael when he couldn't pronounce them correctly, especially with his background and all.

 

[RUDisney]

I was turned off by this challenge, primarily because I've never tasted a pinot noir that I've liked. I like my red wines to be "chewy" and I find pinot noir to just fall flat.

In my mind, pork is easy to cook. I get creative with pork. I find that I don't get into a rut with pork.

Now, CHICKEN, I think they should have a chicken challenge because I definitely get into chicken ruts and I'd love to see how creative they could get with just getting boneless chicken breasts as their protein. They never seem to go for chicken in any challenge... they focus on beef, lamb, fish or pork. The only poultry they seem to like is duck. Now, don't get me wrong, all these are delicious... I just want to see a chicken challenge.

I have this fear within me that Robin will make it to the final four by staying under the radar and defending each of her bad dishes well enough to take the spot from Jennifer. I'll hate if that happens, but they're giving Robin entirely too much camera time.

 

[klacey1]

Jennifer is my absolute favorite. She's just no-BS, all about cooking great food. I LOVEEE Kevin, as well, but I think that he'd been doing too well to win-- too obvious. That's when happened last season with Stefan and Hosea-- Stefan CLEARLY had been the better chef all season, which would have made him too obvious of a winner. Hosea had to win. I HATED Hosea and his terribly amoral actions with Leah. Stefan definitely deserved to win (although I adored Carla-- what a sweetheart!!)

I honestly just find the V-brothers annoying. I prefer Michael, though. Bryan seems a bit big for his britches.
I'm hoping for a more exciting episode this week! Last week's was a bit ehh. I'm not a wino at all, so it wasn't terribly interesting to me...

 

[4greatboys]

I like Bryan. I did like Michael but he has such a chip on his shoulder toward Bryan it takes away the enjoyment of just watching him cook. I also like Kevin and Jenn. I will be happy with any of those 3 winning.

Last season though I wasn't a huge fan of Stefan he deserved to win.

 

[Nancyg56]

I would not discount Jennifer yet. I do think Kevin is the shoo-in to win.

These two are my favorites!

I think that the V brothers are not as competitive with each other as the editing has shown them to be. This show seems to think we watch for the petty stuff, remember last year and the romance that kept finding a way into the camera? We did not need that to enjoy the show.

Then the "suspense" of having two lesbian lovers in competition with each other. Now the two brothers. I just want to watch the show, I can have the weird dynamics in a soap opera if that is what I am looking for.

 

[chell]

These two are my favorites!

I think that the V brothers are not as competitive with each other as the editing has shown them to be. This show seems to think we watch for the petty stuff, remember last year and the romance that kept finding a way into the camera? We did not need that to enjoy the show.

Then the "suspense" of having two lesbian lovers in competition with each other. Now the two brothers. I just want to watch the show, I can have the weird dynamics in a soap opera if that is what I am looking for.

Same here.

 

[Imzadi]

These two are my favorites!

I think that the V brothers are not as competitive with each other as the editing has shown them to be. This show seems to think we watch for the petty stuff, remember last year and the romance that kept finding a way into the camera? We did not need that to enjoy the show.

Then the "suspense" of having two lesbian lovers in competition with each other. Now the two brothers. I just want to watch the show, I can have the weird dynamics in a soap opera if that is what I am looking for.

I agree.

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.

 

[TwingleMum]

I agree.

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.

ITA That was one of the best things about the Masters series. They were confident enough in themselves that they didn't need to tear someone else down to build themselves up.

 

[snykymom]

ITA That was one of the best things about the Masters series. They were confident enough in themselves that they didn't need to tear someone else down to build themselves up.

You can't really compare these kids to the Masters, though. The Masters truly were master chefs, who had already made a name for themselves and had well-established, notable careers, before they showed up on reality television. The regular Top Chef contestants are young newbies; they're still trying to make it. How could they possibly be "confident enough in themselves"? Remember too that the Masters contestants didn't all live in a house together & get on each others' nerves 24/7! And besides, even the kids wouldn't be making these kinds of comments about each other if the producers didn't ask those questions!

I agree that I don't like the drama; that's one of the things I like about shows like "So You Think You Can Dance." No one's asked to comment about anyone else (other than their own partner, and that's all in good humor).

But comparing Top Chef to Top Chef Masters is comparing apples to oranges!

 

[chell]

You can't really compare these kids to the Masters, though. The Masters truly were master chefs, who had already made a name for themselves and had well-established, notable careers, before they showed up on reality television. The regular Top Chef contestants are young newbies; they're still trying to make it. How could they possibly be "confident enough in themselves"? Remember too that the Masters contestants didn't all live in a house together & get on each others' nerves 24/7! And besides, even the kids wouldn't be making these kinds of comments about each other if the producers didn't ask those questions!

I agree that I don't like the drama; that's one of the things I like about shows like "So You Think You Can Dance." No one's asked to comment about anyone else (other than their own partner, and that's all in good humor).

But comparing Top Chef to Top Chef Masters is comparing apples to oranges!

True, but it sure did spoil us! It got me used to a show without all the drama.