Top Chef and the $10 family meal challenge.

[kittythepoohbear]

I usually just lurk on the BB but I had to post about this. Anybody see Top Chef tonight? They had to make a nutritious easy family meal for 4 for only $10. In the end the recipes seemed really good. I loved how they were well-balanced, filled with whole grains, veggies, and fruits, and looked very tasty. One guy made carrot soup, pasta puttanesca, and baked (well, only sorta baked) apples. Another made roast chicken with apples and mixed vegetables. All for $10 each! Very refreshing to see. We don't have kids yet but we plan on trying a couple of these recipes to counter rising food costs and bad busy person eating habits. You can find the recipes at the Bravo Top Chef website - not sure if I'm allowed to post a direct link. Happy eating!

 

[Monica20039]

I just watched the episode and they had some great ideas!

 

[MrsPooh]

Darn, I'm a Top Chef fanatic but was too busy tonight to watch. I'm so happy they did this challenge. I complained alot last season that they made great looking food but it was expensive and it was usually things my family wouldn't be too interested in eating. What a great change to make them prepare foods a family would like on an affordable budget.

 

[crjack]

I thought it was great that each contestant was paired up with a child as their assistants. Sometimes being involved in the cooking process makes a child more willing to try a new food. (not mine of course but hopefully others!)

 

[MKCP5]

ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh I miss the days of Top Chef. Hands down my favorite reality show!! We got rid of cable though to cut costs and I am missing that show soooooooo much!!!!!!!!

 

[rdrjj5]

Darn, I'm a Top Chef fanatic but was too busy tonight to watch. I'm so happy they did this challenge. I complained alot last season that they made great looking food but it was expensive and it was usually things my family wouldn't be too interested in eating. What a great change to make them prepare foods a family would like on an affordable budget.

It's on again tonight at 9pm est.

 

[daisax]

My first thought -- $10 at Whole foods buys you a carrot and a bottle of water

But what I found very strange was that the assignment was dinner for a family of 4. And then they served 4 kids at the table, one plate for the judges in the dining room, and one plate for Tom Colicchio in the kitchen. So 6 servings.

 

[Adi12982]

I usually just lurk on the BB but I had to post about this. Anybody see Top Chef tonight? They had to make a nutritious easy family meal for 4 for only $10. In the end the recipes seemed really good. I loved how they were well-balanced, filled with whole grains, veggies, and fruits, and looked very tasty. One guy made carrot soup, pasta puttanesca, and baked (well, only sorta baked) apples. Another made roast chicken with apples and mixed vegetables. All for $10 each! Very refreshing to see. We don't have kids yet but we plan on trying a couple of these recipes to counter rising food costs and bad busy person eating habits. You can find the recipes at the Bravo Top Chef website - not sure if I'm allowed to post a direct link. Happy eating!

You can post a direct link, and please do

 

[Pigeon]

Ten dollars to feed four doesn't sound like much of a challenge to me.

 

[HamTown]

I think the "family of 4" theme was to indicate that it should planned for both adults and children of different ages, not to indicate the number of servings required.

Also, there is no way they bought their ingredients for retail prices at WF. Their protein alone would have put them over $10.

 

[Sally]

I loved the show last night, my youngest wants me to try the one pot chicken dinner. I looked really good and would be easy enough and she could help me.

 

[disneymom3]

Ten dollars to feed four doesn't sound like much of a challenge to me.

I think it is a good goal though. Especially with food getting more expensive and if they just did it sort of spur of the moment. I can do a lot better with sales etc but I am sure they didn't factor that in. Some of my dinners are definitely under that but some go over.

 

[Neelloc]

We are Top Chef fans as well and I loved this challenge! I thought the $10 limit was a good idea..however, I thought the same thing....$10 doesn't get you much at "Whole Paycheck." And I'm sure that they were allowed to use the basic staples from the Top Chef pantry.

I'm so glad that they have the recipies posted on the website!!!!

 

[MinMouse]

My DD13 and I just watched this show this afternoon (we record it on the DVR). She said "wow only $10 . . . Whole Foods is so expensive!" I thought the reaction of the chefs was priceless when they said the budget was $10! They are definitely used to spending so much more. I'm going to check out the recipes. I thought it was an really neat episode though!

 

[PigletsPal]

I fell asleep just as they were going to say who was going home..... could someone either post or PM with who went home.

TIA

 

[Cynt]

I thought the same thing WF is sooo expensive - I thought for sure someone would ask to go to Walmart, Carnival or the Dollar tree LOL!

But peanut butter, tomatoes and chicken did not sound appealing. That dish looked terrible. PB was made for one thing...COOKIES!!! LOL! I love PB cookies.

 

[spima3]

I fell asleep just as they were going to say who was going home..... could someone either post or PM with who went home.
TIA

If no one PM's you, the guy from New Zealand went home. Can't think of his name, sorry.

 

[StephMK]

I love that show & enjoyed that challenge. They were much more creative than I am for a normal dinner so we might have to get out the cookbooks. I didn't know they put the recipes online, I want to try that one pot chicken too & would love to find a good stir fry recipe.

 

[HamTown]

While Stephanie's dish didn't really look appetizing, there is a very traditional African dish (maybe even served at Boma) called groundnut stew which usually contains both peanut butter and tomatoes.

The recipe is in at least 3 of my cookbooks (even my "good" one) so I really thought it was weird that Coliccio kept harping on it.

 

[dawnball]

ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh I miss the days of Top Chef. Hands down my favorite reality show!! We got rid of cable though to cut costs and I am missing that show soooooooo much!!!!!!!!

Hulu. http://www.hulu.com/top-chef - They only seem to be putting up one episode at a time though, I think the last episode was 4, and they took it down when this one went up.

We get no reception without cable, so I've learned to find my tv streamed online.