Top Chef Chicago (Spoiler Thread)

[Todd&Copper]

I agree this was a bogus elimination, in the sense that the magenta drunken Polish sausage team didn't have two of the three REQUIRED elements of their dish (no Polish sausage and no drunk, only the magenta in the purple potato mash). So, I think Lisa should have been sent home. Besides, she is so miserable to watch. I kibnd of want to punch that ugly scowl right off of her smug, pierced face.

But I think Jen got sent home b/c she did the bread (which they said was too big and soggy on one side and the crust was hard to cut) and the cheese, which she said she prepared (too big a piece). I guess the olive tepenade (or whatever the olive crud was) and the orange gastrique were good.
If they wanted to be sexy-schmexy, why didn't they arrange two ornage slices (cut against the sections straight across the equator) on the plate with the asparagus in a bundle, wedged between them, thereby provocative to both genders?

The real reason Jen got sent home? Zoi is gone, and Jen doesn't bring the drama like constantly-PMSing Lisa or Conniving Antonia. And Stephanie has won more challenges than Jen.

 

[Angelhalo]

The real reason Jen got sent home? Zoi is gone, and Jen doesn't bring the drama like constantly-PMSing Lisa or Conniving Antonia. And Stephanie has won more challenges than Jen.

ITA. And that's just sad.

I know seriously, Lisa and Antonia brought our shots for themselves and none for the judges. What's so drunken about that?

 

[robinb]

What was up with last night's elimination? What a crock (and I'm not talking about the margarine spread variety!).

I really liked their dish ("Orange Turned-On Asparagus") and I thought that using a type of cheese that turns ORANGE when you cook it was brilliant! The presentation was "sexy", the color was there and they actually used their ingredient. The judges complained that they didn't feature the main ingredient, but they had at least 4 spears of asparagus. Just how much do you need when you are serving 5 courses?

Lisa and Antonia didn't use their ingredient in their "Magenta Drunk Polish Sausage". They also didn't have the theme of "drunken" and they DIDN'T have the color. Plus, they didn't share their shots! A good shot of Patron would have turned the judge's heads .

Oh ... and where the heck was the bacon in Nikki and Mark, "Purple Depressed Bacon"? And it was "depressed" because it was on the plate with the brussels sprouts? Feh.

I thought it was interesting that the least two favorite dished followed the two favorites. I'll have to see if there is a pattern to this.

 

[nannerbadnanner]

I was so mad about last night! Of course, Lisa and Antonia's dish tasted better. I bet Stephanie's and Jen's would have tasted better, too, if they had decided to ignore the challenge rules and cook whatever they wanted. I normally agree with most judge's decisions on this show, but this one has me confused.

Also, I have gone from totally hating Andrew in the first ep to just laughing myslef silly when he is on the screen. He really is good TV.

 

[RUDisney]

I'll have to see if there is a pattern to this.

You made me laugh out loud with this comment. I can just picture you sitting at your computer doing research to pattern out the results of all TC episodes. A woman on a true mission.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Grrrrrrrr I cannot STAND Lisa!!!!

I agree completely! She cannot leave soon enough for me!

I fell asleep last night right before they were to come back in and be told which one was leaving

Do you know if you woke up at 11:55, or 12:55, or 1:55, or (I think) 2:55 - you could have seen it? Yeah, I couldn't sleep last night - and Bravo was kind enough to rerun the episode three or four times in a row, just for me

I love Richard. He's my favorite. Dale is my second favorite, then Stephanie. The swearing NY guy whose name I can never remember is actually growing on me.

Andrew - and except that I'd put Stephanie second, I agree with your choices.

Oh ... and where the heck was the bacon in Nikki and Mark, "Purple Depressed Bacon"? And it was "depressed" because it was on the plate with the brussels sprouts? Feh.

I dunno - I'd be depressed if I had to share a plate with Brussels sprouts

You made me laugh out loud with this comment. I can just picture you sitting at your computer doing research to pattern out the results of all TC episodes.

And then generating and posting a spreadsheet with the results (and I mean that as compliment!).

 

[kaytieeldr]

"You can't point fingers at the judges' table. They are not going to look at you any better when you do that" (Niki, 5/7 - just before elimination).

Ah, if only THAT was what influenced the judges's choice; but no. Despite Lisa making sure the judges knew Andrew didn't meet the conditions of the challenge - and okay, fine, that's a good reason to be eliminated - she's still there. And what was that patootie about "I'm afraid I'm going to get hit"?

 

[4greatboys]

I was wishing they could have sent all 3 of them packing last night.

 

[powellrj]

I told DH last night those are the next three to go. One down, 2 more to go.

 

[Angelhalo]

I was sad to see Andrew go last night, he was finally really starting to grow on me. I understand he didn't follow the rules, and I can respect that as a reason to get rid of him, but if that's the case, then they should have gotten rid of Lisa when she didn't follow the rules in the comedy challenge. I just want the judges to be consistant. ALSO, I don't like how Tom has started this thing now, where if his original reason for not being happy with a dish doesn't work, or the contestant tries to argue with him, then he just reverts to saying, well it wasn't good. Seriously, that can't be the answer to everything. If it wasn't good, then say so in the beginning of your judging, don't hold it like some ace in the pocket to throw at them when they don't agree with your other criticisms, because then it just seems like you're making it up so they will shut up.

I REALLY want to see Lisa go. She has SUCH a bad attitude. They way she grimaces and folds her arms over her chest during judging, drives me NUTS! I'm running low on people I really like. I still like Richard....sometimes Spike.....sometimes Stephanie.......sometimes Dale........I DO NOT like Lisa or Antonia.

 

[storzo]

While I agree it was time for Andrew to go, actually I thought that a long time ago, I want Lisa gone. Whenever she is in a bottom group she stands there never understanding why. I understand a chef needs to stand behind his/her dish but come on, listen to the criticism and learn. The judges are not just picking on you. She knew the rice wasn't cooked right whether it was her fault or sabotage, she knew it and should've known she'd be called on it.

 

[Nancyg56]

I was wishing they could have sent all 3 of them packing last night.

ALSO, I don't like how Tom has started this thing now, where if his original reason for not being happy with a dish doesn't work, or the contestant tries to argue with him, then he just reverts to saying, well it wasn't good. Seriously, that can't be the answer to everything. If it wasn't good, then say so in the beginning of your judging, don't hold it like some ace in the pocket to throw at them when they don't agree with your other criticisms, because then it just seems like you're making it up so they will shut up.

I REALLY want to see Lisa go. She has SUCH a bad attitude. They way she grimaces and folds her arms over her chest during judging, drives me NUTS! I'm running low on people I really like. I still like Richard....sometimes Spike.....sometimes Stephanie.......sometimes Dale........I DO NOT like Lisa or Antonia.

I wonder if he is trying to explain a little of the thought process but when the Chef gets snippy he steps back and tells them "It's just not good" Some of these folks are not taking any constructive feedback well.
*****

I have also gotten tired of watching Lisa stand with her back up and her arms crossed and her expression ready to do do battle. Gosh, if she wants t o win she should be listening to the judges reasoning, in the end they are who she needs to please. That's the package she signed for, too late to get nasty about it now. I don't like Dale's temper. Gosh he is a sore loser! My favorites are Antonia, Richard and Stephanie.

While I agree it was time for Andrew to go, actually I thought that a long time ago, I want Lisa gone. Whenever she is in a bottom group she stands there never understanding why. I understand a chef needs to stand behind his/her dish but come on, listen to the criticism and learn. The judges are not just picking on you. She knew the rice wasn't cooked right whether it was her fault or sabotage, she knew it and should've known she'd be called on it.

That's the thing. She and the others acted as though they thought that they could bully their way out of the losers seat! That dorm has got to be one tense place to live!

 

[robinb]

I think that Andrew failed to "spin" his dish correctly. Part of the description was for the lunch to be "low carb". How can something be low carb with rice or bread? He could have spun his faux sushi rice as a low carb alternative. Oh, and I think that Spike was a twit trying to "game" the other contestants. All that did was make them step up to the challenge while he played it safe.

I'm off to read the Top Chef blogs ...

 

[Angelhalo]

I wonder if he is trying to explain a little of the thought process but when the Chef gets snippy he steps back and tells them "It's just not good" Some of these folks are not taking any constructive feedback well.

That's exactly what I think he's doing but it's getting frustrating.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I think Tom says "it didn't taste good" as a "bottom line". As in, nit pick all you want - bottom line, it didn't taste good.

I was glad to see Andrew go. Foolish choice, and badly executed. Sushi? For city cops?

And whoopie, you studied nutrition. The way he said it over and over, it's like nobody else knows the first thing about nutrition, idiots that they are. I agree with (glasses judge) - very arrogant! Buh-bye!

The burrito looked really good!!

 

[Angelhalo]

I think Tom says "it didn't taste good" as a "bottom line". As in, nit pick all you want - bottom line, it didn't taste good.

I was glad to see Andrew go. Foolish choice, and badly executed. Sushi? For city cops?

OTOH, that burrito looked really good!!

I work for the Fire District and have seen many of them eat sushi. Sushi isn't as weird and crazy as people once thought. I think there just should have been a much bigger serving of sushi and perhaps he could have made it a little more "every man" friendly by using a cooked shrimp or something cooked inside, and brown rice to add to the nutrition factor. I didn't see anything wrong with making sushi though, I've seen these big burly firfighters eating it. If it doesn't taste good, then Tom should say that from the start, then explain why it wasn't good. Don't give a bunch of reasons and then when they try to disagree with you, or explain their thought process to you, just go "Well it wasn't good" It just sounds like a little kid to me who has run out of smart things to say so they just say "Oh yeah?? Well it wasn't good! How about that? Nanny nanny boo boo!"

Glasses judge is TED.

I have a degree in nutrtion and if I were on there and the challenge dealt with nutrition, I'd point out my degree in nutiriton too. Why wouldn't I?

This si all JMHO of course.........well except for Ted's name, that's fact. LOL!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I have a degree in nutrtion and if I were on there and the challenge dealt with nutrition, I'd point out my degree in nutiriton too. Why wouldn't I?

I've studied nutrition as well, but I assume as professionals working in the field, so have all of my other colleagues. Therefore I wouldn't have to bring it up - it's expected. Professing that I know it better than anyone else adds another level to the arrogance, IMO.

BTW, is your Fire District a big city district, like Chicago, or suburban? Where I live (suburbia), I could see some of them eating sushi (though more often, I see them in the Greasy Spoons); where I work (Boston), not so much.

 

[Angelhalo]

I've studied nutrition as well, but I assume as professionals working in the field, so have all of my other colleagues. Therefore I wouldn't have to bring it up - it's expected. Professing that I know it better than anyone else adds another level to the arrogance, IMO.

BTW, is your Fire District a big city district, like Chicago, or suburban? Where I live (suburbia), I could see some of them eating sushi (though more often, I see them in the Greasy Spoons); where I work (Boston), not so much.

It's pretty big. And most of them are self proclaimed good old boys who are typically not open to diversity or new ideas.

Hmmm in my cooking school, nutrtion was not expected. Food and Nutrition was a completely different course structure in a completely different building, the two had nothing to do with each other. Some chefs had nutrition knowledge. Some had none other than what John Q Public knows. I ABSOLUTELY do not see it as arrogance. Just letting people know that you are knowledgable in a subject doesn't mean you are an arrogant jerk. He never claimed that any of the rest of the chefs were buffoons, he just wanted to them to know that he was knowledgable, and I would have done the same.

So we agree to disagree.

 

[Nancyg56]

I work for the Fire District and have seen many of them eat sushi. Sushi isn't as weird and crazy as people once thought. I think there just should have been a much bigger serving of sushi and perhaps he could have made it a little more "every man" friendly by using a cooked shrimp or something cooked inside, and brown rice to add to the nutrition factor. I didn't see anything wrong with making sushi though, I've seen these big burly firfighters eating it. If it doesn't taste good, then Tom should say that from the start, then explain why it wasn't good. Don't give a bunch of reasons and then when they try to disagree with you, or explain their thought process to you, just go "Well it wasn't good" It just sounds like a little kid to me who has run out of smart things to say so they just say "Oh yeah?? Well it wasn't good! How about that? Nanny nanny boo boo!"

Glasses judge is TED.

I have a degree in nutrtion and if I were on there and the challenge dealt with nutrition, I'd point out my degree in nutiriton too. Why wouldn't I?

This si all JMHO of course.........well except for Ted's name, that's fact. LOL!

I get what you are saying. I would love to be a fly on the wall and see the entire discussion before it gets edited down to two minutes and there final "It's just not good."

I have to wonder why the Chefs sometimes try to dummy down the food because they don't want to consider that their audience may just know what tastes good. I would have sent Spike home for that ridiculous chicken salad and olive thing. "It's just a box lunch for god's sake" annoyed me as did his selecting what he thought was the best components to screw over the others. Then he failed to use them in an imaginative way.

 

[Angelhalo]

I have to wonder why the Chefs sometimes try to dummy down the food because they don't want to consider that their audience may just know what tastes good. I would have sent Spike home for that ridiculous chicken salad and olive thing. "It's just a box lunch for god's sake" annoyed me as did his selecting what he thought was the best components to screw over the others. Then he failed to use them in an imaginative way.

ITA! I told my husband the same thing. As he was cooking I turned and said, you know, I bet he's gonna get blasted for taking all of those ingredients and then basically doing "nothing" with them.