Top Chef - Season Two

[mamaprincess]

It was a shocker! Marcel, the king of all things swanyay (or whatever the heck it is) may just take this puppy down...

 

[ckmommy]

I see a lot of people rooting for Marcel--now. I do not really enjoy Ilan, but do not like Marcel at all. I think he and his chemical mixtures are awful. If I am going to go out to a fancy place to eat, I do not want my food mixed with all sorts of chemicals. I know there are chemicals in all sorts of processed foods, and I know that salt is on the periodic table of elements--so yes, I eat chemicals. But, if I want a fancy dinner, I want it made with good, pure spices and fresh veggies and meats. If I want something full of chemicals, I will go get a TV dinner for $.99.

I could not really care who wins this season now. I agreed with the judges about Sam and Elia's dishes, but I really think that Sam was the best chef this season.

 

[va32h]

So typical of Sam and Ilan - assuring Elia that if she speaks up about Marcel, they'll have her back. And then she does and...Ilan makes some half-hearted remark about not respecting the food and Sam is all

After what happened to Marcel, they pretty much had to let him in the finals. I would have rather had Sam against him though, than that smug little Ilan.

 

[mamaprincess]

Ilan did fall off. I think he came in quiet and classy and then got caught up in the I Hate Marcel peer pressure. Very weak. I'm a little disappointed that he just didn't stay out of that. Elia was the last to fall but she wound up looking like one of the biggest fools in the I Hate Marcel camp with that lame little stunt she pulled at the end. This year's contestants are going out like idiots. Not a good look.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Yes, and it started on the plane when nobody wanted to sit with Marcel. Grow up, people!

 

[MosMom]

I wonder if Marcel was an even bigger butt than what was shown though. Elia was always friendly with Marcel and by the end of the show even she couldn't stand him. Really makes me wonder.

I also disagree with Chef Tom when he says kitchen behavior doesn't matter. I distinctly remember him giving speeches to the first season contestants about how their relationship with other chefs is part of being a Top Chef.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/2007/01/18/feature2.html

 

[RUDisney]

After what happened to Marcel, they pretty much had to let him in the finals. I would have rather had Sam against him though, than that smug little Ilan.

I agree completely.

Doesn't a TOP CHEF have to have the chemistry to have people work with them and for them? Who'd want to work with Marcel?

I had a friend in 9th grade who was like Marcel. He actually got thrown out of a window by a bunch of seniors before he transferred. He didn't fair well at his new school and his parents finally accepted a position for his Dad that was out of state. I don't know how he did there, hopefully well with a fresh start.

I like the idea of deciding that neither of these men are top chefs and sending them home without accolades.

 

[Robinrs]

I am convinced the producers wanted Marcel to go through... after all he stirs up the most emotion in people and that equals ratings.

Note that 79% of those voting wanted him out??? Of course they want him to be in the finals!

That said I am soooooo disappointed with last night's show. I liked Sam and Elia and now they're both gone. I'd vote for Satan himself before Marcel. He managed to get under every single person's skin this season but he does make "good TV"... and his food? UGH! I agree with Debi Mazar, his foams look like cat spit!

 

[Robinrs]

I wonder if Marcel was an even bigger butt than what was shown though. Elia was always friendly with Marcel and by the end of the show even she couldn't stand him. Really makes me wonder.

I also disagree with Chef Tom when he says kitchen behavior doesn't matter. I distinctly remember him giving speeches to the first season contestants about how their relationship with other chefs is part of being a Top Chef.

He has to be! Like I tell my son everyday, if someone is UNIVERSALLY disliked it's something they did to make the others feel bad about themselves. It was brought up several times how "superior" he thought he was, when someone puts on airs like that he makes everyone around him feel bad about themselves.

You may not remember much about a person but you ALWAYS remember how they make you feel.

 

[sha_lyn]

I see a lot of people rooting for Marcel--now. I do not really enjoy Ilan, but do not like Marcel at all. I think he and his chemical mixtures are awful. If I am going to go out to a fancy place to eat, I do not want my food mixed with all sorts of chemicals. I know there are chemicals in all sorts of processed foods, and I know that salt is on the periodic table of elements--so yes, I eat chemicals. But, if I want a fancy dinner, I want it made with good, pure spices and fresh veggies and meats. If I want something full of chemicals, I will go get a TV dinner for $.99.

Xyatan gum and agar aren't chemicals (n the sense that the word chemical is being used as in an artificial substance) they are natural substances.
It was driving me nuts last night to keep hearing the comments calling them chemicals. Using them to thicken foods is no different than using corn starch, arrow root or wheat flour.

 

[Figment22]

http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/2007/01/18/feature2.html

Interesting article. Thanks for the link.

I am convinced the producers wanted Marcel to go through... after all he stirs up the most emotion in people and that equals ratings.

Without question, Robin. And, after what happened to him at Cliff's hands, while the others just watched, I think they feel that they owed him the advancement to the finals.

I was shocked that Sam was cut, though. I thought it would be Sam/Marcel in the finale. At this point, I'm just completely rooting AGAINST Ilan, not for Marcel. As for Ilan's food last night, I'm surprised that Collichio and Simmons completely blew off Padma's complaint that she got the feeling in the back of her throat from the Taro root not being properly cooked. That's pretty major to me and should have sent Ilan packing, IMO.

I think they sent Sam home because he was to close to a repeat of Harold; exec. chef from a NYC restaurant and the "sexy" one--although, ick for me.
(And, to paraphrase the late Lloyd Bentsen, "Sam, you're no Harold Dieterle.)
It would be sort of a precedent setter to have to similar chefs win in consecutive years.

So, just because I want to see Ilan pack his knives and go...
Go Marcel

 

[MosMom]

I wouldn't call Xantham gum a fully naturable substance. Certainly not as natural as corn starch. Both Agar and Xantham are created chemically.

Edited to add: I do want to say that plain old enriched flour is exposed to chemicals as well. Honestly, it is hard to find many foods once you get away from the "raw" that aren't chemically enhanced or created.

 

[Robinrs]

Interesting article. Thanks for the link.


I think they sent Sam home because he was to close to a repeat of Harold; exec. chef from a NYC restaurant and the "sexy" one--although, ick for me.
(And, to paraphrase the late Lloyd Bentsen, "Sam, you're no Harold Dieterle.)
It would be sort of a precedent setter to have to similar chefs win in consecutive years.

So, just because I want to see Ilan pack his knives and go...
Go Marcel

Sam IS very much like Harold, and Tiffany was the "hated one" like Marcel, that's why I thought they'd be the last two standing.

Sorry, if Marcel wins I might throw my KitchenAid at my TV!!

 

[RUDisney]

Sorry, if Marcel wins I might throw my KitchenAid at my TV!!

Come now, that's no reason to hurt your Kitchenaid. Find something else, like a boot, or hammer.

I think they sent Sam home because he was to close to a repeat of Harold; exec. chef from a NYC restaurant and the "sexy" one--although, ick for me.
(And, to paraphrase the late Lloyd Bentsen, "Sam, you're no Harold Dieterle.)
It would be sort of a precedent setter to have to similar chefs win in consecutive years.

But, the precedence would be set if Ilan wins because he won the first quick fire challenge and so did Harold. Maybe chefs from NYC are just better chefs. I'd have preferred Sam or Elia over the top 2 now.

 

[Figment22]

But, the precedence would be set if Ilan wins because he won the first quick fire challenge and so did Harold. Maybe chefs from NYC are just better chefs. I'd have preferred Sam or Elia over the top 2 now.

There certainly are still similarities but Sam and Harold were both exec. chefs. I believe that Ilan is a line chef (I might have the wrong term, but he's at a lower level than S/H.) I doubt they'd want to have the pool of potential competitors for future seasons think that they'd have no chance of winning unless they were an exec. chef from a NYC restaurant. For this reason, I think Marcel is going to win, although I don't think I've liked a single thing he cooked this season. (I did like several dishes of Ilan's but I just found him to be such a total jerk that I hope he loses.)

 

[leafette]

Sam IS very much like Harold, and Tiffany was the "hated one" like Marcel, that's why I thought they'd be the last two standing.

Sorry, if Marcel wins I might throw my KitchenAid at my TV!!

I agree. I just can't handle Teen Wolf any longer!

 

[Jimbo]

I think that Ilan is a disgusting human being. Just seeing his annoying, smirking face annoys the heck out of me! it was worse when he also had on that green do-rag, with a hoodie over that. Although now we now that there was a reason for that (to hide his shaved head).

And it's hard for me to respect him as a chef, either. His most successful stuff has all been Spanish, including last night. He won a challenge for his paella, his clam dish got raves last week, etc., etc. But a lot of those things, like the clam dish and an appetizer, were right off the menu at Casa Mono, the Spanish restaurant that he works at. He's a one trick pony.

I'm only half watching the show at this point, because it's really not very good. Neither season of TC can hold a candle to Hell's Kitchen, IMHO. But if Ilan wins, the thing's dead to me forever.

 

[Duckfan]

Okay, I was very disappointed with the elimination of Sam, who has consistantly produced creative good food. He has been in the top the whole time and the worst they can say about him was nothing was cooked.....oops to coin their own phrase.. it must be time to change the name to top cook since you have to always cook things to win!

 

[Figment22]

I'm only half watching the show at this point, because it's really not very good.

It was SO much better last season. This year's model has been a HUGE disappointment, IMO. When they're casting for next year, they need to have the potential contestants fill out a 25 page psychological questionnaire to avoid a repeat of this season. 75% of these cheftestants had MAJOR issues as human beings.