Top Chef Seven--May Contain Spoilers!

[powellrj]

One of Tom's scenarios doesn't work. He couldn't have accidentally taken the puree out of the cooler because he didn't make any the day before! Therefore he either knowingly took it or made his own.

I think Ed would have spoken up had he been in the bottom 3, but figured he probably wouldn't gain anything by making an accusation he couldn't prove.

We were hoping the producers would have asked Alex how he made the puree!

I kept telling DH last night that they need to have a cook-off between Ed and Alex to see who could make the pea puree that was the winner!

I think Ed is just an easy going guy who didn't want to make waves. Did you notice Alex didn't get much love from the others on his win????

 

[Traveliz]

I kept thinking since Aaron Schock had mentioned ethics and the importance of ethics that the whole pea incidence would be brought to the attention somehow to the judges...even by a question about is there any question about ethics in the kitchen?

Seemed to me it would have been a perfect tie in. And even though they said the judges don't know what goes on in the kitchen I am thinking before they have asked questions of contestants that indicate they have been fed some information.

I can't stand Alex and hope he goes home soon.

Liz

 

[Lanshark]

I too was disappointed that the judges were not made aware of pea-gate.

Ed was in a tough situation. Noone saw Alex take the pea puree. I have little doubt that he did take it but how would the judges react. He did however, lie about his knowledge that Ed was making a pea puree. Kenny told him the night before. I believe the producers should have alerted the judges. Had they know Alex would have been booted and Andrea would have another chance.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

I was really hoping there would be some sort of throwdown about the whole pea puree thing. Unfortunately nothing came of it, though. There's no way of knowing 100%, but I'm 99.9% confident that Alex took the puree.

The only thing I take away from it is that Alex doesn't even have a slim chance of winning this whole thing, so he can enjoy his "stolen" win and get ready to pack his knives soon enough.

 

[Lanshark]

I was really hoping there would be some sort of throwdown about the whole pea puree thing. Unfortunately nothing came of it, though. There's no way of knowing 100%, but I'm 99.9% confident that Alex took the puree.

The only thing I take away from it is that Alex doesn't even have a slim chance of winning this whole thing, so he can enjoy his "stolen" win and get ready to pack his knives soon enough.

That's true but Andrea, who had a bad night, might have made it a few weeks further. Her food caused her to go home but if they had known about Alex would she have deserved to stay?

 

[jagmom]

Why is everyone so sure that Alex stole the pea puree? I mean, we didn't see everything that went on in the kitchen, just what Bravo has chosen to show us.

I don't really like Alex anyway, but I think its a little shameful that everyone assumes that he stole it when they have no actual proof.

Also, I thought that if Alex really did steal the puree, then Bravo would have shown that on tape, wouldn't they? Just by the fact that they didn't mention it to the judges seems to say that he didn't steal it and they just wanted to create drama.

 

[happygirl]

I'm pretty sure that Alex stole it. Bravo caught him in a lie where he said he didn't even know Ed made a pea puree. Then they showed footage of him saying he knew that Ed made a puree. I think it shows a lot of class on Ed part not saying anything to the judges. I was really sad that Andrea got sent home, she was one of my faves.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Why is everyone so sure that Alex stole the pea puree? I mean, we didn't see everything that went on in the kitchen, just what Bravo has chosen to show us.

I don't really like Alex anyway, but I think its a little shameful that everyone assumes that he stole it when they have no actual proof.

Also, I thought that if Alex really did steal the puree, then Bravo would have shown that on tape, wouldn't they? Just by the fact that they didn't mention it to the judges seems to say that he didn't steal it and they just wanted to create drama.

Certainly a possibility. My faith in "reality TV" showing the truth is always suspect.

It could very well be that they created the drama for the show.

Perhaps we will see a blowup later?

 

[LexiC123]

Certainly a possibility. My faith in "reality TV" showing the truth is always suspect.

It could very well be that they created the drama for the show.

Perhaps we will see a blowup later?

You just know that it's going to be brought up at the reunion show, if they have one. Maybe some 'lost' footage will even turn up, answering once and for all the question of the purloined pea puree!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You just know that it's going to be brought up at the reunion show, if they have one. Maybe some 'lost' footage will even turn up, answering once and for all the question of the purloined pea puree!

Probably. When you look at it that way it does seem like it was a "planned hook" for the show, which works because we want to know.

 

[4greatboys]

I'm torn. It seems like they tried so hard to make it seem like he did take it. I even went back and watched the prep again and it did not show Alex making a pee puree or lifting that other guys. It didn't show anything going on with pee's except a quick glimpse of them on the stove.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'm torn. It seems like they tried so hard to make it seem like he did take it. I even went back and watched the prep again and it did not show Alex making a pee puree or lifting that other guys. It didn't show anything going on with pee's except a quick glimpse of them on the stove.

You do know that it is "pea puree" and not "PEE puree" although I find that pretty funny and appropriate. After all it is a contest.

 

[onelilspark]

I think the only reason Ed didn't say anything is that he didn't know for certain. When Ed was asking around about it, did anyone see Alex avoid eye contact?? That to me speaks volumes...

 

[Toad_Passenger]

I think the only reason Ed didn't say anything is that he didn't know for certain. When Ed was asking around about it, did anyone see Alex avoid eye contact?? That to me speaks volumes...

Editing plays a large part in how this all went down. The key to me was the "dodge" maneuver that Alex was seeming to do in the kitchen when Ed started looking for the pea puree. It just seemed that Alex was walking around trying to avoid people seeing what he was stirring, as well as trying to avoid eye contact, etc.

But, as I said, Bravo clipped that sequence together, maybe to add more intrigue to the story.

 

[4greatboys]

You do know that it is "pea puree" and not "PEE puree" although I find that pretty funny and appropriate. After all it is a contest.

LOL....I can't believe I wrote pee instead of pea. I really do know the difference!

 

[TwingleMum]

According to all the chefs there was no way Alex could have made the pea puree. They all commented that the English pea puree requires a long cooking process and Alex had no clue what he was making even the night before. During prep the day before he did not make a puree. So where did he get it ~ magic??? Kenny told him about Ed's puree the night before.

I strongly disagree with Tom. The producers have an obligation to the viewers to look through the footage and ascertain what happened. They can find footage to show us ad nauseum all the little soap operas but not this ~ come on. This pea gate has the potential to turn off a tremendous number of loyal viewers. It goes to the integrity of the whole competition. SHAME ON TOP CHEF.

 

[Tamarap]

I wouldnt have said anything either. In the past when sabotage it brought up (turning burners up or ovens down) judges usually turn a deaf ear/cold shoulder and state they don't care what goes on in the kitchen. Had Ed ended up in the bottom perhaps he would have been more vocal? I think Alex did it and I think the producers should have stepped in. I hope the truth comes out at come point.

 

[Imzadi]

According to all the chefs there was no way Alex could have made the pea puree. They all commented that the English pea puree requires a long cooking process and Alex had no clue what he was making even the night before. During prep the day before he did not make a puree. So where did he get it ~ magic??? Kenny told him about Ed's puree the night before.

I strongly disagree with Tom. The producers have an obligation to the viewers to look through the footage and ascertain what happened. They can find footage to show us ad nauseum all the little soap operas but not this ~ come on. This pea gate has the potential to turn off a tremendous number of loyal viewers. It goes to the integrity of the whole competition. SHAME ON TOP CHEF.

Yes, I stand by what I said last nite: They never showed footage of Alex putting the peas in any type of blender/food processor to puree. Nor, did any of the chefs seem to see it. No one heard a whirring sound? So one saw the blender pitcher, even a stick blender in the sink to be able to prove to Ed, "See this dirty blender? This is what I used to made it. I didn't take yours." You know they don't have time to clean as they go. The evidence would have to have been laying around.


And why the need to lie about knowing Ed had made a pea puree?

What if Ed would have won if he had his pea puree, instead of Gail saying the peas he did use, were superfluous?

 

[Poppinsme]

Pea Gate

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Yes, I stand by what I said last nite: They never showed footage of Alex putting the peas in any type of blender/food processor to puree. Nor, did any of the chefs seem to see it. No one heard a whirring sound? So one saw the blender pitcher, even a stick blender in the sink to be able to prove to Ed, "See this dirty blender? This is what I used to made it. I didn't take yours." You know they don't have time to clean as they go. The evidence would have to have been laying around.


And why the need to lie about knowing Ed had made a pea puree?

What if Ed would have won if he had his pea puree, instead of Gail saying the peas he did use, were superfluous?

I agree with everything you said here.

Also, it was VERY clear that Ed took the pea puree with him. Anytime someone leaves something behind in the Top Chef kitchens, the cameras immediately zoom in on it. Based on that, I'm positive the pea puree went in the cooler. So, the only explanation that is left is that someone took it and used it (only one person had pea puree), or someone took it and tossed it (perhaps so there were not 2 pea purees). In either instance, Alex would be prime suspect #1.