Top Chef! — Page 22

If you read the judges' blogs, Colicchio was the only one who said that the teardrop thing wouldn't have made a difference. The other two said it would have been enough to make the salad hold its own.

I don't necessarily believe that, as I think all three judges have a "grass is always greener" mentality when it comes to what chefs COULD have done. And these judges also constantly preach "stand behind your dish," which is what he did by serving the salad without the dressing. Granted, standing behind it doesn't mean it deserves to win, I'm just saying it's what the judges would have wanted in that situation.

Sam was a huge help in pulling Marcel's non-fish dish together, but if you remember, they basically just turned all the ingredients that would have gone with the fish into a meal on its own. Marcel couldn't have done it without Sam, but it wasn't Sam's dish.

Based on last night's performance, no, it's not hard to see why Ilan won. That still doesn't mean he deserved to, or is a top chef by a long shot.

And if any of the other chefs had done to Marcel what he "did" to them (make wisecracks, move things that weren't being used without asking, claim they were too busy to help plate), they would have stood behind one another and said what they had done was completely justified.

/end rant/

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Of all the things Marcel did - none of them sabotaged anyone's dish. The judges even asked if what Marcel did hurt their dishes in any way, and the answer was always no. Make the atmosphere unpleasant? Sure. But nothing to hurt the dishes. And he was certainly not the only one who was insulting and disrespectful.

I agree that as chefs, the final chefs were all very talented, and I also did not care who won last night. I didn't even like Marcel that much throughout this whole thing, I just didn't think he deserved all the crap he got any more than other chefs who were equally rude/annoying/insulting. I don't think he's perfectly innocent by any means, but I also don't think he's as bad as he was made out to be (by the other chefs - never has there been footage showing him doing something deserving of the rap he got, and from a friend who works at Bravo, there isn't any).

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Of course he did and said inappropriate things, but I think this is a bit of a chicken and egg debate - were they horrible to him because he was snarky and insulting, or was he snarky and insulting because they were horrible to him?

They would trash talk him like no other - to his face, behind his back, even in front of the judges/guest diners for crying out loud. There is nothing he could have done to remedy the situation - when he kept to himself, they'd laugh and hope that he was off crying in a corner somewhere. When he'd try to confront them, they would of course go off on him.

I guess what makes me angrier than anything is that these are the prevalent discussions about this season - sure, in a reality show, you're going to like/dislike/defend certain contestants, but the focus has rarely, if ever, been on the food.

Even last season - Tiffani and Stephen stirred up all kinds of conflict and controversy, but nowhere near as much time was devoted to their personalities compared to their food, which was almost always outstanding. This season, the food hasn't been enough to take the focus off of the personalities of the contestants.

I'm clearly getting too wrapped up in this, but I do hope that season 3 brings the focus back to the food. When I butt heads with doodle, my 24 partner-in-crime, you know something's not right...

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It's back! Who watched last night?

Did anyone stand out for you yet? I'm pulling for Dale, cause he's from Chicago and Brian cause he's kinda hot.

But we'll see. I also liked Ilan early last season..ick.

Looks to be the start of a good season. For those who didn't see the show last night there was no really big surprise who went home first.

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You'll love the reunion, blueroses: Marcel raps!!! :P

I have to catch up on the last episode. Finally saw the reunion (yay Season 1!) and the first episode of the new season. I liked it! I know I'm going to wind up hating Joey and Uni Testicle.

No, Sandee (the lesbian) seemed very nice. Uni Ball (I changed his name) was talking about how he survived testicular cancer the other year. Something about his personality initially grated on my nerves. But my Top Chef hatred has been mostly ALL directed at Joey lately! Hung is full of himself, but it appears the boy does have skills...and he is arrogant in a way that doesn't annoy me all that much (yet). I hate the people who are bullies and crybabies more than I hate the narcissists.

Blueroses, speaking of Peach Cobbler ice cream. Ben & Jerry's has that same flavor and it is simply delicious. Yum.

I missed last night's episode as I was working late.

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I'm sick of seeing him sweat into the food!

Dottie...yum! I love any kind of cobbler...peach, apple, you name it!

HumanTorch--yes! Sexy clothes, heels...not conducive to running around in a kitchen. However, Sara has been coasting for quite some time now and I feel like she always tries to shift the blame for her failures rather than suck it up and try and learn from them. Howie at least has shown he has ability (although he's getting on my last nerve).

Dale is adorable...a bit wimpy, but that's okay. I'd have to ask him to shave the cock's comb...(did I just type that?)

...or I'd make him CONSTANTLY do a Foghorn Leghorn imitation.

Glad he finally won something.

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