Top Chef - Chicago - Page 13

Jait · 06-12-2008, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black_Death

Richard needs to get back to his restaurant in the ATL so I can go try it out. I guess now I have to wait another week...

Lucky bastard. I'd love to try it, but it's about 2250 miles away. If you go, leave us a review

Neph · 06-12-2008, 09:07 PM

I know a couple that went to Richard's restaurant and even got a tour of the kitchen. They said they're going back after seeing him so sad on the finale.

I felt bad for him too, but at the same time, I felt like it was karma for passing Lisa off as "winning the bronze." Yeah, no one likes her and no one wanted her to win, but I begrudgingly have to give her some respect for the dishes she made in the finale.

Millie · 06-14-2008, 10:40 AM

I just want to go on record as saying I called the fix on this show long before the finale! ^_^

But in all seriousness, I think Richard nailed his own coffin. He took some risks, sure, but the food he was putting out just looked plain bad. That pork belly dish looked undercooked, underseasoned, and plain. The other dishes had a similarly insubstantial look to them. It seemed like he was putting out a series of amuses-bouche, while the others were puting out genuine appetizers.

I still take issue with the fact that everything is decided based only on this one meal, and that cumulative performance has essentially no bearing on the outcome. But to be perfectly fair, I just don't see any scenario in which Richard's last meal would have won him the crown. I don't blame his lack of help, either. He phoned it in here.

Lisa gains a begrudging bit of respect from me after her meal. She played it safe, inasmuch as she cooked what she apparently cooks all the time. But so what? This is your last shot at the gold; you need to play to your strengths. I think she did so admirably. I would have screamed bloody murder if she'd won the whole thing, but nevertheless, I think she acquitted herself admirably in the final showdown. At the very least, she proved that she (somewhat) deserved to be in the final three.

Angerz · 06-14-2008, 12:09 PM

I just wish the final episode would have been "Here are your ingredients, here is an extra set of hands, wow us".

The final cook off doesn't need a curve ball, it needs to be an ultimate showcase of what they can do.

Zippygoose · 06-16-2008, 02:55 PM

While I agree that Richard completely choked, was anyone else annoyed at how simple and unoriginal Lisa's dishes were? I mean sure, maybe a couple of them tasted the best, but black sticky rice?? Really??? Come on. Why are the judges praising something they could have ordered in any Thai restaurant ever in existence?

Brutul Tarew Marr · 06-16-2008, 04:41 PM

Ten bucks says Lisa's dishes were straight off the menu at her restaurant.

mek · 06-16-2008, 06:32 PM

Lisa doesn't have her own restaurant. She worked at Public last, glancing at their current menu they have the soup she cooked on the finale. The other two places have probably significantly changed their menus since she was there, so who knows.

Public

Eyashusa · 06-18-2008, 05:03 PM

Chicago Tribune did an interactive chat with Stephanie Izard last Thursday.

Some of her comments were interesting.

A conversation with Bravo's 'Top Chef' Stephanie Izard -- chicagotribune.com

Cuppycake · 06-18-2008, 05:46 PM

That was an interesting interview. I liked her responses to all the questions, she seemed really honest with her answers. I like her =)

Neph · 06-19-2008, 05:02 AM

I was really surprised that Stephanie won as the fan favorite. All I have to say is that she better get out there and start opening more restaurants. Her restaurant Scylla closed, which (as you all say) is common. But I'd love to go to her restaurant.

Etoille · 06-19-2008, 06:06 AM

anyone watch the reunion?

best episode all season. though the commercials kept showing this one part where dale said "that is the one thing I will not talk about right now" and it wasnt in the show - wtf????

i really really enjoyed the reunion show - esp when lisa claimed that she "takes criticism back home really well" and the host told her america thought she was a hostile bitch and tom colicchio hinted a few times he thought she was crap.

Brand · 06-19-2008, 08:09 AM

I ate about 5 times at Scylla...It was a great restaurant.

Lucane Darkseraphim · 06-19-2008, 10:24 AM

The reunion was perhaps the most boring episode of them all. With Lisa being right there no one summoned the guts to truly display the hatred the entire world has towards her. The only way the reunion would have been solid was if the entire cast aired their grievances out to Lisa for the full hour. Also, the question asked to Lisa from the public should have been "How are you so god damn ugly?"

The only decent part of the episode was when Tom essentially called them all retards for portraying themselves poorly on TV (acting like babies, swearing, etc). Also, the interview with Richard made me smile because he seems like a genuinely nice guy.

Unfortunately fan favorite is picked by a strong constituency of sexist women / lonely housewives.

Season 2 - Sam. Oh so dreamy.
Season 3 - Casey. lol?
Season 4 - Stephanie. Picked because all of the other women acted like asses at some point time during the season, and that none of the guys looked good.

I feel like Season 4 failed in comparison to Hung from Season 3. Stephanie cooked the putrid peanut butter ketchup dish, Richard served salmon with scales on it, and Dale cooked the bad scallops. The first two certainly are unforgivable, and no one else in Season 4 was as good as the three I just mentioned.

You can tell that season 4 sucked because from the very first episode Tom has been saying shit like "We're in for a very good season guys!!!" If that was true, he would not have to say that and hype it.

Brutul Tarew Marr · 06-19-2008, 10:42 AM

While I think Hung was the best top chef ever, I think this is the overall highest quality cast Top Chef has ever had. Most of these guys are executive or at least sous chefs at a-list restaurants. Remember the early seasons when half the cast were culinary students, line cooks, caterers, or even that one personal trainer chick? And Hung was not perfect either. He only won 2 elimination challenges in his season.

Also Casey would have gotten my vote for fan favorite last season if I had voted.

Peanut butter and tomato is not a bad flavor combination either. In the summer time when I can get high quality tomatoes, I eat peanut butter and tomato sandwiches all the time. Second only to a BLT IMO, if you're really trying to showcase a great tomato (I eat them with a little bit of mayo and some salt on the tomatoes). The only person that really hated it was Collichio. If I remember correctly Gail Simmons even said it was delicious but there was some flaw to it.

Lucane Darkseraphim · 06-19-2008, 11:55 AM

Without having an exact replay playing right now I can't be positive, but I believe it was a consensus among them that her peanut butter tomato dish was awful, and the adjective used was something along the lines of putrid. As I recall that was the strongest negative word used to describe a dish this season (excluding Bourdain's language, he is always brutal). Lets also not forget that Stephanie should have gotten the boot that episode because she clearly made the most foul dish, whereas Mark's dish was blasted for being complicated / lacking protein.

I do not dislike Stephanie, I rather just think that the whole season was garbage.

06-18-2008, 05:46 PM	#189 (permalink)
Cuppycake Plugged In Like Neo Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,083	That was an interesting interview. I liked her responses to all the questions, she seemed really honest with her answers. I like her =) __________________ Metaplace - Nothing I say here represents my employer, legalblahdiddyblah.

06-19-2008, 10:42 AM	#194 (permalink)
Brutul Tarew Marr Good. Bad. I'm the guy with the gun. Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 965 -1 Internets	While I think Hung was the best top chef ever, I think this is the overall highest quality cast Top Chef has ever had. Most of these guys are executive or at least sous chefs at a-list restaurants. Remember the early seasons when half the cast were culinary students, line cooks, caterers, or even that one personal trainer chick? And Hung was not perfect either. He only won 2 elimination challenges in his season. Also Casey would have gotten my vote for fan favorite last season if I had voted. Peanut butter and tomato is not a bad flavor combination either. In the summer time when I can get high quality tomatoes, I eat peanut butter and tomato sandwiches all the time. Second only to a BLT IMO, if you're really trying to showcase a great tomato (I eat them with a little bit of mayo and some salt on the tomatoes). The only person that really hated it was Collichio. If I remember correctly Gail Simmons even said it was delicious but there was some flaw to it. Last edited by Brutul Tarew Marr : 06-19-2008 at 10:45 AM.

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06-12-2008, 09:07 PM	#182 (permalink)
Neph Late to the party Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 664 +0 Internets	I know a couple that went to Richard's restaurant and even got a tour of the kitchen. They said they're going back after seeing him so sad on the finale. I felt bad for him too, but at the same time, I felt like it was karma for passing Lisa off as "winning the bronze." Yeah, no one likes her and no one wanted her to win, but I begrudgingly have to give her some respect for the dishes she made in the finale.

06-14-2008, 10:40 AM	#183 (permalink)
Millie Loves the Powerglove. It's so bad! Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 5,796	I just want to go on record as saying I called the fix on this show long before the finale! ^_^ But in all seriousness, I think Richard nailed his own coffin. He took some risks, sure, but the food he was putting out just looked plain bad. That pork belly dish looked undercooked, underseasoned, and plain. The other dishes had a similarly insubstantial look to them. It seemed like he was putting out a series of amuses-bouche, while the others were puting out genuine appetizers. I still take issue with the fact that everything is decided based only on this one meal, and that cumulative performance has essentially no bearing on the outcome. But to be perfectly fair, I just don't see any scenario in which Richard's last meal would have won him the crown. I don't blame his lack of help, either. He phoned it in here. Lisa gains a begrudging bit of respect from me after her meal. She played it safe, inasmuch as she cooked what she apparently cooks all the time. But so what? This is your last shot at the gold; you need to play to your strengths. I think she did so admirably. I would have screamed bloody murder if she'd won the whole thing, but nevertheless, I think she acquitted herself admirably in the final showdown. At the very least, she proved that she (somewhat) deserved to be in the final three.

06-14-2008, 12:09 PM	#184 (permalink)
Angerz Rock and Roll Gangster Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,792 -3 Internets	I just wish the final episode would have been "Here are your ingredients, here is an extra set of hands, wow us". The final cook off doesn't need a curve ball, it needs to be an ultimate showcase of what they can do.

06-16-2008, 02:55 PM	#185 (permalink)
Zippygoose Math Enthusiast/Badass MC Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 614 +0 Internets	While I agree that Richard completely choked, was anyone else annoyed at how simple and unoriginal Lisa's dishes were? I mean sure, maybe a couple of them tasted the best, but black sticky rice?? Really??? Come on. Why are the judges praising something they could have ordered in any Thai restaurant ever in existence?

06-16-2008, 04:41 PM	#186 (permalink)
Brutul Tarew Marr Good. Bad. I'm the guy with the gun. Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 965 -1 Internets	Ten bucks says Lisa's dishes were straight off the menu at her restaurant.

06-18-2008, 05:03 PM	#188 (permalink)
Eyashusa Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 208	Chicago Tribune did an interactive chat with Stephanie Izard last Thursday. Some of her comments were interesting. A conversation with Bravo's 'Top Chef' Stephanie Izard -- chicagotribune.com

06-19-2008, 05:02 AM	#190 (permalink)
Neph Late to the party Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 664 +0 Internets	I was really surprised that Stephanie won as the fan favorite. All I have to say is that she better get out there and start opening more restaurants. Her restaurant Scylla closed, which (as you all say) is common. But I'd love to go to her restaurant.

06-19-2008, 06:06 AM	#191 (permalink)
Etoille Michigan: Worst start ever since the 1940's. Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2,584	anyone watch the reunion? best episode all season. though the commercials kept showing this one part where dale said "that is the one thing I will not talk about right now" and it wasnt in the show - wtf???? i really really enjoyed the reunion show - esp when lisa claimed that she "takes criticism back home really well" and the host told her america thought she was a hostile bitch and tom colicchio hinted a few times he thought she was crap.

06-19-2008, 08:09 AM	#192 (permalink)
Brand Prince of Nothing Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 232 +1 Internets	I ate about 5 times at Scylla...It was a great restaurant.

06-19-2008, 10:24 AM	#193 (permalink)
Lucane Darkseraphim Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 219 -7 Internets	The reunion was perhaps the most boring episode of them all. With Lisa being right there no one summoned the guts to truly display the hatred the entire world has towards her. The only way the reunion would have been solid was if the entire cast aired their grievances out to Lisa for the full hour. Also, the question asked to Lisa from the public should have been "How are you so god damn ugly?" The only decent part of the episode was when Tom essentially called them all retards for portraying themselves poorly on TV (acting like babies, swearing, etc). Also, the interview with Richard made me smile because he seems like a genuinely nice guy. Unfortunately fan favorite is picked by a strong constituency of sexist women / lonely housewives. Season 2 - Sam. Oh so dreamy. Season 3 - Casey. lol? Season 4 - Stephanie. Picked because all of the other women acted like asses at some point time during the season, and that none of the guys looked good. I feel like Season 4 failed in comparison to Hung from Season 3. Stephanie cooked the putrid peanut butter ketchup dish, Richard served salmon with scales on it, and Dale cooked the bad scallops. The first two certainly are unforgivable, and no one else in Season 4 was as good as the three I just mentioned. You can tell that season 4 sucked because from the very first episode Tom has been saying shit like "We're in for a very good season guys!!!" If that was true, he would not have to say that and hype it.

06-19-2008, 11:55 AM	#195 (permalink)
Lucane Darkseraphim Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 219 -7 Internets	Without having an exact replay playing right now I can't be positive, but I believe it was a consensus among them that her peanut butter tomato dish was awful, and the adjective used was something along the lines of putrid. As I recall that was the strongest negative word used to describe a dish this season (excluding Bourdain's language, he is always brutal). Lets also not forget that Stephanie should have gotten the boot that episode because she clearly made the most foul dish, whereas Mark's dish was blasted for being complicated / lacking protein. I do not dislike Stephanie, I rather just think that the whole season was garbage.