TOP CHEF Spoilers
Feb. 12th, 2009 10:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
filkertomLast week: Jamie left. We're down to Stefan, Fabio, Hosea, Leah, Carla.
Quickfire Challenge: Padma greets the chefs with Guest judge molecular gastronomist Wylie DuFresne. Padma tells them that this is the last New York challenge; after this, the Final Four go to the semi-final in New Orleans. Wylie loves working with eggs, so the challenge is to create an egg dish that will "surprise and delight" in one hour.
Fabio is jacked to cook for DuFresne, and is trying a little molecular gastronomy himself. Hosea is concentrating on flavor, and worries if he's overcommitting himself... but this is a last chance to shine. Leah is worried. Stefan is very confident. Carla is doing green eggs and ham. Have I mentioned I love Carla?
Bottom: Fabio, because he kinda sidestepped breakfast and could've done more to showcase the eggs. (Fabio is pissed, and I can't blame him at ALL. They're supposed to "surprise and delight", and Wylie doesn't like it because it's not eggs for breakfast!?) Hosea impressed with his idea and technique, but in a Japanese dinner the dishes flow from one to the next. (I can accept that. That's a subtle point of execution of concept, but Hosea did set himself up by calling it a "Japanese dinner".) Leah's potato ravioli (in the brioche) was a little heavy and greasy.
Top: Wylie loved the playfulness of Carla's dish, and also Stefan's technique. Winner: CARLA! GO CARLA! Wylie notes that everyone else made at least two things, and sticking with one was a strong move on her part.
Elimination Challenge: The chefs draw knives, which have the names of various culinary superstars on them. Given that this is the last meal the chefs will cook this season in New York, the producers asked the various chef-gods what their "last meal" would be. The challenge is to cook that meal for the chef whose name you pulled.
So. They each create a five-course dinner, one last-wish meal per course, for all these culinary giants and the judges.
That night, they have dinner at Perilla, the NY restaurant owned by TC Season 1 winner Harold Dieterle. Harold comes to their table, and they talk shop.
Next day, shopping (30 minutes, $300). News Flash! Stefan and Hosea do not like each other. Leah doesn't plan on going "super-traditional", even though she knows Wylie might want it like that. Oy.
Off to the kitchen at Capitale -- two hours to prep, staggered by a half-hour each for presentation. Stefan says he's been cooking salmon for twenty-two years; there's no possible way he can screw up this dish. Hosea voices everyone's concern: Should they be taking this very literally, or are they allowed to play with it a bit?
Suddenly there's a huge glassy crash. Something has happened, and Fabio has broken his left pinky finger. A producer asks if he wants to go to the hospital -- Fabio says no way, he'd rather cut it off and sear it on the stove to stop the bleeding. (He also says, "I always said, it was so easy I could do it with one hand tied behind my back? I didn't mean to.") He puts on a rubber glove over his taped-up hand to help stiffen it, but he's dropping stuff all over.
Stefan is Terminatoring away on his meal, but Carla doesn't know what he's thinking. "'Oh, Marcus, I know that's your dying-wish dinner, but I'm gonna give you something else' -- WHAT!? What the hell?"
Ten minutes before service, Tom comes into the kitchen and says one thing: Do Not Embarrass Me.
Leah thins out her sauce, because she's worried it's too thick. Carla helps Leah out with her eggs benedict. Carla would love to see two women go to the Final Four.
Judges' Table: In the Stew Room, Leah says she doesn't know what she would've done if she'd fucked up her hand like Fabio did. Carla says she would've rolled with it. Fabio says, "It's Top Chef, not Top Pussy", and they all have a scandalized laugh. Padma invites them all back to Judges' Table.
Jacques tells Leah he liked the texture of her eggs, but they were a bit underdone, and the sauce could've been thicker. A lot of good things, but a number of problems of technique.
Tom tells Stefan that, across the board, they thought the salmon was overcooked. Stefan is surprised. The spinach two ways came across as spinach one way -- creamed spinach, spinach with cream sauce. Toby says it would've been nice if the potatoes had been crispier.
Padma tells Hosea that Susan really liked her dish. Tom says it was not traditional scampi, and she was looking for more of that broken butter-oil, more garlic. Jacques says the shrimp were cooked well, but the tomatoes were too refined, and needed to be seared.
Fabio's chicken was delicious. Everybody liked it. One problem: Wylie said the salad looked like "airline salad". Fabio says you're right, I'm gonna go back in the Stew Room and shoot myself. Tom says the airlines are always looking for good chefs. They all have a laugh.
Carla chose to keep the dish simple, but she says she overcooked the breasts. Tom notes that there was a difference of opinion about that. Jacques says it may have looked overcooked, but tasted very tender. They also complemented her peas, especially given that fresh peas are tough.
Tom says if Fabio opened a restaurant with that chicken dish, he'd be known for it. Jacques says the two best dishes were Carla's peas and Fabio's potatoes. Tom wishes Carla had integrated the peas more with the squab. Stefan's salmon was overcooked, but the rest of the dish was well-seasoned. Tom has more of a problem with thin hollandaise and undercooked eggs. Toby preferred Leah erring on the side of caution, and Padma and Jacques liked the bacon. But she should've cooked it longer or hotter. Hosea's dish was well-executed but didn't make an impact, and Tom says that's why it didn't win, but he doesn't know if it deserves to lose.
They call all of the chefs back.
Winner: Fabio. He also wins a bottle of Terlato wine, and a trip to the winery in Napa Valley, CA. Carla's peas were superb, and she's going to the semi-final. She feels like the tortoise winning the race. GO CARLA!
Which leaves us with the last three. Leah's egg was undercooked, and Tom wishes she hadn't second-guessed herself on the sauce. Stefan's flavors were great, but the salmon was overcooked. Hosea strayed too far from what shrimp scampi is supposed to be.
Leah goes home. (Hosea says now he's got one more person to do this for.)
Stefan says of course he was gonna be in the Final Four. Man, if Leah hadn't undercooked the eggs and thinned out the sauce, you'd be going home. Fabio ("Tonight we drink in Hell!") says Stefan needs to get his ass kicked, and he's gonna do it.
Next week: New Orleans. Emeril. A Big Fancy Ball.
GO CARLA!
Thoughts?
Quickfire Challenge: Padma greets the chefs with Guest judge molecular gastronomist Wylie DuFresne. Padma tells them that this is the last New York challenge; after this, the Final Four go to the semi-final in New Orleans. Wylie loves working with eggs, so the challenge is to create an egg dish that will "surprise and delight" in one hour.
Fabio is jacked to cook for DuFresne, and is trying a little molecular gastronomy himself. Hosea is concentrating on flavor, and worries if he's overcommitting himself... but this is a last chance to shine. Leah is worried. Stefan is very confident. Carla is doing green eggs and ham. Have I mentioned I love Carla?
- Stefan: eggs two ways -- poached egg on brioche w/ham & bearnaise, panna cotta w/mango puree & sweet bearnaise. "Very clever." Stefan suddently doesn't look so confident, but Fabio winks at him. That's gonna be an animated icon, if it isn't already. Maybe with a winking Jeff variation. Anyway.
- Leah: quail egg in potato w/caviar, brioche w/ricotta & bacon hollandaise. "Nice, very nice."
- Carla: green eggs & ham w/green tomato salsa & jalapeno oil. "Very pretty / not too spicy". GO CARLA!
- Hosea: Japanese dinner, egg style -- egg white roll w/salmon & asparagus, egg white sticky rice w/poached shrimp & avocado, avocado & tempura-fried egg. Kylie asks how Hosea made the egg white wrapper -- "Neat idea; not as eggy, maybe...."
- Fabio: eggs sunny-side up two ways -- quail egg w/buckwheat pancake, coconut milk panna cotta w/mango puree, and lychee soup w/melon "yolk". Wylie says the idea of the non-egg dessert, served in an egg shell, is "fantastic", and then he says, "lot of dessert". Hmmm.
Bottom: Fabio, because he kinda sidestepped breakfast and could've done more to showcase the eggs. (Fabio is pissed, and I can't blame him at ALL. They're supposed to "surprise and delight", and Wylie doesn't like it because it's not eggs for breakfast!?) Hosea impressed with his idea and technique, but in a Japanese dinner the dishes flow from one to the next. (I can accept that. That's a subtle point of execution of concept, but Hosea did set himself up by calling it a "Japanese dinner".) Leah's potato ravioli (in the brioche) was a little heavy and greasy.
Top: Wylie loved the playfulness of Carla's dish, and also Stefan's technique. Winner: CARLA! GO CARLA! Wylie notes that everyone else made at least two things, and sticking with one was a strong move on her part.
Elimination Challenge: The chefs draw knives, which have the names of various culinary superstars on them. Given that this is the last meal the chefs will cook this season in New York, the producers asked the various chef-gods what their "last meal" would be. The challenge is to cook that meal for the chef whose name you pulled.
- Fabio: Lydia Bastianich (roast chicken w/roasted potatoes and a leafy salad)
- Stefan: Marcus Samuelsson (roasted salmon and spinach)
- Hosea: Susan Ungaro (shrimp scampi w/tomatoes provencal)
- Leah: Wylie DuFresne (eggs benedict)
- Carla: Jacques Pepin (roast squab w/fresh peas)
So. They each create a five-course dinner, one last-wish meal per course, for all these culinary giants and the judges.
That night, they have dinner at Perilla, the NY restaurant owned by TC Season 1 winner Harold Dieterle. Harold comes to their table, and they talk shop.
Next day, shopping (30 minutes, $300). News Flash! Stefan and Hosea do not like each other. Leah doesn't plan on going "super-traditional", even though she knows Wylie might want it like that. Oy.
Off to the kitchen at Capitale -- two hours to prep, staggered by a half-hour each for presentation. Stefan says he's been cooking salmon for twenty-two years; there's no possible way he can screw up this dish. Hosea voices everyone's concern: Should they be taking this very literally, or are they allowed to play with it a bit?
Suddenly there's a huge glassy crash. Something has happened, and Fabio has broken his left pinky finger. A producer asks if he wants to go to the hospital -- Fabio says no way, he'd rather cut it off and sear it on the stove to stop the bleeding. (He also says, "I always said, it was so easy I could do it with one hand tied behind my back? I didn't mean to.") He puts on a rubber glove over his taped-up hand to help stiffen it, but he's dropping stuff all over.
Stefan is Terminatoring away on his meal, but Carla doesn't know what he's thinking. "'Oh, Marcus, I know that's your dying-wish dinner, but I'm gonna give you something else' -- WHAT!? What the hell?"
Ten minutes before service, Tom comes into the kitchen and says one thing: Do Not Embarrass Me.
Leah thins out her sauce, because she's worried it's too thick. Carla helps Leah out with her eggs benedict. Carla would love to see two women go to the Final Four.
- Leah: Wylie DuFresne (eggs benedict w/slow-poached egg & bacon on Challah, and salad of mixed greens & vinaigrette [to cut the fat with the acidity]). Wylie thinks the white is a little watery, but Jacques and Toby like it. Marcus says she doesn't have the texture.
- Stefan: Marcus Samuelsson (salmon w/spinach two ways, roasted potatoes & dill sauce). Marcus says he nailed the flavors, but he, Wylie, and Lydia think the fish is overcooked. Susan says if he hadn't told them there were two kinds of spinach, she wouldn't have known it.
- Hosea: Susan Ungaro (shrimp scampi w/tomatoes provencal & beurre blanc). Marcus likes the balance of creativity and staying true to the dish, but Jacques says he didn't cook with "guts". Toby was expecting more traditional; Lydia doesn't like cream. Susan thinks it could've used more garlic, but the overall flavor was good.
- Fabio: Lydia Bastianich (roasted chicken w/herb-roasted potatoes & caramelized cipollini, leafy salad w/carrots, heirloom tomatoes, olive oil & balsamic vinegar). Wylie says the chicken is awesome. Lydia loves it.
- Carla: Jacques Pepin (squab w/lemon thyme butter sauce, demi-glace & butter tarragon peas). The squab is a point of debate: Susan says Carla made her a convert; Marcus thinks it's a bit overcooked; Lydia kinda likes it, saying it doesn't have to be blood-red. Tom says it seems to be a generational thing -- he would've preferred it cooked a little less -- and he appreciates the audacity of giving them something so simple, just the roast and the peas on the plate.
Judges' Table: In the Stew Room, Leah says she doesn't know what she would've done if she'd fucked up her hand like Fabio did. Carla says she would've rolled with it. Fabio says, "It's Top Chef, not Top Pussy", and they all have a scandalized laugh. Padma invites them all back to Judges' Table.
Jacques tells Leah he liked the texture of her eggs, but they were a bit underdone, and the sauce could've been thicker. A lot of good things, but a number of problems of technique.
Tom tells Stefan that, across the board, they thought the salmon was overcooked. Stefan is surprised. The spinach two ways came across as spinach one way -- creamed spinach, spinach with cream sauce. Toby says it would've been nice if the potatoes had been crispier.
Padma tells Hosea that Susan really liked her dish. Tom says it was not traditional scampi, and she was looking for more of that broken butter-oil, more garlic. Jacques says the shrimp were cooked well, but the tomatoes were too refined, and needed to be seared.
Fabio's chicken was delicious. Everybody liked it. One problem: Wylie said the salad looked like "airline salad". Fabio says you're right, I'm gonna go back in the Stew Room and shoot myself. Tom says the airlines are always looking for good chefs. They all have a laugh.
Carla chose to keep the dish simple, but she says she overcooked the breasts. Tom notes that there was a difference of opinion about that. Jacques says it may have looked overcooked, but tasted very tender. They also complemented her peas, especially given that fresh peas are tough.
Tom says if Fabio opened a restaurant with that chicken dish, he'd be known for it. Jacques says the two best dishes were Carla's peas and Fabio's potatoes. Tom wishes Carla had integrated the peas more with the squab. Stefan's salmon was overcooked, but the rest of the dish was well-seasoned. Tom has more of a problem with thin hollandaise and undercooked eggs. Toby preferred Leah erring on the side of caution, and Padma and Jacques liked the bacon. But she should've cooked it longer or hotter. Hosea's dish was well-executed but didn't make an impact, and Tom says that's why it didn't win, but he doesn't know if it deserves to lose.
They call all of the chefs back.
Winner: Fabio. He also wins a bottle of Terlato wine, and a trip to the winery in Napa Valley, CA. Carla's peas were superb, and she's going to the semi-final. She feels like the tortoise winning the race. GO CARLA!
Which leaves us with the last three. Leah's egg was undercooked, and Tom wishes she hadn't second-guessed herself on the sauce. Stefan's flavors were great, but the salmon was overcooked. Hosea strayed too far from what shrimp scampi is supposed to be.
Leah goes home. (Hosea says now he's got one more person to do this for.)
Stefan says of course he was gonna be in the Final Four. Man, if Leah hadn't undercooked the eggs and thinned out the sauce, you'd be going home. Fabio ("Tonight we drink in Hell!") says Stefan needs to get his ass kicked, and he's gonna do it.
Next week: New Orleans. Emeril. A Big Fancy Ball.
GO CARLA!
Thoughts?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-12 04:12 pm (UTC)Stefan is blowing it with his over confidence. If he has been worried last night, we wouldn't have over cooked his fish. He needs to get hungry and a little fear if he hopes to win, but I think he's done.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-12 04:33 pm (UTC)My thoughts and recap are here. But GO CARLA!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-12 04:40 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-12 05:18 pm (UTC)Also, when Carla mentioned she used to be a model, my roommate and I blinked, nodded, and definitely could see it. She's got a certain glamor to her. She's got style, humor, and grace: Go Carla!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-12 05:20 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-12 05:38 pm (UTC)Oh yeah, GO CARLA!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-12 08:06 pm (UTC)Next week looks fun!
Nice to see them show Perilla - if you're ever in NYC, eat there. It's fabulous.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-12 08:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-12 08:52 pm (UTC)Going into the finals? I don't see how Stefan can't be the favorite going in. Carla is the underdog. Ultimately I don't care who wins as long as they bring it and leave it all out on the table. My fan picks for who I would like to see win are Fabio or Carla, though at the level they all cook at, any one could pull it off and I would not be dissapointed.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-13 05:20 am (UTC)Toasted chicken sandwich
Date: 2009-02-13 03:22 pm (UTC)