NOT A COOKIE: Bourdain: "From the first second he looked into those three sets of pitiless, googly eyes, he was a defeated man. He had seen the Beast. And it was brightly-colored and fuzzy."
I Tweeted this late at night, but it still applies. <span>I know Padma Lakshmi is supposed to be the zenith of grace and refinement, but it was so funny to see her try to play straightman for, oh, 30 seconds before giving over to Muppet zaniness. Completely adorable.</span>
I Tweeted this late at night, but it still applies. I know Padma Lakshmi is supposed to be the zenith of grace and refinement, but it was so funny to see her try to play straightman for, oh, 30 seconds before giving over to Muppet zaniness. Completely adorable.
Also, the puppeteers were surprisingly effective at being both funny and insightful about the food, while remaining in character. Makes me want to see the upcoming "Being Elmo" documentary even more.
I was curious as to how the Muppets came up with their critiques. Did the handlers eat the cookies and offer their own feedback? Did they come prepared with stock responses that they applied as they fit? Elmo had a bit of sass last night that I enjoyed. Elmo has Edge! Definitely a very fun QF.
I was worried at the beginning that Carla was going to lose but it became clear that the editors wanted us to think that and that meant she was safe. I was glad to see Angelo go because he just annoys me and if Mike Isabella likes him, that's a black mark in my book. Anyway, if last night's top 3 isn't the top three for the final, I'll be surprised. Carla might make it in, but my money continues to rest on Blais.
I enjoyed the Muppets (and Blais's thrill at being a rock star to his daughter), but this was a real defeat for Adam's tier system. I know they judge only on each dish, not on history, but wow, Angelo going home before Tiffany? Angelo was a contender to win the whole thing (though I am rooting for Blais), and Tiffany has been in the bottom multiple times and never won a challenge this season. Also Angelo is clearly in a tier above Mike Isabella.
I found Angelo's ouster to be a kind of karmic retribution for all the times he "helped" other contestants and they got the ax. And yes, I know everyone's ultimately responsible for their own dish, but it was edited to slightly imply that Mike Isabella's "it's missing something" comment contributed to the soup turning into a salt lick.
It may still turn out okay, tier-wise, if Mike and Tiffany are the next two to go. While I could have seen Angelo going all the way to the finals, I could also have easily seen him getting beaten out for top four by Richard, Dale, Antonia, and Carla, even in a "regular challenge." So, this could merely mean that Angelo got bounced in the 7th spot instead of in 5th. But... if either Mike or Tiffany or (horrors) both make the top four, I do think that would be disappointing, as neither of those two have any claim to being one of the top four chefs this season.
You're right that this isn't Richard, Dale or Antonio going soon, but a show that had Ilan beat Marcel and Sam (and Hosea beating Stefan, Carla and Fabio) certainly could have an Angelo-in-the-finals winning it.
I am so, so sad that Fabio went home last week. Fabio + Elmo would have been fan-frickin-tastic.
Bourdain's blog makes clear that Angelo suffered the Jen Carroll killer fatigue this week. That's enough to knock the tier system on its tush. As Colicchio tweeted last night, Angelo's soup was inedible, and if there's one word guaranteed to get you sent home on Top Chef, it's inedible. With less killer fatigue, he'd have made it passable, been bottom 3, and Tiffany would have been gone.
I'm not so sure - Tiffany's was the Jambalaya, and they were very cranky about the prepared spice blend (that Tiffany defended) that overpowered and ruined the whole thing. Carla's was a decent concept that didn't have enough time to develop, and Carla knew it. Knowing it wasn't good and knowing what went wrong has saved people before, and Tiffany's mistake was both of conception AND execution, which I think the judges would have said was worse.
If Angelo had made it through and then won, I certainly wouldn't think that was a travesty, assuming his finale dishes were top-grade. He may be awkward, but he can definitely cook and, on the top of his game, can definitely win a challenge.
My main thought is that I had five of these chefs with a good argument for top four. One of those would not make top four, so if that one dropped seventh instead of fifth, no biggie. The bigger problem, tier-wise, is that this elimination increases the chances of someone who should definitely not make top four sneaking in. And that, I'd have a problem with.
That makes sense, Marsha. I had thought it was between Carla and Angelo, but the defense of something they viewed as indefensible could have been very problematic.
I also gathered from something Padma said that Tiffani actually used this spice blend elsewhere and liked the flavor because it was something she grew up with. Which is a little different than grabbing random dry spices and hoping for the best.
At one point, they showed Tiffany in one of the Target aisles looking hard for something, yelling "YES," and throwing up her arms in victory holding a container. I assumed that was the spice blend she loved. This was very intentional - she wanted to use that particular spice blend from her childhood.
I believe pretty strongly that this was what Tiffany was using. It's my favorite dry creole seasoning too -- have it in the spice cabinet at home. But I use it on fries, pierogi, and the like (primarily because it's pretty high in salt relative to the other spices in the blend) -- I probably would not use it as the main seasoning for jambalaya, at least not if I were going to serve it to other people.
Cow Chips!!! I loved the muppets, and I wish they had been there longer. I also was very pleased to see kinda muppety Carla with actual muppets.
ReplyDeleteI Tweeted this late at night, but it still applies. <span>I know Padma Lakshmi is supposed to be the zenith of grace and refinement, but it was so funny to see her try to play straightman for, oh, 30 seconds before giving over to Muppet zaniness. Completely adorable.</span>
ReplyDeleteI Tweeted this late at night, but it still applies. I know Padma Lakshmi is supposed to be the zenith of grace and refinement, but it was so funny to see her try to play straightman for, oh, 30 seconds before giving over to Muppet zaniness. Completely adorable.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the puppeteers were surprisingly effective at being both funny and insightful about the food, while remaining in character. Makes me want to see the upcoming "Being Elmo" documentary even more.
ReplyDeleteI was curious as to how the Muppets came up with their critiques. Did the handlers eat the cookies and offer their own feedback? Did they come prepared with stock responses that they applied as they fit? Elmo had a bit of sass last night that I enjoyed. Elmo has Edge! Definitely a very fun QF.
ReplyDeleteI was worried at the beginning that Carla was going to lose but it became clear that the editors wanted us to think that and that meant she was safe. I was glad to see Angelo go because he just annoys me and if Mike Isabella likes him, that's a black mark in my book. Anyway, if last night's top 3 isn't the top three for the final, I'll be surprised. Carla might make it in, but my money continues to rest on Blais.
The puppeteers ate the Cookies. Marty Robinson wrote a little blog entry.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the Muppets (and Blais's thrill at being a rock star to his daughter), but this was a real defeat for Adam's tier system. I know they judge only on each dish, not on history, but wow, Angelo going home before Tiffany? Angelo was a contender to win the whole thing (though I am rooting for Blais), and Tiffany has been in the bottom multiple times and never won a challenge this season. Also Angelo is clearly in a tier above Mike Isabella.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with that.
ReplyDeleteI was less suprised that the muppets were funny and a bit biting, but that is because of this footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr9_5uZn6ds
ReplyDeleteI found Angelo's ouster to be a kind of karmic retribution for all the times he "helped" other contestants and they got the ax. And yes, I know everyone's ultimately responsible for their own dish, but it was edited to slightly imply that Mike Isabella's "it's missing something" comment contributed to the soup turning into a salt lick.
ReplyDeleteIt may still turn out okay, tier-wise, if Mike and Tiffany are the next two to go. While I could have seen Angelo going all the way to the finals, I could also have easily seen him getting beaten out for top four by Richard, Dale, Antonia, and Carla, even in a "regular challenge." So, this could merely mean that Angelo got bounced in the 7th spot instead of in 5th. But... if either Mike or Tiffany or (horrors) both make the top four, I do think that would be disappointing, as neither of those two have any claim to being one of the top four chefs this season.
ReplyDeleteTotal greatness! Laughed just as hard watching it now as the first time I saw it.
ReplyDeleteYou're right that this isn't Richard, Dale or Antonio going soon, but a show that had Ilan beat Marcel and Sam (and Hosea beating Stefan, Carla and Fabio) certainly could have an Angelo-in-the-finals winning it.
ReplyDeleteTotal greatness! Laughed just as hard watching it now as the first time I saw it.
ReplyDeleteAh, okay. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI am so, so sad that Fabio went home last week. Fabio + Elmo would have been fan-frickin-tastic.
ReplyDeleteBourdain's blog makes clear that Angelo suffered the Jen Carroll killer fatigue this week. That's enough to knock the tier system on its tush. As Colicchio tweeted last night, Angelo's soup was inedible, and if there's one word guaranteed to get you sent home on Top Chef, it's inedible. With less killer fatigue, he'd have made it passable, been bottom 3, and Tiffany would have been gone.
Tiffany wouldn't have gone. it would have been Carla. Tiffany's soup was "OK" when they were eating it at Target. Carla's wasn't anything.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure - Tiffany's was the Jambalaya, and they were very cranky about the prepared spice blend (that Tiffany defended) that overpowered and ruined the whole thing. Carla's was a decent concept that didn't have enough time to develop, and Carla knew it. Knowing it wasn't good and knowing what went wrong has saved people before, and Tiffany's mistake was both of conception AND execution, which I think the judges would have said was worse.
ReplyDelete"I sure could use some help counting to four..." http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/9120989
ReplyDeleteIs there anything that the muppets don't make better?
If Angelo had made it through and then won, I certainly wouldn't think that was a travesty, assuming his finale dishes were top-grade. He may be awkward, but he can definitely cook and, on the top of his game, can definitely win a challenge.
ReplyDeleteMy main thought is that I had five of these chefs with a good argument for top four. One of those would not make top four, so if that one dropped seventh instead of fifth, no biggie. The bigger problem, tier-wise, is that this elimination increases the chances of someone who should definitely not make top four sneaking in. And that, I'd have a problem with.
That makes sense, Marsha. I had thought it was between Carla and Angelo, but the defense of something they viewed as indefensible could have been very problematic.
ReplyDeleteI also gathered from something Padma said that Tiffani actually used this spice blend elsewhere and liked the flavor because it was something she grew up with. Which is a little different than grabbing random dry spices and hoping for the best.
ReplyDeleteWe've been this long in discussing the muppets on a cooking show without this clip from The State? http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/9120989
ReplyDeleteAt one point, they showed Tiffany in one of the Target aisles looking hard for something, yelling "YES," and throwing up her arms in victory holding a container. I assumed that was the spice blend she loved. This was very intentional - she wanted to use that particular spice blend from her childhood.
ReplyDeleteI believe pretty strongly that this was what Tiffany was using. It's my favorite dry creole seasoning too -- have it in the spice cabinet at home. But I use it on fries, pierogi, and the like (primarily because it's pretty high in salt relative to the other spices in the blend) -- I probably would not use it as the main seasoning for jambalaya, at least not if I were going to serve it to other people.
ReplyDelete