Last season we waited until Episode 7 of Top Chef before we made any commentary. However, we enjoy the show, despite it's numerous flaws. Several of the chefs have gone on to interesting careers including Hung and Harold. This year, Kasi recommended us posting some predictions and early thoughts.
After only the first episode, there are certainly some forerunners in the Top Chef race and some obvious losers showing up. Check out lots of clips on Hulu.
- Alex - Even though he starts this (alphabetically sorted) list, I can't remember much about him from the episode. I'm going to throw him in the middle, so he'll leave on episode 5.
- Ariane - She doesn't have the ego to be a top chef and her cooking skill and inventiveness seems pretty mediocre. I think we'll be seeing her go around episode 4.
- Carla - Hello trian wreck. I can't make heads or tails of what our lanky friend is doing on the show. I think we'll be seeing her leave next episode, 2.
- Danny - His argument with Stefan over vinaigrette... he's in trouble. But since he looks like a trouble maker they'll probably keep him around a while, bye bye in episode 9.
- Fabio - A chef from Florence -- the best culinary destination on Earth!? But he didn't win his showdown with Jeff, he's in trouble. We'll say Ciao Fabio in Episode 8.
- Gene - Way to go Tzatziki-come-Raita Gene! He's spunky and seems to have a natural direction, but he's raw. He won't win but he'll be around a while. He'll head back to Hawaii, but only after being the surprise contestant in the final three.
- Hosea - He didn't make much of an impression in the first episode, but my gut says he is going to be an underdog for a few episodes and then start shining. I think his light will go out around episode 12.
- Jamie - The gay trio troupe leader. I'm not sure why someone's sexuality would have a place in the kitchen, I guess it makes for good TV. Well, it was hard to get a sense of her actual cooking skill, I'm going take a guess and say she'll ride the rainbow back home on episode 13.
- Jeff - The nice hair guy from Niceville, FL (seriously) seems to be more worried about his style than his food. He'll get to fix his hair back at home when he gets kicked off episode 10.
- Jill - Jill is another one that just hasn't made an impression yet. I'll guess she departs on episode 7.
- Lauren - Well, she's already gone. We didn't get to learn much about her, except that she can't peel apples, she can't brunois them, and apparently can't cook them either. Episode 1: gone.
- Leah - Her comfort zone is squarely in the Italian category; we haven't seen yet whether she has skills in other areas. I'm going to guess the answer is they're lacking. However, she is trained and practiced, and I think that will carry her until the final three.
- Melissa - She struck me as a country bumpkin with minimal exposure to world cuisine. I think country & city will not mix and will dissolve around episode 6.
- Patrick - He was just a tad too junior to be on the show, but he had a cheery personality so he got in. But not much to say other than he's already gone in episode 1.
- Radhika - We have to disclaim that Radhika is a friend of a friend, so we were hoping she would rock the show. But frankly, we're pretty unimpressed, so she'll be leaving pretty soon, let's say episode 3.
- Richard - He was able to assemble a decent salad, but it was clearly not Chinese food. He'll hang out a while, but is not going to win. He'll lose in episode 11.
- Stefan - He is into detail, he knows how to work a knife, he makes phenomeal looking food. He'll not only make it to the finale, I'm calling Stefan as the winner.
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Stumble10 Responses to "Top Chef Run Down"
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taste memory said:
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wow details details down on all! I give these guys credit because I can't imagine the camera being on my life at all times and silly things you just say through out the day is documented for all to see! can't wait for next show! |
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Manger La Ville said:
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I like your post on Padma, I too can't tell if it jealousy or she really is dull ( I think a bit of both.) I think Absinthe in SF is a pretty good restaurant, so I wish the best for Jaimie. |
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Harland Crom said:
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This is going to be a great season, even with Stefan as an early favorite to win it all. Anyone playing the Last 2 game? |
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Jessica@Foodmayhem said:
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Taste Memory, I agree, I'm sure things are also misinterpreted too and shown in the wrong context to make for more exciting TV. |
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Bill G said:
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I propose you have a contest for readers to name the three finalists for the show. The reader who wins gets a casserole or some such from Jess. |
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Jessica@Foodmayhem said:
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Bill, last2left.com has beaten us to it (see Harland's comment). |
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Bill G said:
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are they giving out a casserole? |
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Jessica@Foodmayhem said:
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Haha Bill, I doubt it. We can't do a casserole prize anyway because we have a large number of readers outside of NY. |
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Emily said:
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I just was looking back at this (it's amazing the things I come up with to procrastinate when I should be working on final papers), and I just wanted to point out that you seem to have overestimated the men and underestimated the women, who generally seem to be holding up pretty well, for now at least. :-) |
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Lon said:
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Em - In pure numbers you're right. However, in a more subjective examination, I think my guesses for the women were pretty good. As one example, Ariane, who is still on, was in the bottom twice out of the gate, and in the last episode she won for... cooking lamb correctly! I don't exactly consider the ability to cook meat to the right temperature a sufficient skill to qualify as "top chef". Plus, Jess and I were disappointed that no one mentioned that it was Radhika who made the marinade. |