Monday, June 14, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Poll Results - Predict the Winner of Top Chef DC
Results of the poll taken earlier this month show that 31% of those who voted think Alex Reznik of Ivan Kane's Cafe Was is going to emerge victorious at the end of Top Chef DC. Only time will tell if that prediction comes true!
Top Chef DC starts Wednesday, June 16th at 9/8C. Will you be watching?
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Top Chef Fantasy Game
Friday, June 11, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Congratulations, Chef Marcus Samuelsson!
Congratulations, Chef Samuelsson, for taking the title of Top Chef Master and winning $100,000 for your charity, the UNICEF Tap Project.In the final challenge, you really showed the judges what it was like to be Chef Samuelsson, from growing up in Sweden to adoptive parents to bringing your Ethiopian heritage to the table with you as an adult. While your kitfo may have seemed a bit strange to the diners, they agreed that your willingness to share your heritage with your diners was one of your strengths, and ultimately it is probably what won the competition for you.
We are looking forward to the upcoming opening of your restaurant Red Rooster and we hope great things continue to come your way.
This post is only for positive comments about Chef Samuelsson and his performance on Top Chef Masters. If you have anything negative to say about him or any of his competition, please leave a comment here.
Reactions to Top Chef Masters 2 Finale
This week, the final episode of season 2 of Top Chef Masters, we find our three remaining chefs pitted against each other in a battle
The chefs are transported to LA's Union Station, which is mysteriously both empty and completely clean. Kelly Choi meets them and from a distance of about 25 feet, gives the chefs their final challenge. They must create a three-course meal that celebrates their journey as a chef. To the stirring strains of a Musak version of "Don't Stop Believin'" we hear her tell them that the first dish must be inspired by their first food memory, the second dish must be inspired by the experience that made each decide to become a chef, and the third course should describe them as chefs.
The chefs are then sent off to have breakfast in yet another abandoned spot in the train station and forced to reminisce. Afterwards, they are given wads of cash and are sent off to shop for supplies.
Back at the Top Chef Masters Kitchen, while "Who's Cryin' Now" plays softly in the background, the chefs cook and talk about their various food memories: how Rick Moonen caught clams with his Dad (which is why he's making oysters); how Marcus cooked Christmas dinner the year his grandmother was sick; and probably most affecting, the tragic story of how Susur Lee's first wife died in a plane that was shot down for allegedly crossing into Soviet air space.
♫♪♫ I'm forever yours, faithfully ♫♪♫
Breaking the mood, Kelly walks in wearing a short shiny red dress that would have made Heidi Klum proud, to give the chefs a surprise. No, not that kind of surprise. And not a horrible twist to the challenge, but rather something useful: help. We then see the sous chefs from their restaurant kitchens march in to the strains of "Open Arms."
The chefs now have even more time to do voice overs and reminisce about the past. Marcus Samuelsson shows a photo of a young girl whom he calls his "sister." He then says she is living in Africa and is struggling with the lack of water there. Now, Marcus, if that is indeed your sister, and you are a good brother, why the hell are you leaving her in Africa when you can give her all the water she wants in New York City?
Finally, the cooking is done and the chefs must serve the diners: Gail Simmons, Miss James Oseland, Jay Rayner, and the three finalists from season 1, Hubert Keller, Rick Bayless, and Michael Chiarello. While everyone loved aspects of all nine dishes, it seems that one of three courses for each of the chefs falls flat.
Back at Critics' Table, the chefs stand to get their star ratings from Kelly and the gang. They start off with Susur who gets 17 stars. Marcus is next with 17.5 stars. Finally, Rick gets 17 stars. In the end, Marcus wins the title of Top Chef Master and $100K by a mere half a star.
As "Separate Ways" plays in the background, the second season of Top Chef Masters comes to a close.
So what did you think of this season? Please leave a comment with your thoughts.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Top Chef Masters 2 Finale Previews
After a grueling season of out-of-the-ordinary challenges, three accomplished chefs – Rick Moonen, Susur Lee, & Marcus Samuelsson - stand to face their final challenge, but only one chef can be crowned the prestigious title of “Top Chef Master.” Who will ‘wow’ the judges panel with their expertise one last time? And who will fall short of incredibly high expectations? Find out tonight, Wednesday 6/9 @ 10/9c, only on BRAVO.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Recap Roundup: Top Chef Masters 2 Episode 9
And now we are three...
Jordan Baker on Waxman getting the boot: "It seems like the critics have penalized him for making things that are too “simple” for a Top Chef Master. Which. . .really? REALLY? He’s Jonathan Mother Fucking Waxman, fools. Simple, perfect food is what he does. You want shrimp on trapezes, you know where to find them."
Grub Street on Marcus v. Waxman: "You can decide whether it’s genuine or halfhearted praise, but Marcus’s response to his Quickfire challenge was, 'Jonathan’s recipes are easy to follow. I mean, they’re very direct. He uses things that are approachable.' This coming from the chef who later runs out of money trying to buy every ingredient in stock at Whole Foods. "
TWOP on Susur's lady dessert: "He plates it to look like a vagina, which turns some people off. And yet, the entire table falls silent while eating it because it's so good."
Onion AV Club on the Quickfire: "The soupification of those entrées really zapped my interest, though, a sloppy addition that felt more like a hassle than a challenge. Top Chef-throwback or no, I would have much preferred to see the chefs prepare each other's recipe with their own spin than see them scrap those dishes midway through for soup. Improvising isn't the same thing as having to deal with an entirely new set of instructions halfway through..."
Speakeasy (WSJ) on Susur hotness: "Did you guys get a peek at Susur’s book cover? His long hair is caught blowing in the wind, like a still shot from Highlander. Man, the more we know, the more we love this guy."
Creative Loafing on that word: "I’m not even going to go into detail about how many times they used the 'v' word (you know, as in 'lady parts') this episode for no apparent reason other than they knew they could get away with it on Bravo. And we thought us podcasters were tasteless and childish."
Box Office Prophets kind of hates Rick: "The Masters head over to Whole Foods and nothing much happens, except that Rick grosses me out by reaching over the plastic barrier to fondle the seafood. He’s trying to show the Whole Foods attendant which pieces of seafood he wants, but still…that’s gross."
Monday, June 7, 2010
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