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Christiii
Member
07-07-2005
| Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 2:42 pm
I was thinking about Stephen too...he musta been fuming!! I was SOOO happy to see Dave be recognized...especially by these chefs.....I know he wont win..but im so tired of Tiffany looking down on him, it was nice to see her smug mug in the bottom two in front of such a highly respected panel...hehe....she is such a pain in the *****!! Dave has such a good heart, and passion for what he does....I love his little nervous ticks..he always looks like he is one minute away from passing out...I was worried tho when all they could talk about was his pepper....sheeesh!
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 2:46 pm
that "down home" style of food is what cindy palcwyn's restaurant in st. helena (Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen) is all about. and she was one of the judges last night. good choice for dave! and if you ever get the chance to eat there.. GO!
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Wendo
Member
08-07-2000
| Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 4:05 pm
Another segment from Tom's blog about Tiffani: "I want to take a moment here to discuss Tiffani's controversial "attitude." While she and I disagreed about the kid challenge weeks ago, I never held it against her – Tiffani was willing to voice what others on her team clearly felt. While she could be tough on people, I never saw her criticize anyone else for sport or out of spite. She made enemies because she was brusque, opinionated, and unwilling to give an inch in her pursuit of the title of Top Chef. Would her toughness and determination have been denigrated in a man of similar talent? Do male chefs get criticized for being demanding and relentless? Is it possible that our distaste for competitive women keeps them out of leadership roles? Or that our preference for easygoing women over strong, outspoken ones clouds our judgment of their talent? It's worth thinking about."
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Alisons
Member
01-10-2003
| Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 4:50 pm
"She made enemies because she was brusque, opinionated, and unwilling to give an inch in her pursuit of the title of Top Chef. Would her toughness and determination have been denigrated in a man of similar talent? Do male chefs get criticized for being demanding and relentless?" Why yes Tom, you actually said the same things about Stephen. Lee Ann should have gone home last week, Stephen would have beaten Tiffani. I find her far more abrasive than him because she was nasty to people in a very personal way.
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Kappy
Member
06-29-2002
| Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 5:30 pm
I agree with Tom to a certain extent as to how we view competitive women. I would also like to add that when I go to a restaurant, I don't expect to meet the chef or decide how I like the restaurant based on the chef's personality. What I do expect is to like the food and to find it consistent in quality. That said, I would go to a restaurant with any of the final four as head chef. I can't say the same for Steven. He knew wine but I really didn't see much evidence of his cooking knowledge. Landi ~ PLEASE do give us some more tips for the Napa region ~ it's one of my favorite places! 
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Kellsma
Member
08-28-2002
| Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 5:34 pm
Lee Ann's blog is up http://www.bravotv.com/Andys_Blog/060504.shtml Interesting stuff about the reunion show and her toughts on Tiffani and Stephen. Can't wait until Tuesday's reunion show, sounds like it is out of control
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 6:21 pm
stay out of the tourist traps. go to the small wineries, not the big names. don't buy wine AT the winery, go past copia on first street in napa to JV liquors, they have the same stuff for 1/2 the price! find out where the locals eat. those are the places to go to eat. stay off of hwy 29.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Friday, May 05, 2006 - 1:07 am
from the interview with LeeAnn...now I really can't wait for the reunion!!! LOL WE TAPED THE REUNION SHOW LAST WEEK IN LA — I WAS SHOCKED AT HOW DRAMATIC AND CONFRONTATIONAL YOU GUYS WERE. WHAT WAS YOUR IMPRESSION OF IT? I was not confrontational! I was like I am, not getting drunk and staying out of this BS! What was interesting about the show, it was everybody's turn at the microphone and a lot of unfinished business with others. Dave and Tiffani have issues with each other and Stephen and Ken. It was an opportunity for people to work out their unfinished stuff. I think Harold and I and Candice were the quiet ones. I think you guys figured out to give people booze and see what happens. Tiffani and Stephen were bombed! I call it the bloodbath WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED AT THE REUNION SHOW, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO ALL OUR RUNWAY REUNION SHOWS — WHICH LOOK VERY TAME AND CIVIL IN COMPARISON. WHAT MOMENT DO YOU THINK WILL HAVE PEOPLE TALKING? What moment?? Depends on what you guys air! You have plenty of choices. When Tom had to step into that big fight! The "would you rather eat sand or shit?" comment. All the Dave and Tiffani stuff... The Tiffani show was interesting. Wow. There was so much madness I just wanted to get through it. http://www.bravotv.com/Andys_Blog/060504_3.shtml
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Nancypj
Member
08-17-2001
| Friday, May 05, 2006 - 10:19 am
I just watched my tape of this week's episode last night. While I was sad to see Lee Anne go, I was glad to see Tiffani stay 'cause she has been my favorite all along. Tom's blog entry was interesting. The part Wendo quoted was close to what I have been thinking for a while now - that some of the things Tiffani had been criticized for would have been lauded in a man. Granted, not all. But I am talking about the focus part, which is the part I admire. That being said, I still have trouble seeing Dave as a top chef. He seems like a nice, funny guy and all, but watching him makes me nervous. And every time he touches his face or mouth or hair while he is cooking makes me cringe. If I had to guess who will be named winner in Vegas (I don't HAVE to, but I will anyway ), I'm going to say Harold. I think the judges like him better, and he has been consistant throughout, as has Tiffani. But I'm pretty much resigned that her brusqueness will come back to haunt her in the end.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Friday, May 05, 2006 - 2:12 pm
From what LeeAnne says, Tiffani IS the Santino of Top Chef. LeeAnne also says Stephen was much nicer and quieter in the house than in his confessionals (which they didn't see). Doesn't make me like Stephen any more than I did before, but does make me feel a bit better about my dislike of Tiffani. I don't think it's because she's a "strong woman" with "strong opinions" -- it's her negativity. LeeAnne was strong and a leader, but she wasn't abrasive about it and she was almost always positive.
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Wendo
Member
08-07-2000
| Friday, May 05, 2006 - 8:24 pm
Nancypj, since you put yourself out there, I will do. I'm picking Tiffani to win Top Chef. I don't know if Stephen's any less of a Santino than Tiffani is. Compared to Stephen, Tiffani is much more open about her feelings to the rest of the group than Stephen. Oh, Stephen was all nice in the house, but he acted like a snake behind their backs. Far worse imo. I do agree that Lee Anne is a strong leader with excellent people skills. It's too bad she failed at the last challenge. She really should be in the final three, not Dave.
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Kellsma
Member
08-28-2002
| Friday, May 05, 2006 - 8:25 pm
I totally agree Teach...I said above that I thought Tiffani was the Santino of Top Chef even before reading Lee Ann's blog but I definetly feel it is even more so. I too thought the part about Stephen was interesting. Dave has been the wildcard so far and could continue to be so. He sure surprised them in Napa.
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Kappy
Member
06-29-2002
| Sunday, May 07, 2006 - 4:27 pm
Thanks for that info, Landi! One of my all time favorite wineries that we discovered about 25 years ago is Pedroncelli. It's way off and no crowds. Thank you, Kellsma and TexAnnie for the blog report! JUICY! Can't wait for the finale!
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Wendo
Member
08-07-2000
| Sunday, May 07, 2006 - 9:18 pm
Just some info; apparently, the finale is a two parter.
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Ladytex
Member
09-27-2001
| Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 7:30 pm
Now THAT was a reunion show! I laughed and laughed.
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Sadiesmom
Member
03-13-2002
| Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 7:31 pm
Wow, that Top Chef episode was really rough on Tiffany. It would have been better if they kept a little order and I am glad that one guy got voted off first, the show would have been painful to watch with him on it. I loved the it is what it is montage, though. My boss always used to say taht, I would ask him, so ... what is it? He would just give me A "look".
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Max
Moderator
08-12-2000
| Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 8:02 pm
Great reunion show! Yes, it was tough on Tiffany, but she made her own bed. She said all along she wasn't there to make friends, and she didn't. It was sort of sad when she was confronted with the video clips of her telling the judges that Miguel should go, followed by the one where she lied to him about saying it and she STILL denied it. The "best sayings" montage was hilarious. Crazy how Tiffany even tried to steal Dave's limelight when they gave him the t-shirt! She's got some issues. But then, so does Dave in relation to her. I guess he held in his anger towards her for so long that now he's having a hard time moving past it. Ken, the Irishman, was WAY over the top. I was really glad when he got eliminated first. I was worried they'd keep him around for drama. There definitely would have been a lot of it! Can't wait to see the final two shows. I think I'm rooting for Harold, but they are all good at what they do.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 8:44 pm
Thoroughly enjoyed the show. Who knew chefs could be as catty as fashion designers? I'm rooting for Harold, but would be happy for a Dave win, too. Maybe Tiffani will learn to temper her aggressiveness after seeing the results on others (it can't be encouraging to hear people say they'd never hire you as a chef). And I completely agree -I am so glad Ken was booted first. He would have been worse than Stephen to watch.
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Zummat
Member
01-31-2006
| Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 10:27 pm
And speaking of Stephen - he was definately a different Stephen there tonight. He really did seem humble and sorry about how he acted. I would have liked this Stephen on the show.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 1:19 am
Did you notice Stephen swigging directly from that big bottle of wine?? When he made his big speech at the end, you could tell how drunk he was too! LOL Was the finale filmed before the reunion? Just wondering cause I thought it odd that Dave made the comment about coming back for Top Chef 2 and kicking butt. Tiffany definitely got hers!
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Prisonerno6
Member
08-31-2002
| Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 1:52 am
I had very little sympathy for Tiffany. When even Harold (who isn't single :-) gets irked at her for talking over him, then she's got a problem. I think Stephen's arrogance was part show based on insecurity, and when we saw him at the reunion, we saw the real Stephen (although, if 13% of dining is fine dining, that leaves 87%, not 77% for the rest of us -- I guess that Ivy League education didn't include basic math skills). Tiffany, on the other hand, really seems like she thinks she's better than the rest. Harold said it best -- restaurants aren't run by fat chefs yelling at everyone anymore. YOu also have to have compassion, and I didn't see any of that from Tiffany. I would love to eat in a restaurant owned by Harold and Dave. Harold has the better "back of the house" skills, but Dave brings the passion to the front of the house to make it a true dining experience.
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Wendo
Member
08-07-2000
| Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 2:18 am
I didn't like the reunion myself. It felt disjointed and seemed to me to be edited poorly. Too many people trying to talk over each other. I don't know why they let them drink so much? Tiffani needs to take a cue from Stephan's apology/comments to Candace. For some, it's really hard to admit your wrong and Tiffani seems to be one of those. Personally, I just don't like Dave as a winner for Top Chef. I don't think he embodies anything even remotely close to a Top Chef in either his food or his performance in the kitchen. Compared to the other two finalists, his food seems rather pedestrian. And, to Dave: we get it, you don't like Tiffani; get over it. (He could take a cue from Miguel.) Ugh. I also can't stand people who analyze others like he did of Tiffani. Dude, your a chef, not a frickin' psychiatrist. For someone who says he doesn't care about Tiffani, he sure seemed focused on her (and in the preview.) Surprised to see the next round is an elimination round. Interesting twist. I predict Dave gets the boot. In the end, I think it will be between Harold and Tiffani. Harold was certainly given the favorable spotlight tonight. I hope he gets a bit more aggressive for these last challenges. He seems like a nice guy, but he appears to hold back a little. Nows the time to step up. I'm still predicting a Tiffani win (even though that's not a popular choice.) I know she's not a favorite, but there's something about her I like even though she has some flaws.
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 4:33 am
I loved it! I was so surprised to see Stephen chugging wine right out of the bottle. Especially for a sommelier. (sp?) I really liked how Stephen apologized to the young chef (forgot her name). But that bit of class got "eliminated" as soon as he started fighting with Ken and calling him white trash. Fun show!
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Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 7:19 am
I think its interesting that they keep saying its not a personality contest but what else could it be for us, the viewers? We can't taste the food or even smell it. So for us it is a personality contest. That means we have to depend on the judges to be fair and make it about the food.
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Sadiesmom
Member
03-13-2002
| Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 9:54 am
I had heard in the clips before how everyone really liked Stephen, so it seemed that he was just arrogant at work about food and it showed how people could be fair if they felt that it was not hostility that Stephen brought to his disagreements but genuine beliefs. LeeAnne said, in one of her interviews, that Tiffany had an air of negativity around her all the time, including in the house, I think that is the difference between her and Stephen. I wish they would have showed film of who turned off the oven and burners.
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