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Chy
Member
07-19-2003
| Saturday, February 03, 2007 - 7:30 pm
I was tipped by some posters on Sucks. Please go read all the blogs on Bravo.com. I've been defending Marcel here and there, but I won't call myself a die-hard fan--that's reserved for Taylor Kicks. But this is rather scandalous! I did not give too much thoughts before, but now it looks like Marcel was really robbed! Read Podma's(I never used to), Harold's, Leeann's and even Tom's own words! And don't forget to check out the menu at Casa Mono! It appears Ilan had simply made slight modifications to Chef Andy Nussar's original creation and turned them into just about every dish of the last challenge! I wanted to talk about my experience with the teardrop thingy, but, some other time. It's really not that new, something I grew up yearning for every Festival.
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Rehtse
Member
08-17-2005
| Saturday, February 03, 2007 - 7:42 pm
Chy, I read the blogs and didn't really get a vibe that Marcel was robbed. I kind of gathered that neither was really that wonderful, but they needed a winner.
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Saturday, February 03, 2007 - 9:01 pm
I read the blogs and didn't get the Marcel was robbed either. Gail clearly stated she thought Ilan was the winner, Padma had 2-1 Ilan with a draw on the two remaining courses, and Tom clearly thought Marcel made too many mistakes while admitting that he'd take "flavor over cool any day." Harold and Lee Anne were not judges, but Harold sounded satisfied with Ilan's winning and Lee Anne clearly agreed with his win.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Saturday, February 03, 2007 - 9:10 pm
I read all of them, too, and my impression was that Marcel's salad was the "kicker" -- it was a tight competition, but even though Ilan's appetizer was not that great, it was at least more creative than salad...almost all of them commented on that salad. I think Ilan's dessert sealed the deal -- more than one of the judges commented that Marcel needed MORE of his little coffee caviar things (and at least one said the color wasn't that appetizing), while EVERYONE adored the fruit that Ilan served. It highlighted the Hawaiian flavors and it was the "final" impression that lasted. I think "mediocre" chef was definitely the case and they had a heck of a time deciding because neither of the final 2 appeared to be THE Top Chef.
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Sadiesmom
Member
03-13-2002
| Sunday, February 04, 2007 - 1:11 am
Well after listening to part 2 of marcel's exit interview - sweet is hardly a word I would use to describe him. I don't understand what he thought talking smack about Ilan would get him, but it does not get him any admiration from me. I was also interested in his reasoning for Elia turning against -him -0 he said ti was all the wonderful things people were saying about hisdish in the romantic restaurant and that made Elia jealous - not she was not short of believing in herself, but I thought the diners said wonderful things about all the dishes - supposedly that was the best meal of the competition. Then saying that Sam was useless inthe kitchen was also not so cool - yes they pull people away for interviews, that is part of reality programming, it should not have been tha big deal to him. He described Sam as soing only a little work in the prep and the show clearly showed that he did more. Sorry, I think the Marcel revealed why people did not like him very well in those videos. I have known people who act nice before the camera, but getthe little digs in (much as Betty is accused of doing) when the camera is off. I think Marcel showed quite clearly why he could never run a staff. I think if Ilan had lost he would not be blaming his staff, but himself (now others (betty) would be blaming the staff as well).
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Sunday, February 04, 2007 - 7:43 am
I think Marcel was well aware of the cameras the entire time. Wasn't there an interview or blog somewhere where he'd been questioned on his choice of something (maybe a root vegetable?). And he said it was because, even tho they were filming in the summer, the show would be aired in the fall/winter? When I heard that I thought that was odd... and that he was thinking ONLY of how things would look on TV. Rather than thinking about what the food would be like for those who were going to be eating it then and there.
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Marameko
Member
07-15-2002
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:05 am
Did I over look a reunion show ? It might be best that one is not held given Cliff's behavior toward Marcel. Then of course there is the overall dislike of Marcel.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:35 am
No, they didn't have one. I think that says volumes too.
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Gemma120in2002
Member
07-05-2003
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 10:06 am
The exit interviews are filmed right after the challenge. The adrenaline is still pumping, the battle is still fresh, and the aggression is still there. The finale was filmed in Hawaii in the beginning of November, not recently, so the trash talking by both Ilan and Marcel is from November. I haven't seen the web cast of them watching the finale with the VP of programing, so I don't know if the antagonism is continuing. The entire social dynamic in this season was awful. They were terrible to each other and there was just a level of meanness from all sides that was unacceptable. I just watched Marcel's exit interview, and while he didn't say anything nice about Elan, he didn't attack him on a personal level. He commented on his behavior in the kitchen that is considered to be unprofessional among professional cooks. Licking his fingers and wiping his hands on his apron are at the pinacle of unprofessional behavior. I have also observed Elan run his hands through his hair during competions. Eeeew! Anyone want a little extra fiber and staph infection with their food? Yummy! They all behaved badly. Marcel and Elan both need to grow up. Elan needs to learn how to be original and not use the menu of the restaurant he is working in as the arsenal of dishes he has as his competition dishes. Marcel did create dishes that are more unusual than the other contestants. His scientific aplications were new and hot 10 years ago, but they are not commonly applied in the general populace, other than in novelty foods such as the ice breakers liquid ice capsules or the pop rocks candies. Also the Dipping dots ice cream which is created using liquid nitrogen. If he had been successful making the isomalt ampules of vinegrette for his salad, I think he would have gotten more wow points. I think he should have created a soup instead of a salad though. A chilled soup such as a vichyssoise, possibly using Taro root instead of potatoes would have been a good choice. The ampule could have contained a white truffle oil or an aioli infused with saffron or maybe paprika! LOL! The chilled soup would have allowed the ampule to be enthroned on top of the soup on a large soft leaf such as cilantro or parsley, or even placed upon a paper thin sliver of parmesan with chives and a concassee of tomato. Use the long stem of the isomalt ampule as a handle and stir the ampule in the soup until it melts and infuses the soup with all of the different flavors. It could be a refreshing satisfying and hearty dish all at once, while still delivering the unexpected. A soup is a more refined dish which is developed and concentrated and engineered. A salad, while delicious, is not a good choice for demonstrating the best meal you have ever cooked. Marcel didn't have a good organization strategy. He should have delegated more and he should have had a very good check list of items to take according to each dish. He should have organized his speed racks from top to bottom according to dish and service order. Of course all proteins should have been organized on the bottom half of the rack from dairy on top then seafood on the next shelf, then pork, beef, lamb and duck on the next shelf, then eggs and poultry such as chicken and turkey on the very bottom. Duck doesn't carry the same risk of salmonella that chicken and turkey does because of the methods used to raise them. Elan was smart enough to choose Betty because she has her own catering business. Marcel was stupid for not choosing Mia over Michael. She has a catering business as well. The skills Mia could have brought to Marcel's team would have been invaluable. I feel that Marcel is the better cook of the two finalists. I feel that Ilan is the better organizer and motivator of the two. That is why he was able to get the best performance from his people, and was able to get all the food from point A to point B. If Marcel had better people skills and better organization skills, he might have been able to win this competition.
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 10:22 am
AWESOME POST Gemma!
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 10:37 am
Wow Gemma, are you a chef too?
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Gemma120in2002
Member
07-05-2003
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 10:50 am
Yes. I'm a chef by profession, but a line cook by job description. A Chef, like Tom Colicchio or Alice Waters, has really worked his or her way through the ranks and has developed a skill set and management capacity that allows them to run a successful and profitable business. There are so many things a chef does that has nothing at all to do with cooking food. It's sad that the better you become, the farther away you stand from the stove. Today is my day off from the restaurant. I'm about to go to my part time job doing something relaxing in retail! LOL! I am getting ready to go back to school this year and finish out my degree, as well as expanding into dietetics.
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 10:54 am
Ahah!
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 11:01 am
tony bourdain says that line cooks are the heart of the restaurant. and you sure sound like one of those hearts gemma!
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Gemma120in2002
Member
07-05-2003
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 11:07 am
Thank you. I love to cook. I found out how much I don't know about cooking when I went back to school though. I'm the oldest line cook in our kitchen at work! LOL! It's a tough line of work to start in your 40s. Now I can lift 1/3 of my body weight and put it on my shoulder though. Not bad at 45!
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Alisons
Member
01-10-2003
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 6:16 pm
Gemma, my family is eating their way through 9 pints of Jeni's ice creams, thanks to you! My dad loves the Orange Flower. I got six pints for myself and have a teaspoon a day (trying to keep to my New Year's Resolutions.)
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Gemma120in2002
Member
07-05-2003
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 8:03 pm
Alisons! That's great! I'll have some sweet corn and blackberry ice cream with you tonight!
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Cricket
Member
08-05-2002
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 8:13 pm
I agree that your post was awesome, Gemma. Umm, where does one find Jeni's ice cream? I missed that conversation. Orange Flower, eh? Sounds interesting.
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Gemma120in2002
Member
07-05-2003
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:34 pm
http://www.jenisicecreams.com/ If you go to that site, you can buy a selection of her ice cream. She is becoming more and more famous every day. I think the full name of the orange flower ice cream is Vanilla Orchid orange flower ice cream. I love her Thai chili and also the Saigon Cinnamon. The Strawberry rose petal and the bartlett pear and riesling sorbet are delicious. The butternut squash and pecan praline is out of this world! Very autumn/wintery flavored. The pear/riesling is so crisp and clean. Sweet and slightly tart. Just great. Last week we were selling lingon berry and lemon ice cream. As cold as it is here, people were ordering her ice cream!
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Alisons
Member
01-10-2003
| Wednesday, February 14, 2007 - 4:57 am
Lingonberry is my favorite jam flavor - that is not offered online at Jeni's, though. I ordered the Butternut Squash but they sent me Maker's Mark by mistake - I was bummed.
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Gemma120in2002
Member
07-05-2003
| Wednesday, February 14, 2007 - 6:29 pm
I bet if you contact them and tell them about the mistake and ask if you can buy some of the lingonberry ice cream maybe you can get it. Oh yeah, I'm taking this opportunity to say hello to Mrs. Spar! I work with your son Jonathan, and he asked me if I was posting here. LOL! Hello to his aunt too! I was so surprised to be asked about posting here!
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Loyolamom
Member
05-10-2005
| Wednesday, February 14, 2007 - 6:49 pm
Hi Gemma I'm John's aunt and just saw him last Thursday and told him about you posting here It's a small world isn't it?!
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Watching2
Member
07-07-2001
| Wednesday, February 14, 2007 - 11:25 pm
Now I want to sing the "small world" song, which I must admit, just about drove me batty when we were in Disney Land in the late 70s. I'll never forget it though, that's for sure! LOL
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Loyolamom
Member
05-10-2005
| Thursday, February 15, 2007 - 9:35 am
Watching, I loooovee putting songs in peoples heads! I do it to my family all the time, LOL!
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Watching2
Member
07-07-2001
| Thursday, February 15, 2007 - 2:47 pm
Heh heh Loyolamom. What's worse is when you hear some dumb commercial on TV and can't get the jingle out of your head. Argggggggh! LOL
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