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Archive through June 03, 2008

The TVClubHouse: Other Reality Shows ARCHIVES: Archives for 2008 - 2: Top Chef - Season 4 -chicago: ARCHIVES: Archive through June 03, 2008 users admin

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Kappy
Member

06-29-2002

Thursday, May 29, 2008 - 7:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kappy a private message Print Post    
"Hung said fams (of the show), not customers..."

Maybe I didn't express what I was trying to say very well. If fans of this show like you, they are going to want to eat at the restaurant where you work. Who doesn't want to try Harold's place if they're in NYC? On the other hand, if fans don't like you and many did not like Hung, then they aren't going to be inclined to seek out where he works.

Hung told the remaining 5 to not care if the fans don't like them. My point is that they should care as it will influence whether or not people want to seek them and their restaurant out.

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Thursday, May 29, 2008 - 8:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Teachmichigan a private message Print Post    
Rick is interviewed elsewhere on the blog and he said the same thing Tom said. I believe them - Spike blew it, and Rick had more dignity than to argue w/the toddler sassin' him.

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Thursday, May 29, 2008 - 11:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Spike would have been better to do the BUSTED dance inside and he might still be there..

But I do agree the guy was sort of busted.. still, Spike should have probably examined the scallops before choosing them.

Alisons
Member

01-10-2003

Friday, May 30, 2008 - 3:52 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alisons a private message Print Post    
If Spike's entree had been better, he would have stayed. They all said that Lisa's appetizer was the worst of the bunch. I don't think that the scallops sent him home, but I think they made it easier to send him home.

Teflon Lisa indeed. Obviously they want a female to win, but I really think that Richard has been the most consistent. I would have preferred to see Dale in the finals. I think he was a better chef than either Lisa or Spike. I will say that Lisa's hairdo in the finale is nominally better than the scarf she has been wearing. (Since none of them ever wear hairnets I am waiting for the day that a judge finds a hair in the food.)

Danzdol
Member

04-21-2001

Friday, May 30, 2008 - 5:13 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Danzdol a private message Print Post    
<76>
other than her, I like the other 3 finalists a lot.

is is just me or does anyone else make sure you have a full stomach to watch this show? I cannot watch if I have not had dinner or I am starving by the time it's over! lol

Bluedenim
Member

08-09-2007

Friday, May 30, 2008 - 7:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bluedenim a private message Print Post    
I understood that Spike's entree was considered simplistic without much thought or care put into it. I think his entree would have improved if he didn't have to spend so much time defrosting the frozen scallops. It wasn't his scallop dish which sent him home based on taste, it was the time involved in the defrost.

I believe his entree would have improved if he'd been able to dedicate that time to it instead. Ultimately, he sacrificed the quality of the entree for those scallops.

I also was wondering if the scallops were planted there. Seems like at this point in the comp that Spike should have known better. Not one single chef, contestants and judges included, would have used those scallps if given the opportunity.
That being said, I wish they would have sent both Spike and Lisa packing. I'd be very satisfied with a final three instead.

Panda
Member

07-15-2005

Friday, May 30, 2008 - 7:22 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Panda a private message Print Post    
I liked Hung and Harold...not sold on Ilan yet.

I haven't been here since the show but I was thinking the same thing about the scallops---If they were so horrible why were they in there? lol trick, my foot! haha

I liked Richard but I think I am rooting for Stephanie to be the first female winner!

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Friday, May 30, 2008 - 7:22 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
Alison's, I liked Lisa's look better without that scarf, too. She looks entirely different!

Spike said he'd want Lisa rather than Antonia at the end with him (ha ha little did he know that his days were numbered...). I wonder if we see the worst of Lisa and the best of Antonia just because it's edited that way. It sort of feels that we dislike her actions far more than the actual competitors do.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Friday, May 30, 2008 - 7:40 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
Elan ticked me off with his attire. Could he have at least put on a sports coat like the other gentlemen at the table?

Lilfair
Member

07-09-2003

Saturday, May 31, 2008 - 9:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lilfair a private message Print Post    
Picking frozen scallops over fresh items in this type of situation was his downfall and he did deserve to lose.

I'm not even competing when I cook but if I have a choice on picking from...a favorite piece of fish or meat but it's been frozen over a fresh piece of meat or fish that I like less (in trems of cooking and palate) I'll always pick the fresh and I'm not even a chef or competing for a prize. Yeah it was his time to go.

This season can't be over soon enough for me.

Alisons
Member

01-10-2003

Saturday, May 31, 2008 - 10:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alisons a private message Print Post    
No argument about Spike leaving - he should have gone long ago. I get annoyed when people like Tre and Dale get eliminated when clearly they are better chefs than some who remain. They ought to have some form of cumulative judging even if it makes it less of a drama in the end. Spike was never in the same class with the better chefs on this program.

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Saturday, May 31, 2008 - 9:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
Heads up to reality food show junkies! Next Food Network Star starts Sunday night at 9 CDT!

Boberg
Member

10-04-2002

Sunday, June 01, 2008 - 9:52 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Boberg a private message Print Post    
"I understood that Spike's entree was considered simplistic without much thought or care put into it. I think his entree would have improved if he didn't have to spend so much time defrosting the frozen scallops. It wasn't his scallop dish which sent him home based on taste, it was the time involved in the defrost."


I totally think it was his "poor choice". As an experienced chef, who desires to become the Top Chef....he showed poor judgement in choosing frozen seafood. He had the choice of ANYTHING in the room, yet he chose frozen seafood. He has some learning to do before he is a Top Chef.


"I liked Hung and Harold...not sold on Ilan yet. "

I feel the exact same way...in fact I would search out Hung's resturant to eat in...Ilan's not so much.

I haven't kept count, but doesn't Antonia have the most wins of those left?

I like them all, except you know who, and am rooting for Stephanie at this point tho if Richard or Antonia win I will be happy.

Trititanfan....THANK YOU for the heads up!

"They ought to have some form of cumulative judging even if it makes it less of a drama in the end. "

Great idea Alisons....you get points thru out the contest for quick fire top 3, QF wins, Elimination wins, team and individual...and these points are considered when you fall into the bottom for elimination. Cumulative...I like that idea.

Kc103
Member

07-13-2004

Sunday, June 01, 2008 - 3:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kc103 a private message Print Post    
This is the first season of Top Chef I've watched. (I must admit that being from the Chicago area got my interest in trying it at first this time.) I've really enjoyed the show and will continue to watch future seasons. I was wondering if they always travel to another location for the finals. At this point, I think I'd would to see Stephanie win. However, I wouldn't be disappointed if Richard wins either as he seems to be a pretty creative chef.

Beth4freedom
Member

10-24-2003

Sunday, June 01, 2008 - 7:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Beth4freedom a private message Print Post    
They do travel to different locations for the finale...one year it was Hawaii, does anyone remember the other two finale locations?

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Sunday, June 01, 2008 - 7:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_in_ca a private message Print Post    
I think one year was Aspen...

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Sunday, June 01, 2008 - 7:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Teachmichigan a private message Print Post    
Yep - Season one finale was in Las Vegas, NV,
Season two finale was in Hawaii and
Season three finale was in Aspen, Colorado.

Beth4freedom
Member

10-24-2003

Monday, June 02, 2008 - 8:56 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Beth4freedom a private message Print Post    
Thanks, Teach, I thought last year was somewhere in Colorado, but would never have come up with the town. I remember their challenge of having to cook by the side of a stream.

Bonzacat
Member

07-08-2003

Monday, June 02, 2008 - 9:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bonzacat a private message Print Post    
The frozen scallops were a producer plant.....

http://tinyurl.com/3qo4wb

Producers planted the frozen scallops that led to Spike’s elimination from Top Chef

"Spike Mendelsohn was eliminated from Top Chef 4 last Wednesday in part because he used frozen scallops he found in the cooler at Tramonto’s Steak & Seafood restaurant in Chicago. As the challenge winner, Spike had first pick of the proteins at the restaurant, and chose a bag of frozen scallops that didn’t work well. When criticized for his choice during judging, Spike turned that on one of his critics, the guest judge and restaurant’s owner, arguing that the scallops were in his freezer.

But those frozen scallops actually came from the show’s producers via a food supplier—not the restaurant’s actual inventory, according to both head judge Tom Colicchio and the restaurant’s owner. “Their team purchased all the food and put it in the coolers. They put those in the mix to see … who would use them or not,” guest judge and Tramonto’s head chef Rick Tramonto told the Chicago Tribune."

[...]

Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Monday, June 02, 2008 - 12:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Maris a private message Print Post    
I dont believe it. Took them long enough to come up with the story though..

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Monday, June 02, 2008 - 12:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_in_ca a private message Print Post    
Actually, Tom Colicchio mentions this in his blog on the Bravo site. It was put there -- along with tons of other stuff that the contestants could choose from -- by the supplier. He mentioned it because he was trying to clear Tramonto's reputation about having frozen scallops in his walk-in ...

There was no indication that it was "planted" to bring down one of the contestants.

It was still Spike's decision to use them.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Monday, June 02, 2008 - 1:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Right, who really CARES if there were frozen scallops or not?

Spike did not have to use them.

And also whether that restaurant uses them or not--again--who cares?? The proof will be in the pudding. Either the food (scallops) that the restaurant serves when cooked, is either good or not good.

Lilfair
Member

07-09-2003

Monday, June 02, 2008 - 1:28 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lilfair a private message Print Post    
I've made my fair share of scallops in my lifetime and they don't freeze all that well. For the home cook maybe they are passable if they aren't soggy after defrosting. I liked that little test. They should do more of that...kinda like a quality control. Who knows maybe they have and I wasn't swift enough to pick up on it.

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Monday, June 02, 2008 - 6:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Teachmichigan a private message Print Post    
Yup - the blog was up the night the show aired.

Marameko
Member

07-15-2002

Tuesday, June 03, 2008 - 9:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Marameko a private message Print Post    
I am certainly no chef, but I recently purchased frozen scallops for the first time and found them delicious. Made me forget I was "doing" Weight Watchers and I was in no way deprived.
Imagine if I'd had scallops prepared by an awesome chef...yummy.