Top Chef Vegas - starts 19 Aug

[Fist of Doom]

Originally Posted by Jadzia

Wow, as a vegetarian I should have been drooling at this episode but I wasn't excited about any of that food. Goes to show you, that "top chefs" are clueless at cooking vegetarian. Most of those dishes looked like boring side dishes. I can cook better than that!

I think Kevin won because his was the only dish that was hearty enough to be a true entree.

Jen has really taken a tumble. I hope she gets her confidence back - I really don't want to see both Volts in the final three. Loved her look of boredom while Robin was blabbing on and on at the judges' table.

[Fist of Doom]

Originally Posted by Tsar Chasm

Arrogance and entitlement sends someone packing tonight. Natalie Portman is a beauty for the ages. Vegetarians are unnatural.

"It's like a little prick on the tip of my tongue"
Best line in Top Chef history.

[LiquidSky]

Glad Michael I. got the boot. Michael V. is acting like an asshole. Jen better step up her game asap.

Go Big Kev!!!! I hope he wins.

[kaisha no saru]

I agree with others there must have been other restrictions, I think one of the brothers had something fried that he just didn't put on the plate but no rice, couscous, pasta, celebrity grain (you know the ones I'm talking about) on any of the plates as I recall. And like Jadzia I'm veg and wasn't inspired by any of those plates.

And am I the only one lusting after Eli? I mean last week he told us he still lives with his parents and has no plans to move out and this week talked about how Star Wars was the most important movie ever. What a find! [/sarcasm]

[notkevinbacon]

I don't watch too much TV, but man I just have always loved this show. IMHO, this is the best season they have had in a while in terms of personalities... there's been some really good food and some really strong chefs, though a handful of the challenges have been lacking. Could also be due to the fact last season was pretty lackluster, I'm just happy to see this show back on track and in fine form.

Glad to see Mike I. leave, he constantly would group himself in with the upper tier chefs when I always found him to be more middle of the road and he came of as that kid trying to hang with the "cool people." Trying too hard.

Eli just reminds me of a porky Ilan. And I just couldn't stand Ilan.

I'm pulling for Kevin and he's up there with my favorite contestants of all time... maybe even in the top three with Harold and CJ.

Oh, and here's the link to the Schwan's food they mentioned, interesting selection... surprised there's nothing from any of the microwave challenges (i think?)

http://www.schwans.com/topchef

[Slumbering Fist]

Its safe to say, none of them should be criticizing Keven at this point because he's clearly won so many challenges of different type that he's doing things across the board that the tasters enjoy. Its just bitterness because the weasel-faced brother slaved over "uniqueness" and "technique" but his dish's flavors didnt amaze as much. (Oh, and the judges agreed that Kevin's kale had a depth they weren't used to, so hows that for unique and technique?).

[Adboy151]

Good blog entry from Tom this week on the whole "technique" thing.

I know that Mike V. was furious that Kevin won this challenge — as we all saw in the episode, he felt that Kevin’s techniques were more rudimentary than his and didn’t merit the win. He said something to the effect that he could have made Kevin’s dish in culinary school, that he cooks that way when whipping things up at home on his weekends off. In general, please do not be snowed by the techniques employed by the Voltaggio brothers. Yes, they’re employing advanced techniques versus Kevin’s more basic methods, but at the end of the day unless you can pull off those elevated elements and actually make the food taste great, I don’t care how many blowtorches it took to create the dish — Kevin’s food not only is consistently well executed but also tastes really incredibly good

[LurkerDan]

Originally Posted by Superboy

But they were limited to what was in the walk-in at Craftsteak. He isn't going to have edamame, tofu, bean sprouts, and other staples of vegetarian/vegan cuisine. His restaurant is new american, so asian just isn't going to be there.

That probably does explain some of it, but still surprised that there were no grains whatsoever, and only one dish with beans (sorry Robin, but putting 3 chickpeas on a plate and calling it a protein doesn't cut it).

[LurkerDan]

Well, reading Gail's blog it seems she was as perplexed as I was at the lack of grains and beans in the veggie dishes:

His kitchen walk-ins were overflowing with every variety of produce one could imagine. And his pantry was stocked with more dry goods than could be used in a lifetime. . . . With the exception of [Eli's] lentils . . . and the scant garbanzo beans [in Robin's dish], there was virtually no protein presented across the board. No beans or legumes, few eggs and little dairy were used (despite their being encouraged to do so). In addition, Michael’s . . . Banana Polenta was the only dish that used a grain.

[conscience]

Kevin for the win, obviously. Chef Tom loves him.

LMAO - that mouth...:

[LurkerDan]

Originally Posted by conscience

Kevin for the win, obviously. Chef Tom loves him.

Actually, if you read Tom's blog you'll see that his vote to win this week went to Mike. But he was talked out of it.

[Superboy]

Originally Posted by notkevinbacon

I don't watch too much TV, but man I just have always loved this show. IMHO, this is the best season they have had in a while in terms of personalities... there's been some really good food and some really strong chefs, though a handful of the challenges have been lacking. Could also be due to the fact last season was pretty lackluster, I'm just happy to see this show back on track and in fine form.

I really loved Season 4 and thought it hit the right balance between having great talent and interesting personalities. Also, the challenges in Season 4 were probably some of the hardest in the entire series, and the chefs really stepped it up. They knew they were dealing with some really talented chefs, and had to crank up the difficulty level. I don't really get that feeling from this season. When they push the Voltaggio bros, they don't measure up.

Eli just reminds me of a porky Ilan. And I just couldn't stand Ilan.

Except he doesn't attempt to pass off other people's ideas as his own. I got that feeling from Ilan up until the finale. Mike I. and Eli suffer from the unwarranted arrogance and general lack of people skills.

I'm pulling for Kevin and he's up there with my favorite contestants of all time... maybe even in the top three with Harold and CJ.

Definitely agree about Kevin. He is a great contestant. Compared to the Voltaggio brothers, I would prefer to eat his food.

I didn't like CJ. Season 3 was boring and I really didn't like most of the chefs... and in the finale, it really seemed like the chefs had major sour grapes over the typical asian over-acheiver.

[Sweet Baby James]

Originally Posted by Superboy

Except he doesn't attempt to pass off other people's ideas as his own. I got that feeling from Ilan up until the finale.

All Ilan ever did was cook the entire menu of the Spanish restaurant that he was working at. He was the saffron king. The chef/owner of that restaurant should have sued. Also, Ilan was the lead member of the Marcel bullying crew.

[davidh777]

Snap out of it, Jen

Mike has always been cocky, but the way they were pushing it this week made me think he was the one.

Originally Posted by kaisha no saru

And am I the only one lusting after Eli? I mean last week he told us he still lives with his parents and has no plans to move out and this week talked about how Star Wars was the most important movie ever. What a find! [/sarcasm]

Star Wars was Natalie Portman's only significant work

[davidh777]

I wonder if Jen's fortunes would have changed had she gotten the eggplant she wanted. Might have picked up her spirits at least.

[BadlyDrawnBoy]

No new episode tonight, however there is an reunion show of sorts?

(Credit: BRAVO)

This Wednesday, the "Top Chef: Las Vegas" chefs will get a week off so chefs from previous seasons can reunite for a special dinner party. But it won't be all fun and food when old rivalries flare up.

Season five fan favorite Fabio Viviani hosts an all-star get-together complete with a challenge as past cheftestants rehash their favorite moments on the series. The all-star chefs, a mixture of fan favorites and winners, include Harold Dieterle, Marcel Vigneron, Ilan Hall, Dale Levitski, Casey Thompson, Hung Huynh, Richard Blais, Carla Hall and Stefan Richter.

Judging by the promo, two of the biggest personalities from the series, Marcel and Fabio, will go head to head in at least one heated discussion (we're praying it has to do with scallops). Also, Carla and Casey confront each other for the first time since the controversial season five finale when Casey's assistance did more hurt than help.

[Superboy]

I hate those episodes. The food is usually okay, but there's just too much drama. Jesus.

[LiquidSky]

The competition is getting good with most of the extra fat trimmed off....and they show this fucking runion?

[FantasticVSDoom]

Yeah that reunion was terrible... We get Marcel is a prick, oooh. It was good seeing Casey again though.

[Big Boy Laroux]

I agree with Fabio's little blow-up, though. If you don't want to talk about the drama that occurred during your season, don't accept the invitation to these reunions! Fabio obviously had to ask specific questions.

[tofu]

Finally they get rid of Robin. That stuff that Eli made looked unedible. It looked like a piece of gum floating in milk.

[FinkPish]

Thank Jebus she's finally gone. She has been outclassed for many episodes and finally proved it beyond a shadow of a doubt. I thought Eli was going to be gone for sure though. I guess they figured Robin had an easy dish and still fucked it up.

[mwbmis]

Finally! She was in the bottom pretty much every week, and there were quite a few seemingly more talented chefs gone before her.

Michael may be a douche, but I actually agreed with about Robin scooting around in his small kitchen while he's rushing to finish and plate.

I still believe in Jennifer. Hopefully, she can pull this out.

[BadlyDrawnBoy]

Jennifer needs to dig deep I think, she looks like she is fading, and losing heart

[Superboy]

Robin's dish was both insipid and gross. It's a miracle she's made it this far. She reminds me of lisa from season 4.

Jennifer is probably going to make it to the final four, but not win. She keeps slipping. And at this point, mistakes cost you.