Top Chef: Chicago
Finale
The finale is all about the chefs being able to cook a full menu of whatever they want. It is their chance to really showcase what they do best at the end of this very long, brutal competition. Going into it, I am still amazed that Lisa is one of the final three. I thought for sure she was out the door as soon as Nikki was finally kicked off. I still would have much rather have Antonia or Dale going up against Richard and Stephanie.
Continue reading “Top Chef: Choke Time”
Tags: chicago, finale, puerto rico, top chef
Top Chef: Chicago
Puerto Rico
Here is a quick run down on the two challenges:
- Quickfire Challenge: Make two fritter snacks using plantains in each snack.
- Elimination Challenge: Use a whole pig to create dishes for a governor’s mansion event
The four finalist had some time off in between the last episode and the finale in Puerto Rico. Lisa showed up with a short hairdo and everyone was wearing a lot less clothing than in Chicago.
Continue reading “Top Chef: Here Piggy”
Tags: chicago, puerto rico, top chef, wilo benet
Top Chef: Chicago
High Steaks
Here is a quick run down on the two challenges:
- Quickfire Challenge: butcher and cook a perfect steak
- Elimination Challenge: prepare one appetizer and one entree each in a steak and seafood restaurant
I love that there are so many women so close to the final four. I would still be thrilled to trade out Lisa for Dale though. She should not still be here.
Quickfire Challenge
The chefs are delivered to a meat purveyor called Allen Bros. The chefs had to butcher some dry-aged long-bone rib-eyes. Spike had an advantage since both of his grandfathers were butchers. They were given an entire rib rack. They had to cut individual chops from the rack with the bone being frenched. They were given an example of what it should look like when it was finished. They were given 20 minutes to cut seven chops.
Continue reading “Top Chef: Frozen Choice”
Tags: chicago, rick tramonto, steak, top chef
Top Chef: Chicago
Restaurant Wars
Here is a quick run down on the two challenges:
- Quickfire Challenge: Work a short order egg station
- Elimination Challenge: Restaurant Wars
Quickfire Challenge
At 5:45am, Tom showed up at the house to wake up all the chefs saying he was taking them to a breakfast joint, but not to eat. They would be working the egg station. The place they went was Lou Mitchell’s, which has been around since the 1930s and is packed with people. The chefs commented about cooking eggs is hard and it needs to be done perfectly.
Continue reading “Top Chef: Fusion Failure”
Tags: anthony bourdain, chicago, restaurant wars, top chef
Top Chef: Chicago
Serve and Protect
Here is a quick run down on the two challenges:
- Quickfire Challenge: Create a sexy salad
- Elimination Challenge: Create gourmet and healthy boxed lunches for police academy
All the chefs were extra testy in this episode. It is because they were up for over 40 hours in the episode before and only got a normal night’s worth of sleep after it or is it because they are getting exhausted with the constant challenges at this stage in the game? Either way, they are getting nasty with each other and even at the judges!
Continue reading “Top Chef: Raw Deal”
Tags: chicago, police, sam, top chef
Top Chef: Chicago
Wedding Wars
Here is a quick run down on the two challenges:
- Quickfire Challenge: Mise En Place Relay Race
- Elimination Challenge: Cater a wedding
Some might be sad that they replaced Restaurant Wars with Wedding Wars, but since Restaurant Wars usually end up being horrendous, and someone ended up being stuck serving instead of actually cooking, I didn’t mind it this way. Everyone got to participate in the preparation so it was more focused on the food. I did miss seeing the vision behind each team’s restaurant though. Some people might question why anyone in their right mind would want chefs on a reality show to prepare their wedding food, but I would have went for it! My food was good at my wedding, but I would not have minded turning it over to one of the teams, especially since some of it looked so good.
Continue reading “Top Chef: Wedding Bliss & Blues”
Tags: chicago, gale gand, top chef, wedding
Top Chef: Chicago
Common Threads
Here is a quick run down on the two challenges:
- Quickfire Challenge: Create a fabulous entree in only 15 minutes
- Elimination Challenge: Feed a family of four a healthy, nutritious meal for only $10
The challenges tonight were tough ones. I could do the $10 one fairly easily with some planning, but I know I couldn’t do the time limit one since I always take twice as long as what any recipe states. I’m just slow.
Continue reading “Top Chef: For the Kids”
Tags: art smith, chicago, common threads, top chef
Top Chef: Chicago
Improv
Sorry about the delay. I had surgery last Friday and thought I’d have time to get something up here before then, but my gall bladder decided to have on last hurrah on Wednesday and in between recovery and pain medications, it has been slow going with tons of typos. I never took for granted typing quickly and well until I’m stupid at it.
Here is a quick run down on the two challenges:
- Quickfire Challenge: Create a delicious dessert that will be featured in the Top Chef: The Cookbook
- Elimination Challenge: Improve a dish from an ingredient, color and emotion.
More with the team challenges. From this point on, I declare no more! Nikki had another chance to hide, and even though I agree that chefs can be tossed out for the tiniest thing at this point in the game, and no can really afford to let anything slide, things still get by when she’s still in the game.
Jennifer shows up and tells the camera for the millionth time that she is doing it for Zoi. Whoa, hadn’t heard that one before? Who is this Zoi you speak about and why can’t you function in life without her? Blarg.
Continue reading “Top Chef: Weird Combos”
Tags: chicago, dessert, improv, johnny juzzini, pastry chef, second city, top chef
Top Chef: Chicago
Tailgating
Here is a quick run down on the two challenges:
- Quickfire Challenge: Create a dish that pairs perfectly with beer.
- Elimination Challenge: Grilling at the tailgating party before the Chicago Bears football game.
I was very happy that this week, there was not a team competition. While I think the team competitions this season have been very creative and each person on the team has had a chance to make their own dish, it has allowed some mediocre people to hide on a winning team, like Nikki. Having everyone cook on their own really allows them to excel or fail all on their own.
Continue reading “Top Chef: Da Beer & Da Bears”
Tags: avec, blackbird, chicago, chicago bears, koren grieveson, paul kahan, top chef
Top Chef: Chicago
The Elements
Here is a quick run down on the two challenges:
- Quickfire Challenge: Identify the higher quality ingredient in a blind taste test.
- Elimination Challenge: Create a first course inspired by one of nature’s four elements: earth, fire, water and air.
Quickfire Challenge
The guest judge for the episode was Ming Tsai, Chef/Owner, Blue Ginger Restaurant in Chicago. Lisa was very excited about him being there since she loves cooking Asian food, which is his specialty. The quickfire challenge would be a taste test. Ming said that if a cook does not have a good palette and they cannot figure out what tastes good, then they should just pack up their knives and go. Antonia told the camera that she loves the blind taste test challenge when she has watched the show, so she has just been waiting for it.
Continue reading “Top Chef: Bland Elements”
Tags: air, chicago, elements, fire, meals on wheels, ming tsai, top chef, water, wind
