Top Chef: New York - Page 18

[kirstenb]

It's too bad Casey made that statement- she was one of my favorites from season 3 but this statement just makes her look bad.

I thought Carla was classically trained as well- she's mentioned it a few times this season.

[umami_mommy]

Originally Posted by mata

Best Fabio line ever, from the restaurant wars:

"We can serve monkey ass on empty clam shell-we gonna win-I'm running the front of the house!"

:: damn finest kind.

[lotusblossom9]

Is there anywhere online where I can watch the last few episodes? I missed them.

[umami_mommy]

check the bravo TV schedule. they should be showing them again, maybe even tonight.

[annekevdbroek]

Originally Posted by Molliejo

She said this:

"Carla was not prepared and in over her head. The show did not talk about how the first course (crab) took her half of the friggin’ cooking time that day, I was left to work the rest of HER dishes.

She also did not have a plan. The ONLY thing she had in mind was a cheese course! I would NEVER do a cheese course. And where in the hell did french come from!? She is not even classically trained!

It (the show) didn’t talk about how I worked on a sauce for 2 days and Carla forgot to put it on the plate… It didn’t show how the 2nd course (fish) was MINE. It didn’t show how she took the sous vide idea and decided to GRILL it last minute causing it to be tough… And it didn’t show how she WANTED to do the souffles which she does not even know how to make! That was HER food, because it certainly was me asking her how she wanted to do this and that while she was busy picking crab the entire time and making a souffle that didn’t rise!

I am done with TC. I did not influence her. She has NO ideas of her own, oh, except a cheese course."

nak.

Wow - Casey sounds a bit bitter. Now, they showed a sound clip of Casey saying that it was her idea to sou vie and for the souffles. So her claims in the interview are quite inconsistant with the statements she was shown on tape making.

I agree the Carla was too accomodating; she wants to listen to others and respect other's views. Sadly, this cost her the win (IMHO). She sort of had to work up to cooking her own food during the season. Then there was a break and she went back to her home and got back into old routines. I felt so sad for her! I do think that if she had "cooked her own food" she would have had a very good chance of winning. It was so sweet that Stephan was responsive to her tears.

Hoseas still bores me. And that British judge - god I wish he would go away! He gets going on about not getting a dessert from Hosea, when they were clearly instructed that they did not have to do a dessert. And, seriously, in a 3 course meal you would generally not get a dessert. And Stephan's dessert plate did look very 1980s, lol. That judge was just so focused on the dessert issue.....and I really wanted him to start being quiet!

[BookGoddess]

Originally Posted by annekevdbroek

Hoseas still bores me. And that British judge - god I wish he would go away! He gets going on about not getting a dessert from Hosea, when they were clearly instructed that they did not have to do a dessert. And, seriously, in a 3 course meal you would generally not get a dessert. And Stephan's dessert plate did look very 1980s, lol. That judge was just so focused on the dessert issue.....and I really wanted him to start being quiet!

So true. I agree with all that you said esp about the British judge Toby.

This is OT but does anyone else think Gail might be pregnant. Her "girls" were so prominent in the episode that both DH and I thought she might be expecting.

[queenjane]

I think Casey is full of it. She says where did french come from, carla isnt classically trained...but earlier in the season, Carla talked about how she does french, that she is classically trained. So what is casey talking about?! Then she says she would NEVER do a cheese plate...well, duh, thats the point casey its not YOUR food, its carla's. Its not casey's fault that carla didnt stay strong and do her own food, but i think she's way too defensive. ETA: from the bravo official site, carla's bio:

Her food balances the heart and soul of the South and the refinement of her classic French training.

I didnt like Casey on her season, and now i know why.


Katherine

[Molliejo]

Originally Posted by BookGoddess

This is OT but does anyone else think Gail might be pregnant. Her "girls" were so prominent in the episode that both DH and I thought she might be expecting.

I thought the same thing!

[yogafeet]

OK. First, my heart is broken that Carla didn't win, didn't know enough to cook HER food, etc. Broken. My Heart. Broken. In the beginning of this show I highly disliked her... she annoyed me... but she won me over with her grace, kindness and talent.

Casey's comment is low class. 'Nuff said.

Stefan was so sweet. He deserved to win overall, but I guess Hosea's food was better. Stefan's dessert did him in, although they were not excited about Hosea's fish.

Yes, Gail does look preggers! Hilarious b/c when I saw her all busty I got a mental image of the honeymoon. Didn't think pregnant, but certainly thought of all it takes to get pregnant. HOt mama!

Carla lives in DC and I live just outside... I fantasize that I'll run into her and give her a hug. I agree about food network. GIve her a show!

[Biscuits & Gravy]

LMAO! I made the comment "Gail has nice boobs!" in my head. Pregnancy didn't even cross my mind, but hmmmm.

Did anyone else notice the kiss between Hosea and Leah when he won?? It was more than a peck on the lips. We rewound and watched again, it was a big smooch from her and he didn't really return it. Very interesting.

[~Boudicca~]

Originally Posted by BookGoddess

So true. I agree with all that you said esp about the British judge Toby.

This is OT but does anyone else think Gail might be pregnant. Her "girls" were so prominent in the episode that both DH and I thought she might be expecting.

OMG I was thinking that too! Her breasts were looking plumper than usual, and she seemed like she was glowing.

[ledzepplon]

Oh my gosh, I totally thought Gail was preggers, too!

As soon as Casey said "sous vide" I knew it was over for Carla. It would have been awesome for her to win.

I still would have prefered Stephan over Hosea. Stephan's squab and cabbage dish looked AMAZING. His dessert was pretty lame looking, though. So I get why they pretty much had to pick Hosea.

For once I tended to agree with Toby about the dessert thing. I know they weren't required to do dessert, but if you're trying to create the perfect meal, for me at least, it includes a sweet finish. There wasn't really anything about Hosea's venison that announced it as the finale of the meal. I know they aren't pastry chefs, but I think it's a bit of a cop out to not be able to do some kind of dessert.

As far as Casey's comments about Carla . . . that is shameful. Even if it's all true (which I rather doubt), it's no way to conduct yourself. I think Carla was right when she said she succeeded in competing with love. You go, Carla!

[Awaken]

Just watched it. Very disappointing, but in the end it was fair. Carla winning would have been such a triumph, and I was so looking forward to seeing it.

I totally agree with this:

Originally Posted by BookGoddess

But ultimately what is served is Carla's responsibility. A top chef has to lead. A leader is decisive. She should have been strong enough to say "No, this is what I want to do and these are the dishes we're going to make, Casey". The Finale was not a team competition. Heck..Casey isn't even a contestant this season.

A top chef is not going to let her vision get taken over by someone else's suggestions, esp. when that person is suggesting something that you've never done before and the stakes are that high!

Overall I think Stefan had the consistently best performance throughout the season with some mishaps, and Hosea has been fairly boring with flashes of greatness. He happened to have the best meal that particular night, when it counted! (although I agree, personally I like dessert but that wasn't a requirement).

I think Stefan and Carla both will get tv shows or other opportunities because of the show.

[BookGoddess]

Originally Posted by ledzepplon

For once I tended to agree with Toby about the dessert thing. I know they weren't required to do dessert, but if you're trying to create the perfect meal, for me at least, it includes a sweet finish. There wasn't really anything about Hosea's venison that announced it as the finale of the meal. I know they aren't pastry chefs, but I think it's a bit of a cop out to not be able to do some kind of dessert.

I've often wondered if the chefs that come on Top Chef missed out on the days they taught baking at culinary school. So many of the say they don't do desserts.

[becoming]

I get the impression that some of the chefs look down on desserts to some extent. Like they're too good to make a dessert. They always say things like, "I'm not a pastry chef" like a pastry chef is a low-class citizen or something. I don't have any insides into the food world, though, so I could be taking that the wrong way.

Anyway, I was heartbroken for Carla. I really wanted to her to win. I'm with the PPs who said, as soon as she agreed to go along with Casey, I knew it was over for her. My second choice would have been Stefan. I really can't believe boring Hosea won. Yuck.

[umami_mommy]

Originally Posted by BookGoddess

I've often wondered if the chefs that come on Top Chef missed out on the days they taught baking at culinary school. So many of the say they don't do desserts.

that's because a pastry chef and a chef are two totally different animals. they are different pursuits in culinary school and in the kitchen they usually don't even come in contact with each other.

stefan and carla are caterers. if you are a caterer, you usually can do deserts because it's your own business and you don't want to hire a pastry chef. some caterers (like the one my bro used to work for) even get their deserts from a bakery.

i think some chefs see pastry chefs as "girly men," but i think they can be just as competitive and arrogant as regular chefs!!

[kirstenb]

I remember Marisa from season 2 was a pastry chef.

[queenjane]

i was watching "Iron Chef" last night, it was bobby flay against the challenger....and the challenger's sous chef was Arianne! She was bustin' her butt too! I knew it was her because the host/announcer guy called her by name. I dont know if this was filmed before or after Top Chef, but it was cool to see her.


Katherine

[Freud]

I saw Ariane too! It was filmed after she was booted from Top Chef. I was glad to see her back on TV. I liked her, even though I never really thought she was a Top Chef.

[Awaken]

Cool! I wasn't really an Ariane fan, but it would still be fun to see her on Iron Chef, and I'm sure it was a fun experience for her, too.

Carla was going to be on Tell Me More on NPR today! I missed it, but I'm going to check the website. She is my hometown girl, too!