69 replies to this topic

[TWoP Nikita]

From Zap2it:

Chefs play "Name That Ingredient''; Masters must create a dish inspired by a Greek God.

[nannerbadnanner]

This was a fun episode. I especially loved Obi-Wan versus Hades. I like that they are competive but still good sports about everything.

I loved how differently everyone approached the challenge. Marcus took a more intellectual approach while some of the others took a more literal approach. I enjoyed seeing the insight into the thought process behind the dishes.

I thought Susan deserved to go home because her dish wasn't even in the same league as the others. A fried egg and a sandwich? Really? I loathe eggs so I thought her dish looked pretty disgusting although it did get Gail's approval and that certainly means something.

I love Susur. His observations about the challenges are hysterical.

[diorella78]

Jonathan eeks by again; Hope he steps it up next week but he just seems increasingly tired and over it.

Wasn't shocked Susan was axed, especially since they jumped from Susar to Susan for the inevitable 'WILL Waxman score enough points....?!"

Overall I don't think any of them really did their best this time around. Not that I am any top chef but , as an example, I agree with the judge (I forget which now) who said Susar should have made a heartier meat or ribs dish for Dionysus (gnaw! gnaw!)---but yet again, this challenge 'wasn't in his culture.' Susar is top notch, no doubt, but I am actually tiring of this excuse.

Rick's swordfish looked dry even on tv, but I guess it was delicious.

I get what Marcus was doing, but like Jay said maybe he did overthink it all a bit much.

Edited by diorella78, May 26, 2010 @ 10:19 PM.

[jpgr]

Soooooo bummed, but not surprised, that Susan went home. I really love her, and at least she was having a blast during the challenge. If they are not going to crown a Top Chef Master who doesn't present super-refined food, maybe they shouldn't have even invited a chef like Susan (except, of course, that I love her and am glad I got to see her and so happy she won lots of money for her charity). Phew.

During the quickfire, Kelly should not have announced that it was a Thai Green Curry sauce when eliminating Jonathan, because Susur still had to name another ingredient in order to move on. I know Susur knew what it was, but I still thought it was not a good move in terms of competitive fairness. Also, why did they do that quickfire when they had an odd number of chefs and someone had to get a bye through the first round? That seemed like poor planning. Why not switch last week's and this week's quickfire challenges? It didn't matter how many were there for them to do the "legs" challenge.

I did like the episode overall. My feelings for Susur rise and fall like I'm on a roller coaster from episode to episode. Tonight he totally annoyed me. Kind of funny that the self-proclaimed "fish guy" keeps having issues with cooking his seafood.

Not sure who I'm rooting for anymore. I like Jonathan, but he seems like he's fading. Each of the other three I can kind of take or leave, none of them really inspire me.

[diorella78]

Kind of funny that the self-proclaimed "fish guy" keeps having issues with cooking his seafood.

Rick REALLY doesn't like going out of his comfort zone, does he? He is starting to annoy me. I know this is for charity and he wants to help his........and win... but enough with the fish. We know, Rick...we know.

Edited by diorella78, May 26, 2010 @ 10:31 PM.

[swankie]

I really wanted Marcus to beat Rick this time. Rick is a little abrasive sometimes and overly competitive for my taste. But then, fish is supposed to be his strong suit and this is twice that his fish was overcooked. I think his win was more for his aggressive role playing than the dish itself. Marcus seemed a little melancholy this episode. I think they all are starting to fray around the edges at this point. That story about his father was phenomenal. I love hearing things like that having been united with a brother I didn't know I had 10 years ago. Also, his wife is beautiful. And I wonder if Susan would have done better if she had done a sexy dessert rather than the dish she did. Sucks to win a quick challenge and elimination challenge one week and go home the next. I think I would have loved her dish because I like simple things and love breakfast-y foods. And I agree about Susur. He's become the mayor of excuse village on this show. Everyone is out of their element during these challenges. Shut it! I still enjoy this show more than the regular Top Chef though. It's more about the food than the drama.

[greendog78]

Someone should tell Rick Hades isn't the same as the Devil. Overcooked fish should have sunk him, but who knows. Maybe it really was that tasty.

Gail sure likes to smear things on people...

Edited by greendog78, May 26, 2010 @ 11:14 PM.

[nannerbadnanner]

Marcus seemed a little melancholy this episode. I think they all are starting to fray around the edges at this point.

What was Marcus saying about being 70%? Did he injure himself? I missed what lead up to the comment so I was wondering if he was in pain.

[diorella78]

I don't think it was made clear, but Marcus noted he had a very sore back and general fatigue (said he could barely get out of bed) Not sure if it was from his running around Whole Foods or what. I'm surprised more aren't feeling aches and pains from that schedule....

[Myndela]

Susur is my favorite. Even with his "out of touch" excuse, he still tries his hardest and puts out some damn good food. He knew nothing about tail-gating last week, and he got second place. There were five people left in this challenge, and even though he didn't really get the concept here either, he got third place. As in, not in the bottom two. That he is able to bring it, even though his understanding is a bit off, shows me a lot about him. Susur is a damn good chef who is very serious about food, and he can cook for me anytime. Frankly, I like his sense of humor and personality. I don't think that he is that much of an asshole, at least, not more than anyone else on here. And his sons are so cute.

I worry for Jonathon, though. He is my number two, and I agree, he really is losing steam. I am hoping that it will end up with Susur and Jonathon in the final two, but that is starting to seem less and less likely.

[Mooncake76]

There have been chefs from other seasons who made dishes that barely fit into the criteria of the challenge, so I don't think they're simply giving Susur a pass here. He made some attempt to make a connection (using a wine sauce for his pork) and adding some Greek flavors, so it's not like he just threw the challenge and made something completely off base. I don't think his was any worse (concept-wise) than Marcus's over-intellectualized Ares dish.

I think Jay was right and Susan was the right choice to go. The funny thing is that her dish was probably the one I wanted to try the most, but I do think it's true that at this level of the competition, the chefs need to kick it up a notch. And what was essentially a sandwich just didn't measure up to what the other chefs produced.

I like the four that remain. I wasn't too fond of Marcus early on, but he has grown on me. Waxman was an early favorite of mine, but he seems to be wilting under the pressure (and he seems to really miss his family). I hope he can bring his A-game next time. My pick to win is Susur, but he seems too obvious at this point. Maybe Moonen?

[butterycroc]

I really wished Susur had been more familiar with his god because Dionysus is inspirational gold. Wild, uncivilized, frenzied abandon - I agree with Gael that Susur's dish was a little too mannered. Oh well, it couldn't really be helped. It's just that I would have loved to see what Susur could come up with had he been familiar with the mythology.

That being said, Susur is full of excuses. The exotic protein challenge certainly favored him over the other chefs. Every other contestant has also struggled with being out of their element (although okay, it doesn't go as far as not being able the grasp the concept behind the challenge) and Susur, being Susur, is too self absorbed to sympathize. The chef's adherence to the terms of the challenge doesn't really seem to have any effect on the judging as long as the food is good so what does it matter, really?
Still, I kind of love Susur, I can't help it:) I have to roll my eyes at least once an episode at some of the things he says but in the end he puts a smile on face. I find his upfront, brazen attitude ("I'm pissed off!) curious, mostly because I don't think it's coming from a truly nasty place.

Both Marcus and Waxman seemed a bit defeated tonight. I was glad to see Marcus finally pulling off what he was going for. He's a overthinker, but I hold no bias against his more complicated approach towards food. It's true that simple clean foods require a lot of skill, especially since it's hard to mask errors, but complex and intricate is just as hard to do flawlessly. It's just a difference in style. Bayless and Susur both make complicated food but make it look so much more effortless and less...fussy than Marcus. Marcus, just take a deep breath and relax a bit.

I haven't really been all that interested by Susan's food during the competition but still a bit sad to see her go. I do think it was the right decision. I hate to agree with the judges, because it sounds so snooty, but the dish was a tad too low brow at this point in the competition. Last woman down, sigh. I think she was a bit too in love her concept, which first startled me, then intrigued me because it seemed like such a different interpretation than I was expecting. From the way she was talking about sex and lust, I was expecting a dish that would leave an obviously sensual impression but instead she went down the physically literal route of...reproductive elements??? Bizarre, yet interesting. Not something I ever would have thought up. As nannerbadnanner says, it's great to see how differently everyone approaches the challenge.

Edited by butterycroc, May 27, 2010 @ 12:20 AM.

[OldTowneTavern]

Gail - Oh Susan, I want to slather your delicious concoction over people and lick them. And your soy glaze? Why, I shall never cook eggs any other way, it's the dernier cri.... Now get out!


Special props to Kelly for wearing a necklace that makes her easier find, even though it clearly outweighed her.

[hilaryvm]

Someone should tell Rick Hades isn't the same as the Devil.

This really bugged me. I wish someone had pointed it out. Although, except for the spicy/fiery aspect, the rest of the food reflected more of an underworld vibe than specifically hell, but "god of the underworld" =/= hell.

I knew Susan was going, but even though this is Top Chef Masters, I wish the judges wouldn't look down their noses at simple food.

[aceplace57]

I enjoyed this episode. The chefs were inspired by the challenge and had fun with it. It seemed Susan got caught up in the fun of feeding the god of love and neglected the judges. Susan has already shown that she's capable of cooking great food. It's a shame that the judges saw this dish as nothing more than an egg sandwich. Susan was so much fun and lifted everyones spirits. I'll miss that smiling face.

I'll be interested to see how Marcus does in the next challenge. There's very little time to rest his aching back. I wonder if they get even one day off? Fatigue is a big issue for the Master Chefs. I'm concerned the competition will be decided by who can stay awake and outlast the competition. That won't necessarily be the best chef.

Edited by aceplace57, May 27, 2010 @ 3:50 AM.

[maatkare]

Someone should tell Rick Hades isn't the same as the Devil

This made the mythology geek in me FURIOUS!! And he kept saying it!

It's a shame that the judges saw this dish as nothing more than an egg sandwich. Susan was so much fun and lifted everyones spirits. I'll miss that smiling face.

She really had a genuine warmth that was a pleasure. She's that rarity of a sincere person. In a way her energy reminded me of Rick Bayless. (and they both specialize in mexican food...hmm...)

[RescueMom]

I'm pretty sure that Marcus injured his back. First, we heard him talking about how he is in great shape, is a runner, and is younger than the rest, so he wasn't worried about the physical fatigue. Then next morning he was saying he couldn't get out of bed and I'm pretty sure he said it was due to back pain. (I had a herniated disk a few years ago and that was what immediately came to mind - there were days I couldn't get out of bed.) Then he was talking about being unable to move freely in the kitchen, which sounds more like he injured himself than he was just tired. It wouldn't be surprising if he did injure himself they way they are exhausted and tearing around - even for someone in good shape, all it takes is lifting something wrong once.

I hope it doesn't hamper him next week because I'd like to see it be down to the cooking. I didn't like Marcus at first but he has grown on me. I really do love his intellectual approach to his food - he seems like a very intelligent man. I love this show and I hate it at the same time - since the finals started I've had to lose someone I really liked every week, because I liked ALL of them! I think all of the remaining chefs are great and would be happy with a win from any of them, but I'm pulling just a little more for Waxman than the rest.

Loved Susan but I agree with an earlier poster that I expected something more sensual from her for this challenge. I get the eggs reference but I honestly didn't know coconut milk is an aphrodisiac, but if I had to guess which god/goddess she was cooking for I probably would have been lost. But I guess that goes for most of them. Probably Rick's & Jonathan's would have been the easiest to guess if you didn't know which god/goddess each was cooking for.

[Dicegirl]

Was afraid Waxman would fall victim to the notorious TC birthday curse, especially when they made such a big deal out of celebrating his birthday! Glad he didn't, I very much like him.

Agree that Susan was the one to go...her concept just wasn't special enough for the competition. I interpret the star ratings as being based not on her execution, but as getting docked for difficulty like gymnastics or ice skating. I enjoyed watching her...she was so into the challenge, and everything she does is so heartfelt that even when it's impossibly corny or potentially obnoxious (sticking leaves in her hair, going on and on about love, etc.) it feels real because she's not doing it to be pretentious, that's just who she is. I might be biased though, because I had my wedding reception at Border Grill in Las Vegas!

Also think her dish was not really sexy in any way. Eggs are reproductive, coconut may be an aphrodisiac (but I don't think a very well known one). Something with chocolate seemed appropriate, even if not a dessert per se; or oysters maybe, or something just with a sexy texture or feel.

[lovinbob]

Special props to Kelly for wearing a necklace that makes her easier find, even though it clearly outweighed her.

A girl I work with wears a similar necklace (totally inappropriate for work -- we're at an elementary school) and refers to it as a "bib." I hate it.

Couldn't agree more that Susan was a delight to watch. I totally want to try that dish. But I agree that it didn't look that sensual, and I expected more. Whatever -- I enjoyed her so much.

Susur's dish looked delicious, but didn't really fit the theme.

I really liked Marcus's presentation, and I'm not sure what it was overly intellectual.

I can't help it -- I love Moonen. I love his rough around the edges demeanor.

[Artistictype]

That being said, Susur is full of excuses.

Yes, I;m getting a little tired of the 'Hey, I'm not from around here, don't understand your strange customs" How could not cooking for the God of wine not be a delight for a chef. Instead he was moaning 'what am I supposed to do with that?" C'mon! That being said his pork looked perfectly cooked. Not an easy thing to keep from drying out in a buffet line. Ya know, like swordfish.

I remember the sauce tastings from the earlier season. I think one safe bet to include in each ingredient list is salt!

That was so sweet remembering Waxman's birthday. Tho the way it was jiggling as they rolled it in, I first thought the cake was a huge jello mold.

[sloopster]

I enjoyed this episode thoroughly because everyone approached their dish so differently but everyone was totally into it. Marcus did the thought-experiment, and I have to admit it never would have occurred to me to go with raw or cured foods but it made sense. Susan just enjoyed herself and was a delight to watch (though I don't disagree with the verdict). Rick, well, I loved his devil-laugh and he got into it in several ways - root veggies, chaos, red. Yeah, it ain't supposed to be the devil, but it was for him and he ran with it. Jonathan was swept away by the joviality and personality of Neptune. And Susur was just lost, and he did his best, adding wine and greek elements, ok, not exactly Dionysian but he still went for it.

The taste test surprised me because they all did so poorly. I seem to recall someone going to seven or eight ingredients on TC - and there are throw-aways like salt, pepper, onion, in each dish, plus obvious throw-aways for each individual dish like tomato, Thai basil (which no one guessed, isn't that standard in green curry?), coconut milk, lobster. And they still got bogged down at six!

I'm going to miss Susan, but I have no doubt she was the right one to go.

[nannerbadnanner]

Fatigue is a big issue for the Master Chefs. I'm concerned the competition will be decided by who can stay awake and outlast the competition. That won't necessarily be the best chef.

I was think they all look really worn out except for Rick. He strikes me as one of those people who can get 4 hours of sleep per night and still be peppy and energetic.

Yes, I;m getting a little tired of the 'Hey, I'm not from around here, don't understand your strange customs" How could not cooking for the God of wine not be a delight for a chef. Instead he was moaning 'what am I supposed to do with that?"

"Your ways frighten me. I am an Unfrozen Caveman Chef!" Hee!

Edited by nannerbadnanner, May 27, 2010 @ 9:50 AM.

[meanteeth]

I was not only bugged that Rick was equating Hades with the Devil, but also that he couldn't get out of the frickin' fish zone for this. Being a ridiculous mythology geek, I wanted for the person who got Hades to cook an earthy dish and I just don't equate fish with Hades. I couldn't believe that Susur didn't get the decadent aspect of his pick, and I was very skeptical about Marcus' choices, as well. But then again, maybe I'm just too literal.

[Fukui San]

Did the chefs get even 10 minutes with Wikipedia to help guide their choices? It would have helped a lot.

[Gulielma]

Even a photocopy of a page from a reference book on Greek mythology would help.

How could someone "win" the first round of the quickfire not actually naming an ingredient, just by having their opponent miss one? And in another round, Kelly tells them what sauce it is after the first person misses an ingredient. Wouldn't knowing that it's a Thai Green Curry allow the second person to name actual ingredients rather than relying on their palate?

Guessing "butter" in Thai Green Curry? Jonathan is stressed.

I figured Susan was doomed when I saw what she was making. "People at Street love this dish." Yeah, I make a killer brownie with walnuts, but that wouldn't win me a challenge.

I realize the format needs diners scores to add to the judges scores, but this show (and the original Top Chef) is becoming Top Caterer Masters. Where are challenges like the dorm room from Season One?

[Catgirl14]

If I hadn't grown up reading mythology and going to theater school, I wouldn't know much about the gods either. I don't judge Susur much for not know or caring who Dionysus is or wanting to shape a dish around him. Every culture have their own gods. They should have given them some information, even the printed wiki page so that people could figure out how their dishes could be inspired by an idea.

Its weird how Rick was getting on my nerves and then I was watching the reruns and said 'he is cute', and that was the end of my dislike. Still I would like some more dishes from him that at not fish. Also Hades and the Devil are not the same person, neither are Hades and the Grim Reaper, although some people seem to think Hades and Dionysus are the same person.

I loved Susan and am sad to see her go.

[scarlet1815]

I'm so sad to see Susan go - she was awesome. But I understand why it went down the way it did.

As a big Greek mythology nerd, it irritated the shit out of me that several of the chefs' familiarity with the gods seemed to come directly from Disney films, which are wildly inaccurate. Rick's "devil" thing was particularly egregious, though the root vegetable idea was great. If he had managed to incorporate pomegranate seeds, I would've REALLY been impressed.

I have a love-hate thing with Susur, because he can be both hilarious and annoying. But I think he was right to complain about the cultural aspects of using these deities. Imagine if they'd chosen Chinese myths and cultural stories for the inspiration? Everyone else would've had reason to complain, because Westerners tend to have very little familiarity with non-Western cultures. If production didn't provide basic info to the chefs about their assigned God/dess, then those who have no familiarity with that deity might be severely hampered by that. It's one of the things I like about PR, that they give the designers dossiers whenever a task requires familiarity with a very specific subject. Why couldn't TCM do that too?

[Constantinople]

I also don't like the format of the ingredient tasting challenge (and didn't like it in S5 either). I think Rick named 4 ingredients correctly in 3 rounds, whereas Susur named something like 9 correctly in total, and 1 incorrectly. Just have each chef write down as many ingredients as s/he can, and deduct a point for each incorrect guess.

I was not only bugged that Rick was equating Hades with the Devil, but also that he couldn't get out of the frickin' fish zone for this. Being a ridiculous mythology geek, I wanted for the person who got Hades to cook an earthy dish and I just don't equate fish with Hades.

Charon does ferry the dead on his boat across the Styx, so there is some possibility of a fish connection, though I doubt I'd want to eat anything out of that river. I too thought more of a more earthy dish. Might have been one of the few times when using truffles was actually appropriate.

Since the seasons change due to Hades "abducting" Persephone, I suppose he could have made a seasonal dish. Or maybe something with pomegranates, since I think Persephone had to stay one month of the year there for each pomegranate seed she ate.

And, IIRC, Tantalus was punished by having delicious food and drink just out of reach.

[Fukui San]

The format of the Quickfire was lame. Why give one chef a pass? Why not do it last week when there were 6? Or, have it be Spelling Bee style from the start. Each chef goes and name one ingredient, first to miss drops out. Then go with four at a time.

And, IIRC, Tantalus was punished by having delicious food and drink just out of reach.

That would have been a fun way to view the challenge. "You like this delicious food! Well you can't have it!"

[EleanorAquitain]

I imagine that Rick's swordfish wasn't that overcooked. It almost looked like they were looking for a reason to name some flaw in his dish and they didn't actually mention the overcookedness until they were at Critics' table, so I don't think it was that big of a problem.

That being said, I did also note that Hades does not equal the devil. Nevertheless, that idea obviously gave Rick inspiration and he was very good at connecting that idea to the dish he made, so it worked out well for the dish.

I was sorry to see Susan go, though I couldn't quite make the connection between Aphrodite and eggs.