109 replies to this topic

[TWoP Nikita]

From Zap2it:

Each judge puts the 21 new cheftestants through their own real-world challenge.

This thread will open at 11:01pm EST on November 7th.

[avecsans]

Pretty good first episode, but for the love of God, show, get rid of that foolish Hugh Acheson! Why, exactly, is his restaurant called "Empire State" and its logo is a map of Georgia? I'll answer my own question. It's because he's an asshole, that's why. Although at least he spared us all and got rid of the one who called herself a "movement."

I'm already tired of the ex-Pelligrino wife with the blown-up lips who looks like she got lost on the way to the "Real Housewives of Brooklyn" auditions. It grossed me out that her hair was hanging right down over her food.

I guess the show could only sustain one handlebar mustache, Jor-el, so bye.

It will be interesting to see if the winning chef comes out of Tom's bracket.

[speac]

I suspect that Acheson's restaurant is Empire State South because Georgia is also known as the Empire State of the South.

[larapu2000]

I like the old dude, and I'm looking forward to re-reading Kitchen Confidential by Bourdain, because I have a sneaking suspicion one of the anecdotes may be about that guy, since there were several related to other chefs that got derailed by drug abuse.

I really enjoyed all of the chef tests, although I wonder if Hugh was low man on the totem pole and got saddled with salad, heh. It would serve him right. The little Bravo clip of Wolfgang schooling the chefs on how to make an omelet was GREAT. It astonished me that so many of the chefs in the omelet test had some ugly ass presentations.

[hunterhunted]

Wow, those were some shitty looking omelettes. I wish I could remember who said that the greatest test of chef is to make an omelette. I think it might have been Escoffier. I think it was a great test. Although, I would have liked a variation of the Escoffier mother sauces challenge from last season. The only problem with that challenge is that it tends to work against chefs with more of an ethnic perspective.

[Ginandtonic]

I'm already tired of the ex-Pelligrino wife with the blown-up lips who looks like she got lost on the way to the "Real Housewives of Brooklyn" auditions.

LOL, I agree with the sentiment, & the description is perfect.

Wow, those were some shitty looking omelettes.

The little Bravo clip of Wolfgang schooling the chefs on how to make an omelet was GREAT. It astonished me that so many of the chefs in the omelet test had some ugly ass presentations.

Seriously, their omelettes looked like I made them, not trained chefs.

[themadman]

I wonder how they structured the omelette challenge. An omelette is not worth eating two minutes after it's made. Did the other omelettes just sit around while one was being judged?

Also, who would've thought that so many top chefs would make such crappy omelettes (and express such delight at Puck showing them how something so basic is done)? And most of those omelettes were just "eggs with a ton of shit on them". Seriously, steak on top of an omelette?

Already dreading the idea of seeing Hugh Acheson in every episode.

[CoyoteBlue]

Seriously, steak on top of an omelette?

And it looked like an entire NY strip! A few thin slices would be sufficient for a "steak and eggs" omelette. I've made less raggedy-looking omelettes without even trying.

I've mentally dubbed Tyler from Puck's group (IIRC) the Sassy Gay Chef, because I don't know his actual sexual orientation, but there was a moment where he looked like the stockier older brother of the Sassy Gay Friend.

[whee whee piggy]

Color me SHOCKED that the former model went through while her friend who DOES NOT have a girlcrush on her didn't. Of course, 'light' cauliflower soup with no cauliflower flavor sounds vile.

Lot of heavy sweating tonight. Gross.

Funny for the salad challenge that Hugh cut only the CRRAAZEEE woman and not the hipster girl who'll good on footage even through her watermelon looked drenched in grease and apparently tasted of propane.

Tom's group didn't actually create anything, right? Just saw how well they could do some basic chef functions and follow orders? So he's auditioning a group for Top Sous Chef?

[Lilybee]

I thought that Tom's group had the hardest challenge.

[arc]

Although at least he spared us all and got rid of the one who called herself a "movement."

Agreed. She was working my last nerve by her second minute of screen time.

I like the old dude, and I'm looking forward to re-reading Kitchen Confidential by Bourdain, because I have a sneaking suspicion one of the anecdotes may be about that guy, since there were several related to other chefs that got derailed by drug abuse.

Tesar was "Jimmy Sears" in Kitchen Confidential; Bourdain said so in Medium Raw. Bourdain also wrote a short essay about a complete fuckup of a New Year's Eve night where the menu was designed by a super talented flake for another book -- I think that guy was pseudonymed "Bobby", but I'm pretty sure he was also "Jimmy Sears".

I wish I could remember who said that the greatest test of chef is to make an omelette. I think it might have been Escoffier.

Probably, but a bunch of French-trained chefs will say the same thing... I think I've read similar sentiments have attributed to Jacques Pepin, Daniel Boulud, and Andre Soltner.

[cooksdelight]

I like Tesar and hope his temper doesn't do him in. Agree those omelets looked like crap for the most part. It takes me a while to remember names, but Eliza (I think) looks promising. Glad the mother with the ponytail made it through, and I can already see bearded Dad-to-be is going to be a problem child.

[JodithGrace]

I thought this was a very entertaining episode. I'm always surprised to see Emeril considered a "Top chef" quality chef, but of course he was a very good and successful chef before he became a "personality." I kind of like "Hunibrow" so i have no problem with the four mentor judges this season.

I was very surprised to see all of Wolfgang Puck's chefs raid the pantry for their omelets. I was taught, via Julia Child and America's Test Kitchen, that a perfect omelette contains only eggs, salt and butter, with maybe a bit of cheese. What these chefs came up with was more like frittatas, or what you get at the omelette station of an all you can eat buffet. I would have loved for one chef to have had the guts to produce a perfect, plain omelet. I wonder if he would have been praised or dinged. Though, considering that Puck asked that one chef for beef in his omelet, i guess he wasn't on that wavelength and the chefs made the right choice.

The upcoming previews look fun and I'm looking forward to this season. Did I see Bourdain as a judge? I wonder if the "angry old man" (Tesar?) will still be around. That will be interesting.

Edited by JodithGrace, Nov 8, 2012 @ 8:04 AM.

[Harry24]

I really enjoyed tonight's opening episode. I'm sorry to see so few participants on the thread. Did Bravo not advertise the new season well enough? Post-election fatigue?

[SilentMinority]

Glad the mother with the ponytail made it through, and I can already see bearded Dad-to-be is going to be a problem child.

Her name was Brooke, but you wouldn't have known it if you blinked just a few seconds before she got her jacket, because that was the first (and only) time she was given any ID or TH. I thought for sure she was Dead Woman Cooking when we got down to the judging and we still hadn't heard a peep from her other than what she said while in the kitchen.

Color me SHOCKED that the former model went through while her friend who DOES NOT have a girlcrush on her didn't.

Funny for the salad challenge that Hugh cut only the CRRAAZEEE woman and not the hipster girl who'll good on footage even through her watermelon looked drenched in grease and apparently tasted of propane.

I'm always shocked when any woman advances in this competition. :-o I don't think there is any evidence that being an attractive woman helps you in any way, shape, or form in TC; based on 9 seasons, one could almost make the opposite argument. Actually I thought the non-model friend was better-looking, anyway, but then "models" aren't necessarily my type, anyway.

I was taught, via Julia Child and America's Test Kitchen, that a perfect omelette contains only eggs, salt and butter, with maybe a bit of cheese.

That's a "plain" omelette, not a "perfect" omelette. You can make a "perfect" Spanish omelette, Denver omelette, etc.. The "perfection" comes from the cooking, not the lack of interesting ingredients and flavors.

[anacara]

Harry24 - I don't think Bravo did advertise the season well. I only found out about because I kind of love Hugh Acheson and follow him on Twitter.

I liked this opening episode a lot more than some previous seasons, so there's that.

Really grateful that the "movement" woman was cut, because she seemed kind of annoying. Also super grateful that the guy that had that weird comment to the Japanese chef (something about being next to the origami - what?) because whatever with that. I was humored that he was the only chef cut from that test, even though only one looked liked something you might get at a restaurant - the one who does it all the time at her restaurant. I also wish someone had been brave enough to just make a simple and excellent omelet.

[Mrs Bee]

Funny how the simplest of courses and dishes can so completely derail professional chefs.

I agree that Tom's group had to do much harder tasks, like butchering. I can cut up a whole chicken with my eyes closed, but fileting a whole fish? God help me. There is a bit of snobbery in the idea that a chef needs to know how to butcher and fishmonger, when there are people who specialize in those tasks, but I do understand that a chef should know how to do it. Plus, the idea of being thrown onto the line to cook his dishes would be enough to unnerve anyone.

I am looking forward to a new season, a fresh start.

ETA-

That's a "plain" omelette, not a "perfect" omelette. You can make a "perfect" Spanish omelette, Denver omelette, etc.. The "perfection" comes from the cooking, not the lack of interesting ingredients and flavors.

Every perfect omelette should start with a perfect plain omlette, and then should be filled or topped with the other ingredients. All but one of those omelettes was overbrowned.

Edited by Mrs Bee, Nov 8, 2012 @ 8:51 AM.

[Empress1]

I'm already tired of the ex-Pelligrino wife with the blown-up lips who looks like she got lost on the way to the "Real Housewives of Brooklyn" auditions.

Ditto. I disliked her on sight. (I loved when Puck likened her messy omelette to "a woman with a lot of makeup on.")

Add me to the "wow, those were some crappy-looking omelettes" team. Yikes. I could do better. The segment where he's teaching them to make omelettes was kind of delightful - he seems like a terrific guy.

I don't think Bravo did advertise the season well. I only found out about because I kind of love Hugh Acheson and follow him on Twitter.

I watched one episode of Life After Top Chef and it was advertised there, but otherwise I didn't hear about it.

Kristen Kish is stunning.

Edited by Empress1, Nov 8, 2012 @ 8:56 AM.

[shura]

What are the requirements for being a movement? Can I be a movement?

I thought it was a very good first episode. I liked the contestants too, there don't seem to be a lot of unmemorable ones that went through to Seattle. A lot of foreigners this time, too, I like that. The South African woman was a bit overacting in the beginning with her "Tom has wonderful blue eyes... Oh, can I really say that? About a judge?"

[cooksdelight]

Her name was Brooke, but you wouldn't have known it if you blinked just a few seconds before she got her jacket, because that was the first (and only) time she was given any ID or TH.

Thanks. I noticed that the TH's weren't a big indication of who we should get to know because they were one of the chosen. The big guy with the Southern accent had a lot and he's gone. The model's friend, same thing. I watch a good bit on Bravo (ok, just shoot me now) and it looked like only a handful of commercials for the show each week. Not much advertising anywhere.

[corgi-ears]

Although at least he spared us all and got rid of the one who called herself a "movement."

More like a bowel movement, amirite?

I'm curious to see if this season will turn out to have an X Factor/The Voice inspired structure, where the four chefs are also "competing," at least for bragging rights, to see if the winning cheftesant comes from their bracket.

[MuppetCoat]

I guess the show could only sustain one handlebar mustache, Jor-el, so bye.

It is a travesty that we were denied a ridiculous mustache showdown.

[eta] Also, I'm pretty sure the "movement" girl was Blah Blah from HIMYM.

Edited by MuppetCoat, Nov 8, 2012 @ 10:16 AM.

[caya]

Every perfect omelette should start with a perfect plain omlette, and then should be filled or topped with the other ingredients. All but one of those omelettes was overbrowned.

I agree-- most of those omelets looked too brown. It seemed like people went really fancy on them because they had to do something during the hour (or was it 45 minutes?) that they had to cook. That's a really long time to make something that essentially takes five minutes to cook. I was impressed that somebody went to the trouble of trying a test omelet until she admitted that she used her entire mise en place to do so. What the hell?

[Fukui San]

I agree that they were some jacked up omelettes on display. Only 3 of those at most should have advanced, the ones that didn't have a crispy, burnt crust. Wolfgang is apparently a softie.

Reminded me of the recent documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi about the best sushi restaurant in Tokyo, a hole in the wall attached to a subway station. You have to apprentice there for many years, doing menial work before they even let you attempt to do any cooking. The first thing they try to cook is the egg tomago, and it'll take them many attempts before they get it right.

It would have been fun if Puck gave them two tasks: One plain omelette and one with the ingredients of their choice.

It's funny that the two chefs from Stir in Boston tried out for this. Stir's not really a restaurant. Local Boston restaurant magnate Barbara Lynch has a mini empire in my neighborhood, with four little places right next to each other. A seafood restaurant, a wine bar/charcuterie place, a precious little organic veggie store, and lastly, Stir, which is a closet sized space where they hold cooking classes or private parties. There's space for maybe 8 people to sit around one table and one person to stand and cook.

[AriAU]

I enjoyed hearing the judges talk about the standards they use to judge people that work for them/what basic skills are needed to succeed. I have heard Emeril say that he thinks a soup is a great judge of a chef and a test for a restaurant.
It was great seeing Wolfgang and Tom show off their skills and remind us that even the greatest chefs need to have strong basic skills. That is why John moved on so easily-he clearly has great skills-doesn't mean he will win since, as always the winner is the chef that plays the game the best. John will be annoying and entertaining and will have no problem with challenges that require knife and other chef skills-seems like he will get run out in a team competition, either by the competition or his own team!

[taalsi]

Also super grateful that the guy that had that weird comment to the Japanese chef (something about being next to the origami - what?) because whatever with that.

Yeah, as soon as he referred to her as "origami," I was done with him. Glad he got the boot.

[inny]

I was impressed that somebody went to the trouble of trying a test omelet until she admitted that she used her entire mise en place to do so. What the hell?

Thank you - I was starting to think I was crazy for yelling that at the tv. You're smart enough to do a test omelet but dumb enough to use all of your mise? The hell?

Should be an interesting season - Mrs. Ex-Rao better be able to cook something other than Italian, Mr. Sears (Bourdain!) better live down to his reputation, and the ex-model better not fall into the 'pretty girl' trap. The rest can just stop sweating.

I really enjoyed tonight's opening episode. I'm sorry to see so few participants on the thread. Did Bravo not advertise the new season well enough? Post-election fatigue?

Maybe a bit of both - I'm in a swing state, so I haven't watched tv live in over 8 months:) If it weren't for a flu-induced bout of channel-flipping, I would have missed it completely.

[MrsClaus]

Glad I found this. I didn't even know it had started. Thanks to all that have helped me catch up.

[Macthekat]

I'm curious to see if this season will turn out to have an X Factor/The Voice inspired structure, where the four chefs are also "competing," at least for bragging rights, to see if the winning cheftesant comes from their bracket.

I hope not, because if they go there, I think I'll be gone. That format doesn't interest me the least bit.

I agree that they were some jacked up omelettes on display. Only 3 of those at most should have advanced, the ones that didn't have a crispy, burnt crust. Wolfgang is apparently a softie.

My thought at that was Wolfgang could only boot so many because they had to have a minimum to begin with this season.

I'm not happy that the previews showed 3 previouslies coming back to compete. I vaguely remember them, much less think they deserve a second chance, in addition to not having to compete with the crowd last night to earn their slots.

[Nightlark]

Thank you - I was starting to think I was crazy for yelling that at the tv. You're smart enough to do a test omelet but dumb enough to use all of your mise? The hell?
Should be an interesting season - Mrs. Ex-Rao better be able to cook something other than Italian, Mr. Sears (Bourdain!) better live down to his reputation, and the ex-model better not fall into the 'pretty girl' trap. The rest can just stop sweating.

Ha! Good lord some of them should have just made a sweat vinaigrette. It was horrible. I was praying for some douchebag sweat bandanas. And that girl picking her mise en place out of her first omelet? That seemed like a terrible idea.

I like Hugh Acheson too but I can also see why people hate him. I was so glad he cut the movement girl who threatened to cry and thought it was cute. She needs to grow up. That might work when you are 25 but you need to stop it. Also, what kind of movement was she? I can't stand to re-watch to find out.

Edited by Nightlark, Nov 8, 2012 @ 11:25 AM.