Top Chef Season 4

Parker Clack · 03-13-2008, 12:27 PM

Top Chef started back up with Season 4 last night. It looks like they have some great chefs for this season. And it looks like there could be a lot of drama between the chefs too (lots of creative editing).

I look forward to seeing "What Happens".

Parker

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Lew Crippen · 03-13-2008, 01:46 PM

An interesting twist on the first elimination challenge—especially seeing 2 different interpretations of the same dish. I loved finding out that many of the pros had no idea about some classic dishes, while others had lost (if indeed they every had them) some basic skills like making soufflé.

Parker Clack · 03-15-2008, 08:17 AM

Quote:

while others had lost (if indeed they every had them) some basic skills like making soufflé

Yeah, I thought that was really wild. Here they are already well established executive and sous-chefs and going back to the classics, etc. really threw them for a loop. I believe they got rid of the only line chef they had on the show this year. I didn't see anyone listed as just a "cook" as they have had in the past.

Lew Crippen · 03-15-2008, 10:16 AM

I think that there is one personal chef. It is always a bit unclear just exactly how much of a background they have—as well as the caterers (although I don’t think that there are any this season.

Lew Crippen · 03-15-2008, 11:47 AM

I looked up the contestants’ bios Parker and it was interesting to read that the two (Zoi & Erik) who could not make the soufflé are also self-taught.

For me the funniest (and most ironic) moment was to listen to Andrew (who has gone to culinary school) spout off about being the prime contender and it turned out, that not only did he forget to buy mayonnaise for his crab cakes, not only did he not know how to make mayonnaise, but that he did not even know the basic ingredients from which to begin making mayonnaise. He had some good luck in that Richard let him in on the secret.

I’m pretty sure that some of our HTF stalwarts (are you there Jeff?) would have had no problem with these two items. Though I hasten to add, that we would all lack the necessary skills to even qualify.

Parker Clack · 03-16-2008, 05:39 AM

Yeah, even I know how to make mayo and I don't cook. Personally I see Richard kicking some major butt this season as he is pretty laid back and knows his shit without having to tell everyone he does. Even Chef Colicchio looked at him like "WTF is that" when he brought out the bowl with the smoke in it. I also see Nikki and Stephanie doing well. I see Dale and Andrew causing the most drama.

Lew Crippen · 03-20-2008, 11:26 AM

This is an interesting part of the season, where chefs can make mistakes (and even have disasters) and still survive simply because someone else has screwed up even more. A couple of really bad dishes (and their creators) did not get the chop because Valerie’s contribution was doomed from its conception—and that it failed in execution sealed the deal.

Surprisingly Andrew played nicely with the other children.

Parker Clack · 03-26-2008, 02:51 AM

It is going to be interesting with Andrew this season. I see him becoming a real pain. Sort of like Marcel (aka Wolfman) from season 2 and Hung from last year.

Lew Crippen · 03-26-2008, 08:41 AM

Don’t forget that Marcel made it to the final, only losing, with characteristic bad grace to Ilan. And Hung won. No way is a guy who does not know how to make mayonnaise going all the way. Hung could have whipped that up with one arm tied behind his back (and while he was slicing and dicing with the other).

OTOH, he did redeem himself to a degree last week—and there are a couple of other competitors who already look to be out of their league (Erik who had no clue about soufflés, for example).

Greg_R · 03-27-2008, 05:17 PM

I have not seen the 3rd episode yet but...

My impression of Andrew is that he is only capable of cooking dishes that he has already made (or something similar)... he can't come up with things on the fly very well. I too was shocked by the Mayo incident (making mayonnaise is cooking 101). Of course they are editing the show to portray him as a pompous ass... which means that he will likely be around until the last 1/3 of the season (people need the 'villain' to root against).

I don't think Erik is going to last very long... he has yet to make anything reasonably impressive. His farmer's market quickfire challenge actually made me laugh (OK, 5 ingredients... I'll cook 3 random things and put 2 spices on each and put each in a pile).

Some of the women on the show are good chefs but I haven't seen a lot of mental toughness & self assuredness that will get them through to the later rounds.

Parker Clack · 03-30-2008, 01:39 AM

I saw Erik getting the ax with his corn dogs. The man knew that they would get soggy yet he made them anyway. Oh, well. Rock on dude.

I heard somewhere that the typical time they spend waiting for the judges to make their decision is around 4 hours. Can you imagine cooking up some crazy meal with a limited budget and unrealistic time frame to have to then set around 4 hours waiting for a judgement. I would love to see Padma or Chef Colicchio put up with some of the challenges they come up with for them.

I wonder why Billy Joel's wife left after the first season and Padma took her place.

Lew Crippen · 03-30-2008, 10:08 AM

I’m sure that Padma would not be able to cope, as she is not a chef, nor is Ted Allen. But Colicchio and most of the various guest judges would no doubt be able to cope successfully (that does not mean that they would necessarily win),

Lew Crippen · 03-30-2008, 02:20 PM

Very fitting that Eric got the boot after insulting Rick Bayless (not the least by saying that Mexican food could not be fine dinning). I have several cookbooks by both Bayless and Diane Kennedy and have eaten at Rick’s Chicago restaurants and can say with certainty that one does not have to live where I do in order to find upscale Mexican cuisine.

Of course he was not the only one who could not get past tacos being (only) street food (not that there is anything wrong with that).

OTOH, I’m sure that his corndogs were really great—right after they were out of the fryer. But he (and others) lost the plot on the time delay and transport.