Yeah, another Jar Jar Binks look-alike. It’s hard to believe he was a James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef-Great Lakes area in both 2008 & 2009.
Surprised not to see talk here about the woman who claims she made the pate “hundreds of times” but didn’t know the recipe. WTF was that? Seriously, you are picked to go on Top Chef and you don’t memorize the recipes of your favorite dishes? And I fail to see how it is even possible to make something hundreds of times and not know the recipe off hand and to screw it up that much that the dish is a total failure.
Another interesting tidbit about her is that she claims to have four nipples!
I thought for sure after that exchange she would be gone just for that - don’t think the judges could actually believe she said that - she was just lucky that there was an even more obvious person to send home.
Yeh, me too - her defense was a total disaster.
It didn’t really look very cooked or very mousselike. Just looked like pureed and barely cooked chicken livers in an apple cup. You only need to make chopped liver once in your life to know that these are very tasty but also very dry and scream for some schmaltz or other fat.
I have to admit, this pic from Eater.com cracks me up.
How about them fun bags on Padma ![[wow.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/7/7d450e9830889c8943b674446a21b7254cad657e.gif "wow"){kind=small}
![[rofl.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/a/a7452fcd8e675af869f8da01174474a545b03944.gif "rofl"){kind=small}
When will people learn that when you post things on the internet, they will stay with you the rest of your life?!?
"Though perhaps not entirely relevant to her Top Chef prospects, we cannot let pass without comment Lombard’s contribution to 2009’s “25 Random Things” Facebook meme. These range from the mundane (she was born Amanda Jacqueline Moffat) to the extraordinary (the last name “Lombard” came courtesy of her ex-husband, who, in a stunning narrative twist, turned out to be her half-brother’s second cousin). Other spectacular Chef Jacqui facts: She was a lingerie model “for five minutes”; she’s had rubella, Lyme disease, viral meningitis, and hepatitis A; she’s double-jointed; she claims to have four nipples; and when she was 6 years old she watched the movie The Last Unicorn and became convinced she was a unicorn trapped in a human body. Her Twitter account, wisely, is locked. "
I wasn’t impressed with the general talents of the cheftestants either. It feels like it could be a long haul while a number of them get eliminated before we get to the few that have a real chance to win.
I’m always amazed when the contest is something like: “Prepare something that shows who you are and where you come from” and some of them fail miserably and seem to prepare something that they have never made before.
Laugh? Cry? Laugh? Cry?
http://www.popeater.com/2010/06/17/david-spade-padma-lakshmi/
Wow, she’s gotta have 6 inches on him. I used to work out at the same gym as him… he is very short.
and ugly, and not funny, and what do people see in him, in any fashion??? I don’t like his movies, his comedy, his wardrobe, ![[bleh.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/c/cbb27a94fa73081862abf910a8bfa05e2ae2f5c3.gif "[bleh.gif]"){kind=small}
Maybe they just want free stuff from his sister in law? ![[snort.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/b/bdc3944606213c4dca6c1169cf0a166c8bc4f8c9.gif "snort.gif"){kind=small}
I’m always amazed when people do something for the first time on a very early episode, like ostrich egg girl a couple of seasons ago. Your goal is just not to be the worst of 17 people, all of whom are going to be nervous in their first challenge. “Not actively terrible” shouldn’t be too high a bar to clear and yet…
Yeah, I agree. For the first couple of weeks, when the group is large and the nuances of the competition are novel, it seems best to play it a bit safe. To not try and get lofty, and risk the chance of being at/near the bottom.
As far as first impressions, we get what the editors decide on the personality level. We also don’t get to see as much time highlighting each contestant. They’re obviously going to play up the Kenny v. Angelo rivalry. I actually thought Angelo came up with some tasty looking dishes. He fashions the unique flavor style that gains points in this competition ala MVolt. I also think on a kitchen skill level that both he and Kenny look very solid, so they may deal with the competition and time challenges well. My early personal favorite Alex looks at least in the upper half. I don’t think the other Angeleno, from Water Grill, has the experience to be a real contender.
Re David Spade: Does he have big feet? He sure does get his share of nice looking women.
It amazes me as well that people get on the show and then act as if they’ve never seen the show. As if they don’t know when to play it safe, when to risk, etc. If the winner got an attaboy and a pat on the back that would be one thing, but for $125,000 I’d think they could do some research, memorize some recipes, etc.
The winner of the first elimination challenge has traditionally been the favorite to win the whole thing. Angelo is destined to make the finals unless he attempts to shave someone’s head or bombs out in restaurant wars…
S1: Harold won the first challenge. He won the season
S2: Illan won the first challenge. He won the season (although an unpopular winner)
S3: Tre won the first challenge. Although a strong contender, Tre was eliminated in a tough restaurant-wars episode. Hung won the season, and was also featured as a tough competitor in the first episode.
S4: Stephanie won the first challenge and won the season.
S5: Stefan won the first challenge and was the heavy favorite to win the finale, but lost to Hosea.
S6: Kevin won the first challenge and lost in the finale to Michael.
The skills of the competitors in this season seem a step below Season 6. Should still be entertaining though.
In Tom’s blog on bravotv, he remarks how so many chefs come to the show with dull knives. That’s the biggest tragedy. What craftsman goes to work or to a competition without his/her tools in working condition?
I paused the show to search for a photo of Carla to prove to my wife that he was her twin.
I liked when the show didn’t have chefs who have already “made it”. Remember Mike from season 1, the guy who had worked at T.G.I. Fridays? That made it more fun to watch, even if the skill level was lower.
Joe I have to disagree. That’s why I was a little disappointed with this years crop. Certainly a step down from last year. If I want to watch unqaulified hacks then that’s what Hell’s Kitchen is for.That dude was freaky looking and for me it was between him and the chicken liver girl. The whole point of lowfat chicken liver is ridiculous. I do give points off for store bought product but they didn’t seem to penalize chef’s they have liked in the past. Final thought, don’t count out the chef from Miami, she has an excellent reputation and was on her way to becoming a name chef before hitting what seemed like a little snag in her career.