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***** Top Chef: Las Vegas *****

post #1 of 124
8/19/09 at 6:38pm
Thread Starter 
anyone else here excited to see this new season of top chef tonight???
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post #2 of 124
8/27/09 at 9:20pm
i love this season. it seems they decided to pass on the people with no talent but big personalities and instead got legit chefs with talent. unfortunately they all seem very boring now, lol. if you go through the biographies, and yes i'm guilty of that, you'll see that there seems to be some hardcore, legit chefs this year. already it's plain to see that the pure talent level this year is way beyond any of the other years. so i'm looking forward to this season.
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post #3 of 124
8/28/09 at 3:59am
I agree, this year seems to have some great talent including James Beard award nominees and other award winning contestants. I'm sure there will be lots of drama and hopefully it won't be a soap opera like some previous seasons.
In a nutshell
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post #4 of 124
8/28/09 at 8:39am
well now , wasn't that 4 step chicken just the thing ? NOT !!!!!

I will take that potato dish done in muffins tins though....

I would of thought that the last two standing would have had alot more to bring to the table than a sandwich and a piece of chicken....what was that all about ? Bobby Flay , are you losing the game plan here ?
If it was that easy , I should have signed up. What is happening with TV ?
Where is the passion ? As Ramsay said , "I can give you a tin body but I can't give you a heart ".

Petals
Réalisé avec un soupçon d'amour.

Baby Cake
(4 photos)
Fruitcake - decorated
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Victorian cupcakes
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post #5 of 124
8/28/09 at 9:56am
Thread Starter 
indeed... after reading the bios there some serious talent there... i am excited to see more, the first episode was so blah, the second much better (minus the political nonsense in the middle)... hopefully they get more exciting from here on out...
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post #6 of 124
8/28/09 at 6:13pm
Alot of drinkers in the group..ha ha ha
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post #7 of 124
8/29/09 at 3:52am
4-step chicken--that was the final episode of NFNS, Top Chef just started season 6.

I missed this week, but was not impressed with the first weeks dishes. Wolgang Puck certainly wasn't either, funny!

Nan
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post #8 of 124
8/29/09 at 9:01am
With a few exceptions, I do think there's a little more talent there from the get-go. I just wish they'd left their potty mouths at home. Lol, I'm not a prude, but there's got to be more words in the Englilsh language than the ones they're using!
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post #9 of 124
8/30/09 at 5:11pm
Thread Starter 
i remembering hearing something on 'no reservations' when bourdain is talking with a gaucho... he says 'theres only two types of chefs... gay or alcoholic.' lol.
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post #10 of 124
8/31/09 at 4:55pm
With all do respect to both..Thats funny...Thank you!
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post #11 of 124
9/13/09 at 2:23pm
Thread Starter 
this past episode of Top Chef was pretty **** good... some heavy hitters making an appearance...
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post #12 of 124
9/14/09 at 10:24am
Thread Starter 
noone else watching this season?
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post #13 of 124
9/14/09 at 7:19pm
The men really deserved to win tonight.

Petals

Petals
Réalisé avec un soupçon d'amour.

Baby Cake
(4 photos)
Fruitcake - decorated
(5 photos)
Victorian cupcakes
(10 photos)
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post #14 of 124
9/14/09 at 8:57pm
Thread Starter 
'mike' has some serious talent... imo.
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post #15 of 124
9/15/09 at 4:44am
I don't like the guy with the greek background, he's an idiot. First episode he makes a rude comment about losing to a girl. Then he gets angry at the potato challenge when Jen (I think that's her name - the girl kicking asphault) wins with her mussels and potato broth dish. He called it favoritism. He has some major issues it seems and is only hurting his image in the DC area I believe.
In a nutshell
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post #16 of 124
9/16/09 at 8:48pm
Thread Starter 
agreed, he just rubs me the wrong way along with ashley... im going to go on record here and throw my vote in for michael voltaggio, and a close second with jennifer carrol.
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post #17 of 124
9/18/09 at 5:15pm
Agreed. That Mike (not Mike with the older brother on the show too) irritates me beyond belief. How can it be favoritism when it was a different guest judge? He's just ridiculous. And when he got all pissy with the judges table because they really didn't like his shrimp/Greek salad?

Jen and Mike V are pretty strong it seems.
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post #18 of 124
9/23/09 at 1:45pm
Smart money is on Jen or one of the 2 brothers to win it all
Kohler Kitchen Sinks
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post #19 of 124
9/24/09 at 3:03am
If past performance is the indicator, it's going to come down to Bryan and Kevin in the end. Clearly Jen, Kevin, Michael V and Bryan are the most talented, but Bryan and Kevin appear to be the most consistent. The rest are just fill and most are incredibly annoying (can you say whiner?). BTW - What was with the exploding pressure cooker? Doesn't he know those things are dangerous?
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post #20 of 124
9/24/09 at 3:50pm
I can't seem to get into this cast. I still watch because I absolutely love the show. Those brothers need to lighten up, that Jennifer thinks she's all knowing because she worked for Eric Ripert, and when those two lesbians were upset doing the bachelor / bachelorette party?? Come on, get over it. Also, why did so many cook fish or ceviche at the ranch challenge? I'm assuming because it was easy but a hearty meat and potatoes make more sense to me. Probably more difficult but I'm sure they're talented enough to figure it out and pull it off. I like Ash, the guy with the long red beard, and Eli. Is it just me or has the fame gone to Padma's head? I used to like her but she's been bugging me a lot this season.
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post #21 of 124
9/24/09 at 4:12pm
Singer, there is nothing inherently dangerous about modern pressure cookers. Stupidity, however, should be a capital offense!

That unit had been damaged in transport, and came off the plane broken. Rather than using one of the pressure cookers from the back room, he tried to repair it with tape. With predictable results.

Wasn't even duct tape, but painter's blue tape---which is merely paper with an easy-release adhesive on one side.

Seems to me he should be confined to the Las Vegas Home for the Hopelessly Dumb, rather than be allowed to compete for all that cash and prizes.

But, please, let's not go blaming equipment because of operator error.
They have taken the oath of the brother in blood, in leavened bread and salt. Rudyard Kipling
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post #22 of 124
9/24/09 at 7:03pm
I like the brother's but they do need to lighten up. After watching top chef masters it is hard to watch the regular show. It was just so incredible to see such highly skilled chefs doing what they have been doing for years and actually trying to help each other not back stab.

KYH I also thought the pressure cooker incident was ridiculous. I almost wondered if he had much experience with a pressure cooker.
Thanks,

Nicko 
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post #23 of 124
9/24/09 at 7:13pm
From comments made, Nicko, I got the impression that because it was his "new, digital" pressure cooker then, by Gawd!, he was going to use it no matter what.

Seems to me that anyone who, for whatever reason, recklessly endangers not only himself but others, should automatically have been kicked off the show.

I'm sure the producers, however, were disappointed that nobody got hurt, cuz, after all, that would have made better television.

>I almost wondered if he had much experience with a pressure cooker. <

Certainly have to agree with you there. My feeling is that he's been watching the celebrity chefs, who seemed to have discovered pressure cooking the past year or two, and he just jumped on the bandwagon with no real understanding about how they worked.
They have taken the oath of the brother in blood, in leavened bread and salt. Rudyard Kipling
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post #24 of 124
10/14/09 at 7:04pm
Thread Starter 
i agree... i would risk the well being of someone else by using a damaged pressure cooker, especially when you have an entire sound stage of equipment to pick from... insane... its not like it was a do or die situation where its your only way of getting the task completed.

anyhoo i hope robin is out tonight...
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post #25 of 124
10/15/09 at 5:55am
I don't have high hopes for Robin considering she is consistantly on the bottom. I am however sick and tired of Mike Isabella's attitude towards her and tired of his ego as well. I have a couple of friends in the DC area that were intending on visiting his restaurant when the show began only to change their mind once they realized how immature and mean he is. If I were he I would be afraid of how his personality might affect his business. I don't want to claim that chefs have to be nice in order to cook well but his personality puts me off too much to patronize his restaurant.

The two most talented chefs there are Kevin and Jennifer. Both of them seem to be able to take ingredients they've never worked with before and win challenges over and over and over again. My bet is on those two. The brothers don't impress me... I like people who smile every once in a while.
In a nutshell
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post #26 of 124
10/15/09 at 6:02am
My prediction is Kevin is going to win. The Voltaggio brothers are very very talented but I think they are almost trying too hard where as Kevin seems like he is just doing what he loves and enjoying himself.

Jennifer is great but she should stop putting herself down all the time.
Thanks,

Nicko 
ChefTalk.com Founder
All About Braising: The Art of Uncomplicated Cooking
All About Braising: The Art of Uncomplicated Cooking
Bacon (I made)
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post #27 of 124
10/15/09 at 6:26am
Like you, Nicko, I'm betting on Kevin.

I think it will come down to Kevin and Jennifer, with Michael V. possibly in the running.

I don't think, with Jennifer, that it's so much a case of putting herself down. It's more a matter of being a perfectionist, and seeing grave problems where others wouldn't. Considering who her mentor is, not really surprising.

Personally, I don't understand why Robin is even in the competition. What a loser!
They have taken the oath of the brother in blood, in leavened bread and salt. Rudyard Kipling
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post #28 of 124
10/15/09 at 9:43am
I think it is going to be Kevin and Voltaggio Bros. in the final round. I think Jennifer is very talented and she puts out great food, but she seems to be slowly cracking under the pressure. I don't think it would take much to throw her off her game at this point. I would like to see a showdown between Kevin, Mike and Jennifer, though I think it would be interesting to see how the brothers react to having to face off against each other.
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post #29 of 124
10/15/09 at 11:15am
Indeed! What a PITA that idiot Mike is, constantly trashtalking and with so little clear sight on his own weaknesses and strengths (tho I haven't seen many of his strengths demonstrated).

As for Robin, wish everyone would just lay off; natural selection and the judge's table process will do what they're supposed to do. In the end. :peace:

Me, I'm having a field day watching the REAL talents in this team take on challenge after challenge; Kevin, Jen and brother Michael (? I think that's the one brother that seems to be most consistently creative) are the bomb.

:thumb:
Jude
Culinary, Geek
Trained in Both!
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post #30 of 124
10/15/09 at 12:57pm
Valid points about Robin but at the same time the judges table should of taken care of her and Mike by now. Seems like they are literal missing the door but the skin of their teeth.

Last season I gave up on Top Chef because I was so disgusted with all the drama and general lack of talent. This season they really stepped up the talent to a new level and it is great to watch these guys tackle these very tough challenges.

None of you guys like Brian (the older Voltaggio brother) he seems like a better chef than the younger one Michael what is it about Michael you like so much more?
Thanks,

Nicko 
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All About Braising: The Art of Uncomplicated Cooking
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