303191 Thu May 18 02:20:56 -0700 2006 24 29 Not About Food 0 1703394 Pretty brutal quickfire tonight. I thought that the "high rollers" were fellow contestants was a bad idea...as if they could be objective...I am sure they knew who made what. As for Dave going home I can't figure out the math...he won one of the three contests and Tiffany failed to win any-so why does she get to stay? The producers should just do the judging. Thu May 18 02:20:56 -0700 2006 0 petra 1 1703395 Dave went home because he didn't fulfill the requirements of the Cirque du Soleil challenge since he only made two dishes. That was clearly the tipping point, especially since they didn't like any of Tiffani's food. If Dave had done three dishes, then the CdS folks probably would have had a close race between him and Harold, and either way, Dave would've been ahead of Tiffani on the merits. Thu May 18 03:06:03 -0700 2006 1703394 0 Caitlin McGrath 2 1703398 I agree that only making two dishes was a huge error on Dave's part. He obviously has trouble working under pressure. But...how often will he have to fill orders like that in 30 minutes IRL? I'm no restauranteur but I just can't see how that one screw up threw him out of the competition when all of his dishes outscored Tiffani's. No one like any of Tiffani's dishes, period. Obviously the outcome of last night's first parter was rigged. Very annoyed but even more annoyed that I'll be on an airplane next Wednesday night! Thu May 18 08:03:37 -0700 2006 1703395 0 EMZ 3 1703399 I was thinking the same thing- they kept saying that by Dave leaving out a dish it was like forgetting someones order. However, IRL you would have the actual placed order known, already in your head & not be under the same pressure. Here, he basically forgot to come up with a 3rd- slightly different. Dave's dishes were actually liked & if top chef is more about great food to fit the catagories, than I thought Tiffani would have lost. Thu May 18 09:27:22 -0700 2006 1703398 0 otrphilly 4 1703403 I agree with you - but I had to check my anger with Tiffani at the door at judging, I thought if Tiffani had been the one to leave out the third dish, would you have sent her home? Yes. So guess I had to agree that the same had to go for Dave. And EMZ, I too will be on a plane next week during this show. Not to mention also during the 2 hour finale of Lost. GAH. Thu May 18 11:09:38 -0700 2006 1703399 0 Claire 5 1703404 Not flying to Paris by any chance are you??? If you have an IPod apparently you can download the shows after they air. This from my husband...I'm no IPod afficianado! Thu May 18 11:18:34 -0700 2006 1703403 0 EMZ 6 1703405 OffTopic, Nope. Headed to Greece. That's what my DH said, too, so I will leave it to him and his iPod to square us, thanks! Have a great trip to Paris. OnTopic, Reading Chef Tom's blog and he said at the outset of their challenges, as done in the past, a rep. from Bravo comes in off camera after the announcement of the challenge and reiterates the challenge to the contestants and asks if they have any questions. If this is the case, then Dave really did choke badly, IMO. Thu May 18 11:23:35 -0700 2006 1703404 0 Claire 7 1703409 OT: I think I *recognize you* from the Philly boards. Are you flying out of Philly next week? We are. Not looking forward to the airport or the flight but definitely looking forward to the trip. Have a great time in Greece! OnT: I read Colicchio's blog. He really takes it easy on Tiffani saying that after she watched back episodes she felt bad about her behavior and she should get a break from the other contestants. Phooey. I think Colicchio and Tiffani are similar creatures - both are smug, ambitious foodies who don't refrain from calling it as they see it even if it potentially hurts another person's feelings. Thu May 18 12:59:31 -0700 2006 1703405 0 EMZ 8 1703418 Correct! And ugh, not looking forward to PhilaAirport AT ALL. And interesting assessment on Chef TC/Tiffani being similar... Thu May 18 14:29:29 -0700 2006 1703409 0 Claire 8 1703419 Personally I'd take the observations of a highly successful and respected chef over the edited snippets of someone's personality. I never thought Colicchio came across as smug. He's always seemed helpful and is about the food especially in his blog. Thu May 18 14:35:17 -0700 2006 1703409 0 Jase 7 1703476 I'm not surprised to hear that. People are always complaining about these shows being rigged because they don't come out the way they think they should, but producers have to be very careful about running elimination challenges so as not to run afoul of the game show laws (instituted after the notorious quiz show scandals of the '50s). Poor Dave! If he really did only have 45 seconds when he realized he was short a dish there was nothing he could do. If he'd had even a little more time he could have sliced up some fish and called it sashimi (which is high-protein/low carb/low fat). Fri May 19 16:22:15 -0700 2006 1703405 0 Ruth Lafler 2 1703410 That's basically what Tom told him too -- if he had done anything for a 3rd dish, he would have had that round. I think they also took into consideration that Dave took notes when Tom was reading order out, so he obviously didn't refer back to the notes otherwise he would have seen that he needed 3 dishes. I do have to admit that the wording was a bit weird for the order -- "3 different plates of high-protein, high-carb, low-fat" -- I wasn't sure if that meant put each one on a different plate (like how Dave did) or if it meant make 3 different presentations (like how Harold did). I was really rooting for Dave to win, but now I guess I'll be rooting for Harold! Thu May 18 13:01:51 -0700 2006 1703395 0 boogiebaby 1 1703396 The producers were lucky that Dave made just an obvious, stupid mistake. Otherwise, they would have to have gotten rid of Tiffani and the final show would have been anti-climactic. As it is, I don't think Tiffani can win unless Harold does something really dumb. It's definitely his to lose. Thu May 18 06:58:06 -0700 2006 1703394 0 maryelizabeth 1 1703397 When they gathered in the hotel room at the top of the show and Harold said that he had gone back to NYC you know he was doing his homework. He probably ate at each of the Crafts and Gramercy Tavern. He already knew Tom's style ( as we saw in the sandwich challenge) and now he has reinforced how to cook to the most influential judge save for the producers. This is his to lose. Thu May 18 07:58:16 -0700 2006 1703394 0 Truman Nabors 1 1703400 I thought it was pretty obvious that fellow (former) contestants were going to be involved in the final challenges. I think having them as the high roller taste-testers was interesting...because they're NOT high rollers. As for them knowing who made what, they were pretty critical of the plate of sashimi that Tiffani made with absolutely no adornment save the single blood orange slice, which is rather unlike her...her plating is usually more inventive. The bare plate is more of a Dave style of plating, IMO. So perhaps they really didn't know who made what, as both Harold and Dave got better marks in that round, IIRC. I was, however, pretty surprised the contestants chose what food items they did for the high rollers, but as all three said, there was "too much" for them to choose from - and the time limit of 30 minutes definitely made for less thinking about what to make and just grab-and-go. And what was UP with Miguel and the comments he made after walking into the kitchen after the three quickfire plates? "We've seen better in previous challenges" or something like that? Sheesh. And did anyone notice the previews for next week? Looks like they get to pick one of the former contestants to help them in the finale. I noticed Stephen working next to Tiffani. I really hope that means Harold has Lee Anne helping him! Thu May 18 09:29:43 -0700 2006 1703394 0 Linda W. 2 1703401 I wonder how they are going to split the last four people up amongst Harold and Tiffani. This is probably the show's coup de grace for Tiffani, since she pissed everyone off at one time or another. I can see Steven and Lee Anne working with her peacefully because they are pretty professional. Miguel and Dave may have some problems with helping her, I am not insinuating sabotage, but subconciously they may hold back on helping her. Thu May 18 10:31:46 -0700 2006 1703400 0 Phaedrus 3 1703412 If they do pairings, my guess is that sous chef will also get some reward so as to encourage their maximum efforts. I think Tiffani would be extremely lucky if she got Stephen as the sous chef. His platings skills can help her alot, plus he has a great amount of food experience which she admits she lacks. They might make a complementary duo, enough to overtake Harold's edge. I think Le Anne is more reliable and more experienced than Stephen, but she also stumbles in critical situations. Stehphen is the wild card -- his creativity could put his chef over the top. If it is the Harold/Le Anne team, I hope Le Anne does well and shows that she is indeed top chef material. No one would consciously choose either Miguel or Dave for the sous chef. Way too much chaos. Some other observations: 1) What about Tiffani's personality makeover? Did her agent/friends tell her she needed to seriously chill? She definitely needed to do something to resurrect her reputation. Who thinks it's cover, and who thinks it's real. I think it's cover. 2) Poor Dave. I have to agree that the scoring may have been rigged for better drama for the finale. It is obvious that he outcooked Tiffani, heck, the cirque folks barely touched Tiffani's spread while practically devouring all of Dave's steak. If Dave got an incomplete, why didn't Tiffani get a "F" for the rubbery pork, fishy salad, the blood red steak? An incomplete turns into an F, so that should have been a tie. If so, then Dave should have won because he won the poker challenge (and Tiffani finished last in that one). I think the fix was in. 3) Last, and it took me over a minute to come up with this-- why didn't Dave just run to the fridge, grab some low-fat cheese, slice it, and serve a cheese plate. I've been to so many dinners where cheese is one of the courses. Alas, Dave did have a major brain fart. He had less than a minute left before he start lamenting the missing third dish and he simply wasn't able to recover. Had he even realized his mistake with 5 minutes left, he might have been able to recover. Frankly, the show is not as enjoyable for me any more. I sort of feel like a lemming being led (or is that manipulated) by the producers and I don't like it. Or, maybe i am that upset that dave lost to tiffani, even though i am rooting for harold. Thu May 18 13:33:33 -0700 2006 1703401 0 vinovert 4 1703434 I have to agree with you on all points. As for whether Tiffani is legitimately sorry my guess is that she's overcome by embarrassment having watched herself - through sneaky editing or sheer reality - be portrayed as a bitch on wheels. Not only that but everyone trashed her to her face at the reunion. I think she knows how important it is to maintain some sort of dignity if she wants to continue on in her profession. As of now, she has very little dignity and a whole lot to lose. By showing a little humility (a la Stephen) she's broadening her fan base a bit which could possibly lead to career opportunities in the future. Thu May 18 17:10:56 -0700 2006 1703412 0 EMZ 1 1703406 I do not agree with the outcome at all. In *my* "real world," if the food is really good, I can easily forgive a mistake. So Dave forgetting the 3rd dish isn't as important to me as the fact that his food was some of the acrobats' favorite. Plus he won the poker food challenge. Tiffany's food wasn't enjoyed by the acrobats and she didn't win any of the challenges. It's going to be quite a showdown next week... Thu May 18 11:26:30 -0700 2006 1703394 0 wyf4lyf 1 1703422 You know I understand why people would root for Dave and not Tiffani. But if I'm trying to put out excellent product, I'd rather have a bitchy but talented and focused person that I could manage over a sloppy drama queen that loses it over the littlest thing. Tiffani has consistently shown a better focus and product. Sure she probably should have lost. But Dave also probably should have lost in some of the earlier challenges. Thems's the breaks. Having said that, Dave would be the kind of person I'd want to have a beer with after work but Tiffani I'd keep my distance. But big difference between work and personal. Thu May 18 14:42:04 -0700 2006 1703394 0 Jase 1 1703431 So, does anyone have a doubt after watching the group's behavior on the reunion show that Harold had clearly won Top Chef? BTW, here's a link to a radio show in New Jersey that features an interview with Randy Bernstein, the casting director for Top Chef. Be warned, however, that it's not that interesting unless you're a hard core fan. Link: http://www.restaurantguysradio.com/sle/rg/content/shows/index.asp?show_id=185 Thu May 18 16:48:43 -0700 2006 1703394 0 Bob Brooks 2 1703477 The reunion was taped before the final challenge. The way they do it is: tape the show up to the finals, very intensively over a month. Then edit the tape and show it over a period of weeks. Schedule the final challenge for a week or so before the finale episode(s) will be shown. Then bring the competitors to the site of the final challenge and hold the "reunion" once they've actually seen the shows so far (so they've seen the edited product including all the one-on-one interview clips and stuff that happened when they were away from the camera) -- hopefully something "dramatic" will ensue! And that way they have the contestants on hand to participate in the final challenge as well. Fri May 19 16:35:05 -0700 2006 1703431 0 Ruth Lafler 1 1703552 Dave got the shaft. He beat that miserable no palate big red looking wench fair and aquare. He wasn't Dq'd for only doing 2 plates. He beat her two out of three. She stinks. Steven should have made it to the final three anyway Mon May 22 23:05:41 -0700 2006 1703394 0 dooberry 2 1703576 Even though I agree with you, and I don't like Stephen, I think the most exciting Final 3 would have been Lee Ann, Stephen, and Harold. Tue May 23 12:02:39 -0700 2006 1703552 0 Claudette 2 1703585 Big fan of the show. Agree that Tiff's palate appears bland. I really would have loved to see how Steven fared in the Napa competition. I think he would have prevailed. Additionally, Dave got the shaft. I wasn't a fan but he beat Big Red fair and square. I like Harold but something is missing with him. Inconsistency maybe?? Tue May 23 21:21:08 -0700 2006 1703552 0 sobe