447457 Wed Oct 03 16:27:47 -0700 2007 17 33 Food Media and News 0 3001753 No idea if they're doing this again, but if you were in the finale and had to pick your team from the eliminees, who'd you match with who? I'm hoping to see more of what Tre can do. Wed Oct 03 16:27:47 -0700 2007 22627 MaspethMaven 1 3002263 I would probably have picked Tre. Of the three that ended up being the sous chefs - Todd English, hands down. Wed Oct 03 19:17:52 -0700 2007 3001753 72401 jnstarla 2 3002271 CJ or Tre for sure. today - Rocco Wed Oct 03 19:19:59 -0700 2007 3002263 62751 strephking 1 3002285 What a great solution to keeping former competitors from sabotaging someone (inadvertently or not). Wed Oct 03 19:24:33 -0700 2007 3001753 53971 momjamin 2 3002485 although from casey's conversations - didn't work... Wed Oct 03 20:35:48 -0700 2007 3002285 99136 AMFM 1 3002669 I would have picked Todd English, but then, I've already cooked with him. Wed Oct 03 21:50:56 -0700 2007 3001753 52499 ChefJune 2 3002675 Can Todd English really cook? This is a serious question because his forays into Manhattan are really pretty mediocre. Olives is never ever mentioned as a top tier restaurant and English is Italian was universally panned. His PBS cooking show also fails to impress. Wed Oct 03 21:55:07 -0700 2007 3002669 10195 KTinNYC 3 3002681 Im a newbie at this...what does three star michelin mean? Wed Oct 03 22:01:19 -0700 2007 3002675 105348 porkbutt03 4 3002682 The Michelin Guide is probably the most highly regarded food guide in Europe and 3 stars is the it's highest rating. Wed Oct 03 22:03:13 -0700 2007 3002681 10195 KTinNYC 4 3003332 Rocco (or maybe it was Ted) point out that there are only three restaurants in the whole UK with three Michelin stars. Only the most ultra-elite European restaurants have three stars, and they usually have impeccable service as well as perfect food. Even one Michelin star is an enormous accomplishment. Thu Oct 04 07:15:16 -0700 2007 3002681 16728 kenito799 5 3006096 Exactly, and no one should ever forget the tragedy of Bernard Loiseau. Thu Oct 04 18:57:44 -0700 2007 3003332 22627 MaspethMaven 3 3003205 Olives (in DC) was one of the best meals I ever had...and Figs in Wellesley, MA, was incredible when I was up there a few times. I'd cook with him any day....but I gather he doesn't do much chefin' on a daily basis. Thu Oct 04 06:34:44 -0700 2007 3002675 51422 Jeserf 3 3003298 Todd English can seriously cook. I just think he doesn't do it too often any more. Like many other celebrity chefs who own multiple restaurants on several continents, he is spread too thin. I never went to English is Italian, but I don't think HE personally ever cooked there beyond the opening days. That is no excuse, imho... I lived in Boston when he was getting started at Michela's, and his Italian food was sublime. When Olives first opened, it was among the top tables in Boston, and for quite some time. When he did a series of cooking classes for the Boston Center for Adult Education (where I taught cooking for 10 years), he didn't want a student assistant, so I assisted him in his classes. I learned a lot from him, and we cooperated collegially. He has no problem with women in the kitchen. and his food was fabulous. A few friends who still venture over the Charlestown Bridge to Olives say that on the rare occasions when he is in the kitchen, there are still glimmers of what it once was. Thu Oct 04 07:05:29 -0700 2007 3002675 52499 ChefJune 1 3002727 Eliminated- I'd probably choose Lia since she worked at Jean-Georges and probably could prep real well and work under intense pressure in a high end environment. I'd probably choose Bernstein....she killed it on Iron Chef..... Wed Oct 03 22:25:10 -0700 2007 3001753 10620 Xericx 2 3003299 ...and if you ever get to Miami, don't miss the opportunity to dine at Michy's! Her food rocks. Thu Oct 04 07:06:30 -0700 2007 3002727 52499 ChefJune 3 3003728 Second that. I ate at Azul when she was there and took my mother and father to Michy's earlier this year. Its a must dine when in Miami. Thu Oct 04 08:52:31 -0700 2007 3003299 11548 Alex318 1 3005693 I think the pairings: Hung-Sara, Dale-CJ, Casey-Howie could not have worked out any better if they chose themselves instead of drawing knives. While Howie wasn't the best help for Casey (put more fish roe on the second dish!) she was the only one that could have probably tolerated him. In terms of the celebrity sous chefs, what a surprise that was! Oh Top Chef never ceases to amaze... Thu Oct 04 16:29:26 -0700 2007 3001753 112406 Chew on That 1 3025722 I'd probably take Howie as a sous chef - he's fast and focused, the time issues he had were mostly because he made his dishes too complex for the time given. For the pro sous chef I'd take Todd English in a heartbeat. Thu Oct 11 12:19:09 -0700 2007 3001753 109044 Bunson