Are we done/bored with Top Chef?

[Janet]

I have to ask. Why no postings on last night's Top Chef? I was sure the fight at the judges' table would bring out comments. And the quick fire was great. I rarely start posts, and just like to read the comments. But this time, only comments about the next judge?

Are we bored? Have we had it with the childish fighting and sabotage? Do we not care about these people?

I am tired of the fighting. But it is like watching a train wreck, I can't not watch.

[ajs228]

I think I am. Last season I watched every episode as soon as it aired, the food looked great and I liked most of the chefs. This season, there aren't really any chefs that I like, some are downright nasty, and it's been pretty clear from the start that Richard is the front-runner. I haven't watched the last two episodes, and I don't really care. And I am sick of those stupid faux-hawks!

[mainecoastchef]

we have been having a top chef lesson in my culinary arts class and it has been fun to watch the episodes play out. I didn't get into the other seasons quite as much as this one and I think the caliber of chefs for this one is pretty good. The one thing that bugs me as a former restaurant chef and now owner of my own catering business is how none of these contestants seem to have a clue when it comes to catering or serving food other than cute little plates of stacked up ego. In my mind a Top Chef should be much more well rounded in real life food situations than any of these candidates are.

[viperlush]

Exactly. There needs to be less "i would never use ... in my restaurant" and refusing to cook "for the masses" because it's not their style and a little more "the customer is always right" and following instructions.

[tastyjon]

They do need to mix it up a bit.

Instead of 10 minutes, why not give them 24 hrs and one key ingredient? We'd either see a fantastic marinade and prep work, or a long/slow/low cooking experience.

Something I really liked from the Ramsey series on BBC was that he actually went out in the communities and looked for what they sought. Burgers, chips. fine dining. I've yet to see any market research done on any other show. As much as I'd like to have a Vietnamese sandwich place nearby, I'm not sure if the area would support it.

I suppose I'd like to see a bit more of the business side of things.

[Withnail42]

Still enjoying the show true sometimes it does get a little repetitive, as does cooking. But I do think the producers did a good job of digging them selves out of the hole that was season 2 (AKA the season that must not be named.)

[farmersdaughter]

Still watching this season, just because I'm the type that finishes every book she starts, but am tired of the the whining personalities of the contestants, and for me the concept has run its course (from someone who does not watch reality shows).

[swsidejim]

yes, done, I was done a couple of episoides into the first season.

[currymouth]

Completely.

[coastie]

oK - I can't help watching it - but come one, half this batch of chefs were intimidated by mayo.- That is just laughable -

[thew]

i fnd this the least interesting season... the chefs all seem kinda blah to me

[viperlush]

They also seem less talented this season (talented, just not at par with earlier seasons). It's almost as if it's easier to win the challenges because there are only a couple good dishes for the judges to choose from, and harder to loss because the judges have so many poor dishes to choose from.

[Katie Nell]

It's interesting, because for some reason, I never got into the show last season (didn't watch it at all) but my interest was renewed this season. Loved the first two seasons, and I'm loving this season as well. I haven't watched Wedding Wars because it's on at the same time as another one of my shows, so I Tivo-ed. (I have a lot of shows- a bit of a TV junkie!) It doesn't seem to me that there has been that much fighting this season, but from the previews of Wedding Wars, it looks like this episode upped the ante.

[Miss Needle]

Last season didn't have as many personalities. They tried to make Hung (last season's winner) a personality but really wasn't. If you think this season hasn't had a lot of fighting, you probably shouldn't watch Season 3.

[Chew on That]

Hmm weird that no one posted for awhile. But I have to say I watched an episode of Top Chef season 1 the other day (since they replayed it) and the style of the show is SO different now. I don't know if it's this season's cast or what, but it felt so much more professional back then.

I did however thoroughly enjoy the wedding wars episode though!

[RBCal]

I find that the competitions are getting a bit repetitive. The relay race was done previously.

However, they said they wouldn't do restaurant wars this year and the contestants were disappointed. That does seem like a better competition to see who in the end can run their own restaurant.

[viperlush]

It is weird not to do restaurant wars. I like the idea of a catering challenge at a weird location (beach, grease truck, boat, etc.) as well as restaurant wars so that the caterers have their time to shine and the head/sous chefs have theirs.

[yankeefan]

No way, this show is the best. puts the other reality cooking shows to shame. cant get enough.

maybe its the fact that I didnt catch the first couple seasons and that Im a big fan of Chicago, I cant get enough of it and was stoked about the 75 minute episode this time through. Best show of the week for me each week.

please stop with the whole foods, glad product abuse though, that is the only thing I ask of the creators.

[Icantread]

I jokingly said last week that PAM would have a big cameo this week, and sure enough there was a PAM placement in the episode. Crazy Crazy

[jfood]

interesting timing.

halfway through the show last night jfood turned it off and decided he was doen watching it. it just was so boring jfood could just not watch any longer.

[Ericandblueboy]

half way through reading this thread, Ericandblueboy realized people don't read before they post.

[Janet]

I went back and did a search on wedding wars. I had read that post last week. I figured people would begin a new post for a new show. My BAD.

[jfood]

jfood was responding to questions posed by you in the second paragraph.

He stopped posting about TC a few weeks ago when he just couldn't take the nonsense and verbiage still allowed to persist.

[LindaWhit]

Sorry to hear that you didn't like the Wedding Wars show. I thought it was good, and I'm going to miss your insight, jfood. What about the show has finally turned you off?

[jfood]

jfood thinks it was a hangover from watching HK and the Sweet 16 the night before. If he could have reached into the set and strangled the mom-daughter he would have. Then the couple who was getting married just rubbed jfood the wrong way.

Next was the in-fighting of the teams and Andrew's constant inane cameos. It was just too many straws on the camel's back.

Maybe next week's mood will be better and he will give it a shot. But he uses political capital inthe house to watch so it may not be worth it.

[LindaWhit]

I say forego the watching of HK for TC4. It's WAY better looking food...makes for better digestion! :-D

I do have to agree - the bit of HK that I saw, the Mom and daughter were perfect OC candidates, if they're not already from there (mea culpas to any OCers on the CH board...but the stereotype definitely fits often enough!). The couple on TC were innocuous enough that I was able to not even focus on them and was more watching the dynamics (or lack thereof) between the teams.

[yankeefan]

I think the fact that HK has gotten so bad and there arent enough Iron Chef new episodes.. all combined with the next 14 food network stars: these have all added to my huge fondness of TC.

[jfood]

Not a bad idea to swap the political capital from HK to TC next week. Let's see if that works to improve La Mood de Casa Jfood.

[shallots]

jfood,
Welcome to my way.
Somehow this year, I started watching Last Restaurant Standing on BBCA and then when adverts for Ramsay started in direct competition to LRS, HK just seemed so tired. So I haven't heard a Ramsay bleep in '08 and life is more mellow.
And more mellow and Top Chef go together.
Disclaimer: one or two chefs should be made to render lard/chicken fat/ etc and make their own soap and then wash their own mouths out with their excessive and unimaginative curses.

[chicgail]

HK definitely spoils the genre. I say blow it off. Ramsay's getting more than a little overexposed and exploited. The American version of the show is closer in it's conception to Big Brother than to Top Chef.

[AMFM]

read the post below this - wedding wars (spoilers). there are tons of posts. it just started before the episode.

[DanaB]

Yes, there are 150+ posts on the latest episode.

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/515296