662339 Mon Oct 26 06:31:56 -0700 2009 13 33 Food Media and News 0 5131109 "Chefs can't have a bad day." Alton tells them. Not by the looks of this episode. No one seemed to be able to pull this one off thoroughly. Even the winner was criticized. Anyone else sort of sorry that Amanda Freitag slid by? But then, I'd been rooting for Crenn because she's local to my area, however, her attitude in this particular episode really seemed to bring out the stereotype of the arrogant French person that's so unfortunate. She seemed in denial to the very last that her presentation had any flaws whatsoever - even the undercooked churros. Mon Oct 26 06:31:56 -0700 2009 97804 cmvan 1 5131459 I was curious how they ended up that way - she had the most time, and I hope she tasted her food prior to serving.. and for the love of God, Chef Metha needs to STOP MAKING ICE CREAM. I was kind of annoyed at the "make a drink btw" - I enjoy seeing the chef's work within a set challenge and time frame, and those added twists just seem gratuitious and adding unneeded chaos to an already hectic competition. I did love how they ran öut of the market and directly into the challenger's stadium... the van ride in between disappeared. Mon Oct 26 08:32:26 -0700 2009 5131109 176367 grant.cook 2 5131730 With all the inexplicable equipment failures on the show, I wouldn't be surprised if the deep fryer she was using just wasn't working right. I suspect FN does it on purpose for added drama, but it just makes the whole production seem shoddy. This week it was the vacuum sealer. Of course, she should have sampled a churro before serving them. Mon Oct 26 09:52:46 -0700 2009 5131459 29811 Buckethead 2 5132411 I wondered about that too; did they just "reproduce" the effect of running from the market to the stadium by holding them in some pen somewhere until their time arrived? Mon Oct 26 13:18:44 -0700 2009 5131459 18353 DGresh 3 5132566 I think they clocked them all at the market and then moved everyone back to the kitchen studio. Since Crenn finished at the market first, she started cooking first. Then they let the each of the competitors into the kitchen at the time they were behind Crenn. Mon Oct 26 14:12:39 -0700 2009 5132411 10753 Philly Ray 1 5133308 Yes but it was a forgone conclusion that Freitag would slide by, no matter what she came up with. At least Crenn attempted a churro. If Crenn had put out a bad shrimp and an eclair even she would have believed that she deserved to go. Over the weekend we watched Top Chef Las Vegas on Bravo. I noticed that at the end just before the credits, they run a disclaimer. I had to run it at 1/15 speed and then stop it to read it, but it said something to the effect that program participants to be eliminated from the program each week, are determined by the judges (Colicchio, Lakshmee, et al.) as well as the show's producers -- (next Page) and by the Bravo Network. I went looking for a disclaimer at the end of Next ICA but didn't find one before my dvr cut the show off but I still don't think that without a disclaimer the competition is real. And even though Jeffery is my man, I have to admit after watching Iron Chef Saturday night that the man is getting downright mean spirited. I don't know if he's on the wagon or off it, he's simply getting too negative. Mon Oct 26 19:03:54 -0700 2009 5131109 35154 junescook 2 5133795 <And even though Jeffery is my man, I have to admit after watching Iron Chef Saturday night that the man is getting downright mean spirited.> I coudn't believe the incredibly rude things he was saying to the female judge next to him on ICA Battle Cherry. I was happy to see she was not intimidated and fire back, but he was acting like a jackass. I don't understand why FN keeps asking him back. Whatever positive characteristics he may have brought in the past are long gone. Now he's just an obnoxious naysayer. Tue Oct 27 03:24:54 -0700 2009 5133308 142362 sibeats 3 5134689 Steingarten hasn't been interesting on ICA for years. He's become a caricature of himself and slides by on his name recognition and his blunt and obnoxious shtick. Maybe it was funny the first 18000 times but it's not even funny adjacent anymore. By the looks she gives him on the Next IC, I think Donatella is thoroughly annoyed by him. Tue Oct 27 10:27:08 -0700 2009 5133795 10401 soniabegonia 4 5137118 I particularly hate the "When did you stop beating your wife?" questions he puts to the chefs: Was it bad shopping or bad cooking? Did you intend that it taste like shit? Really rude and I believe meant to intimidate. Wed Oct 28 08:11:21 -0700 2009 5134689 10926 mnosyne 5 5137695 and that comment he made to one of the other judges after she complimented one of the items (don't remember which), which was "and how many of *those* have you ever eaten", implying that if she liked it it was because she didn't know what it was supposed to taste like. I think it was the tortilla soup. Wed Oct 28 11:27:22 -0700 2009 5137118 18353 DGresh 6 5137848 yes, it was the tortilla soup. he's really just become unpleasant to watch. Wed Oct 28 12:10:45 -0700 2009 5137695 137495 dagwood 5 5141062 Harold Dieterle blogged about how "Did you taste your dish?" was actually similar. http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/blogs/harold-dieterle/did-you-taste-it?page=0%2C2 Thu Oct 29 13:44:37 -0700 2009 5137118 18368 youngho 4 5149296 I agree with you that Judge Steingarten can really be rude at times! I think he was really rude to Chef Crenn and Chef Garces last time. So I was pleasantly surprised when he did not pass a single criticizing comment about Chef Mehta’s preparations in the last episode. In fact, he was silent when Chef Mehta was praised by the other 2 judges and by Alton Brown for his entrée and for bringing out the different personalities of tamarind so well. This one instance there was a friendly banter at the judge’s table thanks to Chef Mehta using the ice-cream machine again! Despite Judge Steingarten’s unpleasant personality I have observed that all the chefs respect his opinion. I read one of Chef Mehta’s interviews in which he has referred to Steingarten as an encyclopedia! Mon Nov 02 10:19:31 -0800 2009 5134689 1114284 seanmcgill 1 5144582 I was sad to see Chef Crenn go to! I don't think she was being arrogant, she was just being defensive. The judges had been repeatedly giving her a really hard time. On the other hand even though Freitag's preparation was not good and her presentation was really bad and her only saving grace was an éclair that was French, they let her through to the next round. I am really glad about one thing though; Chef Jehangir Mehta finally got recognized for his talent. I think Chef Mehta did a fantastic job! Anya Fernald complimented him saying that he really took on the challenge of cooking Mexican style cuisine and that he did it with grace. She did criticize him for the tamarind chocolate shot but I felt that she had to try really hard to find something wrong with the drink. Jeffery Steingarten was silent throughout Chef Mehta’s presentation at the judge’s table. I guess he just did not have anything rude to say so that in itself was a compliment of sorts. Fri Oct 30 22:54:18 -0700 2009 5131109 1119348 nnancyhelen