Top Chef Just Desserts Ep 2, 8/31 (spoiler)

[cmvan]

Since no one else has started one, here we go.

An underwhelming Quickfire, although it demonstrated what we often hear on these shows, which is "simple but flawless will beat out complicated but flawed", hence Matthew's win. And that thinking creatively can also make points, as in Katsie's move with the lemon crepe "fettucine".

Craig. His comment upon introducing his lemon dessert was telling - "What I ended up with was..."

In the elimination challenge, it was interesting to see how 2 teams made cohesive, professional cakes that represented the location, and 2 badly missed the mark. In his blog, Hubert Keller says that he was struck at how the badly done cakes stood out much more than the well-done ones, and not in a good way. Some of the amateurish work was pretty much shocking.

As for who was cut, it was a toss-up. But because both his decorative work and his cake were bad, it sort of had to be Vanarin. Craig's drum cake decoration was poorly executed (and looked more Disneyland than Disney Concert Hall), but apparently his cake was tasty enough to eke him by.

[chicgail]

I'm watching the show because a pastry chef from on of my favorite neighborhood restaurants is on it (and seems to be doing well), but are pastry chefs all such divas? Seems like such a different atmosphere than the original Top Chef. If not for the local gal to root for, I probably wouldn't bother with it.

[Siun]

Also from Chi and watching fr the same chef but so far the show's challenges are pretty dull - as said above, the big cakes and showpieces are more FN Challenge than forward thinking food I expect from Top Chef shows.

[huiray]

I don't know if it is universally true, but it does seem to be said that pastry chefs tend to be more high-strung than savory/kitchen chefs. I also remember reading somewhere someone saying the difference between the two types of chefs is that kitchen chefs have ADD while pastry chefs have OCD. Heh. ;-)

[chowser]

I like the show. It's just not as interesting to talk about because there's less drama this time around. Sure, Craig is out of his element but what more is there?

I thought the quickfire showed what the pastry chefs can do individually. But, lemons are a tough ingredient? I like seeing showpieces and large cakes--they show how much more these chefs know that an average home cook. And, it's apparent when you see what Craig produces--I know he's trained but he hasn't shown much more skill than a good home baker. I like Katsie and think she shows both skills and creativity but everyone else kind of melds into one at this point.

[delong99]

I'm ready for some individual challenges! So far it's reminding me of Food Network Challenge and I could care less about show pieces and big cakes. Maybe this is their way of narrowing the field and making editing easier in the early episodes with a big pool of contestants.

[ipsedixit]

Where are the gay chefs?

Need more angst and tension in the room.

[Manassas64]

I felt like this week's episode was a repeat of last week's episode. Same boring stuff with a theme cake. Zzzzzzz.

And chocolate and lemon do not go together. No way, no how. I would have sent him home right there just on that alone. LOL