Top Chef: Restaurant Wars (spoiler alert)

[Jenise]

So did the right person win? Did the right person go home?

Personally, I think not. Radika's abysmal handling of the front of the house was enough to send her home in spite of the fact that her team had slightly better food, but Fabio's saving his team with his fabulous front-of-house performance didn't earn him the win? Not to discount the impact of Stefan's desserts, but his panna cottas would have been worthless if Fabio hadn't kept the diners happy up to that point.

I'm not clear. Do you agree with their choice to send Radika home but think Fabio should have won vs. Stefan?
I've really liked Radika and she has been a judges' favorite numerous times--especially on the quick fire--but what was up with her on that episode? She was really out to lunch.
Carla probably should have gone home, but selfishly I'm glad she didn't because I really like her quirkiness. Really wish they would send Leah home at this point. I'm so tired of the drama with her and Hosea.
Prediction. I think the final two will be: Stefan and Jamie. If I had to choose the third runner-up it would be between Hosea and Jeff, but they may keep Fabio around for his personality alone.
What do you think?

[Jenise]

I'm not clear. Do you agree with their choice to send Radika home but think Fabio should have won vs. Stefan?

Yes. And if Stefan won then Carla should have lost. But from here it looked to me that front-of-house was the defining issue of each team's success or lack of.

I'm guessing the final two will be Jamie and Jeff. Stefan would be the third but I think his inability to be a team player will eventually tube him. Where Jamie and Jeff are both consistently good and inventive cooks and seem to have shown leadership skills.

I agree with you, Jenise, they are great leaders but think Jamie and Jeff both have limitations. It seems Jamie can cook nothing other than scallops and carrot soup--even though each time she does one of those dishes, they seem to be quite inspired.
And what Jamie said on the last show--Jeff has trouble focusing. He always seems to have a lot of great ideas, but can't edit them down to just a nice entree. He always has too much going on to make it cohesive. I agree, Stefan is a terrible team player, but almost everything he cooks looks more "professional" than what everyone else does.
It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out. What do you think of the new Judge, Toby? I think he's kind of a weasle.

It was a toss-up for me. I thought either Radika or Carla would go home -- but one of them for sure. I think Fabio is full of himself and on occasion his comments have really dissed Americans knowing that we will fall for charm over substance (remember Gail's bridal shower). But, I also think he is a good cook. From the beginning I thought it would be between Fabio and Stefan. I'm with Carrie on this one, I would really like for Jamie to show me something other than scallops. I really think she can cook -- but, what else?!

Carla, honey, good-bye. Have you noticed that in at least 3 of the earlier shows her quick-fire creations have never been shown -- which says to me either they were a disaster or she didn't pull anything off in the time-limit? (What up with that? -- that alone should have been disqualifying.) And, except for the one challenge that she won, her desserts have always come up mediocre -- the last one disasterous. I'm with Tom in his comment "put your love on the plate"; I have enough love everwhere else! Leah and Hosea wallowing all over each other -- then feeling remorseful about it because of their current relationships with other people -- GROW UP and leave the show for personal reasons (both of you)! Let's get down to the cooking -- and, IMPRESS ME! So far I think this season has been pretty lackluster in the kitchen.

I wish Leah could get booted off and be done with it already (and I don't even think the right team won restaurant wars which means Leah should have gone home!).
Jamie should be in the final but she is just as arrogant as Stefan. That will either stand her in good stead or get her kicked out sooner than she should be. If I was going out to eat, her food or what Stefan puts out usually sounds the most appealing. Jeff is kind of hit and miss -- creative, but inconsistant, but if he gets hot....

Ooh, so happy to find this discussion. My take: Carla should have gone. What a disaster, what a total loop hole of a chef...She's been in the bottom so often...they talk about not judging on anything but that day's event. Radika's day was not good, but the competition was close, as stated by the judges--so she didn't do THAT poorly. Carla, however...she didn't do a single thing RIGHT.

I think Jamie will def. be in the final with a good shot at the win...that woman can COOK. Stefan can cook, too, and I think his skill alone will put him there...Fabio ..maybe...I don't see Jeff making it because of his scattered approach...Wants to do it all and cannot edit himself on the plate...

Hooray for Wednesdays..it's top chef night.

[Jenise]

It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out. What do you think of the new Judge, Toby? I think he's kind of a weasle.

Actually, I like him. He's a breath of fresh air and brings a very distinct and different point of view to things. I liked where on the episode where they each had to make a family style meal, I think it was, that where the other judges tossed Jeff's three-dish meal with the avocado sorbet under the bus for not being conforming, Toby stuck up for the meal's overall sophistication and said it was the best avocado sorbet he'd ever had. Not that I have anything riding on Jeff, er, HAD, but I liked that he had the integrity to stick up for what he thought deserved defending.

[Jenise]

I don't see Jeff making it because of his scattered approach...Wants to do it all and cannot edit himself on the plate...

Hooray for Wednesdays..it's top chef night.

Two things in defense of Jeff: I like it that he has that many good ideas and manages to get so much done and usually with good success where several of the others barely get one thing done right. I can also appreciate that he got a bit tired of being in 2nd or 3rd place--always a bridesmaid, never the bride--and perhaps felt even more driven to come up with more. As in "if at first you don't succeed, try harder". I admire him for that.

Btw, one more thing about Jeff: every time they flash the name of Jeff's restaurant under his name, my husband thinks it says "Dildo Beach Club". His shock is so amusing I've not bothered to correct him.

[David M. Bueker]

Well I finally got caught up last night. I'm glad Radika got kicked off. She was the leader in restaurant wars & she didn't lead. She looked shell-shocked from the first minute. You can't be Top Chef unless you can lead. Maybe she can win a show called Top Sous Chef.

As for Jeff's demise...I thought the whole concept of the challenge was a disaster.

Jenise: I SO agree with your husband about Jeff's restaurant name!!!! That's on my beat down here, and I ALWAYS read Dildo not Dilido. I think it an extremely unfortunate choice for a restaurant name...

And while I agree with you on the elements of Jeff's plate (I LOVED the idea of the sorbet on Wednesday's challenge), he still needs to edit...But truth be told, I was sure Fabio would go--they talk about judging on that night's challenge--and Fabio's was horrid...That salad was sad--he took leftovers--which was Green Bay--he should have stepped up and fought for something he knew...Judges made a mistake.

B

ps. Go Steelers...what was up with THAT? No Steeler team?

[Jenise]

Barb, I thought Fabio was gone for sure, too--overcooked venison and an unrelated unimaginative salad didn't work on any level, AND he argued with the guest judge. But to the extent the producers play any part in choosing who stays and goes, Stefan is polarizing and Fabio is fabulous and both are good for ratings. So Jeff, perhaps, was the most expendable. Think that had anything to do with it?

Yes, Fabio is a personality--Jeff is a great chef with his head down, working hard...although he got a smackdown, too, I think, when he talked about his sophisticated food and paper plates...Generally, I thought he took all criticism with great grace..Fabio, not so much...

It was nice to see Stefan lose...dishes aside, the ego...and then, of course, he totally fell in love with Andrea...loved taht...ooh, and Tom called him out on it too--said "you thought she'd be easy, didn't you?"

Mmmhmm...

Just how in hell did Leah manage to NOT go home last night??

Totally agree Robert.

I think the producers are hoping for more Hosea/Leah action. That's all I can figure.

Totally agree Robert.

I think the producers are hoping for more Hosea/Leah action. That's all I can figure.

I would like to see Leah go, but I wonder if Jamie's arrogance did her in? When she mentioned the food at Bernardin did not 'excite' her she made it sound as if she is above preparing food in that classic manner.

I obviously have not got a clue who is going to win since going into last week I figured the final four would be Jamie, Jeff, Stefan and Hosea.

[Jenise]

Just how in hell did Leah manage to NOT go home last night??

Couldn't agree more. But apparently Jamie's just tasted worse.

Re her arrogance, she's a tough girl but I'm not sure arrogance applies--she just likes what she likes, and seems to favor bold, almost middle eastern flavors. The subtlety and balance of Ripert's food seems to be something she can appreciate the art of, but it's just not what she loves.

But along the same lines, how did Carla not win? Her dish was complex and appeared to be excellent in every way, where Stefan had an easier course and botched a hollandaise of all things. That's Sauce 101 stuff. One could almost conclude that, given the prize for first place, Eric just picked the guy he would have more fun travelling with.

Totally agree Robert.

I think the producers are hoping for more Hosea/Leah action. That's all I can figure.

Patti, you took the words right out of my mouth. Her poor execution of the sauce combined with her giving up on the quickfire definitely should have sent packing.

One could almost conclude that, given the prize for first place, Eric just picked the guy he would have more fun travelling with.

Jenise, I came to the same conclusion!

ARgh....Agree about Stefan (and Ripert thinking he'd be more fun)...they positively HEAPED praise on Carla...then picked Stefan.

And please...Leah...what was RIGHT about her dish..she couldn't even determine what was in it...Go HOME.

ARgh....Agree about Stefan (and Ripert thinking he'd be more fun)...they positively HEAPED praise on Carla...then picked Stefan.

And please...Leah...what was RIGHT about her dish..she couldn't even determine what was in it...Go HOME.

And I'm so tired of her whining--about everything for taking it too far with Hosea so now her "head is not in the game," to how she never knows what to do with a particular dish or quickfire. She's definitely not Chef material if she can't handle decision-making and stick-to-it-ness.

I agree totally with Carrie, Barb and Jenise on this! Although I thought Carla should have been long gone, she got totally dissed in this challenge. The judges agreed that she was the only one who totally nailed the flavors and techniques of the challenge dish -- THEN THEY DIDN'T PICK HER!!! What up wid dat?! Hosea is a good cook/chef. Stefan is probably the most technically sound of all the competitors. Personally, I really like people with arrogance -- especially when they can kick ass in their field (the Trumpster comes to mind). It's also pretty to see them taken down a peg or two, the way Stefan was last week. So, I'm pretty certain Stefan and Hosea will be the heads up competition in about a week. Although, I am pulling for a heads up between Stefan and Jamie. In the end, I'm thinking Stefan will take it. Like Fabio said in the opener, it's time for an international winner! That's the world of entertainment -- like the Oscars -- it's his turn!

Stefan had an easier course and botched a hollandaise of all things. That's Sauce 101 stuff.

I've never made a hollandaise. Wasn't anything my Momma or Grandma ever made either, that I'm aware of.

[Jenise]

Hosea is a good cook/chef.

Yes, he seems to be, but his standards aren't as high as Stefan's and his techniques aren't as good, which is why Stefan will probably win it all. He just performs to a higher standard more consistently.