Top Chef: Restaurant Wars (spoiler alert)

Stefan put his foot wrong last night overcooking a fish dish he could do in his sleep. Dose of humility never hurt anyone (so I hear).

Think they sent the right person home. Bugeyes....er, Carla seems to have hit her stride.

Leah went home...finally! What took them so long? She is a whiner.

I like Carla. I thought it was interesting when she said she used to be a model. Hopefully it wasn't for eyewear. Ok, that was mean.

I felt sick when Fabio bent his finger back. It certainly didn't stop him though. That chicken looked really good.

I'm not too impressed with Hosea. Nothing he's done has really struck home with me.

And I think Stefan is a good chef. I go back and forth with his personality. He seems somewhat charming at times.

My favorite part (other than seeing Jacques Pepin) was when they went to Harold's restaurant. I've always liked him and was wondering if he was successful. It looked like he was doing quite well.

[Jenise]

Stefan put his foot wrong last night overcooking a fish dish he could do in his sleep. Dose of humility never hurt anyone (so I hear).

Think they sent the right person home. Bugeyes....er, Carla seems to have hit her stride.

Just watched it, and I agree. Stefan's overconfidence almost undid him. Good thing someone else did something they could call worse so that Stefan didn't HAVE to go home. And, though I'm not sorry to see Leah go, there was this definite hollow sound when they complained of her sauce being a tad thin where Stefan didn't go down last week for hollandaise that was WAY too thick, and in fact he won with it.

Glad to see Carla doing so well now!

It's your fault I started watching this show! Sort of Hell's Kitchen Light without the language and with much better qualified contestants.

I still think that Lakshmi is just a pleasant looking talking head. I enjoy listening to what Toby and Tom have to say much more.

As for the contestants, Carla is a new age goof that can cook, entertaining and slightly annoying to me.

Fabio is a bit too full of himself, but then many chefs are. Seems to do a good job.

Hosea doesn't seem to have the breadth of experience I'd expect nor the refinement of technique to be a top chef.

Stefan seem a likely candidate for ultimate winner - he seems to have the best range of skills - very competent and probably good that he got taken down a notch - maybe it will prevent over confidence next time. If he hadn't overcooked the fish, it would have been a whole different scenario.

Hosea doesn't seem to have the breadth of experience I'd expect nor the refinement of technique to be a top chef.

Stefan seem a likely candidate for ultimate winner - he seems to have the best range of skills - very competent and probably good that he got taken down a notch - maybe it will prevent over confidence next time. If he hadn't overcooked the fish, it would have been a whole different scenario.

Remember that Hosea mentioned that he was not a classically trained chef. Did he even go to culinary school???

I kind of wondered if Stefan had shot himself in the foot -- but I think it was Leah's lack of technique that sent her home. I might not want to spend time with Stefan, but I would like to eat his food.

And I blame this board too for starting me on this show! At least I pick up the occasional technique (unlike HK which just seems like a lot of swearing and not much cooking).

R

[Jenise]

It's your fault I started watching this show! Sort of Hell's Kitchen Light without the language and with much better qualified contestants.

I don't watch Hell's Kitchen, but the odd contestants on the one episode of that I saw several seasons ago is one of the reasons I didn't keep watching. It was ludicrous to suggest that any of those bums would have been able to manage one of his restaurants. I would therefore only have been watching to watch people get abused, and I'm not into that. Back to Top Chef, I don't think this year's batch are as good as previous years. I can't understand for the life of me, for instance, how Melissa ever made it. Btw, Top Chef people were in Seattle yesterday auditioning contestants for the next season. Would have loved to have gone down and watched how those are conducted.

Totally agree with you about Toby and Tom. I don't see Fabio as full of himself (that would be Stefan), more like full of life. He just has to have fun, and the show's better because he does. I was happy to see him get a win though I agree with you that Stefan is the most likely to win it all. You're totally right re Hosea, he knows enough and is good enough to not screw up badly, but he lacks overall sophistication. Even Leah had that.

I still think Jeff is technically the best chef of them all. It would have been fascinating to see what he would have done with the last challenge. Leah is also technically good, but she just lost her focus after getting caught flirting. Stefan and Fabio are inconsistent and Carla is definitely growing on me. Hosea is the dark horse.

[Jenise]

I still think Jeff is technically the best chef of them all.

I thought so too, but you and I seem to be in a minority.

I was so glad to see Leah go...her technique was lacking...I'm becoming a Stefan fan and Fabio fan and, I can't believe it, a Carla fan...she went from being whacko to a chef in the course of a few shows...With that dish at Le Bernardin last week, she proved she knows what she's doing...so I do disagree with whomever said she's a new age goof who can cook...I think if she could just keep the goof at bay, the chef that she is would really shine...Leader? Maybe so, for the right kind of kitchen...I'd probably enjoy working in her kitchen. I'd learn in Stefan's kitchen, for sure, but enjoy??? Maybe not..And Fabio..oh, I would cook in his kitchen. What's that you say? I'm leaving Hosea out? Yup, that's right. he goes home this week, that's where my money is...

b

I still think Carla needs to go home -- before Hosea. She had the one good night at La Bernadine. For Jacques she cooked fowl and peas. I can't believe how much attention a pea got. Don't they take all of 5 minutes to cook? Her plate wasn't that interesting to look at and there was some chatter that the duck may have been over done. Yes she's kooky and marginally interesting. But, I just don't see the cooking chops. In my estimation, looks like its lining up to be a Hosea-Stefan heads up. I think Fabio could be a force, but arguing with the judges is not going to get you there. So far, I still believe this is the least interesting season. But, I've gotta see how it ends!

I've been traveling so just yesterday had the chance to watch the last episode "The Last Supper." I think it was the best show yet. Len was in the other room while I was watching and kept asking, "What's so funny?" I found the whole show very entertaining and even a bit touching at times. I felt like crying (in a happy way) for Carla when Jacques said, "I could die happy after eating that."

I've been a Carla fan from almost the beginning. She is quirky (I love that--she makes me laugh out loud), but she's really good. I agree with Barb that Hosea is on his way out next. He hasn't done too much that has impressed me. Why did he mess with the Scampi like that? Putting a Beurre Blanc on top of an already sauced dish?? And what was that orange stuff around the bottom of his tomato?

I thought Stephan's quickfire food was really cool. I loved the square eggs. The real one and the panna cotta. How cool seeing the mango sauce ooze out exactly as a perfectly cooked yolk would. That said, he is an arrogant SOB, but I also agree with Patti about seeing a charming side at times. Seeing him kiss Leah last night after she was sent home made me think that creative editing makes him out to be more of a bad guy than he really is.

Fabio is a doll. I hope he remains just so I can hear him talk some more. His salad was pretty pathetic though. It did look like something you'd get on a flight.

RE: Jeff. All along I thought he would make it to the finals. His techniques were pretty amazing and his food always looked incredible. His problem though was focusing. Instead of really wowing the judges with one thing executed very well, he did three things (perhaps very well) but gave the judges too many components--really leaving him way more vulnerable to criticism.

Can't wait until Wed!

I still think Carla needs to go home -- before Hosea.

I don't disagree with you, Jo Ann, but my prediction is that Hosea will be for the chop tonight. Anyone else want to commit an opinion?

I may be off base, but I have to think that perhaps the judges are at least a little influenced by what makes entertaining TV and Carla is certainly more interesting than Hose-boy.

Carla is certainly entertaining. Hosea is just annoying.

Oooooh Noooooo...they sent FABIO home...I thought for sure Stefan would go for his arrogance, no not that...for his LAZINESS. Pre-made andouille, not cooking the roux long enough, etc....he makes great food, but honestly, at this point? All these chefs are making great food. They are splitting hairs. Fabio made bread AND pasta and lacked heat.

Stefan phoned it in.

Carla's win well deserved, but I think Jeff pulled out all the stops..I'll be that was a tough one. I was really impressed with what Jeff did last night and I'll bet it was a touch decision...

Next week will be very interesting. My son wants me to take a bet, but I just cannot pick a winner at this point.

b

Oh, and can I just dis Leah a bit? Really? soup? soup is going to win you back into the game? I don't think so, not when your competition is Jamie and Jeff.

Interesting show!

I wish Jeff had won, because now I am left with 3 people that I don't really care about.

Hosea - pulled off some good dishes, but not well rounded chef in terms of knowledge. The best of the best? I'd not have thought so.

Stefan - OK to be arrogant if you have the back-up, but I think his ego has been writing cheques his skill hasn't been able to cash for at least the last two shows.

Carla - Endearing or annoying, still basically a goof. I could see her winning, and I guess I could go along with that given the competition, but still, not what I would have foreseen way back when.

[Jenise]

Oh, and can I just dis Leah a bit? Really? soup? soup is going to win you back into the game? I don't think so, not when your competition is Jamie and Jeff.

I opened up this thread this morning not having watched last night's show or realizing that I'd be reading spoilers--not that this bothers me--but while I get it that Carla wins and Fabio loses, Leah? Jeff? Jamie? What were they doing there?

They brought the three of them back, did a quick round to eliminate 2, and Jeff got to be added to the other 4 finalists, on the proviso that he had to win the next round outright to stay.

I wish he had and they could have turfed a couple of the others.

Ack! It says spoiler alert and has gone two eps past Restaurant wars, so I didn't hold back. Hope we didn't ruin it for you, Jenise...Now catch up and tell us what you think!

b

Oh, I so wanted to have Jeff back and for Stefan to be thrown out. His attitude really was awful on this last episode. I thought he did the absolute bare minimum necessary.

[Jenise]

Oh, I so wanted to have Jeff back and for Stefan to be thrown out. His attitude really was awful on this last episode. I thought he did the absolute bare minimum necessary.

I'd have loved that. Stefan gets breaks no one else gets. Fabio's maque choux tasted great but lacked heat, but Stefan didn't cook his roux long enough and the only other thing he made was a donut. It's as if it has been predetermined that Stefan will/should win, because he never seems to be held entirely accountable for the same errors that sends other chefs down.

Anyway, I was so glad for Carla's win.

[Jenise]

Btw, I wonder if Gail's back permanently and Toby's gone for good? I rather liked the little Brit....

In his blog on Bravo TV, Tom Colicchio says that the main reason Jeff didn't win wasn't addressed in the show, he apparently heated his oyster on a sterno and the smell was a big turn-off. Nevertheless, it was good to see Jeff again, his range and technique are far beyond Hosea's, let alone all the other eliminated chefs.

I guess I have to root for Carla now. No problem, she is improving by the week and her personality is usually positive, though I was a little miffed that she expected others to help her shuck her oysters.

[David M. Bueker]

I'm so glad Toby is gone. After 5 business trips to the UK I am convinced that no Brit should be allowed to cook or criticize food.