Top Chef. Is it time again to discuss? (Semi-spoilers)

Yes Carrie, Eli is young but a lot more talented than he looks, I think.

The younger brother behaved like a prick last episode. I think he is beginning to fall behind a bit. I am seeing signs of vulnerability there (I am not talking about the previous episode where he was on the bottom, but the pig/pinot one where he had one of the top dishes.) Maybe trying too hard to dazzle...

And frankly, for all of Kevin's prowess, I am actually less enthused by his food. I have yet to see something in his cooking that will wow me. Maybe it's the tv cameras or the lighting but I need some bright colors on my plate and his cooking looks..... hmmm how shall I say....beige, brown?

[Jenise]

We'll see. Consensus is that the brothers, Jennifer, and Kevin will be there at the end but Eli is my dark horse.

Jacques, I finally got a glimpse of what you see in Eli in last week's episode. You are right about him being a dark horse.

Ditto. However, I also expect him to any second now throw a bass in the blender, or whip out his samurai sword to make sushi a la John Belushi.

We'll see. Consensus is that the brothers, Jennifer, and Kevin will be there at the end but Eli is my dark horse.

Jacques, I finally got a glimpse of what you see in Eli in last week's episode. You are right about him being a dark horse.

Ditto. However, I also expect him to any second now throw a bass in the blender, or whip out his samurai sword to make sushi a la John Belushi.

HA, not only is he a dark horse, he's a wild card.
I thought his quickfire dish looked/sounded amazing. (The clam thing.)
Don't you wish they spent just a little more time describing/showing the dishes each person makes?

Ditto. However, I also expect him to any second now throw a bass in the blender, or whip out his samurai sword to make sushi a la John Belushi.

LOL, I almost choked on my lunch from laughing. Those SNL skits were priceless - first Aykroyd as Julia and now Eli as Belushi.

I thought his quickfire dish looked/sounded amazing. (The clam thing.)
Don't you wish they spent just a little more time describing/showing the dishes each person makes?

My daughter bought me the first Top Chef cookbook. I am sure the reason they are not is to make a second cookbook.

Adios Mike...

I know it was supposed to be vegetarian? But only Kevin managed an entree...everybody else managed only a couple of mouthfuls each. Or are vegetarian entrees supposed to be tiny?

Richard

[Jenise]

Adios Mike...

I know it was supposed to be vegetarian? But only Kevin managed an entree...everybody else managed only a couple of mouthfuls each. Or are vegetarian entrees supposed to be tiny?

Richard

Okay, I'll admit to being a healthy eater. But the criticisms of Jennifer's dish being too small and like a side dish as if anybody else's dish was actually more than a bite more substantial made me squirm with disbelief. I didn't think ANY of them looked like anything but a clever vegetable course, but not main course. Not one used pasta or rice or a dough of any kind. And only one, Eli I think, used a grain--the lentils.

Frankly I'll be shocked if Kevin doesn't win this. Jenn if flaming out, and Kevin wins over and over in a way no other contestant ever has so far as I know (I did not watch the first two seasons).

Kevin has more wins thus far than any single contestant before, I think. And unlike many of the dishes I see being created, his I would eat. And even enjoy. <Now watch him do something with offal...>

Kevin has more wins thus far than any single contestant before, I think. And unlike many of the dishes I see being created, his I would eat. And even enjoy. <Now watch him do something with offal...>

I would like to see him do something a little lighter. Everything he made so far looked heavy and earthy. I can't pick up anything bright in his dishes.

I also was waiting for something with cheese, eggs, grains. Really a pathetic effort by most.

Wow, I agree with everyone. They all disappointed me this week. Like you guys, I was wondering--where the heck is the rice, the beans, eggs, even pasta? I didn't get it. Of course I wasn't there to taste, but thought Michael had it in the bag with his banana polenta. I also agree with Jacques about Kevin having a heavy hand. I'd like to see him make something a little more refined and also a little lighter. Rich and meaty is his MO, which I would think the judges might be tiring of from him, but maybe everything is so much tastier than the other cheftestants that they have to give him the win.

Don't you just want to say, "Jenn, snap out of your funk!" ? She's really flaking out.
Have to say I was not sorry to see Mike leave.

Many - if not most - vegetarians will not eat eggs unless as a part of baked goods. My Mom was like that. She would eat cheese though.

[Jenise]

Many - if not most - vegetarians will not eat eggs unless as a part of baked goods. My Mom was like that. She would eat cheese though.

Really? I've had the opposite experience--think Stu Yaniger. Lots of eggs, unless they're a Vegan.

But speaking of eggs (protein) wasn't it hilarious how totally CLUELESS Mike Isabella was about the protein criticism? He just kept defending the leeks as what he meant to look like a protein, which he failed at--he didn't have a clue that their point was nutrition.

But speaking of eggs (protein) wasn't it hilarious how totally CLUELESS Mike Isabella was about the protein criticism? He just kept defending the leeks as what he meant to look like a protein, which he failed at--he didn't have a clue that their point was nutrition.

Yes, he was totally clueless, but what I thought was even more curious that those leaks would have been full of grit prepared that way. He didn't slice them until after they were cooked. How would he have gotten the silt out of the layers?? None of the judges said anything about that, so maybe I am wrong.
The whole idea was stupid though. Who would think that a seared slice of leak would be anything special?

[Jenise]

The whole idea was stupid though. Who would think that a seared slice of leak would be anything special?

Have to agree--I'm not a vegetarian, but the vegetable portion of any meal is often my favorite part. And much as I like leeks as a seasoning, or even grilled for a salad component, a solid hunk especially without benefit of sauce or other seasoning does not anchor a main course plate well.

Many - if not most - vegetarians will not eat eggs unless as a part of baked goods. My Mom was like that. She would eat cheese though.

The Top Chef page on the Bravo site claims that the chefs were encouraged to use eggs and dairy. They were specifically told it was vegetarian not vegan.