So, Top Chef watchers

[Jenise]

Time to place your bets on who's going to win.

I actually thought early on that Kenny would outlast them all, but he's gone so my first prediction's already dead. Early frontrunner Angelo is running out of steam, but he could make a comeback. Of those left, Kelly, Ed and Tiffany seem to be the strongest.

Not that any of them are as good as any among last season's top four.

I'd be more likely to actually eat what Tiffany cooks.

Tiffany, hands down!

I was telling Liz yesterday, as we watched last week's show, that I just plain like Tiffany and hope she wins.

[Jenise]

Me, too, Jon/Robert/Jo Ann. I love Tiffany!

Ed's definitely gotten better (which may mean he's finally figured out how best to impress these judges), though, and though Kelly comes up with some impressively inventive foods (at the CIA, her kung pao chicken soup was definitely the best disguise) she's as likely to oversalt a dish as undersalt it it seems and take herself out of the running.

Ed's definitely gotten better (which may mean he's finally figured out how best to impress these judges), though, and though Kelly comes up with some impressively inventive foods (at the CIA, her kung pao chicken soup was definitely the best disguise) she's as likely to oversalt a dish as undersalt it it seems and take herself out of the running.

Ed is criticized for trying to do too much but seems to come through just fine. I do like Kelly and wish she had a little more confidence, or just taste her food more often.
I understand tnat season 6 won an Emmy Award - is that right?

These guys have the least talent of any season.

[Jenise]

These guys have the least talent of any season.

Yeah, sad. You'd think, especially after the Voltaggio brothers got into it last year, that the producers would have more applicants than ever to choose from, but you wouldn't know that from this group.

Even Tiffany, who would be my choice for new BFF and whose food has been winning for just tasting better than everybody else's (and that's worth a lot, I'll give you) is not especially inspired in terms of out-of-the-box thinking or creative plating.

>I agree this is a weak group of contestants.
> For some reason I seem to like Kelly's approach.
>I think Angelo just does what he knows....and he knows a lot! When he tries something really new he fails.
>I also agree that Tiffany prepares the overall best tasting food of the group.
>Any of the 4 could screw up. I don't think there is a favorite.

[Jenise]

What a surprise this week's show was, and thank god Anthony Bourdain was there to provide some balance for Eric Ripert conservatism.

Geo, I like Kelly too. She does some sophisticated stuff--her concepts rarely miss, it's the seasoning that sometimes fails.

[Jenise]

Hey, this just in: Eater NY reports that "The next season of Top Chef may be a full all-star season, as contestants from the previous seven seasons are currently filming in New York City. They include Spike Mendelsohn, Marcel Vigneron, Richard Blais, Fabio Viviani, Carla Hall, Angelo Sosa, Tiffany Derry, Michael Isabella, Dale Talde, Tiffani Faison, and Stephen Asprinio."

Note that all of the names above, with the exception of Angelo who is currently one of the final four on this season's show, did not win their season. Points strongly to Angelo not winning this go-round.

Btw, would someone explain Angelo's accent to me?

Btw, would someone explain Angelo's accent to me?

New York effeminate!

So its funny that the person who won was not even mentioned as a front-runner in this group.
I was also in the Tiffany camp, but also liked Kelly. After they were gone I was pulling for Ed. I'd love to try his stuffed duck neck!!

and thank god Anthony Bourdain was there to provide some balance for Eric Ripert conservatism.

I loved that!

After Tiffiny got cut, I had to refocus. I thought Angelo had the talent, but I hadn't seen any real creativity from him. I thought Ed may be able to stay in there, but I never got a culinary focus from him. I thought Kevin had culinary focus, but not the refinement to pull it off. In fact, I thought of Kevin as the dark horse in only the finalist competition, v1. But, I did fully believe that the right 3 guys made it into the finals. And, everybody seemed to step it up a notch in the final competition. This season would have been far more exciting had they cooked at this level from the beginning.

and thank god Anthony Bourdain was there to provide some balance for Eric Ripert conservatism.

I loved that!

Yes, me too!!! It was great that he was not afraid to disagree.