If you're watching Top Chef All Stars...

[Jenise]

...you may enjoy reading Fabio's blog about the last episode. It's hilarious, and one sentence in you KNOW Fabio wrote every word himself--he writes just like he talks.

http://fabioviviani.com/blog/fabio-viviani-top-chef-recap-italian-challange-french-mussels/

He is hilarious! Fabio has more personality than the rest of them put together, IMHO. Well, maybe Carla.

Jenise, I'm about two weeks behind. Love Top Chef Allstars. I'll check out Fabio's blog once I catch up. I'm a few episodes behind.

[Jenise]

Catch up! Now that they've finally dumped Jamie, we're having fun again.

Catch up! Now that they've finally dumped Jamie, we're having fun again.

What a drag she was! My plans got cancelled for today and tonight so I will have all day to watch DVR. Ahhhhh.

[Jenise]

What a drag she was! My plans got cancelled for today and tonight so I will have all day to watch DVR. Ahhhhh.

Wasn't she? She was never someone I especially liked either for her personality or her food, but at the same time I sure don't remember her being the total wet blanket she was this season. She bled the life out of every scene she was in.

After you catch up, would love to hear your thoughts about who you think will win.

Jenise, I just finished the two episodes and then read the blog. Fabio's writing is freaking hilarious. So fun to read!!! He was beside himself over those mussels. Too funny.

The latest episodes were great. A lot of fun to watch. SPOILER ALERT. I think the wrong people have been sent home. IMO, Tiffany has lasted way beyond her capabilities. Angelo should still be in...he is incredibly creative and it's fun to see what he comes up with each week. I'm beginning to doubt Fabio's cooking chops a bit but I think he has a little more on the ball than Tiffany. Just sayin.
And, despite Fabio giving her a hard time, I really like Antonia. She makes things that I know I'd enjoy eating. Carla also seems to be doing really well in this competition and she is pretty funny. I'm a little tired of Richard's pyrotechniques. I'd like him just to cook something normal. I'd like Dale to mix it up a bit and show that he can make something other than Asian inspired. He doesn't show enough versatility IMO. Who's left? Mike Isabella? Eh. I haven't seen anything from him that has wowed me and he is just so darn annoying.
I totally agree with your take on Jaime. What a sour puss this season. Plus, all she ever made, EVER, were scallops and soup.

Guess that's it. Other than I thought the muppets were incredibly cute. Love that little Elmo. What a personality he has. He should be a regular judge.
Now, what are your thoughts?

[Jenise]

Jenise, I just finished the two episodes and then read the blog. Fabio's writing is freaking hilarious. So fun to read!!! He was beside himself over those mussels. Too funny.

The latest episodes were great. A lot of fun to watch. SPOILER ALERT. I think the wrong people have been sent home. IMO, Tiffany has lasted way beyond her capabilities. Angelo should still be in...he is incredibly creative and it's fun to see what he comes up with each week. I'm beginning to doubt Fabio's cooking chops a bit but I think he has a little more on the ball than Tiffany. Just sayin.
And, despite Fabio giving her a hard time, I really like Antonia. She makes things that I know I'd enjoy eating. Carla also seems to be doing really well in this competition and she is pretty funny. I'm a little tired of Richard's pyrotechniques. I'd like him just to cook something normal. I'd like Dale to mix it up a bit and show that he can make something other than Asian inspired. He doesn't show enough versatility IMO. Who's left? Mike Isabella? Eh. I haven't seen anything from him that has wowed me and he is just so darn annoying.
I totally agree with your take on Jaime. What a sour puss this season. Plus, all she ever made, EVER, were scallops and soup.

Guess that's it. Other than I thought the muppets were incredibly cute. Love that little Elmo. What a personality he has. He should be a regular judge.
Now, what are your thoughts?

Carrie, I'm behind too--just this week's episode, though. Usually would have caught up with it last night but went to a play with some girlfriends, "The Cemetary Club", about three Jewish widows--one of the funniest plays I've ever seen. Was a lot of fun to see it in a theater mostly full of women about our age, too. Anyway, as to your comments: agreed about Fabio. He never makes anything truly crappy, but never manages to wow either which is why the mussels episode was so unfortunate--I don't blame him for thinking his dish should have won. Angelo--I have a feeling you're telling me he went home (that's okay)--is one of the best. Richard is great--his pyrotechnics don't bother me because there's a lot of substance along with that style. Think back to the Restaurant Wars segment he won because he helmed a seriously good menu and individually made EVERYBODY'S dish better. In terms of sheer talent, he has it to spare. I would like to see him win. Carla does extre,e;u well but have to admit she's made too many soups for my taste--I guess I think soup aims a little too low. That said, both soups she's made this season have put her in the winners circle so obviously I'm a retard. Antonia--I have to keep reminding myself that she's a lot more talented than she looks. She comes up with some great foods with serious style, all while failing to look serious or stylish. And to her credit, she never bombs--her food apparently always tastes good. And I agree about Tiffany--love the woman, but she lacks the sophistication the others have. You nailed Dale.

[Jenise]

Okay, saw Angelo go down. I'm SOOOO sorry about that and have a feeling that if I'd been on that panel I'd have voted for Carla, who I otherwise adore, to go. Angelo's might have been oversalted but it struck me as more creative and substantive than Carla's wimpy soup. I enjoyed the judges commenting on soup as a lightweight course, too, after my complaining to you that Carla makes too many soups. Apparently I'm not the only one who sees that as something of a cop-out.

Sorry I spoiled the Angelo thing for you. I was really sorry to see him go. He seems much more humble this time around than last. I got a soft spot for him this time.
Agree about the soups being a cop out. Espcially since there is no "plating" involved. Also agree with you that Richard is the most talented chef there and probably should win. I just groan everytime I see him with the liquid nitrogen...it's like, oh, not again...
I think Carla is a hoot and would hate to see her go based on personality alone...kind of like Fabio. They are both so entertaining.

[Jenise]

Sorry I spoiled the Angelo thing for you. I was really sorry to see him go. He seems much more humble this time around than last. I got a soft spot for him this time.
Agree about the soups being a cop out. Espcially since there is no "plating" involved. Also agree with you that Richard is the most talented chef there and probably should win. I just groan everytime I see him with the liquid nitrogen...it's like, oh, not again...
I think Carla is a hoot and would hate to see her go based on personality alone...kind of like Fabio. They are both so entertaining.

You didn't spoil it--don't give it a thought. I have always liked Angelo. He's pretty sensitive, and I like that. His bravado never offended me--he's proud of what he can do but I never saw him as thinking he's invincible. Agreed about the nitrogen, but in defense, didn't you think the black ice cream he made for Isaac Mizrahi was just bloody brilliant? The LN made that shortcut possible. And I do adore Carla, she's still my first choice of all the women for my next BFF. But I thought her soup was a huge miss in concept, especially for a bunch of Walmart clerks 5 a.m. or whatever godawful time it was. And right on the heals of her minestrone which however tasty it was fell way short of what others did for the Rao guys, particularly Fabio's dish. She doesn't usually blow it that badly.

Jenise, let me know when you have watched last Wednesday's episode. Wanting to discuss it!

[Jenise]

Jenise, let me know when you have watched last Wednesday's episode. Wanting to discuss it!

We've seen it--discuss away!

Oh goodie! Can you believe that Mike Isabella would steal Richard's "chicken oyster" on the half shell idea? What a low-life....
On the other hand, Richard is not the sharpest knife in the drawer (pun intended) to share so much knowledge and his notes with anyone and everyone. Especially Mike Isabella. It's a competion afterall, and not everyone has impeccable chef etiquette, like I think Richard does.
Dale screwed that stew up, big time, but I still thought his past accomplishments would carry him over that mess up. Was suprised to see him go before Tiffany. She is definitely floating through the competition by the skin of her teeth.
Okay, now you go.

[Jenise]

Oh goodie! Can you believe that Mike Isabella would steal Richard's "chicken oyster" on the half shell idea? What a low-life....
On the other hand, Richard is not the sharpest knife in the drawer (pun intended) to share so much knowledge and his notes with anyone and everyone. Especially Mike Isabella. It's a competion afterall, and not everyone has impeccable chef etiquette, like I think Richard does.
Dale screwed that stew up, big time, but I still thought his past accomplishments would carry him over that mess up. Was suprised to see him go before Tiffany. She is definitely floating through the competition by the skin of her teeth.
Okay, now you go.

I loved that Quick Fire because it proved everything I've thought about Richard and Mike both. That Richard's a gentleman, and that Mike is a rube and a jerk. That's why his food will never be great--he's just not sophisticated enough. In this episode he makes some kind of comment about deserving to have gotten further than he did in his last season, which made me sputter out loud at the TV that no, he didn't, the problem was that he wasn't a quarter as talented as either of the Voltaggios. Sure was a jerk to crow about it.

Agreed about Dale and Tiffany. In fact, during Judges Table it's usually fairly obvious to any long-term watcher who is going to go and why. It's as if there's a hierarchy of mistakes and certain mistakes will matter more than others. Oversalting, for instance, seems to be the deadliest even if it's just mildly so. (Which I don't tend to agree with, not that I like oversalted food but for instance on the previous episode I'd forgive Angelo's mildly oversalted but sophisticated, en pointe for the occasion/recipients and otherwise well executed dish with the crispy potato skin garnish long before I'd overlook Carla's making an easy, "flavorless" (judge's complaint), ungarnished vegetarian soup that has about zippo appeal for your average Walmart worker.) But this time looking at the disasters made by Dale, Tiffany and Carla, from what I could tell from my living room, I did not think that Dale's dish had more problems and if I were I a judge I'd have, like you, used the opportunity to rely on their body of work to keep the most talented chef in the running for the finale. And that would have been Dale, not Tiffany.

Agreed about Dale and Tiffany. In fact, during Judges Table it's usually fairly obvious to any long-term watcher who is going to go and why. It's as if there's a hierarchy of mistakes and certain mistakes will matter more than others. Oversalting, for instance, seems to be the deadliest even if it's just mildly so. (Which I don't tend to agree with, not that I like oversalted food but for instance on the previous episode I'd forgive Angelo's mildly oversalted but sophisticated, en pointe for the occasion/recipients and otherwise well executed dish with the crispy potato skin garnish long before I'd overlook Carla's making an easy, "flavorless" (judge's complaint), ungarnished vegetarian soup that has about zippo appeal for your average Walmart worker.) But this time looking at the disasters made by Dale, Tiffany and Carla, from what I could tell from my living room, I did not think that Dale's dish had more problems and if I were I a judge I'd have, like you, used the opportunity to rely on their body of work to keep the most talented chef in the running for the finale. And that would have been Dale, not Tiffany.

Well said!