Top Chef…Goin’ Campin’

I love me some Top Chef, I really do…but this last ep was really kinda blah to me…here we go with the bullets!

• Quickfire – Cactus…we talkin’ about cactus?!? (props if you get the reference)  Tim Love was the perfect guest judge for this, but really…cactus?
• Voice over redubs always bug me and there was a doozy by Padma when she was explaining the Quickfire.
• ANOTHER 15K QF???  Stop it already.  Last week really showcased what a Quickfire should be, then they go and drop the cash again.
• Who the heck taught Tim Love to hold a fork…
• My boy Ron is runnin’ out of time.  Dry fish and rancid crab??  Dude, you’re from an island…
• I really do dislike Mike I. but his curing of the cactus seemed to be the best move to make with the ingredient.  Problem is, his win makes his head even bigger…I’d try that dish though.
• So Elimination Challenge out in the desert…stay the night in tee pees and then cook for cowboys.  A nice way to get the chefs out of their element but it really made for boring TV.  They wasted so much segment time on the camping that I think we got shortchanged in actually watching cooking!
• I am getting real sick of the cheftestants bitching about having to cook outside of a kitchen.  YOU ARE ON A REALITY SHOW!!!  Have you not seen a single previous episode???  Man up and shut up (looking at you Mike V.)
• YEAH BACON – I can’t believe this, but a SHOUT OUT to Ashley for her “inspired” club sandwich with halibut and bacon.  Got good points with the judges.
• POOR BACON – Ash’s succotash had too much bacon grease and not only did the flavor overpower the dish, but the judges actually thought the food was greasy…UGH!
• Ash did have a nice sponsor moment though when after the Elimination Challenge they had a clear shot of him walking back to the vans with a HUGE commercial size Glad Wrap box.  Gotsta pay the bills!
• SHOUT OUT to Kevin…No bacon this week but he did make tequila marinated watermelon…KA-POW!!
• So Bryan wins yet again, his third out of four Elimination Challenges.  I’ve got to find out where his restaurant is and when I am in the city…go!
• Good bye Matten. When Tom spits your food out, you don’t stand a chance.

Over at Tom’s blog, we find out that a typical season is shot in 20 days, the criteria the judges use to make their decisions and that it was devil’s crotch hot when the camping episode was taped.  Click on over to get his take.

Related Stories:

• December 3, 2009 -- Top Chef – Finale Part 1
• November 19, 2009 -- Top Chef – Culinary Olympics