I disagree on likeability - other than Phillip, Jason, the really young chef and the dude who was sent home first, they seem like a pretty decent group. I don't know if the top end talent is as high as it has been in past years, and Padma is horrible, but I'm not rooting against any of the top six which is a definite departure from past seasons.
Some of the challenges have been mediocre too. Restaurant Wars sucked, the BeefSteak was explained poorly somewhere along the line and I do wish they would do away with the elimination quick fire. I get it, but it feels cheap. Hell, the last episode, they filled ~5-7 minutes with them researching in the library. Not exactly compelling TV.
I liked the new Restaurant Wars. I like most of the contestants. Jeremy is not very likeable and Marjorie wouldn't be if she wasn't so good.
not surprised Kwame got booted. using frozen shit is a good way to get sent packing. but I thought Jeremy would be gone.
Jeremy is a dead man walking. But frozen waffles is such a dumb idea he had to go. Just make a batter and get some waffle irons.
think jason ends up coming out of last chance kitchen and winning the whole thing and further ruining the season for everyone involved.
I think Marjorie is a stud, and the clear favorite at this point. Come on, boiling water that way was pretty impressive. At least to me, a noted cooking moron.
Really cool main challenge, but a quickfire about toast that turned into an elimination quickfire? What the fuck was that. And Amar makes a nice, creative dish, and they send him home because Carl makes another fucking crudo. Come on.
Yeah an elimination quickfire at this stage is just cruel and dumb. Marjorie is the only one in the finals I actually anticipated early on. Happy for Isaac. Jeremy is out of left field, but he was the only one who didn't piss his pants at Fleur de Lys I guess.
I kinda hate Last Chance Kitchen. The competition itself is cool, much better than the main competitions sometimes but they should re-enter earlier or something. But that was an awesome Top Chef challenge. I just don't see why they don't give them like 4-5 hours if they are going to let them honor that restaurant.
I agree, I think it would be more fair if the LSK winner came in maybe a couple episodes before the finale instead of directly into it.
Rooting for Amar. No doubt Jeremy has killed it the last two but he sucked so hard leading up to it it would be one of the least impressive champs ever.
going for Amar thought Marjorie was the best chef but she never challenged herself, put herself out there enough. that was a really good episode.
Amar deserved it. I felt awful he got booted right before a French challenge, being a classic French chef and all. Jeremy is a huge surprise to me, but I have to hand it to him: he peaked at the right time and won the last couple challenges seemingly handily, based on the judges' comments.
yeah jeremy was probably lucky he got through a few challenges towards the end there, but he seems to have been killing it the last couple weeks. that said, i agree with mix that he'd be an overall pretty unimpressive top chef. he was just so bad those couple of weeks (taco bros, restaurant wars, etc) that it's tough to look past that.
I think the three most overall talented ( kwame, marjorie, and Jason ) aren't in the final. Regardless Amar over Jeremy all day. That guy not only lacks humility, he should've gone home at least twice.
Broadway by Amar Santana is a really really good restaurant. Perhaps best place I've been. Glad to see he won. Went to a charity fundraiser for my wife's school district about 6 months ago. One of the live auction items was Amar making dinner for a group of 8 at your house. Got bid on and went for 2K~. Later they had to rebid it because the Asian couple that bought it thought they were bidding on the sushi chef home dinner which was the next item. When they went to do the live auction again, nobody was bidding. I'm sitting there wishing I had the coin. They then kind dropped in he was going to be on Top Chef and I guess people realized he was legit and started bidding it. Went for more then previously paid.
watched the 17 minute "preview" earlier this week. im intrigued. some of the chefs they brought back i'm not a huge fan of, but I'm hopeful
Casey looks so good. Love her. Also love Tesar and hope he beats these people. The new girl from Charleston is a bitch and will be fun watching her lose with that cockiness.
Always love how they manufacture the drama sometimes. I for one was shocked that it that came down to three last meal. That said, the mask looked delicious. Sucks someone had to go home last night
Loved how katsuji went with the watermelon and chicken route and had no fucking clue the connotations involved and then got praised for his boldness.
Emily is horrible and should have been gone a long time ago. I really liked Jim, he should have stayed.