OK, here's what we learned last night while watching the first episode of Top Chef Chicago: The contestants are still cocky, faux hawks are apparently still a popular hair style, and Bravo is not afraid of a little foul language. There were more bleeps than gratuitous sponsor plugs (Whole Foods is the purveyor of choice this season).
We also discovered that kohlrabi was not the oddest ingredient used in the deep dish pizza challenge...
Note: We reveal who was eliminated below the jump. If you are catching up on Tivo, stop reading here.
Guest Judge Rocco DiSpirito, on a break from Bertolli commercials, weighed in on the quickfire and elimination challenges. We, for one, liked the quickfire challenge better. When there are so many chefs at the beginning, it's hard to keep everyone straight. Using a uniform platform — deep dish pizza — helped us remember who did what.
Mark, who is from New Zealand, won points for making Marmite palatable for the judges, but our favorite was Richard for his peach topping and sweet tea sauce.
The elimination challenge, reinterpreting classic dishes, felt like a riff on the Season 3 episode where chefs redid family favorites like tuna casserole and lasagna. But a few of the recipes seemed like things we'd try at home, specifically Nikki's Classic Lasagne with Sheep's Milk Gouda (above).
We liked the fact that contestants were allowed to bring $200 worth of their own supplies, if only for the appearance of Richard's tiny electric smoker. We want to see more of this contraption...
In the end, Stephanie's Duck a L'Orange won, and Nimma's uninspiring shrimp was the losing dish. It does always make us sad to see someone go on the first episode, before we've had the chance to get to know them — and they've had a chance to get over their nerves.
So, what did you think of the episode?
(Photos: BravoTV)
Leave it to chefs to legitimize electric weed pipes! I'm convinced that there have been many other advancements in the food industry as a result of the "illegal herb". For instance, Taco Bell's creatively named taco item that incorporates both a hard and soft shell glued together by refried beans.
I could see the r & d department brainstorming over that one.
"Dude, I love the crispy shell but the soft shell is so pleasing too. Yeah man, you're right. Dude, what if you had a taco that had both? No way man. Yeah! Dude, watch this...dude slathers warm soft tortilla with refried beans then sticks it to the crispy shell. Awesome man! It's like a nexus of textural energy! Dude, you spilled spicy sauce on your uniform..."
At first, I was baffled. I thought that Rocco defected but then realized that he didn't really move to Chicago, the house was the Top Chef dorm.
I was surprised that my favorite, Jen Biesty, shocked the Top Chef contestants by revealing that she and Zoi are a couple. When she ultimately wins (I'm a little optimistic) I, I want her to win fair and square. I'm not worried.
I think it's going to be a great season. Even though I don't know her, I have great loyalty to my city (even though I'll say Chicago style pizza is good only once in a great while) so I must also root for Stephanie. She's got the skills to pay the bills, I know that much.
So far so good!
view art's profile
What a great first quick-fire and elimination challenge duo! I'm excited for this season! I almost threw something at the television when Rocco DiSpirito congratulated Mark on using Vegemite when he clearly used Marmite. That aside, I was delighted when Stephanie won despite her nerves!
view nongsa's profile
What I want to know is if Bourdain and DiSpirito got along?
view cweingarten's profile
cweingarten: I feel in my heart of hearts that they don't. Tony could never get down with someone that smooth (botoxed) faced. But I have no evidence of this.
Also, Marmite = barf.
My roommate and I spent most of the time trying to decide who was cuter: Spike or Mark?
view FromTheFuture's profile
And Mark should know better: Marmite is not a specialty of NZ and Australia. It's an English-loved product. As an Aussie, it's with Vegemite that my heart belongs. Marmite is just an inferior imitation.
view sodapresents's profile
the thing is, bourdain has commented (in between barbs) that rocco is a great chef. I hope rocco acted like a prime donna. Nothing on ruhland's blog about it though.
view cweingarten's profile
I'm a little worried...I have reservations for Repast, where Nimma works (or worked, I hope).
I liked the head-to-head competition, but I'll be happy when we have 10 or fewer chefs. It's hard to keep track of who I like and who needs to go home already.
Also, for what it's worth, I own that green dress Padma wore, but I have it in brown.
view popcorn.for.dinner's profile
it was pretty funny actually that so may of the chefs put too much dough into their deep-dish pans. I may not be a chef but even I was thinking "hello, where is all that dough going??"
view kdb's profile
easy on the faux hawk comments....beats male pattern baldness
view hdtex's profile
I kind of liked it, but I do live in Chicago so I might be a little biased - it was fun seeing them arrive in the city and such. And I'm always amused by Bourdain, so there's that.
Although, even though I'm a local, I almost never eat deep dish pizza unless I have out-of-town guests - I wonder how many Chicagoans seriously eat those gut bombs regularly.
view jazspin's profile
I hear you jazspin, gut bomb is right. I give any one of those contestants a pass on the deep dish challenge.
The most enjoyable Chicago Style pizza I can remember was at Zachary's in Oakland. And the one that I make myself from the original, original Uno's recipe.
view art's profile
We began watching this show for the first time this season because it was done in Chicago. We live 23 miles southwest of the Loop, so it was of local interest. The overall format of the show, however, does very little to inspire us, as we really, really HATE "reality" TV (an oxymoron if there ever was one). We'll watch a few more episodes to make a final decision, but we will have little or no bother if we decide to abandon the show due to it's insipid format, not caring one whit who wins.
view fbloss's profile