Todd English stopped by to guest judge in week two of Top Chef Las Vegas. If this episode proved anything, it's that this season will likely be just as cheesy as we expected – the craps table, the bachelor/bachelorette party, the sickly sweet shots. Nevertheless, we're loving every minute of it.
We're still in the early stages of the competition where it seems like (almost) anyone's game, and we're trying to remember who's who. Is Brian the good brother or the bad boy? What is the guy's name with the red scarf again?
This week's bachelor/bachelorette elimination challenge stirred up quite a few serious issues – marriage, gay rights, gender equality. It was the men vs. the women and once again, there were comments about the women not being up to par. Are we really still having this conversation? Sure, this week the men's team won the challenge, but there were clearly capable chefs on both teams.
There were certainly some missteps, and some had us wondering if the chefs had watched any previous seasons of the show. There are some Top Chef truisms that every contestant should know. Here are our top five:
- Don't make more dishes than you have to. Make one dish and make it perfectly. Overreach, and you'll regret it. Every time.
- Don't make panna cotta. Ever. Though this dessert is simple to make at home, it's not doable in the time constraints of Top Chef. Many a chef has tried. Nearly all have failed.
- Keep it professional. Keep your shirts on and don't jump in the pool while you're working a party. This didn't seem to hurt the men's team when it came to judges table. It's just a little request from us. Thanks.
- If you predict that people will get sick of you, they almost certainly will. We're talking to you, Michael I.
- If you promise big, bold flavors, you better deliver. Eve struggled with this one, and was sent to pack her knives and go as a result. Let that be a lesson to you.
Next week, Air Force challenge.
What did you think of this week's episode?
Related: Top Chef Masters: A Winning Storyteller
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Does it strike anyone else that Todd English is a bit distant...I just find something really odd about him. Maybe he's just too serious?
I thought I wouldn't watch this season. So much for that.
I think there's going to be some good competition.
The most interesting thing to me is how the producers have made sure that molecular gastronomy techniques are an essential component to the show. I know that sounds presumptuous on my part but considering the fact that there are tanks of liquid nitrogen and immersion circulators on hand I'm pretty sure that they wanted to throw those into the mix. Makes me think of gladiator battles where different kinds of crazy weaponry must have been thrown into the arena at different stages.
That said, I'm pretty open-minded but don't understand how a lump of frozen gazpacho can win a competition.
"If you predict that people will get sick of you, they almost certainly will."
I was sick of him as soon as he opened his mouth. Ugh, the ego!
what about the lesson that i CAN'T BELIEVE no one has learned yet: if you have to say "i'm not a pastry chef, but...", don't make a dessert unless you are forced to. it will only end in sadness.
Sure, there were capable chefs on both teams, but clearly the men were much more capable. I think even if the elimination didn't fall along team lines (ie. only the women being up for elimination), the same 4 would have still been the ones up for elimination.
If I remember correctly, Stefan pulled off panna cotta last season and saved his restaurant wars team.
But in general, I agree. You'd think these chefs would at least try to watch past seasons and learn how to play the game. I'd add "Pick a dish that matches the format of the challenge". As in, don't try to sous-vide something for a short quickfire challenge. Or make something that doesn't hold up well to sitting around for a catering challenge.