I seem to be a woman of few words tonight. At least that was the case with the RHONY recap. Let’s see if I can be a little peppier for the Top Chef Recap. I do like when they show the chefs at their house all together. As usual, the guys are very loud and cocky. The girls are preparing for the vagicide. Three of the girls have a little clique. They call themselves Padma’s Angels. Good luck with that.
Kelly Clarkson is there for the quickfire. It’s an in-show advertisement for The Trolls movie. Remember when we went to movies? The chefs have to use six ingredients, one each of the six neon colors. There is a lot of candy and fruit and nothing seems to go well together. I’m seeing a lot of really bad ideas. Gregory’s savory soup sounds like it could be a winner. Melissa’s salmon looked good. Lots of people went with shrimp. Probably for the short cook time. Nini, Stephanie and Bryan were on the bottom. Aren’t two of those girl’s Padma’s Angels? Gregory, Lisa’s ribeye and Karen’s bowl of crunchy stuff came out on top. Karen is a Kelly Clarkson superfan. I think I see where this is going. Oh wait! Gregory won with his “soup.”
The Elimination Challenge
They are going to the Santa Monica Farmers Market! Remember when we had farmers markets? Am I the only one thinking like this when I watch this show? The chefs were split into two teams by a knife draw. Most of the heavy hitters are on the blue team. They each have to make a dish for a vegetarian progressive dinner for the judges. They won’t know what ingredients they will have for sure until the morning of the challenge when they get to the farmers market. That makes things tricky. Someone on each team also has to do a vegetarian dessert course.
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The chefs all have to cook in one restaurant kitchen. The will serve forty diners in addition to the four chefs. That’s a lot of cooks in the kitchen!
Two Very Similar Menus Emerge
On the red team, Malarky will start with a tomato and burrata salad. Isn’t burrata cheese? So they can use dairy? Lee Anne is doing a butternut squash hummus with crudité. Then Lisa has a brussel sprouts dish with apples. Stephanie is doing a charred cauliflower dish with grains. Brian V is doing a beet dish. Nini, the dessert queen will end with a peaches and cream sort of pastry.
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Over on the blue team, Kevin’s heirloom tomato and melon salad with sprouted grains sounds interesting. Next, Melissa is making a coconut corn soup that also sounds delicious. The third course will be Gregory’s roasted vegetable dish that focuses on carrots. Karen is going to make pasta with a mint, pistachio pesto. Jennifer is doing a jerk cauliflower that doesn’t sound appealing at all. Eric is on the dessert course with a butternut squash pudding that I am going to need the recipe for. Apparently, the food gods were not excited about Jennifer’s jerk cauliflower dish either because somehow she seems to have burned what I assume was the jerk sauce. The judges have arrived and she appears to be fucked.
The Blue Team Takes An Early Lead
The chefs are serving the judges in sort of a head to head competition. They were not impressed with Malarkey’s tomato dish. It was too simple. Kevin’s dish was a hit. Especially since he found some dates there. Course one goes to the blue team. For the second course, Melissa’s corn soup got rave reviews. Leanne’s hummus got decent but not great feedback. That’s two for blue. The third course goes to blue as well and Lisa could be in trouble with her butternut squash dish. So three points for blue.
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On the fourth course, Stephanie’s cauliflower is a hit.It looks like Gregory course moved up to keep Jennifer’s cauliflower disaster from going against Stephanie. The fourth course was essentially a tie. But Stephanie’s dish probably gave the red team their first winning dish. The last savory dish the judges liked the same. They didn’t seem to have a problem with Jennifer’s cauliflower. For the dessert course, both got rave reviews.
Judges Table
The judges wasted no time in letting the chefs know that the blue team was the clear winner. They had a great progression and every dish was strong. They hand nothing but compliments for each of the chefs. Melissa won again! Isn’t that two for her now? I really thought Kevin might win with his dates. Yes, they just said Melissa has won two of the four challenges. She’s the one to beat right now.
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Wow. Everyone is getting called out. When they tell Lee Anne that her hummus needed more oil and salt to finish the dish, she points out she didn’t do the finishing. Malarkey did. Malarkey then just throws Lee Anne all the way under the bus. One of these two is probably gone. Lisa’s brussel sprouts are also on the chopping block. And Lisa gets told to pack her knives and go. She made it to the final in her season.
Oh God. Next week is the loved one’s challenge and Lee Anne’s mom needs medical care. This does not look good.
I did not watch, but your recap is making me so hungry for some fresh vegetables. I need to rethink my strategy next time I risk my life out in public.
I had someone risk their life for me today. I did not ask for any vegetables. Not a good time for that. When i was a kid in Libya I remember Mother BLEACHING vegetables. That can’t possibly be a good idea. I got a lot of great things today. Important things like paper towels and bleachy spray things and such. And REALLY important things like wine and cigarettes and Cheezits and Ben and Jerry’s Pistachio Pistachio. I am good for another month or so.
I know everyone is talking about stress eating, but I am struggling to eat. I’d rather just drink. I can literally feel my liver. Sometimes the anxiety is so bad all I can eat is crackers like Cheezits. Just to get some sort of food in me. I am so grateful for y’all. And my friend who from here who showed up for me today.
To each his own but the experts (fda) say they have found no evidence of the virus being transmitted through food of any kind. The packaging perhaps but not food/produce itself. They actually recommend fruits and vegetables to boost immune system.
Me too
Also, It is weird to me that y’all aren’t really into this season of Top Chef. It’s an All Stars SEASON! And it is really good.
It’s the best! And I really like all of them now even some that i didn’t like on their first season. I’m team Karen all the way. She is a local chef to me and I love her.
It’s ok, and I like Padma more than ever…but the food they put out is meh. Hummus? I could make it in my sleep! Fucking brussell sprouts?
I love Top Chef but keep forgetting about it until I see your recap. I’m going to put it on the DVR right now. And all stars is always great because you already know them and have faves.
This morning I don’t know if it’s Good Friday or Christmas day. We had a huge storm last night and got 10 inches of snow so far. It really adds to the whole weirdness of life right now. It’s beautiful out, and I’m not going anywhere anyway, plus took the plow off the truck weeks ago, so a great day to hunker down and roast a chicken.
This is such a good season. The only bad part is that there is no one who I don’t like. So every week makes me sad. They ALL ARE SO GOOD. So, it’s either who had a bad day, who had the least wonderful dish, or the judges’ subhectivity. One of these weeks IT WILL HAVE TO BE A SPLIT DECISION — a Mondo vs, Gretchen deal — and Tom’s side will win out. Because … production drama.
I do not feel that Malarky was throwing Lee Ann under the bus. He was hoping his salt garnish wasn’t the ONLY reason her dish tanked; he wanted to know if he had understood that the hummus also lacked salt. Not only that, but LeeAnn is ultimately responsible to look over every dish. Plus, SHE SHOULD HAVE managed things better and been able to do the salt and oil herself. DOUBLE FAIL! But … she didn’t go home anyway. So now we have a LeeAnn hatin’ on Malarky to deal with for the rest of the season
Thank you for recapping Top Chef! I love this show and watch it religiously (haven’t watched Last Chance Kitchen yet…but hey, I’ve got lots of time to do that!). I try not to get emotionally involved with any of the contestants, but…if Eric doesn’t win….I don’t know what I’ll do!
TT-Great recap! I love when Karen gave a clue to her wife about Kelly Clarkson being a guest judge.Karen gave her wife a clue using the song lyrics to “Since You’ve Been Gone”. Her wife didn’t catch on and her response was hilarious. Still rooting for Eric and Kevin. I’m also starting to really like Gregory. He has a warm smile and seems so genuine.
I am commenting to let you know I appreciate your recaps and am loving the current season. Keep it coming!!!
Thanks! It’s nice to know people are watching this with me.
This show sends me, even more so now. I always read here even though I don’t comment often. I’m grateful for knowing I have a place to go (here) and try to chill myself out. I’m anxious in general, but try not to talk about it; however, I broke two teeth from clenching and grinding so I guess my “strategy” ( lol) is a fail. At least that is predictable…:-). Thanks for keeping it going TT, and Thanks to all of you…
Always watching and always reading your recaps! Almost every show I watch thinking what it used to be like. Watched a lot of the scary island season of RHNY thinking exactly that!
Just curious,has anyone watched the new show Almost Paradise on WGN. It’s awesome!
I love this show, watch it religiously, just not up to commenting lately. I do have to say burrata is amazing cheese!
I hope you feel better soon. xo ~tt
It’s my husband, he is now on a vent with the covid. Things look bad, but where there is still life, there is still hope. -xo
Love this season so far and the food on tonights episode looked amazing!
Gregory, Melissa and Eric for the final…….. or Kevin.
I’m with you! This show rocks me on so many levels :-)!
LeeAnn should have gone home. She has screwed up every dish and wanted to blame Brian when she needed everyone to help her finish on time. Send her back to Hawaii already!
My husband & I are so annoyed Lee Ann is still there. Since Ep 1 she’s been screwing up. No doubt she is a great chef, but this season has chefs that are at a totally different level. Eric, Gregory, Melissa, Nini and Voltaggio are my faves. Lee Ann seems to frequently mess up with the bare basics of cooking, especially at that level. When she mentioned making a hummus with crudite, I heard the voices of my vegan/vegetarian friends frequently saying how they are sick of uninteresting vegan/veggie food at restaurants. She was making hummus and carrot sticks while others were making delicious, flavorful soup, pudding from butternut squash, or BERRY SOIL. Her restaurant gets compliments on and off the show, which is telling of her talent, but she’s gotta go within the next episode or 2. She’s been very fortunate to make it this far.
On a side note: Love Nini. She is such a young talent. Hope she understands that no one is your friend. It’s a competition. Padma’s Angels made me cringe lol
Same here…well stated.
Malarkey is too cocky these days. I understand he is uber rich now after selling his restaurants, maybe that is why. He didn’t need to remind the judges what they said about Lee Anne’s dish. Yes, Lee Anne was responsible for it even though Malarkey did the seasoning. Tom said she should have checked each plate before it went out. Seems it would be difficult to tell whether enough salt was there. Both his and Lee Anne’s dishes seemed uninspired probably because it’s something that I could assemble. Agree with the judges that Lisa shouldn’t have justified her brussel sprouts by saying that she is a rustic chef. I love limp carmelized brussel sprouts not sure why she cooked them in the fryer. Jennifer is a sour puss diva. Her cashew sauce got overcooked and burned because someone accidentally turned up the burner. That’s happened many times on the show over the years. Agree that it’s a bummer but no one likes a complainer especially when her dish was ultimately praised. Not a fan of hers. Love the other chefs, poor Brian V was horrified when Kelly Clarkson said his shrimp texture was mushy.
I’m really looking forward to his leaving.
I live for Top Chef every season, this one is no different. I also am all over LCK, but I know the rules and will not discuss. I will say I happen to really like Tom, but if you aren’t a fan or feel that he is harsh to the ladies, I recommend watching it because you will get a better feel for his personality. I also like how he is an activist, he stays in his lane and keeps it about food/restaurants not a celeb on a soapbox.
Moving on, I am 90% vegetarian/10% seafood so I love a good veggie challenge. I’m surprised no one went with a cauliflower steak as the “meat course”. I know Jen did cauliflower, but she seemed to have overcomplicated it. Lisa’s plate didn’t look rustic, it looked like it had already been chewed. Malarkey needs to get over himself and Leeanne needs to get her mojo going, she has been a mess this season and next week does not look like it will be good for her either.
I love so many of these chefs, it is hard to pick a favorite.
I immediately added the guest judge’s cookbook to my amazon wish list.
On a farmer’s market note, I live in a Columbus, OH suburb and our farmer’s market is doing a curbside pickup so that vendors can keep selling.
Last Chance Kitchen is a gem. It’s a mini-TC episode with suspense, humor and drama. Get to know the dismissed chefs at another level.
Me too–for both of your comments…& I love LCK!
I LOVE CAULIFLOWER STEAKS!! Oddly enough, here in MPLS, no restaurants I know of offer them. Lots of great food options here, but vegetarian is sorely lacking.
I haven’t watched this season, although I think it’s a good show. I was wondering if you know how Padma became a judge? Does she have a background in cooking too?
Padma has written several cookbooks. She had a series on the Food Network before becoming a judge on Top Chef
Wow, I never knew she cooked or wrote cooking books. I must have missed her on Food Network. She always seemed to have a good cooking knowledge like a chef would have.
I love Top Chef!
I went to the grocery store today for the first time in 6 weeks. A big stupid man yelled at me. I had headphones on to help with my anxiety of which he took offence. All I wanted to do was buy some ingredients to make a wonderful meal for Easter. I’m alone and wanted something nice.
On the bright side, the grocery clerk was amazing and helped to prevent me from falling apart.
I love this forum.
TT please keep up with the recaps. I love them.
To everyone, Happy Easter and I hope you are all healthy.
The grocery clerks and baggers at my Publix have held me together BEFORE the pandemic. I frequently have major panic attacks in grocery stores. I have no idea why. Today I had anxiety about going to the mail box. It was actually nice to have some sunshine on my face.
They are heroes that were never appreciated by many before this. Thanks for understanding. At least I got wine and cigarettes! Lol
I don’t know if you (everyone here) have checked out your state’s csa/farmers. Many have changed things up due to covid where they are doing curbside pick-up, masks/gloves/social distancing with one of the workers, etc. Some states will offer info on their department of health websites. Wishing everyone a calm moment and comfort.