bravofan27

I actually liked this show-- much much more than other groupings like Last Resort, which were all horrible. It's the first time I've liked Chantel, she definitely has aged a bit, but in a good way. It was fun, and it will be interesting to see how everything plays out.

Berries and beef sound delicious. It wasn't clear, but I don't think they needed to buy the beef or berries, so a much easier challenge IMO. I also liked that they didn't focus a challenge on the sponsor, but from history of the Calgary Stampede. It allowed more camera time to get to know the chefs. Who would have ever thought Lana staged for Kristen back in the day? And Kristen didn't even remember. The chefs were really going "at it" with their beef and berry jokes and innuendos. I wonder what it's like working in a kitchen of steak house. EEKS. From Lana, "I like a big cut steak. I like a big boy." From Massimo, "Hopefully, I'm going to have a very fat tenderloin, Amen?" to which Lana says, "Amen, brother" From Shuai: "The berries are tart to braise the beef, OOH! I'm so sweaty." It was cringy. There were more. I know people that do that. They smell everything before they eat it. It is gross and compulsive. Yes, pomegranates aren't even grown in Canada. Bad move. Especially since the most prolific producer is India-- Just eeks all around. It can come off as a microaggression or ignorance.

Massimo is comedically alpha male, where Tristen is more subtle about it, but they are both dominant personalities. I noticed that every time Tristen has won a challenge, Massimo has clapped and smiled and looked genuinely happy for him. He makes his grumpy face when he gets criticism from the judges, and he was definitely disappointed that his pizza wasn't on top, but I don't think he took it out on any of the other chefs, or had his displeasure targeted or indicated feeling victimized. I see him being a pretty good sportsman in this game overall. He led a yoga class for goodness sakes! LOL. Tristen is a good guy, but he's bringing some baggage from what he has experienced in his life, trauma is a real thing. His resume is incredibly prestigious and he's worked in amazing kitchens across the globe and achieved a lot- he should be really proud of himself and not compare himself to anyone. It may be a combo of ego and unaddressed trauma that is bringing Tristen down right now.

I think they have had some cool Canada stuff happening. It makes me want to go to Canada! I'm not sure where this Tristen vs. Massimo thing happened. Both chefs are talented. Maybe Tristen is a bit jealous because Massimo has a fine dining restaurant and more successful, and he feels resentful because he thinks white privilege-- that African diaspora food doesn't catch the richies like French and Italian does? Not sure, but there is some serious jealousy there, IMO. I remember Kwame had some hits and misses with restaurants, but he seems like he is successfully running several African inspired menus in DC. Maybe Tristen just needs to find the right location with clientele that are more educated and open minded about fine dining cuisine. It's not Massimo's fault! Massimo trained under David Boulud, who is VERY fancy French. My husband worked for Gavin Kaysen (who also trained under Boulud), and there is a very refined fine dining forward approach to their food, but it's not a bad thing. Tristen is super tight with Marcus Samuelsson, who he met on the Taste in 2014, and has been a mentor to him and hired him. So he has all the hook-ups. I don't know, Tristen just seems like the competition is getting to him, and he's not really on board with competition. I realize he had a family tragedy, but family tragedies don't change your personality IMO. Personality is personality, period. It's genetic and stable. I think Tristen likes being the "boss" and is a bit of a know it all. Massimo, for the most part, has let him have that role. But when push comes to shove, I do think Massimo is the better competitor in this game. We will see what happens! Note that I love all the chefs. I'm trying to see both sides and be critically thinking without getting emotional about a perspective.

Tristen in general is very likeable and a great chef. But he does think he is better than everyone, and that's really coming to light. At least he thinks he is better than Massimo.

This is what Tristen said, "Massimo is my biggest motivator. And this is going to come out bad. In a way, he represents everything I'm cooking against. Him always in my face about Italian cuisine and French cuisine, I want to top that so badly." Sounds like it's more than he talks too much. And not to get to DEI, Massimo has a right to be himself and not bullied because someone doesn't like him or triggers them. He hasn't said anything critical about anyone. Let the man be himself. I'm not sure why Tristen hates him so much-- but I do think something triggers him and he IMO, needs to just focus on his own cooking, and not trying to one-up Massimo. It's a toxic head space to get into.

Wow, it seems like Tristen doesn't like Massimo either. Not sure what triggers Tristen about Massimo, but it seems a little obsessive and not too healthy. I loved Gail's pink jumpsuit. So cute. I have no idea who Punky Johnson is. I'm not sure how they went from Punky (whose from NY and not French) to connect to bodegas. It was a stretch. She had to cook in her dressing room from bodegas? Not sure about that, because NYC has a million all night markets with pretty much anything you need/want. Loved Lana's racoon hands. Very exactly like raccoons when they are eating something. Weird they went from ultra processed food challenge to sustainable food challenge.

That's what I don't agree with-- that working on a cruise ship offers any opportunities (other than meeting someone to get you off the cruise ship). But for someone young who wants to travel, sure. For a career, naw.

Naw. I know too many people that worked on cruise ships. It's a horrible job, and no one with US citizenship does it. They can get the same shitty job right here in the US. Also, a lot of US people who are bilingual have better opportunities. It's a good opp for international (outside of US) people who can speak English and their native language. Juan is over that part of his life. IMO, he got exactly what he wanted.

Juan leaving his family to go make $16 an hour on a cruise ship is ludicrous IMO. Plus, it's a dead end job, he's not a kid anymore, AND he will have a green card. There is a community college in their town, I think he best bet is to get his AA or AS and do something in the community-- he doesn't want a labor job (don't blame him), but he could do administration, police officer, teacher, real estate, insurance, anything IT. He's got everything set up to really position him for life. Going back to the cruise ship is a horrible idea at the place he is in life now. It will never happen though. He knows going back to the cruise ship is never going to happen-- if the job was so great and he loved his life so much, he never would have moved to the US/Wyoming to begin with. He's kind of a brat-- he married a sugar momma and this is what it's like. You got to take their lifestyle or man-up (not desert ship). I was wondering why Shekina keeps her hair short and wondered if she had a thinning issue. It makes more sense now when she explained why she was wearing a wig. BUT, if her hair falls out a lot she really should go to a doctor. It could be a nutrition thing, or a thyroid issue. Or she may be using too many chemicals to straighten it. Juan and Jessica's trip looked really gloomy. But she and Juan seem to share the same party spirit and Juan seems to love hanging out with her friends (even Megin!) so I think they are fine-- he's fine. Maybe he feels like she isn't as pretty as she was when he first met her. Not sure.

I think the chefs were supposed to "mix" the ingredients of Lana's dish-- not eat the cornmeal stuff as a separate side. Take some fish, dip it in the sauce, and then the cornmeal and it tastes like fried fish. That was my takaway. But Lana was having problems with her coating from the get go. The layered crepes was a really good idea. The chefs like foods that are integrated rather than mixed. Vinny's "lasers" and the key was a little cheesy IMO. And then it all froze. He spent to much time on his lasers and key shape thing that no one thought was that cool anyway. Tom reached in and got the key and was like, "I have the key, now what?" It was sort of like that pick-up-sticks game, except the key was too easy to get. He could have had more "lasers" and chopsticks and made the judges get the key without touching the lasers (now I'm thinking Operation). Maybe a really hot soup or pho that they had to blow on until the temperature lowered and had little thermometers in them, until the temperature was whatever degrees they couldn't eat it, and the person that reached the right temp first was able to add the accompaniments. Or maybe even little heaters where each judge had to get their broth to a certain temperature before adding the meat, and then had to wait to the meat was a certain temperature before adding the hoisin or gochujang.

Massimo has a wrinkly grouchy face. I think that's why he smiles so much.

Mission Impossible was a sponsor so they had to do the challenge around a Mission Impossible. The "stunt" aspect I thought was fun-- made them be creative. I thought maybe it was an avenue into a different market as well (as chefs) but when Tarzan said he wanted sparkles on the food, I thought, never mind. Best line, from Tristen, "This is the quietest I've ever heard Massimo, and the peace is actually quite nice." LOL. I laughed at that. It was also super funny when he placed the timer on the chef's table and said, "You have 30 seconds to take the sauce, or... (suspense) it will get cold." Haha!

Tristen is definitely a standout with his confidence, skill, personality, and humility. Plus, he's adorable AND single!

Josh Cellars wine is the sponsor this year. Which is gross wine, and I'm not surprised Tom seems pissy at dinner time. LOL. Full list: Josh Cellars wine, Paramount Pictures, Pure Michigan, Rao’s Homemade, and Wayfair Stocks the Kitchen as First-Time Partners with the Award-Winning Culinary Series BMW of North America, Chipotle, Delta Air Lines, Finish Dishwasher Detergent and Additives, Morton Salt, Saratoga® Spring Water, Talenti and the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Credit Card Return for the Most Appetizing Competition Yet