Blonde Gator

Of course! To each his own. But, how would anyone know if they loved it or hated it, if haven't actually gone fishing? You don't care for it, so fine. For those of us who love it, a bad day fishing is better than a good day doing most anything else. I am such a fish snob (because I can't bear the thought of fish that's been out of the water for more than six hours or so) that I rarely order it in a restaurant, unless I can actually see it first. And besides, the kind of fishing I mostly do (offshore)...you do a lot more fishing, than catching, which basically means trolling around, and gabbing with your friends and family, catching the sights and soaking up rays. One could fairly describe it as hours of not much, punctuated by periods of pure mayhem and adrenaline pumping insanity. When it's a huge dolphin (Mahi for the tourists) or a wahoo (a better eating fish does not swim in the oceans)....or the best, a billfish, it's beyond thrilling. Can't think of much I'd rather do. In this challenge, JoeStache & Adrienne had never fished before...I think I heard JoeS say he'd never even fileted a fish, which I found odd. Not sure about Flamm, tho. I'm kind of on the fence about the finale, but upon final reflection, I'm in Camp Flamm. He has a sailfish tatt on his arm. BTW....Tom Coliccio is an avid angler...he has a YouTube channel of his outings with his chef friends....for those here who are not angling averse. It's not bad at all, if you like that sort of stuff.

I'm really impressed how her cast-mates and the TC production staff have supported her through this ordeal. Wouldn't it be great if they brought her back next year as a QF judge? I would LOVE to see that.

Noticed that. Thank you, but NO!

Oh my, episode 357 of Padma's boobs. (I am certainly NOT crabbing at you, please know that). I have come to the conclusion that we need a separate forum topic next season...."Padma's Outfits", which of course, is code for "Padma's Boobs". I am laughing so hard right now....but I still think the point remains, we could perhaps keep our comments more on topic in the Episode threads if we had a place to opine on the outfit choices her stylist makes....some are so awesome, and some are so awful. Now, back to our regularly scheduled Episode topic.....I meant to mention the Tom "droning" segment, as you said. It was so amusing. Sometimes this show just gets it right. Those "cowboy kettles" looked REALLY hard to cook on. There was really no way to mitigate the amount of heat, other than moving things around the grill top, and it looked like that oak was burning HOT HOT HOT". I was kind of surprised there wasn't some sort of "step" kind of device to use to raise the pots to lower the heat, even on the edges that fire looked really almost too hot to work on.

About Adrienne.....after seeing her w/her mom, I suspect there's nothing "flat" about Adrienne....she was raised in an old fashioned Southern household, and she has been taught to be reserved around people she doesn't know well....and I'd think that would include cameras as well! Some would say "breast your cards". She keeps her emotions to herself pretty much until she feels comfortable around people. We saw glimpses here and there. For example, I think she let her hair down a bit more when the three finalists made it to the suite in Aspen....what did Flamm say to her, "open the bubbly, Sparkling?" or something like that. That's where she kind of opened up and you could see the "real" Adrienne without her game face on. Totally agree about Joe S being a good guy, & the toast thing, well...obviously he's not as good at it as Carrie, perhaps in this episode he got the edit to make it look like he was making fun of himself??? Top Chef continually tells these chefs "cook your food"...and there's such a diversity of chefs that it only makes sense that some have homier styles. But I think where the parameters of a challenge say "elevate your food" (as in the "High" challenge).....Chris wasn't able to think outside of his box of comfort food, so got eliminated. To me, the thinkers (again, Flamm & Adrienne) had the hardest challenge...super home-style spaghetti & pasta, and the long-cooked pot of Gumbo. They both truly elevated their dishes. Adrienne won, because her dish was not only extremely elevated, it seemed like a new dish altogether, even after the now somewhat passe "deconstructed" dishes. I like the mix of "fine dining", ethnic, and home-style chefs we typically get on a season....but they MUST be able to stray out of their lanes and diversify when the rules call for it.

Gosh, I wish I could take you fishing and show you the sheer joy of catching and then cooking fresh fish yourself. There's nothing better in the world, truly! Obviously, that was a stocked (and tiny) trout pond, I just wonder if the cheftestants had any instruction at all. It never occurred to me until I read your comment that "fishing" is not a universal "thing". It's not as easy at it looks.....although if the fish are in the mood, it's not hard! I wonder, is it even possible for a show like TC to do "neutral edits"? I'm getting rather tired and bored with their constant misdirection with editing. This show is one of my all time favorites, but even though I am totally pleased with this season's non-bitchy and collegial bunch of chefs....I think it needs some freshening up. Keep the old classic challenges (mis en place race, Restaurant Wars), but we need some new ones, too. And maybe even a different judging format. Dunno...perhaps some online content for Judges' Table, etc? Oh yeah, last thought that I left out of my prior post. Didn't dig Padma's "Cher" look at all....I thought she looked more like Morticia Addams this week....all she needed was a black dress and Cousin It! With the state of our oceans, I'm not so sure saltwater fish is that safe, either. However, having grown up and still living in Florida....I'm willing to chance it and eat super fresh raw seafood at every opportunity. Since I generally dislike fresh water fish....far too boney (except walleye trout)....I had NO idea about that.....many thanks for the heads up.

Greg Germann was the best part of the episode, as was Alex singing with Kimmie. Fantastic. The rest was pretty much meh. Also liked the new firefighter (Andy?) getting on the phone and going off in Spanish, picking up the slack for Meredith's project. I'd gladly swap Andy for five current Grey's characters. She's interesting. Not sure I'll watch the firefighting show, though.

I'm beginning to suspect the disingenuous edits. They seemed to really rag on Flamm in the preview, so I agree with you on next week's results. Although I didn't get any of that from Padma's tone....although I generally ignore her emoting, LOL. BTW....I sent Cook's D this yesterday, and wonder if you've seen it. Next season, as you know, is in KY....I ran across a great article yesterday, and it gives me even more reason to want to try to find a way to actually see part of the season, whether in an early season "festival" type challenge, or for a RW episode, etc. I have to think they'll film part of the season at this place....the history is amazing, and it should be open shortly. My friend in Lexington (not far away) has already offered me a guest room, and wants to tag along if we can make this all come together. Kentucky Season should be fantastic!!

Wow!!!!!!!!! I didn't see that one coming. Once again, Joe Flamm showed he's the SMART chef. Choosing to go for the smoke, both times...and picking Carrie as his sous. Of course the "mountain woman" (that! made me laugh) knew how to cook on the cowboy cauldron. OF COURSE she did. It was fantastic to see her picked first, you could see it was a total affirmation of who she was, and since she didn't make it into the top 3, it was fantastic to just see her get that extra bit of "you are awesome". Speaking of awesome....I was never a big fan of Bruce's. And true to form, the celeb judges all knew him, but I just wanted to hug and kiss him when he said "Ask Adrienne about the dish, I'll just stand here and be pretty". He was a real rock for Adrienne, after he got it through his head SHE was the executive chef of that challenge. He really kept her in the game when things started go to wrong for her, and it was so satisfying to see her change her dish in Whole Foods to "make it my own cooking". She's also a thinker! Felt sorry for Sasto, but I don't believe he is any way the villain his edits have shown him to be. He also had one of the better exits on this show, IMO. Totally positive, although you could see his disappointment and sadness at leaving this far into the game. But he was totally focused on how his participation had made him grow as a chef, and was so positive about what he'd learned. "What's the worse that can happen? You come in third". Bravo, Mustache Joe! Now lose the stache and let us just marvel at your sparkly, happy eyes! Great penultimate episode. The catching fish thing was really funny....I had no idea about eating trout not fully cooked. My ex & I packed in years ago, from Creede, Colorado, way up above the treeline. There was a gorgeous trout "pool" like that, where we caught our dinner....and the next morning he went fishing again, with one of our guides, while I went riding WAAAAY above the treeline with our other guide. Although it was only a two day trip....it was definitely a bit of paradise and an experience of a lifetime. This whole episode was so totally enjoyable....Bravo! BRAVO. The whole season was elevated by this episode, IMO. Can't wait for next week!

Oh Lawdie!!!!!!!!!!!

For me, it's more of a matter of respect. The point is, she wasn't on a red carpet, nor in NYC, nor with celebrity pals. Inappropriate is inappropriate. Just as sneakers were inappropriate for dinner at the Governor's mansion, a barely there dress for a family style challenge also reaches that level. I'm neither fascinated nor appalled by Padma's boobs. I generally find Padma's wardrobe choices interesting, but disapprove of her choice in this challenge. I'd have been embarrassed if she'd been my guest.

Padma flaunting her assets in an inappropriate setting is just bad manners. It's one thing on a finale like in the Bahamas at a beach luncheon. But this was not that.

Chris seemed to have real difficulties when he was challenged to think outside of his comfort zone. He did very well on "dishes that represent you". But when he got outside of his comfort zone, ie. the German Radler challenge, or the one he went home on, he just lost all passion for whatever he decided on cooking. I tend to agree with you, he could have gone home much sooner than he did, but I think he got great credit for NOT throwing anyone under the bus. Where the two bottom dishes were equal (ly bad), Chris didn't go because he's a good person.

Eliza Gavin, season 10. I wouldn't have recognized her with her hair up like that. She got PKYAG'd in the 5th episode, never on top, never on the bottom. They listed her as being from Telluride in Season 10, so she's been there a while. Her restaurant is 221 South Oak. Pick there didn't look like she did in Ep. 10, either.

Who won? I don't remember that.

Thanks, great info! Sage is to chicken as basil is to tomatoes, IMO.

I thought Adrienne's deconstructed gumbo looked pretty fandamntastic. Speaking of gumbo and things from LA....Isaac Toups is still my favorite ever. I am dyin' to get out to Louisiana and eat at his restaurant. Maybe for 3 days in a row....although last time I did that (in Mexico with Mole Negro)....I foundered, like a bloody horse! The lemonade marinade likely replicates the acid in the buttermilk or, as you say, the vinegar. Lemon/chicken is always delish. Lately I've been making Tyler Florence's fried chicken....where you infuse the oil with fresh herbs (living in Florida, whacking herbs is a necessity), with lots of seasoning in the flour. It's pretty rockin' delicious.

OMG. Order the chicken livers and crawfish hushpuppies for me. I'd die and go to heaven.

I thought the dining room was quite lovely in this Ep. Loved the big painting that was behind a couple of the diners, with the huge pop of orange.

This. I lost my mom 2 years ago at almost 93, and it still hurts. However, I'm cooking her favorite lasagna right now, nothing but smiles here, I just wish she were still around bugging me about "when is it going to be ready?"....but I really feel for Joe S. and the memories her lasagna stirred up. I wanted to hug him. His pics as a kid were positively adorable, those sparkling little eyes full of mischief. He was a cutie! And I think underneath the bluster and Hipster nonsense there's still quite a bit of that sweet little boy. Can't wait for next week to get confirmation on the Final Two. This is the first season I looked at spoilers, not sure I want to do that again. But I'm all good with the final three.

How awful....I am so sorry for your loss. There just aren't any adequate words. Of course it was awful to watch this episode. It will get better in time. I'm only able to watch "Steel Magnolias" now, all these years later, I lost my younger sister in 1997....but time will definitely help. Hang in there. Hammies.

I'm sorry for your loss. This must have been a very tough episode for you to watch.

LOL! I remember every single one of those challenges. Yep. That season was the best ever.

Alas, no. I mentioned that fantastic laugh earlier. I'm a huge Bryan (spelled it right, finally) fan. How about a Bryan Volt season as judge on TC? I'd love it. (Although Graham was actually very good on last night's episode....maybe he's finally comfortable in his judge's seat). Was he on the Masters season when they went sky-diving? I think so...when they had the secret sous battles for advantages.

Love Brian Voltaggio. He's got a strange sense of humor, which I love, and he's a perfectionist. Where he has it all over his brother, IMO, is that he doesn't lord it over people the way Michael seems to. Don't get me wrong, I like him too.....but I prefer clean cut to tatts every time.