Blonde Gator

It was fantastic to see the Voltaggios again. My favorite is Brian....I'm just sorry we didn't get enough of him to hear that fabulous laugh of his. I thought all of the judges gave on-point feedback this week in the EC. You could tell Tom was happy with Flamm's dish when he used "gravy" for the tomato sauce, that's a dead give-away for him. The QF challenge was just kind of gross, a half an hour for a duo dish seems like too much to do with too little time and an unfamiliar ingredient. The surprise of going in the cabin after Flamm thought he'd have to fight BEARS was fantastic. Just the break for lunch with their family members was just what the doctor ordered, I'm sure. It was fun to see each of the chefs with their loved ones. Grammy Flamm was adorable. I miss my Gram. I knew Carrie was in trouble with that pasta dough. The key to pasta is to let it rest enough, and to make it on the wetter side, rather than on the drier side. She didn't have a hope in Hell with that dry pasta. It ate up her time, and her raviolo appeared to be falling apart on the edge facing the camera. Carrie was a surprising contestant, always upbeat, friendly, and helpful (remember that camping cake?)....I'm glad she went much farther than she ever expected, she left the show with great class and on a high note. I wish her all the best. I'm not one of the Sasto haters, it was interesting to see him, usually so hipsterish and not-a-care-in-the-world, get so into his own head and his family history to the point of almost breaking down. His father was as sweet as can be. "Best kid ever" cracked me up. Finally, woo hoo Adrienne! Her mommy told her the same thing....cook your own damned food!, and her take on a long-cook dish of gumbo was positively brilliant, and perfectly executed. That dish was total Adrienne on a plate, elevated fine dining but with her own flavors. I'd definitely order that dish in a restaurant. She slayed this challenge, and at the perfect time. This was one of the better late, late season challenges (and episodes) in the history of the show, IMO. Excellent.

Maybe he reads here and knows he's fairly well loathed by most. Heh.

I think the difference between Chris & Carrie's dishes were as follows. Chris's dish was admittedly "homey". Carrie attempted "high concept", but was unsuccessful at articulating her concept. But IMO only, the reason Carrie wasn't sent packing, was because all of her elements were very well executed....and both had cornbread that was equal. She won on technical merit alone. As I said earlier, this seems to me to be the one time that Tom was overruled...he said her dish was "clunky", but everyone else noted how well executed each of Carrie's elements were. Hard to say......we only get edited comments. But Chris had issues with his fried quail.

I'm not sure they were "failed". Every baked dish was remarked upon as being "obviously baked at high altitude". The profiteroles were said to be the same, a bit "crunchy". Joe Flamm's biscuits were tasty, but "more of a crumble". So I think the chefs were all somewhat equal, they did an okay job with what they baked, but it was apparent equally that no one was proficient at high altitude baking. IOW, a wash.

Thank you, Chiaros, for your screen caps. I couldn't get my TV to stop on exactly the pics, but in so many of them, indoors, that ski hat had a bump like a gigantic bun. Looked like Adrienne's, only higher on his head. I couldn't imagine such secure guy like Chris putting on FAKE hair (although I think Cali Phillip Lee would do that, LOL)....and it was so frustrating, not to be able to pause and actually figure it out. Kudos to you, Chiaros, your the board's Sherlock Holmes. And thanks for straightening this out .... mind found again, thanks to you!

We are sublimely happy. Thank you for your felicitations, I really appreciate it! BTW...can you make it to KY for the next TC filming? How much fun would that be....a whole bunch of us?

Yeah, except for in the EC....NO MAN BUN. He had short curly hair again. SMH. (maybe we can solve the mystery in KY this spring, heh...book your tickets soon!). But hey, I'm from Florida, so I notice things like sun and shadows. The started the meal on the mountain about noonish, sun was straight up....but it took quite a while until the end and PYKAG. The ladies put their "covers" on. But it was obviously warm and gorgeous as the meals were first served.

Reviewing the episode. Some thoughts. It seems that (judging by the shadows)....the food was served fairly quickly, the shadows don't change much from the first dish to the last. Then, it's obvious by the changing shadows that "Judges Table" took quite a while. The "results" seem to be about 4 hours later. Maybe with only 5 dishes, things were accelerated, but judging by the shadows during service...and then during "decision time".....I now have a much better understanding about how long and detailed the judging actually takes. I still believe Adrienne should have won this challenge. Granted, top 3 dishes were all delicious. But who here wouldn't order "butter poached lobster with caviar and champagne" in a "fine dining" restaurant? Maybe I'm not a sophisticate....I love duck, but I love lobster better. About the convo at judges table. It seems that this may be one of those rare episodes where Tom doesn't get his way. Wiley Dufresne made the point that Carrie technically out-cooked Chris, and it seems as though he won that argument. Gail said Chris's dish was clunky. I'm actually very surprised. Usually Tom gets his way....but after the rewatch...it seems that he didn't carry the day.

Absolutely! And now, during the EC....Chris has lost his man bun, and has the curly short hair again. Am I losing my mind? During the QF, he had on the gray shirt, w/the white collar band, and a huge bun. Someone please just shoot me now! Sister From Another Mother.

See you in KY, my SFAM. As I said on the other thread...I've met some "internet buddies". The last one was also a SFAM (and a foodie pal). We had lunch together in November, with our hubbies, and truly, if she lived here...it would be a scary thing. We cackled like two old broads who've known each other forever. And I swear, it wasn't the two gin martinis w/pickled mushrooms, either! How on earth we missed Chris's manbun, though??? I thought he just had really cool hair, slicked back. Chris is, without a doubt, one of the "coolest" contestants on this show ever. I am so sorry to see him go.

Sounds like a great plan! I've met some fantastic "internet friends"....in fact, I just married one on Tuesday! (After ten years together, I might add).

I can't believe I didn't notice Chris's manbun until this episode!!! I think I must be getting senile.

Padma's dress is the one that is featured on the opening shots for the season. And now, that I've seen this episode, and the scenery in Telluride, it's obvious that the location for the shoot of Padma in this dress was done during this episode. I kind of like Padma in the blue and white, it's cool against her "hot". She's got that perfect complexion and skin tones (and the fantastic black hair) that truly goes with every color there is. I say this as a blonde, who loves yellow, but couldn't wear it to save my life.

And in Shirley's first season, the finale was in Hawaii, and they flew Louis & Carlos there as well, where the competed to return from LCK. Alas, Louis got out of LCK, but didn't make it any further.

Thanks. I think that's a great "excuse" for a road trip!

You seem to have a good grasp on how the television shoots go for TC. I have a good friend who lives outside Louisville, and I'd LOVE to go visit (maybe make it a TC trip)....do you have any suggestions on what to watch for to make this happen? I can be there in 2 days (I live in SoFla....not very far from where that awful shooting happened yesterday, I'm still shaken by the whole thing).

Particularly inasmuch as Carrie was left with onions, lemon and honey after Joe Flamm re-entered the challenge, and was able to pick off her pork. I thought her ability to think her way out of her hugely upset plan was great. Carrie is really very creative. And quick on her feet. I thought her decision in the EC to NOT make Beef Wellington was a good one. I have enough trouble with dough at sea level, and even though Carrie is from Colorado.....discretion is sometimes the better part of valor. Although she could have done a "riff" on Wellington, perhaps. It is DELICIOUS when done well.

I don't think it was the batter per se, (although Gail felt it was a bit salty)....rather, it was the timing on the frying of the quail. It wasn't cooked properly, most likely as a result of the altitude. Plus, they were asked for elevated dishes, and Chris's dish seemed far too "homey", IMO. I thought Adrienne's dish looked beautiful, as did her bread. Butter, champagne, caviar & lobster....what's not to love? I really wish she'd won this challenge, she's only won one QF so far, which is puzzling. I don't understand how Sasto's dish won that EC. It looked good, but nowhere near "best" of what we saw. Alas, I suppose it tasted the best, dunno.

They could become (and sort of already are, considering their specialties) "work spouses".

Mr. BG tells me that "new-age" rhymes with "sewage". He told me this in the ruins of Monte Albans, Oaxaca, Mexico....as we were touring the ruins....and there were lots of, shall we say, very eclectic looking/acting people, dancing around and chanting with crystals and whatnot in front of the Temple of the Sun. Kind of embarrassing. I figured you'd appreciate a new and silly pronunciation of "new-age" in 'Stache Joe's case.

@bobbobbob199 I suggested earlier that the "answer" to the mystery person in Padma's room would probably be found on Reddit. Well, I looked....and they linked to YOUR post! You win the internet this week. Thank you. ETA: And now I've discovered it was our very own Chiaros! Woo hoo Chiaros, and Us!

LOL....anyone but the Hipster, huh?

Here's the Bravo Fan Favorite page: http://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/vote-for-your-favorite-top-chef-cheftestant Last night they had the rankings up, but I can't find it now, Sorry. Fatima was ahead. BTW, I loathe this years Bravo TC website, it sucks!

That....and the Three Bears. What did Goldilocks eat? (Remember one of the cheftestants asking Tom if he was going to put on a blonde wig for the judging?)

I read up a bit on Ewing's Sarcoma, seems it's a young person's cancer, and is rather on the lethal side. I suspect whomever wrote that didn't quite understand what he/she was writing. I believe they meant to say that while Fatima is currently cancer-free (i.e. in remission), there's only a 30% chance of non-recurrence. As you said, it's a nasty one. Per Fatima herself, FUCK CANCER!