Souris

Amazing looking spread! The dish I most wanted to eat was Charbel's fetteh. It's a dish I make and love -- though of course not as fancy as his. Ali made a lot of components with the mezze and pita. I like his and Amar's bromance. Buddha didn't really show himself well about being in bottom three. I really enjoy this group.

Is that speculation or based on something the producers or actors have said? Would there be a reason they wouldn’t or couldn’t do that story simultaneously with what’s going on in Ravka like they have been doing? Heaven knows they covered a ton of different stories this season! And, yes, the bee is significant and a clue to a storyline from the books.

I was skeptical about the casting of my beloved Nikolai, but after watching S2, I hereby retract my reservations!

Interesting that Buddha competed back-to-back.

Lot of cheftestants in the James Beard nominations. I’m sure I missed some, but I saw Nina for Best Chef, Damarr for Emerging Chef, and regionally, Sarah Welch, Sheldon, Lee Anne, and Keith Rhodes.

I thought he didn't kill Partner until he got the OK from above. River's granddad was waiting in the car for Lamb when he came out from the hit. Shirley did have a screwup, she turned her back on the guy on the train and didn't make sure he was actually neutralized before getting Roddy to open the door. What I don't understand is why the mom stood down in the end. Did she just break? I wouldn't think that would have been the plan, because it would have been better for them to have the chaos of a plane shot down, and I'm sure she was seen as expendable anyway. Not as good as S1 but I still enjoyed it.

Ilia Malinin lands the first quad axel in competition. That looked shockingly easy.

Right. Nick brought his spice blend he used several times.

Given that I’m a pescatarian, I’m more likely to eat actual acorns! But that is a very interesting consequence of their diet. For some reason my mind has decided they taste like chestnuts. But since I haven’t tasted chestnuts, either, that doesn’t really mean anything to me! 😂

It went how I thought it would. Can’t complain with the outcome. Buddha is thoughtful and innovative, and Evelyn made more missteps. A great end to a great and enjoyable season. I’m sad it’s over. Out of all the dishes, the one I would most want to eat is Sarah’s acorn cake. I’m just really curious what acorn tastes like. It was super intriguing.

It really was strange. I could not figure out what that was about. It was definitely distracting. I am sooooooo sad about Demarr, though it was obvious that was how it was going to go and seems like it was the correct decision. He started so strong and was a definite frontrunner, but he clearly tailed off over the past few weeks. I hope the competition gives him more confidence. I also hope he wins Fan Favorite. I think any of the remaining three would be a worthy winner, though my money is on Buddha winning.

I really enjoyed watching both chefs this season — they have both cooked some excellent dishes and also serve up terrific talking heads. They both make me laugh! I had to root for Sarah because it would have been brutal to sweep the first part when they both thought that was it, only to have to cook again, win more time, then ultimately lose. So I’m glad she didn’t come up :this short: again. I would love to try both dishes (except for the olive relish, because olives are the most vile flavor in the universe to me. Impressive run for Sarah! Also: SHOTA! You know they just want to pretend he won last season. I know I do.

I enjoyed the hell out of this show. Gary Oldman was clearly having a blast. Right before Lamb got in the car at the end, the penny dropped for me about who would be waiting. Nice setup for S2.

I had the same Whaaaaat? reaction. People absolutely do go to Asheville just for the food — I’m one of them! My friends and I plan our trips there around all the different places we want to eat and how many we can fit in. It is such a foodie city. I’m happy for Ashleigh but would have given Buddha the win. I REALLY want his Parkerhouse rolls. And I don’t like carrot cake, but I’d like to taste Demarr’s.

I was surprised Ashleigh went home. It really seemed from the comments that it was going to be Monique. Disappointed, because I wanted the NC chef to do better. So many chefs didn’t seem to understand the Quickfire assignment.

Right??? Those things looked mass produced they were so precise!

That was a really interesting Elimination Challenge and provided some of the most intriging dishes this season so far. Some of the teams were very innovative. (I did not mean to do all “I” adjectives, LOL.) I think the right team went home. I was surprised Demarr messed up his cornbread. Glad to see Ashleigh on the top after the string of bottoms — since she’s an N.C. chef, I want her to do well. Jae is hilarious.

I simply CANNOT with Charlotte’s military love interest (Lennox?). I had to stop watching “Dickensian” because that actor’s character was so utterly vile. I can’t shake that association. I was bothered by Charlotte’s hair for the first time. It was a mess. And all the shirtless men was just NOT DONE around ladies. And unmarried ladies hanging around men unchaperoned. Anachronistic madness!

Same. Can’t stand her. Ugh.

Quite a few cheftestants among the James Beard nominees. On a very quick scan I saw Kevin, Tiffani, Isaac, Tiffany, Sheldon and Jamie. I’m sure I probably missed some. https://www.jamesbeard.org/blog/the-2022-james-beard-award-semfinalists

Jessie Diggins is a BADASS. She said afterward that she had food poisoning 30 hours before the race! Meanwhile, I can barely get off the sofa after a short night of sleep. That she was able to medal is amazing. The first non-European to medal in the event.

P/C beautiful but not alien.

Welp. This S/K routine is putting me to sleep. Everything pales beside alien.

Is it just me or was Nathan Chen’s applause for H/D a lot less heartfelt than for C/B? Same, Nathan, same.