Tournament Of Champions - General Discussion

[libgirl2]

4 minutes ago, Salacious Kitty said:

His appearances on GGG and TOC aren't paying for what appears to be a pretty lavish lifestyle. I think that all comes from Guy.

Nepo baby indeed.

Yea, I can't imagine  he is making that much money but some people do live beyond their means. They also don't have a dad to bail them out. 

[meep.meep]

I don't give a shit about Hunter, but I still can't find the episode on streaming or on demand.  For our shared love of competitive reality TV, could someone say who completed and who won?  Pretty pretty please!  Put it in a Spoiler Box.

[DEL901]

Guy says his kids need an education or no inheritance. https://people.com/guy-fieri-says-he-plans-to-die-broke-and-leave-his-kids-nothing-unless-they-get-two-degrees-8417751

[Salacious Kitty]

Hunter followed Guy's footsteps and majored in hospitality at UNLV. 

[DEL901]

Just now, Salacious Kitty said:

Hunter followed Guy's footsteps and majored in hospitality at UNLV. 

And is now getting his MBA at University of Miami.  

[Salacious Kitty]

1 minute ago, DEL901 said:

And is now getting his MBA at University of Miami.  

Yeah I just read the article. He doesn't live like any student I've known. 

[libgirl2]

10 minutes ago, Salacious Kitty said:

Yeah I just read the article. He doesn't live like any student I've known. 

I would be curious as to his grades. 

[Salacious Kitty]

Just now, libgirl2 said:

I would be curious as to his grades. 

Wanna bet he's doing this online? No shade, I did my MA online. I just don't picture him in a classroom.

[Bastet]

48 minutes ago, Salacious Kitty said:

Hunter followed Guy's footsteps and majored in hospitality at UNLV. 

From what I understand from a friend who works in that industry, and backed up by a quick internet search, that's a terrific program.  Hunter doesn't seem to have the right personality for hospitality, but I realize that's not a fair assessment -- maybe he's just awful on camera.

55 minutes ago, meep.meep said:

I don't give a shit about Hunter, but I still can't find the episode on streaming or on demand.  For our shared love of competitive reality TV, could someone say who completed and who won?  Pretty pretty please!  Put it in a Spoiler Box.

No spoiler tags for anything that has already had its first US airing, so I'll post after I watch (which I'm just settling in to do while I eat lunch), but FYI it's on Discovery+ if you have that, you just have to scroll down to Extras once you've clicked on ToC.

[mlp]

I don't have a fundamental problem with nepotism as long as the kid is deserving and earns the advantages.  I think most parents would give their kids a leg up if they were in a position to do so.  There are plenty of people who were given a head start and went on to be successful in their own right.  Where I have a problem with it is in cases like Hunter where he is being dragged along in his dad's orbit but doesn't seem to be competent enough to merit his privileges.

[Bastet]

In the first qualifying episode, I was rooting for Maria since I liked her and her food on Top Chef, but I consoled myself that if one of the guys won, they go up against Brooke in round one of the regular tournament, and I can root wholeheartedly for her to kick ass. 

I had dinner at Union in Pasadena when Bruce was the chef and found it good but nothing special. But I thought he did the best with the stew meat, an ingredient that would have had me at a total loss (I don't care for it in general, and certainly not in only 30 minutes), so was glad to see him move on to the next round.  I'm was also happy for Maria scoring highly on flavor, as her dish was by far the one I'd most want to eat if she had longer to prepare it.

Kevin I vaguely remembered from his Alex vs. America victory, and he had me worried cooking his chicken on the bone.  That's how I want to eat it, but I wasn't sure he could get it done in time, so I'm glad that came out.  His dish looked delicious, so much more than Bruce's, because Bruce's braised carrots looked totally unappetizing (purely personal taste, as I'm not a fan of cooked carrots, and those were really cooked), so I was glad to see him get a decisive victory.

(For anyone still unable to find this episode:  It was Maria Mazon, Aaron May, Kevin Lee, and Bruce Kalman, with Kevin and Bruce winning the first round.  In the second, Kevin won 80 to 76 and will be the 8th seed going up against number one seed Brooke Williamson when ToC V starts.  Brooke was there to watch all four cook, and the judges were the other three ToC champs: Maneet, Tiffani, and Mei.)

I won't have a chance to watch the second qualifying episode until later this afternoon.

[Salacious Kitty]

The second round of qualifying doesn't air on FN until tomorrow. 

[Bastet]

Just now, Salacious Kitty said:

The second round of qualifying doesn't air on FN until tomorrow. 

Weird; it's already up on Discovery+, and has also already been mentioned in this thread, so I figured it aired last week.  Update:  I just checked the FN schedule on its website, and it lists the first two qualifying episodes as having aired back-to-back last Wednesday, both repeating tomorrow afternoon, and then the final two qualifying episodes premiering tomorrow night.  (And then ToC V starts for real on Sunday.)

[Salacious Kitty]

Oh. You haven't recapped the East bracket. That's probably what they have.

[meep.meep]

34 minutes ago, Salacious Kitty said:

The second round of qualifying doesn't air on FN until tomorrow. 

It should have already aired.  They supposedly ran a two hour episode with first two sets of "qualifying" for the 8th spots

[Salacious Kitty]

Just now, meep.meep said:

It should have already aired.  They supposedly ran a two hour episode with first two sets of "qualifying" for the 8th spots

Yes, I noticed that Bastet hadn't recapped the East yet. I corrected that. 

Then two more tomorrow for Tiffani and Mei. 

[Bastet]

For those unable to find it anywhere and don't want to wait for tomorrow's repeat:  The second qualifying episode was Gerald Sombright, Nini Nguyen, Ilan Hall, and Leah Cohen.  Ilan and Gerald were eliminated in the first round, and Nini beat Leah, 81 to 78, in the second.  So she'll be the 8th seed in the East-A bracket, going up against number one seed Maneet.  (Same format as the first qualifying episode -- Maneet was there to watch, with the judges being the other three ToC champs.) 

I remembered Nini, Ilan, and Leah from Top Chef and was not familiar with Gerald, which is a shame since he was the first Black man to receive a Michelin star. 

Ilan is probably the least-deserving winner in TC history, so I was happy to see him lose and laughing pretty hard at him going overboard with saffron given all the snide comments about his saffron propensity during his TC season.  Gerald's dish didn't look very interesting to me; I'm biased because I don't like salisbury steak to begin with, and using ground turkey doesn't sound like an improvement, but he did score the lowest, so it's not just me.  I like how readily he accepted the judges' critiques.

Leah got saddled with that ridiculous Hosea storyline, so it was hard to get a read on her in TC, but I've enjoyed her as a judge on Beat Bobby Flay and her food looked good here.  Nini I liked on TC, so I was rooting for her and cringed when she pulled those grey sausages out; thank goodness for saving them on the grill, because her dish sounded incredibly flavorful -- kudos to her blowing everyone away with a score of 90 in the first round.

In the second round, Leah knew she didn't achieve the smoky element, but it looked good as a dish on its own, if that was not a requirement.  I liked her ingredients better than Nini's, and thought her presentation was better, too, but knew Nini was going to get more randomizer points, so thought it would be a little closer than it was.  Congrats to Nini, and a respectable loss by Leah, as she tied on presentation and only got one less point on taste.

[Grizzly]

1 hour ago, Bastet said:

 was not familiar with Gerald, which is a shame since he was the first Black man to receive a Michelin star. 

I am shocked that Marcus Samuelson didn't get a star first. Gerald looks pretty young.

[Rammchick]

14 hours ago, Grizzly said:

I am shocked that Marcus Samuelson didn't get a star first. Gerald looks pretty young.

To be honest, I never realized that he didn't have one!

[schnauzergirl]

I'm watching these later today, and am surprised Aaron May was in a qualifying round.  Didn't he compete in an earlier TOC?

[Bastet]

1 hour ago, schnauzergirl said:

Didn't he compete in an earlier TOC?

Twice, but he lost in the first round both times, which is probably why - with so many chefs wanting to participate this time - he got put in the group that had to play to qualify rather than automatically being seeded.

[Salacious Kitty]

Ilan had also participated previously. Glad he's out before making the Show. 

[schnauzergirl]

5 hours ago, Bastet said:

Twice, but he lost in the first round both times, which is probably why - with so many chefs wanting to participate this time - he got put in the group that had to play to qualify rather than automatically being seeded.

A logical explanation, but using that criteria I would have thought other "losers" would also have had to compete.  Oh well, it could also be that Aaron is a favorite and I tend to cheer for him no matter his competition.

[Bastet]

I really like Justin from Top Chef and Fast Foodies, but I liked Chris on TC, too.  I don't know the other two, so I was hoping it would wind up being a head to head between Justin and Chris with Justin winning.  When Chris's pork was overcooked, I figured that was not happening -- read that one wrong.  With Justin out, I was all in for Chris.  I'll still be rooting for Tiffani in their match, but I won't be upset if he wins.

I've never had that cut of pork, the blade steak, they had to use in the first round, but all the dishes looked good (other than containing green beans, which I don't like).  I don't much care for catfish, but it goes well with spicy, and I love broccoli.  Chris's dish looked great to me, but Demetrio's didn't much appeal to me and then I saw that greasy broccoli and was completely turned off.

[Grizzly]

Did Demetrio get a personality transplant? I hated him every time he appeared on Chopped. Here, I almost didn't recognize him. He seemed subdued, wasn't boastful, took criticism well. Once Justin was out, I was even rooting for Demetrio. Saw Chris on Beat Bobby Flay and I think I was pulling for Bobby.

[MerBearHou]

Chris Scott has been a favorite since Top Chef so I’m delighted he won.  I’m such a fan of Justin’s and so glad he’s recovered extremely well, but still Chris has my vote every step of the way.  After his TC season, I had dinner at his Butterfunk Kitchen in Brooklyn and it was a truly mouth-watering meal of his fried chicken and honey biscuits.  I was fortunate to have a visit with Chris and he’s just a gentle, warm guy.  And he was wearing an Elvis bowling shirt.  He was in the restaurant office and I mentioned to his wife that I was such a fan — she asked me to come with her to their office and Chris chatted with me one-on-one for several minutes about food, my trip to NYC, and his TC experience.  He said he’d never been so tired in his life as that competition and that he was still close to several on that season.  

Edited February 15 by MerBearHou

[Bastet]

I don't know any of these chefs in the final qualifying round (I'm sure I saw the guy who beat Alex on her show, but I don't remember him), so had no rooting interest coming in.

I hate egg yolks and potatoes, so the first round dishes were not my jam.  I thought Claudia's splattered plate was a terrible idea, and I didn't think the guys putting foil on their plates was a good call, either.  I like that Pyet did something a little different, but it was clear she didn't highlight the randomizer requirements, so I figured the 68 had to be hers.  Ray's presentation was the least appetizing to me, so I was surprised for him to be the top scorer.

Ray and Michael are both L.A. chefs, so I'll have to look up their restaurants to see if I've ever eaten there.  Ray's second round dish didn't excite me, either, but Michael's looked great -- until they cut into the pork.  I don't like anything overcooked, but pork especially suffers.  That looked so dry.  But he won by a point, so what do I know?

[mlp]

I was very happy with tonight's results.  I was rooting for Chris Scott all the way so I was glad he pulled it out.  In the second round, I would have been happy with either guy moving on.  I wasn't impressed with Pyet (? sp.)  when she was on Next Level Chef and I absolutely loathe Claudia so I was relieved not to have to look at her and her ridiculous hair any longer.  

The preview of all the brackets was interesting.  Looks like some real nail biters ahead.

[Badlands]

They didn't preview one of the West brackets. I paused it and it was Darnell Ferguson vs Amanda Freitag. If they were lucky, Amanda won. I wonder if they will even show that match. If Darnell won, I have no idea what they will do.

[susannot]

Interesting round.  Tells me that chefs who won shows like Master Chef and Next Level Chef don't necessarily have what it takes to compete with the best.  I like the fact that the two guys who moved into the final round (Ray and Michael) are newcomers and that they are both working chefs with restaurants in LA.

[dleighg]

A couple random things I noticed:

• When Guy tasted the chimichuri with green beans, he handed the spoon back to the chef who then rapped it on the side of the bowl (presumably to empty it). YUK! I guess we are officially past Covid.
• I am so glad the "Latina from Venezuela who shows other Latinas that you can come up from nothing and succeed" lost. How many times did she say some variation on that?
• I remember Chris Scott from TC (speaking of which, FN has seriously gotten over their aversion to ever mentioning that show) and was glad he got by despite his ridiculous use of the brick. Although one contestant calling ToC the "greatest display of chef talent ever" or something like that was ridiculous. I am quite sure that TC has is far more influential than ToC, especially since the three of the four ToC champions CAME FROM TC!
• Does anyone else think that Maneet looks *really* thin?

[Lamb18]

9 minutes ago, dleighg said:

 

• Does anyone else think that Maneet looks *really* thin?

Yes, I was noticing that.

[libgirl2]

22 minutes ago, Lamb18 said:

Yes, I was noticing that.

I've noticed that for awhile now. 

[schnauzergirl]

I was just about to post that about Maneet.  

[meep.meep]

14 hours ago, schnauzergirl said:

A logical explanation, but using that criteria I would have thought other "losers" would also have had to compete.  Oh well, it could also be that Aaron is a favorite and I tend to cheer for him no matter his competition.

There are no rules, they put on people who they think will get people to watch.  They're not very good about it - they could have actually shown Justin and Chris in promos and got a bigger audience.

I like Aaron on Guy's ranch show, but I never watch Chopped or Beat Bobby or Alex's show so most of these folks are mysteries to me.  Leah Cohen has just finished a second season hosting that PBS home cooks challenge show with Tiffany Derry.

[Rammchick]

I had a giggle every time Brooke used the word "levity" to describe a dish.  It doesn't mean what she thinks it means 😏

[dleighg]

2 hours ago, Rammchick said:

I had a giggle every time Brooke used the word "levity" to describe a dish.  It doesn't mean what she thinks it means

One of the judges (and I think it was Brooke again) approvingly used the word "unctuous" for a sauce. This is what it means:

1. characterized by excessive piousness or moralistic fervor, esp. in an affected manner; excessively smooth, suave, or smug. 2. of the nature of or characteristic of an unguent or ointment; oily; greasy.

[susannot]

I just need to say that the avatars of Bastet, SalaciousKitty, and MeepMeep give me all kinds of joy.

[libgirl2]

8 minutes ago, susannot said:

I just need to say that the avatars of Bastet, SalaciousKitty, and MeepMeep give me all kinds of joy.

I never thought about changing my picture, but you inspired me. 

[schnauzergirl]

In the closing minute or two of the "Brackets" reveal, I'm sure I saw Amanda yet she's not a competitor.  Am I alone in this or did any of you see her?  Upthread I believe someone mentioned she was paired with Darnell so their segment was obviously deleted.  I enjoyed the conversation/analysis between Guy, Justin, and Simon.  

And what is Guy now calling Brooke?  B-Duh?  Seems my attention was somewhere else every time he said it.

 

[jcbrown]

6 minutes ago, schnauzergirl said:

And what is Guy now calling Brooke?  B-Duh?  Seems my attention was somewhere else every time he said it.

He calls her "B-Dub" for (B)rooke (W)illiamson. It is dumb but no dumber than "Dancing Spice Queen" or "Sweet T." 

[dleighg]

8 hours ago, schnauzergirl said:

I'm sure I saw Amanda yet she's not a competitor. 

You didn't imagine it. I noticed that also, and thought "wait a minute, they didn't showcase her." I wonder if they are going to do any explaining.

And why put her in the clips if they aren't going to show her competing?

8 hours ago, schnauzergirl said:

I enjoyed the conversation/analysis between Guy, Justin, and Simon.  

I enjoyed the episode, but got a bit tired of the "either one could win round." I know they have to say it, but it got a bit old.

[Yeah No]

12 hours ago, jcbrown said:

He calls her "B-Dub" for (B)rooke (W)illiamson. It is dumb but no dumber than "Dancing Spice Queen" or "Sweet T." 

I thought that was Guy's play on a former president's nickname.

I'm not caught up on the latest episode so I have no comment on that yet 

[Rammchick]

20 hours ago, dleighg said:

One of the judges (and I think it was Brooke again) approvingly used the word "unctuous" for a sauce. This is what it means:

1. characterized by excessive piousness or moralistic fervor, esp. in an affected manner; excessively smooth, suave, or smug. 2. of the nature of or characteristic of an unguent or ointment; oily; greasy.

Brooke isn't alone.  A number of TV chefs says this.

[meep.meep]

In the Bay Area, where Guy lives, the Golden State Warriors are known as the Dubs, so it's more likely a play on that.

I watched the matchup episode and they definitely skipped over the Darnell/Amanda matchup.  They showed the other three ones, and then after describing the Garces one the next cut was Guy saying "And that's everyone!"

 

[libgirl2]

2 minutes ago, meep.meep said:

In the Bay Area, where Guy lives, the Golden State Warriors are known as the Dubs, so it's more likely a play on that.

I watched the matchup episode and they definitely skipped over the Darnell/Amanda matchup.  They showed the other three ones, and then after describing the Garces one the next cut was Guy saying "And that's everyone!"

 

So can we assume Amanda won? 

[meep.meep]

I hope she did because otherwise it will get really complicated real soon.

 

[dleighg]

3 minutes ago, meep.meep said:

hope she did because otherwise it will get really complicated real soon

I hadn't noticed that they didn't show that bracket. It will be interesting to see how they deal with it. I imagine they'll have to use cutting room floor footage to buik up the other contests and then just show Amanda as the winner of hers for undisclosed reasons. 

[schnauzergirl]

3 hours ago, dleighg said:

I hadn't noticed that they didn't show that bracket. It will be interesting to see how they deal with it. I imagine they'll have to use cutting room floor footage to buik up the other contests and then just show Amanda as the winner of hers for undisclosed reasons. 

Or maybe they'll just confront it head on without specific details.  I'm not sure if it was The Next Food Network Star or Worst Cooks where a contestant had to be dropped.  Apparently there was a brief explanation and life went on.  

Edited February 17 by schnauzergirl

[Salacious Kitty]

I remember JAG had issues on FNS, but they surfaced after everything had aired. I forget how they handled it, but I do recall them doing something.

Edit: JAG got busted before the finale and was forced to withdraw. Found the following article.

https://www.ocregister.com/2007/07/16/jag-gets-court-martialed/

Edited February 17 by Salacious Kitty