S01.E01: Richard Blais vs. Marcel Vigneron

[mauras]

I'm hoping this format will be more interesting once it features two chefs I don't completely loathe, because I found this first "duel" boring and completely phoned-in. And it made me root for Marcel, which really bothers me, because I can't stand Marcel. But Blais and his ego are far worse.

[seacliffsal]

I enjoyed the episode and was really rooting for Marcel.  It did bother me though when one of the guest judges said that he preferred Marcel's first two courses best but that he gave his vote to Richard due to dessert being that last part of the meal and therefore, the course he remembered.  What?

 

Anyway, I wish them both well, but I would really like Marcel to finally win one of these competitions.  I'm still bitter about the result of his season (I wanted him to win just to show the bullies...).

[leighdear]

And I hate to contradict DICK Blaze, but you know who's already done hamburgers with kimchi?  Uh, KOREANS!  *LOL*  I spent almost 7 years in South Korea, and they put kimchi on almost everything, including burgers with ketchup.  Not new, revolutionary or unique.  Personally I HATEHATEHATE kimchi, so there's that.....

 

Part of my admiration for Marcel is that he's out there amongst real people, not grinding away in one of his 2,418 snowflake-special restaurants like DB keeps saying he's doing.   

Edited August 8, 2014 by leighdear

[Merneith]

I hate this new format. It's not like I ever watch Top Chef and think, "Man, if only this had more trash talk."

I am also over Richard Blais, who I kind of liked in his own season. I hope he gets his ass handed to him by Shirley in the finale. And creepy Uncle Wolfgang can zip it with bedroom comments.

[stillshimpy]

Well, I liked it, but then this has been a very slow summer for TV.  Plus, I actually like seeing competitions among known chefs.  I say that, but I nearly howled in dismay when I saw Mike Isabella among the contestants.  The man's such a sexist, I really don't enjoy him, but I'll be glad to see nearly everyone else.  Richard Blais must be on some kind of bizarre medication, or have a neurological disorder, because the acrobatics his face goes through constantly cannot possibly be normal.  At first I thought "Wow, here's hoping he doesn't play poker, because talk about not having a game-face" and then I realized he'd probably be freaking great at poker because grimaces are continuous, so he wouldn't have a tell.  

 

Marcel has grown into his personality a bit more and thank goodness for the death of his poseur hipster/slam-poetry talking like a rapper stuff.  Now I find him really pretty charming, and I had so hoped he'd win.  Admittedly, since all Top Chefs seem to come back in an endless rotation if Blais had lost I'd just be doomed to seeing him put his loss down to choking, or being robbed, or whatever excuse he'd put into play other than being out-cooked.  

 

Gail looked like a million dollars, good for post-baby Gail! She looked fabulous.  I liked the judges.  

 

Yeah, maybe I'm just sort of mellow (although I doubt that's the reason) when it comes to this version of the franchise, I'm just looking forward to seeing the known chefs again.  It was fun to see Marcel.  It was like a scary, scary combination of facial contortions seeing Richard, but the man can cook, and I don't really begrudge him any success.  Aside from the aforementioned Isabella, I like all the chefs I've seen in the previews.  

Edited August 8, 2014 by stillshimpy

[Lovecat]

Richard Blais must be on some kind of bizarre medication, or have a neurological disorder, because the acrobatics his face goes through constantly cannot possibly be normal.

If he's not on some sort of medication, he should look into it. Those facial tics are almost Tourette's-like.

[riverheightsnancy]

If he's not on some sort of medication, he should look into it. Those facial tics are almost Tourette's-like.

 

Yup, I said that as well. Could be a reaction to certain psychiatric meds perhaps.  I won't go name specific drugs, but it really reminds me of tardive dyskenesia symptoms that I have seen with patients who have been on long-term, old school anti-psychotics for schizophrenia. Yeah, but who are we kidding? His ticks are not some type of exotic psychiatric neuro disorder. He is plain old anxious, and stressed, and he cannot bear to lose. It is NOT in his lexicon.  Through it all, he wants to appear humble and circumspect and he is trying so hard not to react to the judges when they say negative things.  

[Lablover27]

I got jaded right off the bat with this episode when I saw Marcel run to the pantry and pick up a wooden tray of ingredients. Which were obviously pre-set. Then we have the flip/flop/tie-breaker vote for the first round. Richard, round one. Marcel round two. Each losing to the other's challenge.

And watching Blais' facial expressions almost made me run for the porcelain god. Someone needs to come up with bumper stickers of his expressions and sell them on Amazon or eBay before he can copyright his "looks." He looked like he was constipated or something.

Is it going to be this way each week? Please... no.

Then, we're heading into the DUEL. OMG. OMG. The suspense. Not.

Curtis Stone is the only thing that makes me keep watching. And my friend Homaro Cantu as a judge tonight. :)

This was just a strange show, for me. And the winners come back for one big smash-bang finale. Alrighty, then! Please don't drag it out into a series of episodes.

Without being able to taste anything, visually I liked Marcel's dishes. Blais' constant woe-is-me makes me hate him to death. Either you are a good chef and confident in your food, or you need to find another career. People who constantly throw themselves a pity party are in desperate need of a pat on the head every day of their lives, in my opinion. There aren't enough trophies or prizes in the world to make Blais feel he's good enough to be breathing air.

In previews, it looks like Mike Isabela has gained 200 lbs. I hope he's OK.

 

Cooks, man I didn't see Marcel pulling out the tray!  I've got to watch it again.

 

I do remember when I went to Bon Appetit wine/food festival in Vegas way back (Vegas Uncorked http://vegasuncorked.com/

was at a sort of Iron Chef cook off on the patio of Ceasars Palace.  It was awesome.  They had celebrity chefs hosting and a panel of 3 judges.  Andrew Knowlton was one of them.   Truly love him.  I don't think I've ever seen him on Bravo though.  Just Iron Chef.  (It was a lobster challenge and the chefs gave him the plate he was to judge and he got up and brought it down to me to taste, love at first sight!) 

 

Anyway, they introduced one of the judges on Iron Chef.  I went to talk to him and said I can't believe these chefs can bring their menu together like that ..on the spot.  He said they are given 3 choices of what the secret ingredients will be and stalked with just that...what the chefs have requested for each secret ingredient choice.  Oh, and he was a pompous ass.  Looking over me like some casino show girl was behind me and to the left and to the right of me. 

 

I'm wondering if that's the case here?  Anyways, I paid for one session, they never kicked me out for the next session and wine was a flowing.  Best time ever In Vegas, especially the Grand Tasting.  But they raised their prices and priced me out. http://www.yelp.com/biz/vegas-uncorked-the-grand-tasting-las-vegas  $225 per person, $300 for early entry.  Um, husband and I showed up early to be the first 20 in line.  Stood there.  Waited.  45 mintues.  Got in and hit at least half before the entire line moved in.  It was fantastic food and when it filled up so were we.  Saw a cat fight though.  That was fun! 

Edited August 8, 2014 by Lablover27

[cooksdelight]

I deleted it from my DVR, but if you do rewatch, try to freeze frame to see what's in that tray. If it's staples like salt/pepper/oil, etc., it may be something they have for both contestants to use, it's just not out on their stations like in MasterChef. It just seemed weird to me.

[leighdear]

I do love watching really talented chefs create, so as long as I mute all the excessive kitchen blather and just listen to the description of the dishes, I'm good.  Then I mute the judging blather.  *LOL* 

 

It was a huge tray of stuff Marcel hoisted onto his shoulder to carry to his station, and it looked like there was something in paper wrappings, possibly ground beef.  Maybe once they were told the challenge, they were allowed say 15 minutes in the pantry & walk in to assemble their stuff.  We just didn't see that part.

[JTMacc99]

Not a good sign: I fell asleep during the commercial break after the final service and Curtis asking around the table who everybody thought won and before they came back to announce the winner. And when I woke up, I didn't remember what I was watching and went to bed.

 

Hopefully this is just because I spent half of the show muttering "Shut UP Richard", and I will be more engaged in future episodes by either people I like or by people I don't know from the couple of early seasons I didn't watch. 

 

But basically, I've got a gut feeling that I won't enjoy this version because part of my enjoyment from TC comes from learning about new people, and there will be almost none of that from this show. Heck, I was more interested in the chefs around the table than I was the chefs cooking.

[Bella]

I hate this new format. It's not like I ever watch Top Chef and think, "Man, if only this had more trash talk."

 

Very true. Yet if we had more seasons of regular Top Chef, I think I might lose interest in it. The Texas season and the All-Star seasons certainly didn't help to begin with. So I see why TPTB keep trying variations instead of super-saturating us with the original. I wouldn't mind seeing more TC: Masters and even TC: Just Desserts in random years. I'm not sure where else they can go with this franchise, but at least they keep thinking.

[leighdear]

 

I'm not sure where else they can go with this franchise, but at least they keep thinking.

Obviously they make a lot of effort in show themes.  I really enjoyed TC New Orleans (except for the winner!) because it's closest geographically to where I live (Florida Gulf Coast, 3 hours from NO), so I could really appreciate their individual takes on our regional staples and specialties, plus re-imagined classics.

 

That being said, I also enjoy seeing regions I have little familiarity with, like Seattle.   I imagine they have a team scouring the nation, looking for untapped areas for upcoming seasons.  No telling where they'll go next, but I look forward to it and hope it's someplace inspiring.   

Edited August 8, 2014 by leighdear

[PepperMonkey]

Marcel's bullying on Season 2 was, without a doubt, much worse than Michael Costello's on season 8 of Project Runway! They PUT THEIR HANDS on Marcel, woke him out of a sound sleep and put their hands on him!! With the intent to SHAVE HIS HEAD!

I still can't rewatch season 2 because of that. Cliff was not the only one that should have gone home for that. Even Tom said if he had his way, they would have all been sent home and Marcel would have won by default.

And as an aside: I can't watch anything that Elia Aboumarad is on. She's smug and I really resent that she was supposed to be Marcel's friend, but she was almost the ringleader in his attack.

[Julia]

I think part of the problem is the judging panel. Of all their judges, I think the ones who carry the least weight with me are the three they chose (leaving aside Padma's none as an outlier). Even Gail, who of the three of them seems to me to think the most out of the box, seemed like she was reciting here.

 

I know they need Curtis somewhere now that they're pretty much out of Masters, but at least they could swap in Hugh for Wolfgang.

[ratgirlagogo]

Wolfgang is better known as a chef than Hugh, so he's kind of the Michael Kors or I guess I should say Zac Posen of this show. As with Kors and Posen,  I like him better when he explains the  reasoning behind his judgements,  which too often seems to kind of take a back seat to his need to constantly be making a funny.  I'd also prefer Hugh for just that reason, but I don't think it's gonna happen. 

[YumCheesecake]

Enjoyed the ep, I have always loved hating Marcel (while I agree he was bullied terribly and mercilessly, he does have a smack-able face) and I have been a Blais fan from the beginning. (Didn't people used to like Blais? Just me?) I have not watched any of the other spin-offs, but I will enjoy this as a fan of TC. 

 

I don't think either of them made anything I'd want to eat, though. (Maybe Marcel's soup without the menthol nose digestif). 

 

I have been to Blais' burger joint and didn't see anything I couldn't have come up with myself. (Tasty booze milkshakes, though). His delusions of grandeur during the burger challenge seemed a bit much, but I just have a feeling this thing is so producer-created that everything that happened/was said was totally inorganic. 

[cooksdelight]

I'd also prefer Hugh for just that reason, but I don't think it's gonna happen.

i'm pretty sure Hugh will be a judge at some point in this series, from what I gathered from the Bravo page.

[mlp]

 

His ticks are not some type of exotic psychiatric neuro disorder. He [Richard Blais] is plain old anxious, and stressed, and he cannot bear to lose.

 

I agree.  I watched Cook Your Ass Off which he hosted (and which apparently wasn't renewed) and he didn't manifest any of those tics.  He was actually pretty calm and pleasant.

Edited August 9, 2014 by mlp

[cooksdelight]

Richard's "Cook Your Ass Off" was a bomb. And Ilan's "Knife Fight" is a hit. He must be stressing every night about that. If Stephanie ever wants a show... oh wait, she's too busy being a successful chef and all that.... :)

[bosawks]

I can't stand stupid Blais and his stupid Admiral Ackbar face!

God that felt good.

[Spooneroonie]

I have been a Blais fan from the beginning. (Didn't people used to like Blais? Just me?)

 

 

I did at first. Before he was all over the place. It seems (to me, anyway) that when he won the All-Star season, all of that publicity went to his head and turned him into the insufferable twit that he is now.

[mlp]

 

Richard's "Cook Your Ass Off" was a bomb.

 

It was.  I didn't think that was Richard's fault though.  The concept was OK and he had some legitimate chefs as judges.  Most of the contestants had skills.  What ruined the show for me was that sanctimonious dietician or whatever she was not Richard.  Sorry for straying off topic.

[Lablover27]

I deleted it from my DVR, but if you do rewatch, try to freeze frame to see what's in that tray. If it's staples like salt/pepper/oil, etc., it may be something they have for both contestants to use, it's just not out on their stations like in MasterChef. It just seemed weird to me.

 

I DVR and just froze the frame.  It looked way more than staples.  I'm not a chef, but it looked a balsamic vinegar bottle, nuts, a bunch of stuff in jars, probably Marcel's secret crap he uses. 

[nottopbravo]

One thing I can say as a positive for this episode is that we didn't have to hear someone going, "Five, Four, Three, Two, One.  And Stop."  Like they don't know how much time is left to plate.

[cooksdelight]

And no Padma. :) I love Gail, so it's good to have no Padma at my dinner table.

[GaT]

Late to the party because I didn't know the show had started.

 

I didn't care who won, because I would like to smack both of these guys, they're both jerks, but the first challenge was to make something that looked like one thing & tasted like another. How does chicken liver in cherry gelatin not taste like cherry? Is cherry gelatin tasteless?

 

Also, Wolfgang Puck is an asshole with his sex remarks all the time.

[anonymiss]

I had to laugh when Gail almost wearily said about Blais: "And Richard, despite your CONSTANT self-deprecation..." But I'm forgiving of that hyper competitiveness just because I can relate. I used to be that way once upon a time. That said, I was totally rooting for Marcel.

 

My favorite part of the show was when Blais and Marcel tasted and commented on each others food. More of that, please!

 

Too bad Blais lost the burger challenge. His YouTube burger show on Tasted was pure food porn bliss and I say that as a vegan of over a decade.

Edited August 10, 2014 by anonymiss

[LuckyBitch]

We finally watched it and I thought it was just a big snooze. I don't like the format and it left me wanting another real season of Top Chef. Or even Top Chef Desserts would be better than this while we're waiting for a new season of Top Chef.

 

I was never a fan of Richard Blais, but he didn't bother me too much either. Having not been a regular reader of the Top Chef forum at TWoP, I'm surprised to learn now that so many people hate Blais a lot. 

 

Marcel was one I never liked, even though I think it's terrible what those idiots did to him. He always kind of annoyed me, but less so in this episode.

 

The format is boring with just two chefs, and none of the dishes particularly interested me. The burger course could not have been more boring. I thought that was a dumb choice for Blais to select as a challenge to Marcel, as if Marcel couldn't make a good burger. Also, we've seen a million variations of burgers and I expect more from Top Chef. I've always hated the egg on burger thing, and Marcel's looked impossible to eat. Richard's kimchi ketchup wasn't innovative either.

 

Boring challenges, the judges are kind of blah, and it definitely seemed very contrived. I'll try one more week before I decide to delete the DVR timer.

[Rhondinella]

Richard's kimchi ketchup wasn't innovative either.

 

 

Pretty sure I've seen that several other places too, although I don't recall where.  Maybe Blaise used it before on one of his seasons?  Or maybe it's just not that original and everyone uses it.

[Julia]

Roy Choi uses ketchup and kimchi in fried rice. From there I think it got trendy.

[Lizzing]

Do  these two share the same agent or something?  They're both on Guy's Grocery Games tonight.  I'm officially over saturated with these two now.

[susannot]

Reunion of Richard and Marcel on Guy's Grocery Games. Marcel is competing along with other "star" chefs; Richard is judging.

Edited August 11, 2014 by susannot

[LuckyBitch]

You could not pay me enough to watch Guy, Blaise, and Marcel together in one show.

[Lablover27]

Reunion of Richard and Marcel on Guy's Grocery Games. Marcel is competing along with other "star" chefs; Richard is judging.

 

When?  Tonight?

[Spooneroonie]

You could not pay me enough to watch Guy, Blaise, and Marcel together in one show.

 

 

Akin to torture.

[Julia]

I'm almost tempted, just to see Richard trying to pretend he thinks of Guy as a peer.

[cooksdelight]

You can find out more about Guy's show here:

http://forums.previously.tv/forum/776-guys-grocery-games/

[leighdear]

It was sad....yet again.....

[AriAu]

The format is boring with just two chefs, and none of the dishes particularly interested me. The burger course could not have been more boring. I thought that was a dumb choice for Blais to select as a challenge to Marcel, as if Marcel couldn't make a good burger.

 

I agree-I expected it to be much more fun and I did not enjoy the weak attempts at trash talking. Somehow it became boring.

And for what it is worth, I've always been a Blais fan and believed that he made very interesting and creative food. I am more than a little done with him (that Life after Top Chef show did it for me), but I still think he is supremely talented and knows how to play this game well. Marcel is also talented but has no idea how to play this game.

 

ETA: Yes, post baby Gail looked very good and I could always do with less Wolfgang-he always grates on me, even if he is very talented and beloved for his cooking.

Edited August 11, 2014 by AriAu

[Qoass]

I just don't understand the point of viewers voting on the winning chef.  We can't smell or taste the food.  What are we voting on:  which chef annoys us least?

 

 

[jpgr]

It's kind of unbelievable how addicted to televised chef competitions Blais has become. You'd think if he were interested in proving himself in a way that matters among his peers, he'd focus on his food the way Stephanie Izard has, scooping up multiple James Beard Award nominations (and a win). All he seems to care about is getting his mug in front of a camera. 

 

He's too competitive for his own good, and that has taken over any passion or care for the actual food. I also have a really competitive nature (my in-laws will no longer do game night with me), but I recognize that and avoid situations where it can spiral out of control and/or really annoy people I care about. He needs to get back to just working in his restaurant and avoid competitions.

[tribeca]

I liked Richard's show Cook your ass off (dumb name).  I don't hate Richard and do think he is a good chef just seems he wants to be a celebrity chef.   I was not surprised Gail voted for Marcel.  Even though I believe Marcel is a good chef also, I think Gail hates Richard.  Always  had that impression.

Edited August 12, 2014 by tribeca

[FormerMod-a1]

I agree about Richard wanting to be a celebrity chef.  I remember one of his first appearances on The Chew he commented that Carla was the most successful of the Top Chef alums.  While I love Carla, am glad she's on that show and think she is doing well, I would disagree with that statement.  It struck me then that he was going with a different definition of success.  

[roctavia]

I don't hate Richard... and I even liked him in his first season... but he got so smug or smarmy or something... along with his neurotic "I'm going to lose" attitude and it has totally put me off of him.

 

Marcel was totally annoying in his season, but I was on his side in the Betty war, since she annoyed me to no end... and obviously he didn't deserve to get attacked in the night.... he definitely has his attitude kind of moments, and maybe part of it is that he's kidding or trying to be funny when it comes across on TV as him just being bossy and arrogant (like with his sous chefs). But in general, I've got some sympathy for him always coming in second.

 

Just based on that I wanted Marcel to win over Richard... but I also thought his food seemed way more appealing, so I thought he should have won anyway, no matter the personality thoughts.

[Julia]

I don't hate Richard... and I even liked him in his first season... but he got so smug or smarmy or something... along with his neurotic "I'm going to lose" attitude and it has totally put me off of him.

I kind of see that as part of his wanting so badly to be a celebrity. I don't think he's really insecure. I think he's got his own little Bobby Flay getting his ass kicked by firefighters and diner cooks rebranding thing going on, where the cocky self-regarding TV chef sells himself to the audience as a nice humble guy. I honestly believe Richard is doing the (godawful annoying) self deprecation because he thinks it makes him likable.

Edited August 12, 2014 by Julia

[AriAu]

I agree about Richard wanting to be a celebrity chef

 

I think he really likes cooking and realizes that the celebrity chef route is the way to make the most money. I think he realizes that just being a chef and restaurantur is a hard way to make a very good living and he is just trying to capitalize on the celebrity status and keep his 15 minutes going for as long as possible......while also feeding his not insubstantial ego.

[cooksdelight]

 

I remember one of his first appearances on The Chew he commented that Carla was the most successful of the Top Chef alums.  While I love Carla, am glad she's on that show and think she is doing well, I would disagree with that statement.  It struck me then that he was going with a different definition of success.

 

 

She's on TV 5 days a week, every week. Richard.... is not.  There's his definition. :)

[FormerMod-a1]

@cooksdelight - exactly!

[susannot]

She's on TV 5 days a week, every week. Richard.... is not.  There's his definition. :)

Interesting.  Most foodie types would say Stephanie was more successful than Carla.  She has two hot Chicago restaurants and won a James Beard award as Best Chef--Midwest.  But our Richard cannot utter Stephanie's name.