S20.E01: London Calling

[FormerMod-a1]

Quote

To celebrate the 20th season, "Top Chef" returns for an international showdown in London; sixteen competitors, including previous winners and finalists, face off in the fiercest showdown the culinary series has seen.

Original airdate: March 9, 2023

[FormerMod-a1]

So happy to have the show back.  Looks like this will be a good season.

I agree with the cut - shrimp poo is a no no. 

[Bastet]

I’m so glad this show is back!  It’s not up there with football season, but it’s a good time of year.

I really like seeing the food of those who have won/come close to winning other countries' versions of TC.  I like this international format (and London is a good location for that; I love that city!).  We are in for some impressive food this season, that’s for sure.  Like Padma said, it usually takes longer to get this many great dishes.

It was interesting to hear a little bit about how the show's format is different in some of the other countries; I hope to learn more of that.

It was also interesting to see how people chose partners for the QF.  I like that none of the Americans paired up with each other.  And I like how excited Tom was by the quality of the food in this very first challenge.  I most wanted to reach through the TV and eat the langoustine, so I’m glad that won.  (The scallop dish looked great, too.)

I love a great many vegetables, but I’m not generally a fan of vegetarian entrées, so I like that the EC was merely required to be “vegetable forward”.

I would have happily chowed down on every single dish.  Begoña had the dish I was most interested in, but I was also highly intrigued by spending a fraction of the budget and churning out a great onion dish, so good for Charbel.

Dawn is one of my favorites because, in the entire history of TC, in her season she probably most consistently made the food I would choose to eat if I could only try one dish.  And I’m fascinated by how great it must indeed taste since she made it all the way to the finals despite having time management issues and several times being judged on a dish that wasn’t fully what she’d intended it to be.  So I had a moment of nervousness for her to be up for elimination in the first episode.  But I knew hers was a better dish than the other two and could breathe easy.

You can’t serve shrimp poop at this level, so, yeah, that was a pretty easy call for elimination.

Edited March 10, 2023 by Bastet

[Jodithgrace]

How embarrassing for the French chef to be the first one out, and for a cooking 101 mistake too. 
I got a kick out of the Middle Eastern chef winning with onions. 
I’m glad Dawn didn’t get eliminated after that accident with the water, since it wasn’t her fault. But that Mexican dish looked awful…the chef was only saved by shrimp poop. 
Fun to see Buddha again.  Hopefully I’ll soon learn the other chef’s names as well as their nationalities. 

[Ms Blue Jay]

What were the parameters of that last challenge?  I assume it was, make a vegetable forward dish and you must have a protein, yet the judges kept criticizing the dishes over and over by saying "This chef didn't need (the protein they used)."  How can both things be true?  I couldn't follow that logic.

29 minutes ago, Jodithgrace said:

I’m glad Dawn didn’t get eliminated after that accident with the water, since it wasn’t her fault. 

What happened with the water, I couldn't catch that.

[MerBearHou]

7 minutes ago, Ms Blue Jay said:

What happened with the water, I couldn't catch that.

One of the chefs — maybe Gabri? — was rushing around so much that he spilled a quart and a half of water right into Dawn’s dish.  It also put out the fire she was cooking on.  It was bad.  

[rlc]

Good first episode. Happy to have the show back. Very interested in seeing more from Begona and Luciana.
 

Nice to see that losing after not properly plating her food multiple times didn’t decrease Dawn’s high opinion of herself, or her attitude. No Dawn- you weren’t on the bottom because another chef got water in your pot (a gallon and a half? I think not). She was on the bottom because she made a pastry instead of a vegetable focused dish. 

[Bastet]

24 minutes ago, Ms Blue Jay said:

What happened with the water, I couldn't catch that.

He spilled water on her station, extinguishing her burner and watering her vegetables.  It ultimately wasn't much of an issue, as she could drain it off and add coconut milk in order to recover in terms of flavor; as she said, she's not angry with him as it was an accident, but she has time issues to begin with, so having that delay (and being flustered by this unexpected development) was something to deal with in this first EC and that's how it came into play.

(At first, I just saw the water on the ground, and wondered why the hell she was that irritated by having to make sure she didn't slip, but then saw the big picture and understood.  As an aside, Padma was asked about this on the post-premiere episode of Andy Cohen's talk show and said Dawn's initial reaction was expected under the circumstances.)

14 minutes ago, rlc said:

(a gallon and a half? I think not).

Nor did she; she said a quart and a half.

Edited March 10, 2023 by Bastet

[Tess23]

It's going to be an interesting season - Highclere Castle will be a fun episode. Seeing Parma, Tom, and Gail together again made me happy. But...

Not to be Debbie Downer on the very first episode but part of the joy of Top Chef for me is patronizing the restaurants cheffed/owned by past contestants and winners. My husband and I are driving from Omaha to Charlotte in May, and have plans to eat at Sara's restaurant in Paducah and Jamie Lynch's Charlotte restaurant. In fact, I routed us through Paducah just for that reason. Not being a huge globe trotter, this won't be possible with this season's contestants, for the most part. 

[Bastet]

53 minutes ago, Ms Blue Jay said:

assume it was, make a vegetable forward dish and you must have a protein, yet the judges kept criticizing the dishes over and over by saying "This chef didn't need (the protein they used)."  How can both things be true?  I couldn't follow that logic.

They didn't say that of every dish, though, so I took them to be differentiating between those who made "vegetable forward" dishes that nicely incorporated meat as a supporting act and those who tossed in a meat protein in order to have one, without properly positioning it within the dish, and sometimes went so far as to center it.

I'm the kind of cook who'd fail against others in such a challenge, so it was interesting to see which actual chefs fell short.

Edited March 10, 2023 by Bastet

[Daisychain]

This actually reminded me a bit of the first quickfire in the Kentucky season, with Sara Bradley, Justin, and Pablo winning for a very vegetable-forward dish with some sort of umami protein base.  IIRC.  That's what I recall from the Churchill Downs location?  My memory is not always awesome.  

Bottom line, I'm so looking forward to more of this season with all of these chefs, so many with multiple-country backgrounds.

[Daisychain]

I would be very interested in that onion/soubise recipe if it is ever shared/published anywhere.  Wow.

[Leeds]

I'm disappointed that they couldn't find better representatives of the U.S. than perennially late Dawn, who may have made great food but who was, in my opinion, given way too much leniency for her failure to get dishes out on time. Even worse is having to suffer through the horrible Sara again with her ugly behavior and obnoxious, loud-mouthed American abroad approach..

On the other hand, I love Angela Hartnet, and Padma, Gail, and Tom.

[Fukui San]

From the Live thread:

Quote

And it was Samuel, the French winner.  National disgrace in France if he goes home.

First the World Cup Final, and now this!

[DEL901]

3 hours ago, Leeds said:

I'm disappointed that they couldn't find better representatives of the U.S. than perennially late Dawn, who may have made great food but who was, in my opinion, given way too much leniency for her failure to get dishes out on time. Even worse is having to suffer through the horrible Sara again with her ugly behavior and obnoxious, loud-mouthed American abroad approach..

On the other hand, I love Angela Hartnet, and Padma, Gail, and Tom.

Don’t forget Buddha.   

[Leeds]

2 hours ago, DEL901 said:

Don’t forget Buddha.   

Yes, thank you.  I meant to add the caveat that Buddha is the exception that proves the rule!

[Ms Blue Jay]

6 hours ago, Leeds said:

I'm disappointed that they couldn't find better representatives of the U.S. than perennially late Dawn, who may have made great food but who was, in my opinion, given way too much leniency for her failure to get dishes out on time.

Yeah, we've seen this so many times it's understandable that our patience has run out.  Dawn seems to be a big time favourite of the Food Network chefs.  She has popped up on other shows, sometimes unable to plate on time, of course. 😄

Edited March 10, 2023 by Ms Blue Jay

[Spicysweet]

I hated when Dawn said her inability to plate on time cost her the title of Top Chef in her competition year. Uh, no, Dawn. If anyone should've won that year, it was Shota, not you. And I wasn't happy with Gabriel winning.

[sugarbaker design]

Not one immediately unlikable chef in the bunch, along with a few that are instantly likable:  Sylwia, Begona, Charvel and the two Canadians.

[Ellee]

Shota was on TOC this year and lost. Forgot who he was going against.  Was rooting for him.  
 

 

[Spicysweet]

20 minutes ago, Ellee said:

Shota was on TOC this year and lost. Forgot who he was going against.  Was rooting for him.  
 

 

I don't think he competed on TOC yet. I did see him on Superchef Grudge Match or something, though.

[Rammchick]

21 minutes ago, Spicysweet said:

I don't think he competed on TOC yet. I did see him on Superchef Grudge Match or something, though.

Yep, and he lost to Stephanie Izard.

[Spicysweet]

4 minutes ago, Rammchick said:

Yep, and he lost to Stephanie Izard.

Oh yeah. I wasn't paying a lot of attention to that match. The premise of the show bugs me, and I didn't want either one to lose!

[HurricaneVal]

Oh my.  That was some amazing looking food, and judging by the expressions on Tom's face, it was some good tasting food as well.  I almost didn't recognize Tom with those raised eyebrows, smiles, and head nods.  He was so dour and grumpy last season!

[Fukui San]

2 hours ago, Rammchick said:

Yep, and he lost to Stephanie Izard.

No shame in that!

[Rammchick]

3 hours ago, Spicysweet said:

Oh yeah. I wasn't paying a lot of attention to that match. The premise of the show bugs me, and I didn't want either one to lose!

Agreed, I only watched it to see them on that one episode.  The two have been working on something together, she was on his Instagram not long ago.

 

39 minutes ago, Fukui San said:

No shame in that!

Nope, definitely not!

To bring this back to TC, I really enjoyed the first episode.  I thought everyone was really likeable and they produced very interesting food.  I think this is going to be a great season.

Edited March 10, 2023 by Rammchick

[dabbrusc]

Is this the first time Gordon Ramsey has been name checked on Top Chef?

[BusyOctober]

Can’t give any solid reasons for it, but I do not like Sara.  Didn’t like her on the Kentucky season either.  Dawn’s food usually looked great on her season, but she’s still a bitter Betty over not winning.  Her pastry dish might have tasted good, but IMO it looked horrible.  

Love seeing London, and I am so excited for a Parisian finale.  I’m going to London, Normandy and Paris in a few weeks, so I will be scanning the background for familiar sights as I watch this season.

I’m not very picky about food, and I will try many things at least once.  But I draw the line at any type of carpaccio. Shrimp carpaccio, with or without poop included, would be a no-go for me.

[Rammchick]

16 minutes ago, BusyOctober said:

 But I draw the line at any type of carpaccio. Shrimp carpaccio, with or without poop included, would be a no-go for me.

There's a reason why you don't see raw shrimp in sushi -- they can carry harmful bacteria and viruses.  Not to mention, the texture is miserable.

[Rai]

Amar is also a chef from Top Chef Original Recipe. That said, Sara grew on me during the Kentucky season even though it was largely forgettable, and a Dawn who always plated her food would've indeed been a stronger contender in her season. Think how good her good must be for her to keep surviving throughout the whole season with that kind of setback. I don't think she'll win though.

Nice to see the first Top Chef Canada guy who I've seen on the Canadian Wall of Chefs show. I'm intrigued as to what he's got up his sleeve besides all his tattoos. There's also a really quiet guy from Top Chef MENA who I'm intrigued by -- I should learn his name. I'm mainly intrigued because I think he's kinda cute, but hopefully he'll bring it too.

It's fun recognizing chefs I've seen on Chef's Table for the upcoming guests, and it's fun seeing London too. I'm very excited about the international aspect. I really want to see all these international Top Chef shows now!

I was shocked a chef didn't devein his shrimp properly, and really, no surprises he was the first one kicked off. Let that be a warning wake-up to Gabri especially (who I want to root for). By the vein of his shrimps, y'all.

[amarante]

4 hours ago, Rammchick said:

There's a reason why you don't see raw shrimp in sushi -- they can carry harmful bacteria and viruses.  Not to mention, the texture is miserable.

I go to a very authentic sushi place - i.e. no rolls and they do serve a giant shrimp raw. They deep fry the head and serve it separately but the body is raw. 

[Leeds]

4 hours ago, BusyOctober said:

 

I’m not very picky about food, and I will try many things at least once.  But I draw the line at any type of carpaccio. Shrimp carpaccio, with or without poop included, would be a no-go for me.

 

4 hours ago, Rammchick said:

There's a reason why you don't see raw shrimp in sushi -- they can carry harmful bacteria and viruses.  Not to mention, the texture is miserable.

My dad was a biologist and would never eat cooked shellfish, never mind raw, cleaned or not.

 

12 minutes ago, amarante said:

I go to a very authentic sushi place - i.e. no rolls and they do serve a giant shrimp raw. They deep fry the head and serve it separately but the body is raw. 

When I lived in Japan I frequently ate at a local izakaya (loosely translated as pub) that served great, unpretentious, super fresh food.  The live shrimp would wave their antennae at you as the waiter carried them to their fate.  I kid you not.

[mlp]

5 hours ago, BusyOctober said:

Can’t give any solid reasons for it, but I do not like Sara.  Didn’t like her on the Kentucky season either.  Dawn’s food usually looked great on her season, but she’s still a bitter Betty over not winning.  Her pastry dish might have tasted good, but IMO it looked horrible.  

I was very surprised those two were chosen to represent the U.S.  I didn't like Sara either plus she always looked sloppy.  From things I've read, I gather that Dawn has a good restaurant but she has time in her own space to think and plan and start over if necessary.  She's not cut out for competitive cooking and her attitude doesn't help.  Her dish looked grey and unappealing and that had nothing to do with the vegetables getting wet.

[Salacious Kitty]

23 minutes ago, mlp said:

I was very surprised those two were chosen to represent the U.S.  I didn't like Sara either plus she always looked sloppy.  From things I've read, I gather that Dawn has a good restaurant but she has time in her own space to think and plan and start over if necessary.  She's not cut out for competitive cooking and her attitude doesn't help.  Her dish looked grey and unappealing and that had nothing to do with the vegetables getting wet.

I think many former cheftestants have sold out and are finding fame on Food Network. Heck, even Dawn appeared on Beat Bobby Flay (and didn't advance due to time issues, shocker). But I guess these four weren't poached to be on Tournament of Champions, so why not compete amongst international peers? I feel this is more representative of what Guy Fieri sells as the "world's best" cooking competition than the hugely American TOC. Well, they do have Shota, a guy I think would fare well in this particular Top Chef arena. But I understand the lure of fame via Food Network shows. Doesn't mean I like it! 

Early non-American favorites for me are Onion Slayer and the Brazilian woman. Give me a couple more weeks to get the names down! 😃

[Bastet]

3 hours ago, Rai said:

and a Dawn who always plated her food would've indeed been a stronger contender in her season. Think how good her good must be for her to keep surviving throughout the whole season with that kind of setback. I don't think she'll win though.

I agree all around.  I'd have loved to see how judging played out had the final cook not been one of the several times her dish did not go out the way she intended due to time management issues.  She made the food I most often wanted to eat that season, and I could only drool over the thought of how very delicious it indeed tasted that she not just avoided elimination but kept placing high enough to go all the way to the finals even with that recurring issue.  She often would have just needed another minute or so, and hopefully she's been practicing timed challenges, but I still don't anticipate her going the distance again this season given the fantastically high caliber of the competition (all prior winners/near winners).

I'm just glad to once again salivate for as long as she stays in the game, and love that I'm probably going to feel that way about many chefs this season.  I was excited by this international twist on an All-Stars season when I first read about it, and the first episode delivered.  I think that will continue, so this should be a great season.

[Daisychain]

34 minutes ago, Bastet said:

She often would have just needed another minute or so, and hopefully she's been practicing timed challenges, but I still don't anticipate her going the distance again this season given the fantastically high caliber of the competition (all prior winners/near winners).

Yes, even on Chopped you hear so many contestants say that they practiced at home with their family members throwing crazy ingredients at them.  Wouldn't you practice timed challenges if you're going to be on Top Chef?  That said, I think it's the Pack Your Knives guys (Kevin and Tom) who have pointed out that this is a specific competition that may not work for all chefs . . .  Dawn herself mentioned during Restaurant Wars (Chef's Table Edition) that it takes time for her to develop her ideas.  I recall an episode when Hubert Keller described his process for conceptualizing, drawing, creating, and plating a new dish.  Those slower processes of development are fine, they're just maybe not for all competitive cooking shows.  (Tho, nonetheless, Chef H. Keller did great in Top Chef Masters and the judges liked Dawn's flavors a lot.)

I do unforch think that Dawn's and Sara's plates looked rustic compared to other cheftestants'.  Compared to some on our board, I do quite like Sara.  It's poss she was defensive or sour early in her season, but she gained confidence over time like a lot of late-competition bloomers.  I recall that broth she made out of the inexpensive but fabulous Iberico ham she got in one challenge and she did that "thunder and lightning" dish that the judges liked for the Muhammed Ali challenge, plus her matzoh ball soup -- I'm quite sure I've never had it with mushroom and kombu broth.  

[mlp]

Here's a very interesting interview with Gail:

https://parade.com/tv/top-chef-20-world-all-stars-premiere-gail-simmons-interview

She addresses several things viewers wonder about.

[Irlandesa]

On 3/9/2023 at 10:16 PM, Bastet said:

As an aside, Padma was asked about this on the post-premiere episode of Andy Cohen's talk show and said Dawn's initial reaction was expected under the circumstances.)

I found it really interesting that Padma was asked about Dawn and her "overreaction" but Gabri also goes on an expletive laden rant at the judges table because he forgot his emulsion and no one asked Padma if that was an overreaction.  Of course Dawn is going to be upset that water got around her station, interrupted her cook and got into her vegetables on a vegetable-forward challenge. 

I'm glad they talked about the differences in the versions because I think that got the French chef.  He mentioned during the quickfire that every challenge in the French version was at least 90 minutes long.  Of course the French aren't going to rush cooking. 

Edited March 11, 2023 by Irlandesa

[JTMacc99]

I like a lot of these new chefs right off the bat! Charbel was very impressive, and I'm putting several of my eggs in Begoña's basket. Which is saying a lot, given the price of eggs right now.

 

6 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

I'm glad they talked about the differences in the versions because I think that got the French chef.  He mentioned during the quickfire that every challenge in the French version was at least 90 minutes long.  

I think this is a big deal. Coming into the first episode, I was thinking that one thing that makes this season really cool is that everybody has been through this show all the way to the end. They all understand how to play the game portion of Top Chef. Then we find out that some of them had more time for quick fires, others never left the kitchen. So no "You'll be cooking in a tent in the arctic circle tomorrow" for some of them.

So the game of Top Chef might still trip up some people. 

6 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

I found it really interesting that Padma was asked about Dawn and her "overreaction" but Gabri also goes on an expletive laden rant at the judges table because he forgot his emulsion and no one asked Padma if that was an overreaction.

Agreed. It was not an overreaction. It was a reaction. 

However, it's apples and oranges to compare the two outbursts. Gabri's outburst didn't have somebody on the other end of it going "I'm Sorry! I'm Sorry!"

And while Dawn said she wasn't mad at him, the way it was presented to us (and as is ALWAYS the case with Top Chef and Bravo reality shows in general, it is edited to get emotional responses from us and not necessarily how it actually went down) made people kind of feel just as bad for Gabri as they did for Dawn. (See below.)

I think the Primetimer recap of this episode does a pretty good job of explaining the general way people feel about the Dawn and Gabri, and why Bravo chose to let somebody ask Padma that question about Dawn:

Quote

Mark: I remain vexed by Dawn’s inability to get anything done on time, especially because she’s so skilled. I mean… I understand it’s not her fault that somebody spilled water in her dish, but if she were better at time management, she could’ve adjusted more easily to the problem. There’s got to be a Tyra Banks meme for the way she makes me yell at the TV.

Quote

Brianna: When it comes to who will deliver TV gold, Gabri Rodriguez is the one I’m watching. His quickfire dish was stunning and landed in the judge’s top three. Then he spilled water onto Dawn Burell’s cooking station during the elimination challenge and had an outburst when he realized he forgot an ingredient on his dish — good at cooking and a source of drama? He just might be the perfect Top Chef package.

Quote

Joe: Nagging time-management concerns or not, I remain a ride-or-die for Dawn Burrell. One of these days, she's going to put the whole package together, and that will be a glorious day. Until then, I'm just going to throw my hands up to the gods and wonder why Dawn, of all people, is the one whose dish gets a quart of water dumped on it (by accident, poor Gabri).

These writers get it. Bravo LOVES the love/frustration that Dawn brings. That spill was the best part of the show for them. Of course they were going to let somebody through with a question about it for Andy's show. And Padma answered it perfectly.

[ML89]

I just don't know if I can watch another season of "Dawn has time issues." It drove me crazy enough the first time...

Otherwise, a great start.

18 hours ago, dabbrusc said:

Is this the first time Gordon Ramsey has been name checked on Top Chef?

I think so. It really stood out. Even if he wasn't in a completely different universe, I somehow can't imagine him at the table.

[cathaireverywhere]

39 minutes ago, ML89 said:

I just don't know if I can watch another season of "Dawn has time issues." It drove me crazy enough the first time...

Otherwise, a great start.

I think so. It really stood out. Even if he wasn't in a completely different universe, I somehow can't imagine him at the table.

I completely echo your Dawn sentiments!!  Now, I'm someone who runs perpetually 5 minutes behind in life, but that's why I am not on a timed competition show!  Oh, and I can't cook.

I actually enjoy Sarah, and perhaps that is because I'd classify myself as a loud-mouthed broad.  Seeing how this was her first time in England and with the potential to go to Paris, I'm excited to see her explore new locales.

Finally, when they first panned to the judges at the Elimination table, I saw a pair of white eyeglasses, and was dreading that Graham Elliott was back.  I was thrilled to see that he had not crossed the Atlantic, and I greatly enjoyed the judge with those specs.  

[carrps]

On 3/9/2023 at 11:48 PM, Leeds said:

Even worse is having to suffer through the horrible Sara again with her ugly behavior and obnoxious, loud-mouthed American abroad approach..

Yes. Kentucky was the absolute worst season of TC, and Sara was the chef who annoyed me the most. Ugh. Obnoxious and a big baby.

[Irlandesa]

3 hours ago, JTMacc99 said:

However, it's apples and oranges to compare the two outbursts. Gabri's outburst didn't have somebody on the other end of it going "I'm Sorry! I'm Sorry!"

True.  Although she was calm with him.  Her yelling mostly took place a few feet from her station.

3 hours ago, JTMacc99 said:

Mark: I remain vexed by Dawn’s inability to get anything done on time, especially because she’s so skilled. I mean… I understand it’s not her fault that somebody spilled water in her dish, but if she were better at time management, she could’ve adjusted more easily to the problem.

Dawn has time management issues, but I disagree with Mark here.  Adding a bunch of water to a dish isn't a small thing when it comes to preserving flavor and texture even if she did dump it out. 

[Kenz]

This has probably been explained before, but how can the judges taste sixteen dishes and the last few dishes are at a disadvantage because of judge taste fatigue? Are there big time gaps between servings that are edited out? I'd like to know how long the whole process takes.

[MerBearHou]

1 minute ago, Kenz said:

This has probably been explained before, but how can the judges taste sixteen dishes and the last few dishes are at a disadvantage because of judge taste fatigue? Are there big time gaps between servings that are edited out? I'd like to know how long the whole process takes.

I can’t wait to hear the explanation for this — have been wondering about this for years.  

[dleighg]

25 minutes ago, Kenz said:

Are there big time gaps between servings that are edited out? I'd like to know how long the whole process takes.

I believe that when the timer in the kitchen goes off, and you see a bunch of chefs put up their hands, that the rest of the chefs are on a different clock. They just make sure we don't see that.

[DEL901]

3 hours ago, ML89 said:

I just don't know if I can watch another season of "Dawn has time issues." It drove me crazy enough the first time...

Otherwise, a great start.

I think so. It really stood out. Even if he wasn't in a completely different universe, I somehow can't imagine him at the table.

 

31 minutes ago, dleighg said:

I believe that when the timer in the kitchen goes off, and you see a bunch of chefs put up their hands, that the rest of the chefs are on a different clock. They just make sure we don't see that.

Same thing happened to her on Beat Bobby Flay and she didn’t get past the first round.   He who will not be named won the first round before losing to Bobby.  Shota beat Bobby with Tempura.  

[hendersonrocks]

2 hours ago, cathaireverywhere said:

I actually enjoy Sarah, and perhaps that is because I'd classify myself as a loud-mouthed broad.  Seeing how this was her first time in England and with the potential to go to Paris, I'm excited to see her explore new locales.

Fellow loud mouthed broad saluting you in agreement. Amar is also hella loud, brash, and a finalist-but-not-a-winner but no one seems to rail on him the same way they do Sarah. It's a mindfuck to be the only person raising your hand in moments like that, having never been to London or Paris among all these global chefs; I'm not surprised she felt the need to show she deserved to be there and wasn't intimidated. I thought it was awesome that she and the Canadian won the quickfire, but I laughed at their back to back talking heads where Sarah said immunity was priceless and he said something about how winning is all that matters. Their different orientation to it was pretty striking.

ANYWAYS.

I am just so happy Top Chef is back. I couldn't tell you the majority of names or countries but it was just so much fun to watch. My only nitpick is that the sound mixing was off for me too - the music was too loud, the voices too quiet. And YES to the comment above about names/restaurants only being on the screen for a flash. What was up with that?! I hope the post-production stuff is improved in future eps.

[Msample]

For the final elimination challenges, the chefs are definitely on a staggered time schedule. Sure the opening shot of them cooking has all of them dashing into the kitchen but when it comes time to serve, you can clearly see that while some chefs are presenting, the next "wave" says something like "10 minutes to go".  That said in early episodes of each season I do agree fatigue must set in sometimes when there are 16 dishes. 

 

Add me into the chorus of "WTF is Dawn  again" . I had to look up that she was a finalist; all I remember is her repeatedly missing stuff due to poor time budgeting .  I think she advanced in some cases because someone basically fucked up worse than she did ? I didn't find her food necessarily bad but just kind of conservative compared to other chefs and this weeks premiere did nothing to change that. And while I get from a casting point she adds "drama" in an all star season I think talent should prevail over propensity for drama. 

 

Would have loved to taste the ode to onion dish. 

Edited March 11, 2023 by Msample

[CrazyInAlabama]

I don't anything anyone else did was as bad as leaving the prawn poop in the dish.    That was disgusting.