S21.E09: The Good Land

[ProudMary]

Airdate: Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Synopsis: 

Kristen is joined by judges Tom and Gail for this week's Quickfire Challenge as the chefs are tasked to create dishes featuring cranberries in a unique way. The chefs are then treated to a special meal prepared by celebrated Indigenous chefs and guest judges Sean Sherman and Elean Terry. For the Elimination Challenge, the chefs must prepare modern dishes using only indigenous ingredients.

[CrazyInAlabama]

I'm looking forward to both challenges.    

[Rai]

This challenge sounds great, and ALSO, both the quickfire and the challenge were basically done in the Boston season. RW is a known reoccurring challenge, but pairing the same QF and EC together in one episode (the way they were in the Boston season) is a bit deja vu.

Since they did an Indigenous foods challenge in Portland that managed to be unique from what they did in Boston, I think it's really the cranberries being the quickfire that I'm annoyed about. They didn't need to run the two together again is my thing.

[Bastet]

I enjoyed how much they loved Savannah’s dessert, especially the guest judge pointing out she let the dish tell her what it wanted to be.  The resourcefulness of Dan’s use of the sunflower resonated as well (as an aside on his dish, I am with Kristen - and Dan's wife, who calls it spit - on hating foam, so I will take her word for it this was the .1 percent of the time that it works), but I could tell Savannah best nailed the brief. 

Half of what Michelle said she was going to do had me yelling at the TV for her not to do it, so I was not at all surprised it came out with problems.  But they at least had a couple of positives to say about it, so I figured she was safe even before factoring in her QF dish.  The reaction to Laura’s was the worst at the table, but they more they talked about Amanda’s I figured they were finally going to pull the trigger on a double elimination.

Taste the Nation did a great episode (all its episodes are great) on Native American food, talking about how indigenous people were stripped of access to their traditional foods; when they were herded into camps, they were given rations of unfamiliar European ingredients (these limited options led to an unbalanced diet, the effects of which are still being felt in the community).  The cuisine was lost, for generations, so that much of what is now thought of as Native American food is not traditional (e.g. fry bread), and there’s now a real effort to bring it back – in original form, and in modern takes on it, as requested here.  The episode closed with a “decolonized Thanksgiving” meal, which I was immediately reminded of by tonight’s shared meal.

I like that the cheftestants embraced the challenge.  A few wished they had dairy, but there wasn’t grumbling at having to do something new.  They seemed to respect the reason behind the challenge and want to honor it.

Michelle clarifying “foodwise” when she said she smokes a lot of things was cute.  As was Gail finding it amusing that Kristen actually enjoys Tom’s puns.

Looking at Savannah’s writing on the mirror, she correctly predicted at least several challenges.

I knew from an article before the season started they would be considering QF performance, but never came across the details until it was announced in this episode – they only consider it in deciding who among the three with the worst EC dishes is going home.  So one could still completely bomb a QF without consequence so long as they were not in the bottom of that EC.  Interesting.  I’ll have to ponder on it some more, but it seems like a good way to dip their toe into counting the QF performances.

[ProudMary]

I was nervous for Michelle, and was happy she was top three in the QF, so she was somewhat protected in the EC. While we can't taste the food, I do think her dish seemed more appealing than either Laura's or Amanda's. 

I've been waiting for a Savannah win. I think she's been cooking strong dishes for the past few weeks and that it was only a matter of time before the judges gave her a win. It's also not the first time a dish hasn't gone quite the way she expected, but she was able to pivot and recover.

IMO, it was the right time for Laura and Amanda to make their exits. I'm glad the judges decided on the double elimination tonight. This is the right top six.

Edited to add: Manny should get the next PYKAG.

Edited May 16 by ProudMary

[Bastet]

4 minutes ago, ProudMary said:

Edited to add: Manny should get the next PYKAG.

Speaking of Manny, I liked the conversation that opened the episode, where he said he feels like he's a big part of the reason Kaleena was sent home (I don't remember enough specifics of RW to comment on the validity of it, just respect his concern that his mistakes contributed to someone's elimination) and someone - Danny, I think - pointed out the judges could have done a double elimination but didn't, which made him feel a little better and he thanked him for pointing that out.

[Jodithgrace]

Do the Native Americans not use Buffalo (bison) milk? I know that buffalo milk is used to make mozzarella cheese in other cultures, so I was surprised that there was no dairy available. 
I have read that many native Americans are lactose intolerant, so maybe that’s why dairy isn’t popular. But it seems odd that  the indigenous people wouldn’t find some use for every animal product, including the milk. 

[mlp]

48 minutes ago, Jodithgrace said:

Do the Native Americans not use Buffalo (bison) milk?

I wonder how one milks a bison.  My mind reels.

Amanda and Laura have been my least favorites all along so I wasn't sorry to see them both leave.  I would have been shocked if they'd eliminated Michelle after all her wins but stranger things have happened so I was worried for her.

 

[Irlandesa]

If they do an indigenous food challenge every season, I'd be happy.  I like this kind of challenge where they have restrictions on what they can use. 

I was also happy to see Sean Sherman.  He owns a restaurant in Minneapolis, which wasn't mentioned, but he does really cool work.  I have liked him ever since I saw his company/branding was The Sioux Chef*.  I thought it was clever.

*like Sous Chef

Edited May 16 by Irlandesa

[kirklandia]

The Portland season was my favorite, especially the episode where they honored indigenous foods. So I was really looking forward to this, and I was not disappointed! Seeing Elena Terry of Wild Bearies made it extra special.

Edited May 16 by kirklandia

[CrazyInAlabama]

6 hours ago, mlp said:

I wonder how one milks a bison.  My mind reels.

Amanda and Laura have been my least favorites all along so I wasn't sorry to see them both leave.  I would have been shocked if they'd eliminated Michelle after all her wins but stranger things have happened so I was worried for her.

 

There is no way to milk a bison that guarantees you won't be gored and stomped.   However, I'm guessing that was a joke I missed as usual. 

I was sad to see Michelle on the bottom again.  She seems to either be at the top, or facing elimination, no middle ground.    

[rlc]

9 hours ago, Jodithgrace said:

Do the Native Americans not use Buffalo (bison) milk? I know that buffalo milk is used to make mozzarella cheese in other cultures, so I was surprised that there was no dairy available. 
I have read that many native Americans are lactose intolerant, so maybe that’s why dairy isn’t popular. But it seems odd that  the indigenous people wouldn’t find some use for every animal product, including the milk. 

Mozzarella is made from Water Buffalo milk.

[dleighg]

I loved the idea of using the sunflower choke, and I immediately started making plans for the sunflowers I just planted on my deck! Until I saw him paring them. What a royal PITA! Maybe just one each for me and my husband :)

I rolled my eyes a bit at the comment that "I can tell this wild rice came from my reservation." Um yeah.

I thought the way they rolled the QF into the main event removed even a trace of drama from the elimination. It was clear that Michelle was staying, and that at least Amanda was going home. Her making a cranberry sauce when they specifically said "no baked goods, and no sauces" was ridiculous.

[Rammchick]

15 minutes ago, dleighg said:

I loved the idea of using the sunflower choke, and I immediately started making plans for the sunflowers I just planted on my deck! Until I saw him paring them. What a royal PITA! Maybe just one each for me and my husband :)

You can actually roast and eat the entire sunflower head.  See here:  

 

[questionfear]

10 hours ago, mlp said:

I wonder how one milks a bison.  My mind reels.

 

I would assume with extreme caution ;)

[pally]

The Bison aka American Buffalo isn't actually a buffalo.  You cannot domesticate a Bison like you can buffalo

[Duke Silver]

14 hours ago, mlp said:

I wonder how one milks a bison.  My mind reels.

 

I immediately thought of this:

[mlp]

11 hours ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

There is no way to milk a bison that guarantees you won't be gored and stomped.   However, I'm guessing that was a joke I missed as usual. 

https://www.jjbison.com/post/can-you-milk-a-bison

I'm not the first person to wonder.  Apparently, bison milk actually comes from domesticated water buffalo - if I understood this correctly.

[HappyDancex2]

As someone who is lactose intolerant I was thrilled to see a challenge with no dairy LOL.  There is just so much milk, butter, cream and cheese snuck into everything….i cannot wait until the Brioche movement is over!!!!  So many burgers are now served on brioche grrrrrrrr and look at me like I’m crazy when I ask if there is a plain or sesame seed bun on property. 😂

[PhoneCop]

Kristen: Did you know that Milwaukee translates to "the Good Land"?
Me: Shyeah.

I agree that Manny's time is coming soon. Them pointing out him having the same basic presentation repeatedly was a death knell if I've ever heard one.

[violet and green]

I like the new way of factoring in the Quickfire challenge, and having Tom and Gail there tasting. Really enjoyed Savannah's win, and when Kristen announced she'd have an advantage in the next challenge, her saying with such enthusiasm, 'I'm so excited!' and Tom's sweet smile at her pleasure and appreciation.

[Rammchick]

22 hours ago, pally said:

The Bison aka American Buffalo isn't actually a buffalo.  You cannot domesticate a Bison like you can buffalo

Not exactly domesticated, but they are raised for meat.

[bravofan27]

The original native americans were not farmers. They were hunters/gatherers. It's definitely not possible to milk a wild bison. They are super dangerous. 

I thought it was weird that they mentioned how many federally recognized tribes there were in Wisconsin, but then brought in a chef that was from South Dakota and works in Minneapolis. But whatever.

[seltzer3]

I'm really shocked that Manny didn't hit the bottom 3.  Thought he should have been in the bottom 3 and probably eliminated. 

-Protein cooked incorrectly
-Doesn't seem to infuse the native ingredients.
-His plating style has been virtually the same.

[howiveaddict]

Trying to milk a bison reminds me of Yellowstone and the videos of people trying to get up close and personal with a bison, and getting tossed and losing their pans.

[ilovebeaarthur]

22 hours ago, PhoneCop said:

Kristen: Did you know that Milwaukee translates to "the Good Land"?
Me: Shyeah.

I agree that Manny's time is coming soon. Them pointing out him having the same basic presentation repeatedly was a death knell if I've ever heard one.

This was the first thing that came to mind when she said that! I looked over at my husband, and he was apparently thinking the same. Without saying a word, we both cracked up. 

[pasdetrois]

On 5/15/2024 at 10:22 PM, Bastet said:

Taste the Nation did a great episode (all its episodes are great) on Native American food, talking about how indigenous people were stripped of access to their traditional foods;

And in more modern times the government food that was provided to them was crap - white bread, cheap processed "American" cheese, etc. Even today many who want to eat well of healthy foods can't run to the grocery store because the stores are nonexistent or far away (from reservations). All the more reason to cultivate local, traditional food sources. There is a burgeoning native food-sovereignty movement, including community gardens.

Quote

thought it was weird that they mentioned how many federally recognized tribes there were in Wisconsin, but then brought in a chef that was from South Dakota and works in Minneapolis. But whatever.

I think they are signaling current and correct awareness that recognized tribes are sovereign nations that are in a formal relationship with the US government, and that some of them are in WI.

Those Native judges are renowned and I would expect them to be included in this challenge, no matter where they are from. (Also, up to 70% of enrolled tribal members live in US cities these days, not on reservations, due in part to the fact that as late as the 1970s the federal government pressured families to move to cities for jobs and housing, which generally were not available when they got there.)

I believe the judge recognized her nation's rice. There are subtle differences in the wild rice grown in the northern US, including my dad's home town.

I'm pleased for Savannah, and I will miss Amanda.

Edited May 18 by pasdetrois

[Irlandesa]

On 5/17/2024 at 10:09 AM, bravofan27 said:

I thought it was weird that they mentioned how many federally recognized tribes there were in Wisconsin, but then brought in a chef that was from South Dakota and works in Minneapolis. But whatever.

Since they were talking about how few restaurants there are that focus on indigenous food, Sean makes sense.  He's nationally recognized, and his restaurant is/was probably the closest to Wisconsin with that focus. One similar restaurant opened on Madeline Island last May, so Wisconsin now has one, but the producers might not have known about it, or the chef felt his restaurant was too new to leave it for filming.

[PhoneCop]

16 hours ago, ilovebeaarthur said:

This was the first thing that came to mind when she said that! I looked over at my husband, and he was apparently thinking the same. Without saying a word, we both cracked up. 

I hope one of you said the line about Milwaukee being the only major American city to elect three socialist mayors.

Bonus points if the other one replied with "Does this dude know how to party or what?!"

[AAEBoiler]

On 5/17/2024 at 5:58 AM, violet and green said:

Really enjoyed Savannah's win

Wait. Was I hallucinating or not really paying attention? I thought I remembered that Danny won. I thought I remembered being disappointed that Savannah didn't win again after getting rave reviews again (she should have won the "chaos" EC). I need to go back and watch the end again.

[caitmcg]

1 hour ago, AAEBoiler said:

Wait. Was I hallucinating or not really paying attention? I thought I remembered that Danny won. I thought I remembered being disappointed that Savannah didn't win again after getting rave reviews again (she should have won the "chaos" EC). I need to go back and watch the end again.

Savannah won, and as she said at Judges' Table after winning, it was her first win all season.

[AAEBoiler]

17 hours ago, caitmcg said:

Savannah won, and as she said at Judges' Table after winning, it was her first win all season.

I must've been in the middle of a fever dream. I even went and watched the end again and thought, "I don't remember that at all."  All that said, good for Savannah. She's growing on me. I'm also rooting for Dan and Danny.

[carrps]

Danny won a previous episode, so maybe they're confuzzled in your memory?

[rina9294]

Didn't Danny win the cranberry Quickfire? That may be where the mix-up is.

[Lamb18]

Regarding milking a buffalo, the Buffalo breed would need to be a "milk" breed, which produces way more milk than what is needed for a calf. I don't know if any American Buffalo include milk breeds. I kind of doubt it as it would be impractical for a wild animal.

[Bastet]

4 hours ago, EastCoast4Life said:

Did anyone else notice the writing on the mirror had things like, "cranberries" and "fish boil"??? So they know what the challenges are going to be ahead of time???

(From another thread)

No, Savannah had written on her mirror predictions for challenges and her ideas for what she might do in each of them should they indeed come to pass.  From what we saw, she correctly predicted several.

[carrps]

Yes, I commented on this before. Savannah was smart, did her homework, and successfully identified possible challenges.