Jump to content

Type keyword(s) to search
Forum Reorganization

Season 13 Last Chance Kitchen

Bella

By Bella
in Top Chef

Recommended Posts

Wings

Wings

(edited)

Well damn, Angelina won.  I knew it even before I saw Tom cut her burger that she had it.  She has an excellent hamburger in her restaurant.  Right there an advantage because she has perfected a stand out burger and makes it everyday.   She was calm and focused, it was routine for her.  

 

Wesley. Ground lamb can be dry and never good for a burger. You have to add 15% pork or beef fat and he didn't do that.   I knew he was a goner. 

 

Grayson.  When she had to grind the pork belly I feared for her.  Damn.  I wanted her to win.  I wish she had just left the cheese off since there was no time to melt it.  I am not sure if her burger was enough to win without the cheese though.    sigh

 

Angelina cannot survive long enough to make it back in the competition.   I may root for her if Jason shows up next though.  

Edited by wings707
  • Love 6
  • Replies 188
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Popular Posts

rho
rho

Judge me all you want but I am a Phillip Phan (that's what we call ourselves, I'm coining it now) until the end. I'm sorry he lost LCK because of those dumb sharp knives. He was robbed and probably di

Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane

A friend from work was there a few weeks ago with her actor husband and other actors, and Phillip came out and talked about how he got a weird edit that totally distorted his actual personality.  It w

stillshimpy
stillshimpy

Dude, Equating friendliness in a woman with flirting is part of the problem. Not part of the solution. Imagine Grayson as a guy, saying the same things. Still seem like flirting? If the answer is no,

ratgirlagogo

ratgirlagogo

(edited)

 

Wesley. Ground lamb can be dry and never good for a burger. You have to add 15% pork or beef fat and he didn't do that.

Lamb is pretty fatty, actually.  The cumin lamb burger at Xian Famous Foods is justly celebrated.

 

I liked the look of Grayson's burger, myself - it looked like what an old-school California hamburger used to be, before everyone started thinking of In-N-Out  burgers as the West Coast ideal. But it was too much a a messy old-school burger for TC.  Wesley's was clearly overcooked and Angelina's burger looked perfect. I'm not surprised Angelina won, but I'll be very surprised if she goes much further in LCK.

Edited by ratgirlagogo
  • Love 2
Totale

Totale

I'd never make it in Top Chef, etc. land because raw or barely cooked meat grosses me out. I would have taken either Wes or Gray's over Angelina's, myself, but as soon as he cut into it I knew Angie's was just what Tom wanted. Her toppings sounded good, too, but did she really say she was going to make "caramelized onions" in a 15 minute time span? Not where I come from.

  • Love 2
biakbiak

biakbiak

Lamb is pretty fatty, actually.  The cumin lamb burger at Xian Famous Foods is justly celebrated.

 

I liked the look of Grayson's burger, myself - it looked like what an old-school California hamburger used to be, before everyone started thinking of In-N-Out  burgers as the West Coast ideal. But it was too much a a messy old-school burger for TC.  Wesley's was clearly overcooked and Angelina's burger looked perfect. I'm not surprised Angelina won, but I'll be very surprised if she goes much further in LCK.

Interesting I always think of In an Out as a very traditional burger. That said Grayson's cheese wasn't melted and her patty looked grey.

Major Bigtime

Major Bigtime

Grayson kept referring to Colichio as "Tom." "I think Tom will like this burger...Tom will appreciate the Wisconsin cheese..." Is that normal? Has any other contestant called him Tom? It felt a little too buddy-buddy and flirty to me.

I noticed that as well. Most people refer to him as "chef". Grayson's burger looked like mud and I'm glad she's gone. She didn't seem to want to be back anyways.

  • Love 3
RCharter

RCharter

Grayson kept referring to Colichio as "Tom." "I think Tom will like this burger...Tom will appreciate the Wisconsin cheese..." Is that normal? Has any other contestant called him Tom? It felt a little too buddy-buddy and flirty to me.

Well, you know in Grayson's mind they are on the same level, and so she need not show any respect. People say they really like Grayson. I didn't remember her from Texas, and if I think about it, I may rewatch her season. However, there was nothing I liked about her in this season, and that includes the type of behavior you referenced above. From what I gather its difficult for a woman to get respect in the world of cooking, and so I would think you wouldn't want to behave in a particular way because you're playing off of some flirty vibe. I mean, I couldn't imagine a situation where a male TC contestant would behave the same way towards a respected female chef who was judging their food. Its not about being mean or hardcore, but there is a way to be cool without having to be flirty.

  • Love 3
stillshimpy

stillshimpy

(edited)

Yeah, I don't really think that challenges that require contestants to Henny Penny around like culinary lunatics need to otherwise observe the deferential structure of an employment situation. Besides, no one has really been kissing Tom's backside. It's all "stand back!" "Go away, you make me nervous!" And contestants shouting from the cheap seats. They are clearly encouraged to have a more relaxed energy in LCK.

Works for me And suggesting that Grayson needs to show a higher level of respect because women have struggled to gain respect in professional kitchens is actually catering to that mindset. The Ladies Have Already Landed. No need for Grayson to act any differently than a male contestant who was veteran of a past season . Suggesting that a relaxed demeanor is flirting because Grayson is a woman strikes me as unfair.

This was a particularly fun episode and I was glad to see Angelina win. She doesn't have the talenT and experience to beat the chefs headed her way and she's still a developing person professionally. I am glad she logged a face saving win.

Edited by stillshimpy
  • Love 6
RCharter

RCharter

Yeah, I don't really think that challenges that require contestants to Henny Penny around like culinary lunatics need to otherwise observe the deferential structure of an employment situation. Besides, no one has really been kissing Tom's backside. It's all "stand back!" "Go away, you make me nervous!" And contestants shouting from the cheap seats. They are clearly encouraged to have a more relaxed energy in LCK.

Works for me And suggesting that Grayson needs to show a higher level of respect because women have struggled to gain respect in professional kitchens is actually catering to that mindset. The Ladies Have Already Landed. No need for Grayson to act any differently than a male contestant who was veteran of a past season . Suggesting that a relaxed demeanor is flirting because Grayson is a woman strikes me as unfair.

This was a particularly fun episode and I was glad to see Angelina win. She doesn't have the talenT and experience to beat the chefs headed her way and she's still a developing person professionally. I am glad she logged a face saving win.

According to the women that I've seen on this show its still a double standard for women in the culinary world.  Mei and that other female chef she was close to alluded to that all season long.  And I'm not even saying higher level of respect, because I couldn't envision a male TC contestant being flirty with a female judge, or not treating them with the upmost respect.    But, I think there are a lot of people that see it from each side.....personally, someone like Grayson would probably always annoy me, and her behavior towards Tom would be a part of that eye rolling annoyance.  Because it would be that same behavior that I think she carries with her....why should she show anyone deference?  She is just as good, if not better than them.  And, that irks me.  There are much better chefs than her that can be bothered to show deference and respect...male and female.

  • Love 2
stillshimpy

stillshimpy

(edited)

Dude, Equating friendliness in a woman with flirting is part of the problem. Not part of the solution. Imagine Grayson as a guy, saying the same things. Still seem like flirting? If the answer is no, that's part of the problem. If the answer is yes, then why talk about the demeanor of women in a kitchen?

Different standards of comportment for men vs women actually has its roots as a mindset in real live sexism. And I know you don't mean it as such, but saying that anyone should act differently specifically because of gender relations is sexism.

Edited by stillshimpy
  • Love 14
Julia

Julia

(edited)

According to the women that I've seen on this show its still a double standard for women in the culinary world. Mei and that other female chef she was close to alluded to that all season long.

I think Mei is a good example of how women have not yet landed. Because unless I missed it, her boss/mentor, Mike V, managed to get through his season without endless online discussion (and, I seem to recall, a segment in the reunion show) of his 'resting bitch face.' And, let's be real here, his leaves hers sneezing daintily in the dust.

Then there was that Time article.

Edited by Julia
  • Love 11
stillshimpy

stillshimpy

(edited)

Participating in a reductive structure, saying that Grayson represents women in a kitchen -- like we're a freaking monolith rather individuals-- is participating in propping up a ridiculous , outdated (not to mention illegal) structure... And again, I get that you are not approaching it in that manner, but even thinking it is brought to you by that reductive structure.

Grayson represents Grayson. Like her or don't but thinking she owes something to people not being judged as her own, individual self is feeding that beast.

I don't think women should in any way, shape or form cater to an existing sexist structure, move past it, move through it or kick it in the shins, you bet. Catering to it perpetuates it.

Edited by stillshimpy
  • Love 6
RCharter

RCharter

Dude, Equating friendliness in a woman with flirting is part of the problem. Not part of the solution. Imagine Grayson as a guy, saying the same things. Still seem like flirting? If the answer is no, that's part of the problem. If the answer is yes, then why talk about the demeanor of women in a kitchen?

Different standards of comportment for men vs women actually has its roots as a mindset in real live sexism. And I know you don't mean it as such, but saying that anyone should act differently specifically because of gender relations is sexism.

That is actually the question I ask.  If I saw a male contestant speak to a respected female chef judge the same way Grayson talks to Tom, would I think its cool?  No, I wouldn't, I would find it just as objectionable.  And why we would talk about it, is because anyone who is slipping by with behavior due to their sex should cause concern.  Especially if women struggle hard for equality as chefs in the kitchen.  I have not seen a male contestant behave that way towards a respected female chef/judge.  Not in the history of this show for as long as I've watched it.

 

There is no different standard really.  If I saw a man behave the same way I wouldn't think its cool...its just that no man that I've seen has behaved the same way towards a female chef/judge.  Everyone should show the same respect, but it should be even more important for women to be held to that equal standard because we want equality and don't often get it.

  • Love 3
RCharter

RCharter

Participating in a reductive structure, saying that Grayson represents women in a kitchen -- like we're a freaking monolith rather individuals-- is participating in propping up a ridiculous , outdated (not to mention illegal) structure... And again, I get that you are not approaching it in that manner, but even thinking it is brought to you by that reductive structure.

Grayson represents Grayson. Like her or don't but thinking she owes something to people not being judged as her own, individual self is feeding that beast.

I don't think women should in any way, shape or form cater to an existing sexist structure, move past it, move through it or kick it in the shins, you bet. Catering to it perpetuates it.

I don't think Grayson represents all women in the kitchen.  But you had said that "women have landed" as a statement on all women.  But according to many, women, as a whole have not landed.  Grayson represents herself...but to me, she does so poorly, especially if she is expecting to act in a way that wouldn't be accepted for a male contestant addressing a female judge, but not get called on it because she is a woman.  In that case, she herself is not asking for equality in her profession, but to be allowed to behave in a way that I wouldn't accept from a male contestant.

 

If the sexist structure is one that requires you to show deference and respect than I guess, to me, its sexist for everyone, because I think that is acceptable behavior from both men and women.  I do think though, that as a woman in a field dominated by men, when you ask to have different expectations afforded to you in order to buck a sexist system, you may be starting to set up another sexist system.

stillshimpy

stillshimpy

(edited)

I'll sign up.

The Ladies have landed means "and it's high fucking time the menfolk dealt with it like adults" . It is 2016. Anyone man in in a kitchen who needs women to behave better than their male counterparts is never going to be persuaded by some kind of girl ambassador. That man, or men, are the problems, not the behavior of women in kitchens.

Th Ladies have landed means there is no call to pet and soothe the dinosaurs. Trying to do so is the the thing that keeps it alive. People talking about Mei's face and its resting expression are indulging in internalized misogyny. Just like racism is still a fact it is wrong to expect anyone to cater to it and the original point being made was that Grayson being relaxed somehow reflected badly on other women in kitchens. Anyone holding such an archaic mindset while working in a professional kitchen cannot persuaded to hold a different mindset by a woman's behavior, because they are a sexist. No need to cater to them.

Edited by stillshimpy
  • Love 6
RCharter

RCharter

(edited)

The Ladies have landed means "and it's high fucking time the menfolk dealt with it like adults" . It is 2016. Anyone man in in a kitchen who needs women to behave better than their male counterparts is never going to be persuaded by some kind of girl ambassador. That man, or men, are the problems, not the behavior of women in kitchens.

Th Ladies have landed means there is no call to pet and soothe the dinosaurs. Trying to do so is the the thing that keeps it alive. People talking about Mei's face and its resting expression are indulging in internalized misogyny. Just like racism is still a fact it is wrong to expect anyone to cater to it and the original point being made was that Grayson being relaxed somehow reflected badly on other women in kitchens. Anyone holding such an archaic mindset while working in a professional kitchen cannot persuaded to hold a different mindset by a woman's behavior, because they are a sexist. No need to cater to them.

 

I don't need women to behave better, I expect the exact same level of respect from a man or a woman.  A man is not the problem if a woman is engaging in the same behavior you wouldn't expect from a man.  It would however, seem to be more of a problem if you're expecting to get away with unacceptable behavior because you're a woman.

 

There is no dinosaur when you expect the same thing from women as you do from men.  I would think thats the anti-dinosaur.  There is a way to be relaxed and still show deference and respect.  Grayson's behavior reflected poorly...on her, as a woman she shouldn't expect less of herself than what would be expected from a man in the same situation.

Edited by RCharter
stillshimpy

stillshimpy

(edited)

I am not sure specifically what you think reflected poorly on Grayson in terms of her behavior, but she was behaving in the same way as most of the other chefs in this particular atmosphere.

I have -- throughout this exchange -- been objecting to the notion that Grayson was "flirting" with Tom. I do not think she was, nor would her specific behavior be considered flirting if a male chef was doing those same things, as it was simple friendliness and relaxed behavior.

What, specifically, is it that you think Grayson did and what would you term it that is being deemed unprofessional in your eyes?

 

There is no dinosaur when you expect the same thing from women as you do from men

Again, I'm talking about the suggestion that Grayson was flirting. What are you referring to?

I also don't think that anything she did was too relaxed, or different from anything anyone else was doing. Oddly enough, the only person conducting himself in a formal manner was poor Wesley, who ...was not having a good day (again, some more).

But in an atmosphere where people are clearly being encouraged to yell things from the sidelines, what is Grayson doing that you think is inappropriate?

Also, if I have left you with the impression that I am referring to you when I talk about sexist dinosaurs, I am not and I apologize for that confusion. I'm talking about men in professional kitchens and the idea that by women behaving in some sort of constantly professional manner, despite a different standard for men, is catering to a dinosaur's mindset and it is best to ignore them and play through, while letting the cooking do the talking.

Edited by stillshimpy
  • Love 4
Crucial

Crucial

Not happy Angelina won but I am happy Grayson is out for sure.  I loved Wesley was happy for Grayson.  Wes may have been sloppy and I think he knew he was not going to win  but he was really happy for her win.  I wanted Wes but Angelina winning out of the three not bad.  She's not going to make it to the end.  Grayson still shows she is nothing but an angry spoiled brat.  Just because she has experience doesn't make her better.  She assumed - her downfall - she would just beat them.  And if she didn't was she saying it would be Tom's fault like last time?  Really?  What a sucky waste of a spot on a show and then a sucky waste of a spot on Last Chance Kitchen.  Guess she's just too talented for this show. 

  • Love 3
ratgirlagogo

ratgirlagogo

I think Grayson and Tom had friendly interactions because she did an entire season with him already, and a difficult unpopular season at that.  If he didn't like her and respect her abilities he wouldn't have wanted her to come back in the first place.  Having said that she seemed pissed off throughout her tenure on this season, which was odd, but again we don't know all the whatevers here.

 

In general one of the things I enjoy about LCK is that Tom seems to have a friendly humorous attitude towards all of the chefs, which they seem to share, both towards him and towards each other. Plus,  the focus is actually on the cooking itself, which sometimes seems to get skipped over a bit on the show itself. 

  • Love 6
ratgirlagogo

ratgirlagogo

(edited)

 

Interesting I always think of In an Out as a very traditional burger.

It is of course in a way, but until the 80's the Big Boy would have been the national representative of the California style hamburger.  Messy, burger itself somewhat loose in texture lots of lettuce, onions, tomatoes, pickles, Thousand Island Dressing.  (The Big Mac is a toned-down imitation of it.)  Comically enough the other thing Bob's Big Boy initiated was roller-skating waitresses who served you on trays in your car. So you were supposed to eat this supremely messy burger balanced on a tray on your lap, in your car.  Ah the memories of messes made.......

Edited by ratgirlagogo
  • Love 1
Wings

Wings

It is of course in a way, but until the 80's the Big Boy would have been the national representative of the California style hamburger.  Messy, burger itself somewhat loose in texture lots of lettuce, onions, tomatoes, pickles, Thousand Island Dressing.  (The Big Mac is a toned-down imitation of it.)  Comically enough the other thing Bob's Big Boy initiated was roller-skating waitresses who served you on trays in your car. So you were supposed to eat this supremely messy burger balanced on a tray on your lap, in your car.  Ah the memories of messes made.......

 

 

Actually the tray was placed on the drivers side, partially rolled up, window.  :>)  

  • Love 3
ratgirlagogo

ratgirlagogo

 

Actually the tray was placed on the drivers side, partially rolled up, window.  :>)

Yes, you're right!  and our dad wouldn't let us kids even eat inside the car, exactly - he opened up the back of the station wagon and we sat in the back with our legs hanging over the rear bumper, so we'd drip onto the parking lot rather than the car seats.  Sheesh, no wonder nobody does this anymore.

  • Love 1
Constantinople

Constantinople

I got the sense that Tom prefers his salmon cooked a little less than Jason's, but it wasn't that much of an issue since Angelina lost on slightly overcooked shrimp.

 

I wouldn't say I'm rooting for Jason because I don't particularly like him, but it would be nice if he were to beat Philip in LCK, or if Jason wins LCK and then takes Philip out of the main competition.

  • Love 2
biakbiak

biakbiak

I actually didn't think it was close at all and the dish that Jason prepared had the exact doneness he and Tom were looking for with teriyaki. Neither was exaggerating how people in Seattle view both teriyaki and salmon both are ubiquitous. Teriyaki took hold in Seattle like it hasn't in other US cities with large Asian populations. Not saying in anyway that Seattle teriyaki is like its Japanese namesake but it is everywhere. If I was prone to TC conspiracy theories, which I am not, Jason's fridge was designed for him to win. Hell my Mississippi born grandmother started making teriyaki a few months after she moved to Seattle and growing up there Soy Vay was always in the pantry.

In Pog Form

In Pog Form

(edited)

because I couldn't envision a male TC contestant being flirty with a female judge, or not treating them with the upmost respect.

I'm certain that male contestants flirting with female judges has happened before, multiple times. I don't have a good memory, so I can't cite specific examples, but maybe some TC historians here can remember?

Other than directly flirting, there have been numerous examples of cheftestants making comments about how female judges (typically Padma) are sexy and hot. And just recently in this very season, Kwame almost lost it about how sexy guest judge Chrissy Teigen was. Is that treating her with "the utmost respect"?

I don't recall the female cheftestants making similar remarks about male judges.

Edited by In Pog Form
  • Love 3
RCharter

RCharter

I'm certain that male contestants flirting with female judges has happened before, multiple times. I don't have a good memory, so I can't cite specific examples, but maybe some TC historians here can remember?

Other than directly flirting, there have been numerous examples of cheftestants making comments about how female judges (typically Padma) are sexy and hot. And just recently in this very season, Kwame almost lost it about how sexy guest judge Chrissy Teigen was.

I don't recall the female cheftestants making similar remarks about male judges.

I've never minded the comments in the TH.  Because I know I would let the world know that I would gladly jump Eric Ripert, any time, any place.  I would not kick that man out of bed for eating crackers.

 

 But even with Kwame, he made his comments in private and didn't flirt with the woman as part of the challenge.  I think every contestant that has had a crush on Padma has pretty much let their love be known primarily in TH.  And not that Chrissy Tiegan is really another respected chef in the same arena as Tom C.  I never saw Kwame as "losing it," but maybe being nervous around a pretty girl, which to me, isn't the same as the flirty, too familiar vibe.  

  • Love 1
Rai

Rai

Yeah, although Padma seemed to be giving it right back at him.  Sandee also had a big ole crush on Padma, IIRC.

 

That said, a woman chatting cheerily or jokingly to a man doesn't automatically scream flirty to me.  And vice versa.  I used to snark at my former department head non-stop, and he'd give it right back to me, and no one would call us flirting at all.  It was just how we understood each other best (casual office environment, btw.).

hendersonrocks

hendersonrocks

I thought for sure Chad was going to win - his dish seemed like it had a high degree of difficulty and creativity whereas Jason's was just hoping a gargantuan piece of meat grilled correctly.

 

Also: I hope Tom/producers/etc. took note of how much better chefs are able to do in a challenge in which they actually understand what the challenge (in this case, Beefeater part deux) is. 

  • Love 2
In Pog Form

In Pog Form

Last Chance Kitchen is just so much better than the main show. It shows all the stuff you want to see, while Top Chef cuts all that out and replaces it with stupid filler.

An Tom really lights up, while in the main show he's usually pretty dour. What's up with that? Does he just not enjoy being around Padma and the other judges or something? Long shooting hours making him grumpy and tired? Bored with the gimmicks?

  • Love 1
Julia

Julia

An Tom really lights up, while in the main show he's usually pretty dour. What's up with that? Does he just not enjoy being around Padma and the other judges or something? Long shooting hours making him grumpy and tired? Bored with the gimmicks?

 

I have a theory that Tom is only still doing this show because NBCU is letting him report on the food chain and hunger issues he's involved in, because he looks like he's not at all thrilled about being there.

  • Love 2
Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...