Cooks Vs. Cons - General Discussion

[Pathetica]

The biggest con here fails! Geoffrey does not have a personality.

[Wings]

I failed at my guessing this week.  The cook who remained to the end, I thought was too smooth and obvious so I figured he was a con based on previous shows!  

 

The casting director is doing a good job.  

 

If this sees another season I would like them to choose a point, near the end, where the judges and GZ  state their guesses and cannot change them.  Put them up on the screen, in the corner, so we don't forget, easy to do with all of their changing throughout the show.  

Edited April 15, 2016 by wings707

[mlp]

I did better this week.  I thought Bruno was a cook right from the start so, when the other cook left, the remaining two had to be the cons.  The woman didn't impress me but the musician really knew what he was doing.  I would have picked him for a cook if I hadn't felt pretty sure of Bruno.

 

I thought I heard the announcer say that next week will be the final show.  I've really been enjoying it so I hope they do another "season."

[jcbrown]

I thought Bruno was the chef, too. I picked the woman as a con partially based on her nail polish. The idea of nail polish and cooking just skeeves me out.

[Snarklepuss]

The first guy totally fooled me but I'll bet he had most people fooled.  It's hard to believe he's really a chef.  I hope experience helps him improve.

 

I flip flopped a lot after he went home.  At first I thought the woman was the pro, then the guy on the right but suddenly mid way through I realized it had to be Bruno.  Graham seems to have flip flopped as much or more than me!  I've enjoyed this show, I hope it has another season.

[The Hound Lives]

The biggest con here fails! Geoffrey does not have a personality.

No shit. I have never been a fan. He has always come across as pompous, though I won't say he isn't knowledgeable. I will blame 50% of his "personality" on CvsC as Director influenced and the other 50% on him trying really hard to come across playful and down-to-earth. On any of these cooking competitions, while I love a judge who can critique a contestant thoughtfully, they (judges) all seem to have an air of superiority, as if their knowledge of food and technique someone alters the course of the universe. This is where the judging in a show like "Cutthroat Kitchen" has all others beat. The show is corny as hell but the judges actually seem to enjoy it all, don't take it too seriously but still offer up critiques that give the viewer a look as to what is really going on or how a dish failed. 

I digress. I watched one episode and won't be looking for it but if it's on, it will provide solid background noise. FN has some interesting personalities but Geoffrey isn't one of them. I would be more than okay if he went away and took Richard Blais with him. 

[Amarsir]

I have a new pet peeve: the audio remixing. Some of those voiceovers were so heavily edited the original interview could have been about a tennis match. I get more natural speaking cadence from the automated response system when I call my bank.

 

One thing I should say that I do like about this show is how it can lean toward educational. Their habit of pointing out techniques as "pro" or "amateur" moves helps me figure out things I might apply to my own cooking. And that's something a lot of competition shows don't provide.

[biakbiak]

I have found that nearly 100% of their "pro" tips are known to any home cook who actually cooks and I know several chefs that could easily make the "amateur" moves particularly in a competitive environment with a different kitchen.

[Wings]

I have found that nearly 100% of their "pro" tips are known to any home cook who actually cooks and I know several chefs that could easily make the "amateur" moves particularly in a competitive environment with a different kitchen.

 

Yes this is its biggest flaw, the second is asking GZ to act like a buffoon.   

 

I guessed the handsome guy as a con when he talked about his real life.  There would be no room in there to own a restaurant or be a chef in any capacity (lack of money if a line cook).  He clearly radiated a highly paid profession that does not involve food.  score!

 

I thought the young woman who owned a food truck was either a line cook or very new at a higher position.  score! 

 

The young woman who over cooked her meat balls definitely a con.  Another score!

 

I figured the cook who made the southern food had a restaurant featuring that cuisine.  score again!  

 

i got them all last night.  

[mlp]

 

i got them all last night.

 

Golly, gosh, darn.  So did I.  :)  I loved Charley and was very glad he won.  He seemed like a sincerely nice guy.  Good looking too.   I liked Jay also but I was sure he was putting on a big act and having fun doing it.  His cooking skills were impressive although I can't even imagine what his sauce tasted like with fish. 

 

The biggest surprise to me was that they eliminated the pretty girl from Puerto Rico whose dish looked good and kept the woman who used a ton of garlic powder.  I thought she was a goner when I saw that.

[spiderpig]

Jay sure was smooth & good-looking, though. (Yes - I am shallow.)

 

[Wings]

Jay sure was smooth & good-looking, though. (Yes - I am shallow.)

 

 

Yes, he was and that is what alerted me to him being a fraud.  The smooth part.  You can get clues when they give background clips and information.  

[Snarklepuss]

I told Mr. Snarklepuss that the garlic powder queen probably worked in a family owned restaurant and never had a day of culinary training other than learning some hideous cooking techniques from her father.  I was close to right, it was a food truck.  I also told him that the British guy looked like an artist or creative type, but not a chef, and I was right about that too.  I was on the fence about Charlie and the other woman, although when she burned her meatballs I had my doubts about her.  I said that if Charlie is a cook it would be in a Cracker Barrel.  Well, it was an upscale version, LOL.

[ShowsILoveToHate]

I'm enjoying this show, and I usually really like GZ, however he seems like he's had one too many while he's hosting this show.  I realize that this is supposed to be a more lighthearted cooking show, but there are times when I feel embarrassed for him! 

[mlp]

I also wish Geoffrey would tone it down some and also stop with the too small jackets.  I've always liked him but I like him better when he's more dignified and looks sharp, not trendy.

 

I suppose that the judges find it hard to come up with original comments given the nature of the competition but it seems like they don't realize that home cooks can be knowledgeable  - especially if they watch a lot of food TV  :).  I've never cooked duck in my life but I know that you have to score the fat cap first.

Edited April 25, 2016 by mlp

[Snarklepuss]

I've noticed that ever since GZ returned to "The Kitchen" after filming the "Cook's vs. Cons" season that he's been more loud and animated.  He was never quite that loud before.  In fact, all of them on "The Kitchen" are louder and more obnoxious than before (especially Sunny and Jeff).  I am so sure TPTB is putting them up to it.  I know GZ is just doing it to please management.  It's too bad because I like him much better when he's just being himself.

I suppose that the judges find it hard to come up with original comments given the nature of the competition but it seems like they don't realize that home cooks can be knowledgeable  - especially if they watch a lot of food TV  :).  I've never cooked duck in my life but I know that you have to score the fat cap first.

 

You know, this didn't bother me at first, but as I continue to watch this show it bothers me more.  Now I love Graham, but him saying that you just don't learn certain things at home is insulting to all the great home cooks out there.  I forget what he said it about in this latest episode but I found myself telling him on the TV that my mother taught me that when I was a kid and I've known it longer than he's been alive.

[Kathcart]

I muted the sound on my TV last night when watching this thing and I could STILL hear Geoffrey Zakarian HOLLERING at me. Geeeeez.

 

They are mighty insulting to the "home cooks" who are watching.

[Wings]

I also wish Geoffrey would tone it down some and also stop with the too small jackets.  I've always liked him but I like him better when he's more dignified and looks sharp, not trendy.

 

I suppose that the judges find it hard to come up with original comments given the nature of the competition but it seems like they don't realize that home cooks can be knowledgeable  - especially if they watch a lot of food TV  :).  I've never cooked duck in my life but I know that you have to score the fat cap first.

 

 

Yes and you start it in a cold skillet and turn burner to a low heat; the fat takes a long time to render and you don't want the meat to cook too soon.  I haven't cooked a duck breast either but I can! 

[Lura]

Those judges really do have to be careful about what they say.  Last night, both judges nearly went ballistic raving over the contestant who first heated his spices in a small skillet and then used a spice grinder to turn the spices into powder. "A COMPLETE chef's move!" they both crowed.  "That's one thing you'd NEVER learn at home!" they agreed.  (I thought, "I learned that watching the FN from my sofa AT HOME.")Sure enough.  The guy was a con!  LOL

I, too, was glad that Charlie scored a victory.  That smile of his would light up Chattanooga.

And GZ?  I guess he could turn it down a decibel, but he's so funny being all jazzed up.  He's giving the FN what it wants.  He's the same way on "The Kitchen."  I like it.  He has two babies now, so he has to be enthusiastic or he'd put them to sleep!

[Wings]

Heads up!  First episode for season 2 on tonight.  

Will GZ tone down his voice?

Have they come up with some new words and phrases beyond cheffie?

Edited July 10, 2016 by wings707

[CraftyHazel]

I never realized there was a previous season of this!  I'll have to loo, for it...I have a strange fascination with Geoffrey Zakarian.

[LexieLily]

Jay seems sweet but like he'd be exhausting to be in a kitchen with for more than five minutes.

I see that this show hasn't figured out how to not insult home cooks and amateurs - Sam is clearly a pro because he knows how to cut watermelon safely and Jay setting the meat out to rest was "clearly a pro move"? I hear about letting meat rest at least once an episode on Chopped.

[mlp]

I agree that their comments about what's chef-y often border on a certain ignorance but I like this show anyway and I'm very glad it's back.  

From the opening montage, it appeared to me that they've used more chefs as judges this season instead of a lot of celebrities and bloggers.  I hope that turns out to be true.  It always annoys me to watch people without serious food credentials critiquing legitimate chefs.  (See Beat Bobby Flay)

[Wings]

I have to accept insulting the home cooks every damn episode and concentrate on the game aspect, annoying as that is. 

I guessed the woman as a con straight away and never changed that wrong opinion!  She gave a lot of lip service to her heritage and grandmother's recipes, thus my call.  

I was back and forth with Jay until I realized that the other 2 men were on the quiet, gentle side and probably had a career that was not as aggressive as male chefs usually are when they handle food.

So I guessed Jay correctly.  Loved his restaurant The Twisted Fork, cute. 

GZ is yelling again.  sigh

[spiderpig]

I'm glad the show's back too because it doesn't take itself very seriously.  While it certainly appears like Geoffrey is high on energy drinks, I find it funny because he was often so tetchy on Chopped.

Jay's eyes looked like they were ready to pop out of his head the entire competition.

[Amarsir]

Apparently Bread Pudding is the key to victory these days. Last week on Food Network Star and now on Cooks vs Cons. Knowing that the simplest dishes on the menu are the best-sellers? That's a chef move.

6 hours ago, wings707 said:

I have to accept insulting the home cooks every damn episode and concentrate on the game aspect, annoying as that is. 

Ironically, I think it's because they're trying to be encouraging.  As much as I enjoy mocking the phrase, "That's a chef move" is a positive spin on what they really mean to say: "Oh good, he's not an idiot." Though I'm sure that kind of snark would be welcomed by those of us here, I don't think it fits Food Network's image to fill a show with "Oh he's letting the meat sit before cutting? Glad he didn't screw that up."

[Lura]

And GZ?  I guess he could turn it down a decibel, but he's so funny being all jazzed up.  He's giving the FN what it wants.  He's the same way on "The Kitchen."  I like it.  He has two babies now, so he has to be enthusiastic or he'd put them to sleep!

************************************************************************************

I wrote this, and I've already changed my mind!  GZ is swallowing hard, I think, and giving the bigwigs what they want.  I'll bet he feels like a clown.  The trouble is that we've always seen Geoffrey as a sophisticated, knowledgeable, serious guy, and this sudden shift is in stark contrast to the way he's always been.  I hope we can get used to it because I think it's a good show.

[spiderpig]

That French barber sure can cook!

[Wings]

Casting dropped the ball on the oil guy who was eliminated first!  He might as well have worn an sign that said con.   I thought the French woman was a chef; the two men made mistakes, big ones. 

I have had over done fish in restaurants way too many times so I guess that  should not have been a surprise!

Dumplings are very easy so I tagged him as a con since he failed on that one. 

[Amarsir]

On 7/14/2016 at 1:31 AM, Lura said:

GZ is swallowing hard, I think, and giving the bigwigs what they want.  I'll bet he feels like a clown.  The trouble is that we've always seen Geoffrey as a sophisticated, knowledgeable, serious guy, and this sudden shift is in stark contrast to the way he's always been.  I hope we can get used to it because I think it's a good show.

I think he's slightly too outgoing for something perfectly serious like Chopped, yet way too serious for The Kitchen. The only place I've ever seen GZ where I thought "he is a perfect fit for this environment" is Chopped After Hours.

[Lura]

I broke my shoulder patting myself on the back for guessing everyone right this time.  I really enjoy this show, but I had one problem that annoyed me from start to finish.  The problem was the so-called French girl.  For a while, I thought she was crazy, and I was afraid she'd send me to Crazyville with her.  Talk about diarrhea of the mouth!  All of that French business convinced me straight off that she was no French chef nor any other kind of chef.  Sorry, Mimi or Gigi or whoever you were, but tone it down next time.  When you begin interrupting GZ, you know it's time to turn down the enthusiasm a bit. 

[spiderpig]

I liked Fred. (7/24 ep)

[Wings]

I guessed correctly on two. 

I pegged the woman as a con straight away because casting has tipped their hand.  They go for the home cooks with ethnic back grounds who will prepare dishes the judges don't often see.   And I pegged the two toned goatee as a chef just on the way he so easily cracked an egg with one hand, like he had been doing it for years.  

Edited July 25, 2016 by wings707

[Lura]

My recorded shows are all piled up, waiting for me to take a break and watch them, so I haven't seen this latest epi yet.  wings707, I did get a kick out of your description of one of the contestants as the "two-toned goatee!"  HA!

[Psychobunny]

Best line: "He's one pig tattoo away from being a real chef" (may not be exact but that was the gist and so true).

[jcbrown]

This show is background noise for me but I did look up more frequently this episode after I noticed that Fred, the winner, had absolutely beautiful eyes.

[Amarsir]

On 7/25/2016 at 4:29 PM, wings707 said:

I guessed correctly on two. 

I pegged the woman as a con straight away because casting has tipped their hand.  They go for the home cooks with ethnic back grounds who will prepare dishes the judges don't often see.   And I pegged the two toned goatee as a chef just on the way he so easily cracked an egg with one hand, like he had been doing it for years.  

I never get them right. Sometimes I don't even have enough of an opinion to form a guess. This one I was 100% correct, including picking the winner and too much rosewater overpowering the dish. And I have no idea why, so no ability to leverage that into a useful talent. Although I do completely agree about the ethnic specialists.

[MajorWoody]

I didn't read the previous comments, because I don't want any spoilers.

For some reason, when this show was first announced, I thought it involved ex-cons posing as cooks, versus real cooks. Based on that, I had no interest in watching it. 

Now, seeing the newer ads running during other FN shows, it appears either I was wrong, or they changed the format. The new ads seem pretty clear in letting potential viewers know that the competitors are regular working stiffs posing as chefs, not ex-cons. 

Is that the way it has been all along? If so, they screwed up with their earlier ads, because I know a few other people who passed on DVR'ing this show based on that assumption.

I have it set to record now, but wish I had known that all along.

[Amarsir]

33 minutes ago, MajorWoody said:

Is that the way it has been all along? If so, they screwed up with their earlier ads, because I know a few other people who passed on DVR'ing this show based on that assumption.

Yes, but you're not alone. Some of the comments you avoided getting spoiled on are people who had the same impression. :)

[Wings]

I was back and forth and all over the place tonight. 

When they announced they would be preparing two dishes the woman made an "oh no" face so I pegged her as a con immediately. But then changed my mind after her perfectly cooked salmon with the grape cream sauce.  I should have stayed with my first impression. 

The cop said, I am from Wisconsin and we eat a lot of potato pancakes.  I thought oh good god, here we go again with people claiming their state or region has a claim to certain foods.   "I'm from Texas, I know BBQ."  Well, the whole damn country knows how to BBQ.  Or "I'm from Georgia and we really know peaches."   Sigh, every supermarket in every state sells them.   A cook would never say this so I pegged him as a con with that comment only.  Got it. 

And I would say that NYC or Miami probably serves more potato pancakes than anywhere else.

I thought the guy with the crazy hair and hyper was a con.  Shockingly he wasn't.  Kwame, I had no idea, went back and forth. 

The things is, some of these professional cooks are borderline.   Some cater, some have marginal chef duties in small restaurants that may not be all that good or a private chef. 

[Amarsir]

You know, normally I'm pretty tolerant of their "only a pro would do that" nonsense. I mean, it's silly repetitive. But if they're acknowledging good technique that not enough people do, it's fine.

However, when GZ said "He is a learned chef" in regard to removing the bones from your fish, I had to throw my hands up. I think that might be a practice the home cooks have heard about.

[jcbrown]

Gah. Catching up on the latest episode of this infuriating show. Richard Blais pronounced someone a pro because he threw away the pine nuts he burned and started over, rather than serve the burned ones. Gee, I wondered why my food tasted burned--never occurred to me to not serve burned components. </sarcasm> I wish they would script this to be a little less freaking insulting to non-professionals. Just because I did not go to culinary school does not mean I am a complete moron.

[Lura]

I'm still trying hard to like Richard Blaise from way back to his "Food Network Stars" days, and I was just getting used to him when he began judging.  Holy cow!  When he judges, he gives a lecture that goes on and on with his unmatchable knowledge. <sarcasm>

I do like this show, but I'm getting tired of all the same cliché phrases used by the judges over and over -- That's a pro move, etc.,  the absolute awe of the judges when the real chefs are revealed.  This is the kind of show that can be easily mimicked, so I think the cast has to be extra careful not to overwork some of their phrases and reactions.

[Amarsir]

59 minutes ago, Lura said:

I'm still trying hard to like Richard Blaise from way back to his "Food Network Stars" days, and I was just getting used to him when he began judging.  Holy cow!  When he judges, he gives a lecture that goes on and on with his unmatchable knowledge. <sarcasm>

You mean Top Chef I presume?  That does speak a little more highly to his credentials than Food Network Star would.

[MajorWoody]

I gave this show 2 episodes, and that was more than enough. Zakarian is extremely annoying with his new loud and hyper persona. The script these judges use obviously was written by someone with a very limited list of phrases. Blaise does his idiotic fakeout critiques, with a dramatic pause, before praising the slop in front of him. It was amusing once, ONCE,  a long time ago, on GGG. When he does it every single plate on every show he manages to snag a guest judges seat on, it gets old real quick. 

The 2nd episode I watched I picked the two cooks in under a minute. Of course Blaise picked both wrong, so much for his judging and observational skills.

The hipster vegan douchebag Jeffrey from Broolyn, who kept reminding us every 30 seconds that he is a vegan,    was over the top phony , pretentious, and a total arrogant asshat. How could they let him ignore the required ingredient (chicken wings), and make a veggie dish of his choosing? Especially when Rhonda got chopped for using the correct ingredient and not being able to cook it in time. There is no way he should have been allowed to continue. Using his logic, she could have removed her wing from the plate and just said her waffle was her choice for a required ingredient. It is no different than him picking his own. 

Plus the other lady, Bobby I think her name was, burned the pretzels, burned the wings, and they pick her as Round 1 Winner.

This show is joining the multitude of kiddy cooking shows, in being banished from my DVR list.

[MerBearHou]

I actually think the show is fun.  It's super-light but I'm fine with that.  Seems like GZ is having a blast.  He is always expected to be so debonaire and it seems like he's enjoying that he gets to loosen up a bit on CvC.  I was never a Daphne Oz fan from The Chew but I like her much more now because of this show.  

[Irlandesa]

I shouldn't be annoyed but I am.  I DVR this show to have it on in the background when I'm doing other things and there was something funky with the scheduling of this on my DVR.  It said there were two episodes in an hour so my DVR only recorded the first--or basically 30 minutes.  Did this happen to anyone else?

[Miracle Maxie]

The same thing happened to me. I had to watch the rest of it On Demand.

[mlp]

Me too.  It showed it as a 30 minute show.  I hope there's a rerun soon because I want to know who won.

I am soooooo sick of seeing Katie Lee sitting in judgment of real cooks and actual chefs.  She's a home cook at best.  She's pretty.  Period.  Her pretentious comments annoy me no end.

[Snarklepuss]

6 hours ago, Miracle Maxie said:

The same thing happened to me. I had to watch the rest of it On Demand.

Me too. One person fooled everyone including me.