Cutthroat Kitchen - General Discussion

[mlp]

I think FN should have a Yaku and Sammy show.  LOL  Those two fellows were my all-time favorites from the whole CK show and the way they were interacting was cracking me up.  I didn't really care which one won because I liked both of them although Sammy had so little money left it would have been a bigger win for Yaku.

 

I didn't actively dislike the "love chef" (whatever that means) but I did find him annoying.  I couldn't stand Matthew the kid either time he was on.

[niklj]

Every time I see Chef Sammy I just think "When did Tom Cruise become a chef?"

 

That was a pretty good episode, it actually lived up to the Evilicious name. $30,000 for no salt? Wow.

[Annetteboardman]

Matthew.  Ick. 

He is one of the competitors on NFNS this year.  I was so icked out by that I had to come over here to complain as well.  If he isn't off soon, I just can't watch.  I don't ever want to see him again on my tv screen.

[DollEyes]

 

I appreciated that Matthew kid in the finale. He was there but a brief moment, and he called out that annoying guy who calls himself the love chef.

 

  I totally disagree. Chef Jennard, aka "The 'Love' Chef," wasn't my favorite finalist either, but he was way more mature than Matthew, who not only claimed that "there [were] no teams in Cutthroat Kitchen" during a team challenge, when Matthew was teamed up with Chef Jennard he acted like an arrogant turd the whole time. When Matthew was forced to prep in the ball pit for the spaghetti & meatballs challenge with Chef Yaku, Matthew kept throwing balls at him, which was childish. Between his barking orders at Jennard, his brattiness in the ball pit and his being an all-around asshole, Matthew was riding for a long, hard fall, which he got/deserved, whether it was his overcooking his meatballs or overspending his money on an empty salt shaker to keep Jennard-his own teammate-from using salt, both of which backfired. This tool even had the nerve to try to debate the meaning of "coagulation" with Alton, as if he knows more about the science of food than Alton effing Brown.  Matthew's being eliminated at the end of the first round was one of the highlights of the episode for me. To quote My Name Is Earl's own Earl Hickey, "Karma-gotta love it."

 

 

I think FN should have a Yaku and Sammy show. LOL those two fellows were my all-time favorites from the whole CK show and the way they were interacting was cracking me up.

 

  ITA. Sammy & Yaku are hilarious. They not only had the team spirit that Matthew & Jennard lacked in Round 1 (because of Matthew), they brought the funny, whether it was Yaku making fun of Sammy's hair or Sammy's throwing shade at Matthew, from his calling Matthew "a toddler" to using Matthew's own words against him, like when Matthew claimed that he was "the best cook [there]" and Sammy agreed because according to Sammy, Matthew's just a cook while his competitors were real chefs. Burn! Even Yaku & Sammy's impromptu hip-hop jam was more fun than anything Matthew said or did. I would much rather watch a FN show with Yaku & Sammy, separately or together, than anything by Matthew anyday.

Edited May 27, 2015 by DollEyes

[mlp]

Tonight's show was amusing.  I've come to realize that what makes or breaks an episode of this show is not the sabotages or anything Alton says or does.  It's the interaction between the contestants.  The three guys tonight made me laugh.  I had a bit of trouble comprehending that the good ol' boy in a backwards cap was a physician but I did get a kick out of him.

[cstad]

I enjoyed watching Alton take the bacon from the one guy's basket - "Bacon is a crutch." Hah!

[Hero]

Those three guys made me laugh throughout the whole episode. I like how most of the bantering was playful and not so below the belt.

[rab01]

The winner of the June 7, 2015 show (listed as Carne Diem in my guide) was amazing. He was so cool-headed, outcooking everyone else while getting more sabotages than every other contestant combined.

[cstad]

Ok, that dollhouse sabotage (on the June 28 episode) was awesome! Unique and hilarious at the same time.

[mlp]

I liked that dollhouse also and laughed when the one guy said, "Get out of my house."  All through that bit I kept wishing Yaku and Sammy had got that house for a sabotage They would have been hilarious.

[Maverick]

 There was an ad on today for a special summer competition, Camp Cutthroat.  I think they're supposed to be going for a summer camp vibe, but Alton was dressed like some wacko para-military general that Jim Phelps and the IMF would be dispatched to eliminate.  

[cstad]

Simon Majumdar dressed as a clown, complete with wig and red nose? Priceless! I just about laughed myself right off my couch. His statement to Alton, "If I find out that this was your idea..." just made me laugh harder. The clown car sabotage was also a hoot.

[HappyDancex2]

When I first saw Loreal i yelled "the butcher babe" which was contrived and annoying the first time around and then as the show progressed and she got more and more cartoony, i remembered why she didn't/couldn't win Food Network Star.  Nice that she won some money though...those sabotages were tough.

[ivygirl]

In spite of (or perhaps BECAUSE of?) the crazy circus-oriented sabotages, I really liked the "circus" episode. Not least of all because I've actually taken cooking classes from Chef Mat. He was a super nice guy and an excellent teacher! I was surprised to see him here rather than, say, Chopped--but whatevs, it was fun seeing someone I knew on TV!

 

However, none of this episode's contestants were that heinous. They snarked each other, but even that was pretty low key, considering some of the obnoxiousness I've seen on the show. 

[NikSac]

I enjoyed the circus episode too!  I think the show's already so cheesy, it was great for them to just outright admit it's a circus.  Plus Simon as a clown was quite hilarious. You can tell I still somewhat watch for the food because I was immediately going "take off the nose, he needs to be able to smell!"  Then I realized how silly that was.

 

Happydancex2 THAT'S who she was!  I recognized Loreal from FNS but I couldn't remember what her "thing" was on that show. The Butcher Babe, that's right. I actually thought she was really likeable on most of Cutthroat Kitchen, but she did get awfully cheesy towards the end. I still thought she was better on here than on FNS though.

 

Ivygirl how fun to see someone you knew on the show. I haven't met him yet but there's a local food truck guy who was a CTK contestant that I've been following on Facebook and have traded messages with him a few times.  He and his wife run a food truck that looks awesome, so I am hoping to try his food eventually. One thing I've learned from following him is that he's basically been trying every angle to get on a Food Network show.  He got on CTK first, but he's also been working on Chopped for a long time, so Chef Mat may be working on Chopped too. You may see him there eventually!

[HappyDancex2]

The real loser on this show is Jet Tila.....or Antonia Lofaso.  Eating wet bread after the contestant has to swim in the same pool of gross water as the ingredients?  Hurl.

[HappyDancex2]

And Simon Majumdar....eating chum slimed poke! He should be thrilled they over soy sauced the crap out of those ahi pieces. Does he get hazard pay? Imodium?

[sockii]

Happydancex2 THAT'S who she was!  I recognized Loreal from FNS but I couldn't remember what her "thing" was on that show. The Butcher Babe, that's right. I actually thought she was really likeable on most of Cutthroat Kitchen, but she did get awfully cheesy towards the end. I still thought she was better on here than on FNS though.

Actually I found her more annoying here on Cutthroat than on FNS, especially by the end of the episode. Was it just me or did it seem like she was hitting the bourbon awfully hard?

[candall]

I quit Hell's Kitchen in the middle of the season that featured "Chef Clemenza." 

Now here he is on Cutthroat Kitchen. 

 

What a treat.

[mlp]

 

"Chef Clemenza."

 

Was he the one with all the jewelry?  I sort of cringed watching him working with ground meat with his bare hands while wearing all those rings.  I was glad that Guy won - especially after I heard him pronounce mascarpone properly. 

[NikSac]

Could they GET more irritating with all the "nuts" jokes tonight? I was going "just stop already!" after the first few minutes. I didn't even care who won, I just wanted the jokes to stop. Also, I was kind of glad the stalker was the first one voted off.

 

My husband felt the PB&J desserts needed more honey on them. I'm allergic to peanuts as of about age 13 so I really have no idea other than distant childhood memories, but he was pretty insistent on the honey being important.

[candall]

Chef Clemenza is the sweaty bullfrog who needs a shave.  He's pretty rude on the inside as well.

 

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

I realized tonight that I used to watch this show with more interest because they spent more time introducing the competitors.  I liked knowing executive chef vs. culinary school instructor vs. vegan recipe blogger.  

 

Now they slip in a bit of intro during the first competition--when I invariably miss someone--and the race is on before I've picked my horse.

 

 

[cooksdelight]

If you aren't watching Camp Cutthroat tonight, you are missing the hottest thing to happen to these FN shows in years.... Emmanuel.... he's French.... sigh.....

[mlp]

I have to confess that I thoroughly enjoyed Camp Cutthroat.  I was actually laughing out loud at some of the hijinks and banter and I wished they could all stay.  Loved Ruddy.  Sorry to lose Emmanuel.  The gal with the ridiculous name who won was pretty funny too.  They were all good sports.  The producers apparently put a lot of work into the camp site. 

[CrazyDog]

I loved this show. The setting is beautiful. It's at it's best when the competitors are having fun with each other.

Emmanuel is just so pretty.

My fav episode is still Evelicious with Sammy and Yaku.

Edited August 13, 2015 by CrazyDog

[cooksdelight]

That backpack was a work of art.

[gryphon]

I was looking forward to Camp Cutthroat for a while and it did not disappoint.  Emmanuel? Wow. They were all good sports and funny.  I heart Bob the Bear.  If you can, check out the outtakes with Bob the Bear and Simon dancing. Hee!

 

ETA:  I totally agree about the backpack.  I really want to work on the props and challenges for this show....

Edited August 13, 2015 by gryphon

[cooksdelight]

Emmanuel has a rather racy past. Google "emmanuel delcour jean val jean"

I wonder how long it took the girl to catch that tiny little fish? I figured the pond would be stocked just for that purpose.

[mlp]

 

I wonder how long it took the girl to catch that tiny little fish?

 

I wondered about that myself and also wondered what they used for bait.  I couldn't tell what was on the hook.  The aftershow is amusing as always but the actual show with the great contestants was a lot funnier.

 

As CrazyDog said above, my favorite episode has been the Yaku and Sammy Evilicious show but this one was every bit as good.

[HappyDancex2]

Camp Cutthroat is hilarious. It's like what this show was originally supposed to be! I remember being so Meh and disappointed when CK first came out because it was so campy. ha! We've come full circle.

Yea Emmanuel. And they kept making reference to his porn past...loved it. If they can stand having porny Emmanuel there, they can forgo Next Food Network star and give this guy a show. Plus then Giada could come out with all of her baggage and not feel so bad. Hahaha.

[DollEyes]

 

If you aren't watching Camp Cutthroat tonight, you are missing the hottest thing to happen to these FN shows in years....Emmanuel....he's French....sigh....

 

  Emmanuel's the hottest guy on FN who's not named Eddie Jackson, aka the newest Food Network Star. Emmanuel's not only gorgeous, he's got a great sense of humor, as he showed after his elimination when he joked about his food being as hot as he is-and apparently, Bob the Bear agreed.

 

I was jealous of Monterey, the female chef who won in the first episode, because she got to touch /be touched by Emmanuel. I'll bet lots of women & maybe a few men had fantasies about Emmanuel in a blindfold, but chances are pork & beans weren't involved.

 

  I didn't like Chef Ruddy, because of his saying "Au Revoir"  to Emmanuel when he was eliminated, which IMO was bitchy.

Edited August 17, 2015 by DollEyes

[Bella]

I liked Chef Ruddy, but I couldn't stop looking at his ears, which were particularly wavy. Otherwise, this was a very attractive trio, the Camp CT conceit was fun, and I enjoyed the change.

[Psychobunny]

Did anybody else catch Alton actually making an error on the firefighter episode?  He said that the margarita could not be flambéed so the chef would have to use the peppermint schnapps and heat it to boiling but when they described the dish he actually usedthe margarita for the flambé and the schnapps for the ice cream.  Alton is fallible.  All my illusions have now been dashed. :sniff:

[SnideAsides]

Emmanuel has a rather racy past. Google "emmanuel delcour jean val jean"

Awww, you know what I like! :)

 

I was jealous of Monterey, the female chef who won in the first episode, because she got to touch /be touched by Emmanuel. I'll bet lots of women & maybe a few men had fantasies about Emmanuel in a blindfold, but chances are pork & beans weren't involved.

Oh, no. His pork and beans were definitely involved.

[mlp]

I loved Ruddy.  He made several offhand remarks that had me LOL.  Near the end when Alton was saying that the rain had stopped and a rainbow had appeared,  Ruddy said, barely looking up from what he was doing, "My people have arrived."  I nearly fell off my chair laughing.  Loved Emmanuel of course.  He never stopped smiling.  Watching him with the bear was too funny.  I think FN should take those three contestants and add in Yaku and Sammy and create Komedy Kitchen.  :) 

[DollEyes]

Oh, no. His pork and beans were definitely involved.

 

  I was talking about the typical pork & beans, but I see your point. ;) 

[Maverick]

 Chef Hottie was a in a couple of episodes of TNT's The Last Ship.  He was basically a henchman/extra but he did get one speaking line.

[Bella]

FN needs a show called "Hot and/or Interesting People Who Can Kind of, Sort of Cook." I'd record every episode and never delete a one.

[mlp]

I'd be interested to know why they moved Camp Cutthroat to Wednesday and are showing CK reruns on Sunday.  I would have thought that Sunday nights are a better time slot.

[DollEyes]

I think FN should take [Emmanuel, Monterey & Ruddy] and add in Yaku and Sammy and create Komedy Kitchen. :)

 

  While I can do without Ruddy, I think that not only sounds like a great idea, I think that occasional appearances by Bob the Bear wouldn't hurt. ;)

Edited August 25, 2015 by radishcake

[cstad]

Thank goodness Robyn didn't win! She is sooooooo annoying! Ugh!

Watching her get pelted by dodgeballs was very satisfying.

Edited August 20, 2015 by cstad

[Tyrone Biggums]

I'm clearly in the minority here, which is fine, but Camp Cutthroat is just a waste of an hour for me.  The challenges seem to be all time sucks lately, instead of anything that actually tests skill.  At least in the studio, people are tested on their ability to utilize science or adapt.  The camp thing is just the most assholish contestants (for the most part) in the show's past, and a battle to see who can waste 10 minutes doing some stupid, menial task.  Alton is also at his most intolerable on this show, playing a total caricature of himself.  Pass.

 

I'll stick with the studio episodes.

[HappyDancex2]

Can we retire Robyn now from any and all new cooking competition shows? Pretty please with mascarpone on top?

They need to tighten up the editing though. When they show Robyn saying "I don't know why I tried that." And being frustrated it was clear she lost. They can use the voice overs but they really need to be careful with the talking heads.

This episode was fun to watch but I do enjoy the cooking related sabotages a bit better. Making someone run and stack wood isn't all that compelling. Neither was the toy removal on the lake. Energy and time suck doesn't play that well on TV. Plus there was too much Robyn screaming because of it.

Haha Tyrone biggums...I was actually typing my response at the same time! Time suck indeed!!!

[candall]

Missed the pretty French pornie guy, but caught Chefs Candice and Robyn.

That's how my whole summer's gone.

 

I think they cut the competitors down from four to three so "time suck" could be one of the built in activites at Camp Cutthroat.

 

But that's okay with me--as long as the chefs aren't superglued to each other.  I got bored with the regular show because binding two chefs together became the default sabotage.

[SnideAsides]

I agree it's overdone, but if there's one kind of default sabotage I'm sick of seeing it's "do all your prep on this unsteady surface".

[Amarsir]

I'm clearly in the minority here, which is fine, but Camp Cutthroat is just a waste of an hour for me.  The challenges seem to be all time sucks lately, instead of anything that actually tests skill.  At least in the studio, people are tested on their ability to utilize science or adapt.  The camp thing is just the most assholish contestants (for the most part) in the show's past, and a battle to see who can waste 10 minutes doing some stupid, menial task.  Alton is also at his most intolerable on this show, playing a total caricature of himself.  Pass.

 

I'll stick with the studio episodes.

I'm half with you and half not. I completely agree that the best part is the subtle way the challenges test creativity and underlying knowledge.  (Often revealed via the after-show discussion.)  And yes, the Camp ones seem more sabotage and less challenge.

 

However, Alton genuinely seems like he's having fun with these, and I like Alton so I enjoy watching him have fun.  It's not my most intellectual of positions, but good enough for a guilty pleasure I think.

[jcbrown]

I liked the first Camp Cutthroat with the porn-actor chef. I thought all the contestants seemed to have good attitudes and Alton was having fun. Alas, today I watched last week's with the odious Robyn. I have successfully blocked out memories of where else I have seen her but the minute she came on screen, I recalled hating her. What a loudmouthed unpleasant caricature of a human being. So glad she did not win so we don't have to suffer through her on the finale.

[mlp]

I've said this before................. What makes a good show on CK isn't the sabotages and isn't even Alton Brown.  It's the competitors and the chemistry between them.  The first Camp Cutthroat was so much fun that I even watched the rerun.  Last week's episode was just meh.  Maybe even sub-meh due to Robyn.  I hope the next one is a big improvement.

 

I'd really like to know why FN decided to move the show to Wednesdays and show reruns on Sundays.  It seems to me that Sunday is their primo night.

[Tyrone Biggums]

Good lord...it wasn't bad enough that we had to put up with Robyn on a Camp Cutthroat episode last week, and now we've gotta deal with her on the studio version?

 

GET THIS OBNOXIOUS WOMAN OFF MY TV, FOOD NETWORK!

[cstad]

Damn... Chef Robyn has almost made a career out of appearing on food competition shows. Cutthroat Kitchen, Camp Cutthroat, Chopped, Hell's Kitchen.... What hasn't she been on? Of course, I could say the same about Chef Emmanuel, but he's A LOT more tolerable.

Edited August 24, 2015 by cstad