S13.E06: Summer Party Playoffs

[Lura]

 I think Cory deserves some kind of an acting award for pretending to be comfortable about what he's doing, while (inside) he's just as uncertain as everyone else is.  He just hides it better.  Elitist?  Not Cory.  He's as "down home Louisiana" as a guy can get.  I've seen him be nicer and more complimentary toward others than anyone else on the show.  He has plenty of self-doubts, as we've seen.

Rusty did a good job in this episode, and I like him as a person.  I don't think, though, that I'd watch a steady diet of Rusty shows, only because we already suffer from the volumes of Sunny, Guy and Jeff Mauro.

I also like Jason a lot and think he's entertaining.  He has a lot of talent, but the expressions become tiresome.  A little bit goes a long way, Jason.

David seems like the epitome of "nice."  I doubt he'll win, but I hope he goes a long way as a chef.  He's one of the original good guys.

My feelings about Matthew have already been expressed by others.  Matthew, with his sneer, is an egoholic.  He needs a 12-step program from Andrew Carnegie on how to win friends and influence people.  I simply want him to GO.

Bobby and Giada have overstayed their welcome.  They act like two people invited to a party, determined to show the world just how miserable they are to be there.  When you lose interest in Giada's show-off "fashions," you know the time has come.  When Bobby nearly falls asleep behind the mentor's wheel. you know the party lasted too long.

This show doesn't need fine tuning; it needs rewriting from the ground up.  There is no attempt to be original, to create exciting challenges, to find other criteria besides family stories.  We want judges who dig into their plates with fervor and critique the food with some semblance of authority.  Is that too much to ask of a major company like Scripps?

[Cowgirl]

20 hours ago, PamelaMaeSnap said:

Maybe I missed it ... and clearly it doesn't matter since he's a front-runner ... but I don't think Rusty had any idea what a garden party is. And obviously no one clued him in ... I missed what someone said that he did mention not being dainty, but the fact is that a garden party doesn't mean using a bunch of items from your garden; it means a luncheon or afternoon tea IN the garden for snooty biddies LOL with little sammies and tea cakes and stuff. 

If he did indeed refer to not being dainty, then I guess he did understand that ... and I agree that what he made looked good and everything ... but he came nowhere NEAR what the assignment was and NONE of the judges ever mentioned that, even in passing (something like "well, I guess maybe a big ol' Louisiana guy doesn't know what a garden party and this doesn't mean what you think it means but we'll give you a pass on that").

I am sure had a less favored contestant made such a gaffe Giaaaaaaaada and Mr. Eyebrows would have harped on it big time

I agree with this 100%!  Rusty said he was creating the garden.  That's not garden party food and, similar to what you said, on some days he would have been berated for being too literal.  Also, who wants to eat "dirt" when you're attending a garden party?!  (Well, I thought his dirt looked good, but old biddies would clutch their pearls.)

While some people on this forum have never heard of a Christmas-in-July party, I had never heard of a low country boil.  Then again, in Wyoming we don't have any sea, thus very very little seafood. If I were given that assignment I would have had to beg someone to tell me what I was supposed to cook.  

I keep wondering if Matthew is someone's nephew --whether someone is getting pressure to keep that smug little pain on this network because he needs a job.  I hate that guy and I can't wait for him to be off my t.v.!!

[seacliffsal]

Again, we had someone who was eliminated and then threaten us, the audience, by telling us this wasn't the last we would see of them.  Why does Addy think we want to watch her some more?  Amazing that the contestants don't get very far in the competition think they have enough of a fanbase that they think we are clamoring for them to continue being on t.v.  Nope-they're the ones that want to be famous; we don't necessarily want to see most of them ever again.

[magpye29]

On 7/12/2017 at 1:16 AM, Surrealist said:

Jason- He seems like a nice enough guy, but his Southern quips have been annoying from the start. I didn't watch him on the baking show. Also, his dishes are inconsistent. Maybe he's more of a sweets guy than savory? Maybe this isn't the right competition for him.

But isn't there a giant Paula Deen-sized hole in TFN that they need to fill with an over-the-top Southern, folksy, hey y'all personality?

[Kauai]

I watched Juston Wilson, (RIP) for many years.  He's the ultimate Southern Chef.  Watch and learn how to do this with humor,  charm and talent!  He's died so you'll have to search for his shows.

[LittleIggy]

59 minutes ago, Kauai said:

I watched Juston Wilson, (RIP) for many years.  He's the ultimate Southern Chef.  Watch and learn how to do this with humor,  charm and talent!  He's died so you'll have to search for his shows.

"Hi y'all are?" I loved his show. He would say things like "This makes enough for four regular people or two Cajuns." His stories were so funny. I would love to see his cooking show again.

[parrotfeathers]

11 hours ago, magpye29 said:

But isn't there a giant Paula Deen-sized hole in TFN that they need to fill with an over-the-top Southern, folksy, hey y'all personality?

Not at my house and I am very much southern.  Paula Deen's "southern" persona was absolutely faked as her success grew.  Somehow she thought the more ridiculous she sounded and acted the richer she would become.  One of the FN producers (maybe not a producer but he advised her) advised her during her career there.  I cannot remember his name.

[xaxat]

7 hours ago, LittleIggy said:

"Hi y'all are?" I loved his show. He would say things like "This makes enough for four regular people or two Cajuns." His stories were so funny. I would love to see his cooking show again.

You can find some episodes on YouTube.

[chessiegal]

2 hours ago, parrotfeathers said:

Not at my house and I am very much southern.  Paula Deen's "southern" persona was absolutely faked as her success grew.  Somehow she thought the more ridiculous she sounded and acted the richer she would become.  One of the FN producers (maybe not a producer but he advised her) advised her during her career there.  I cannot remember his name.

Gordon Elliott - he was her producer and is now exec producer of The Chew.

[Lura]

xaxat, thanks for looking up that video and posting it.  I barely remember Justin, but I know that I watched his show at least a few times.  He was a born entertainer.  I love the way he pronounced "onion" -- UN-YAWN.  (Something like that!)  I have two questions about Justin:  (1) What state was he from?  (2) What kind of dog was he describing near the beginning?  I couldn't tell whether he said or not.  I really think that if the FN ran old shows of Justin's, instead of one of their kiddie shows, they'd find more viewers than they could shake a stick at.   

[akr]

2 hours ago, Lura said:

2) What kind of dog was he describing near the beginning?  I

I believe he said catahoula dogs, as in Catahoula Parish.  I couldn't tell if he was from Louisiana or Mississippi as he seemed to reference both.

I watched for a few minutes, but it was too many stories for me - hear that, Food Network??? - although i might give him a try some other time.  I don't have the patience to listen to people's stories.  A personalizing sentence here and there, sure, but unless you're simultaneously showing me something interesting about the food, I probably don't care and almost certainly will click off in fairly short order. I want to like the people, but I can do that if they just carry themselves like a decent person and have some enthusiasm about what they're doing and explain why (which doesn't need to be a story beyond, maybe, how you discovered that you really like this particular food cooked in this particular fashion, or how much fun, or how much easier, it is or something.  Something that gets me thinking, I want to try that - the food or the technique, not the recipe - I'm never going to go to FN for recipes - but an idea, or a dish, and I'll get the recipe from someone I trust more, or improvise.  

[HappyDancex2]

This show has been great.  Despite the lunacy of the contestants I've picked up 2 dishes.  I've been making pickle brined chicken for weeks...I dust in sorghum and bake it and it's like healthy fried chicken.  You can just use apple cider vinegar and stevia and garlic or dried onions for the brine.  I also have been adding fresh dill.  It's great.

and Bye Addie...thanks for the heads up on "hammies" or what I googled were Kings Hawaiian sliders.  Made them tonight and they were great. Who knew?  Husband couldn't eat them cuz he's a celiac but the rest of us indulged in those tasty fatty messes.  Delish for a party, which I hosted.

yaHERD?

[Hotel Diva]

Sorry, I am using my mom's old computer to type this, but I was shocked to see Addie go home tonight. I thought she was going to be the next Food Network Star. She did have some problems, she is the Daniel protege which is very useful as she continues to learn how to cook, but her pure hair was pretty exhausting to look at, as it sounded like it was done at an old Great Clips Store. She also sounded a bit like Meghan Trainor (you know, when she is singing), and she was pretty nervous at first.

Ok, Matthew, it's from bullying to being gross. Sticking your finger in your mouth is disgusting and not sanitary, per se Rusty. Then after his 30-second video, he completely changes to a feeling similar to someone messing up his birthday cake at his favorite bday party. Really? You're not a puppet. You know better.

Can someone send a message to Amy Pottinger telling her my butt is size 12?

[bluepiano]

On ‎7‎/‎10‎/‎2017 at 1:18 AM, Snarklepuss said:

She said something about how she was raised to be the way she is, whatever that means.  Was she raised in the basement of a Presbyterian church??  

The way Addie said that made me feel sorry for her. Really, was she beaten if she ever showed any enthusiasm? Clearly she is way too controlled a person to ever provide the "personality" FN looks for. As soon she said in her usual flat monotone "I have to be a lot more fun" I know she was history. Lucky for Amy, because she was pretty terrible also. Like Addie, she has some clear limitations, but she may last another week or two just avoid it becoming all guys. Were Addie, Amy, Kao, Middle Eastern Momma, and NASA Granny really the best female contestants they could find? That's pretty sad.

Rusty's supposed charm continues to elude me. It feels like he's playing a character, the big ole loud southern boy who's really a teddy bear underneath, and for me it registers as being calculated and phony. More so that Jason's homespun shtick, which he's been called out for yet, yet the judges (especially Giada and the female guest judges) seem to totally buy in to Rusty. I still don't think he has a chance to win, but no doubt he and Jason will be added to the FN roster of recurring guest judges/contestants.

I believe this is Cory's to lose. His food has been consistently excellent, and he's got the smallest downside of anyone remaining. David is my pick for saying "adios" next week.

Edited July 15, 2017 by bluepiano

[Wings]

On 7/10/2017 at 1:18 AM, Snarklepuss said:

Was she [Addie] raised in the basement of a Presbyterian church??  

Hysterical!   ha ha ha ha ha

[Hotel Diva]

Addie was raised in the basement of FNS church.

[Lura]

I feel sorry for Addie.  I knew someone once that she reminds me of.  This person had very straight laced parents who had no sense of humor, and my friend had none either.  Life was all serious.  My heart went out to Addie when she said she thought she was getting better, but said she hadn't been raised to be any other way.  When you're raised in that atmosphere, you don't know that your personality is lacking things until you get out in the world and see how others behave.  It must be awful to know you should change, but you feel funny changing.  TPTB were asking Addie to be something she'd never been before, and it felt take to her.  Maybe this experience will teach her to try to lighten up a little.  They say we're never too old to change, so I hope that's true in Addie's case.  After a lot of thinking, my friend realized that his parents were odd, and he changed.  Maybe Addie will, too.

P.S.  My thoughts are NOT a reflection on the fun ladies before me, but I'd rather send Matthew to the FN Community Church.  He'd probably think that the communion bread and wine were there for snacking and turn them into some Chef Matt dessert.

Edited July 16, 2017 by Lura

[Sew Sumi]

Was Addie raised religious? It sounds like it. But getting to go to work for Martha pretty much erases any fundamentalism. Mormon like Kelsey, maybe? Some families are more strict than others. Kelsey was walls of information, but at least she had stories and a smile. I actually loved her and watched her shows on CC. I wish her the best in Portlandia. 

Edited July 16, 2017 by Sew Sumi

[Lura]

I can't think who Kelsey was.  Her name rings a bell, but I can't picture her.  What season was she on?  Thanks.

[cooksdelight]

Kelsey Nixon was the blonde girl who kept calling Rachael Ray "Rach".

I think she was in Melissa's season.

 

[Snarklepuss]

7 hours ago, Lura said:

I feel sorry for Addie -- really sorry.  I knew someone once that she reminds me of.  This person had very straight laced parents who had no sense of humor, and my friend had none either.  Life was all serious. 

Addie reminded me of someone too - The organist at an Episcopal church I went to years ago.  She was a very nice woman whose father was a Presbyterian minister.  That's why I asked if she was raised in the basement of a Presbyterian church!  Like Addie, she had a hard time having fun and looking like she was enjoying herself.

[cooksdelight]

People shouldn't have to change and become something they are not to win this thing. I wonder what the video entries looked like for the ones who are told they aren't being authentic, or funny, or interesting?

[Snarklepuss]

Does anyone know this about Matthew?  His Linkedin profile says he's worked for Scripps since 2013 as a "food expert" on a Canadian show called "The List".  Here is a YouTube of him from playlist of videos of him on that show:

So he's actually been an employee of Scripps going back to before his first season on FNS!

Edited July 16, 2017 by Snarklepuss

[Refresh]

51 minutes ago, cooksdelight said:

People shouldn't have to change and become something they are not to win this thing. I wonder what the video entries looked like for the ones who are told they aren't being authentic, or funny, or interesting?

Totally

i like Addie. I think the Sara Moulton comparison is the best at least in regards to energy. But that PBS era energy is long gone on TV it seems. I think the word Addie used was Poised and I'd agree that she is. This show asks for a tall order. 

I went to a taping of The Chew a few years ago. Never been to a live audience for tv thing before. I was struck at how loud and energetic we had to be and how the hosts had to be "bigger" than normal. Because when I watched the episode it wasn't as insane as it was during filming. It appeared normal. 

So for newbies who are normal people in real life, they have to learn that, and what works for them. How to get bigger without appearing crazy. To me, Rusty is too much. Matthew is too much. If they're like that on tv it must be like the Tasmanian devil cartoon in real life. 

[spiderpig]

3 hours ago, Snarklepuss said:

Does anyone know this about Matthew?  His Linkedin profile says he's worked for Scripps since 2013 as a "food expert" on a Canadian show called "The List".  Here is a YouTube of him from playlist of videos of him on that show:

 

So he's actually been an employee of Scripps going back to before his first season on FNS!

My eyes!  My eyes!  It's still Sunday morning on the West Coast {shudder}.

So he's a poison pill Scripps keeps trying to foist on us.  Won't work.  We're on to you, producers!

If they want to keep bringing somebody back, how about Emmanuel Delcour/Jean Valjean the French Chef porn actor from Cutthroat/Chef Academy?  He's handsome, charming. self-effacing, French, and can cook.

Edited July 16, 2017 by spiderpig
Adding a positive - Jean Valjean! (and I am not a porn fan but he is adorable)

[Hotel Diva]

Snarklepuss, Addie reminds me of this lady named Sherrie that works at my church, and she works for human resources outside of life. She also reminded me of Daniela from Spring Baking. Too much personality, but too little energy.

TomCorps, I have ADHD as well as high-functioning autism disorder, and my developmental lady would be Addie, so she could give me some adderall to calm me down. I also have mild autism, so I could go up on the third floor, meet Nurse Amy, go to the doctor's room, and Addie would be there. Crazy, right?

cooksdelight, I didn't see the Kelsey Nixon episode of FNS because I didn't even think I was born yet. However, I did find out that Tregaye won last year, and Melissa won in 2009. What confuses me about Kelsey Nixon is that she is the 60s president's daughter? JS.

BTW, here's something really stupid they did: 

Edited July 16, 2017 by Hotel Diva

[OoogleEyes]

I think I fell in love with David a little bit when they were giving him a hard time about using the word "delicious" to describe his food. Then, in a talking head he said his dish was delicious "****! I gotta stop that!"

[susannot]

OK, I made the pickle brined chicken.  My husband and I did not like it.  Will revert to buttermilk brined chicken--infinitely better.

 

Does anyone have the recipe for Addie's "hammies.?

[akr]

It's a King's Hawaiian recipe: http://www.kingshawaiian.com/recipes/hawaiian-ham--swiss-slider/

Slice open a package of the rolls.  Spread with mayo, add ham and swiss.  

Melt some butter and whisk together with dijon, poppy seeds, worcestershire, and onion powder; pour over the top. Bake.

She changed the meat, but otherwise it's just the recipe they provided.   For quantities etc., see the above, and you can find plenty of very slight variations or just plain copies of it online (i.e., somebody says don't use the honey ham they recommend, use Virginia ham, some say dried onion or onion flakes instead of onion powder).  I.e.:  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/216756/baked-ham-and-cheese-party-sandwiches/   http://www.food.com/recipe/the-best-ham-sandwiches-ever-358553

[cooksdelight]

Are you kidding me??? She didn't use an original recipe? What was she planning to do if she's on TV....whip out the latest copy of The Joy of Cooking and show us a recipe??? Wow....Martha must be so proud of her protege.

I've been making those for years using Pepperidge Farm rolls, I think they have the same recipe. They're great!

[chessiegal]

1 hour ago, cooksdelight said:

Are you kidding me??? She didn't use an original recipe? What was she planning to do if she's on TV....whip out the latest copy of The Joy of Cooking and show us a recipe??? Wow....Martha must be so proud of her protege.

I've been making those for years using Pepperidge Farm rolls, I think they have the same recipe. They're great!

Ree Drummond has been doing the same thing forever, and she has one of the highest rated shows on FN.

[Hotel Diva]

You know who Addie reminded me of? Reese Witherspoon. I don't want you to try your best to get the most talent out of yourself, just be who you are. I am so glad she went home. I am 11 years old and I don't want a 30-year-old being superior to me. Plus, Martha might also be glad she went home, because she is pretty fierce.

Those hammies that Addie made in Sunny's Kitchen Hacks? Definitely delicious to the mind, and also awesome for her to taste. 

http://www.marthastewart.com/contributor/1501901/addie-gundry

[cooksdelight]

3 hours ago, chessiegal said:

Ree Drummond has been doing the same thing forever, and she has one of the highest rated shows on FN.

Seriously? Must be why my Dad watches her.

[smiley13]

Pretty much all cooks/chefs recycle recipes.  Addie's was kind of a funny cop out though, using the recipe from a roll company.

[Christina]

My family has seriously been making those for three decades. There is very little new under the sun, and I was more annoyed by Giada and Bobby acting like she just created a masterpiece that they had never seen nor heard of before.

[smiley13]

2 minutes ago, Christina said:

My family has seriously been making those for three decades. There is very little new under the sun, and I was more annoyed by Giada and Bobby acting like she just created a masterpiece that they had never seen nor heard of before.

Perhaps those little sandwiches are not fancy enough for Gee-Ah-Da and Bobby to be familiar with, lol.