S16.E14: The Tao of Macau

[dleighg]

4 hours ago, dleighg said:

well to be fair, I wouldn't have gone to "Japanese" if it wasn't for her last name. That's still usually a pretty good clue.

and I did a little research and it turns out "Minori" is a much more common surname in Italy than Japan. (It *is* quite common as a given name in Japan). I claim no particular knowledge of the provenance of names; like most people, to me some names just "sound" like they come from a particular country. 

[biakbiak]

4 hours ago, Yeah No said:

No, I was surprised too.  I thought she was like Katsuji that way.  Maybe there's more to the story.  She could be 1/4 Japanese on her father's side.

Not that everyone looks like every ethnicity they are but when they showed a picture of her dad in the Nashville episode he didn’t look like 1/2 Japanese. Michelle has mentioned her Mexican heritage before earlier jn the season.

[jackjill89]

I am simply not wowed by Kelsey's personality and Sara bugs. Their food must be really tasty, because they cook very basic southern cuisine most of the time. Kelsey did impress me with how she has embraced the cuisine in Macau and has put the flavors into her food. 

Eric is interesting to me because I know nothing about African cuisine.

These chefs don't cook the fancy foods we're used to seeing at this point in the competition, so they must do what they do very, very well. 

I don't know what it is about Sara that I dislike so much or why I'm so meh about Kelsey. She seems nice enough, but I usually have someone I really like. Eric is so laid back, I'm not excited about him, but I think it would be cool to have someone that specializes in such a unique cuisine win. I know it's not a personality contest, but it does come into play for me as a viewer 🙂

Edited March 8, 2019 by jackjill89

[dleighg]

At this point I'm rooting for Sara or Kelsey. I think they are cooking "food I'd like to eat" which is my gold standard. I don't dislike Eric at all, and it would be fine if he won. In fact I made fufu a few weeks ago and I'm going to try a Egusi stew in a few days (I'm always looking for new things to try) -- but it really seems like the judges have had better reactions to the other two.

Edited March 8, 2019 by dleighg

[AnnA]

Don't get me wrong.  I love babies but am I the only one who is tired of hearing Kelsey say she has a new baby?

ETA:   I'm rooting for Eric

Edited March 8, 2019 by AnnA

[Chit Chat]

4 minutes ago, AnnA said:

Don't get me wrong.  I love babies but am I the only one who is tired of hearing Kelsey say she has a new baby?

I'm rooting for Kelsey, but yeah, we all know she has a new baby!  FWIW, as much as I'd like for her to win, it'll be okay if either Eric or Sara win.  I like all of the final 4 and was sad to see Michelle go, but it's inevitable that it's going to come down to the final 2, so I hope they can all cook their best dish and let the chips fall where they may!!  I enjoyed seeing Eric with his sister.  She was really sweet to him and had words of wisdom for him.  I've been seeing the Instagram pictures of Eric cooking with Sara and Kelsey in his hometown (I believe,) and they all see like genuinely nice people.  All 3 are deserving of the prize.  

[biakbiak]

The tale end of my recording cut off so I wonder how they are going to choose the final two who cook the meal. It seems they all plan the four courses it would suck to have to cook all that food and then just not get to present.

[Pickles]

I think I am rooting for Eric. He seems nice. His wife is expecting a baby. I liked his sister. Lol. These are all of my superficial reasons. I am not cheering for Kelsey, because I am equally superficial. I believe she had a very privileged upbringing. Her dad is a surgeon. She went to a private school. Was a cheerleader. Her husband also comes from money. She and her husband, for being such a young couple, have a lovely, expensive home. None of these are reasons for me not to like her, but she seems to have had a charmed life. So, give someone else a chance to come out on top.  I don't care for Sara, but it was kind of nice seeing her with her mom.

[biakbiak]

6 minutes ago, Pickles said:

ice. His wife is expecting a baby

She had the baby a little girl named Lennox.

[Dance4Life]

2 minutes ago, Pickles said:

I think I am rooting for Eric. He seems nice. His wife is expecting a baby. I liked his sister. Lol. These are all of my superficial reasons. I am not cheering for Kelsey, because I am equally superficial. I believe she had a very privileged upbringing. Her dad is a surgeon. She went to a private school. Was a cheerleader. Her husband also comes from money. She and her husband, for being such a young couple, have a lovely, expensive home. None of these are reasons for me not to like her, but she seems to have had a charmed life. So, give someone else a chance to come out on top.  I don't care for Sara, but it was kind of nice seeing her with her mom.

Well, that settles it!  HaHahHa!

Kelsey, is a hard worker.  She just didn’t take over the family business and now got on a show.

Her mom said she started baking/cooking young.  Started catering weddings in High School.  Which means, she already wanted this as a career and found ways to make money doing what she loves.....as a young girl. Catering....instead of taking a restaurant job. Working her own craft.

This deserves admiration.  Her success came from her passion.  No way Daddy can write her a check for that!  She is Final 3 and Top Chef judges do not care that she is a rich girl.  Only that she cooks the best dish each week. 

Do we know that Eric grew up poor?  He is the son of immigrants. Anyone trying to keep traditions alive from the motherland also deserves admiration.

Knowledge is also wealth. Wealth more important than money.

His craft came from his parents and country. Recipes, stories, culture, cooking lessons, meals...etc.

Americans eat food from ‘Ghana’ every single day.  They just do not realize it.  

(This is what my post is about). 

[biakbiak]

5 minutes ago, Dance4Life said:

we know that Eric grew up poor?  

I don’t know that he has explicitly stated it but he mentioned his father was a taxi driver and he grew up in the Bronx so most likely.

[Chit Chat]

1 hour ago, Dance4Life said:

This deserves admiration.  Her success came from her passion.  No way Daddy can write her a check for that!  She is Final 3 and Top Chef judges do not care that she is a rich girl.  Only that she cooks the best dish each week. 

So true.  Even Kelsey's mentor mentioned how hard she worked under his tutelage. 

1 hour ago, Pickles said:

I believe she had a very privileged upbringing.

Is she supposed to sit quietly by on the sidelines of life because of that?  From what we've learned, she's worked very hard for what she's got.  So what that she got a leg up in life?  She was not handed her cooking skills.  She learned that through hard work.  She mentioned that when she learned she'd be going to China, she did her homework and studied what kind of foods and ingredients she'd be working with.  She is smart and prepared herself for the challenges of TC finals.  That speaks to me of her tenacity to succeed.  It doesn't matter if you have all of the money in the world.  If you don't have the will to succeed, then more than likely you won't.  

[Dance4Life]

2 hours ago, biakbiak said:

I don’t know that he has explicitly stated it but he mentioned his father was a taxi driver and he grew up in the Bronx so most likely.

The entire Bronx eats West African food every single day! Perfect! 

This is why I have a hard time understanding the judges saying they are not familiar with Eric’s food. Ghana is like the NYC of West Africa. Maybe editing didn’t tell the entire story. 

Who said,  Not Another Fufu....

....then complained when served egusi?

I want to share some tidbits about the West African Culinary Diaspora in the Americas.

There is Fufu everywhere. It is  just called different names as it has become regionalized. The transatlantic slave trade reached every single corner of the Americas.

Cuba - Fu fú

Dominican Republic - Mangú

Puerto Rico - Mofongo

Any time you eat Caribbean food, West Indian food, Southern Food, Cuban Food, Dominican Food, Puerto Rican Food.........you are eating West AFRICAN food. Cajun Food. Creole Cuisine. Comida Criolla. 

  This is what ‘Ghana Food’ is called outside of the motherland.

[biakbiak]

2 minutes ago, Dance4Life said:

Who said,  Not Another Fufu....

She didn’t say that. She asked Eric if he was worried about doing it again and gave him the opportunity to explain his reasoning which she and the judges seemed to accept. I’d anything I thought it wa a nice opening that allowed him to explain it.

[Grandma Saracen]

I have to admit, I had an a-ha moment (and a great laugh) hearing Sara and her mom sing the first two lines of 'Wherever you go, there's always someone Jewish' on TV. Growing up Jewish in Paducah may well have contributed to that chip on her shoulder, and I see her sarcasm in a different light.

None of the elimination meals besides Sara's appealed to me, I have some sensory issues and am averse to most seafood, so... meh. But I knew that getting dinged for not meeting the challenge briefing was going to hurt Michelle. I liked her, I found her sympathetic, and I think she had a great journey on the show.

I think Kelsey has been embracing the challenge of cooking in Macau the most thoughtfully of the chefs who remain, and I wouldn't mind if she won. I'd be okay with any of the 3 winning, though. 

Edited March 9, 2019 by Grandma Saracen
clarification

[Dance4Life]

1 hour ago, biakbiak said:

She didn’t say that. She asked Eric if he was worried about doing it again and gave him the opportunity to explain his reasoning which she and the judges seemed to accept. I’d anything I thought it wa a nice opening that allowed him to explain it.

I was being dramatic! 🥳

Students always ask me tons of questions about  Caribbean culture and salsa song translations every day.

One of the most popular songs is Pun Pun Catalu by Celia Cruz and Willie Colon.

It is a song about  fu fú.

People are always like ....so, I am dancing to a song about African food?  Yes.

But, I thought this  song is Puerto Rican? 

Yes.  It is about the Islas Tainas which includes Puerto Rico.

My original comment is meant to say that if the word ‘Africa’ is removed from anything in the United States.......a lot of  people do not realize it is African. 

I am finding this fufu-centric Top Chef season very entertaining.

Everyone go listen to Pun Pun Catalu!  🎼 Merengue! 

[HappyDancex2]

Are durians like plantains or jackfruit in that it tastes different based on how ripe it is?

The fresh durian I had tasted like straight up rotten trash and onion vomit.  Inedible IMO.  Durian candy was sugary treat with an aftertaste of rotten food.  That’s my only experience.

[cameron]

On 3/8/2019 at 12:10 AM, biakbiak said:

Navigating that grocery store in 30 minutes was probably the toughest part of the challenge! There also seemed to be more people, perhaps because it was a tighter space, than usually are at WF during their shopping trips.

I have been surprised by people coming and visiting me when I was traveling/living abroad and totally thought the same thing as Eric! That person looks exactly like my boyfriend or my bff, my mind couldn’t process them initially in the new environment. Eric’s sister was adorable. 

I am shocked that Sara didn’t know to use soda water to make matzo balls, it makes them so light and tender. Her dish looked sensational. I usually cook for my friends Passover do I might go with an Asian take on my matzo ball soup.

I used to work at an organization that was predominantly Chinese and located in Chinatown so we had a rule that you couldn’t open a durian at work. The smell does dissipate so people were allowed to bring it if it was in a dish. The smell doesn’t actually bother me to me it’s more like a gas leak/sulfur. I am going to dim sum this weekend so I will be sure to remember to order some durian puffs! 

Thought that Sara's matzos were really small.  When I have had this at Jewish delis, they are usually large and maybe one to a bowl.

[Heathrowe]

Gosh, Eric's sister seemed beautiful inside and out.  He also has a great vibe. I was not loving the description of his dish...spinach plus gritty but...then they said it was delicious. I'm in NYC area so maybe I can seek it out. I thought they guest judge was familiar with the dish and said it was spot on?

Michelle-I think she needed to "roll with" her dish and somehow even with the extra hour, she couldn't make the changes that were necessary. It looked very pale and unappetizing to me. I love seafood. But it all looked kind of quivery and plain. She did not meld her food with Macao, so yes, as soon as they said that I knew she was out. I thought her quickfire food looked better than the elimination challenge food. Unfortunate.

Kelsey's cooking seems very smart, am not sure, but I wonder if her cooking will be too regional to win in the end? Yes, Southern Food is your thing. But I groaned when she said she was doing a boil. I guess the broth and the spicy was the twist that made it great but.....that's always my complaint when we get to this point-I really want to see the chef's wow me with something I can't make myself! (I'm sure I couldn't make what Kelsey made, but I do make low country boil every summer and it's pretty basic-I like when the chef's whip out their training and impress me.)

Sarah, maybe it's editing, or maybe it's that she is more comfortable in the small group. I wonder if in the larger group, she felt like she had to be louder to be heard, and around all of the guys her "swagger" came out a bit more. Now that it's a smaller group of lovely people, she is more relaxed and appealing. I noticed Michelle went to her to hug when she was eliminated. Her matzo ball soup sounded delish. Yes, the competition did seem to turn into Top Broth in this episode. I guess that was what they all got out of Macao. Same quibble as with Kelsey-I'd like to see something more exciting than soup at this point? But at least her soup looked and sounded delicate, delicious, and unexpected. Her mom was lovely, their relationship seemed lovely. Goals.

Any of the three left can win and I'll be happy.

[Chit Chat]

14 minutes ago, Heathrowe said:

Her mom was lovely, their relationship seemed lovely. Goals.

Her Mom takes the orders at her restaurant (you order at the counter, then take a seat.)  She was very kind.  Somebody in front of me asked her what was good on the menu, and of course she said "everything!"  

[Yeah No]

11 hours ago, biakbiak said:

I don’t know that he has explicitly stated it but he mentioned his father was a taxi driver and he grew up in the Bronx so most likely.

I just did some sleuthing and he's lived at a couple of addresses in the old neighborhood in the Bronx where I lived!  One was only blocks away.  It looks like he started out in the projects near Hunts Point, then they moved to apartments and then a rather nice private house, so it looks like they definitely started out on the poorer end and worked their way up, not unlike a lot of us from that area.

[Yeah No]

9 hours ago, Dance4Life said:

The entire Bronx eats West African food every single day! Perfect! 

I've had it a couple of times in the Bronx but since I don't live there anymore my experience with it is rather limited.

[MeLikesTV]

13 hours ago, Pickles said:

I think I am rooting for Eric. He seems nice. His wife is expecting a baby. I liked his sister. Lol. These are all of my superficial reasons. I am not cheering for Kelsey, because I am equally superficial. I believe she had a very privileged upbringing. Her dad is a surgeon. She went to a private school. Was a cheerleader. Her husband also comes from money. She and her husband, for being such a young couple, have a lovely, expensive home. None of these are reasons for me not to like her, but she seems to have had a charmed life. So, give someone else a chance to come out on top.  I don't care for Sara, but it was kind of nice seeing her with her mom.

Being born of immigrants, I relate to Eric the most.  In elementary school, I remember bringing a Filipino lunch to school and the kids saying “ewww, what’s that?” I can’t say that I have ever experienced racism, but I still remember that experience.  PS- it was basically a steamed pork bun. 

All 3 chefs seem very likeable.  They seem to be cooking with heart and a definite pride of their heritage and upbringing.  I wanted to dislike Kelsey, but I don’t. She seems like a hard worker and a strong, sassy woman.  Now knowing that she came a more privileged upbringing, she impresses me even more- she’s sweating in the Top Chef kitchen like the rest of them and I imagine her climb for respect as a chef wasn’t easy.  Sara seems like a kind hearted person, sure she had a tantrum, but her description of growing up as a Jew in in Appalachia land sounds like it had its challenges.  And personally, Eric just emits this warmth about his culture and sharing that love through his food.  And who can’t love someone who did a thesis on bouillon???

[Archery]

On 3/7/2019 at 10:24 PM, HunterHunted said:

Here's the thing, Tom, Padma, and the guest judge revealed the limitations of their expertise and their provincialism (Padma at least admitted to it). Egusi soup is grainy. It's no more a flaw than the sweet rotting funkiness of durian is a flaw. I don't know if a producer intervened or if they reconsidered their thoughts on the grainy texture after Eric explained it to them. The reality is that this show has a massive blindspot when it comes to the foods and flavors of West Africa, which is especially glaring when you realize the impact those foods and flavors have had on the Americas (North, Central, and South) and the Caribbean.

19 hours ago, mlp said:

OTOH Eric is an American and should have known that the grittiness might be a problem for his "customers'" palates.   He was trying to win a competition not educate people about African cuisine.  I'm very glad he wasn't eliminated but I do think he would have been smarter to choose a different dish.  

Respectfully, this is the essence of colonialism.  I could go up the street to the very excellent Ethiopian cuisine restaurant, but I know that the food has been essentially "dumbed down" for American palates, and that if I ever went to Ethiopia, I'd be shocked at the difference.  Judges of Top Chef should be sophisticated enough to meet the cuisine where it's at.  

I love, love, love that the cheftestants are able to taste each other's food and give honest feedback in the middle of the challenge.  That legit brought tears to my eyes.  

[dleighg]

50 minutes ago, MeLikesTV said:

Being born of immigrants, I relate to Eric the most.  In elementary school, I remember bringing a Filipino lunch to school and the kids saying “ewww, what’s that?” I can’t say that I have ever experienced racism, but I still remember that experience.  PS- it was basically a steamed pork bun. 

LOL. I am also the daughter of an immigrant (my mother, who made my lunches). But she was actually kind of an earth mother before the culture caught on. I remember being given fruit roll-ups (in the 60s, when these were rather obscure things, and didn't come with "explanatory wrappers"). I loved telling the other kids they were cow's tongue. Ha Ha. They believed me, since my mother spoke with an eastern European accent 🙂

[theatremouse]

3 hours ago, cameron said:

Thought that Sara's matzos were really small.  When I have had this at Jewish delis, they are usually large and maybe one to a bowl.

This is a gimmick thing that some delis do. It's also much harder to cook them properly when they're that big. I've never been at a seder that did the giant-one-to-a-bowl thing. Hers were the size most people would make them at home. I've had larger than she made, but still probably 2-3 to a bowl. But also there's a major divide on the whole seltzer-in-the-batter thing, like the kind of debate that will never end. It was interesting to me she'd never heard of it but then used it when her mother told her about it, which says to me she grew up in a seltzered-matzoh ball family and didn't realize it. Anyway besides the seltzer trick, if they're smaller it's easier to be sure they end up fluffy all the way through and not hard in the middle. Although there are those who prefer them more dense, it still shouldn't be hard in the middle.

[cameron]

Just now, theatremouse said:

This is a gimmick thing that some delis do. It's also much harder to cook them properly when they're that big. I've never been at a seder that did the giant-one-to-a-bowl thing. Hers were the size most people would make them at home. I've had larger than she made, but still probably 2-3 to a bowl. But also there's a major divide on the whole seltzer-in-the-batter thing, like the kind of debate that will never end. It was interesting to me she'd never heard of it but then used it when her mother told her about it, which says to me she grew up in a seltzered-matzoh ball family and didn't realize it. Anyway besides the seltzer trick, if they're smaller it's easier to be sure they end up fluffy all the way through and not hard in the middle. Although there are those who prefer them more dense, it still shouldn't be hard in the middle.

Thanks for the info.  Not being Jewish, my only experience was having it at the delis.

[jhummerbird]

I was sad to see Michelle go but she clearly struggled with this challenge -- which was surprising because she had done very well in cooking Macau ingredients in general. I think her issue was trying to combine her Mexican and Italian heritage AND the Chinese/Portuguese flavors of Macau. Sara mentioned that her mom is Jewish but her dad's family has lived in Appalachia for generations but she didn't try to cook anything "Kentucky Jewish" she just went for a simple dish. Mexican-Italian sounds like a pretty tough fusion to begin with -- the only overlap I can really think of is corn, so maybe she could have done more of a polenta base with beans and seafood in an Asian-y broth? But picking either Mexican or Italian would have been a better choice I think.

[CrazyInAlabama]

I think Kelsey asked her Mom "Where's the baby?", because she was hoping her husband would appear next.    I think all of the chefs had great relationships with their relatives who showed up.

I guess the producers learned from having a previous season's chef estranged, soon to be ex-wife show up for a family show.   

Edited March 9, 2019 by CrazyInAlabama

[jackjill89]

The idea that perhaps Sara is louder in a bigger group is interesting -- I wonder if that is what cemented my hate for her early on. Hmmm. 

She and Kelsey do make food with depth of flavors. I'd like to try one of their broths if they are so good. I don't know if I've ever had truly wonderful broth. 

[mlp]

3 hours ago, Archery said:

Respectfully, this is the essence of colonialism.  I could go up the street to the very excellent Ethiopian cuisine restaurant, but I know that the food has been essentially "dumbed down" for American palates, and that if I ever went to Ethiopia, I'd be shocked at the difference.  Judges of Top Chef should be sophisticated enough to meet the cuisine where it's at.

I don't disagree with you at all.  What I was saying though is that Eric was in a competition he wanted to win so he would have been smarter to cook for the judges' palates.  It wasn't the best time to educate them on authentic African cuisine.  It's been fairly obvious throughout the episodes that none of the judges were all that familiar with his style of food so he took what I thought was an unnecessary risk.

[dewelar]

1 hour ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

I think Kelsey asked her Mom "Where's the baby?", because she was hoping her husband would appear next.

Except what she said was "who has my baby?" which...I'll just leave without further comment.

[Eulipian 5k]

2 hours ago, mlp said:

6 hours ago, Archery said:

Respectfully, this is the essence of colonialism.  I could go up the street to the very excellent Ethiopian cuisine restaurant, but I know that the food has been essentially "dumbed down" for American palates, and that if I ever went to Ethiopia, I'd be shocked at the difference.  Judges of Top Chef should be sophisticated enough to meet the cuisine where it's at.

I don't disagree with you at all.  What I was saying though is that Eric was in a competition

The "dumb(ing) down" happens to all food introduced to a different culture. Chinese food, which has a strong market everywhere in the world is completely different at home. Ditto Italian spaghetti with wait, what, meat sauce? wasn't served in Italy. Curry is different in Japan, different in India, and better (lol) in the Caribbean. An  earlier poster compared food and music that way.

The earlier purveyors of their "exotic" cuisines were competing in the real life versions of Top Chef restaurants wars!

[Fukui San]

14 hours ago, HappyDancex2 said:

Are durians like plantains or jackfruit in that it tastes different based on how ripe it is?

The fresh durian I had tasted like straight up rotten trash and onion vomit.  Inedible IMO.  Durian candy was sugary treat with an aftertaste of rotten food.  That’s my only experience.

I’ve never heard of any version of Durian that wasn’t stinky and “an acquired taste”.  

[dleighg]

14 hours ago, HappyDancex2 said:

The fresh durian I had tasted like straight up rotten trash and onion vomit.  Inedible IMO.  Durian candy was sugary treat with an aftertaste of rotten food.  That’s my only experience.

Your descriptions make me *so* want to try it 🙂 Especially the trash and onion vomit. A true "picture."

[Norma Desmond]

I'm rooting for a Kelsey x Sara showdown. May the best woman win.

[Ms.Lulu]

I have to admit that Sara has grown on me.  Now she reminds me of my sister in law--seemingly abrasive when you first meet, but a kind hearted person who has worked hard for everything.  I like her!

Count me among those who were surprised Sara didn't know about seltzer.  Best way I ever had Matzah balls was in a gumbo file.  Yum!

I like them all and will be happy whoever wins.  My slight preference is:

Sara, Eric then Kelsey

[Lamb18]

35 minutes ago, Norma Desmond said:

I'm rooting for a Kelsey x Sara showdown. May the best woman win.

This is what I want, too. I'm hoping for a Sarah win, but Kelsey or Eric winning is fine, too.

Funny how at the beginning of the season I figured Sarah and Kelsey were midseason cannon fodder, especially Sarah since it seemed like she was struggling in figuring out how to compete successfully and was also abrasive at times.  I didn't like her at all the first few episodes. Kelsey seemed like a pretty face chef who wasn't meant to be taken seriously because of her pretty face. I'm glad my early impressions were wrong and I now have a real appreciation for them as talented chefs and competitors.

[dleighg]

7 minutes ago, Lamb18 said:

especially Sarah since it seemed like she was struggling in figuring out how to compete successfully and was also abrasive at times.

and that's why I get a bit annoyed at folks here who seem to be unable to give up the "early spin" of Sara and recognize how well she's been doing (and honestly, how pleasant she's been the last 4 or 5 episodes). Sometimes you have to re-evaluate your biases folks!

7 minutes ago, Lamb18 said:

I'm glad my early impressions were wrong and I now have a real appreciation for them as talented chefs and competitors.

Edited March 9, 2019 by dleighg

[Chit Chat]

1 hour ago, Lamb18 said:

Kelsey seemed like a pretty face chef who wasn't meant to be taken seriously because of her pretty face.

Say what?  A person can't be pretty and successful?  I'm rather stunned by this comment.   This reminds of a Jim Gaffigan routine about beauty.  What I'm quoting  starts at the 1:48 mark.  The whole bit is funny though.

https://youtu.be/rBi3PAtWq44

"We live in a beauty society.  Someone's attractive and we're amazed they can do anything else.  Not only is she beautiful, she knows how to read.  A reader too!  What a double threat!" - Jim Gaffigan

Edited March 10, 2019 by ChitChat

[The Solution]

19 hours ago, Dance4Life said:

One of the most popular songs is Pun Pun Catalu by Celia Cruz and Willie Colon.

It is a song about  fu fú.

I can't tell you how much I love this song, and Celia and Willie!

[whinewithwine]

12 hours ago, MeLikesTV said:

Being born of immigrants, I relate to Eric the most.  In elementary school, I remember bringing a Filipino lunch to school and the kids saying “ewww, what’s that?” I can’t say that I have ever experienced racism, but I still remember that experience.  PS- it was basically a steamed pork bun. 

I had a Filipino co-worker who would bring in leftovers from his supper.  I loved it when his wife made pancit and lumpia.  

[Giselle]

I want the final two to be Kelsey and Eric. I don't care which one wins.

Just not Sarah!

I don't like Sarah, I know we don't have taste and smell-a-vision, but I haven't been impressed with anything she's served and I don't like her. It's as simple as that.

[Giselle]

26 minutes ago, whinewithwine said:

I had a Filipino co-worker who would bring in leftovers from his supper.  I loved it when his wife made pancit and lumpia.  

I loved my mom and dad bringing home  plates of leftovers from their places of work when they had pot lucks. With all sorts of different cultures represented  by their coworkers my brother's and my pallets were expanded at an early age.

[Norma Desmond]

I am super excited about the finale, which I wasn't in the previous season - I didn't watch Flamm x Adrienne, cause my favorites were gone and I didn't think either was Top Chef winner material (I didn't watch Jeremy x Amar either - hated that finale).

Anyway, I am rooting for Sara. IMO she totally redeemed herself from the seemingly unpleasant persona she showed earlier, and has been kicking ass in the kitchen. I'd love to try her food. I would be fine with Kelsey winning too. I don't dislike Eric, but I don't find his food exciting. But, I won't be mad if he wins, which I was when Nick Elmi (ugh) won over Nina.

[Mellowyellow]

I've got this theory that Sarah is someone who might seem like a bit of a banshee when she is stressed (I am so like this and would definitely look like a villain on TV) so perhaps in the earlier rounds she was still finding her groove and didn't fare so well on camera. She seems to be a lot more relaxed as the group got smaller.

I also think that because the contestants are all so nice in the last two seasons, anyone who seems more stressed and who "reacts" a bit more is going to stand out and look "bad" in comparison to the rest of the group.  

Happy for any of the final three to win and at this point I will cheer for whoever's food looks best to me in the finale. They all seem like decent people. 

ETA: I loooove durian! Having grown up with it, it just tastes creamy and fruity to me. Very ripe fruity smell. I don't get any cheese or stinky vibes off it. That said some of the species of durian are SUPER strong apparently. I have only ever had the mothong durian which is apparently meant to be more bland and less fragrant. It is delicious when you get a good one! Like custard! 

Edited March 11, 2019 by Mellowyellow

[Special K]

On 3/9/2019 at 5:35 PM, PDXlulu said:

I have to admit that Sara has grown on me.  Now she reminds me of my sister in law--seemingly abrasive when you first meet, but a kind hearted person who has worked hard for everything.  I like her!

She has grown on me too and also seems strangely familiar to me, like someone I've worked with a long time, she bugs from time to time, but everyone is really fond of her.

I found her interactions with her mother to be very endearing, like saying how she feeds her parents every night at her restaurant.  It made me understand and appreciate her a little better. 

Having said that, I kind of am hoping for an Eric/Kelsey final showdown.  Kelsey seems to be the smartest when it comes to figuring out how to deliver on all of Top Chef's weird briefs while always delivering delicious food, and Eric is really cooking from his soul every time (and gently educating TC judges and fans).  He also won me over when he took off his apron to sit down at the table.  Boy has table manners...unlike the rest of them!

[Cotypubby]

I’d be ok with any of the remaining three winning, though I’m rooting for either Kelsey or Sara. I’ve liked Kelsey since the beginning. Sorry but Eric’s dish just did not sound appetizing. If it’s so gritty that a judge has to spit out pieces on every bite... 

[Eulipian 5k]

11 hours ago, Cotypubby said:

If it’s so gritty that a judge has to spit out pieces on every bite... 

Speaking of grit. I remember, (not sure if it was TC), someone adding pomegranate to a salad, what happens with the little "pit" after you eat the sweet part? Isn't it "spit out" the same way?

[Special K]

2 hours ago, Eulipian 5k said:

Speaking of grit. I remember, (not sure if it was TC), someone adding pomegranate to a salad, what happens with the little "pit" after you eat the sweet part? Isn't it "spit out" the same way?

No, you eat the entire pomegranate seed.