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This post contains spoilers about last night's Top Chef.
When last we checked in with our friends on Top Chef, we prophesied that Brian and Dale would be the next two contestants to head home. Brian, you had a good run, but we aren't sad to see you pack your knives—especially if it means one more chance for Dale.
The four finalists went to Colorado (similar to how last years' finalists went to Hawaii). Like their Season Two counterparts (anyone up for taro?), Hung, Casey, Dale and Brian were charged with cooking up some local flavors in both the quickfire and elimination challenge. They first had to prepare up trout on an open fire in the quickfire, and then create a meal around elk in the elimination.
Despite our nay-saying of pretty much the entire season, we couldn't be prouder of hometown favorite Dale for winning the elimination challenge. Head Judge Tom Colicchio appeared to be as shocked as we were at Dale's victory.
Our big surprise of the day was Dale. His dish was focused and delicious, and all the more impressive because of his ability to switch gears when the goat cheese tart didn’t pan out....I think the ability to think on your feet and turn a potential problem into an advantage is one hallmark of a great chef. These days, chefs are asked to cook at charity benefits, private parties, television studios where only one burner works -- you name it. It’s always good to have a Plan B.
Still, Colicchio seems to have the same caveats about Dale as we do. "Dale has made it to the finale without yet making a strong impression of who he is, and what his food is all about," he writes. Even judging from the restaurants Dale has been involved with in the city—Trio Atelier, La Tache, Orange and Stone Lotus—doesn't say much about his vision as a chef.
All that being said, Go Dale! We can't wait to see what happens (er, "watch what happens?") on next week's live-from-Chicago finale.
Image via Bravo.
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I couldn't believe he won.
I'm kind of psyched for Dale to win. Casey cannot chop a damn onion, and Hung's such a d-bag. Go Dale!
Do chefs really need a vision? Just cook me some good food!
I'm kind of psyched for Dale to win. Casey cannot chop a damn onion, and Hung's such a d-bag. Go Dale!
Finally, someone else who doesn't like Casey! Something about her just annoys me to no end...
And it would be nice for the Chicago boy to win it all.
casey has no personality. maybe it's just the editing, but nothing is coming through. maybe her food is really great, but watching the show, she's not memorable AT ALL.
dale is so cute! "i've never cook for cowboys.... i've slept with a few, but... "
I think Dale is proof that some charisma and grace under pressure will get you far. I feel like the judges have asked about failed dishes before and were met with bad excuses from contestants, but Dale managed to keep his response lighthearted and positive, making him look like he actually succeeded instead of failed. He's like the Natasha (ANTM) of Top Chef. Love him.
As much as I think Casey will win, I'd love for Dale and his bad mohawk to take it home.
What is probably the most interesting is the despite Hung's clear superiority over the other two in terms of basic skills, no one thinks he is going to, or wants him to win.
i heard that hung and marcel (last season) are buds. true?
They are
myspace friends, for whatever that is worth. On that note, why does Marcel have 5000 friends, while Hung only has 500?Sad....
If you are going to post the results of a tv show, you need to put the results of said show AFTER the jump. That way those of us who had to tape the show and haven't been able to watch yet are spared finding out ahead of time. I know to avoid the websites that regularly recap my favorite tv shows if I wasn't able to watch them, and the mainstream sites like MSNBC's entertainment page put the results behind a link. Learn how to do the same if you are going to make this a regular feature.
If there is any justice Hung will win. Then again, I liked Marcel last season. I guess I am among the few that are genuinely not bothered by big egos as long as the person can back it up. For example, I thought it was pathetic when the rest of the team asked Hung how he made the potato-wrapped fish in the Guickfire challenge a few episodes back, and then they were mad he wouldn't tell them. It's a competition!
#10 - First line, in bold: "This post contains spoilers about last night's Top Chef."
Also, #11, I agree with that part of Hung's strategy. I don't think they should all have to help each other. It is a competition. Like he said, if they were on a team in a restaurant, he'd chip right in.. but this is a diff situation. I thought it was strange how he's all big talk and then last night he all of a sudden started talking about food having soul and about his family. His technique is perfect, but does anyone think his food has soul or that it reflects his upbringing?
I ask how can you answer any of these questions if you can't TASTE THE FOOD?
You have to take a huge leap of faith and assume that the likes of Tom Colicchio, Anthony Bourdain and Eric Rippert have at least as sophisticated a pallet as you do.
got nothing to do with palate sophistication. There is something entirely bogus about a cooking contest where the audience can't taste the food. It's not like reading about a great wine in a magazine and then trying it. You'll never be able to taste these particular dishes, nor the food of most or all of these chefs. I can see a model contest or a dress designer contest. That requires eyesight. I feel completely frustrated by Top Chef.
Ferdy - do you reject the entire concept of the Food Network?
Not entirely. I think shows that mix food with travel offer something in the way of scenery. I think cooking shows that give you recipes you can try offer something useful. I reject the idea that viewers should watch a cooking contest because they can't taste the food--and that's what the judges ultimately must evaluate. You can watch a beauty contest and evaluate talent, looks, poise, comments, etc. How the hell are you supposed to say Dale doesn't deserve to win because a judge says his dish is dry or confused or whatever nonsense they say about it. That just makes no sense to me at all.
So what's up with posing Dale in front of a horses stall? Was he a local carriage driver?
The judges are some of the most prominent chefs in the country; you can hardly dismiss their viewpoints as "nonsense."
People like the show because it's fun to watch the judges' reactions to the food. While the idea of scratch n sniff TV is exciting; I don't think it's necessary to enjoy watching the Top Chef.
When people say Hung is clearly the technically superior chef, that's an opinion formed from watching him cook and also incorporating the opinions of the judges.
Hey, I'm just telling youwhy I find the show ridiculous. If you like it, go for it. But don't tell me you've never wanted to sink your teeth into some of those dishes.
To each her own. I happen to find Iron Chef quite entertaining, too, but you must find that show quite boring.
For foodies, who try and have a broad palette, one can at least use their imagination based on experience as to the basics of what the dish would taste like. Read the woman (can't remember her name) from The Chopping Block's comments on The Stew's show recap -- she makes very intelligent observations despite not having sank her teeth into any of the dishes.
Yes Rachelle-I can read. And the spoiler comes 2 sentences after that line. Not exactly alot of warning for an article containing spoilers. Again, if you all are going to cover tv shows and post results about said shows, then do what you did for the ANTM post and put all the info behind the jump. That's all I'm sayin'.