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Last week we said we fully expected to see self-styled cheffing "prodigy" Ryan Scott to be the next eliminated on "Top Chef." From the moment in the premiere we saw Ryan gather his luggage at the airport and talking about how he was running the line at his parents' restaurant at the tender age of twelve, the question in our minds wasn't if he'd be asked to pack up his knives and go, but when.
Ryan's major problem was a tendency to think too much during the challenges. From trying to fashion chicken piccata from memory and eventually serving chicken nuggets; his Waldorf salad at the street fest; to his eventual decision to glam up last week's tailgate, Ryan failed to keep things simple. Meanwhile, the strong got stronger. Stephanie finally showed strong in a quickfire by pairing mussels and beer a la Hopleaf. Dale ribs were so damn good that we can't wait to see how the Garcia's at Bleeding Heart incorporate the ingredients into a cupcake this week. Antonia's jerk chicken had some inventive tropical fruit pairings. Those three, plus Richard, are the ones to beat.
Following are this week's power rankings.
1. Stephanie (last week – 1): A model of consistency who finally broke through with a solid quickfire challenge dish.
2. Dale (last week – 2): Getting to keep the grill he won his elimination challenge with isn't the same as a trip to Italy. His rivalry with Lisa shows signs of blossoming into a blood feud.
3. Richard (last week – 3): Bounced back from a disastrous week with strong showing in the quickfire.
4. Antonia (last week – 4): She and Stephanie give this season two very strong female chefs and a chance to break the patriarchal hold of winners on the show.
5. Andrew (last week – 5): Not a good week when we can't remember what he did.
6. Lisa (last week – 7): You get the feeling she'd stick a knife in Dale's back and not even blink.
7. Jennifer (last week – 9): Vowed there would be blood after Zoi was eliminated by winning quickfire. But it could be too little, too late.
8. Spike (last week – 8): Here's hoping that the secret ingredient for a quickfire challenge is one of his goddamn hats.
9. Mark (last week – 5): Had quite possibly the filthiest grill area we've ever seen not manned by a drunken member of our family and made a lame "shrimp on the barbie" joke, to boot.
10. Nikki – (last week – 9): Caught major heat for not making her own sausage. Maybe making her own pasta is her only trick?
11. Ryan (last week – 11): Less time bragging, more time watching other chefs.
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I think Ryan's problem was all of that "home-schooling" really didn't give him the right experience for tailgating -- I mean, poached pears at a Bears' tailgate? Really? Does he actually think he's a "chef" and not merely a "cook"?
And, I can't wait to see Dale jump over a stainless prep table at Lisa, teeth bared to the gums, hissing with bloodshot red eyes.
The bottom of the list seem so unaware of their failings and so unwilling to learn from them, it's comical.
And the hats...the hats must go.
That's why it's easy to predict who will go. After this week, however, it should get interesting. From 1-5, this group is pretty strong, but the rest have some ability to shine.
@GL -- I agree with you on the hats. Be nice if maybe Dale knocked off one of Spike's hats in a fit of rage over something Lisa said...then a huge food fight broke out in the TC prep kitchen. And, RIchard would be in the corner huddled up in a ball shrouded by a haze of smoke (?)!
"Andrew (last week – 5): Not a good week when we can't remember what he did."
I believe he got a football helmet stuck on his head.