Starts in about a week. I am going to try and keep up with this one in a more timely fashion then I did with the New York season.

I do love this show.

I like it, too... and not just 'cuz I'm a reality TV junkie. Should be cool in Vegas!

Bravo just keeps this rolling. Top Chef Masters hasn't even finished yet. I'm not a freak like Darin, this is just about the only reality TV I'll watch.

I wonder if they were filming this last year during WCOFF. We saw Colichio in the Hilton bar with a few friends. I'm thinking the turnaround is quicker than 11 months though.

Of course, I'll watch.

Didn't someone say that Colichio has a place in Vegas and that he likes to hang around there?

I don't know for sure, but I am almost certain that the turnaround has got to be quicker than 11 months. I am thinking they shoot the first part (before the final 3/4 go to another location) about 4-6 months (or less) before it begins to air.

here we go...........

Ugh. They keep doinig the ingredient relay earlier and earlier--but what makes it good is having some rivalries and friendships already established. . . plus, later in the season, the riffraff (WHO HAVE NEVER OPENED CLAMS) have already been eliminated, so you don't get five chefs standing around with thumbs up butts for 15 minutes.

Peace
policy

Yes. we did.

He owns a restaurant there (one of his Craft line) and spends a lot of time there.

At least they get a relay out of the way early. It's one of the least interesting things that they do on Top Chef. If I want to watch a relay, I'll go check out I Love Money on VH1 or Road Rules/Real World Challenge on MTV. Top Chef is better than those shows by a country mile. I already have a few favorites and a douchebag after last night's season opener.

Glad to see Rick Bayless win TC Masters. I'm a hugh fan of Mexican food and you can tell he truly understands and appreciates the culture that goes with it.

there are a few that are standing out, but generally speaking...looks like the talent base is better.

+1 I would love to try his food. It looks like all 3 of his restaurants are in Chicago though.

This year's episode of TC: LV looks pretty good. I have no idea what that was that the loser this week cooked. It looked hideous. Also, the bacon donuts were just out there. You have your whole life to draw from to impress these people and you pick that?

Craft Steak in MGM Grand...If Tom's in town he frequents the MGM poker room fairly often...plays 2-4 and 3-6 limit hold em

going to The Frontera Grill tomorrow. Not sure if it will be for lunch or dinner though, depends on how the day shakes out. I will report back with the results but I am fired up.

Sounds good...looking forward to the report.

Even with the early exit of "Neck Tattoo" (who remembers names??), this year easily destroys the record for most tatted up group in show history.

And I'm guessing the hubris record is in jeopardy too, which will be quite a feat.

Some of those dishes did NOT look/sound appealing at all. I know you try to make a splash the first day, but C'MON . .

That stuffed pepper was abysmal to behold.

I see some talent this year, but I also see some explosive personalities, and I hope someone cuts out the tongue of that douchbag from new York . . . what a condecending prick . . .

yeah, and another thing....I don't consider myself to be terribly bigoted or anything, but does half the cast each season really have to be queer AND make such a big deal out of it on the show? unless half of all chefs in the world have the ghey, it seems like they must really be making a concerted effort to bring in that element. and if half of all chefs ARE ghey....is it bier, or is it detlef?

but it was stuffed with some obscure wheat by-product protein!....come on, if that doesn't make your mouth water....

it's the hair challenged one..... also... notice that not too many people on the show really care.

Fixed

For 3 seasons now I've been saying that's the exact wrong approach. Middle of the pack will get you to the next week every time. This is NOT cumulative. Don't start taking risks until you're in the final 4-6 contestants. Survive and advance.

Any performing/creative art is going to have a higher percentage of openly gay men.

Also, if you are watching Bravo for the manly men and hot ladies, that is a you problem.

Peace
policy

Uh, HELLO!?!

I think I'd pay to watch her breathe.

funny you mention that, because I remember back in the day, bravo was the one non-premium cable channel that you could see a little T&A on from time to time. back then, they mostly just showed "artsy" movies unedited and without commercials. I remember scanning the tv guide each week for R-rated movies on bravo

in any case, are there a lot of gay chefs? probably, whatever. it just seems like the producers really go out of their way to play that up on the show. I'm sure the gheys are a big audience for their show, so it's mostly a marketing thing, but isn't that sort of audience targeting potentially a little patronizing? like, "oooh, root for the lesbo....she is one of YOU!"

Although the new twist of competing for cash every week in the quickfire challenge ENCOURAGES risks

Hey I'm not saying there isn't some beautiful scenery there to be beheld. I'm just saying, if you turn to Bravo, please don't wig out when all is not Good Old American Heterosexuality.

Peace
policy

Well that was interesting. Poor Eve. Her head was completely up in the clouds--or, you know, up something else--from the get-go. Of course, nobody passed up a chance to take a crack at Michigan . . . I guess it's better she left early.. Also, what is up with Mike's raging misogyny?

As bad as the bottom few are, I think the top six or so are really, really good. The back half of the season is going to be incredible.

Peace
policy

I've been to Zatinya in DC a couple of times. It's a Greek/Mediterranean tapas place and it is really good. As such, I want to root for Mike the chef from there, but he is such a major ass clown than I just can't bring myself to do it. BTW, they do an olive oil ice cream there than is fantastic.

The brothers and the guy with the beard seem like the 3 to beat so far.

and that one b*tchy-but-somewhat-attractive chick.

She has to be a finalist candidate. She is a Sous Chef for Eric Ripert . . .

Yeah, if she's not in the last few, I'll be shocked.

+1

She seems to be a strong chef and smart about the competition.

Oh, but the attitude! She is one that could accidently get stuck in a meat locker.

#1.....this has been my favorite show on TV for a few years......LOL. Gotta love Padma......Gayle is terrific and damned if Colicchio isn't the cutest and hottest man on TV right now. Yes.......you heard me......ADORABLE. LOVE his Diet Coke commercial.

OK....."watermelon ceviche".....what's up with her "I don't think it's fair we have to serve engaged couples because WE (read ghey community) can't be a part of that institution."??? Come on.....get over it, seriously. YOU are in the service industry. If you have a restaurant, are you seriously going to refuse to serve/book rehearsal dinners or big wedding gigs.....because there is no law allowing lesbians to marry?? Really?

Way to limit your clientele......dumbass.

Sort of like......oh......say......heterosexual restaurant owners refusing to serve gheys?
Keep your personal life out of your business. Just serve great food.......whoTF cares?


And Az.....I would say half of our back of the house was openly ghey. And this was 15 years ago now......lol. Chefs to sous chefs to prep cooks to dishwashers and even 50% of our managers. Front of the house.....same but maybe a little lower percentage. Depends on the place and image your owner wants out front. Most service industry fields are a haven for alternative lifestyles.

The food made by the chefs seems really good at this early point. This may be the most talented group we've seen so far.

That chick with the mouth piercings must go. I hope I never see her on my TV again after this week.

Agreed...enough with the crying and blubbering every time the camera is on you...and stop making crappy food, actually keep making crappy food and please get thrown off this week.

Perhaps all that metal in her mouth is the reason she can't taste her food and tell that it's crap.

Don't mess with the Philly girls.

Well said Bunz. I was thinking the same thing during that episode.

That was unquestionably the best-done quickfire ever. I loved both the reward (getting to sit and eat the elimination-challenge meal with that modern French cooking Hall of Fame), and the bottom three cooking "one bite to save their lives".. In terms of the quality of the challenge, the culinary star power, and the execution of the food, I can't remember a better episode of TC, especially this early in the season.

Peace
policy

Glad to see who went home in the quickfire , , , snails are a tough subject to do. Kudos to the chefs that pulled it off.

I am surprised at who went home at the end, only because I thought the grading would have been tougher on the guy who did the sauce so poorly for the other bottom team.

What a group to cook for . . . .

I gotta think that there's more than just the food going on in the judges minds. The one that got eliminated hadn't shown at all so far during the competition, perhaps there was a bit of "let's just get rid of them now because the others might still hit" mentality.

Yes, this was one of the best quickfires evah.

I loved it when Colichio said "I'm nervous just eating with these people...I couldn't imagine cooking for them."

Good episode. I do wish the loser of the quickfire had the opportunity to cook for them however. I think he has been busting out some interesting food all year and would've loved to have seen what he came up with.

do you mean the winner?

I agree it was a good overall episode.

Yeah, winner. So glad the person that lost the quickfire is gone.