Last week I groused about too much Top Chef coverage and here I am, one week later, and I really want to blog about it. So call me a Top Chef hypocrite, I can take it; the show is good, I can’t lie. And tonight’s episode was a good one. But I’ll just make a few observations in this one little paragraph and be done with it. Observation 1: isn’t it fascinating that two of the most confident chefs–corn soup gal and Fabio–were in the top 3 and two of the most aimless, insecure cooks–Ariane and ostrich egg gal–were in the bottom? I haven’t read Oprah’s “Secret,” but doesn’t that book say if you believe you’re the best you’ll be the best? I think there’s something to that. Observation 2: we all know the adage “write what you know,” but tonight’s episode proved you should also cook what you know. The second the ostrich egg gal said “I’ve never cooked with an ostrich egg” I knew she’d be in trouble; whereas Fabio, who served his dish hundreds of times at his restaurant, came out on top. Finally, I think it’s cute that Amanda Hesser and her husband Tad Friend Plodted the whole episode which you can check out here. And now I feel completely purged of tonight’s “Top Chef,” thank you for letting me blog it off my chest.
I’m totally ashamed of Ostrich girl – as a somewhat resident of Baltimore, that’s not the showing I had hoped for…
I still like Fabio, Stefan, and the tatooed Hawaiian for the top three.
It’s almost getting predictable though, that, or we’ve just watched too much top chef. We new Ariane was going to be on the chopping block….even last week. And we quickly new where that canned crab was going to get the other guy, and the ostrich egg girl, as soon as she picked it up I said “Pheww” Hawaiian guy is safe.
I agreed with you last week when you said Top Chef coverage was overdone — and the Team Rainbow thing was beyond annoying since it was evidently contrived. I also agree with you this week that the show is completely addicting and entertaining, despite it all! :) I may have to blog about it myself…maybe next week. The European dueling duo cracks me up. How funny is Fabio? I like it that even though he thought he was in the bottom, he seemed genuinely perplexed, but not angry and super arrogant like many others we’ve seen.
Ariane’s insecurity is a major detractor…but the spiritual guide lady is kinda growing on me.
Thanks for the analysis! :)
I think Ariane is on the wrong food-related show…something tells me her & her restaurant are more Gordon Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares-material.
Top Chef it certainly more worthy of your blog than that other chef reality show on the food network…
I look forward to drinking my coffee and reading your Top Chef blog next Thursday!
So, please don’t stop.
The corn soup gal is probably going to be one of the girl’s to get farthest… I don’t think she has what it takes to make it to the end though… I want the tatoo-ed Hawaiian to win, go underdog!!! but stefan and fabio have been pretty strong thus far… so we’ll see…
ariane totally has to go…
Can we all note that ‘corn soup gal’ has a name?? It’s Jamie Lauren. She’s well known in SF and very talented.
ostrich egg gal… her self-fulfilling prophecy for sure… and her name is jill…and she’s from baltimore! :-( le sigh.
I think you’ve got a point about the Secret as applied to Top Chef, but only up to a point. Remember that the crab meat guy was also convinced he would be in the top three. He was even shocked that he wasn’t.
Confidence is vital to success, but perspective counts, too.
I love how you apply “The Secret” and its lesson of “positive self visualization” to Top Chef. You are right! I work with many amazing chefs at Behind the Burner and fortunately they are all very confident. Successful chefs must be able to cook the “unknown” because the client may ask for it–especially these days with an increase of patrons who have allergies and special dietary needs.