Top Chef Chicago: Week Four Reflections

When I decided to blog about Top Chef this season, it was because I have been enthralled with past seasons. But little did I know that Bravo was going to turn my favorite food competition into a catty free-for-all. I am having a very hard time connecting with the Top Chef stars this season. There seems to be a lot of crass behavior and a lack of vibrancy (in the food and the people!). It’s really disappointing to be this far into the season and not give a hoot about any of the people on the show.

Is it a different production team this season or something? The show was fine this time, albeit not as good as in the past, but the hey-let’s-find-all-the-curses-on-the-tape-we-can-and-show-them-all-at-once reel at the end of the show was a head scratcher. Why was that necessary?

Anyway, onto the actual episode:

David Boulud, a top French chef, was this week’s guest judge.

The quick fire? A vegetable plate. Three techniques. Pretty simple. They couldn’t possibly mess this one up . . . or could they?

“I’m not that into the classic techniques,” Lisa said. And all I could think was, you aren’t that into them, or you just don’t have a clue as to what they are. No wonder she was one of the bottom three of the quick fire. At least Zoi admits that she isn’t trained in the techniques . . . and she managed do get a top spot – perfect poached egg? Go girl.

I almost wasn’t going to talk about Andrew at all this week . . . then he made some insinuation that he was among the “strong” cooks while Dale was “the weak.” Pfft. This guy might be dropping fewer f-bombs, but he’s still pretty bizarre.

Moving on. Is it just me, or does Ryan totally remind you of the high school quarterback who has been sacked one too many times? A-duh? Seriously.

I’m not even going to comment on the movie-themed dishes themselves . . . it’s a weird one. Frankly, I have yet to see anything I would want to recreate at home. Where’s the innovation? Where’s the delicious results?

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Category: Top Chef