Time for Top Chef!

First off, here an interesting post regarding the drama on Top Chef Wednesday night. It will also link you to a post on Judge Tom Colicchio’s blog regarding the incident.

While we’re on the subject: Top Chef was a pretty decent episode the other night. It started with a quickfire challenge involving chocolate. I believe they have to make something sweet or savory. Ilan bit the big one and was really the only one that failed miserably. Apparently the judge was some big wig chef, but as usual, I had no idea who he was. The Chefs were all impressed and nervous at his presence though, so that must mean something. Anyway, Sam won the quickfire challenge. He wins his choice of courses in their elimination challenge, which is to put together a romantic five course meal in Santa Barbara. However, there’s a catch: No chef can use the same protein as another chef. Marcel plots to make something with seafood, but Sam (unknowingly, I swear) steals the first course and Marcel’s coveted lobsters. Ilan redeemed himself with a pasta (fideos?) with clams and saffron that everyone loved. Next up was Marcel, who ended up making a salmon dish with beets, even after Sam had decided he was using beets. Marcel screwed himself by not helping Sam plate his meals, so he basically had to beg others to help. Sam was the better person and did help him out, even though he insisted he wasn’t going to. Sometimes it’s like watching a kindergarten class on this show. Cliff’s dish was a train wreck, so much so that I don’t even remember what he made, just that no one liked it. Speaking of train wrecks, Elia lost it when her chocolate wouldn’t come out in the heart shape she wanted. Her dessert was still great, regardless of the chocolate heart she was lacking.

After this final challenge before elimination, the Chefs somehow finagle a video camera and proceeded to get kinda schnockered. Elia decided she wanted to shave her head, and the boys (well, Sam and Ilan as Cliff basically already has a shaved head and Marcel was probably off playing with himself before bed) said they’d have to if she did. She went through with it, as did Ilan. I’m glad Sam didn’t.. he’s quite pretty with all that hair. They then came to a general consensus to shave Marcel’s head. He does have some whacked out hair, it certainly couldn’t hurt. I bet he spends HOURS and bottles of gel on that puppy every day. Anyway, they wake him up and Cliff holds him down. He fights quite a bit but Cliff is insanely stronger than our little friend Marcel. Apparently someone was supposed to shave his head, but whoever it was chickened out. Eventually Cliff lets Marcel off the floor and he sleeps in the bathroom. He’s pissed and rightfully so. Anyway, the next morning Judge Tom comes to talk to Cliff and tells him he broke the rules when he manhandled Marcel, so he has to go. His look of shock was so genuine but he took the consequences like a man and left as gracefully as he could. He wished everyone luck and apologized to Marcel, even admitting he was a good cook and that he wishes him well. Later on we have the Judge’s Table, where Tom tells the rest of the Judges what’s transpired. I thought Padma was going to have a heart attack. It wasn’t THAT bad, get over it! She’s asking Marcel if he’s ok and apologizes to which he replies something to the effect of “you don’t owe me an apology” and technically he’s right. He already got one. Anyway, it seems pretty evident that the Judges weren’t thrilled with Cliff’s dish and he probably would have gone home regardless of the Marcel incident. The looks on their faces when they saw Elia and Ilan was pretty crazy too. Seriously.. as a woman, I might have slapped Elia right there cause that girl had a GORGEOUS head of hair! I mean.. yes, it grows back, but that takes time!!! No one will ever say that girl is vain cause she’s no Natalie Portman when it comes to bald, but she certainly seems to like it and I have a feeling she’ll rock it like no one else! Anyway, the Judges tell Sam and Ilan that they are going to Hawaii and then Padma tells Marcel and Elia to pack their knives and go…. to Hawaii!! Everyone is going to the finale! Honestly, I thought they’d cut it down to three, but I’m glad all four will go. Next week’s first half finale (which looks to NOT have a reunion show) looks pretty entertaining and Marcel might just buckle under the pressure. Then again, so might Sam. Remember, this is three months from the last episode so don’t be surprised when Elia has some hair.

All in all, pretty good episode and I’m looking forward to the finale. Top Design will premiere after the finale and then fill Top Chef/Project Runway’s time slot. I’ll probably watch it. It’s like I’m conditioned to go to Bravo on Wednesdays at 10!

I'm debating leaving early today but I hope to get some more posts in later on. Guess you'll have to check and see. If not, enjoy your weekend!!! Don't forget to root for the Colts and my boy Peyton on Sunday night!