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Top Chef Season 3

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TexasLady:
Again, we did get to see this episode while on vacation. Very interesting comment that Hung deserved to win Episode 7. I thought he would be the chef to beat and he still is head and shoulders above most of those left in the competition. Doesn't it seem that Hung is learning to keep his thoughts to himself as we get further in the competition? Perhaps he can still pull out a win. No one left really shines for me other than Hung, and that makes it tough for me to see who might end up in the final two.

I can't wait to see if they improve with the 2nd go round for their restaurants.

apskip:
EPISODE 8 Restaurant Wars continued

My wife predicted last week after seeing the brief trailer for this week episode that someone really talented was likely to get the boot. Let's see how close she is.
The Quickfire this week uses Tom Colicchio, I guess because of its nature. It is a Relay Race competition between the teams, with a reward to the winner. They have to select one member for each of schucking 15 oysters, dicing 5 large onions, cutting up 4 chickens, and beating 4 egg whites to foam. Brian (an expert in this) starts oysters against Howie and finishes with Howie still having 5 (1/3 of them) to do. Casey starts onions and is super-slow. When Sarah M. gets underway, she decimates Casey and leaves her in the dust. She turns it over to Hung, who completes all chickens before Tre even gets a chance to start them. Dale finishes the eggs quickly and it's over. Team Quatre(renamed from The Garage) has won a boost from $300 to $500 in wine spending plus the services of a sommelier. That sommelier turned out to be Stephen from Season 1 and Dale later had to ask him to tone it down because his explanations of the wines were running way too long. Casey and Brian have to pick wines for their team and Brian as Maitre D' will serve them.

The comments from the blogger and from the judges on decor were considered by each team. they get a consult with Christopher Ciccone, who was one of the diners the prior evening, about what to fix. He tells Quatre that they need the white tablecloths and some commissioned art on the wall. He tells April that they need something on the wall.

There will be two choices on each menu for each course. The menu for Quatre is:

Tuna Tartare with Egg Vinaigrette
Poussin w/ Gnocchi and Pea Puree

Lamb w/ White Beans and Haricots Verts
Beef Tenderloin

Halibut w/ Grapes and Braised Leeks

Crepes with Orange Grand Marnier Sauce
Pannacotta with Fresh Berries

The menu for April is:

Seared Sea Scallop on Corn Truffle
Wild King Salmon w/ Pesto, nuts and cheese

Chilled Carrot and Ginger Soup
Lobster Salad w/ Arugula and Caramelized Cauliflower

Beef Tenderloin w/ smoked Potatoes
Monkfish

Apple and Bread Pudding w/ Cinnamon and Creme Anglaise


Tom Colicchio took the unprecedented step of being in the kitchen for the entirety of the final food preparation. The Guest Judge is Geoffrey Zakarian of Town and Country Restaurant in New York. I have to say that his incisive comments were the best from any Guest Judge I have ever heard on any Top Chef season.  During the serving, several nasty comments are made by the judges. The tuna(Hung) was overcooked and the lamb(Howie) was not done right. The harshest comments were for the salmon and the apples in the April dessert(both Tre).  My wife and I both predicted at this point that Quatre was going to win and that Tre would be going home. Guests in the restaurants included Lia, Camille, Joey, and Sara N. They could be involved in some Elimination Challenge coming up.

The winning team is Quatre and the individual winner, based on being the key decision maker in her risky role as Executive chef, is Sarah M. Dale was not told that his attire as Maitre D' was considered low-life. April is called in and their faults are enumerated. Tre was told that his salmon was really bad and his apples were also badly done. CJ was asked why he hadn't done anything to help Tre out on the dessert since he was the only one with actual pastry experience. He was also told his lobster dish was marginal because it was too salty. Casey was told she overcooked her monkfish. Brian showed minimal leadership and didn't contribute any help to the other 3 (unlike Dale who did contribute one recipe). The main theme of what was lacking was leadership. We all know what that means. The Executive Chef is going to walk the plank. Tre is indeed selected to go home.


 

TexasLady:
 :'( I missed it because of doing live feeds last night, I have it DVR'd and will watch it shortly. I cannot understand Tre going home when Brian is pretty much of a nothing. I'll write more when I get a chance to view it but I'm bummed that Tre is gone!

Thanks again for your excellent recaps of the episode! (And congrats to your wife for being right with her prediction.)

apskip:
Brian was in the front of the house and did a competent job there. He was criticized at Judges Table for not providing any assistance to his colleagues in the kitchen with a recipe for one of the menu items. However, he was never in any danger because he hadn't cooked anything badly and he had done his function OK. Brian was in the lowest risk position on the team.

Tre was in the highest risk position on the team, as all mistakes of his sous chefs flowed through him for final approval before they go out to the diners. But what really killed him was that his own creations were poorly executed and tasted bad.

TexasLady:

--- Quote from: apskip on August 23, 2007, 07:02:13 PM ---Brian was in the front of the house and did a competent job there. He was criticized at Judges Table for not providing any assistance to his colleagues in the kitchen with a recipe for one of the menu items. However, he was never in any danger because he hadn't cooked anything badly and he had done his function OK. Brian was in the lowest risk position on the team.

Tre was in the highest risk position on the team, as all mistakes of his sous chefs flowed through him for final approval before they go out to the diners. But what really killed him was that his own creations were poorly executed and tasted bad.

--- End quote ---

They had a repeat showing tonight so I got to watch it. I was very impressed with Sarah. She did a great job as Executive Chef, but unlike Bonnie in Hell's Kitchen, she did it effectively and it showed. The one I don't get is CJ. He does only as much as he needs to do and no more, he's been lucky so far.

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