Comments on: Top Chef Season 4 Finale part 2 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1481 Reading, Writing, Movies and Mothering in Minneapolis, Mostly Sun, 17 May 2026 19:41:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Steph http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1481&cpage=1#comment-12384 Steph Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:20:15 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1481#comment-12384 I knew it! When Stephanie won, I turned to my boyfriend and said, "Remember that I called this about 3 episodes in!" The big surprise in the finale was clearly the placement of the 2nd and 3rd chefs - who knew Lisa would actually make good on her (season-long) promise and finally deliver some interesting and well-done food? And poor Richard! I really though he was going to be a tough contender, and really, if you look at his season-long performance he was. It's too bad he didn't shine on this meal, but it seems like what was his downfall had afflicted Stephanie in previous challenges as well: too many ideas, not enough focus, overthinking. I always wonder on shows like this how much past performance really counts for. I feel like for a show like Top Chef, it clearly needs to be factored in. It would have been an outrage had Lisa won, given that she had made such a large chunk of "second-to-worst" dishes all season. Surely a top chef has to demonstrate CONSISTENTLY impressive cooking. Just another reason why I don't think Lisa deserved to be in the final three (and apparently only 3% of viewers felt she ought to take it all!). Anyway, I don't think Lisa was a bad chef per se, but I maintain that far more deserving chefs ought to have been there. That being said, I really wish I could have a bowl of her Tom Kha Gai right now! Anyway, another great season of Top Chef. I'll anxiously await the next one, along with Project Runway! I knew it! When Stephanie won, I turned to my boyfriend and said, “Remember that I called this about 3 episodes in!” The big surprise in the finale was clearly the placement of the 2nd and 3rd chefs - who knew Lisa would actually make good on her (season-long) promise and finally deliver some interesting and well-done food? And poor Richard! I really though he was going to be a tough contender, and really, if you look at his season-long performance he was. It’s too bad he didn’t shine on this meal, but it seems like what was his downfall had afflicted Stephanie in previous challenges as well: too many ideas, not enough focus, overthinking.

I always wonder on shows like this how much past performance really counts for. I feel like for a show like Top Chef, it clearly needs to be factored in. It would have been an outrage had Lisa won, given that she had made such a large chunk of “second-to-worst” dishes all season. Surely a top chef has to demonstrate CONSISTENTLY impressive cooking. Just another reason why I don’t think Lisa deserved to be in the final three (and apparently only 3% of viewers felt she ought to take it all!). Anyway, I don’t think Lisa was a bad chef per se, but I maintain that far more deserving chefs ought to have been there. That being said, I really wish I could have a bowl of her Tom Kha Gai right now!

Anyway, another great season of Top Chef. I’ll anxiously await the next one, along with Project Runway!

]]> By: Sydney http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1481&cpage=1#comment-12317 Sydney Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:19:34 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1481#comment-12317 Richard chefs at a place in Buckhead called "Home." He was interviewed this morning on local CBS AAA station Dave-FM. He interviewed really well. He was confident, not cocky. He promised all listeners that he will use the nitrogen to freeze tomatoes tableside for years to come, even though the show just called it 'flash.' I don't watch the show but will certainly dine at his place the next time I am in Atlanta. Maybe by then, the hype will die down. He said in the interview that Stevie Nicks had been in the night prior. He offered to move tables so she could spin in circles in his dining room. She was non-plussed. :) Richard chefs at a place in Buckhead called “Home.” He was interviewed this morning on local CBS AAA station Dave-FM. He interviewed really well. He was confident, not cocky. He promised all listeners that he will use the nitrogen to freeze tomatoes tableside for years to come, even though the show just called it ‘flash.’ I don’t watch the show but will certainly dine at his place the next time I am in Atlanta. Maybe by then, the hype will die down. He said in the interview that Stevie Nicks had been in the night prior. He offered to move tables so she could spin in circles in his dining room. She was non-plussed. :)

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