Since this week "Top Chef" brought us to the Southwest for some cooking and camping, I thought Laurine's quote about her upper hand was appropriate. One of the blogs on www.bravotv.com pointed out how nice it was that the show was showcasing more of Las Vegas and Nevada by taking the chef-testants out to the desert. I agree. I was also very glad to see them head out to Nellis Air Force Base a few episodes ago. Incidentally, the only person I know in Nevada is stationed there while serving in the Air Force, so that made it personal for me.
Our Quickfire is pretty cool this week (I mean, they usually are, but you know). It is judged by Padma and Tim Love (of Fort Worth, I hope to go to his restaurant whenever I make it up there) who we remember from 'Top Chef: Masters.' The twist for this Quickfire is the ingredient - chosen by text message vote of 'Top Chef' viewers. Cactus - here we come!!! To be honest with you, I think this is the right choice of the three options, the other two being rattlesnake and kangaroo. To me, meat is meat. But cactus appears to require skill, and so it does. Mike Isabella wins for his raw cactus. He knew how to work with the cactus the best - un-goo it. For the first time, Mike Voltaggio is in the bottom. Crazy!
For the Elimination Challenge, they Highland the chef-testants out to a ranch. They must cook a high-end lunch in very rustic conditions (4 grills on the ground, no refrigeration) for two dozen ranchers. In order to acclimate to their surroundings they camp out on the ranch in tepee's. This provides some funny outside-of-the-competition moments - scaring each other around the campfire, horseshoes, the usual. However, it seemed only half of our chefs were really able to adapt - Jen and Kevin (who were praised, but not put in the top at Judges' Table), Laurine, Ashley, Bryan Voltaggio and Michael Voltaggio. The bottom was rounded out by Robin, Mattin, and Ron.
Bryan won easily with his pork tenderloin on corn polenta with braised dandelions and grilled rutabaga. This being his THIRD elimination win he remarked concerning his brother, "everytime we stand at Judges' Table together I seem to win, so I think he's getting tired of that." Then he laughed and actually smiled - I swear this is the first time I've seen him smile the entire season.
Mattin packed his knives due to the 3 bad ceviches he prepared. One involved cod and Tom actually spit it out (!!) and Tim said it made him sick. Mattin seemed to have no idea how bad his food was, and this was ultimately what sent him home. Robin at least knew her dish was terrible (that is what saved Laurine when Preeti was sent home for their bad pasta salad, if you'll remember) and Ron made a 'disgusting' drink, but was saved by his pretty good ceviche.
I think the frontrunners are still the Voltaggios, Jen, and Kevin - although Mike I. and Ashley are sneaking up there. Robin and Ron's exits are inevitable, they just happened to stave it off this week.
By the numbers!!!
6 - The number of times the M Resort was mentioned or shown this week. This resort was the runaway on product placement this week!!
5 - The number of chef-testants that claimed to be outdoorsy when faced with camping and cooking outside (Robin, Laurine, Mattin, Ashley, and Bryan - coincidental?)
4 - The number of times Mattin mentioned he grew up in the Basque country of France. As Tom Colicchio pointed out on his blog, Mattin kept telling them that he did Basque food, but he never actually made Basque food in the competition. Hmm... Four is also the number of arrogant statements Mike Voltaggio made this week. I mean, I think he can back it up, but let's remember that you were in the bottom on the Quickfire and your brother won the Elimination Challenge.
3 - The next prevalent product, the Toyota Prius, was only mentioned thrice!
Next week's teaser brings in Penn & Teller and the first moment of self-doubt from Jen...
Friday, September 18, 2009
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