ha! right? and it helps that he has been in the bottom a whole heckuva lot.

But so has Andrea !

Ugh. She annoys the hell out of me.

The CIA dinner was interesting. None of the other CIA people looked at all amused when sPanetta got called away .

I know right? I wonder what that was about.

I never liked him as a person, but I'm okay if he's a decent chef. I'm sorry that Kenny went home, he was clearly more talented than Alex, but when you jump in to be the executive chef, you risk going home. If you're going to be exec, you better knock out your dish.

Speaking of chefs, I went to Eric Ripert's West End Bistro for dinner tonight for Restaurant Week. Unfortunately, it was really disappointing. The service was great, but the food was not up to expectations.

I had the steak tartare for a starter, which was excellent. My friends ordered the house salad for their starter. It was basically big bowl of large lettuce leaves with a handful of chives. It did not look appetizing.

My second was a pasta carbonara, but the egg on top had a runny yolk, but the white was totally cooked. It was a weird texture in the dish, although the flavor was great.

Both friends ordered the flat iron steak with the truffled frites. The steaks were okay, but the frites arrived overcooked and dry. We sent one back (J likes his fries overdone). They were better this time, but still not good. She didn't even eat half of them.

Dessert was profiteroles (we all had them), nothing to write home about. I was disappointed that the other dessert choice was creme brulee. Too much vanilla.

Our wine was great, and my friend happened to talk to the manager on the way out. He called me over and I explained the issues. She made the excuse that it was Restaurant Week, and I told her that I consider RW and audition for my full price patronage. She offered a free bottle of wine when we returned. I might give them another shot.

Ugh. She annoys the hell out of me.

ME TOO.

Can I say RW is nearly always disappointing, regardless the place, but

My second was a pasta carbonara, but the egg on top had a runny yolk, but the white was totally cooked.

is how I've had carbonara in the past at some Italian places. (e.g. [link] The yolk mixes with the pasta and makes it nice and creamy. They should have warned you, though, since it obviously is an unpleasant surprise for some.

So that was two times now that Tiffany won both challenges, right? She didn't ping me as a great chef in the early days of the season, but she must have some mad skills and a good palate, especially since she's been working with dishes/ingredients she doesn't know.

She didn't ping me as a great chef in the early days of the season, but she must have some mad skills and a good palate

She strikes me as an Art Smith type -- maybe not the most innovative chef ever, but someone who cooks delicious food in a particular style. I really like her, too -- she reminds me of Antonia, in that she's not really buckling under the pressure and just seems to have a steady, kind head on her shoulders.

I'm totally rooting for Tiffany.

When you say "Andrea" - you mean "Amanda", right? I mean, cooking with alcohol for kids girl, right?

I can't believe that they let another opportunity to send her home go.

I don't like Angelo but I do think he was mostly having a really bad day. We'll see if the killer fatigue has him if he can't bounce back from this.

And I would have been happy if either any of the top three had won today - all are chefs that I like.

Oh! Yeah, Amanda.