Agreed. There are some people who come off looking better than they ever did before (Carla is one) and there are others who have destroyed their reputations.
Go Carla!
Oh, yeah, baby, it's snakalicious in here.
Xander ,'Empty Places'
Non-Fiction TV: I Reject Your Reality and Substitute My Own
This thread is for non-fiction TV, including but not limited to reality television (So You Think You Can Dance, Top Chef: Masters, Project Runway), documentaries (The History Channel, The Discovery Channel), and sundry (Expedition Africa, Mythbusters), et al. [NAFDA]
le nubian - Jan 13, 2011 8:32:53 am PST #15975 of 23273
"And to be clear, I am the hell. And the high water."
Frankenbuddha - Jan 13, 2011 8:46:19 am PST #15976 of 23273
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"
Carla seems a lot more grounded this time around (no more "cooked with love" defenses). She got there eventually during her season, but this time she's been that way out of the gate.
Jesse - Jan 13, 2011 9:09:47 am PST #15977 of 23273
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
I was noticing a lack of Carla in early episodes and wasn't sure if she's actually that much more toned down, or if they were just saving her because she was going to last.
Kathy A - Jan 13, 2011 12:16:00 pm PST #15978 of 23273
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil
Stephanie Izard has been awarded New Restaurant of the Year by the Chicago Tribune (go to image #6 in the photo gallery):
Stephanie Izard -- NEW RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR: GIRL & THE GOAT
Though there were many impressive new restaurants in 2010, among them Epic, Gilt Bar, Henri, Prairie Fire and Sable (it's worth noting that Purple Pig and Sprout opened in 2009), in terms of buzz, impact and excellence, nothing matched Stephanie Izard's "rustic, with a bit of badass" (her term) small-plates gem along Randolph Street. With dishes named Escargot and Goat Balls (meatballs, not the other thing) and Crispy Pig Face, Izard managed to delight and challenge diners, even while smiling, in the midst of cooking, for the cell phone paparazzi. Perhaps more impressive, Girl & the Goat lived up to its hype (fueled by Izard's 2008 "Top Chef" win), stood up to the pressure of being the hottest restaurant in town (you still need a crowbar to get in this place), and even overcame its vaguely suggestive name. Well done.
Girl & the Goat, 809 W. Randolph St.; 312-492-6262
-- Phil Vettel
sumi - Jan 13, 2011 12:27:46 pm PST #15979 of 23273
Art Crawl!!!
That's great!
lisah - Jan 13, 2011 12:34:22 pm PST #15980 of 23273
Punishingly Intricate
Oh good for her!
brenda m - Jan 13, 2011 1:08:29 pm PST #15981 of 23273
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there
Awesome! I've got a reservation there next month - glad I already had it in.
Kathy A - Jan 13, 2011 1:40:42 pm PST #15982 of 23273
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil
I definitely want to try out her place sometime. I'd also like to check out Prairie Fire, since it's the new restaurant by the people who run my favorite place up here on the North Shore, Prairie Grass Cafe (which was featured on last week's Check, Please!, btw).
Vortex - Jan 14, 2011 5:13:35 am PST #15983 of 23273
"Cry havoc and let slip the boobs of war!" -- Miracleman
Aw, Tiffani! I'm glad she seems so happy and at peace with everything, and hope that is still the case after her restaurant here closed suddenly around New Year's. But thank goodness Jamie got the boot!
Yeah, I'm disappointed for Tiffani, I feel like she's a better chef that she did on the show. I'm not mad to see Jamie gone, although I think that she got a shitty edit. I don't remember her being that annoying/whiny/lazy during her season, I remember liking her. She got a little crapped on during Top Chef Masters, though, so maybe this go 'round was the real Jamie.
brenda m - Jan 14, 2011 5:23:10 am PST #15984 of 23273
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there
I wonder if some of the more unexpected eliminations reflect that, given the caliber of these chefs and the fact that they've already proven themselves, they really are judging on the specific dish in front of them.
I mean, they always say they do but it seems pretty clear in most seasons that the general impression/record of the chefs with losing dishes does get taken into account. Here, they really do live or die on each challenge.