(Man, when the don't want to show somebody you really just never even catch a glimpse do you!)

Well, to be honest, she's so disturbing looking that I don't want to see her.

(laughing)

Vortex, are you the one who can't look at her straight on?

Vortex, are you the one who can't look at her straight on?

I really can't. I have to look at her out of the corner of my eye. I kind of want to figure out what it is about her that is so disturbing, but I can't look at her long enough to figure it out.

I am almost positive it is a combination of the severe bang cut and the bad hair color. It's like stripes on a bowl.

At this point in the competition--like in every season of Top Chef--you can see where the clear competitors are, who will make it to the end if they can manage not to fuck up enormously. The only season I ever felt truly dissatisfied with the result was when not-Marcel won--neither of those dudes should have been the final two. Anyway, the narrative is shaping up with Jamie, Stephan, Fabio, and perhaps Leah if she pulls through. Wild cards--Jeff, possibly Ariane. I can more or less see everyone else getting cut unless they start pushing way harder and pull something really good.

I really liked the marinaded lamb over vadouvan carrot puree. It looked like something I would be eager to order at a restaurant.

I think that Eugene could sneak in there at the end. He's got a lot of raw talent.

Yeah, I would include Jeff and Eugene as wild cards. Ariane probably not so much. I think she's proven in the last couple rounds she's a decent *cook* but I don't know that she's an especially creative or innovative *chef*.

I don't think Eugene has the sophistication to make it through Restaurant Wars, to be honest. Starting now, with the palate test, they're going to start making the challenges that more difficult to see who can rise to them, and I really don't think Eugene--as much as I like him as a cook--has the vision and ability to execute that will keep him in the competition. Comparatively, I think Jeff does--the heirloom tomato sorbet is an excellent example of both vision and execution that could serve him well in the next couple weeks.

Then again, Mikey made it as far as he did, so who knows.

Ariane, well. I'm rooting for her to the extent that, as an underdog, I want her to make it. But if she ends up taking a slot that should go to a more competent chef I'm going to be pissed off.

Radhika has been flying pretty under the radar for the last few eps. But she won an early challenge didn't she?

god, MIKEY. I really hated Season 2. Although Mikey kinda cracked me up. But, bah, Ilan.