Burke can talk to me anytime about anything and I will listen!

Kathy, have you ever seen Terry Jones' Medieval Lives?

Most definitely! I also liked his doc on the Crusades--I learned a lot about the various sides. Also, I loved his "recruiting film" for the Crusaders.

Back in the '80s (I believe), Jones wrote a book called "Chaucer's Knight" that went into why the Knight was not so much a "a worthy man / that fro the time he first began / to riden out he loved chivalrye / truthe and honor, fredom and courtesie" (yes, I do have that memorized--I'm such a geek!) as he was a bloody mercenary who wrecked havoc across the continent. Definitely worth a read if you can find it.

ETA: I just looked it up on Amazon. Not only is it out of print, but the used paperback starts at $50(!) and the hardcover at $60(!!).

Ack! I'll look in the library for it.

Oh, man, the product placement in the Quick Fire. EWWWWWWWWWWW!

Yes.

But it has been long enough that I forgot about "This is Top Chef, not Top Scallops!" so I died laughing again.

This is Top Chef, not Top Scallops!

This will never not be funny.

Overall a really good ep. I would have liked to see Carla go instead of Eugene, but I can't really argue in favor of any of his recent food.

I really liked the idea of the blind judging, plus asking the contestants to participate. And I liked both Toby and the French guy (although his accent was a bit hard to parse once in a while).

I'm surprised Carla stayed over Eugene, too, but I think it's clear as ever that Tom has the last word. When he said, "That dish could have been exceptional," it wasn't something he could have said to the other two.

Also, Radhika was damn lucky she had immunity.

I liked Toby too - he was fun.

Okay, sometimes the French guy was clearly speaking in French.

I think we're still in the first half of the show so Eugene's lack of technique was worse than Carla's lack of confidence. But w/o technique I don't think he was going to last v. long anyway.

Hated the quickfire. Not only the product placement, but especially the fact that the sponsor of a "healthier" version of sweet was a product that is so bad for you. And that studies have shown makes you crave more sweet things.

I liked the concept of the second challenge, but thought the second group had an unfair advantage in hearing the judges opinions of things before they cook for them.

I think, in the end, Carla's put more tasty things on their plate than Eugene.

I noticed no French coming from le frog.

Yes, what megan said.

If they weren't also forbidden to use honey, maple syrup, and deep fat frying, for fuck's sake, then what was the point? And given all those options, why did so many chefs make theirs with fruit & yogurt anyway?

I liked the concept of the second challenge, but thought the second group had an unfair advantage in hearing the judges opinions of things before they cook for them.

Interesting - I had the opposite reaction. Having that sort of information is usually more of a distraction than an advantage.

I noticed no French coming from le frog.

What language were he and Stefan speaking at the Quickfire? I thought it was French, but I must have misheard.