What Jessica said - which is why when Jeff said something about Tapas with lots of small dishes I was concerned.

In restaurant-speak, I think Family style is what Jessica said, and the alternatives are French Service or Russian Service - one is pre-plated food delivered to each individual (lay left raise right!), and the other is you have an empty plate and a waiter comes around with a tray of roast beef slices and serves each person in turn, then another waiter comes with the beans, etc. I can't remember which is which.

We used to go to a nice Chinese place up on Second Avenue, Maple Garden I think it was called, and even though everyone would order something, it was all served on a big lazy Susan in the middle of the table, so everyone could share.

This to me is the distinction. Family-style means people do not order individual things. Of course, Chinese restaurants are almost by default served family-style, but I have only seen a restaurant specify "family style" when it was something like an Italian place, or some restaurant that would normally serve individual plates.

It was actually Jeff's tapas comment that set off our discussion.

French service is apparently the one where they put the food on your plate at the table. [link] Like at events at the Waldorf!

Those French, it's like they have a different word for everything!

I do find it amusing that apparently our choices were French and Russian, and we went with Russian.

Those French, it's like they have a different word for everything!

"Oeuf means egg. Chapeau means hat ..."

God, I love that routine.

Ah, early Steve Martin. Both the DH and I always call kitty litter "keety leeter" because of the "If she is like a cat" routine.

I rewatched and Novelli only uses French once, when he tells Leah "C'est bon."

The "Top Chef" blogs are interesting and enlightening this time around, especially about the judging process.

For example, Tom says:

As an aside, I think this was a good introduction to Toby. He's exceptionally witty and thought at first that he was being called on as a judge to use that wit and take potshots at the chefs, but he quickly realized that they were all very serious-minded about their food and about this competition, and he switched gears and began assessing the food in earnest.

Which, actually, is marvelous to know. I don't mind the caustic wit (at all, really), but I like knowing there's going to be more to his presence than that. (And as I said before, his defense of Eugene and Jeff along the way was heartening all around. I often fear that the main judges homogenize a bit over time, coming to a consensus over what they want despite themselves. Which, of course, is one of the reasons for a guest judge, but it's good to shake it up from time to time, and having a judge who might be looking for completely different things can only be a good thing.)

And then there's Gail, with this tidbit:

If judges were allowed to keep in touch with cheftestants, I would have called Carla as soon as I watched this episode to thank her profusely for her hilarious and much appreciated shout-out!

I wonder how long that embargo lasts? It's no secret that Tom and Sam are friends now, and that Tom and Harold see a bit of each other from time to time. Probably until the episodes are aired, I imagine.

And lastly, there's Toby, with this just plain entertaining vignette:

My one big worry in last night's episode is that there's a bit of history between Jean-Christophe Novelli and me. A few years ago, I appeared as a judge on an episode of the British version of Hell's Kitchen and Jean-Christophe was one of two celebrity chefs leading a team of contestants. To cut a long story short, he took such violent exception to my remarks about his team's food that he banned me from all his restaurants. Until last night, our paths hadn't crossed and I was concerned that the tension between us might spill out on to the show.

In fact, after some perfunctory squaring off, we decided to bury the hatchet and - as is the way with these things - ended up getting horribly drunk together when the show had wrapped. We may have even pricked our fingers and become blood brothers - I'm afraid I don't remember. It was the first of what I hope will be many wonderful experiences working on Top Chef.

I think I've decided I like this guy.