# Top Chef All Stars - Season 8 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 1, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573 "2010-12-01T18:59:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/261 "2011-02-18T16:55:07Z")
I still don’t understand why so many of them picked soup. The tomato soup with the grilled cheese made sense for the time of night, but the other soups did not scream “3 am” to me. > [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > I loved Elmo shouting out “cow chips!” and Tiffany’s reaction (“Did Elmo just say my cookies looked like cow shit!?”) Even though I think Kevin Clash is an awesome guy (I love when he does radio interviews on Tavis Smiley’s show) I’ve always been not just pro-Grover buy anti-Elmo. But after that comment, it’s improved my opinion of Elmo ten-fold. (Sesame Street monster muppets are still ranked Grover, Cookie, Telly, Elmo, though. Elmo’s too much a glory-hog.) ---
**Author:** ![YWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/6f9a4e/32.png) [@YWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YWalker)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/262 "2011-02-20T02:16:12Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > I’d feel sadder if it weren’t for those knee socks. There are some fashion mistakes for which there is no excuse. Ha! My thoughts exactly. I told my son that he deserved to go home for wearing black knee socks with shorts regardless of the quality of his food. Although I think Angelo is a better cook than a couple of the folks still left, I imagine that a few folks in earlier seasons who took Angelo’s advice and then ended up going home were laughing their heads off that Angelo decided to oversalt his soup based on Mike Isabella’s critique. I thought it was sort of nasty that they were just using the bowls and utensils and stuff straight off the shelf without having had the opportunity to wash any of that stuff. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/263 "2011-02-21T10:35:44Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m just stunned. Over salting food has always been the absolute cardinal sin on Top Chef. Over salt food and you are sent home. Dozens of chefs have been sent home for this. It’s one of Tom’s pet peeves. > > I can’t believe Dale got away with this. It’s the first time I seriously wonder if the judging was influenced by something other than the food. I don’t think Dale’s food was quite _as_ oversalted as the editing might have suggested. (Multiple inclusions of Jimmy’s “salt monster” comment, etc.) Tom’s blog this week was revealing: > [@](#): > > Unlike Dale’s dish last week, which was saltier than it should have been thus yielding diminished returns as we continued to eat it, but was still tasty and otherwise well-seasoned, Angelo’s was simply inedible. Its level of saltiness far exceeded that of Dale’s. > **[Monsters and a Monster Store | Bravo](https://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/season-8/blogs/tom-colicchio/monsters-and-a-monster-store?page=0,1)** > > I don’t think I’ve seen our chefs more excited to meet a guest judge in all my days on Top Chef than they were this week when they met Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Telly Monster. And not just those chefs who are parents. All of them were thrilled, since... ---
**Author:** ![Lightsaber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Lightsaber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightsaber)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/264 "2011-02-21T13:09:53Z")
We even saw Angelo add extra water to his soup to try to dilute it. I’m surprised that he could mess up so badly. But I’ve never been convinced he could be consistent and mentally tough to make it all the way through the competition. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/265 "2011-02-21T17:02:15Z")
I’m surprised at the number of cheftestants who make the too-salty mistake. It has to be a function of the time pressure, right? Or is it that chefs in the real world can simply throw out a dish that went too salty and start over? ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/266 "2011-02-22T07:39:18Z")
> [@lisacurl](#): > > I’m surprised at the number of cheftestants who make the too-salty mistake. It has to be a function of the time pressure, right? Or is it that chefs in the real world can simply throw out a dish that went too salty and start over? This is where Dale should have gone home two weeks ago. They let him stay even after Jimmy Kimmel said ’ too salty you go home right?’ ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/267 "2011-02-22T08:10:21Z")
> [@eenerms](#): > > This is where Dale should have gone home two weeks ago. They let him stay even after Jimmy Kimmel said ’ too salty you go home right?’ Fallon? ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/268 "2011-02-22T09:51:24Z")
> [@eenerms](#): > > This is where Dale should have gone home two weeks ago. They let him stay even after Jimmy Kimmel said ’ too salty you go home right?’ Did you see what I quoted in post #262. Sounds like it wasn’t all _that_ much too salty, at least not the same order of magnitude as Angelo’s gaffe. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/269 "2011-02-22T20:21:41Z")
I would have been more excited to be able to meet Kevin Clash than Elmo. Muppeteer is a dream job of mine, and Clash got his start as Goriddle Gorilla on “my” show, _The Great Space Coaster_. Baking cookies for Cookie Monster would be such an honor I’d probably faint. It seemed to me the Muppets were acting more like _The Muppet Show_ than _Sesame Street_, and Angelo deserved to go home for his clothing choice. Good episode. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/270 "2011-02-24T04:13:37Z")
Damn. Dale nearly had me in tears at the end there. If anyone has redeem him/herself this season, it was definitely Dale. Bums me out to not see him in the final. I think he went out at the final six last time as well. Now, back to the beginning. Here’s how my thoughts went during the quickfire: “Hey, fried chicken oysters, that’s a pretty clever idea. I’m surprised that Mike came up with-” “Yeah, Richard showed me his idea for it this morning.” “Nevermind.” Pretty cheap move. Shows that he’s pretty much outclassed by everyone else. Didn’t Tiffany give him the idea for his elimination challenge too? Random thoughts time: Carla picking Tre assuming he would know all about Southern food: Hilarious. The producers had to have given Marcel the best protein on purpose. Surprised Rich won just based on initial reactions. Felt like the first opinion from the judges was “not bad.” I want a box set of all Top Chef seasons with a special feature of Carla’s face in a pop-up box reacting to everything that happens. And Fabio providing commentaries. Chef Law! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/271 "2011-02-24T04:27:44Z")
Southern fried food. Oh Yeah!!! Best of all, it’s for a great cause, the Gulf Coast fishermen that lost so much during the oil spill. Fatigue is certainly a factor. These chefs are absolutely exhausted. I don’t think they’ve gotten even one day off this entire season. That was painfully obvious seeing Dale stagger around like a zombie. Carla and Tiffany both “southern chefs” screw up a southern menu. Crazy stuff that only happens when you push people all the way past the edge of the cliff. This isn’t Top Chef anymore. It’s about survival and not great food. ☹ Even a couple days off would make a big difference in these chefs performance. Tiffani sure saved Mike I. this time. Man, did he luck out getting a chef that had lived in New Orleans for 2 years. Richard is turning into a dick. His attitude is getting worse as the episodes go by. Probably fatigue and exhaustion. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/272 "2011-02-24T04:39:53Z")
How is Tiffany still on this show? I would say that at least the last three chefs eliminated outclassed her (and actually, you know, won challenges). Her main skill seems to be being consistently mediocre. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/273 "2011-02-24T04:54:54Z")
/Shallow Padma looked really nice in her QF top. She’s benefited from the baby boobs this season. Plus, I like a woman that doesn’t look like a toothpick. She’s practically popping out of a top at Judges Table. I’ll miss her assets next season. 😉 /EndShallow ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/274 "2011-02-24T05:20:12Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > /Shallow Padma looked really nice in her QF top. She’s benefited from the baby boobs this season. Plus, I like a woman that doesn’t look like a toothpick. > > She’s practically popping out of a top at Judges Table. I’ll miss her assets next season. 😉 /EndShallow I was thinking the same thing. Also, she’s not going to be on next season? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/275 "2011-02-24T05:23:06Z")
FAIK Padma will be there next season. But, the baby boobs probably will have disappeared unless she’s breast feeding her daughter. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/276 "2011-02-24T05:34:05Z")
Mike is an asshole. You don’t steal recipes, man. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/277 "2011-02-24T07:11:35Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > Fallon? oops:D ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/278 "2011-02-24T12:16:55Z")
The White Shrimp, as Marcel is standing there shorter than everyone else. Snerk. Poor Dale, but I’m glad Richard and Carla made it through. Paula Deen threatening to whip Antonio’s ass? Hah! ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/279 "2011-02-24T15:40:33Z")
Padma schmadma. When’s Gail returning? I can’t get enough of her. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/280 "2011-02-24T15:51:14Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > /Shallow Padma looked really nice in her QF top. She’s benefited from the baby boobs this season. Plus, I like a woman that doesn’t look like a toothpick. > > She’s practically popping out of a top at Judges Table. I’ll miss her assets next season. 😉 /EndShallow That’s not shallow, Padma is half the reason I watch the show. Perviously Dale seemed like a bit of a dick. I’ve liked him a lot more this season and was kind of rooting for him. My rooting for someone is the kiss of death apparently. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573.md?page=15)