# 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:** 18
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/341 "2011-03-18T07:26:03Z")
I liked it in the stew room Blaise is grousing about his dish and Antonia says, Yes you are right about making pasta out of sweet potateos, then saying What’s wrong with you?! ---
**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:** [March 24, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/342 "2011-03-24T03:08:20Z")
I never realized how painful some of these eliminations would be. I was already seeing chefs that I really liked in their seasons. I grew to like them even more in All Stars. Tonights elimination was going to cut deep no matter who left. I loved all three of these chefs. Reluctantly, I’d have to agree Antonio was the weaker chef of the three. Not by very much, but her food just isn’t as creative or refined. This was tough to watch. Mike actually beat her twice. At least, it sounded like the judges preferred Mike’s last supper better, and they also picked him for the best surprise last bite dish. I keep reminding myself that somebody had to go home. Sometimes competitions just aren’t fun to watch when you like everybody. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/343 "2011-03-24T04:39:36Z")
In retrospect, they’ve been telegraphing this final two for a few weeks, with all the drama between Mike and Blaise. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2011, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/344 "2011-03-24T11:57:26Z")
Richard Blais looks even more on the ragged edge. wonder why they didn’t tell hm at Judge’s Table that he’d won the challenge? They picked hm first, and he should realize it, but it would’ve been awfully nice for him to hear “Richard, you’re the winner of this challenge!” Tom knows Richard feels like Mike I has the upper hand. StG ---
**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:** [March 24, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/345 "2011-03-24T16:00:17Z")
I hate it when the EC winner doesn’t get a prize. Last night was the first time they forgot to even call a winner. All they said was, “you’re going to the final”… Weird ---
**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:** [March 24, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/346 "2011-03-24T16:06:15Z")
I dislike Mike. I keep hoping to see him eliminated, and he keeps going through to the next round. It’s like the Green Bay Packers all over again. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/347 "2011-03-24T16:11:54Z")
I was shocked he won the QF- his was the only one Wolfgang Puck had a strong criticism of- meat was not as tender and the flavor balance was “ok”. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/348 "2011-03-25T04:52:35Z")
But I think Antonia really blew the last supper dish. No one liked the tuna or the soup. I wanted her to stay, but it looks like Mike beat her fair and square. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/349 "2011-03-25T11:10:31Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Richard Blais looks even more on the ragged edge. wonder why they didn’t tell hm at Judge’s Table that he’d won the challenge? They picked hm first, and he should realize it, but it would’ve been awfully nice for him to hear “Richard, you’re the winner of this challenge!” Tom knows Richard feels like Mike I has the upper hand. Yeah, he didn’t even look happy when he found out he was going to continue on to the final. It was like he was still right in there with the other two. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/350 "2011-03-25T14:01:03Z")
**Ferret Herder** - The only poor analogy I have is that Blais looks like a concentration camp inmate who learns he’s not being gassed today, but knows that tomorrow might be his last. He’s just got that _look_ about him. StG ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/351 "2011-03-25T14:38:38Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > But I think Antonia really blew the last supper dish. No one liked the tuna or the soup. > > I wanted her to stay, but it looks like Mike beat her fair and square. I can’t help but feel like Antonia’s dish was a lot harder to make. There were something like 6 or 8 items on that plate, plus the soup. Mike made chicken and a biscuit. Apparently a good and interesting version of chicken and biscuit but still, I think he lucked out on that. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/352 "2011-03-25T14:48:19Z")
I knew Blaise wasn’t going to win that QF as soon as he decided to put that ketchup-based sauce on the hot dog he was serving to Puck. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/353 "2011-03-25T15:35:33Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > **Ferret Herder** - The only poor analogy I have is that Blais looks like a concentration camp inmate who learns he’s not being gassed today, but knows that tomorrow might be his last. He’s just got that _look_ about him. It doesn’t help that he’s got a scraggly beard and looks kind of gaunt, as well. I agree with your assessment. Plus I seem to recall him saying something about how his Top Chef time is almost over, and he sounded like he was seriously looking forward to that. I think he doesn’t have his heart in cooking as a competition, and just wants out. Contrast that with Mike Isabella, who looks like he could neatly transition onto the next season of **Survivor**. ---
**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:** [March 27, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/354 "2011-03-27T15:23:21Z")
The preview for the final indicates they are doing a restaurant wars type EC. I’m not thrilled about that because the sous chefs can (and probably will) cost somebody the victory. > **[Down to Two | Bravo TV Official Site](https://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/season-8/episode-16/videos/down-to-two)** > > Season 8 Episode 16: Even worse, they pick the sous chefs blindfolded. > **[Picking Sous-Chefs Blindfolded | Bravo TV Official Site](https://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/season-8/episode-16/videos/picking-sous-chefs-blindfolded)** > > Season 8 Episode 16: I guess just letting the chefs cook is too much to ask anymore. Who wins this thing is really luck now. So much depends on who gets sous chefs that will help and not hurt the team. IIRC neither Mike or Richard was team leader during Restaurant Wars. So, at least neither has an advantage there. ---
**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:** [March 28, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/355 "2011-03-28T18:10:41Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > IIRC neither Mike or Richard was team leader during Restaurant Wars. So, at least neither has an advantage there. True, it was Dale vs. Marcel during Restaurant Wars, but Richard ultimately got the win for that challenge, and was credited with taking a leadership role with his team. Mike was on the losing team. I’m not really sure how much that tells us though – Marcel’s team was a complete trainwreck from the start because he couldn’t get along with any of his teammates. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/356 "2011-03-28T18:15:23Z")
I just watched the rerun of Sesame Street Quickfire. Still hilarious! COOKIES!!! 🙂 ---
**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:** [March 28, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/357 "2011-03-28T18:30:34Z")
> [@Rebo](#): > > I just watched the rerun of Sesame Street Quickfire. Still hilarious! > > COOKIES!!! > > 🙂 Cooooow chiiips! Will probably go down as one of my favorite Top Chef episodes of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/358 "2011-03-28T20:33:26Z")
“Did Elmo just call my cookies $#@&?” ---
**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:** [March 31, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/359 "2011-03-31T03:00:51Z")
Spoilers for the finale follow . . . . . . . . . . . . Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573/360 "2011-03-31T03:02:49Z")
Awesome. But man, did Richard look like he caught a touch of the crazy at the end. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-all-stars-season-8/562573.md?page=19)