# Top Chef is back for another season **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 22, 2006, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395 "2006-10-22T01:58:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/1 "2006-10-22T01:58:55Z")
First of this season’s episodes was broadcast on 10/18 on Bravo. I haven’t really warmed up to any of the participants. the first challenge was interesting. Prepare a meal from a box packed with oddly matched ingredients. Some fared horribly - while others managed. Last season’s winner was the guest judge. I’ll watch and hope that the challenges aren’t as goofy as some from last season. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/2 "2006-10-22T03:03:44Z")
We finally got around to watching Episode 1 tonight. How much I like both this show and Project Runway continues to baffle me. I often make the comparison that Project Runway is a bit easier to get involved in because the viewer is more able to participate at the same level as the judges, which is visually. Whereas the viewer can’t taste the food in Top Chef. Watching the first episode, all I can say is that I’m very glad I that I wasn’t able to taste some of the dishes they were serving up. There were at least two different occasions that people testified that they could barely choke down the food that they tasted. And with required incredients like frogs legs, chicken livers, corn flakes, American Cheese and peanut butter…I’m not surprised. As for the personalities… The over-the-top dyke, Josie, just makes me groan. I know so many grrls out and about that strike me the same way. They just try too hard to be who they are…or something. Marcel is just an ass. Based on the previews, I was looking forward to his being an introverted geeky chemist in the kitchen, but alas, he’s pompous and already annoying me after only an hour. And what is up with the hair? [Marcel](http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef_2/bios/marcel_vigneron.shtml) or [Syndrome](http://www.imdb.com/rg/photos-name/summary//gallery/ss/0317705/Ss/0317705/TI-111.jpg.html?path=gallery&path_key=0317705) …you decide ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/3 "2006-10-22T04:00:21Z")
I just discovered this wonderfully entertaining show (and I do NOT like “competitive reality” shows usually) last weekend, when Bravo was doing a mini-marathon of last season. I quickly got all involved in the various personalities! Or maybe more accurately, I picked up Tiffani’s evilness right away and just wanted to see someone give her the smackdown. Think this season is going to take a few episodes to come together, at least for me. They started with more cheftestants (to borrow from TWoP) - 15 as opposed to 12 - so it’s going to take some time getting to know the various personalities, although some have already surfaced vividly enough (Marcel, I’m looking at you and your kooky hair-do!). Too bad Surjai (sp?) is already gone, she looked to have an interesting backstory. I kind of like Betty and Mia so far, but really think I need more time to get to know the rest of em. I too am not sure I could eat some of those foods! I hope that they’re not going to continue with the interesting yet somewhat bizarre food combos in the challenges, though I suspect that they will. Thanks for posting this thread, **flickster**. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/4 "2006-10-22T04:41:57Z")
[QUOTE=ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies] Marcel is just an ass. Based on the previews, I was looking forward to his being an introverted geeky chemist in the kitchen, but alas, he’s pompous and already annoying me after only an hour. And what is up with the hair? [Marcel](http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef_2/bios/marcel_vigneron.shtml) or [Syndrome](http://www.imdb.com/rg/photos-name/summary//gallery/ss/0317705/Ss/0317705/TI-111.jpg.html?path=gallery&path_key=0317705) …you decide [/QUOTE] I was thinking Wolverine. I just can’t get excited. I watched last season and it was okay, though I agree that not being able to taste the food (and not wanting to, at times) is a big down side. I do love seeing what people can do with their talent, though. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2006, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/5 "2006-10-22T04:58:38Z")
I think Marcel is supposed to be the new Stephen but he’s not really as weird as Stephen. It’s always hard to pick a horse after the first episode. It will take two or three more weeks to really get to know the personalities and abilities. I don’t really love or hate anybody yet. ---
**Author:** ![Mesquite-oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@Mesquite-oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mesquite-oh)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/6 "2006-10-22T06:44:38Z")
I thought the first challenge should have been that each contestant gets to make their signature dish or something that tells something about themselves. That would have been a good way to be introduced to the chef’s background, personality, culinary point of view, etc. I think that is what they did last year. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/7 "2006-10-22T07:02:08Z")
After watching the project runway finale, it took me until today to watch this. As horrible as last season was, at least they managed to pick the right winner. Tom C. is still an ass. Also I don’t understand why he needs to be in the kitchen. Why do they need a judge seeing behind the scenes - if the chef says “plato apparato” at the last minute, waves a wand in the air, and the food instantly prepares itself and appears plated & ready to go, does it matter so long as it tastes good? So why send him back there if he’s just going to wander around with his stupid head up his butt? The new host is much better. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/8 "2006-10-22T13:28:23Z")
[QUOTE=ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies] … Marcel is just an ass. Based on the previews, I was looking forward to his being an introverted geeky chemist in the kitchen, but alas, he’s pompous and already annoying me after only an hour. And what is up with the hair? [Marcel](http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef_2/bios/marcel_vigneron.shtml) or [Syndrome](http://www.imdb.com/rg/photos-name/summary//gallery/ss/0317705/Ss/0317705/TI-111.jpg.html?path=gallery&path_key=0317705) …you decide [/QUOTE] Thank you! I’ve seen his pic at Bravo and couldn’t place who it reminded me of. Dio, I could tell by his pic and 'tude that he was likely the new Stephen. [QUOTE=amarinth] The new host is much better. [/QUOTE] They had no where to go but up. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/9 "2006-10-22T15:57:20Z")
[QUOTE=ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies] And what is up with the hair? [Marcel](http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef_2/bios/marcel_vigneron.shtml) or [Syndrome](http://www.imdb.com/rg/photos-name/summary//gallery/ss/0317705/Ss/0317705/TI-111.jpg.html?path=gallery&path_key=0317705) …you decide [/QUOTE] Speaking of which, episode 1 winner [Ilan](http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef_2/bios/ilan_hall.shtml) or Queer Eye guy [Ted Allen](http://www.bravotv.com/Queer_Eye/bio/Ted_Allen)? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/10 "2006-10-22T16:04:48Z")
[QUOTE=amarinth] Also I don’t understand why he needs to be in the kitchen. Why do they need a judge seeing behind the scenes - if the chef says “plato apparato” at the last minute, waves a wand in the air, and the food instantly prepares itself and appears plated & ready to go, does it matter so long as it tastes good? So why send him back there if he’s just going to wander around with his stupid head up his butt? [/QUOTE] Yeah, the show needs a Tim Gunn, and Tom needs to butt out. Being judged on what you say while you’re cooking sucks, since these aren’t people who are supposed to be impressing, say, a TV audience. They shouldn’t have to put a happy face on what they do while they’re cooking. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/11 "2006-10-22T16:14:57Z")
As a side note Just ran a google image search on the new host, Padma Lakshmi 😃 worth the effort… ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/12 "2006-10-22T17:04:25Z")
[QUOTE=JeffB] Speaking of which, episode 1 winner [Ilan](http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef_2/bios/ilan_hall.shtml) or Queer Eye guy [Ted Allen](http://www.bravotv.com/Queer_Eye/bio/Ted_Allen)? [/QUOTE] I totally thought the same thing. He’s a dead ringer for Ted from certain angles. ---
**Author:** ![look\_ninjas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/13 "2006-10-22T17:12:00Z")
[QUOTE=ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies] [Marcel](http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef_2/bios/marcel_vigneron.shtml) or [Syndrome](http://www.imdb.com/rg/photos-name/summary//gallery/ss/0317705/Ss/0317705/TI-111.jpg.html?path=gallery&path_key=0317705) …you decide [/QUOTE] See, he reminded me immediately of [Lion-O](http://www.cheezey.org/thundercats/gallery/lionogallery.html). ---
**Author:** ![katie1341](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/91b2a8/32.png) [@katie1341](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie1341)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/14 "2006-10-22T18:08:48Z")
I’m really hoping that one of the other cheftestants will replace Marcel’s shampoo with Nair. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/15 "2006-10-22T18:11:06Z")
[QUOTE=look!ninjas] See, he reminded me immediately of [Lion-O](http://www.cheezey.org/thundercats/gallery/lionogallery.html). [/QUOTE] My god. Now the Thundercats theme song is running through my head, snarf snarf. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/16 "2006-10-22T18:33:31Z")
[QUOTE=ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies] As for the personalities… The over-the-top dyke, Josie, just makes me groan. I know so many grrls out and about that strike me the same way. They just try too hard to be who they are…or something. [/QUOTE] I watched an episode before bed a couple days ago so I wasn’t paying very close attention and may’ve missed that 'cause I don’t remember it at all but I do remember, I think, a commercial where she basically said “I’m multi-cultural and badass so don’t fuck with me! Rar!” and I just rolled my eyes. ---
**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:** [October 24, 2006, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/17 "2006-10-24T03:05:04Z")
What this show needs is a Tim Gunn. Tom isn’t a mentor, as he so bluntly pointed out. Tim adds so much to Project Runway, and without having the ability to taste the food as you can experience the fashion visually. StG ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2006, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/18 "2006-10-24T04:57:26Z")
[QUOTE=ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies] I totally thought the same thing. He’s a dead ringer for Ted from certain angles. [/QUOTE] Same here. I saw his picture and thought he was Ted at first, then I forgot about it, then I caught the show halfway through and saw him and thought Ted was judging again. I had the pleasure to catch Marcel’s comment that the other contestants were probably just trying to get rid of him because they sensed he would be the biggest competition. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Grossbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba8739/32.png) [@Grossbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grossbottom)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2006, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/19 "2006-10-24T14:02:29Z")
I’d watch anything if Padma Lakshmi was the hostess: she’s just a little bowl of hot. But the show seems pretty good even when she’s not onscreen. Marcel’s a little shit, he looks like a Pokemon character to me. I bet the Belushi-clone fat dude smacks the shit out of him. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395/20 "2006-10-24T21:26:06Z")
[QUOTE=flickster] As a side note Just ran a google image search on the new host, Padma Lakshmi 😃 worth the effort… [/QUOTE] You can say that again… 🙂 And TWOP has already called Marcel (and his hair) “overly-Flowbee’d”, “Teen Wolf”, “Flock of Pelicans”, “Marcel Waves”, and “a train wreck. In the mountains. Off a trestle. Into a ravine six hundred feet below. During a blizzard.” Too early to tell much else, though I’m slightly biased for Marisa because she’s from SF. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-is-back-for-another-season/377395.md?page=2)