I just LOVED the fact that both of Seth’s breakdowns happened in front of the guest judges and Gail.
I’m enjoying this quite a bit more than I thought I would, although Seth’s breakdowns, while in some ways compelling and bizarre human drama, will get old if there any more of them.
I also agree that it seemed like Malika clearly should have gone home. It’s definitely frustrating when we’re left unclear on why the judges made the decisions they did.
Zack is clearly both very talented and extremely entertaining TV. Asian Heather (I think) is clearly a strong contender, and seems like a decent person. Yigit is pretty funny.
It’s very interesting having that guy who’s a baker who’s never done plated presentation before, also.
How in the world would someone who has never plated a dish possibly make the cut to be on the show? It seems there would be numerous experienced, talented chefs to choose from, so why pick this guy? I’m sorry, but Seth is too much a drama queen. I completely don’t care what he cooks because his self absorption is so glaring and annoying.
And what’s with the girl who didn’t use any candy in her dish in the Quickfire? Has she ever even watched a Top Chef show?
Can’t wait until they do a really fancy. decorated cake. Saw some takes on previews, but don’t know how soon the show will air.
I have insomnia and am watching this on rerun right now. I just had to find this thread to see what other people thought of Seth. What the HELL. Honestly, he just talks constantly about his mom, which is nice in theory, but I bet she’s horrified by his behavior. I’m pretty sure my mom would be hugely embarrassed for me if I made this much of an ass of myself on national TV.
And I’m only 13 minutes into this episode. Judging by this thread, he apparently has another breakdown later in the episode? Jesus christ.
ETA: I’m making an early pick for Heather H. to win. She seems talented, personable, and professional.
I don’t watch Top Chef, at least not regularly, but I knew I had to watch this, because pastry chefs are the real masters of the cooking universe. Baking and candymaking and related cooking is so much more precise and difficult than savory cooking. First you need to understand the science of it, then you need to make it taste great, and then you are also expected to be able to make it look genuinely beautiful to the eye in a way that savory food is never expected to look.
It’s really a whole different level of food preparation, the very highest level, and I’m really glad to see it getting some respect.
It’s also way more fun!
So, anyone watching that basket case Seth? What a pathetic mess that boy is… seriously. Someone slap him. But don’t vote him off, I’m loving the entertainment value!
And I really wanted to taste that pineapple cake. I’m rooting for the baker, he’s swimming in some deep water and good for him.
I will be surprised if this season ends without any physical violence. Jesus christ, who knew that pastry chefs were so freaking temperamental?
I can’t imagine anyone will ever want to hire Seth after seeing this. I don’t care if he’s the world’s greatest pastry chef, what a prima donna.
Malika’s unhappiness makes me uncomfortable to watch. I actually had to fast forward through her confrontation with Gail over her failed wedding cake. I don’t want to see someone so miserable.
Seth is just a huge jerk. I really can’t imagine how he gets away with refusing to do the challenge. Plus, I’m beginning to wonder why he is so manic most of the time. His behavior reminds me of some people I’ve known who had substance abuse problems. Hmmmm.
Yeah, I think Stoid’s got it on Seth–he’s not a prima donna, just a pathetic mess and, from all appearances, seriously unbalanced. I have to say I don’t derive any entertainment value seeing that freakshow melt down every week, so I hope he gets the boot and soon.
Merged duplicate threads.
I’m a baker and a trained pastry chef.
I’m not watching this and it’s killing me. We don’t get Bravo and On Demand isn’t showing it like they did with Top Chef.
What Tony Bourdain said in Kitchen Confidential was true – to paraphrase, “Pastry chefs are the neurosurgeons of the culinary world”. IMHO it’s partly because of the science (you have to be EXACT with measurements, you have to execute EXACTLY as the recipe says, you’re driven to be EXACT when you’re decorating, plating, what-have-you), and partly because of the type of personality that’s attracted to that-- high-strung, perfectionist, probably very quiet because you probably work by yourself most of the time, but once there’s an audience – watch out!
I also think Bravo plays a part in the whole draaaahma thing. Because pastry chefs aren’t well-known to the public at large, they needed over-the-top personalities for this premiere season to compensate.
Me? I’ll be frank and say that I’ve never had that perfectionist streak, so although I can certainly execute the way the Just Desserts cheftestants can, I’d be low on the drama pole. Besides I’d rather bake bread.
Oh. Dear. Lord.
These bakers/pastry chefs are the biggest drama queens I’ve ever seen. Bigger than the designers on Project Runway! Seth’s meltdown was scary, and I’d be afraid if he had access to weapons. Or sharp knives. Hmmmm…
And Heather H. getting all pissy because Morgan got the win. What was he supposed to do, refuse it? The judges chose. And she did volunteer to do the showpiece. He was the team captain, that’s often how team challenges go - they take the biggest risk and get the biggest reward. And Heather C. pitching her hissyfit for some unknown reason - I can’t figure out what her problem was. She couldn’t pull off her meringues, had to switch to something else. No one “threw her under the bus” or anything else, although I wouldn’t trust her. She just can’t take the pressure.
And finally Malika bowing out. I saw that coming last week, but was still surprised she did it, particularly after the judges told her how much they loved her dish.
As I’ve said, these people are more ego-driven and emotionally fragile than clothing designers. Who would’ve thought that was possible?
StG
kiz - you can watch eps online at
Bravotv.com
StG
Wow. I really thought “Hooray, now the drama will be over and we can get back to the food.” But no, seven minute reprieve, tops.
This is the second reality show this season with an ambulance. Do you think the producers need to dial it back a bit? Or will next season’s definition of “interesting” require fire trucks as well for our jaded palates?
Agreed on all counts. Seth may have dialed things to 11 (and he certainly won’t be missed), but Malika wussing out and the two Heathers (the bitch and the simp) leaves very few appealling female candidates yet. And Yigit is beginning to get on my nerves, too–he’s the type who manages to create drama by constantly asserting that he wants to avoid drama (if you appeal to “just move on” excessively, all you’re doing is drawing attention to yourself).
So I hope the final 4 are Eric, Morgan (who came across really well this ep), Erika, and Zach. The rest are on some continuum of Insufferable (though I suspect “chip on her shoulder” Heather has enough technical skills to stay a real contender to the end).
Arm 'em all with chef knives and let them go at each other, last one alive wins? Or, for the nonviolent among us, arm them all with cake icing tubes…
I am just loving this show. Malika walking out shocked the heck out of me. Morgan annoys the heck out of me and while I could have at least thanked Heather H, her lashing out was completely uncalled for.
I like how they do actually occasionally try to help each other but, yes, the emotions are so over-the-top as to make for built-in drama that is fab to watch.
Exactly. This is not what I watch Top Chef for and I seriously doubt it’s the sort of stuff that got them an Emmy. Top Chef Masters had very little on the drama and was way more entertaining for me.
As for TC:JD, I was debating over whether to keep watching a horrible show until they finally narrowed it down to quality contestants. After Seth walked out and you heard sirens, I changed the channel, although I did watch a little of the rest and the final … which was more bizarre behavior (and Good Heather losing it when I though she was going to stay cool). I think Malika may have had the right idea.
I kind of wanted to know who they would have kicked off, I’m guessing it would have been Crying Heather. But Malika had been talking a lot about not liking the competition and she gets to go home on a high note with a good dessert.
I can sort of understand Asian Heather’s annoyance at Morgan. He had immunity, he did one dessert, he didn’t seem to be much of an active leader and I didn’t even think their original praise of it sounded all that much like they thought it was a winner so I was kind of shocked they gave it to him. But as they always say, team captains get the credit for wins and the blame for losses. And there’s some kind of phoniness about him that grates. Still she was kind of bitchy but I thought her dessert at least sounded the tastiest, I really like Chai flavors.
I wonder what institution Seth is committed to these days?
I quit watching Top Chef last year, when it became obvious that the show is more about who can be the biggest asshole rather than who can cook better.
What I find intriguing about Seth is that he doesn’t seem to have a diagnosis. What we saw didn’t look like situational stress to me (i.e. something that showed up out of the blue due to his Mother’s illness) although it probably exacerbated by that. This seems to be something he’s always had, and he seemed the type to have blurted it out if he knew what the cause is.
I hope he’s OK.