# Top Chef Season 7 discussion \[edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 8, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029 "2010-07-08T23:13:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![TheFifthYear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@TheFifthYear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFifthYear)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/181 "2010-09-02T18:04:02Z")
Really sorry to see Tiffany go, but based on what was shown, I agree with the decision. On a day when everyone did well, she had a couple of mistakes. She acquitted herself well on the show, though…she showed talent, character, and a good personality, so I’m sure that this will be a benefit to her career. Some contestants, I wonder how anyone ever agrees to work with them after seeing them on the show. That won’t be a problem for Tiffany. I don’t have any idea how to handicap the final four. Angelo is inconsistent. Ed seems solid but rarely spectacular–few highs and lows. Kelly seems to be able to execute really well, but isn’t necessarily a creative genius. Kevin is probably playing above his head. He’s good, but I think he’s probably the least good of the four remaining. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/182 "2010-09-02T18:52:59Z")
Is it just me or should the contestants (with the help of NASA) actually freezedried their food for the judges? 1. More accurate than, “This WOULD be good freezedried.” 2. Would love to have seen Ripart and Bourdain eating astronaut food 3. Otherwise is there any real challenge? ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/183 "2010-09-02T20:06:41Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Is it just me or should the contestants (with the help of NASA) actually freezedried their food for the judges? > > 1. More accurate than, “This WOULD be good freezedried.” > 2. Would love to have seen Ripart and Bourdain eating astronaut food > 3. Otherwise is there any real challenge? I thought so, yes. It would have been much cooler to have them serve one portion “regular” and then show how it would actually work freeze-dried. Much like the time they had to do the frozen food challenge and prove that you could re-heat it. And Bourdain & Ripert should be on television together more often. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/184 "2010-09-02T21:30:05Z")
Interesting show, but IMO they ALL, judges included, pretty much ignored the premise. A meal that would taste good freeze dried and then reconstituted. There were big chunks of food, there was excess sugar, both NASA no no’s. And the fish fillets. Does anybody think freeze dried fish would be good? And some dishes were nearly soup like. Yeah, that will work well in zero G. Now, it wasnt a bad show per se, except for the fact they just seemed to abandon the whole premise of the challenge. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/185 "2010-09-02T21:56:35Z")
> [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > I wish that we could have a show starring Tony Bourdain and Eric Ripert. Or Ripert could just join him on No Reservations. Whatever, as long as Tony is snarking and Eric is being good-natured and adorable, and they’re both being hot with their silver hair. Eric Ripert did join Tony on an episode of No Reservations. It was called “Back in the Fire” or something like that. Tony went back to being a line cook at his old restaurant in NY. Tony manned the saute’ station and Eric manned the grill station for a packed double dinner service. Another vote for “damn I’m gonna miss Tiffany!”. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/186 "2010-09-02T22:20:06Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Kevin reminds me of a foul mouthed Baby Huey. This is awesome. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/187 "2010-09-03T04:23:56Z")
Very disappointed that Tiffany went home. Angelo and Kevin both pissed me off with their Jesus-thanking bullshit. Kelly’s OK, but i think i have to root for Ed now. He’s a good chef, and i like his easy-going attitude. ---
**Author:** ![Tully\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Tully\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tully_Mars)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/188 "2010-09-03T14:11:05Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Interesting show, but IMO they ALL, judges included, pretty much ignored the premise. A meal that would taste good freeze dried and then reconstituted. > > There were big chunks of food, there was excess sugar, both NASA no no’s. And the fish fillets. Does anybody think freeze dried fish would be good? And some dishes were nearly soup like. Yeah, that will work well in zero G. > > Now, it wasnt a bad show per se, except for the fact they just seemed to abandon the whole premise of the challenge. I feared this would happen when I saw that the NASA Food Scientist was absent from the judges table. It would have been interesting to have her opinion of the suitability of these dishes factor into the scoring. Didn’t two of those dishes have large bones? I sincerely doubt that NASA is going to pay to lift that unnecessary weight into orbit. On the other hand, the contestants do seem to create better food without the extra constraints and better food should be what this show is about. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/189 "2010-09-03T19:48:57Z")
> [@Tully\_Mars](#): > > . . . > > Didn’t two of those dishes have large bones? I sincerely doubt that NASA is going to pay to lift that unnecessary weight into orbit. > > . . . I think that’s why Colicchio was laughing when he saw Angelo had short ribs. But Angelo did have the brains to cut it off the bone before he served it. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/190 "2010-09-03T20:32:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Now, it wasnt a bad show per se, except for the fact they just seemed to abandon the whole premise of the challenge. That bugs me too. The NASA lady should have been at the meal and judges table. She could have have indicated the dishes that could most easily been adapted for space. The final product will be totally unrecognizable to the winning chef anyhow. Meat removed from the bone, reduced sauce and perhaps even pureed into mush. I doubt Angelo would want more than one bite of his winning dish. 😉 Perhaps a little of the flavor profile would remain. That’s it. Based on the challenge Tiffanys mussels were the craziest idea. WTF was she thinking? Reconstituted mussels? They’d me inedible lumps of sinew & cartilage. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/191 "2010-09-03T20:37:09Z")
Tiffany succumbed to the annual GE appliance malfunction. It’s a wonder that GE pays to have the show showcase their products when every year one of them fucks up somebody’s meal. A refridgerator is not supposed to freeze things. I was really rooting for her. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/192 "2010-09-03T20:45:30Z")
Anyone eat over cooked mussels? They turn into chewy rubber balls that never break down in your mouth. I usually spit them into my napkin or if too many people are around swallow them whole. I love correctly prepared mussels. I’m sure Tiffany’s would be perfect. But, that’s not what the people in space will be served. Beef & pork have some chance of surviving NASA’s freeze dried procedure. ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/193 "2010-09-04T02:03:04Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Is it just me or should the contestants (with the help of NASA) actually freezedried their food for the judges? > > 1. More accurate than, “This WOULD be good freezedried.” > 2. Would love to have seen Ripart and Bourdain eating astronaut food > 3. Otherwise is there any real challenge? I wish they had done this challenge during Season 4; I’d like to have seen Richard Blais take this on. He probably would have figured out a way to serve actual freeze-dried food. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2010, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/194 "2010-09-09T05:46:19Z")
I was surprised at how well these chefs did in the semi-final. They obviously spent time studying this style food during the break. I’m glad the season is ending on a higher note. I am bummed that Kelly is gone. But, at least she didn’t screw up. During extended judges table the biggest complaint was her dish wasn’t inspired enough. I’m shocked Angelo got a pass for salty soup. One judge even said during judges table that they wouldn’t be able to eat a whole bowl. Then Tom jumps in saying it wasn’t inedible. What the heck? Even the thought of that raw lamb dish makes me want to barf. You couldn’t pay me enough to eat Angelo’s food. I saw that perfect egg, cooked in the immersion bath, last season. It was one of the Volt brothers. Kevin did a good job with it. Ed for the win next week! I definitely don’t want Kevin stealing the win. He’s been mediocre all season. Tough break that Angelo falls seriously ill the next morning after judges table. I’d love to see Kelly return as a substitute. But, I’m not sure if the rules even allow for replacing a sick player. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/195 "2010-09-09T05:55:15Z")
I’m really glad Ed won twice tonight. I would love to see him take the win next week. He seems like a great chef and I am really enjoying his personality and sense of humor. As far as what they show us in the previews for the finale are concerned…well, I really think they edit the teasers, etc on this show in ways that end up being verrrrrry misleading. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2010, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/196 "2010-09-09T06:16:00Z")
I guess it won’t hurt to mention Hung, Michael V and everyones favorite Ilan are the sous chefs in the final. Guest sous chefs are a tradition in the final. I feel sorry for whoever gets Ilan. Hung and Michael V. are much more experienced chefs. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/197 "2010-09-09T15:01:19Z")
I thought that was one of the most entertaining single episodes of Top Chef I’ve ever seen. It was clear how totally intense and draining both challenges were for everyone, how everything was totally laid out on the line, and how much they really cared, and there were also no blunders at all. Outside of Top Chef Masters, have the judges ever before had so little negative to say? ---
**Author:** ![TheFifthYear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@TheFifthYear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFifthYear)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/198 "2010-09-09T15:29:39Z")
For the second week in a row we had a really great episode, and for the second week in a row I’m really sorry to see the loser have to go home. However, it’s great to watch this show when everyone is at the top of their game and the decision comes down to nitpicking details. The problem with Top Chef is early in the seasons when it is obvious that we have X number of inferior chefs to weed out before the real competition starts. The brilliance of Top Chef is that once we get down to the top competitors, it’s very dramatic and fun to watch. I think on a different day Kelly or Tiffany could have won the whole thing, but at the same time I agree (based on what we were shown), that they were the worst in the last two episodes. Hate to see them go, but this is why I love the show. I’m not a big fan of Ed, but he really seems to be in the driver’s seat. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/199 "2010-09-09T15:50:41Z")
> [@TheFifthYear](#): > > . . . > > The problem with Top Chef is early in the seasons when it is obvious that we have X number of inferior chefs to weed out before the real competition starts. > . . . > > . I actually would enjoy the early part more, if only the cheating crap could be eliminated. I want them to start really watching and I want to see cheaters caught and kicked off. But I find the eliminations less painful in the early rounds, when it is clear that there are some folks whose skill/talent levels are just lower. The first round would be the exception; I wish there was always at least one quick-fire before the first elimination, so that everyone got to feel they had fully participated. The eliminations in the final rounds are gut-wrenching, and really make me feel for the judges. There are times when you can see that they are heart-broken. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/200 "2010-09-09T18:45:46Z")
Ed has really grown on me. Of the three left, I’m rooting for him to win. I love his sense of humor and how he was needling Angelo – “My grandmother gave me that spoon.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029.md?page=11)