# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/101 "2010-08-05T12:29:23Z")
My thoughts on the pea puree thing, a.k.a. mountain out of molehillgate, are best summed up by the **A.V. Club** ’s Scott Tobias ([link](http://www.avclub.com/articles/foreign-affairs,43737/)): > [@](#): > > First off, thanks very much to Emily Withrow for covering for me last Wednesday. And a good thing, too: The “pea puree” non-scandal was so petty and irritating—and so reality-show stupid—that I’m not sure I could have written rationally about the show. I could only think of that scene in The Simpsons when a missile bears down on the Comic Book Guy, just as he’s registering his disgust over Aquaman marrying a woman without gills: “Oh, I’ve wasted my life.” The issue over who stole the stupid pea puree or if it was stolen at all—a matter the show doesn’t even resolve—made me (and Emily and many of you) feel like my investment in Top Chef had been foolish. This wasn’t the smart, sometimes transcendent reality show I thought it was; this was an insult to our intelligence. Also: > [@](#): > > (Alex and Ed both commented briefly on the pea puree matter, but happily, there was no follow-through. Now let us never speak of it again.) So, anyway. I was very, very glad (family of products) to see Tiffany win both the quickfire and the elimination, and also quite glad to see dead weight Stephen being (finally!) set adrift. And could it be that I’m warming up to Kelly Liken? Say it ain’t so, Joe! But, uh, yeah, I _am_ actually softening towards her more than a little. Still, though, I now have a person I’m very much rooting for, and that, of course, is double winner Tiffany. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/102 "2010-08-05T12:37:21Z")
[QUOTE=TruCelt] I think perhaps Alex stole th eidea purposefully, and the puree accidentally. I.e. he was picking up his and got the other guy’s too. But the cartilage incident leads me to believe that he’s they type who would be fine with not fixing the error once he was asked about it. The way his eyebrows twitch when Ed asks him is interesting. . . [/QUOTE] And nobody caught him lying about veal cheeks this week. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/103 "2010-08-05T13:05:25Z")
> [@MTCicero](#): > > I was very, very glad (family of products) to see Tiffany win both the quickfire and the elimination, and also quite glad to see dead weight Stephen being (finally!) set adrift. Couldn’t agree more on both counts. ---
**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:** [August 5, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/104 "2010-08-05T14:28:29Z")
I want Alex gone. His frank and unapologetic ends-justify-the-means attitude really rankles with me. He doesn’t cook well, and he’s a liability in the kitchen. I’m still steaming about the whole cheating scandal meme. I suspect the producers of Top Chef like it, and look for the chance each season because it creates “buzz” people talk about it, and it gets press. But I think there is such a thing as bad press, and they are losing my interest yet again. In the end, I think Top Chef is going to go down if they don’t start catching and addressing the behavior. I want to see cheaters dismissed with contempt. They need to get a few smaller, cameras in the kitchen during prep and start taking this seriously. ---
**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:** [August 5, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/105 "2010-08-05T14:33:43Z")
I want Alex gone. His frank and unapologetic ends-justify-the-means attitude really rankles with me. He doesn’t cook well, and he’s a liability in the kitchen. I’m still steaming about the whole cheating scandal meme. I suspect the producers of Top Chef like it, and look for the chance each season because it creates “buzz,” people talk about it, and it gets press. But I think there is such a thing as bad press, and they are losing my interest yet again. In the end, I think Top Chef is going to go down if they don’t start catching and addressing the behavior. I want to see cheaters dismissed with contempt. I want to see Colicchio give them the verbal smackdown. TC needs to get a few smaller, surveillance type cameras in the kitchen during prep and start taking this seriously. I do love seeing Tiffany win though. She’ll do well regardless, because anyone watching this show would want to work with her, and she’s definitely setting herself up for an excellent career win or no win. I sometimes wonder whether the contestants forget that all their future bosses/investors will be watching?!? I mean, seriously, I’d hire Stephen; maybe not as Ececutive Chef, but I’d trust him to run a kitchen fairly and manage people well. Even if Alex wins, I’d never want him anywhere near my kitchen. He’s the kind o guy who knows every loophole in the health code. . . [picture barfing smiley here] ---
**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:** [August 5, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/106 "2010-08-05T14:55:04Z")
Wonder how many viewers know veal cheeks are offal just like brains and other nasty stuff? Veal cheeks are from the face. Not a cut of meat most Americans embrace. > [@](#): > > “[The cheek] is an underutilized piece of meat. and it is absolutely delicious. People have no problem with eating a primary muscle, but they freak out over the idea of eating the cheek.” > > He says that putting beef cheeks on the menu can be a hard sell, but at a recent charity event where the dish was served everyone raved about the dish. > **[Metroactive Dining | Cheek Meat](http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/03.15.06/cheeks-0611.html)** Yum, baby calf cheeks. Can I have his testicles cooked up too? 😛 Naw, I rather have a T-Bone steak from an adult steer. 😃 ---
**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:** [August 5, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/107 "2010-08-05T16:01:42Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Wonder how many viewers know veal cheeks are offal just like brains and other nasty stuff? Veal cheeks are from the face. Not a cut of meat most Americans embrace. Well, there’s offal and then there’s **offal** , you know? I’d think cheeks would be much closer to eating “regular” meat than all the other odd bits of an animal. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/108 "2010-08-05T16:15:51Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > . I sometimes wonder whether the contestants forget that all their future bosses/investors will be watching?!? ] No kidding. I’ve thought that from nearly the start. Yeah, winning is great, but there are plenty of behaviours/abilities I would want folks to see and plenty I would not if I was in the competition. I am not sure that winning, or getting close (which is what happens to everyone but the one) is worth putting your bad behaviour you “used” to get there out for everyone to see and on your “permanent record” so to speak. Yeah, people might like to eat great food cooked by an ass (if they don’t know about the assness). But would you hire one or work for one or go into business with one? Obviously, your definition of ass may vary. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/109 "2010-08-05T16:29:34Z")
The thing about the beef cheeks, I thought Alex had told Colicchio that he couldn’t get veal cheeks so he had to use veal loin, instead. But then, when the dish was described, it was called veal cheeks. ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/110 "2010-08-05T16:32:39Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > The thing about the beef cheeks, I thought Alex had told Colicchio that he couldn’t get veal cheeks so he had to use veal loin, instead. But then, when the dish was described, it was called veal cheeks. That is what I heard so now I’m confused. ---
**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:** [August 5, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/111 "2010-08-05T16:55:03Z")
Alex lies when the truth would serve just as well. He has moved from creepy to scary IMO. ---
**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:** [August 6, 2010, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/112 "2010-08-06T02:05:47Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > The thing about the beef cheeks, I thought Alex had told Colicchio that he couldn’t get veal cheeks so he had to use veal loin, instead. But then, when the dish was described, it was called veal cheeks. I’m watching my recording right now. Alex said, “I couldn’t get veal cheeks, so I got veal shank.” ---
**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:** [August 6, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/113 "2010-08-06T02:49:51Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > I’m watching my recording right now. Alex said, “I couldn’t get veal cheeks, so I got veal shank.” And to follow up - yes, he did introduce the dish at the tasting as being veal cheeks. ---
**Author:** ![YWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/6f9a4e/32.png) [@YWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YWalker)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/114 "2010-08-07T16:29:03Z")
I was delighted to see Tiffany win both challenges. Of all the chefs, I find her to be the most likable as a person, and her food has been solid all along. And she has the most incredible dimples of anyone I’ve seen, so it’s good to see her get a chance to flash them. I liked Stephen as a person (I thought his seminar on being in the bottom 3 was hilarious), but he hasn’t been that impressive all along. He sure wasn’t helped at all by drawing Brazil as his country. I, too, wouldn’t have a clue what to serve as a Brazilian dish. I was impressed that Kevin was able to pull out an Indian-inspired dish that was good enough to hit the top 3 when he wasn’t familiar with the cuisine at all. He was certainly smart to be sure to bill it as an Indian-inspired dish rather than trying to claim it was authentic. I’m lookin’ at YOU, Veal Cheeks. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/115 "2010-08-07T16:59:08Z")
> [@YWalker](#): > > I, too, wouldn’t have a clue what to serve as a Brazilian dish. Easy. Classic Brazilian [chicken](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_br_J9JV6IBA/SwvohBiid8I/AAAAAAAABhI/GE0JBT4twVc/s1600/turkey1.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/116 "2010-08-07T17:27:06Z")
Ever since I took a chance and cooked some halibut cheeks I bought on impulse from Whole Foods I have been convinced that the cheeks of any animal must be sublime. It posses me off that Alex got away with calling shanks cheeks. I hope he’s not the Lisa of this season, staying on and being hated for weeks just because someone sucks less. ---
**Author:** ![YWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/6f9a4e/32.png) [@YWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YWalker)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/117 "2010-08-07T18:40:27Z")
One thing I really didn’t like about this episode is the way they chose to assign the cuisines. It would have been far more equitable if there had been a true randomization — e.g., if they had just drawn knives that said “China”, “Brazil”, “France”, etc. That would have provided a much more even playing field. As it was, poor Stephen was stuck with the cuisine with which none of the chefs really felt comfortable, while at least the top 4 picks got to select the cuisines with which they were most comfortable. It would have been a much more equitable competition if, say, Amanda had drawn India instead of France, Alex had gotten Japan instead of Spain, etc. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/118 "2010-08-12T06:17:26Z")
Well, Alex dodged a bullet and Kenny really didn’t deliver the goods when it mattered the most. Prediction for Final Four: Angelo, Ed, Kevin, Tiffany. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2010, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/119 "2010-08-12T06:30:29Z")
Kenny constantly told us he was a fantastic chef and his food was perfect but it seems his talent never matched his mouth. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2010, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029/120 "2010-08-12T06:54:15Z")
I think Kenny specialized in making food look really good, and be really complicated. Our judges are not fooled. It really sticks in my craw though that he should be gone while Alex remains. I. want. Alex. out. I suspect I am unanimous in this. . . [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-chef-season-7-discussion-edited-title/546029.md?page=7)