synaesthesia Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 *sniff, sniff* Wahhhhhhhhhhh! (writing as I'm watching this...)That + ewww... really?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Carla fails on a consistent basis. She can't get things done on time. She can't overcome obstacles. I can't imagine hiring her and having to rely on her to do anything. Over the course of the competition, she's had some highs but overall, not top chef material. Hosea is consistent but I really have no interest in eating his food though. Stefan - did he overlook Hosea again?! Why do that dessert if it isn't anything special? I enjoy watching Top Chef in general. My only question is, how well would they do if they open a restaurant in DC? Would the best contestant in the history of the show be in the top 20 in DC? I'm pretty sure no one from this season would but I have alot of respect for Richard Blaise and Hung. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodeats Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Carla fails on a consistent basis. She can't get things done on time. She can't overcome obstacles. I can't imagine hiring her and having to rely on her to do anything. Over the course of the competition, she's had some highs but overall, not top chef material.Ahem, can you turn the volume down a bit? If you read the DCist interview, I think Carla quoted Fabio saying "this isn't cooking, this is rushing," and truly that's what it seems like on this show. Cut some slack! You may need to watch the whole season again, if you're making these comments on her. Yes, she does have some consistency issues, but so did the other chefs. I think the top three did a nice job and was glad that at least part of this season was very entertaining compared to past seasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synaesthesia Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I have to say one of my favorite aspects of this season was how much the chefs were willing to help each other plate dishes and get them out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cajcaj Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Did anyone else feel like Casey (sp?) was out of place amongst the 3 helpers? I mean I remember her, but didn't really remember she was a finalist - whereas I definitely knew Marcel and Richard were strong contenders. Could just be that her season - I don't even remember which at this point - was one of the earlier ones. Also Stefan got moved a few notches down on the jerk ranking for me tonight - he was really sweet in comforting Carla when she was crying. Also I think Josea was a dick in hogging ingredients.. did he even use any of that caviar?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synaesthesia Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Did anyone else feel like Casey (sp?) was out of place amongst the 3 helpers?All I could think was uh-oh worst sous chef ever. She took forever to chop onions two seasons ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithstg Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 All I could think was uh-oh worst sous chef ever. She took forever to chop onions two seasons ago.And now has the dubious distinction of being the only cheftestant to blow two finales. Too bad Carla listened to her. Although Hosea "won", I think that media-wise, Fabio and Carla are the two clear winners here. Ultimately this was a disappointing season, and Hosea is a level below prior winners (save Ilan). I think that viewers will remember Carla and Fabio far longer than Stefan and Hosea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rieux Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 All I could think was uh-oh worst sous chef ever. She took forever to chop onions two seasons ago. I wanted Carla to win, but am happy with Hosea. I was in Boulder a few weeks ago, and my sister and her boyfriend are regulars at Hosea's restaurant (since before the show) so we went. I have to say, it was one of the best meals I have had in months. We had a number of starters, but I remember really good pork belly sliders and a great salad with goat cheese and dates. My main was a seared Cod with browned butter, braised brussel sprouts, pork belly and pomegranate seeds. Really, it was fantastic. Earthy, sweet, sour, rich, but not heavy. My sister's cioppino was also fantastic, as was her boyfriend's tuna. The guy clearly knows fish. We met him at the end of the meal when he came to the bar (where we were eating). Nice guy about my age. He said Stefan was really arrogant, Carla was really nice, and I wished him well. Jax in Boulder is already filled every night, and I can only guess that either the restaurant group that owns it will have to offer him a lot more money to stay, or he'll strike off on his own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 All I could think was uh-oh worst sous chef ever. She took forever to chop onions two seasons ago. Hosea got very lucky. Richard Blaise was the only sous chef who seemed genuinely interested in winning and he's by far the most talented among the 3. Hosea also got to pick his protein for the hors d'oeuvres. Did Stefan set aside some foie gras which Hosea subsequently took away? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cajcaj Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Did Stefan set aside some foie gras which Hosea subsequently took away? From what I saw, it looked like when Stefan and Marcel were in the walk in, Stefan took 2 of the foie gras packs and set it on his tray (or shelf of the walk in, hard to tell) - then Josea swooped in and grabbed all 3. I really wish Carla hadn't taken Casey's suggestion of sou vide-ing the beef! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpschust Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Ahem, can you turn the volume down a bit? If you read the DCist interview, I think Carla quoted Fabio saying "this isn't cooking, this is rushing," and truly that's what it seems like on this show. Cut some slack! You may need to watch the whole season again, if you're making these comments on her. Yes, she does have some consistency issues, but so did the other chefs. I think the top three did a nice job and was glad that at least part of this season was very entertaining compared to past seasons.Yah and her technique sucks, and making food with love isn't an excuse for crappy food. I'll take the food made without love that comes up right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 From what I saw, it looked like when Stefan and Marcel were in the walk in, Stefan took 2 of the foie gras packs and set it on his tray (or shelf of the walk in, hard to tell) - then Josea swooped in and grabbed all 3. That's what I thought. Stefan should've kicked Hosea's ass at that point. And then Hosea had the gall to say he grabbed them first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cajcaj Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 That's what I thought. Stefan should've kicked Hosea's ass at that point. And then Hosea had the gall to say he grabbed them first. and then it seemed he took ALL the caviar too! and I swear he didn't use any, although I seem to remember Stefan did, so maybe he negotiated a can away from Hosea (just realized I've been spelling his name wrong all along). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sacrilicious Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Did anyone else feel like Casey (sp?) was out of place amongst the 3 helpers? I mean I remember her, but didn't really remember she was a finalist - whereas I definitely knew Marcel and Richard were strong contenders. Could just be that her season - I don't even remember which at this point - was one of the earlier ones. Yes, I was thinking the same thing. I thought both Marcel and Richard were 2nd place winners. I remember she came in 3rd, but I'm blanking on who was the 2nd place winner that year. I think it was the season that Hung won. Overall I felt the chefs this season were not as talented and the food not as interesting as in prior seasons. I was rooting for Carla because (1) she's from DC and (2) she seemed like a decent person with decent talent, but I would have never picked her as a top three contender. The other two? Meh. I just couldn't get interested in the battle of the baldies. On the other hand, it was refreshing to see a season without petty drunken arguments, crotch grabbing, assault and battery, etc. The cheftestants seemed to get along pretty well (in some cases, too well....) Also on a shallow note, when the introduced the three sous chefs, all I could think was, what a freakshow lineup! Whether it was bad lighting or makeup or whatever, Marcel looked like a stoned vampire, Casey looked like she had come out of a bad spray tan session, and Richard looked like a creepy age progression of the spiky haired kid from Jerry McGuire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhberk Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Yes, I was thinking the same thing. I thought both Marcel and Richard were 2nd place winners. I remember she came in 3rd, but I'm blanking on who was the 2nd place winner that year. I think it was the season that Hung won. I'm pretty sure Casey came in 2nd that year and Dale got 3rd. I remember Casey making such a big deal about Hung winning and how she was robbed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithstg Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I'm pretty sure Casey came in 2nd that year and Dale got 3rd. I remember Casey making such a big deal about Hung winning and how she was robbed.Not that it matters, but I think Dale came in second (with the winning dish overall), and Casey came in third... but either way, Casey thinking she was robbed is delusional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cajcaj Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I looked it up because I couldn't remember - it was Season 3 and it just says runner up for both Dale and Casey - also Casey won fan favorite, which I don't remember at all. I think Carla is a lock for fan favorite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Blume Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Yah and her technique sucks, and making food with love isn't an excuse for crappy food. I'll take the food made without love that comes up right.I haven't watched all the episodes, so perhaps I missed something. Can you recall specific examples in which she exhibited a lack of technical skills? If so, what would you have done differently?* * * An earlier exchange in this topic concerned editing and transparent foreshadowing. It seemed inevitable that Carla wouldn't win simply because we were all rooting for her at the beginning of the finale, largely because she was the talented, sweet and quirky underdog who was just starting to win challenges. Kind of an anti-Stefan. Yet, over and over, we saw signs of a lack of confidence as opposed to modesty. She undermined herself, for example, when she had second thoughts about a signature vegetarian dish and therefore added a superfluous protein. And yes, Tom C's reaction after she explained the roots of her two final disasters pretty much was our own: trust yourself--don't go making your sous-chef's dishes when you already know what you want your menu to say. The Finn's supercilious attitude became so much of a theme of the series that, of course, it ended up seeming like a fatal flaw, though a combination of one flavor-diminishing technique (freezing fish) and a poor choice of a hyper-stylized, dated dessert plate was what really did him in. If contestants were as familiar with past seasons as they appear to have been, then they had to have spent some time planning show-stopper menus and dishes before filming. So much of his food was clearly wonderful, he was perfectly capable of making a fabulous sweet final course, say, playing with the idea of a chocolate turtle to look back at the alligator soup. Who knows what it's like to deal with all that pressure, though. (I kind of liked him not for the hugs, but for the proud bit about his mother's career, the bemused, tight-lipped expression and the spark.) What was disappointing about Hosea's victory was the fact that he never really made for good drama. Just didn't have as vivid a presence as his two final competitors. His final menu was thoughtful, pretty, and he worked hard to win. Moral? Extremes bad. Moderation. Almost political. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Blume Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 P.S. One good thing about the end of the series: I'm so GLAD I won't have to watch Erica!! (Chilly!) anymore! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biscuit Girl Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I'm pretty sure Casey came in 2nd that year and Dale got 3rd. I remember Casey making such a big deal about Hung winning and how she was robbed. Casey choked in the finale in season 3 and was pretty much out of the running at judges table. Talk about deja vu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biscuit Girl Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I really wanted to see Carla take the prize and if she had stuck to her guns and did what she had planned, she could have had a chance. But trying out a technique you've never done before in the finale!? I guess being in the moment, it seemed like a good idea. I felt so bad for her when the judges asked why she should be Top Chef and she cried. She probably had the best answer of the three and knew at that point that she was out. Regardless, she's still my favorite chef from the season. And even though she didn't get the top prize, she still won the Super Bowl tickets and the new car. Not bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodeats Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Road trip, anyone? Now casting for Season 6 near here: NEW YORK Sunday, March 1, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM CraftSteak Restaurant www.craftrestaurant.com/craftsteak_newyork.html PHILADELPHIA Wednesday, March 4, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM XIX NINETEEN at Park Hyatt at the Bellevue www.nineteenrestaurant.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synaesthesia Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Followup with Carla at the viewing party. Notably she says the beef itself had no marbling was tough and that was a big part of the problem. Not the sous vide method. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 TC Casey's Take On Finale and Carla: "Carla was not prepared and in over her head. The show did not talk about how the first course (crab) took her half of the friggin’ cooking time that day, I was left to work the rest of HER dishes.She also did not have a plan. The ONLY thing she had in mind was a cheese course! I would NEVER do a cheese course. And where in the hell did french come from!? She is not even classically trained! It (the show) didn’t talk about how I worked on a sauce for 2 days and Carla forgot to put it on the plate… It didn’t show how the 2nd course (fish) was MINE. It didn’t show how she took the sous vide idea and decided to GRILL it last minute causing it to be tough… And it didn’t show how she WANTED to do the souffles which she does not even know how to make! That was HER food, because it certainly was me asking her how she wanted to do this and that while she was busy picking crab the entire time and making a souffle that didn’t rise! I am done with TC. I did not influence her. She has NO ideas of her own, oh, except a cheese course." http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/02/26/c...about-top-chef/ P.S. I can't get the link to work. I copied the above from CH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ol_ironstomach Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Suffice it to say that there's a lot of Casey-bashing vitriol flying around other TC blogs today about her alleged statements regarding Carla and the finale. More here and here, but the link in Ericandblueboy's post upthread has the bulk of it (their server is probably overloaded today, but you'll eventually get through) Bravo Carla, for making it to the big game even if you didn't take home the trophy. You made a lot of DC foodies proud along the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ol_ironstomach Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Road trip, anyone? Now casting for Season 6 near here: Application info is up on the Bravo website --> click <-- If you could, who would you draft to be a contestant? It'd have to be somebody off the national radar, but with strong chops and a flash of creativity. My pick would be...maybe someone like Ron_Tanaka_of_Cork . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickie Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I looked it up because I couldn't remember - it was Season 3 and it just says runner up for both Dale and Casey - also Casey won fan favorite, which I don't remember at all. I think Carla is a lock for fan favorite.I saw a rerun of the Season 3 finale a couple of weeks ago. Casey messed up in the finale and was completely out of the running according to the judges. They debated solely between Hung and Dale for the number one spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cajcaj Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 P.S. I can't get the link to work. I copied the above from CH. What's CH? and re: her rant, jeez, overly defensive much?? ETA: OH, it just clicked - Chowhound... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cajcaj Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Also Casey was totally hypocritical in her lashing out - she claims credit for lots of things, the fish dish, says she had to do most of the food because Carla spent so much time with the crab.. but then ends it by saying that it was all Carla's food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Boy Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Too bad Carla lost, I was rooting for her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickie Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Was it my imagination or did I see Hosea and Leia kiss on the lips after he won? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenticket Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Was it my imagination or did I see Hosea and Leia kiss on the lips after he won?Guess you'll have to tune in next week for the wrap-up show when Andy Cohen asks them the 'So, are you together?' question...I was bummed for Carla, but still can't understand the decision to go with a technique you've never used before. As she said, she did show that it is possible to compete in a different way, and be successful (maybe not #1, but top 3 isn't bad). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 psssst..... nerve.com has some nekkid and semi-nekkid pics of Padma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KissAndFly Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 Casting for Season 6 started last month but haven't heard when new season shows will start---maybe late summer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheezepowder Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 Carla Hall is teaching a couple of demonstration classes at L'Academie de Cuisine this summer. July 16 (7-10 pm) - pastry dough and crusts August 7 (7-10 pm)- soups Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hungry prof Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 August 7 (7-10 pm)- soups Please let that be gazpacho. Nothing I want to do more than make a hot chowder in DC in August. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hungry prof Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 News of a chef from Zaytinya possibly on the next season of Top Chef. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodeats Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 (edited) Carla and Spike event for Top Chef tomorrow in Adams Morgan. Click here for more details. ETA: Carla Hall will be at The Taste of Wheaton next weekend, Sunday May 17 as well. Edited May 7, 2009 by goodeats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmmboy Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 I noticed the upcoming season has Mike Isabella (Zaytinya) and Bryan Voltaggio (Volt) among its contestants (as well as local born Michael Voltaggio - chef at Bazaar in L.A. and Bryan's brother). Should be fun for the locals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StorageLady Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 Just found out that Bryan Voltaggio will be one of the contenstants on this season's Top Chef which I think begins at the end of August. How exciting for us! His restaurant, Volt, has been quite the rage up here in Frederick , and he's been an active participant in many community events. Interestingly, his brother Michael who now lives in CA will also be on the show...Oh, the tension!! Here's the link if you're interested: http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/bio/bryan-voltaggio Looks like we need a dining out lunch or evening up here before his fame skyrockets and we can't get a seat! Also - the 30 year old exec chef from Abacrombie Fine Foods in Baltimore, Jesse Sandlin, will be on the show as will Michael Isabella, the Executive Chef of Zaytinya Lots of hometown faves to root for! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktmoomau Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 I noticed the upcoming season has Mike Isabella (Zaytinya) and Bryan Voltaggio (Volt) among its contestants (as well as local born Michael Voltaggio - chef at Bazaar in L.A. and Bryan's brother). Should be fun for the locals. Should be really exciting. I got to eat at Michael Votaggio's Hemisphere adventure at the Greenbrier and that was an amazing meal. And Volt was good, but after reading Joe H.'s report about Table 21, I need to go back now. Will be fun to watch. They also have a chef from Baltimore from Abacombie so a good representation from our area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poivrot Farci Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 The clear favorite among the aspiring chefs is Eve Aronoff, 20 year veteran chef/owner of her eponymous 6-year old restaurant “Eve” in Ann Arbor, MI whose triumph is trumpeted by none other than Mario Batali, Alice Waters, Ulterior Epicure, Slowfood's founder Patrick Martins and Carolyn S. from Yelp. Incumbent chef-owners/partners have nothing to lose (or gain) in this soap-flavored game show (other than dignity and reputation) and like the Olympics are much more serious and refreshing to watch now that dopey amateurs have been cut. Eve believes in the philosophy of French cooking (her Bravo bio is cut & pasted from her own website) and has Thai dumplings, Thai BBQ chicken, Cypriot cheese, curried mussels, nachos, risotto, coconut-ginger rice, beef chimichurri, macadamia encrusted salmon, tres leches and French bread on her menu. She’s a sure bet in winning enough plastic wrap and not-so-biodegradable to-go containers to help open a Club Med franchise. If not, she can always fall back on the dream of owning her own restaurant which she has already fulfilled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vafoodie Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 Just found out that Bryan Voltaggio will be one of the contenstants on this season's Top Chef which I think begins at the end of August. How exciting for us! His restaurant, Volt, has been quite the rage up here in Frederick , and he's been an active participant in many community events. Interestingly, his brother Michael who now lives in CA will also be on the show...Oh, the tension!! Here's the link if you're interested: http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/bio/bryan-voltaggio Looks like we need a dining out lunch or evening up here before his fame skyrockets and we can't get a seat! Also - the 30 year old exec chef from Abacrombie Fine Foods in Baltimore, Jesse Sandlin, will be on the show as will Michael Isabella, the Executive Chef of Zaytinya Lots of hometown faves to root for! Isn't it fantastic, Bryan is very talented and VOLT is a must visit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodeats Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 7 hours and counting!! How are YOU watching the LV premiere tonight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanCole42 Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 7 hours and counting!! How are YOU watching the LV premiere tonight? Who do we root for? The Volt guy? The Zatinya guy? Other??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Blume Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Just root local. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickmoon Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 LET THE TOP CHEF OVERLOAD BEGIN!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StorageLady Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Rooting for Bryan Voltaggio all the way......there's local and then there's LOCAL!!!! Hometown born and raised and came back to cook for the folks back home... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LauraB Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 For regular Top Chef--SPOILER!--I have to skittishly admit that I'm glad I don't have to look at those ear hoops and neck tattoo for the rest of the season... I'm so with you on that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheldman Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 I do understand that it's tv, and that the editors have great control over how people and things appear - but having said that, Mike from Zaytinya sure did seem like he was going out of his way to create a public perception that he is a jerk (and sexist jerk at that), and I sure would rather watch 60 year old chefs cook well and be nice to each other, than to watch 20-40 year olds play games with each other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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