Foodie Gossip: top chef tiffani

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Top Chef All Stars Bids Farewell to Jamie Lauren… And Tiffani Faison

Top Chef All Star's Jamie Lauren

While I would love to sound surprised, the opening of Top Chef All Stars episode 6 was a dead giveaway – and it also backed my theory that the only reason Jamie Lauren lasted on Top Chef for as long as she did was to build media buzz and frustrate the hell out of viewers so they could provide them with a “big happy” when she was (finally) told to pack her knives and go. Great marketing trick guys.

However, the episode as a whole was probably the best of the season. The scene where a very drunk Marcel goes off on Dale is hilarious. It was like watching a really bad Eminem impression. And, being a huge fan of deep sea fishing, watching the chefs make their catches was such a thrill – but even more entertaining was watching Marcel and Fabio’s fishing style. No wonder it took them 2 hours to make their first catch. But most adorable, was the married-couple-like-bromance between Richard and Fabio. It was really touching. ;-)

But I digress. While I’m happy that the remaining episodes are Jamie-free, I was a bit bummed with the lack of suspense/buildup of her demise throughout this episode. The secret was given away within the first minute of the show: this was the first episode where they really showed how annoying everyone thought she was. From a marketing perspective, I would have played up the suspense a bit more. There was all this build up and then just a “bing” instead of a “bang”. Since they spent so much time portraying Jamie as the Top Chef villain, she really should have gone out with a bang – it’s only fair.

And a message from Eric Ripert to Jamie Lauren:
ericripert SPOILER! Dear Jamie: Sorry to see you go. But I gladly offer you a free training at Le Bernardin on how to cook a fish. #topchefallstars

Owch.

Top Chef All Star's Tiffani Faison

And while I wasn’t surprised to see Tiffani Faison depart (she was one of the bottom 4), I have to say I felt a bit bummed. While she never lacked for talent, Tiffani has grown into such a likable person since Top Chef Season 1 and it would have been nice to see her stick around.

On the horizon, Angelo has been killing it, but I think we have a couple dark horses in Dale and Carla. And Antonia is really starting to step up. I’d like to see her win an elimination round – after last night’s episode, she really deserves it.

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Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Top Chef All Stars Recap: Episode 6 "We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat"

Top Chef All Stars mixed things up this week – and I bet you’ll be very happy with the results…

The show begins with some major Jamie Lauren hating – a few clips recapping last week’s episode and everyone acknowledging what we already know: Jamie should have been sent home instead of Casey Thompson.

In the next scene, everyone goes to sleep, except Marcel, Tre and Dale. It’s clear that the boys have been drinking and Marcel (drinking strait from a gin bottle) goes off on a gansta-style Dale-hating rant. Marcel and Dale are exchange some not-so-nice words and Dale walks away. Flash to Tre’s monologue: “I’ve definitely noticed over the weeks that… Marcel’s kind of an asshole.”

The chefs are woken up at 4:30am the next morning and in a haze of grogginess stumble into the kitchen only to find it empty, with the exception of a “gone fishing” sign and a note… telling the chefs to meet them in Montauk. Tiffani jumps up and down in excitement. Richard Blaise makes a comment that lets the viewers know that Toyota is sponsoring this episode of Top Chef.

This week’s Quickfire Challenge: There is no Quickfire Challenge!

The Elimination Challenge: The chefs head to Montauk and are split into four teams of 3. They’re given five hours to catch as many fish as they can, which they will cook and serve up to an end-of-summer beach party of 200. And get this: it's a double elimination!

Two teams per boat, here’s how they were divided:

Boat 1:
Team 1 – Jamie, Tiffani, Antonia

Team 3 – Dale, Tré, Carla

Boat 2:

Team 2 – Angelo, Tiffany, Mike

Team 4 – Marcel, Fabio, Richard

Boat 1: Antonia learns what it’s like to catch a big fish. Jamie likes to cook in a “back to basics” kind of way. Tiffany calls out Jamie as the weakest member. Dale catches a huge fish with all of his strength within the first 5 minutes. Dale hopes his fish will make his dad proud. Antonia catches the first fish on her team and screams like a 4^th grader.

Boat 2: Angelo hates the water. Two hours go by and the chefs haven’t caught a thing. Marcel looks seasick (hungover). Then Fabio and Mike catch the first 2 fish (simultaneously) on their boat and luck seems to spread to everyone else. Tiffany hopes her experience in a seafood restaurant will help her shine. Their trip finishes the way it started: Dale catches a ginormous striped bass that reminds him of Marcel (big head and little awkward body). Fabio, Richard & Marcel decide to cook one dish together. Richard let’s Marcel think he came up with the idea because it’s the best way to manage his ginormous ego.

After the fishing trip the chefs go to a farmer’s market to pick up the rest of their ingredients. Richard and Fabio have a little bromance goin’ and share a cute moment pulling a wagon together. Carla decides to make blue fish lettuce wraps that remind us of the poorly made summer rolls she whipped up last week – too similar?

Back at the chefs’ crash pad, Marcel starts drinking again and Dale and Tre miss their women.

The next day, the chefs head to their makeshift kitchens on the beach and start cooking. Jamie’s incessant complaining drives everyone crazy. Richard regrets agreeing to cooking a single dish with the boys – they should have done two. Angelo, Tiffany and Mike decide to create two dishes. Teams 1 & 3 are making 1 dish per chef. Richard bosses Fabio around a little too much.

The Judges Table

Team 2 (Tiffany, Angelo, Mike) and team 3 (Dale, Tre, Carla) are called to the Judges Table first. The prize is a fabulous trip to Amsterdam! And the winner is... Carla! Everybody do the hootie hoo.

Team 1 (Jamie, Tiffani, Antonia) and team 4 (Marcel, Fabio, Richard) are then sent back to the Judges Table. Marcel, Fabio and Richard get reamed by the judges for only cooking one dish and not doing it well – and Tom Colicchio slaps Richard on the hand for his behavior towards Fabio. The judges tell Antonia that she would have gone to Amsterdam if Jamie and Tiffani hadn’t performed so poorly. Owch…

In the end two chefs are asked to pack their knives… Tiffani, we’ll miss you. Farewell Jamie – you knew this was coming.

And next week: RESTAURANT WARS!!! The best part of every Top Chef season! And Anthony Bourdain is back!

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