Top Chef NYC

I agree, AppGrad. It seemed like they really had to nitpick Leah's dish to justify sending her home instead of Stefan. It certainly wasn't surprising, though. More surprising was the fact Stefan overcooked his salmon.

I was glad to see Fabio win. Even though I felt he lagged behind some of the other chefs all season long, I'm still rooting for him. Or Carla. Somehow, though, I don't think Carla's strength in simplicity is going to win over the judges in New Orleans.

 

Stefan and Carla are going to be hurt by the fact that the finals always asks the contestants to go for broke, to push the boundaries and not settle for "simple, classic dishes." Stephanie didn't really do that, from my recollection, but Richard screwed up and gave her the win.
Of course, Fabio won this week because he did a simple, classic dish. So what do I know.

 

Interesting to see Stefan miss the mark so badly.

Glad to see Fabio win, especially after working through the injury.

Don't count Carla out.

 

I think some Top Chef fakeout editing was done to make it look like Stefan was in jeopardy.
Pepin said that of his three favorite things, one was Stefan's potatoes.
The fish might not have been great, but I don't think that was enough for him to go home. Interesting conversation about the sqaub (something I've never had) and how the older judges thought it was perfect and the younger judges thought it was overcooked.
And line of the night ...It's Top Chef, not Top Pussy.

 

I didn't think Stefan was going to eliminated, but for him to overcook the salmon was a huge error. He should be past making a mistake like that.

 

I thought Mr. Pepin hit on the squab issue perfectly. Since it was darker in color, not reddish, immediately Tom, etc thought "overcooked". If the judges were blindfolded, JP said the judges would think it was perfectly cooked. Because Carla put it back in the oven/under the heat lamps to keep it warm, the color did change a bit but it did not overcook. It's all about the taste, and frankly I'll trust the gentleman who requested the squab when he said it was bang-on and tasty.Cuz he's actually been eating and cooking the damn bird for, oh, about 60 years.

I have no quibble with the final four, though it would have been cute sending Stefan home for killing the already dead salmon (hasn't that line been used about 100 times this season???). Leah has needed to go for a while anyway.

 

I think Leah was relieved to go. She was surprised she made it that far.

 

Most intriguing revelation of the night: Carla was a model??

 

For Fangoria???

 

No shit.

Oh wait, I just googled it and found a picture of her:

 

She was a centerfold in Crazy Eyes Monthly.

 

I am just trying to imagine model Carla in the early 90s, doing speed and coke with her new model friends. That shit would be bananas.