We’re nearly at the halfway point for this season of Top Chef, which also means we’re finally starting to remember names and faces, not to mention sussing out the front-runners. And if you’ve been watching, you know from all the furtive glances that the rivalry has been established squarely between Angelo and Kenny.
The former is a greasy, strategizing New York chef, while the latter is a self-proclaimed “alpha male” from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Both seem equally egomaniacal, but so far, it looks like Kenny has the leadership skills (best shown in last week’s group elimination challenge episode) to give him the extra inch.
But it’s not a man’s world. Kelly has something in common with Angelo and Kenny, and it’s not just her ego. She’s proven her talent and quick-thinking, and if you want to get all cynical, Bravo will probably put a female with Angelo and Kenny in the top three. Amanda seems far too jittery, Tamesha is a bit green, and Tiffany is yet to break through. But Kelly has the chops — and isn’t afraid to tell us.
Most everyone else blends into the background for me (Ed? Stephen? Andrea? Who?), but we should watch out for dark horse Kevin, who’s really coming into his own, albeit quietly, as a whip smart and resourceful chef. He made an ingenious fruit kebab for the school lunch challenge, and, last week, he turned accidentally tossed couscous into one of the judges’ favorites dishes. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him progress to the finale.
Check back tomorrow for my recap of tonight’s episode, which features plenty of devious play and outright lies when the cheftestants judge each other‘s food. Juicy!
Who are you liking this season? What do you think of the Angelo-Kenny rivalry? And who do you see cracking the top three?
Photo: Bravo
Last season was spectacular (in terms of the talent) but this season is horrendous. I think the top 4 or 5 chefs from last season would dominate anyone on this season.
Agreed. I’m sure Brian, Kevin and Jennifer (hell, even Eli) are all watching this season going, “I should’ve waited one f’n year.”
last season was superb. they really had some of the best contestants (based on the judges’ reactions) the show has ever seen. plus the “casting” was great…Kevin, the brothers, Jen, Frenchie w/ the red scarf, even douchy Mike I. these season feels a bit flat when it comes to the personalities, stories and the food.
I’m a fan of the series, but for some reason I can’t remember any of the contestants this season. Or the challenges. Or that it’s on. It’s entirely forgetable.
Spoiler Alert!!!
Andrea will win the whole thing. Bravo was mad at her so the edited her out of alot of scenes but she will end up beating the “alpha males”
Why was Bravo mad at Andrea?
She posted a you tube video where she was slightly liquored up and rapped a song about top chef. In it she mocked the challenges from episode one and made fun of Padma.
That doesn’t mean she was in the final as a finalist. Top Chef frequently brings back knifed contestants to be sous-chefs. She could have participated in the finale as a chef for a finalist.
I don’t know why I’m even answering to you but why was/is Bravo mad at Andrea? Also, I don’t really believe your “Spoiler Alert!!!” But that’s me. So now, I’m gonna step aside and allow the folks to rip you apart for putting up a spoiler. *steps aside*
Sure…
Andrea?? Really? Huh.
I’ll take your “spoiler” with a grain of salt. By the way, I’m the Queen of England.
I thought Kevin did the fruit kebob with yogurt “whipped cream” for the school lunch? Am I remembering incorrectly? He’s also been in the bottom a few times. I’m not convinced he’s a contender yet.
I also don’t think Kelly is that arrogant, at least not as much as Angelo and Kenny. She might have been overly worried about the judges knowing certain dishes were her responsibility, but I didn’t get the sense she has a huge ego.
I truly don’t understand how one can establish that contestants from previous seasons are much better chefs then this crew. Like, did you taste their food? How do you come about this conclusion? All we see are visual of the dishes and ‘hearsay’ from the judges. For me, the only thing I can base it on is personal preference.
As Angelo is disgusting and gets on my nerves, I am definitely on Team Kenny. He looks like Isaac Hayes (and he’s a chef…ha!) and I keep expecting him to bust out in song. I don’t really like Kelly, but I am getting tired of female cheftestants sucking on this show, so maybe she or one of the other ladies will be a dark horse.
I thought he looked like Isaac Hayes too! Maybe he will make some Chocolate Salty Balls soon!
It creeps me out that Angelo makes so many sexual comments/innuendo about his food.
Kenny is the man…hopefully he’ll win, angelo is a beeetch…
Ditto!
I don’t like any of the contestants. Last season’s contestants were interesting and had personality (good and bad). This season they are booooring.
I’m waiting for someone to actually -wow- the judges. That really hasn’t happened yet. Sad.
This definitely seems like a weaker season of Top Chef, given the judges’ comments on most of the food and the lackluster reception overall. I expect that Kenny and Angelo will power through to the finale and while I like Kenny better than Angelo, I’m not really jazzed about anyone thus far. A very unlikable, ho hum group overall, especially compared to last season.
I have a feeling that tiffany is going to have a breakthrough soon. At least thats what I hope.
The contestants aren’t wretched-I still think the season where Hosea won had to be the one where the contestants really bothered me.
That was the worst! I still can’t believe Hosea actually won; at least Stephen had talent
It stunk that Hosea won, but it was a fantastic season. Carla, Stefan, Jeff (Dr. Chase), Ariane, and especially Fabio made it so memorable.
i have decided to stop watching this season of top chef….don’t like anyone, don’t think they are great chefs and think this show is at the end of it’s run….which is too bad because i used to love this show
Last season of Top Chef was the best by far. This season has been my least favorite. The talent does not seem very high. There is no one that is my favorite. Top Chef is my favorite show on TV, last season really solidified that. But I really cannot get into this season. If I had to choose a frontrunner, I’d go with Angelo, but that is by default. With how spectacular the Voltaggio brothers are, I am very sad that I cannot relate to even one cheftestant this season.
Angelo is top 3 for sure. That’s because he’s getting the Hung edit. In season 3 Hung was supposed to be uber cocky, but he wasn’t. Same thing is applied to Angfelo. Angelo is definitely this season’s winner.
I typically pick my favorite in the first 2 epi’s. That hasn’t happened yet. I think you would need a full body condom to eat in Angelo’s restraunt. I do kinda like Kenny though. I guess fan favorite is going to be kinda hard this time.
I totally agree about the full body condom thing – he skeeves me out!