As told to Archana Ram. Carla won the Quickfire because she did something fresh and interesting but also something she had created herself. Read the full post.
Mar 3
2011
02:30 AM ET
Gail Simmons blogs 'Top Chef: All-Stars': episode 12
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Fully in the Richard Blaise camp. We need Chefs working progressive cuisine as much as possible these days.His food is always good looking and from what I have eaten, great flavors and pairings.
Was this at Flip or one of early restaurants? I ate at Flip a year or so ago when I was in Atlanta. While I enjoyed my burger – I think it’s called the butcher or maybe the butcherblock, the people I was dining with weren’t as pleased with theirs. Feeling on the sides were also mixed. The fries and onion rings weren’t that great though the accompanying fresh dips/condiments were tasty. The nitrogen shakes were way too sweet for me. Nothing at the meal struck as all that special or creative. 2 of the people I was dining with were from the area and had eaten his food at place he worked earlier and in his career (One Midtown Kitchen & Blais) They went on and on about various dishes and how great they were…there didn’t seem to be anything on the menu at Flip in the same league. I left feeling that he peaked creatively about 5 years ago.
Gail, pickling glasswort IS a traditional use of this salt marsh plant. I remember it from my childhood and a quick look through my books found references/recipes in a 1974 field guide and in Judy Rodger’s Zuni Cafe Cookbook (2002) (she serves it with pot-au-feu). It might be a regional thing … but when you have it free for the picking in salt marshes in many parts of the world it would be a surprise not to see it pickled. Especially since it is incredibly easy. I’m sure the pickled saltiness went great with Blais’s dish, just like adding a cornichon might.
One of the other names for glasswort/sea beans is picklewort. Blais did good. I’m rooting for him.
Great episode, the elimination challenge was genius and well thoughtout. I was so glad all 5 make it to the finals. I’ve been rooting for Antonia since the beginning and also Carla. I just have a feeling there will be 2 chefs eliminated next week to compensate for the “save” this week. Final Five sounded great, but I’m sure that TC will have to account for that change in TC Rules. Still, always looking forward to every episode–don’t always agree but I admire this show.
Next week looks like it’s going to be a blast. Each chef will have to compete against the winner from their season. That means that Stephanie from season 4 will have to deal with two competitors. Carla has a great chance to beat Hosea. Mike against Michael V…yikes. Mike V was probably the most dominant winner ever.
At the start of season 6, Mike I even said that he wished he wasn’t competing against Michael V.
Should be fun to see Richard and Antonia reunited with Stephanie.
Ha yea all the other head to heads I feel the All Stars are either 50-50 to win or even favored (Blaise, maybe even Carla, I could even talk myself into favoring Tiffany since Kevin is so inconsistent and Tiff did pretty much dominate season 7)… But Mike V is a crappy draw for anyone. Heck, I wouldn’t feel good about getting any of that final 3 from season 6 against any of the All Stars except maybe Richard.
I love love Richard…he deserves to win…..he is amazing and constantly in the top..he thinks outside the box and he has a lot of technique…i do truelly pray that he wins
This was the perfect example of why TC won the Emmy. Bravo! Submit this episode for the Emmys this year and trophy number two is yours!
I loved this episode! Learning about the contestants brought this sense of “family” home to everyone who was watching. It was possibly my favorite Top Chef episode ever.
With that said, I must admit I am pulling for Richard Blais. My reasoning is this; if I had to choose only one of the Top Chef contestant’s food to sample, it would be Richards. His work intrigues me; I am always wondering what he will create next. A close second would be Kevin from last season.
To touch base on some negative comments about Richard here; I think people misinterpret Richard’s personality. What I see at the core of Richard Blais is a true passion for cooking. He takes every dish seriously and strives for perfection. I can totally relate to this.
He is not egotistical. Look how other contestants enjoy working with him. He has constantly strives to help people and to teach them new techniques. Richard even won the Restaurant Wars by his dedication to teamwork; a first in Top Chef. He wants to win, but not because someone else did not cook their best.
When he does achieve that almost unreachable level of perfection in his cooking, he is heartbroken that it wasn’t good enough. (Thus the pitfall of being a perfectionist). He always doubts his talents when he fails. He begins the ritualistic, “If that is the very best I could do, how did I fail? Is my best just not good enough?” Richard’s facial expressions are only because he wears his heart on his sleeve. The other contestants may not be as expressive but I guarantee they are thinking the same thing. Everyone has their own demons to battle.
Lastly, everyone has dissed the winning dishes at some point; not just Richard. Everyone was surprised when Antonia won the Italian challenge. The general thought of “I did so much work and put so much technique into my dish; how could steamed Mussels be the winner?” That is not egotistical, but confusion from Chefs who have no idea what the judges like. One week they praise simplicity; the next complexity.
Well said.
You made the right choice by advancing all five. Each one of those dishes jumped off the screen and made me want to dive in. Envious of the truly memorably meal you had, with that spectacular NYC view. Can’t wait for the finale!
I was impressed by the genealogist (Megan Smolenyak) who researched the stars. That was a nice piece of work putting that together.
How do I get in touch with Megan, she can do my roots anytime!!!
Sorry, folks, but that ending was lame. It’s a competition, so find a way to eliminate someone. They’ve made tough decisions before during the elimination round. Why not now? Because they wanted to keep Carla and Tiffany around since they’re so likable. I know, many will disagree with me.
i think carla will take the whole thing. just a feeling…
Great show, great result! Excellant TV in a world of meager media fare
Love Carla’s personality, and Richard is a very good cook, but I feel that Antonia will win. She has always been top or near. She’s been good all along, not up/down like some others. Would like to see her and Carla in finals. Richard needs to see a psy. about his issues-no one is perfect-he puts too much pressure on himself. Did you see how he/wife only really spoke aout his cooking/contest, and not about each other and enjoying their time together? Stange dynamic.
Just wondering if anyone knows what restaurant they were at for the elimination challenge. Am off to NYC in July and would like to check it out… great view!