aratcliffe wrote:

Well blogged, Lee Anne, well blogged. I thought the way the ep was edited, Mia came off sort of high and mighty, setting up Cliff's "martyr" comment perfectly, but I agree--I think she did the right and noble thing, for both Elia and herself. It's all about momentum and potential, and I think Mia saw where she was at and where Elia was at and made a decent decision.

But enough about that--you are looking incredible!! Are we going to see you on-camera at all in any of the remaining episodes??

posted on December 14, 2006 at 1:24 PM

Kelli wrote:

Lee Anne In your pictures you do look like your glowing. You're looking very thin and fabulous. What's your secret?

posted on December 14, 2006 at 2:33 PM

Lynda I wrote:

Hello LeeAnne,

Happy Holidays to you too!!!!!

Although I appreciate your comments & background info to this episode, I cannot agree with your comparison of Martyr Mia's tearful tirade fulll of rancorous profanity to demure, ladylike Lisa of last season. They are worlds apart in many ways! Mia's flipout was disgusting to see, actually. She gave the iillusion of being kind hearted - only after she had decided to spew venomous vulgarities at Cliff. 'Glad she went back to cowboy country to cook her crap for all her hick friends!

posted on December 14, 2006 at 3:24 PM

tracy wrote:

Lee Anne, maybe you could explain what some of the different titles mean? I have never worked in a restaurant, I understand who the executive chef is...but could you explain some of the other roles are...assistant room cook, master cook, etc. Thanks!

posted on December 14, 2006 at 4:03 PM

Maria wrote:

I love reading and trying out the recipes that are on the show. I was excited to see the one for the strawberries and pancetta from episone 8. Could you let me know how to make that? Thanks.

posted on December 14, 2006 at 5:21 PM

Robertito wrote:

Hey Lee Anne! Your awesome, I think it's brilliant that your behind the curtain guiding things. I have a few questions:

Is it better being behind the scenes?
Why do you think this season's chefs are so much more dramatic?
And where the hell was Gail in Ep. 8?

Happy Holidays!
Robertito

posted on December 14, 2006 at 7:56 PM

Bernie B wrote:

Hi Lee Anne,

Was just wondering if Mikey's offering was picked first as he was the only one working with ice cream? Or are the tasting shots shown in no particular order?

posted on December 15, 2006 at 2:53 AM

David P. wrote:

Really neat blog entry Lee Anne, if you read these. I've noticed you've toned down some of the candid personal assessments of the chefs overall, and I want to say you can definitely say your feelings on the chefs and their abilities, but it's just the viewers largely want to be on the chefs' side. You're a great chef and a really good person and I have loved reading your blog entries.

posted on December 15, 2006 at 3:38 AM

Nancy Strathman wrote:

Just love this show. I think the contestants are great. LeAnne was absolutely my favorite last season and this season I believe I will be rooting for Sam. Oh and and he kinda reminds me of Harold- Go Sam!

posted on December 15, 2006 at 5:02 AM

Reeza wrote:

I think you are absolutely right, Elia was the one that was to go home this episode. If the representation that past works don't matter and that its all about accomplishing the task at hand is true, then she made some inane decisions that would have had me in a panic had she been my caterer. The key to a successful cocktail party is (after good conversation of course) balance and abundance. The choices Elia made assured her guests that there would be neither at her table.

posted on December 15, 2006 at 5:40 AM

laurette wrote:

Final someone this season jumped in front of the bus and saved a life,and did the most selfless act of this whole entire.(me,me,me) season.Mia was very selflish and was a true pro. And did the most honorable thing whole entire season.

posted on December 15, 2006 at 6:19 AM

Sammybarb wrote:

Lee Ann, your comments really round out the perspective so well! I am so glad to see you, Dave and Harold commenting on the episodes! ESPECILLY your comments, because they are from a "behind the scenes" perspective.
You were always such a breath of fresh air, and it is so neat that you are sill around, like a nice cup of Hot Chocolate! I, too am sad to see Mia go. She has a big heart, and talent , and is a real "winner" in so many ways.
Wishing you the best at Christmas, I really like the judges and format this season, but it doesn't seem to have the same "spice" as your group. Maybe, now that there are fewer, things will get more interesting!

posted on December 15, 2006 at 6:22 AM

Judy wrote:

Who is Midge?

posted on December 15, 2006 at 10:31 AM

Judy wrote:

I don't understand what your "position" is with Top Chef. Are you a producer now?

posted on December 15, 2006 at 10:40 AM

Shutterbug wrote:

Lee Anne I think there is a bit of a smudge on the lens of the camera taking pictures of you. I noticed this on some pics from your previous blog entries. Not that you aren't glowing... but I don't think the lens is seeing you clearly either! :)

posted on December 15, 2006 at 4:14 PM

Nancy wrote:

I love to cook and consider myself to be a cook. But I'm not a chef. What I loved about Season 1 is that it clearly defined the distinction between being a cook and being a chef. Unfortunately, this season has not been successful in doing just that. On one episode Elia actually won a challenge by using frozen waffles and Mia finished in the top three with frozen crab cakes. Michael used a store bought rotisserie chicken, forgot part of his ingredients and still didn't get eliminated. To me this has hurt the integrity of the show. I was always amazed last year when all of you were able to concoct the most incredible things from the strangest ingredients. This year, though we have seen some clearly impressive dishes produced, we have also seen a Cheeto stuck into a melted Snickers bar. And even I know you can't flambe with wine. Then there's the three white starches on a plate side dish. No matter how good they tasted. Yikes!

I've also found the judging to be somewhat strange. Especially when Elia and Carlos were not eliminated after serving a rancid drink and failing to serve one plate (it made me think of Dave's third dish failure last year in Vegas). Sent home instead were Marisa and Josie for a strange selection of dishes but none of them were spoiled.

I hope if the show continues to a third season it will return to the real reason many of us watch - to see really great food prepared by really talented "chefs".

posted on December 15, 2006 at 4:41 PM

Helen wrote:

I thought Stephen was going to participate in this episode.
What happened? I was really looking forward to seeing him.

posted on December 15, 2006 at 5:11 PM

Michael wrote:

Lee Anne,

I disagree that Mia's act was selfless. I think she thought her behavior at Judges Table was going to result in her being to pack her knives and go. If it was selfless, she wouldn't have brought up her past and all that she's overcome. When you do that, it's attention getting. Oh look at me. Feel sorry for me.

I agree she has a successful business and should be proud of what she's accomplished but there are many others like her that don't behave like she did in a moment of stress.

posted on December 15, 2006 at 7:18 PM

bobby wrote:

ELIMINATION CHALLENGE IDEA...

I have an idea for an elimination challenge that's a fairly common problem at restaurants, but has never been addressed on top chef. My wife and I are vegan, and we always get screwed if we have to go to a company dinner at a place without vegan/vegetarian options on the menu. The challenge would be this - all the chefs think they are cooking dinner at a steakhouse, but must prepare a vegan dish using the ingredients only available at the restaurant. SALADS and STODGY VEGTABLE STIR FRYS NOT ALLOWED! Every dish we end up with at a place like that is an awful salad or burnt/bland vegetables on rice, is it possible for them to make a really excellent vegan dish??

posted on December 16, 2006 at 2:12 PM

KRIS wrote:

To Judy: Midge is Michael Midgley, our resident "I'm going to stay in the middle of the competition so no one tries to get rid of me or thinks I'm a threat". Maybe a smart move to wait and make your prescense known later, but the judges have come very close so often to sending him home for that very stratedgy. But Tiff made it to the finals the same way, but "threw others under" unlike Mikey. As for episode 8, I could understand withdrawing yourself for somone whose TC material, but for Elia who proved to Mia firsthand that she was a horrible leader/caterer. Not a wise move Mia. I think Mia did it because of Cliff's disapproval of her. That had to have hurt and posed too much to bear down the road for her. The judges and contestants give Cliff alot of power, so to not have Cliff in your corner, it would be very difficult to stay in it much longer. She knew that. Just a theory.

posted on December 16, 2006 at 4:03 PM

nancy wrote:

I watch Top Chef.. I miss you. With Dave and Harold you all were so wonderful to watch and I prayed that all three of you would ride out into the sunset as the winner of Top Chef. Your friendships were so attractive. Like I told Dave come back to your fans. Hey about an encore of the awesome three!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

posted on December 17, 2006 at 1:24 AM

Terra wrote:

Lee Anne-

Thanks for the write-up! I LOVE the show and had wished you the best it season one. It bugged me so when you got bumped, but it seems the loss hasn't stopped your flow. Very HOT sister! I wish you the best in your culinary career, have an awesome holiday season.

-Terra-
Cupertino, CA

posted on December 17, 2006 at 2:32 AM

Pete wrote:

Hey Lee Anne

Love Top Chef and i enjoy watching group dynamics and how individuals react to each other in a group. Both seasons have brought out some very interesting reactions, but Mia out of the blue, fell on the sword or to use the kitchen as the theme, threw herself into the disposal for the team. For whatever other reasons she may have i think the pure honesty of herself could not let Elia go down for other people's unwillingness to work as a team.

posted on December 17, 2006 at 9:11 PM

laura wrote:

What is up with steven, doe he have a site.

Does he see Marcel is very STEVENEQUE.
Cliff is takeing over of Betty role of DR.Jeckel Mr.Hyde.

His is My Tiffany pick of TC2. I hope Marcel bets him out of top5.

posted on December 18, 2006 at 7:34 AM

laura wrote:

What is up with steven, doe he have a site.

Does he see Marcel is very STEVENEQUE.
Cliff is takeing over of Betty role of DR.Jeckel Mr.Hyde.

His is My Tiffany pick of TC2. I hope Marcel bets him out of top5.
Poor Elia she should have won a least a surf board last show..Nice knives Sam got,
Wwith Elia, you TC1 chef got riped off.

posted on December 18, 2006 at 7:41 AM

CR wrote:

A few general comments on this episode:

On Mia:
I personally don't understand why everyone thought she was being selfless. She wanted to go home, plain and simple. She had been on the chopping block several times before -- if she wanted the better chefs to stay, she could have opted out at any time. Instead, she made sure to trash other people as often as possible during those times.

In this episode, she simply decided that she missed her kids, really had no way of winning, so figured it was better for her (certainly NOT for Elia) to pack it up and leave. Her "Jenny from the block" schpiel about all of the self-imposed crap that she "overcame" made her self-serving nature pretty damn evident -- it was not someone that truly cared about anyone besides herself, so she decided to make her look good in the process. Smart, Mia -- it seems to have worked.

On Cliff:
The guy's a jackass. Well, DUH! I liked him early on, but it became pretty evident that he would make anyone look bad to get ahead (although he definitely does it more subtley than Marcel).

HOWEVER, if everyone knew he had immunity, why in the heck would you let him dictate your fate? It's the group's fault, NOT his, that they chose to listen to his ridiculous judgement (I've cooked for 80 people before with no help. You know what I did? I made like 8 or 9 items -- because any less would be ridiculous). In the end, Cliff will get his -- but he'll make sure to take down as many people as he can beforehand.

On Mike:
Mike is one of those people that I both like and hate at the same time. I would love to go out for a beer with him (and he's got good taste in it -- I love Boddington's), but I feel like choking him until he's blue every time I see him in the contest, or hear him say "I don't really know what to do". If you don't know what to do, then bow the hell out. He seems to have alot of natural but very raw talent (which probably pisses off the people that have to work for it), but chooses to take the half-ass approach to everything. Though I don't see him winning the contest (or surviving the next 3 episodes or so), I do see him having a great career once he gets more serious.

posted on December 18, 2006 at 1:14 PM

june wrote:

I don't think these challenges should include so many team efforts. This is not supposed to be about team work, it's about creating great food. I realize that a chef needs to get along with everyone in the kitchen, but this show is not about being a great person, it's about culinary talent, isn't it?

I would like to see more individual challenges. I think they would be easier to judge. Otherwise, you have all these ambiguous choices between team leader, someone who didn't perform as well as others on the team, someone who came up with the idea, someone who executed it. The waters are too muddy.

posted on December 19, 2006 at 5:20 PM

Nancy wrote:

Lee Ann, loved you the most on season 1. The chefs on this season are reaaly disapointing. Ilan is my favorite this time and I hope he wins.
I think Elia should have been sent packing along with Mia,It was Mia choice, but Elia was a total failure she should have listen to someone other than Cliff. Cliff was very smart he let Mia fall on her sword, either way he would get rid of one of them.

Have a great Christmas

posted on December 20, 2006 at 4:25 PM

Bunnah wrote:

LeeAnn--You were such a pro on Season 1--I was rooting for you all the way. I have to agree with the assessment of some bloggers that the chefs from Season 1 were of a much higher caliber than Season 2. I'm not sure what the producers were thinking with this group. There are a few obvious standouts and the rest are merely troublemaking windowdressing. The dispartiy is glaring. Several of the Season 2 chefs don't fit into the category of "chef" whatsoever. They are glorified line cooks or schleppers? and LeeAnn--Don't be shy in your commentary as I'd rather hear the truth from a pro.
-
As for Elia and Mia. Mia obviously was not prepared to go the distance and she found a convenient way out of the competition without having expose herself and step up to the "plate." She deserved to go home for not having the kohones to stay. I was NOT down with the "I was born a poor black child" speech. It's admirable but not something she should be whining about.

posted on December 26, 2006 at 10:21 AM

Nancy wrote:

Hi Lee Ann, I hope you have a wonderful new year. We don't hear are read a lot from Tiffani, What's happen to her?
We just watched the first season again and I think all of you guys on the first would have wipe these chef's on 2 out.They don't seem to be as talented as you guys.

Looking forward to you blogs

posted on December 28, 2006 at 9:41 AM

Rachel wrote:

I'm glad to see Mia go she used her sob story to build her up and you shouldn't have to do that. She'd rather take herself down then let anyone else do it and usualy people need that to put then in their place.

posted on December 30, 2006 at 8:00 PM

SSS wrote:

Love ya, Lee Ann! Please consider a challenge where the chefs cannot use any "dairy proteins" such as cream, cheese, yogurt, etc. ( True butter has no protein so it's permitted.) Soy, rice or nut milks can be used. I suggest it because there are many, many people with Casein / Casinate allergy -- milk protein and that's how they (us) have to cook. Sometimes it's impossible to find a dish at an "upscale" restaurant that meets the criteria, especially if you add a shellfish allergy into the mix. It sure would help if this issue were addressed on Top Chef. (Learn more on the "no milk.com" web page.

posted on December 30, 2006 at 9:32 PM

Amy wrote:

Lee Ann: Glad to see you are back. Can you hook up a girl that can't cook with Ilan? Think he's totally sexy

posted on January 2, 2007 at 11:17 PM

Dorothy Bagwill wrote:

Hi Leann,
I'm so glad to see you are still a part of Top Chef you were one of my favorites in Season 1 and I was really sad to see you eliminated, but very happy to see you on TC website.
My question is what happened to Stephen in the last episode? I remember the commercials prior to the airing showing Stephen and saying that he was going to be there, but I've watched the episode 4 times since then (Yes, I'm a die-hard TC viewer) and he was not there. What happened? Why was his scene cut? Will be seeing other TC from Season 1?

posted on January 3, 2007 at 6:07 PM

LaraNeville wrote:

Oh It's fabulous that you are still friends with Stephen!
You see, I live in Brazil, so the 1st season hasn't even ended. So I have no idea what you're talking about when it comes to the 2nd season. But I took my time to check who won season 1 just now that Stephen has been eliminated (today in Brazil!!). I liked your cooking very much (I'd love to taste it someday), but the day he was eliminated was kind you or him. As he was my favourite chef, I gotta admit that I'd kinda rather a different result! Newayz, Harry won and it was fair enough. :]
My best regards to all you Season 1s Chef! And especially to your friend Stephen.

posted on January 3, 2007 at 10:43 PM

meliblu wrote:

Elia should have been the one to go. Mia shouldn't have sacrificed out. Mia underestimates her own talents in comparison with Elia and others. She should have stuck it out and worked on her confidence and allowed the judges to make Elia pack her knives and go because I'm sure it would have been Elia. Wish the judges had told the viewing audience who would have been out if Mia hadn't volunteered to leave. Still wish that after the season is over the judges or someone will tell us who was actually supposed to pack their knives and go home.

posted on January 12, 2007 at 6:53 AM