Todd Gravell wrote:

Padma,

I was very disappointed with your handling of Howie this week. Precedent was set last season when one chef retired from the show at the judges' table. By not allowing Howie to retire (in a very condescending tone, if I may add) and then telling him to "pack his knives and go", you took his dignity away. Now, I'm not a huge fan of the "pack your knives and go" thing to begin with. I find it about a step above "you're fired". This time, however, it appeared a bit personal.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 1:15 AM

Jason wrote:

Maybe it's my imagination, but the judges seem to be devolving into a harsher, more critical species before out very eyes. I wonder if it is due to pressure from the network to create some drama which has been lacking this season. I certainly feel for the contestants since it seems that the target is always shifting...they are looking for the top chef, not the top sous chef but they dismiss Tre who took on the leadership role and let CJ slide by who ducked the mantle?? If they want the top chef, then why criticize someone who has no "front of the house" experience for his shortcomings in that area?? You can be pretty sure that tonight, if the chefs served only one canape each, they would have been criticized for lack of imagination. With those "beautiful people" drama queens, would they really have been satisfied with only a few choices? Casey was praised for her dish and her ability to stay within her budget. Well, the bulk of her budget was for that dish alone...she BOUGHT mousse mix for crying out loud and shared the cost of that with Sarah!! That is a Top Chef?? Brian steps up to a leadership role, and gets blasted for his efforts, though he successfully managed a bunch of strong personalities and produced a smooth food service. Casey, on the other hand, ducks any responsibility whenever possible. Let's not forget her atrocious knife skills...if she ends up winning, the producers will have lots of explaining to do. I think it is very interesting that Colichio has stated he would never compete in this type of a competition. Of course! He is afraid he would be called out as a phony! What could he produce under the constraints of money, time, and space, for a party like this? I guess we will never know.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 2:27 AM

Jazz wrote:

I think Padma and Tom came off as quite pompous and snooty this week.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 6:20 AM

Michelle wrote:

Padma did nothing wrong. Howie does not set the rules. I believe Howie's offer was manipulative. Come on... he was sulking. Where's your eyeballs & ears? He was praying for the sympathy vote and/or hoping to skate thru on his past dishes. The truth for me is I really like Howie and I am not a huge fan of Sara's but she has what it takes and she showed it by not accepting less and not letting their dishes go out at restaurant wars. Sara may win this thing and she is turning my opinion of her around. I was embarrased for them last night- stuff on top of cukes? Howies mushroom poop? I would not serve this stuff on Poker night. It reminds me of my Mom's parties circa 1969.
I can't believe these guys. Long Live Pavaratti!

posted on September 6, 2007 at 6:53 AM

Michelle wrote:

The judges are not harsher- these guys stink! Tom does not have to compete cause he does not have too. He apparently paid his dues. These guys have not.Now I know why the chef where I worked during college was such a maniac. If the servers were not waiting to p/u as he was plating, he went insane. He checked the front of the house routinely with a fine tooth comb. Not just any one could prep for him. He was aware of every detail in that restaurant & he was just the chef- not the owner. He also cooked the staff dinner to order every night b4 service. His big secret was he used lipton onion soup mix as a base for his french onion soup and he was known for that soup. People loved it. funny
Kudos to Richard of La Chamierre/Le Bistro, State College, PA.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 7:08 AM

Pamela way wrote:

I have been having a difficult time watching the judges give very difficult tasks to the contestants and then harshly criticize them for there failures, when we all know it's to make drama to gain veiwers. I think it makes the judges seem really cruel and snobby . I'm bored and so I watch it but it's so negative and exsploitive I'm turning the channel, I prefer the food network anyway. Bye (it was fun for a while).

posted on September 6, 2007 at 7:30 AM

JustAnotherFan wrote:

I recall Howie saying that he had no respect for some judges and Padma, I believe you are one of them. You were snarky and harsh along with the guest judge. Same with DiSpirito, I didn't like the guest judge on this episode (I don't even care of not knowing his name).
You should've accepted Howie's request of just withdrawing, but in my honest opinion... I think you did it because of what happened on the quickfire challenge. Like I said, just my opinion.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 8:13 AM

JustAnotherFan wrote:

And I have to agree with previous post from Todd... I'm not a big fan of "pack your knives and go." Specially, the way is being said.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 8:20 AM

Don Sulpazo wrote:

I am a fan of Top chef, however, after watching the way the judges handled the chef's at judges table; I must admit that I am beginning to have serious doubts as to the authenticity of the show. I could not agree more with the above comments regarding the harshness of the judges & the way Howie was handled.

Padma, you said that "we will decide who leaves", however, last season, you let Mia Gaines, resign with dignity for a fellow castmate, but this time around; Howie was not allowed to do the same. Thois made it seem a sthough you have an agenda for the show, not a good one I might add.

Get back to the true nature of the show; find the Top Chef & leave the personal agendas at home!

posted on September 6, 2007 at 8:29 AM

Nayda wrote:

Howie, Howie, well the judges were shocked when he pulled his hat out of the race; we all can see why he was still there and it was not his culinary skills. There's no challenge at this year's top chef, the only challege is for the judges who have to make choices among less than average chefs, execept Hung who can still whip something good when he has money and time. The judges have managed to keep the not so impressive chefs this year. Perhaps if Troy was still there, judging wouldn't be so questionable.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 8:52 AM

Kristina wrote:

It seems the "judges table" is now occupied by a bunch of egotistical, snobby and extremely harsh critics who give the impression that they could do a better job than the contestants any day, any time and under any circumstances. Maybe there should be a change of roles one day and the judges should really show everyone their talents while cooking under the time and money contraints given to the contestants. I understand that this is a contest but come on already, do you have to be so superior in your judgement? It's really sickening. Padma, get over yourself already, you're an actress, not a chef! If I were you I 'd talk to the producers about your role a bit more...you are coming off like a condescending know it all.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 8:57 AM

Chef Boy-Ar-Jim wrote:

Padma..
Why are the judges starting to get "moody" during Judge's Table? I have watched ( and have been riveted ) for all 3 seasons but this year, it's almost like you all are taking it personal. If this is the case, why haven't you tossed Hung? This kid is acting like a spoiled Brat and he has no respect for you, the judges, nort does he have respect for the "kitchen". Get rid of him and CJ and go to the Final with Casey - Brian - Sara - Dale. That would be a Great Final ( Even without Tre - You have all missed the boat on Him but that's Thanx to CJ! )

posted on September 6, 2007 at 9:21 AM

kroo wrote:

padma,
glad you're back blogging, but last night's show was boring (with the exception of the hung smurf village). why didn't you let poor howie resign with some dignity? you smiled sympathetically at the nobleness of poor mia when she chose to give up her spot for elia.

love your consistency...

posted on September 6, 2007 at 9:58 AM

Walt K wrote:

When you joined the show, I enjoyed what you added; although you are far from a food expert.

But now you have carried it too far - and become mean spirited in the process.

It's ok to act tough and critical - but your attitude towards the contestants at this point is ridiculous.

I would like to see you work as hard; or accomplish what you are expecting out of your contestants - particularly with someone else barking in her face. I have no doubt you would fold like a paper napkin.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 10:18 AM

Sharon Livingston wrote:

This was the hardest episode to watch from every season. The guest judge Michael is a total potty mouth, would love to know where is restaurant is to make sure I never go there. Padma, you should hang your head in shame with your attitude. Tom, "bestest", please refer to English 101. I hope every chef from every episode reads these bogs, i think they will realize they have a future in cooking and not in being on a judging panel to crush peoples dreams and be so hurtful. That is not entertainment. I would like to see the format of this show revisited by the sponsors. Maybe you money would be better spent elsewhere..................

posted on September 6, 2007 at 10:23 AM

Bill G wrote:

I think the judges are doing a great job. I don't understand why the chefs act so put off when they have to go before the judges. Haven't they seen Top Chef before? That's what happens on this show, you perform difficult cooking challenges, your food is critiqued or praised and someone gets kicked off. The chefs seem hyper-sensitive to the whole concept. What did they think they were getting into?
If you want to see the judges cry when someone is voted off and a bunch of coddled cheftestants watch The Next Foodtv Star.
It's very interesting to hear these judge panels on Top Chef talk about the food and when something isn't right, they explain why it isn't right.
Bill

posted on September 6, 2007 at 10:31 AM

nikki wrote:

Quoting another blog commenter:

"I cannot count how many times I have heard a judge tell a contestant that it would be better to send nothing out than to send out a bad dish. The very concept was espoused last week regarding Tre's salmon dish. Then when a contestant has the balls to make a stand and say his dish is not edible or worth presenting, he is criticized for that decision. Please decide what you want and stick to it."

Seriously.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 10:35 AM

Michelle wrote:

Youse guys don't get the show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is nothing mean about it. It's a game stupids. The judges are great and doing their jobs.
Where do you folks work... let me guess.. the Post Office?
Luv,
South Philly Letter Carrier- soft pretzels w/mustard for breakfast, snapper soup & cannolis!

posted on September 6, 2007 at 10:54 AM

JR Ryan wrote:

Can you tell me why only 5 of the then 8 chefs in the ice cream challenge presented their quick fire mix in ingrediants

posted on September 6, 2007 at 11:20 AM

Ken Blazek wrote:

When Howie said he wanted to bow out and he was shot down by Padma I was shocked.

If I remember correctly, and other bloggers here are helping me remember, a contestant last year stepped up and said she wanted to leave in place of another and it was allowed! Howie was very courageous to step up and say he was leaving. That takes character.

Voting Tre off last week then Howie this week has made this season much less enjoyable since the two best chefs you had are now GONE. Why CJ is still here is beyond me. Or Brian.

You judges have lost sight of what makes this show good. You are inconsistent with your statements and judging of the chefs.

If one more chef is sent home for stupid, inconsistent reasons you will have lost all credibility.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 11:51 AM

Dorica wrote:

I am no longer interested in this show for few reasons. I don't know why Tre was asked to leave in the first place. I have seen team leaders messing up challenges but still stayed. I don't understand why Tre was not given the second chance? Last season you accepted Mia's resgnation because she did not want Emeria or whatever her name was to leave. "It is the judges decision not yours Howie." I am so proud of Howie though not a fan. I rather resign than geting FIRED! By the way do you watch Hell's Kitchen? Tre was the talented chef amongst all.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 11:57 AM

Phong wrote:

In your video blog you said you'd like 10-15 hor d'oerves an hour. And you suggest that the contestants do the math. Have you done the math? 15 pieces per hour for 60 people over 2 hours equal 1800 pieces. With a budget of $350.00, that comes to 19 cents per pieces. You can't get 1800 gumballs for that much money.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 12:18 PM

Marc wrote:

This has become about the judges' egos, rather than the fairness of the competition.

The "who goes home is a decision by the judges" line was laughable. Following that ridiculous logic, if the judges had decided to send someone else home, they'd just force Howie to stay in the competition one more week???? Come on...

They come up with the "it's our decision" line, then send Howie home anyway as if they had a choice. All about saving face and their fragile egos.

The underlying problem here is that the judges make up capricious justifications for their decisions, and then contradict the same reasoning in other episodes. Now the judges are getting testy because people like Howie have the balls to call them on it. In this episode the judges already had to eat their words on "not sending out something you're not proud of" twice - once in the quickfire, once with Casey/Sarah's dessert... There's more to come, I'm sure.

Now that I think about it, this will be more fun as the chefs push back more on the judges. That's good TV and let's have some squirming on the judges side for a change, as they're called on their own crap. It's easy for them to come up with this or that reason to send people home, let's watch them have to actually defend it... Hopefully Bravo won't edit that stuff out.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 12:22 PM

Renee wrote:

Padma, when you joined Top Chef, I thought you would be a great addition to the judges, but i was very wrong. Telling Howie that he couldn't withdraw from the competition was unfair seeing as how Mia did last season. Your judging really holds no merit seeing as how you are not a chef and I doubt you have ever worked in a kitchen with the constraints that these chefs go through. it was extremely disappointing to watch you in yesterday's episode.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 12:33 PM

Gillian H. wrote:

I am reading the postings above and I can't believe that so many of you are missing the big picture here!! Howie decided to resign from the competition for one of two reasons: he knew he screwed the quickfire and was going to be eliminated and/or he knew his food sucked and he was going to be eliminated anyway. Howie was at the end of his rope and he knew it. He didn't want to go thru the embarressment of being told to pack his knives and leave. He was all talk and no action. Remember him saying, all they need to know is that if they follow me, I will lead them to the promise land. Ya Right!!! Howie wanted to quit because he knew he was on line for the ax to be lowered. Mia on the other hand from S2 quit to save Elia from being eliminated. That's why they let her leave. All this boo-hooing over how everyone feels that Howie was dismissed so inhumanely. He was just as rude if not more so to the other cheftestants. He proclaims that he wouldn't even let Sara wash dishes in his restaurant and that may be true but she is still in the competition and he's not. Howie deserved everything he got. It looks like he was not good enough to play with the big dogs.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 12:40 PM

Dari wrote:

I'm so glad you are back Padma. I think you are fabulous! Don't let the haters get to you. I think you guys are dealing with this season are less than top chefs, and it has to be frustrating. Season 1 and 2 chefs were so much better. Love watching you and the other judges each week!

posted on September 6, 2007 at 12:46 PM

David Nunez wrote:

It was long overdue that Howie is finally asked to pack his knives. Let us not forget that this is not the first time that Howie did not present a dish. Way back in the beginning he did not finish his frog legs dish within the time allowed but the judges still did not vote him off then.

Last night Howie tried to show what a great team player he is (what a joke). He blew it in the elimination challenge then decided it was time to be a team player when he knew he was in big trouble.

Then, after all that, he stands in front of the judges table and says that he should be the one going home instead of anyone else because he felt that everyone did a good job. Nonsense, he knew that he screwed up, he knew that his dishes were terrible and all he was doing with his statement was trying to get more attention.

Howie should have been gone a long time ago, but I guess later is better than never!

posted on September 6, 2007 at 1:27 PM

Mary wrote:

Come on guys, this is reality tv. Padma, you did nothing wrong. Its tv like this that keeps us coming back for more.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 1:28 PM

Larry wrote:

Welcome back.
Although I must say, this season of Top Chef gets worse and worse each week.

Episode 1 and 2 were the highlight of this season. Having the contestants make an amuse bouche after getting to know each other for a few minutes with an enormous spread was great. In the second episode, we saw the chefs work with all kinds of funky proteins - black duck, eel, snake, frogs legs, sea urchin, etc...Even the episode where they had to fish for their own seafood was acceptable.

Now...its scallop, beef, pork, tartare...scallop, beef, pork, tartare...Chef Tom was right...how many tartares can you possibly eat.

These are certainly not the dishes I would expect to see from this caliber show.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 1:39 PM

kim wrote:

The whole Howie wanted to quit but not being able to, (even though its been done in the past) and letting Tre go b/c he was the leader but not letting Brian go, happens because they are too many people in the decision making of who gets eliminated it should be the judges only, bravo and the producers should not get involved.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 1:44 PM

kenscookie wrote:

The judges should be told to pack their table and go.

New judges for next season!!

posted on September 6, 2007 at 1:56 PM

Dallas wrote:

I read the Blog's at work and cannot access video content -- though I would love to be able to watch Padma more - I really feel jipped by not being able to at least read her comments on the episode -- please have someone transpose her thought for those of us without video capability.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 2:11 PM

Sadie wrote:

Padma, I hope you read this, you need to hear it.
The woman who attacked Brian was totally out of line, it was cruelty that no one should have to endure. You were out of line when when you took our bloggers to task, your concern would be better extended to Brian. That woman can write what she wants, but in the end it is the producers who are responsible for allowing it to be shown and you for reading it. The contract for the coming years should assure contestants that the judges and producers will be held to the same standards of behavior they expect of the contestants. What you did to Brian was inexcusable, no chef should have to put up with of public humiliation. At the very least, he deserves an apology. Will he get one?

posted on September 6, 2007 at 2:43 PM

paula wrote:

i just wanted to say that I was a big fan of yours in season 2 and early in season 3 but things have recently changed. Man, i cannot beleive how the panel could be so damn mean sometimes. Listen i understand that howie wasn't the most likeable person in the world..but you should've just let the man take himself out of the competition (as you have in the past w/ other contestants). I really think that you guys just wanted the satisfaction of having to cut him yourselves. Man, this show is losing its authenticity which really sucks.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 2:53 PM

Loretta wrote:

Wow Padma, were you and Tom a bit "testy" last nite or what?
Sure it's the "judges decision" to send someone home; however, I have to agree with many of our bloggers today and say, you guys blew this one. You should have let Howie resign with a bit of his dignity left....and go on to the next round.
One question though, why the hell did you find the evil twin of Rocco Dispirito last nite? (talking about the guest chef judge) I thought good ole Rocco had a head the size of Montana until Michael Schwartz came aboard. God certainly did not throw the mold out when he made these two!!! You stated he was an up & coming chef, well my dear, so are our competitors. I am quite sure Michael has had his share of "bad" cooking days (as I am sure Tom has also!) If all chefs had great cooking days, I would have married one!

posted on September 6, 2007 at 2:57 PM

Candy wrote:

The judges were in fact a lot more critical than i've ever seen them. I found myself wishing that more than one of them would withdraw themselves from the competition. I saw no reason for the verbal abuse, and from two guest judges no less.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 3:06 PM

David Nunez wrote:

I have seen alot of comments regarding the judges and that they are being somewhat harsh with the chefs, but it seems to me that they chefs are not at the standards to meet what a TOP CHEF is.

The truth is that all of the chefs have had problems, created poor dishes and all of them have had conflicts and not shown any leadership qualities, which is a factor in this competition. It seems to me that these chefs really need a kick in the pants because left on their own they have not shown any fire whatsoever.

With that being said the sad truth is that the judges did send home Tre, without a doubt the best chef in this competiion but now they will have to live with the fact that all of the chefs that are left are truly not TOP CHEFS and are way below the standards that should be held by this competition.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 3:57 PM

nan wrote:

I can not beleive that Tre got elimated from the last show... I just about fell out...There are a few others that should of felt that pain, and they were on the same team. I understand that he was the exec. chef for that challenge but gosh. That really bite the big one, was so mad didn't want to watch anymore. But I di enjoy this show.. so for that THANKS... Dallas, TX
Nan

posted on September 6, 2007 at 4:24 PM

Roni Stewart wrote:

It seem there are different rules for the some chefs than there are for others, there is no consistency to the rules. The show has now become a total bore. Mia's leaving was accepted but Howie's was not. It is better not to serve a bad meal than present it, yet when Howie did not serve his it was ruled against. him. I have heard chefs called out for not cooking a thing yet Casey's food won out over Sara's wonderful bread pudding last night. The show is a big joke and it is not even funny. I miss Tre you did him a disservice, someone need to judge the judges and the guest judges who are all a bunch of pompous baffoons.

Roni

posted on September 6, 2007 at 4:52 PM

liz wrote:

Hey Padma, you might want to read Rocco's blog for tips. According to him, Catering 101 dictates that a generous number of nibbles is 3-5 per hour per person rather than the 10-15 you suggest. I'd say that number is probably somewhere in the middle, but at 20 cents a bite, the wow factor is probably going to be "Wow, this is awful!"

posted on September 6, 2007 at 5:02 PM

Deborah R wrote:

I'd love to comment on Padma's video blog, but I can't seem to play it--despite having a high-speed connection that's never failed me before. In trying to watch the blog, I keep getting the same bloody ad, which keeps freezing. When I try to click on another portion of the blog, I get a message box telling me to wait until the ad finishes--but the ad is frozen and won't play. I close the window and start over only to see the same stupid ad again and have it freeze ... again. Thanks but no thanks. I'll stick to the written blogs.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 5:36 PM

Angie Adair wrote:

I have grown tired of the judges' attitudes toward the cheftestants, too. However, Howie's "offer to leave" was not some big-hearted offer. It was that he was trying to save face by removing himself rather than having the dignity to be removed like the other contestants. The writing was on the wall, he knew he was likely to be cut, so he tried to take away the judges' power to axe him. He's a control freak, pure and simple. His food sometimes came through--and Lord knows, we all want to eat pork all the time--and it often sucked. Like in this show. Good riddance.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 5:37 PM

vikkitikkitavi wrote:

1. Wow, the judging gets, um, CRANKIER every week. It's becoming a drag to watch it. The criticism used to be more honest and constructive. Now, I get the feeling that the judges are over it, in which case they should give up their seats to someone else. They keep telling the contestants that it's "not that hard" to produce something on a budget, or under time constraints, or whatever. Well, guys, it's "not that hard" to be a judge on Top Chef.

2. Did anyone actually listen to Padma's blog and hear her complaining that Howie might have sweated in her food? If she really wants to break out of the "not just a pretty face" stereotype, she might want to think about not indulging in such a huge "ew, gross!" tirade.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 6:08 PM

SHANNON wrote:

Very inconsistent judging! $350.00 for a "High end Miami Party" and then criticize them for lack of creativity? How creative can you be on that kind of budget? Geez! I will watch one more week, and then I am done if the judging stays the same...

posted on September 6, 2007 at 7:19 PM

TGCRVT wrote:

First of all, I'd like to say to all the people who are criticizing Padma: "DON'T BE HATIN' ON MY WOMAN YO". As for her not being qualified to judge chef's because she's never been one herself; well, I eat in restaurants fairly often and sometimes I've gotten food that I didn't think was very good. But, I guess I can't criticize because I'm not a chef. If your a chef, the vast majority of people you cook for aren't chef's and if they don't like what you cook you won't be a chef for long.

Yes, Mia was allowed to bow out because she seemed to be doing so for truly heartfelt reasons. Howie, I think, was just trying to duck out. I think Padma and the other judges knew it and were, rightly, not amused.

That being said, the only complaint I had was one of the guest judges referring to Howie's dishes as "crap". That was simply uncalled for, especially saying so while he's standing there. Howie looked like he wanted to pop the guy, and I can't say that I blame him. Besides, from what we were shown there seemed to be a fairly positive response from the party guests for his asparagus dish. When I read the comments from "outraged" people every week I can't help but think that they are thinking with their hearts, not their heads.

Lastly, I agree with Tom. I just don't think I'd be comfortable eating anything called a "cigar" whether it's good or not. Please, whoever is in charge of food naming standards, different nomenclature.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 7:24 PM

B.a.r. wrote:

Howie deserved to be able to leave the competition if he so desired. You can tell by the way he handled the Quickfire that he was losing his fire; so of course by the time the chefs were given that ridiculous challenge he'd hit a low. Last season, Mia was able to leave Top Chef because she wanted to, and therefore save Elia, who still wanted to stay in the competition. Therefore, it should've been totally possible for Howie to be able to leave and not have to go through the whole "pack your knives and go" scenario. Last show dissapointed me.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 8:26 PM

Lisa wrote:

I think letting Tre go and keeping CJ was a mistake on the judges part. CJ took the easy way out and put the responsiblity on Tre. I feel if he wanted any part of the responsibility he would of step up to the plate and assist Tre with the task and he did nothing .

Letting Howie go was a good choice, on the judges part. Howie was hard to work with from when the season started. He's not a team player at all.

Padma's vibes on the show seems like she is a drama queen. I think a host should be humble when they are hosting and her vibes come across as if she has no heart. Does she really know about good food?

posted on September 6, 2007 at 8:50 PM

MK wrote:

I've got to agree with Angie, it didn't seem like the judges were being overly harsh. I was beginning to like Howie towards the end, but he was floundering to keep himself and his dishes afloat.

Howie probably knew he was going to get cut from the moment he didn't produce at the quickfire, and was enforced with the notion when it dawned on him how unappealing his food looked by the end of the day's challenge. Rather than let the judges nail the final nail on his coffin, he wanted to yank the hammer and do it himself to save his pride. I doubt he was trying to save Bryan from the block the way Mia tried to save her teammate.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 8:59 PM

Bob wrote:

Having eaten at both Food Gang and Michael's Genuine Food, it was interesting to see Howie dismissed with Michael Schwartz as guest judge when I have had four completely mediocre dining experiences at Michael's, and a better one at Food Gang. My last meal at Michael's allowed our group to taste both desserts on the Miami Spice dinner menu - and both were pretty, but disgusting and inedible. Polenta & tomatoes? For dessert?! Salt with ice cream? What on earth? I could literally hear your voice, Padma, commenting on those atrocities!

posted on September 6, 2007 at 9:29 PM

Bob Tibbetts wrote:

Padma,

I think all of you at judges' table have been doing a great job this season. Not perfect, of course, but, hey, this is just a reality show. All of the Top Chef contestants are receiving invaluable tv exposure, which is a more than fair trade-off for a few bruised egos. Naturally, all of the judges are going to receive comments such as "I can't believe you voted ______ off. I'm never watching Top Chef again." Having said that, I must tell you that the choice of Michael Schwartz to be a guest judge on this most recent segment was a poor one. In addition to his rudeness, vulgarity and overall pretentiousness, this putz has a Miami restaurant (Michaels' Genuine Food and Drink) that offers, among its luncheon appetizers, Deviled Eggs, Chicken Liver Crostini, and Thick Cut Potato Chips with onion dip, albeit pan-fried. Wow, that might be great tailgating food before a Dolphins game, but what qualifies him to diss anything that was presented on the yacht? His vicious comments about Howie's food were about as legitimate as Andrea Strong's dreadfully inappropriate observations a couple of weeks ago.

Top Chef is still great fun and a great guilty pleasure. Padma, I think you, Tom & Gail are wonderful, as is Ted Allen. That snarky misanthrope, Bourdain, of course, is in a class by himself, not to mention a different galaxy. I hope Tony remains as a frequent guest judge.

posted on September 6, 2007 at 10:01 PM

asa wrote:

padma,

this show is becoming laughable. you have gotten rid of tre - the best chef this season. and we are left to watch the crabs scrape the barrel. the show is becoming more and more inconsistent and biased. mia bowed out w/o your interference, why didn't you extend the same courtesy to howie. was her dramatic exit unedited b/c it was a rating boost. as an audience member it was very painful to watch her have a mental meltdown. you padma seemed very sympathetic and touched by mia's exit. judge tom on the otherhand looked very uncomfortable almost irritated.
so this season, your editors did want a repeat of the mia debacle, so they edited howie's meltdown to a simple bowing out statement that left the audience wondering why does padma look so pissed. padma you don't strike me as a vindictive person, so i am assuming this was an editing decision.
but i am drawing the conclusion that top chef is following the culinary industry as being very euro-centric. you have had two black chefs in the past two seasons who could have easily been the top chefs or at least made to the finals, and somehow a reprimand for participating in a prank warrants a dismissal. and then the second guy follows the leadership role and he is offed. if i am wrong oh well...u judges have been so why can't i?

furthermore, i don't understand why brian is still there? he looks more like the apprentice then the top chef contestant...why? because he hasn't cooked anything in weeks! why is he still there? you ignored howie's reques to bow and then turn around to fire him when you should have let brian go! where is the consistency!!!!! if tre takes responsibility has exec chef then why wasn't brian held to that same standard?

i promise this is my last season watching this tired show. i watched the podcast of the producer, judge tom and rocco interview tre and i must say the bs was so thick. your producer joked about expecting protests in front of rock plaza. i mean what an insensitive comment. this is someone's career not an episode in a tv program.

we really should boycott this show. get back to the way things were with season 1. don't let the emmy nominations go to your heads!!

seriously underwhelmed!!

posted on September 6, 2007 at 10:03 PM

Dahlia wrote:

I can't believe some of you guys feel some sympathy for Howie. Pleeeeaze, that whole melodramatic " I'll be the bigger man and eliminate myself because others don't deserve to go" was BULL and yall know it! He knew it was the end of the rope for him and he tried to save face. Pathetic. I was disgusted and I think Padma and Tom were too.
He lost his dignity right there and then. Whatever the judges would have said after that wouldn't have mattered.

WIth that said.... I MISS TRE!!!! He did NOT deserve to go.

posted on September 7, 2007 at 12:03 AM

radioswade wrote:

having trouble keeping up with the show this year due to time constraints but stay entertained via these blogs.
after reading the commentary, i have to assume that the majority of the responders have never been to an art/creative focused school;as they would realize that the judges table they complain about is routine for art students/chefs. the majority of these cheftestants have, so the harshness of the judges crtiques isnt out of the ordinary (and less career-killing than a scathing review).
the most talented person doesnt always receive the best marks; and sometimes the judgments can be made on minute details not articulated in the intial criteria.

posted on September 7, 2007 at 12:27 AM

gwYnnE iN hAWaii wrote:

I love the show, drama and all. However, I agree that if you're going to set a standard that results in the dismissing of one chef (i.e. Tre--you didn't like his leadership or dish) then the same standard should've been kept in the following episode seeing how you didn't like the leadership or food of this week's leader either. If leadership takes precidence over quality of food, then state that as the reason for dismissal or vice versa and then stick to that instead of flip-flopping your standards. When you waver, people get dismissed who maybe shouldn't have been and others stay when perhaps they should've gone. Have a great rest of the season. I'll be watching. P.S. Thanks for this site. It's nice that my hubby can keep track while he's deployed. It's really convenient. Aloha

posted on September 7, 2007 at 7:32 AM

Jeff wrote:

First, it doesn't matter that Howie really did deserve to go. If someone chooses to quit, that's it. It's not your decision, it's his. Sure, he saw the writing on the wall. So what? When you attempt to deny him the ability to make a decision about what he will or will not do, you're wrong. He deserves an apology.

Second, am I alone in wondering why this low-budget challenge wasn't trotted out a lot earlier in the season? At this point, I want to see chefs excelling, not scrambling for survival. I'm continually disappointed when I tune in only to find out that the cheftestants will once again be forced to contort themselves to to meet the latest challenge, only to be ridiculed for their efforts. To borrow from the judges' own cliche, "This is Top Chef, not Top Circus Monkey."

posted on September 7, 2007 at 11:59 AM

Pauly C. wrote:

The judges were on some particularly high horses this week weren't they? Howie knew that his dishes were not well received and was willing to concede in order to ensure that Brian, being the team leader, would not run the risk of being eliminated. Say what you will about Howie, but he was clearly trying to be more of a team player during the past couple of weeks. And what does he get in return for his efforts? His dignity chopped off by an especially snooty panel of judges. (Padma, I'm looking in your direction.) Overall, the chefs did not have a great week, but as far as I'm concerned the poorest showing came from the judges.

posted on September 7, 2007 at 12:02 PM

pooka wrote:

Padma,
If you are on TC4, and still a judge as well as a host, please consider the chefs to either side of you at the judges' table. You sit so far forward as to forcing the chefs to your right and left to stretch about to speak with one another.

I wish you were the host as the "chairman" on "Iron Chef" is -- he tastes the food, but sits apart from the judging table and gets no say in the decsions.

If you are still there for TC4, perhaps a U-shaped table.

It is annoying that you get so much air time at the judges' table (not your fault - guess the editors feel we need more Padma because you are beautiful - misjudging the Bravo fan) because your comments are either echoes of Tom's or are inane. Tom's, Gail's, sometimes the guest judge's and even Ted's comments have depth, mindfulness and are educational.

posted on September 7, 2007 at 12:54 PM

Jeff wrote:

Andrea Strong and Michael Schwartz (like Strong, another nobody elevated by this show for unfathomable reasons) can join the illustrious Mike Yamada as the worst guest judges on this show ever. Between Schwartz's needless vulgarity, the ostentatious display of over-inflated fashion industry egos on that yacht, and the unfair, inconsistent and baseless judging, this episode was enough to make us more nauseous than a roomful of vanilla-scented candles. Thankfully Bourdain will be here next week to clear the air.

posted on September 7, 2007 at 2:55 PM

Michael wrote:

Padma,

I am now a former fan of this show. The inconsistency at the Judges Table has totally been a let down.

Judges keep asking, "Would you serve this dish in your restaurant?" and when the contestant says, "No" the response is "Why would you serve it here?"

Last season, Mia was allowed to throw herself on her knives to spare another contestant. Granted, I think she would have been voted off anyway but that's besides the point. The judges reacted graciously accepting her decision after trying to talk her out of it.

This season, Howie (knowing he was on the chopping block and more than likely going to be told to leave) tried to do the same thing. You snarled, "It's the judges decision." Where was the graciousness you showed last season?

You didn't even say, "Please pack your knives and go." You said "Pack your knives and go."

I loved Season 1. I made sure I was always home to watch it no matter what else was going on. My wife was a big fan as well.
Season 2 turned her off and started to disgruntle me a little as well. This season is a total turn-off.

I see way too much inconsistency from the Judges Table. The only reason I would ever watch this show again would be when Anthony Bourdain is a guest judge.

I think it's time this show packs it's knives and go.

posted on September 7, 2007 at 3:19 PM

yumi wrote:

Padma,

You know, lots of posters have commented that you're here for "eye-candy", and question the depth of your comments or critiques at the judges' table. Don't you think the choice to now switch from text to video for your blog panders to that assumption? Not that your blogs ever had the literary flair of Bourdain's (and it would be unfair to expect that), but plenty of people might conclude that our interest in your opinions is directly porportional to whether or not we're oogling you.

Pooka's right that the producers have misjudged their audience. We're not watching to catch Casey in a bikini (and shame on you for that pan-up camera work!! You people disgust me sometimes!). We're watching to catch the joy of creating beautiful food. Please, please keep it positive, and keep it smart.

posted on September 7, 2007 at 4:27 PM

exe top chef fan wrote:

Every season had someone to go home on thier own,and they was allowed to leave with no questions. So why Howie,he should have went home the first night. Padma you should have eccepted his request to leave better yet did another do-over with Tre in his place. This show is getting BORING.

posted on September 7, 2007 at 6:14 PM

mary wrote:

howie sucked the air out of the show and yet it was fun to watch. reminds me of marcel. you can see that he was a child that received alot of attention from his antics and his style and thought he could do the same here. as i watch repreats i see agan and aagain how tiresome he was. i feel sorry for him and hope he wises up and really, really changes his style. it was clear that he was pandering for the camera and realized he needed to clean up his act to move along in the food world. marcel had some talent but was a serious problem too. tiffany had difficulty getting along with others but she could really cook. i thnk she will go very far. i agree with gail. but howie was a real problem and he became tiresome. it is amazing that he got away with these antics. seems like he was always saved by someone worse. i am looking forward to the last shows. a group of classy people are left.

posted on September 7, 2007 at 6:39 PM

throstein wrote:

The harshness of judge criticisms seems very unnecessary. They act as though the food and behavior of the chefs is personally insulting to them. What's with tom telling a room full of grown-up, very successful chefs to "just, get out of here"? And Padma's comments are almost never insightful, frequently simple echoes of one of the qualified judges' opinions, and almost always expressed in this haughty, elitist tone. Again, she acts as though she's being personally insulted when the food isn't up the standards of her unimpressive pallate. Cut with the catty Simon Cowell routine, and just judge the quality of the food without being insulting to a bunch of chefs that are simply trying their best under high pressure. Make it about the food, not your elitism and attitude.

posted on September 7, 2007 at 6:51 PM

thorstein wrote:

It's also irritating to have the judges criticize the chefs by saying that challenges aren't that hard. Tom this week said that because Sara made a nice dish on a budget he therefore didn't buy that it was difficult to do one. That's the most illogical reasoning I've ever seen. "1 out of 7 of you pleased me, therefore it was easy to succeed in this challenge and you have no right to mention the constraints of the challenge in explaining your food." Why do they call them challenges if they're easy?

The only person I find consistently constructive, yet tough, in her criticisms is Gail. Tom seems to have something to prove by being is nasty and sarcastic as he can be, Padma seems to be overcompensating for something, erhaps her not being a chef put in a situation where she has to judge skilled chefs.

posted on September 7, 2007 at 6:58 PM

Katherine Schwartz wrote:

I didn't realize everyone felt the same way as I did until I read these blogs. Padma is so unpleasant to watch that it is hard for me to imagine having to do something as generous as cook for her. The bottom line is that you should get the impression that the judges are rooting for the chefs on some level, that they like them. Of course, showing a little sense of humor or personality wouldn't hurt either.

posted on September 7, 2007 at 8:20 PM

Dawn B. wrote:

Please, please, please find a new host!! I can't stand Padma's inane idiotic comments. The way Howie was treated by her was not deserved. Who IS she anyway?!! I've never heard of her before. And, just for the record Padma, it should be "Utensils down, hands up!" or is that too hard for you to remember?

posted on September 7, 2007 at 11:07 PM

vicaroony wrote:

I was very disappointed to see Tre go. He was one of the few chefs that could actually back up his talk with skills and well executed cooking. I understand that he made a mistake on that one challenge and his food wasn't up to par, but booting him off the show when others who didn't even cook were allowed to stay was shameful. I can't say I'll never watch the show again, but I have indeed lost my passion for it. Letting him go was a huge mistake.

posted on September 8, 2007 at 1:25 AM

Jeff wrote:

I just re-watched the QF video and I can't get over how condescending you were to Sara ("It's not as bad as I thought it would be") and Howie. Maybe if your had Daniel Boulud instead of Michael "What The F*ck Is That" Schwartz, then you can take Howie to task for not serving a dish, but who the hell cares about impressing Michael Schwartz. And that swipe at Sara was totally unwarranted. Why did you pre-judge her dish thinking it to be bad, when she had rocked just the last Rest War challenge? Could it be that Sara's Indian background is of a lower caste than yours? You need to lighten up before you end up like Joel-bot.

posted on September 8, 2007 at 1:45 AM

bri wrote:

I just don't get why all these people are drinking such strong Padma hatorade! If you do your research (which most of you haven't) you will find that she does know her stuff!!! She knows food and being that Top Chef is a show about FOOD she wouldn't be there if she were not qualified to speak on it. When I read the speculations and assumptions that she is only there to look pretty it is sad. Bravo could have found a million sexy ladies to do that job. Pay attention. She is an excellent and personable mediator. I've never heard her say anything that was not true, i've only heard her articulate on reality. I wonder if Padma was just an average looking woman if she would be met with so much criticizism for her comments. It is always one thing or the other. If she is not critical enough, she is a token, if she is too harsh, she's a snob. During the second season when she first appeared, I contemplated all of these things. Then I actually took the time to find out for myself whether she was/wasn't a real foodie. My advice to all you haters is to utulize your search engines and get some concrete info. about Padma before you put your noses in the air and start typing away about her qualifications. The bottom line is that she is pretty and she knows how to eat. Acknowledge the contradiction, process it, and except it. Padma is not the problem. You are!!

posted on September 8, 2007 at 2:55 AM

gary.e wrote:

padma. welcom back. i,m sure you people are getting ready to start a shoot for next season, god i hope the producers were alittle more careful in thier choose of chefs, this last bag of tricks was a joke some how season two and three has been a complete flope, i know that this will go unread and will float into fiber space with all the other comments. but at least its out there.

posted on September 8, 2007 at 7:10 AM

MCandyG wrote:

Again, this all comes down to personal opinions. The judges are probably bound by some pretty cut and dried (aka strict) rules on how they have to handle things. What worked for one season may not work this season. So what the the one chef did in season two, Howie couldn't get away with this time. Maybe they wouldn't let him get away with his upside down piss off in the quickfire. This is getting down to the end of the season, the time when the chefs need to show their absolute best, not their ass. Frankly this last episode seemed lacking in a lot of ways food wise. Team work seemed a lot more cohesive though. (A little to much a little to late for Howie) My personal take. Casey and CJ - while having produced a few interesting dishes, do they have leadership ability? Sarah - interesting food choices in some of the challenges. Brian - there is more to life than seafood. Hung - Get off the speed dude. You have such a creative mind. Dale - Hang in there, I think you can take them.

posted on September 8, 2007 at 8:54 AM

Dale wrote:

Exactly how can you choose the Top Chef when he's already been sent packing? This show is so full of bull****!! Setting the group up with a night off to party and then working the crap out of them into the wee hours....this is entertainment?

posted on September 8, 2007 at 11:56 AM

KissMyBeaner wrote:

Addressing another poster.. you aren't in Howie's head, so you can't say anything about his "motives" as to why he wished to leave.

Let the facts speak for themselves.

And the fact is this: Otto and Mia were allowed to resign and Howie WAS NOT.

Period.

If I were going to say anything emotionally charged, it's about the inconsistency in judging AND the offensive way Padma came off. It really said "You are NOT going to take away MY POWER, nor our ability to send you home".

You want to know what you COULD HAVE DONE, Padma? When he came back in, you could have said you'd decided to take his resignation. But NO. You kept him from resigning just so you could feel omnipotent and have CONTROL by turning around and sending him off.

The action of the judges was disgraceful. I don't need to hear any manufactured reason why you let other contestants resign and not Howie. It will never hold any truth.

I wasn't a fan of Howie. But I felt terrible for him. He could have left with dignity. You stripped him of that.

You need to get yourself in check. Obviously power has gone to your head.

posted on September 8, 2007 at 12:51 PM

jake wrote:

It's interesting that TC judges give the contestants challenges like feeding 500 people at some opening of the Unknown But Pretentious Beautiful People Awards Show using only ingredients they can shoplift in five minutes from the local 7-11 (and can only use Zippo lighters as a heat source), and yet blow off the show's blog for weeks. Tom and Padma are the faces of this show, and neither can be troubled to fulfill their obligations on the blogs here. I could just see either of these judges being asked to accept the same excuses, if offered by the contestants, for not fulfilling their duties to the show.

Oh well. It's all fun here.

posted on September 8, 2007 at 3:47 PM

Arlie wrote:

Personnaly I think it was about time for Howie to go , should have been gone awhile ago.
Sorry judges but letting Tre go was a mistake, CJ should have taken that fall. Tre , as far as I am concerned WAS the top chief of the entire bunch. You made a mistake thats all I can say.

posted on September 8, 2007 at 7:15 PM

Patricia Learnard wrote:

9-8-07

I feel Howie brought his own elimination! He is okay as long he is on top and doing well. Otherwise, he acts like a " Rottweiller" . A bulldog is a much nicer dog.

I was appalled when he was yelling at some of his peers such as Sara from Jamaica. When he said he would not have her working in his restaurant as dishwasher( after they lost the frozen food challenge) ...I wouldn't go to his restaurant!

At first, I liked him, then he irritated me with his attitude. Don't blame the Judges for his own mistakes.

posted on September 8, 2007 at 7:24 PM

ohanaharris wrote:

OK- I never sign up for message boards and I have SO HAD IT with these judges that I simply had to.
I love the show, but I simply CAN NOT watch anymore; I understand the need to edit content to make things appear more dramatic, but these judges are so infuriating to listen to. It's just not enjoyable at all anymore; it was always great getting recipe ideas, and even better, getting constructive advice on what to do from the judges. We would invite 10-15 people over to watch the episodes, and it was such a DOWNER for our gatherings.
Elimination and competition does not have to involve a level of attitude from the judges that makes people want to STOP watching.
I'm really not sure who they think they are; prestige, money, culinary success does not provide a free pass to being down right rotten. Humble the judges and lighten up the show, please??
Padma- it's my decision to make to stop watching.

posted on September 8, 2007 at 7:29 PM

anna wrote:

In your video you say that you want a big variety and large quantity, but in judging you complain about some chefs taking on two hors d’oeuvres, instead of one. You should stick with one solid opinion.

posted on September 8, 2007 at 10:26 PM

Simple wrote:

To poster Mary who commented:
"Come on guys, this is reality tv. Padma, you did nothing wrong. Its tv like this that keeps us coming back for more."

You are dead wrong. It is this behavior that will KEEP me from coming back for more.

There are TWO major problems here:

---Otto and Mia were allowed to quit and Howie was not. It doesn't matter what the reasons or motive each one had. The only thing that matters is that two were allowed to and one was not.

-- Not only was a contestant told he couldn't quit it was the
manner in which he was told. After much thought, there are only two conclusions I could come up with. Either Padma let her personal dislike of a contestant affect her actions or she has let the power of judging go to her head. If there is another explanation, I'd like to hear it.

You say Padma did nothing "wrong". I disagree. By not allowing a season 3 contestant to opt out when it has been allowed in the past, she demonstrated that there is no such thing as equity or consistency in judging on this show. What she did is destroy viewer trust. And by trust, I mean that people, the viewers, want the rules of the game to be applied across the board.

Most situations on the show are subjective. There's a way to justify Tre being kicked off but not Brian. There really is. But there is NOTHING subjective about this one. It is black and white.

From last Wednesday forward, the show has lost credibility with me. It's a farce. Yes, I know it's supposed to be entertainment. Well, it's not.

The judges and producers have let us down.

And Padma, your actions were shameful.

posted on September 8, 2007 at 10:42 PM

kevin wrote:

You folks keep bending the rules to meet your shows criteria. Mia dropped out last year and you accepted her resignation with open arms. You just wanted to show your smugness by kicking him off yourself. Amateur move. He didn't want Brian to get thrown under the bus but you wanted it your way. Wow, what a shame. And what was with the picking of that lame ass judge you had schwartz something or other? Who in the hell does he think he is to use profanity towards accomplished chefs like they were green horn line cooks? Wow, you got your 15 minutes of fame. Let's continually use the "F" word. He had no class and unlike Anthony Bourdain, he lacked originality and humor as well. He completely missed Hungs joke because the quickfire round was a joke. Kind of like the evolution of Top Chef. The first season was spectacular but now you guys are hyping up the reality part and not the talent part. I hope you turn things around. I'm not impressed this season at all...

posted on September 8, 2007 at 10:54 PM

Karen wrote:

Padma,
I saw you tonight on StarTrek Enterprise! You were awesome as the heir to the throne of an unknown alien world! We are Top Chef and StarTrek fans and Padma fans!

posted on September 9, 2007 at 12:34 AM

MRD wrote:

This is really getting ridiculous. The judges keep saying that they're justified because the chef's would face the same criticism in a real restaurant, but who in their right mind would have high expectations of such low-budget, low-brow constraints. If I saw nothing but cereal on a menu, I would expect a joke. Likewise, if I gave a caterer a $350 budget for 60 people, I'd expect my guests to be disappointed in the food.

I have no inkling of faith that Padma could pull off anything close to what the contestant did, so there's no value--entertainment or critical--to hearing her whine about it.

I guess the video blog is supposed to remind the viewers why they like having her as host and judge. But for those of us interested in seeing talented people produce glorious food, it's just insult to the injurious expectation that a beautiful face and exposed skin makes up for the big joke you're pulling on the contestants AND viewers. If budget keeps you from giving these chefs what they need to produce high-end results, you should maybe consider firing whatever consultants are leading you to believe that these silly challenges are helping discover top talent.

I didn't even like Howie, and couldn't wait to see him go, but I couldn't blame him if it dawned on him that the prize he's going for here is Top Clown.

posted on September 9, 2007 at 2:22 PM

Viewer Sick of Contrived Drama wrote:

This week's episode was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. Padma lied to the contestants, they are under tremendous pressure to perform, and even a "top chef" gets a day off. The fact that they promised the contestants a night off and then pulled the rug out from under them is completely despicable and I can no longer watch this show. It sucks. Tom and Padma are asking these contestants to be perfect in seconds, a real chef has hours, sometimes days and weeks to plan, especially when opening a new restaurant - NO ONE opens a new place - going from concept to design to construction to staffing to preparation and everything else that goes into a successful restaurant in 24 hours. The fact that they (especially Chef Tom) were so hard on these people was just plain disgusting. Also, Howie is an ass---- and is not a team player and really sucks as a chef. He should have been eliminated within the first 3 episodes. The staff judges (Padma and Tom) are just as terrible. They are setting these people up for failure and are completely pompous and unreasonable and shouldn't be allowed to judge a pie eating contest.

posted on September 9, 2007 at 3:22 PM

Barbara wrote:

Padma, bless you for not playing the role of a doormat. When Howie butted in once again in his loudmouth way, to ask if he could address the panel, you folks all listened. But I loved how you stepped up to the plate and responded that it would be the judges' decision, not his (Howie's). Excellent. Top notch! Very fitting, indeed.

Otherwise, the Top Chef program would have the contestants deciding among themselves who should stay. There may be a wee bit of that already, what with CJ deciding that Tre should be the executive chef in the team challenge, Restaurant Wars. CJ is sort of coasting by, and that's too bad, especially since occasionally he has some excellent preparations.

One thing I truly like about Season Three is the way the contestants show good sportsmanship among themselves; they are outshining Season2 contestants by a mile on the character trait. They applaud each other's dishes; they give sincere hugs of congratulations, and they obviously show respect for anyone who has been told to leave.

Padma, you're fantastic this season. I love your attitude and demeanor throughout the many episodes. Keep it up. You're setting a great tone.

I try to discount Ted Allen's lengthy diatribes, hoping they'll stop. Perhaps some other good scenes ended up on the cutting room floor. In previous episodes he hadn't been monopolizing the judges' table so much as recently.

Now, one suggestion: Could the producers please, please, please give these contestants a few more dollars and a few more minutes for preparation, eh? Then I believe it would be a more even playing field for everyone who's competing.

Best wishes to all,

Barbara

posted on September 9, 2007 at 4:32 PM

Harold wrote:

Come on. I agree with the last comments. Any more serious and harsher and I feel like they are standing in the principal's office. When you go into the "back room" to get them, how long do you need to stand there before you say something??? I'm sure this idea comes from the producers to draw the "suspense" out, but it is getting boring. Parts of the show draw out way too long. Same old, same old.

posted on September 9, 2007 at 6:12 PM

Sandy S. wrote:

Padma really got to me this week.I cannot see her place in the show. I feel like someone should say "Padma please pack your attitude and go home." She is more of a spokesmodel and I would rather see another chef.

posted on September 9, 2007 at 6:54 PM

Why Not... wrote:

Get rid of anything that resembles a "team" competition. Each week, they should be given a set amount of money and time and just simply told to "bring it on". This week is a seafood dish. Next week will be a pork dish. Then a dessert... something like that. It is TOP CHEF, and if we really want to see what they can do, let them. Quit putting this stupid constraints on them. I don't want to see them "stretch a budget". When I go out to eat, I want the very best and am willing to pay for it. Top Chef's aren't likely found at Denny's or the like (not to say they aren't good, but you know what I mean).

And until the show that has Tom, Ted, Padma and a couple of those bonehead guest judges going thru a cooking show with such constraints, they should try and take it a bit easier on the chefs who are. Of course, they wouldn't agree to that....

posted on September 9, 2007 at 11:06 PM

John wrote:

I think Padma is not qualified to be a judge. What is she a model?? I cooked for many years, and I believe that only people who have cooked in the kitchen should be judges. Not authors that just eat. I would never go on a competition show because I don't think they are fair, and they are way to critical. More important to just cooking is what kind of a person you are to lead others, and to have fun cooking.

posted on September 10, 2007 at 10:35 AM

Olympia wrote:

Howie is a bull dog, and he never took critism well. Yes, the episode was suprising but he was sulking. I believe he wanted sympathy in hopes the judges will spear him (talk about manipulative). Think about it, dosent he always testifies about how hes not there to make friends, its a competiton. So, whats up with the sudden chaange of heart? As for the judges being to harsh, not at all. There just doing there job. In previous episodes has anyone not notice Howie snapping, being extremely defensive to the judges. But also, rude and obnoxious to his fellow competitors. Their fed up. Yes, its about the food, but over all food and attitude. He does not work well with others, and he cannot take orders. I do believe if some one wants to withdrawl from the competiton, they should do so before being judged. Whats the judges suppose to do off hand?

posted on September 10, 2007 at 11:16 AM

SJH wrote:

To bri from Sept 8:
Please stop assuming that those viewers who do not like Padma (and there are MANY) are uneducated (culinary-wise) morons who don't know about her background. I don't care about her cookbooks (yes, I did my research) or other so -called "qualifications". The simple facts are these :
1) she is inarticulate and her intros/comments/critiques always sound incredibly wooden and obviously rehearsed
2) she adds no value with her comments because they are almost always mere repeats of her more qualified colleagues
3) she is overly dramatic (eye-rollingly so) with her pauses and eyelash batting before announcing the winners/losers
4) being a cookbook author does not a good host make
5) Katie Lee Joel was criticized for (and probably not asked back because of) her lackluster hosting . Padma is no better.

It is insulting when bloggers such as you insinuate that the reason bloggers such as I do not like Padma is because of her looks or because we are clueless (on that note, many of the "average" looking guest judges have received harsh criticism , and for good reason. Remember Mike Yakura from TC2? Or what about this week's guest judge ? Nobody liked him!) Padma needs to be replaced because she is not proficient or charasmatic , nor does she add valuable commentary. Period. Look at Ted Allen- he is a foodie and a cutie and he is adored by almost all because his comments are insightful , valid and refreshingly funny !

posted on September 10, 2007 at 6:32 PM

KissMyBeaner wrote:

To poster Olympia 9/10 11:16am who said:
" As for the judges being to harsh, not at all. There just doing there job."

Pardon me, but using the F BOMB on national TV is NOT what I'd call a culinary judge "doing their job".

"Doing their job" means explaining, in detail, the finer reasons a dish failed or succeeded without saying "It's not as bad as I thought it would be" (oh geez, that's insightful) or "what the F*ck is THAT?"

You speak about Howie being rude and obnoxious to his fellow competitors. Darling, you're star struck. Because that is EXACTLY what the judges were to the contestants.

posted on September 10, 2007 at 9:58 PM

KissMyBeaner wrote:

Oh, and by the way... it's "too harsh" not "to harsh" and "their job" not "there job".

Just thought you'd like to know

posted on September 10, 2007 at 10:03 PM

apollo wrote:

To SJH:

YAY! I agree.

Padma is terrible, I don't care how many books she has written or how many dinner parties she has hosted.

Bravo must have expected much more from her. I respect Bravo too much to think they would hire her solely because she is beautiful. But even if they did, there are many beautiful women and men who could have brought much more to the job than Padma does.

I'm not sure the host should also be a judge or sit at the judges table. But if the host does judge, I yearn for more carefully thought out, insightful, even educational comments -- made in an earnest manner, a la Ted, Gail, Tom & Tony. Padma's marbles-in-the-mouth, I'm so sexy mannerism is irritating. More importantly, her comments are either shrill repeats of Tom's ("if you want to win this...", and "why didn't you taste your food" and "what were you thinking...") -- or are inconsequential and inane -- thin, uninteresting, unenlightening.

I get the feeling that she is acting a part. I get no such feeling from Gail, Tom, Ted or Tony. They critique as if they are explainng the food to their buddies. Padma so-called "critques" as if she is a bad actor reading a bad part in a bad movie.

I occasionally enjoy watching reruns of TC1. It is solely due to my disrespect for Padma and annoyance at her comments and mannerisms that comepletely prevent me from enjoying TC2 or TC3 reruns. If she returns for TC4, that may be it for me.

Scanning the comments to this and other blogs reveals that we are not alone. Many viewers are turned off by Padma. I hope the decision-makers for TC4 and beyond are reading this.

PS. Padman overstepped her bounds when she so rudely told Howie that it was not his decsion to remove himself from the competition. It was not the host's, but the head judge's -- Tom's -- call to respond to Howie. And Tom probably would have graciously accepted Howie's withdrawal, as he did others' in the prior two seasons. So Padma stepped on Tom's area of responsibility, and did it poorly and without class.

Ah well, little people with a little bit of power.

posted on September 11, 2007 at 12:19 PM

dbarrow wrote:

Ah Padma~

Perhaps a comment from one of the Interfaith Alliance conferences will help you understand the majority of postings on your blog. "We believe each person is in charge of his own destiny," Dr. Nadura Rangaraj said. "You reap what you sew."

posted on September 11, 2007 at 1:03 PM

Padma's Drop Dead Sexy!!!! wrote:

Hi Padma!

Although I think you are drop dead sexy, I think you came off as a little...
Ohhhh...
What's the word I'm looking for...
Got it! Snooty (as mentioned in an earlier topic) I also think Hung should have gone home instead of Joey on that old episode because Hung has absolutly NO leadership skills at all; he's too scared of other contestants to make his own decisions and stick with when someone disagrees with him. A perfect example of this was in the episode that I said earlier Hung should have gone home in, when he said that they should have froze things in groups classified by ingredients but let Howie go ahead and make his own decision about how to freeze them even though he knew [U][I]exactly[/I][/U] what would happen.

posted on September 11, 2007 at 8:44 PM

l cappelletti wrote:

I just caught last weeks show on Bravo over the weekend. Let's be honest Howie in my opinion should have gone a long time ago .Way too much attitude , not a team player and twice no dish for the quick fire . Now I don't about you but a real chef would have had no problem with most of these tasks .He would have an excuse for everything . Cop out .

posted on September 11, 2007 at 9:21 PM

SJH wrote:

To apollo:
Right back at ya ! Thanks for your support, and likewise to you with mine.
I know you want to believe the best about the BRAVO/TC producers, but you have to wonder when , throughout TC2 and now TC3, the complaints and criticisms seem to be falling on deaf ears. Not sure if you watched TC2 but when all the drama started unfolding with Cliff, Marcel and Ilan, viewers FLOODED the producer's blog with outrage and complaints . There was never a response from the producer and the blog was subsequently removed from the BRAVO site. I honestly do think that BRAVO keeps Padma around for the eye candy factor, only because she is so painfully bad at what she was hired to do there can be no other reason (BTW your examples of Padma's annoying-ness were great. I almost listed some as well, but my blog was long enough!) At least she no longer looks like a high class hooker like she did with some of her outfits on TC2.
Enjoy the rest of TC3 - I'll keep an eye out for future posts from you !

posted on September 11, 2007 at 9:35 PM

Sarah M wrote:

I'm no great fan of Howie, but Padma's treatment of him was very mean. Also, if you have a problem with his sweating, the professional response would have been to take him aside in private and make your suggestions to him in person, one on one. Padma sinks really low to go on video with her comments. The judges made a big mistake in letting Tre go, as he was the most talented chef that you had. Michael Schwartz was a boor as a host chef, especially when Howie's dish shows a rating of 4 stars - how can that be? The remaining chefs are mediocre at best - they will have to really step up to the plate to win - after Tre left, my desire to watch the show any further has dwindled. The last challenge was absolutely ridiculous - I spend $350 at the grocery store in a heartbeat for a family of four and you expect them to feed 60 people. Get real.

posted on September 11, 2007 at 10:44 PM

Samera wrote:

Thank God for all of the Padma comments because i thought I was alone. I am sorry Padma but you have become so condescending it is downright rude. Aside from the snideness to Howie, no matter how much he may have deserved it, you showed your unprofessionalism. And what about the high and mighty tone to Sara, "not as bad as I would have thought?" I am sorry, what about "free form lasagne" made you think it would be horrible? Especially fromthe chef that won the elimination round the last episode. Get over yourself.

posted on September 12, 2007 at 12:29 AM

michael wrote:

Padma!!! You're finally back! :)

Have to say though, you sound a bit too down on what's going on with the contestants this time. I hope all is not so sour in the Judge's world.

Howie wanted to go, you let him. No biggie, move on to the next round.

posted on September 12, 2007 at 12:55 AM

Jessica wrote:

I don't typically respond, but after watching this week's episode, I just have to vent with the others about how smug Ms. Padma can come off. I thought that her response to Howie's request to resign showed a very condescending side of her personality. When she made her remarks, I felt so annoyed that literally wished someone in the room confronted her about it. I was surprised that Tom Colicchio did not say something. He should be the host and leader of the judging panel--not a second-rate spokesmodel (and wannabe actress) who writes second-rate cookbooks filled with second-rate recipes. (Yes, I looked through her cookbook and stuck it back on the shelf.)

posted on September 12, 2007 at 1:12 AM

Brian wrote:

1. Consistency is a joke. If I got a dollar for every time I've heard Tom tell the contestants that they shouldn't serve something they arent proud of, I'd have, probably $32. Anyway, now when Howie and the desert girls take that advice, they get reprimanded? Joke.

2. Howie. Clearly this was an attemp to make himself look better by leaving the competition voluntarily, rather than have the judges do it for him, because let's face it, he was the next to go, and he knew it. Still, the Judges should have allowed him to leave as they have done in past seasons. The judges had to prove that they are in control, and they looked like asses. How can you say the show and decisions are authentic when Padma essentially says "we are in control"?

3. When the contestants face such tough constraints, they should be judged accordingly. I'm tired of the judges judging as if the contestants had an unlimited amount of money and time to prepare and execute their dish. I mean, if you have $350 to cater for 60 people, expect some crappy output. That's like saving money by having McDonald's cater, but then expecting gourmet, 5 star dishes.

This season is highly produced and the episodes are being affected by too many outside sources...bravo, producers, etc.

Also, the last guest judge is a tool bag.

posted on September 12, 2007 at 4:58 AM

Marva wrote:

I assume that we (viewers) see only those snippets which make it through the editing/cutting room to actual production. I probably have all the terminology wrong, but I know that what actually makes it to the big/small screen is, in no way, complete as it was originally filmed. We would be extremely naive to believe that reality television represents actual reality. Having said that, I am surprised how mean-spirited the judges (you, Padma, and Tom in particular) have been portrayed to be in this season of Top Chef. Being a tough judge does not require one to be castigating and arrogant. I sincerely hope the footage we are seeing is the producers'/network's quest for high ratings as opposed to an accurate representation of the judges' actual behaviors and attitudes.

Letting a chef withdraw from competition was allowed in a previous season - the reasons for the withdrawal really do not matter. Withdrawing is withdrawing. Padma, the refusal to allow Howie to withdraw seemed punitive, and the obloquious expression on your face coupled with the snide tone of your voice was, in my opinion, a disgrace.

Top Chef is a wonderful show. I have been a fan since the first season. The current season, however, has a very different "flavor" than the previous season. Although the judges have always been tough, the criticism has been contructive and delivered in straight-forward, respectful manner. The judges remain tough this season but seem to have thrown contructive criticism out the window, and this season's behavior at judge's table (directed to the Top Chef contestants) can hardly be called respectful.

posted on September 12, 2007 at 3:01 PM

Bc wrote:

The horse is out of the barn!
If a bloggers opinion carries so much weight that it's given more air time than Chef Boulud AND the cheftestants are told to correct their mistakes according to said blogger .... then what's good for the goose should be good for the gander.
The judges should consider their own blogs critisisms.
* The blogs are easily 3 -1 in agreement that things on TC need some changes.
* Eliminating Tre may have been correct but it was still wrong.
* Sara should have gotten at least something for a win.
* Cleavage-gate was a disaster. But could Sara N.s cleavage at RW dinner been any more pronounced?
* Maybe telling the cheftestants to be nicer was a mistake. It seems the nasty void has been filled by the judges.

Love the show, but like many others I have my gripes too.

Bc

posted on September 12, 2007 at 4:12 PM

ann c roberts wrote:

Who are these judges?
The thin chick Padma who is she? where is she from, does she have a culinary background? Who is the chef? I have never heard of him. I just don't get it. Is it a friends connection. It would be helpful if you explain the connection and give a story about the qualifications of these "judges", what is their background?
Regards , Annie

posted on September 12, 2007 at 4:59 PM

anne wrote:

Incidentally, chefs, "quatre" the name of 1 of the restaurants in rest. wars 2 isnt pronounced "cot". It is quat-re which is a little prettier sounding. Just watching the reruns tonight before the new episode.
Enjoying the episodes again this season.

posted on September 12, 2007 at 8:33 PM

Diana wrote:

Hey Pamda!
I am a BIG fan. I like how you guys are so nice and tough. Couldn't think of better judges. With that said.....How could you send CJ home?!?! It hurt to see him go. It seemed to me like he was what gave peace and comradity to the guys! I'm sure they'll cope. It was obvious you hated to see him go too. You gotta do what you gotta do I suppose. I'd HATE to have your job. Best of luck with the next ones! Ciao!

posted on September 12, 2007 at 11:15 PM

rita bailey wrote:

I no longer think this is a great show, each judge is getting uglier and you mistreated Howie. There are some still there htat should have gone along time ago . You are now rude , and after letting c.j. go tonight , well bye im not watching any more ,

posted on September 12, 2007 at 11:16 PM

Joseph Czubowicz wrote:

I CAN NOT BELIVE YOU SAID TO THE CHEF'S WELCOME TO NY WHEN THEY WERE IN NEW JERSEY. WHAT A BLOND MOMENT YOU HAD BRIT..I MEAN PADMA. How dare you belittle the Great State of NEW JERSEY that let you shoot here!!!! If you are not a "Top Host" you should go home and let NJ Boy Anthonty Bourdain host the show. Please apalogize to the state of NJ " ON AIR" You are lucky the Chef"s are smarter than you and knew they were in NEW JERSEY and saved your mistake. For furture refrence look east and you will see a river....New York is on the other side.

posted on September 12, 2007 at 11:39 PM

surprised wrote:

I have a problem with the level of sexism I have been noticing in these comments. Just to clarify, I don't think that criticizing Padma as a judge is itself sexist, but a lot of the assumptions people are making seem like it to me:
1. I don't see why people are so hasty to decry Padma as "eye candy" and assume she's just there for her looks. Just because she may have made a judgment in error on the episode with Howie doesn't mean she doesn't know anything about food. Criticisms can be made without resorting to saying she must only be there because she's beautiful.
2. Please stop referring to Casey as the "bikini" girl and asserting she's there for eye candy. Anyone paying any attention on the episode where they thought they were going out but had to cook instead could see that she was totally uncomfortable being caught in (quite demure) party clothes and said "I never let my staff see me like this." If you don't like her cooking that's one thing, but I don't think it's fair to assert she's there because of her looks.

posted on September 12, 2007 at 11:45 PM

Dorothy, but no red shoes wrote:

Hi! Total enjoy you. You are really beautiful.
I have a personal ? Are you of Native American Heritage?
May I ask about the scar on your arm. You wear that with such grace.
I was also dissapointed when C.J. was asked to leave. I could see that it was also difficult for
Thank you for being who you are doing what God has created you to do
Blessings Dorothy,

posted on September 13, 2007 at 2:20 AM

Gin wrote:

I have a TiVo season pass on Top Chef so I normally don't watch it until the next day. This allows me to skip the obvious commercials, I love that. LOL anyway, I was sad to see Tre go.. sad to see a lot of them go really. I was totally disgusted at the 'winner' of last season but once again find myself watching the show. Despite the judging inconsistencies I think that they do a decent job with what they are given. All the griping on this blog about how Howie wasn't 'allowed' to quit when others were is just stupid. We have no clue what kind of contract these people signed or how it may have changed from the last season to this one. It is entirely possible that they are NOT allowed to quit this time, we just don't know. And they may not know either if they didn't actually read the contract they signed (you'd be surprised how many people don't read what they sign).

Padma does a great job and you don't have to be a 'chef' to know good food from bad. Of course the fact that she is beautiful doesn't hurt the situation, you rarely see 'ugly' people on tv.. even contestants are all decent looking, at least the females are, men are always judged by a different standard.

Peace

posted on September 13, 2007 at 5:27 PM

jane wrote:

Padma, what has become of you this season? Last season I loved watching you and thought you were a great addition to the show. This season you are so hateful and nasty to people it really is a put-off. I was glad to see Howie go because I believe he should have gone long before Tre' did but the way you snapped at him when he requested to leave was ridiculous. Top Chef has done a great job of getting some real talent and professional people this season, however, watching you constantly try to belittle or snap at them is not something that is appealing.

posted on September 14, 2007 at 10:11 AM

Fawn Smith wrote:

Padma, I am quite disappointed with you and the other judges on this episode. You did not allow Howie to remove himself from the competition, yet last season you allowed Mia and Otto to do just that (and I think that there was a woman on Season 1 who removed herself). Why? Why was it different for Howie to remove himself than it was for Otto or Mia?

Also, you and the judges were quite harsh in your treatment of the contestants. In the real world, you would not ever get away with speaking like that to someone, no matter what your position. All of your actions and the actions of the other judges in this episode, negatively toward the contestants, were pathetic attempts to boost ratings - to get more sponsors?- and it showed. If this show begins to resemble other reality shows any more than it currently does, I assure you that you will lose viewers. Why you ask? Because if we wanted to watch crap in a box we would be tuning into other reality shows on the major networks instead of watching a food competition on your channel.

Yes, your viewers are interested in the food and the judging on the food alone. On the food alone!

Sadly, your viewers realize that this show isn't just about the food as you and the judges claim. If it was about the food, last episode Brian would have been sent home instead of Tre because Brian didn't cook anything for an elimination challenge (or even try to and fail, which is really bad in my book).

If it was about the food, you and the judges wouldn't hold it against a contestant when he/she doesn't serve any food rather than serving something that tastes horrible, just like you and the judges keep telling the contestants to do. With the inconsistency of the statements that you guys say to the contestants, why are you continually suprised that they serve you food that they have messed up on (out of fear of elimination)- or better yet, why do you penalize them when they choose not to serve you bad food (out of fear of elimination)? Make up your mind!

No, the way that you spoke to Howie, we all saw that this isn't about the food. You sending Howie home seemed and felt personal. The way that you and the other judges spoke to all of the contestants seemed and felt personal.

Please do your job the way that you present your job to be to the viewers. If next season turns out to be like this one, I assure you that you will at least lose this viewer - though the message boards on this website makes me think that it will be far more than just I.

posted on September 17, 2007 at 2:51 PM

Sharon wrote:

To refuse to accept someone's resignation just so you can fire them shows one thing, no class.

posted on September 19, 2007 at 10:43 PM

scott arnold wrote:

First, let me say the show is quite entertaining. That being said, as a restaurant manager and sommelier for one of the best restaurants in DC, I have to wonder how you let most of these people onto your set. I personally would not hire the large majority of these "chefs" (I use the term very loosely) as a line cook. You first have to know how to cook before you can even imagine creating your own dishes.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 3:41 AM

scott arnold wrote:

First, let me say the show is quite entertaining. That being said, as a restaurant manager and sommelier for one of the best restaurants in DC, I have to wonder how you let most of these people onto your set. I personally would not hire the large majority of these "chefs" (I use the term very loosely) as a line cook. You first have to know how to cook before you can even imagine creating your own dishes.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 3:50 AM

terry Lynn Young wrote:

OH

posted on September 20, 2007 at 9:14 PM

Gerry wrote:

Having watched Top Chef for all three seasons I"m really sad to say it's gone down hill, from the quality of the chefs to the judging. The pious girl, Casy gets more air time than you do. Could the producers make it more clear who they want to win? Well I guess they can. Just add some dreamy music and a halo over her head when she is telling everyone how wonderful and saintly she is. Give us a break. No wonder you and chef Tom can't hide your frustration.

posted on September 26, 2007 at 1:52 PM

CC wrote:

Congratulations Hung! All of the remaining chefs take a bow. I
watched the finale, which I felt was drawn out and realized that
Hung is cool under pressure, is inventive and creates a very
sophisticated dish that surprises even the guest judges. I am
not surprised that so many blogs trash Padma. I guess if I were
a former model, chef, author, tv hostess who could speak about
5 languages I'd be thought of as a "bimbo" too. Top Chef makes
for good tv and I'm excited for the next season. Kudos to Bravo
for a great reality show.

posted on October 4, 2007 at 7:29 AM

charlie machise wrote:

Padma for me i love seeing you on the show. and if it wasnt for you i wouldnt be . you are a great cook, and one of the most loveiest ladys in the world..you make the show.. fokes love to make statements on the neg. side . about you, but your doing a great job. just as you did on Padmas passport. show. hope you go far on this show, and others, moves, ect. your biggest fan.o.x. ps. i love your cook books.

posted on October 18, 2007 at 8:23 PM