Tabatha wrote:

Ted Allen, I love you, but... I have to disagree with what you've said about Hung and other mean/cocky chefs. I don't want to eat something, no matter how scrumptious it is, if it has been cooked by a person that is mean. It's one thing to be proud of your work or self-confident but it is not OK to be nasty to those around you. It's kind of like when you meet someone and they are really good looking and then you find out they are a total ***hole. They aren't so cute anymore. If I was eating something and it was the best thing I ever tasted and then I saw the person that cooked it belittling his/her staff it just wouldn't taste the same. Well thanks for letting me comment!

posted on September 19, 2007 at 11:14 PM

Stephanie Preston wrote:

Hung is soooooo friggin' arrogant it is really difficult to stand. Dale's comment about him not having a heart is dead-on. As far as Hung beating Casey out tonight...what a joke. That is based on a misogynistic old man's technical critique of what she NAMED her dish instead of the merit of the flavors and presentation. I can't wait to see Hung's day on the chopping block come in Aspen!!!!

posted on September 19, 2007 at 11:15 PM

Jim Nail wrote:

I knew it would be a toss up between Hung and Casey, but I still don't understand how Hung won the quickfire challenge! The guest clearly said that he liked Casey's imitation best when he tasted it. But when he announced the winner, he said that he liked Hung's from the beginning. What gives??

posted on September 19, 2007 at 11:21 PM

sarah wrote:

I love these comments. My only comment is the quick fire judge must be a male chauvinist. He stated Casey's dish was the best and then makes a comment about her being pretty and he would have like to chose her as a man, but he chose Hung. Please. That was annoying!

posted on September 19, 2007 at 11:23 PM

Lynn wrote:

Again I find unfairness in the judging.... no in the final four but in who won the challenge. The judges found no flaw in Caseys dish except that she didn't use an old Rooster. I have cookbooks with her recipe in it and they don't call for me to go shopping for on old Rooster. The judges all agreed Half of Hungs dish was not cooked perfectly. Casey should have won. I believe the French Judge was biased probally because Hung is classicly trained. I would pick Caseys food anyday and I think she was wronged

posted on September 19, 2007 at 11:23 PM

Vijay wrote:

Ted, strange that you would bid adieu to CJ who got eliminated last week, but no final comments or thoughts on your part for this week's eliminated chef, Sara?!!

posted on September 19, 2007 at 11:30 PM

Dana wrote:

To borrow a Dale phrase, "Damn Skippy" that I can be pissed off regarding the final four chefs. It is beyond wrong that Brian is there - cmon, Ted, the man cooked NOTHING for 4 out of 11 competitions and this is fair??? If not for tonight's Green market sausage, would Brian's dish still have been so well received??

Sara may have been moving out of her league with her cooking but at least she did COOK at all 11 competitions.

Much more than I can say about Brian.

posted on September 19, 2007 at 11:31 PM

Susan wrote:

I think the final four are the correct choices. And I think that it will boil down to Casey and Hung. I live in the DFW area, and I have seen Casey interviewed on TV several times...pressing her to reveal if she was chosen as 'Top Chef'...of course, she hasn't, as this was taped sometime ago. She seems to be the type of person that what you see is what you get, which is a credit. I also wish that this show would have won the Emmy on Sunday night...I think it was fantastic that it was nominated. It shows that viewers are fed up with what is on main stream TV and a lot of the crap that is shown. Top Chef is wonderful, and I hope that it continues for many years!!! We are loyal fans! Casey, you go girl!!!!!

posted on September 19, 2007 at 11:33 PM

trish wrote:

I have to tell you Ted, I'm pissed off regardless to what you write in your blog. Brian has no business being in the finals IMO. So what, he did well tonight. Where was his passion when he wasn't cooking anything? Oh that's right, none of that counts. How often did he screw up? Oops, that doesn't matter either. Give me a break.
Casey is holding her own, I'll give her credit. Hung definitely belongs there. I just wish he would clean up behind himself. Believe it or not, I know quite a few chefs who don't I'm sorry to say. Dale has tried hard, I've no problem there.
I don't really care who wins right now, but Brian has been skating by for a very long time on the backs of much better chefs. He has no imagination.
Hung is gifted, that much I agree with. Casey is getting there.
This is one viewer who is still pissed that Tre didn't get there. Your certainly entitled to your opinion, but let the rest of us have ours.

posted on September 19, 2007 at 11:35 PM

Mark wrote:

of course the french have their "parmentier" dish, basically a fancier (sounding) sheperd's pie frequently done with poultry - duck or goose, so the judges had a point of reference. however it is seldom neon green! fair play to brian for taking that risk though, and doing a homier-style dish. i thought sara would have pipped dale past the post, as i though that for as a chef, rather than a cook, which the competition ultimately is, that concept would trump execution. thanks for the blog ted, missed you last week!

posted on September 19, 2007 at 11:37 PM

chef QT wrote:

Ted Allen, you are incredible. It's amazing how you take the words right out of my mouth. I have to agree that this was a great episode. I was starting to be that bitter blogger ripping on the contestants each week because I felt I could do it better than them. Well, I'll shut up now. If someone asked me to define coq au vin or sous vide prior to this episode, I would have stumbled a bit. These chefs have proven themselves to me once again...not that they ever needed to.

posted on September 19, 2007 at 11:43 PM

Maggie wrote:

I have to agree with you on all counts. I think that Casey stated that her main competition is Hung she was dead on. I have not always been a Casey fan but as more shows have passed I can see her talent. She has a passion for it and I see it when they focus on her cooking.
HUNG!!! From my mouth the God's ears that boy can cut! I get laughed at because I cringe when you see him cutting and he's looking at something other than what he's cutting.
Dale - LOVE HIM! LOVE HIM! I just hope that his next plate is dead on and doesn't get better with time.
Brian leaves me confused. I was very surprised the judges overall liked his dish because just looking at it - it did resemble a green turd.
I've been told by my husband since this show started that I've been experimenting a lot more. I've cooked a few of the recipes and I would have to say that Howie's Pork with Adult Appleslaw (that's our name for it) is by far a family favorite.

posted on September 19, 2007 at 11:44 PM

patty b wrote:

I agree, the 4 remaining chefs deserve to be where they are, each
week was a fair judgement. Tonight, I found to be exciting, and
it was awesome to see them step it up and make a great dish. My
heart sank when Dale forgot his sauce, but I thought by looking
at it, it must have been good. I will miss Sara for sure, I thought
she was a great chef and hope we see her again.
Godd luck Chefs, I'm pulling for my favorites of course, Casey and
Dale, your dishes have always kept my attention. No offense Hung and Brian, you are respected and I wish you good luck too.!!!

posted on September 19, 2007 at 11:48 PM

Marla Stewart wrote:

I think this was one of the better episodes of the season. I wish C J was still in the running though. Casey has really stepped up to the plate! Nice to see a girl giving the boys a run for the money (especially Hung!).It was way past time to say good bye to Sara. She never really seemed to go above and beyond. I hope Dale gets it together. He seems like he would be a great chef to sit at his kitchen table in his own place!

posted on September 19, 2007 at 11:49 PM

ken wrote:

Ted, you're definitely on the mark tonight. Casey's dish looked delicious as seen from my high def television; I could even swear I could smell the scent of savory roasted chicken. Her and Hung are definitely going to be the ones to beat at the finale.

But, as you also said, Hung's knife skills are an all important skill of being a top chef. And I still remember Casey's attempt to dice an onion during that Tag Team event. It seemed she couldn't handle the basic skill of dicing!

Dale, my brother in kind too, had the makings of a superb dish also, but in his rush he forgot the sauces. That was quickly noticed by the French Chefs, because sauces are I believe such an important part of French Masterpieces (including their pastries).

Brian's dish surprised me also. I did not like the looks of it. Actually it appeared to look like what my dog leaves on my carpet. That's after eating grass in the yard to settle his tummy. That's exactly what Brian's dish reminded me of when I first looked at it. And flavors - everyone knows that the flavor of sausage will overpower the subtle flavor of chicken. What was he thinking? I agree it most likely tasted well, but for a French culinary dish? No way.

Ken

posted on September 19, 2007 at 11:50 PM

Melissa K wrote:

Hey-- love your blogs! I completely agree about Casey. If she hadn't called it coq au vin, would they have had anything to argue? One thing on Hung--- yes, he does seem the most technically qualified. As much as they make him out to be the villain, they're almost setting him up. Why would you share your secrets and your knowledge with your competitors when the quickfire is a direct who-can-figure-this-out-the-best contest? I don't like the way he smiles when other people mess up, though. (Sara's uncooked chicken, and there were two other moments I forget. It could be in the editing, but it looked like there was a bit of a smirk when he heard other people messed it up.) Casey is my favorite and who I'm rooting for (ignoring the dull knife and onion incident), but I wouldn't be too surprised if Hung took home the grand prize. Maybe he could work on his people skills a little more.

posted on September 19, 2007 at 11:57 PM

Janet wrote:

I am glad that I continued to watch TC after Tre left (because I, also, was disappointed ). The mature behavior of the chefs has allowed the competition to be enjoyable and educational. I do have an issue with judges comment about Casey's dish. She did call the chicken braised and a "light" co..v..n (pardon my French). And I do have to comment on Hung's excuse about the potato and his having to plate alone... Eat your words Hung. And you were starting to act like a grownup...

posted on September 20, 2007 at 12:00 AM

Shan wrote:

I have a right to be pissed about the final four. Their boring and mediocre. If you have to pick someone it should be Hung, and I can't even stand him. The past two episodes were boring and now I only watch the last 15 minutes to see whose going home. This has to be the worst season of Top Chef. I'd rather see Howie return, atleast there would be something interesting going on. And I can't stand Howie either.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 12:04 AM

Swamp Yankee wrote:

Mr Allen,

I continue to be pleasantly surprised by how Casey is doing. After tonight's episode and the airline food episode, the people who are accusing the Top Chef producers of keeping Casey because she's "eye candy" should start apologizing to her.

I also agree with the gist of what (I believe) Dale said: Hung is a very good technically but doesn't put the heart into his cooking that Casey puts into hers. I think Dale was also implying that Hung was heartless. I attribute that to the exigencies of the competition.

From what I saw of the judges' decision making, it seems that breaking the first three finishers from the last two was fairly easy: both Dale and Sara M had major problems with their dishes (although I am surprised, with the infatuation that some of the judges seem to show towards raw and undercooked meat, that Sara M wasn't given kudos for her chicken carpaccio). My tendency would be to give Sara M a lower score: Dale's may have been taste-free, but at least it was sufficiently cooked to avoid hospitalization.

From my poorly-sited vantage point, it seemed the decision for winner in this episode was between Hung and Casey. I suspect that Hung is overvaluing his victory in this episode; the televised parts of the judges' deliberations seemed to show that his margin of victory was minute.

Well, good luck to all of them. Good luck, too, to Sara M.

Edwin

posted on September 20, 2007 at 12:08 AM

precious wrote:

This season is a complete bust. Bring on season 4.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 12:09 AM

Sarit wrote:

Ted, I think your judgement is outstanding and yours is the first blog I go to. I agree that all 4 deserve to be there - and I am happy for them all. I love the way you break the show down - you are always insightful. However, the sausage from Brian had nothing to do with pleasing the Swede; I really think that was his lack of IQ to use another protein on top of what's been given to him.
Thanks for repeating Dale's quotes - I come back to your blogs just to see them again!
All the best - and wouldn't mind a recipe for that lasagna!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 12:13 AM

Sheryll wrote:

Great blog as usual, Ted.

To me, it was striking how far many current of the top American chefs have moved away from any classical training. I'm talking in terms of general trends and not just on Top Chef, but this trend is clearly displayed in the TC cheftestants. Out of the 15, only Hung has been strongly trained in classical techniques. I have to wonder how well any other "Celebrity Chefs" would have done in this challenge, including Tom. How similar/different is the training at the FCI versus the CIA? Although it was the bedrock of American fine dining, I am wondering if classic French cuisine hasn't become outdated in this country...

posted on September 20, 2007 at 12:14 AM

SC wrote:

I agree with the judges 100% this time around, it was time for Sarah to go. She is technically inferior to all the other remaining chefs and simply needs more time to mature in her cooking.

I have dined at Le Cirque many times and the potato sea bass has always been my favorite (along with the lobster salad). I think Hung's rendition was the most authentic and I am glad that Sirrio chose him. Then Hung delivered with a spot on classic. No matter how you feel about him, he is the best technical cook. He is more talented than Marcel last season and deserves to win.

I am all for Hung! Get one for the yellow man!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 12:19 AM

Silvia wrote:

Despite the fact that Ted Allen said nobody has any business questioning why the final four are who they are, I would like to dwell into that subject a little.
You can make the argument that the reason why most of these chefs have been on the bottom of several of the challenges is that the playing field was more difficult and even than in the past seasons. However, I feel that the judges' comments about the food this late into the competition are way harsher than they were during the first two seasons. You can also make the argument that the judges' expectations are higher in this season but to me it's just shocking the way they describe some of the food. Compare that to the last five chefs standing in the first season. Or the last four last season. The judges had a difficult time deciding who was going to go home among those people. This time around they had a hard time deciding who to keep. They only had three chefs they liked at the end. They had undercooked chicken and a lack of seasoning among the top five chefs. They had the worst dish ever served in this competition among the top six. Casey who seems to be doing well lately made many basic mistakes earlier in the competition. I don't remember that happening to the top chefs in the last two seasons.
Unfortunately I can't taste any of the food but I am not excited by it because the judges just don't seem excited when they are eating it. I hope that the food in the finale is just as creative and tasty as it's been in the last two seasons but I am worried that it won't be.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 12:22 AM

Josh wrote:

Ted, I enjoy reading your blogs (almost as much as watching the show). However, please don't ruin my fantasy that Dale really is a great lovable gay guy. I am pleased that he will be involved in the finale. And in response to Dale's comment on Brian's green turd- the dish did scare me. I am glad it tasted better than it looked!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 12:55 AM

Juliette wrote:

Dear Ted,
You say to those of us in the blogosophere (and elsewhere), "None of you has any business being pissed off about the four chefs going into this finale." With all due respect....the hell?

Fortunately, out here in viewer-land, we are fortunately "entitled" to have whatever opinions we like. (We may even, gasp, be RIGHT once in a while, do you think?) The judges (and let's not forget the ultimate "deciders"--the producers) have their reasons for the decisions--and you inow as well as I that it's not ALWAYS about the food.

More to the point, it is DEFINITELY legitimate to question why Brian--with numerous mediocre or failed efforts, and several times where his best skill consisted of opting out of creating much of anything--deserves inclusion in final 4.

Of course, you made a preemptive strike on those of us who still regret that Tre (remember him?) did not make final four while Brian (and, arguably, Dale) still remain.

Casey and Hung will make a good and talented final 2, with Hung--chosen twice tonight by chefs who know what skills to look for--is the most deserving winner, imo.

P.S. So...Casey wins EC and gets (1) a laptop and (2) two round trip tickets to anywhere in the world she wants to go. Hung wins an EC--in a challenge of high level cooking skills and with top level judging and wins.....absolutely nothing.

Oh, did that sound critical? I forget. I'm just "a little person" with no right to question the inconsistencies or seeming unfairness of some aspects of this season's "Top Chef". I'll try to remember "my place" in the future, Ted. Thanks so much for the reminder.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 1:01 AM

Andy B. wrote:

I concur Ted, very good episode. Need to know your audience, and cook accordingly. Hung and Casey did this the best in both challenges, tto win favor with the old good old boys club of cooking. Naturally, had tthe two best dishes in the elimination challenge. Dale, and Brian cruised by. (especially Dale). Sarah bit the dust. Then the Grand old man- Sir Andre Soltner, chose Hung as the winner of the elimination challenge, presenting Hung with Zip, Zero, Nada........But
for the right to be one of four chefs to compete in Aspen, for the prestige honor to be TOP CHEF 3.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 1:05 AM

SMH wrote:

Ted

Right on about Hung. I agree he isn't the fan favorite based on his take no prisoners attitude but after tonite I believe he will win it all. He's the most experience and sure of himself and least likely to melt down in a pressure situation. I can't say that about Casey or Dale who are cleary 2 and 3. Brian got lucky by serving a pork fat dish, and we all not know pork fat taste good.

Hung's only hurdle to victory is the final challenge where he will likely rely on the skills of ex-TC candidate who view prefer Casey or Dale because of his arrogance. But with his knife skills and speed, he will probably overcome

posted on September 20, 2007 at 1:17 AM

Jeannette wrote:

Yes,Hung is an excellent chef and maybe a very nice person,but in the Top Chef kitchen he is a selfish brat,to put it mildly. I'll bet that in the kitchen where he earns his living he has to pick up the broken olive oil bottle,the vegetables on the floor the crawfish that fell from the net,etc. etc or else. The two finalists will be Casey and Hung and I'll be rooting all the way for
Casey.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 1:32 AM

Sivilay wrote:

Hung said he's doing this for the immigrant community, but I don't think Hung's a good representative of the immigrant community. Cockiness aside, Hung doesn't own up to his own faults (e.g. when he knocked over the truffles oil, trying to blame others on not helping him plate, etc.). Also, while willing to accept help from others, he seems to always be reluctant to return the favor.

As a fellow Southeast Asian refugee, I can honestly say most all immigrants are humble, appreciative of their opportunities here, and always team players. I wish Hung wasn't out there giving the rest of us a bad rep.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 2:29 AM

Katherine Schwartz wrote:

This was a well written, funny, warm, and accurate summation. Thank you!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 2:31 AM

joy wrote:

I felt Sara M. had abetter thing going, than Dale. I'm tired of having th hear all the bad language coming out of his mouth and then having to keep telling us about the big gay chef. You know, if the food is good and done right we dont need to know their sexual preference. And his comment about how well his dishes would be the third or fourth time he made it , hey isnt that what the show is about? Doing your best right now, after all it was all the chef's first attempts for the judges. I think you guys played the gay card to keep the show "interesting", Which does'nt work for me . Oh well, I'm probably a minority when it comes to that topic.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 2:34 AM

KristinaS wrote:

If you'd like to know what Swedes eat, try Aquavit in NYC (chef Marcus Samuelsson).

posted on September 20, 2007 at 3:05 AM

LAMusing wrote:

Welcome back! In three seasons of Top Chef, I believe chicken has only been used in one or two recipes, so I was delighted to find it as the main ingredient. Chicken is an inexpensive, easliy accessable, year round protien for most home cooks. I've been disappointed and surprised that Top Chef has never used this common bird to show us to what heights it can fly... okay chickens don't fly, but you get my point.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 3:23 AM

CR wrote:

Heart and soul in the food is what it might come down to in the end. Hung's great technical skills against Casey's soul. Brian has gone further in the competition than I thought he would. Wish Tre were in the final four instead of him. Like Dale a lot and hope he can pull it together for the next challenge.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 4:28 AM

Happy_Viewer wrote:

Hay, I'm the first to post. What an honor!

Ted's evaluation was spot-on. This is a battle of Hung vs. Casey. I like Casey, but I LOVE Hung. Last season, Marsel was so cocky that I couldn't like him. He was a great chef, but he rubbed me the wrong way with that molecular (?) techniques. As for Hung, he is like Marsel, same cockiness. But, I'm so impressed with his knife work. It is just magnificent. It's like watching an artist creating his masterpiece. He has very sophisticated skills. The only flaw he may have is his strong desire to show case his skills, which can distract him from focusing more on the flavors.

Casey is totally opposite of Hung. She wasn't classically trained but she is got heart and soul. Her execution is a bit slow, but her plating and flavors were usually superb and precise. Since I'm a female, it would be nice to see a female top chef.

I love Dale because he is just so lovable. He has the greatest personality that somehow jeopardizes his chance of becoming a great chef. He cares too much about what's going on with other people. Why did he let Hung bother him like that. Who cares if Hung was acting like a selfish brut. No one was paying attention to him except Dale. Dale, you gotta stay focused and concentrat on your own dish. Otherwise, you'll never survive to the next round.

Too bad CJ was eliminated. I thought he had great potential. As for Brian and Sara, they were great people but lacked personality. Well, thank you for reading my 2 cents. Adios!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 4:45 AM

Trish wrote:

Ted,
I love reading your blog. I have to say that Hung really impressed me with his skills. Obviously, his culinary training has paid off. He is amazing with a knife and I love how swiftly he prepares his dishes, With a little more maturity, I am sure he will be a fabulous chef one day. Hung may not be the nicest person, but I think he will win this thing hands down against Casey. I don't know if Brian is formerly trained, and maybe his Sheperd's pie was great, but it looked unappetizing. I would not have served that to a panel like that. At least theres no drama this season. Last season was a joke. Till next week.....

posted on September 20, 2007 at 4:58 AM

ATG wrote:

Spot on! I agree with ya on every point! I too, wish you'd been there for this episode (If you could be in all of them, that would be best for me!).
Love reading your thoughts on the show.

Were there amazing Chefs in this competition who could have/should have been in the final four? Probably. Should we say these four don't belong there? I think not. Each one has, as Casey said, spent time on the top and on the bottom--so really, it's anyone's game to win.

That being said? Go Casey!

I am SO glad you "sided" with Casey's Coq Au Vin decision! I truly thought she should have gotten a 'gold star' for her efforts! Really a gutsy move!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 5:19 AM

Darryl Brown wrote:

I don't have cable, so I don't get to see Wednesday's episodes until I'm at a friend's place on Sundays- Ted, your commentary always leaves me on pins and needles waiting to see the new show. Also, I keep wondering why the producers edit you to bring out a brusqueness that is not so evident on the blog. Thanks for writing, your blog in particular as well as the others keep this "signal-less" viewer in the thick of it. Wow I have never used the word "blog" so much before. Blog.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 5:25 AM

PeachPie wrote:

Pissed off about who's going to the finale?? No, not at all. Actually, for me, it's at this point in the season that, no matter who gets sent home, I feel bad. It's hard to watch anyone go home.

Wonderful show last night and a great challenge! Good luck to the last four!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 6:35 AM

Nancy Burdette wrote:

Of the 5 that were left, I think the right 4 made it to the finale. Hung has made some great food and some bad food during the competition but I think anyone would be hard pressed to deny that he loves cooking as much as anybody. I think he was spot on to deny sharing his technique in the quickfire. The whole quickfire was to see how well each chef can figure out how to re-create a dish they ate. To share anything about how he did it would be to cheat...pure and simple. Hung was right to not share. That being said, Hung honey, you've got no right to whine that no one helped you plate. You can't have it both ways and a CPA like yourself should know that. I like each chef left for different reasons and different dishes. I just hope they remember it's all going to be on their dish the night of judging and nothing that has come before. Dale, double check that you have everything. Casey, watch out for Hung's knives- they will be flying. Everyone remember to cook-Tom's pretty big on that in the final challenge. Stay away from the fillet and the salmon. Happy cooking!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 7:52 AM

julia wrote:

Loved the entire episode...New York was at its very best.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 8:02 AM

FanFare wrote:

Hi Ted,
Glad to have you back on the blognet. Your tone, however, seemed angry toward the viewers. Are you?

I do agree with many of your observations. I adore watching Hung chop, dice, and smile while he is doing it. His technigque is manic, yet refined. Dale is a big hug of a guy. The fact that he repeats that he is gay doesn't impress me though. Why does it matter? He is adorable, and takes some risks, yet they miss the mark more often than not. His food was flavorless in both the QF and elimination. Therefore, he should not have been passed through to Aspen. Sara failed as well twice. In this case both Dale and Sara should have been given the door. Brian hung on by his fingernails. His dish looked awful and was stupid. Shepard's Pie to be served to French Inspired Cooking EXPERTS? Doesn't he know that the French abhor British food?

posted on September 20, 2007 at 8:16 AM

dani wrote:

Gotta admit I am completely voting for Dale! Perhaps it is because we are both from the Chicago area, but more than likely it because he seems so innovative and willing to put his neck on the line. Maybe it was a tad too ambitious, but I want to try that dish when he opens his own restaurant!

Brian's dish may have tasted great, but I would have had a difficult time getting over the looks! Yet it was great to see Brian impress the judges this week. As someone sitting on my couch with novice cooking experience even I don't undercook my chicken. For that I believe Sara dug her own grave. That is one oversight that cannot be ignored!

Now for my biggest issue of the night, Why did Casey NOT win? The judges did not complain about one taste related issue with her food! Perhaps a coq au vin it wasn't, no one could fault her on taste and presentation. Hung on the other hand was faulted for his potato. Why wasn't the prize given to Casey? Hung may be a great technical chef, but it is time to grow up! It is quite juvenile to throw everyone else under the bus in front of the judges for your own plate! Come on Hung lose the arrogance and immaturity and concentrate on your talent. I still maintain Casey should have won.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 8:48 AM

Maureen wrote:

Ted:

I still think Hung is not a very nice person. He never seems
to want to help anyone else. The other chefs will all help each other and he won't. As far as I'm concerned he should have
been gone a long time ago. Hopefully, his cockiness will not
get him to the winner's circle. I still think Tre was the best and you guys blew it by letting him go.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 9:10 AM

Matt wrote:

Maybe not pissed, but disappointed that Dale made it to the final - after his elimination chicken dish was given a very lukewarm reception - and he forgot his sauce. Add to that his trying to get info from Hung for the elimination challenge (dude, knowing how to do it yourself is the point, isn't it), his whining of how his elimination dish turned out, and his little speech about passion. I almost forgot his tribute to "cooking with heart" - which I see as stupid mumbo-jumbo. I was ambivilant about Dale before, but now really don't want him to win. It should've been a final-3.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 9:17 AM

SJH wrote:

GREAT, GREAT, GREAT episode. No ridiculous budget constraints, no processed foods - just straight up great cooking.
I am rooting for Hung and Casey. Hung clearly is very skilled, I only hope that he soon learns some kitchen etiquette ( I can't imagine that he gets away with that shi*t at Guy Savoy!). Casey started a little shaky but is ending the season with incredible panache. Dale had absolutely no reason to be miffed that Hung didn't share his knowledge about how to execute the halibut in the quickfire. Hung was completely justified in his keeping mum - this is for the finale Dale !!!! It was definitely Sara's turn to go- 2 undercooked dishes in one episode ?!?! Yikes! And, Brian, you should count your lucky stars that you came this far. While your dish apparently had flavor, it looked like a big, green , sloppy mess. I cannot believe that Tom, et all didn't comment more about the appearance of that slop.
Can't wait for next week !!!!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 9:28 AM

sarah M wrote:

Ted: I always love your blog, but wait a minute. Why do people always make fun of british food. When cooked correctly with fresh local ingredients it is food fit for the gods, or anyone else for that matter. The problem is, people try and make it with whatever they have and the results are horrid. I would like to see an episode where one of our many fine and world class British Chefs show you and the Top Chef contestants how to do it right and see what happens. It was sad to see Sara go but I love the final four.. can't wait for the next episode.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 9:44 AM

Grace wrote:

I'm a new-comer here, but people actually hate Hung??
I love him to death. Not boyfriend material, but a great character.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 9:44 AM

Sal Wilson wrote:

I am disappointed. This was rigged from the beginning. If classic French cuisine was the measure of a Top Chef they should have limited the contestants to those trained in classic French cuisine. This was decided before they started. Hung is the only one trained in classic French cuisine, no one else had a chance.
And what a sexist remark, Casey had three strikes against her and she still managed to get on base. This man has no place in the 21st century.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 10:06 AM

jim wrote:

I don't know Ted. I don't buy Hung's "no help with plating" excuse. Dude had an extra 30 minutes to cook. He should have budgeted that in. And after he didn't give any tips on the Le Cirque Challenge, why WOULD he expect help?

posted on September 20, 2007 at 10:32 AM

Alejandro wrote:

Ted, don't you think that Casey didn't win the quickfire challenge because she was a woman? and didn't win the elimination challenge because she named her dish coq au vin?

I mean, when at le cirque the judge said that hers was the best of any (and hung went first than her) and on the elimination challenge, everyone loved her dish, but the only thing the head chef (pardon don't remember the name) was that it wasn't really coq au vin, although he loved it! is this because she is a woman and as Gale discuss and Casey mentioned at one point last night and throughout the competition is still a male dominated world?

Wouldn't we love to see Casey and Dale cooking together and showing everyone Gays and Girls cook the best?

posted on September 20, 2007 at 10:33 AM

karen wrote:

Witty and funny and great read, another great post this week, Ted glad your hear. thanks

posted on September 20, 2007 at 10:33 AM

Joseph wrote:

I agree with blog, but you have it out for Brian! Even when he scored a relative success, you harped on him. I love the honesty of all your blogs, though.

I'd be interested to hear more about why you like Dale, because to me, as far as I can tell, all he has succeeded in is not being the worst on any given episode. That's much different than being a good chef, let alone a top chef.

And am I the only one who finds it strange when Dale flaunts being gay? I have no problem with it, but I had no idea until Sara made some comment about Dale being her gay friend. It was an awkward transition to then allow Dale to be gay on the show without any set up, e.g., perhaps having Dale come out first. I've watched every episode and at no time did it ever come up before her comment. I guess I don't see the connection between being gay and cooking aside from ratings, which disappoints me as a viewer. I judge these chefs on my perceived cooking merit, which has nothing to do with their personal stories. It's why I watch this instead of real world!

At any rate, I can't wait for the next episode!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 10:39 AM

saycheez wrote:

I do agree...this episode was fantastic...and came to its perfectly logical conclusion. I also agree with your assessment of the challengers. Except maybe for Sara. I think I would respect her more if she did less talking about her 'Island' or 'Jamaican' cuisine and actually cooked some of it. Did she ever actually make anything that really evoked that genre? And didn't I hear her intimate that the Judges' chicken was not undercooked? As if they would mistake that? So now she is going to make cheese. I wish her the best.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 10:55 AM

steelemagnolia wrote:

Ted,

Thank you for your spot-on review. Hung may be a bit arrogant at times, though I suspect he has had to scratch and claw to get where he is, but his talent is awesome. It is his fearlessness that propels his creativity (with the exception of that salmon-on-cucumber episode!) I go to a restaurant for the food, service, etc, not because the chef is nice. Casey has surprised me: I thought she would be gone by now, but I see why she remains. Dale, too, has soul. Brian---well, he has moments and is not near the top of my list. Hung is my favorite, but Casey and Dave are viable contenders. It has been a good season.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 10:56 AM

mc ring wrote:

ok- i can agree with most of what you say but i have a major problem with the fact that in every episode haung has blamed his faupaux's on someone else. watching all the episodes in a row proves this over and over and i cannot get over it when he blames the guest chefs. and then brags about it with i called him on so and so. please whining is so baby when dale errs he steps up to the plate= he will learn and be better for it. casey own her mistakes and has come so far. i wish one of the other grown ups had gotten to the final four. oh well=such is life i guess

posted on September 20, 2007 at 11:16 AM

Tammy wrote:

First, I don't know if the French judges even knew who was classicly trained and who wasn't. It was only one-third of Hung's dish that was flawed. And how cordial was Casey when Hung asked her to help him plate food? She blew him off when she used the EXCUSE she was too busy but I think she was suffering from sour grapes over losing the quickfire. Let's not forget it was Casey's crappy knife skills that lost the quickfire challenge for her team in the restaurant wars! Hung might be a little cocky but his knife skills are unmatched by any of the other competitors. And his food was spot on in flavor, the judges even said so. Let me see....Casey won two large prizes in two different challenges- a laptop and two first class tickets to anywhere- so where was Hung's prize when he won? Sure he is going to the finals but so are three other people. He should have won something great for his win that took him there! Is Casey the only one that gets to win the good prizes? I'm sure Casey has worked her way up but so has Hung and just because he is cocky and sure of himself, does not mean he is not a great chef. He even said his WHOLE family is in the restaurant business so he apparently knows his stuff. I agree with Ted Allen.... his food must be amazing! I hope he wins and I get to eat in a restaurant someday where he is cooking.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 11:20 AM

Alexsim wrote:

Regarding Tabatha's comments about not eating something prepared by "a person that is mean." Huh???? How the heck would you know if you go to a restaurant whether the chef is mean or not? From reading many chefs' memoirs, being ill-tempered, out-of-sorts, etc., can be par for the course - but who cares as long as the food is good, and the execution is consistent? Would you eat crappy food made by an otherwise really nice chef? On the other hand, I wouldn't eat at a restaurant with nasty, snobby, or shoddy service, no matter how great the food was.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 11:29 AM

Dana wrote:

Kudos to Trish, well said!!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 11:32 AM

Jen wrote:

I agree with Ted completely about arrogance in chefs - after all, if you are trying to succeed in a field that is rife with competition and failure, you have to be ultra confident in your food. No chef ever made a name for himself by just squeaking by and serving mediocre food.
I also want to compliment you on your blog, Ted - maybe it's just because we're kindred midwesten spirits, but I always find your recaps fair, insightful and peppered with your sassy wit.
Your TF joke was cute.
Can't wait for the finale, they all seem like great people (even Hung), but I am rooting for Dale, my fellow rockin' Chicagoan.
Go baby!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 11:51 AM

Barb wrote:

Casey was right-on last night, and in my opinion should have won. Hung is obstinate and I don't care how good a cook he is, I agree with Tabatha's comments and don't want to eat anything he prepares (I know Ted says we should put personality aside and look at talent -- but I can't with this self-serving, nasty cook). I agree that this is a competition, but there is such a thing as having respect for others, and I think Hung believes truly that he is the only one in the kitchen when he spills, runs around and pays no attention to others' needs/space. I believe Dale is a good cook -- not to cut him short. But I think he gets in a hurry and that may take its toll on him. I'm still puzzled why Brian is there. I believe he truly loves what he does, and tries -- but he just isn't on the mark. Regardless, these are my opinions -- but I truly hope Casey wins the whole shebang in Aspen!!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 11:55 AM

Jo-Ann wrote:

Hi Ted,
As always love your view. Not sure what was up with Sara last night, she lacked her normal confidence. She was really intimidated in the kitchen. The choice for her elimination I agree with. I was also pleasantly suprised at how down to earth the teachers/judges were. They are such an elite, highly regarded group. I thought they were pleasant and seemed very nice. The woman said something was "scrumptous".. a very down to earth word in my book. Glad your back Ted. Missed your blog last week. Nice to spend time with family! Nothing better than a good lasagna and family!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 12:13 PM

Ruthie wrote:

I agree with Ted 100% percent. How many of us really take into account a chef's personality in determining the quality of the food. In the real world, we judge a restaurant (and its chef) by what is on the plate before us. Simple as that.

I actually really like Hung. Yes, he is cocky. But that is what makes it interesting TV. I think it is no small coincidence that he is good friends with Marcel of Season 2 (another small, cocky chef).

The issue for Casey's dish was not just the "name", but the fact that she didn't take full advantage of the youth and texture of her chicken. It's like putting sashmi-grade tuna on the grill. Yes, it might be tasty, but what a waste of good meat!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 12:21 PM

cgw wrote:

Ok, I've seen so many posts about Hung being "arrogant" that I had to look up what the word actually means. As near as I can tell, it means what I thought it did, which is a combination of self-pride and contempt for others. Hung doesn't come across that way to me. He has lots of pride and self-confidence but, to me, he doesn't combine that with a contempt of or disrespect for others (other than he can be sloppy). He's a talented guy and, I think, the most talented of these guys (and gals).

posted on September 20, 2007 at 12:46 PM

GetOverIt wrote:

For those(Stephanie Preston and others) who THINK Casey should have won the Quickfire...get over it.

Things are left out in the editing room to the final version you saw. Like last week....when all of the morons thought that CJ shouldn't have been sent home. Bourdain SAID that the mint sauce that was on the Halibut tasted so strong that is was like toothpaste. He said that on his blog last week. THAT among other things were left out because hey, it's not a 2 hour show.

For Tabitha.....how often do you eat out? How do YOU know what the chef in the kitchen is like? Do you go in the back every single time and have the chef take a personality test?

So, you're telling me that you wouldn't go eat at say...Gordon Ramsey's place in London just because he lashes out at his staff because he has such high expectations of everybody?

You know, the Gordon Ramsay who's London restaurant is rated a 3-star by Michelin and has won 10 Michelin stars in his career?

I highly doubt it.

Get over yourself.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 12:47 PM

julia wrote:

Let's remember....second episode Hung told Sara she was ordering too much meat...restaurant wars...he helped everyone out whereas Casey and CJ threw Trey under the bus. Second episode Casey asked CJ how much meat she would need and CJ told her he wouldn't help because it was a contest!!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 12:55 PM

bethnor wrote:

a lot of ppl seem troubled that hung won nothing for winning the ec. in the end, everyone has to remember that the show exists b/c of its sponsors. and if a particular episode has a featured sponsor, i am pretty sure those are the ppl who win something in the end. and since this episode seemed "sponsored" by the fci, that seems to explain the lack of a prize... though, one could argue, if the chefs' world, being one who would be hired by andre soltier >>>> airplane tickets.

ps. why are ppl still whining about tre? he played the game wrong. end of story. ted allen--who usually has nice comments about EVERYONE'S food--called that salmon dish the "WORST" he has eaten in years. harold's got it right, i hope future contestants are watching. NO ONE has won a challenge with salmon in recent memory. in fact, EVERYONE who has used it ended up on the chopping block. IN FACT, tre ended up on the chopping block for it once before. how does the saying go?... fool me once...

posted on September 20, 2007 at 1:05 PM

Roger in Dallas wrote:

Ted:

You are absolutely spot on! True, Huang comes across as a royal pain in the butt but this show is about COOKING not personality! Being from Dallas, we are all rooting for Casey, but Dale is "family" and would love to see him in the top 2 and win the whole thing.

BTW: We are all looking forward to the final season of QE starting on October 2!!!

Keep up the good work!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 1:15 PM

Lara wrote:

Hey ted it is me again =] love the joke about Thom that made me laugh so hard, but he lost weight so it doesn't count now =P anyways I wish I could comment on the episode but I don't have Bravo and no money to buy them off itunes but I will agree with you, but only because I like you and the fact that you are always right,so thats all for me.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 1:18 PM

homie wrote:

Love the blog . . . usually. My one gripe this week is your reference to Jamaican food being somehow too downmarket to present to a panel of distinguished judges. First of all, much of the most-loved European dishes are actually peasant dishes, or rustic in nature, coupled with fine presentation. Sara could have done an excellent fine dining interpretation of Jamaican flavors. Her failure was in execution, not concept, as recognized by the judges. I recently visited a French-African restaurant and had perfectly cooked salmon over lentils, with a curry sauce on the side. The only thing that was really french about it was its presentation, and possibly technique. The flavors were all East African, and delicious. There was nothing cheap or fast-food about it. Forgive me, but I suspect your summary dismissal of Jamaican food is a little, um, xenophobic.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 1:55 PM

Julia wrote:

Hung definitely did help...he plated Sara's food and remember the restaurant challange...Sara said he was
"awesome". It was CJ who didn't help Trey and we know what happened there.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 2:32 PM

Deborah R wrote:

Hung is an interesting case. He has exquisite technical skills, but a complete lack of introspection. It's hard to imagine how he'll become a truly great chef without learning to take--and learn from--criticism. Blaming others because his potato didn't puff was as ridiculous as blaming the visiting judge's palate when his arroz con pollo tanked or when his runny pie failed to impress.

Casey seems to be a talented, creative, and passionate chef who has been unfairly singled out for criticism because she happens to be pretty. (Who'd have thunk being pretty would be a disadvantage?) I'm rooting for her because I think she's earned it. But I have to laugh when you and some of the bloggers talk about Dale as your "brother in kind." Dale and I could not possibly be more opposite in every respect--but for some reason, I just love the guy. He is my sentimental fan favorite and I hope he makes a great showing in the finale.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 2:43 PM

Zack wrote:

So, are you now preparing us all for the Hung win? Is that what this is all about?

I do think that what the last episode has proven is that a lot of the fans are sick of the gimmicks and I can't help but wonder if all of the elimination challenges didn't have any gimmicks, if we still would have the same four remaining chefs. I don't think we would. The last episode was great. No gimmicks. Just cooking.

I can't help but think Tre would still be around if the gimmicks did not exist and lets face it, in the real world, how many of these chefs are going to be working in those gimmicky type of environments. Not many, if any.

After reading all of the most recent blogs, it seems to me that there might be a lot of hinting to a Hung and Casey final. As much as I don't like Hung, he is the most talented of the bunch that are left.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 2:59 PM

Rob H wrote:

Dear Ted,

Wonderful to read this entry. I have to say that I don't find Hung mean, and I think it's funny that the ol' powers that be at Bravo are trying to give the viewers subtle visual cues (or interview blather from the other cheftestants) to suggest otherwise. This week's promos, for instance, had that wonderful shot of Hung smiling toward someone (turns out it was the judges entering for the quickfire); but when they first showed the shot, it closely followed one of Hung telling the cameras that his fellow cheftestants were going to be demoralized. Most of us probably concluded that Hung was smiling sarcastically at one of his flailing colleagues. And I take issue with Dale's dumb comment that Hung has no heart, so his food can't taste any good. Baloney. Sour grapes. He's just pissed off because Hung has unshakable confidence.

The finale is going to be very exciting!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 3:20 PM

Phousonh wrote:

Ted,

I totally agree with you about Hung. I think he is probably a nice guy in real life. Its probably safe to say Top Chef likes to build little characters for everyone. Hung, the "cocky chef", Dale, the "fun loving gay chef", Casey, "the hot girl next door chef", and Brian, well, I really can't lable him. Back to Hung, he is obviously very skilled and well trained in fine cuisine. He is head and shoulders above the rest, except maybe Tre, who made a couple of bad decisions that sent him packing. I agree wth the fact that most Chefs are probably very cocky, like most artists, designers, surgeons, but the show is called Top Chef because of their cooking skills, not their attitude in the kitchen. In all the episodes, Hung has not displayed such behavior that warrants so much animosity. So what if he spilled and dropped a few things on the floor. People need to stop nitpicking and focus on the food.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 3:40 PM

Kevin S. wrote:

Once again, I agree with you. I do have to say that I'd like Hung a whole bunch more if the man would just shut up. To paraphrase Don Corleone, everytime I start to like him, he opens his mouth and POW, I hate him again. I think Casey was a victim of the "Old Boys Club" tonight. That ancient dude in the quickfire gave the win to Hung but liked Casey's better? What gives with that? Then the same thing in the elimination. They like Hung's chicken just fine but the potato wasn't up to snuff. A key part of the challenge, and he wins. I was hoping Casey would get the hat trick but it just wasn't meant to be. As for the prizes, I'm sure it all depends on who or whom is the sponsor of the evening. Of course she's gonna get plane tickets when they're cooking at Continental Airlines. Geez, people, get a grip on reality will ya? Sara's chicken sure looked undercooked to me. She doesn't listen, does she? Gail didn't say raw, she said undercooked and I'm sorry, but unless you're eating the famous French blue footed chickens, salmonella is a major turnoff, believe me, having suffered from it years ago afer a Labor Day cookout. Both duck and pork, nowadays, can be prepared medium to medium rare without worries but chicken, no way! Dale tried, but forgot the sauce and Brian, at least he didn't cook seafood with the chicken, made what looked like a pretty tasty dish. Correct me if I'm wrong but, I didn't here anyone say that the chicken had to be the main focus, just one of the ingredients so using the sausage was just fine as far as I'm concerned. Back to Hung, good for him for not sharing info in the quickfire. That old fan favorite Howie said it best, it's not a team competition and only one person can win. I'm just hoping it's Casey.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 4:05 PM

Lisa wrote:

I also think Casey was short-changed in both the Quick Fire and the Elimination Challenge. Both of those old men said they liked Casey's dish best, but when it came time to name a winner, both named Hung, who I absolutely cannot stand (I don't care how well he can cook). Hung's comment that no one helped him plate was lame. He hasn't helped anyone do anything! Please!

I was glad to see Sara M. finally voted off. I personally feel she should have been gone way before now. While I really liked CJ, I never felt like he was much of a chef. He just never seemed to me to really cook much. I thought he should have been voted off during the restaurant wars deal instead of Tre. I'm ready for Brian to go. I don't feel like he is much of a chef either, although I like his personality.

I really, really hope Casey kicks Hung's booty! Good luck Casey.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 4:52 PM

vic wrote:

The more I think about it I am rather confused why Casey did not win the EC. No one had one bad comments shown other than the name. Is the title of your dish most important? Also he clearly said her QF was the best and once again does not win. Perhaps she is the overall winner and they saw it coming and did not want it to be obvious Casey was going to win after all she has done pretty well lately so they did not want her to win anything this week. II think this is a great group and glad they like each other, but not buying that Hung is the "bad guy" they want him to be.

He seems like a bit of a jerk, but still fun and smiling all the time.

Glad to see queer eye coming back!!

v

posted on September 20, 2007 at 4:56 PM

leslee wrote:

There have been many arrogant cooks during the three seasons of the show. Hung has the skills to back up his attitude. Not a sensitive guy, that's for sure. But a genuine chef.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 5:01 PM

JJ wrote:

It's funny to read comments about not eating the food if the chef is mean. Come ON! How often do you ask the restaurant if the chef is nice before you eat their food? Some of these comments are really out there!

Once again, the show really do hate Hung. No prizes when he wins (except for Chef Padma's cookbook :rolleyes:) but how many prizes did Casey win already?! Jeez...talk about INconsistency of the show!

Hung truly has the skills and I'm sure that he'll have a culinary career long after the show's over.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 5:24 PM

Thuy C. wrote:

As a Vietnamese fellow, I am really proud to see our man in the finale. To judge Hung's cockiness, you should understand our culture. That is not cockiness, that is something we call " confidence in yourself". He completely believes in himself, and yet, this is a competition, either you are the best or you loose your game. Giving a smirk or smile at something SHOULD NOT BE DONE by a TOP CHEF (uncooked chicken..) is understandable....If you can't even cook your chicken, why consider yourself a top chef? Would you like to eat something uncok/ cooked bad by a person named top chef? Well, leave you an answer yourself!

And said that Hung doesn't have a heart for cooking, is wrong. You can't just cook if you don't have heart. Look at the way he cook, the dishes he creates, tell me and others that he did not put his heart on them. For blaming noone helping him plate the dish, it is true: no one helps him. Did he help others after he's done with his? YES. why noone sees that?

Again, this guy is amazing , like it or not, he wins the competition already. Technical and artistic! Proud of you, Hung!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 5:26 PM

Joel wrote:

I have to agree with you on the Coq au Vin. It was inpired for Casey to have attempted a Coq au Vin and much more challenging than Hung's poached chicken.

Finding any bird over three months old these days is nearly impossible and all there is left is to interpret this wonderful French classic.

Sure, Hung did an excellent job in creating his chicken dish, nothing more than careful attention to temperature and time, Hung's one technical challenge, his potato dish, clearly missed the mark. The fact that Casey was able to pull off every one of her much more challenging dishes should have given Casey the win over Hung.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 5:33 PM

Deborah R wrote:

Hung is an interesting case. He has exquisite technical skills, but a complete lack of introspection. It's hard to imagine how he'll become a truly great chef without learning to take--and learn from--criticism. Blaming others because his potato didn't puff was as ridiculous as blaming the visiting judge's palate when his arroz con pollo tanked or when his runny pie failed to impress.

Casey seems to be a talented, creative, and passionate chef who has been unfairly singled out for criticism because she happens to be pretty. (Who'd have thunk being pretty would be a disadvantage?) I'm rooting for her because I think she's earned it. But I have to laugh when you and some of the bloggers talk about Dale as your "brother in kind." Dale and I could not possibly be more opposite in every respect--but for some reason, I just love the guy. He is my sentimental fan favorite and I hope he makes a great showing in the finale.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 5:48 PM

missy wrote:

I have to admit with all of his bad habits and arrogance it was clear to see Hung is the best of those left in this competition. He's knowledgable, has a great eye. He's able to think quickly. He has a great palate. His knife skills are great and he's fast (just sloppy).

I don't blame him for not sharing with the others on that quickfire. This is a competition and I personally thought they were out of line for asking. He's there to win just as they are. They are chefs, or at least that's what Ted is saying. They should be able to figure it out on their own.

Casey is growing on me but she is not as skilled as Hung. They've allowed her to grow in this competition, a chance they didn't give to many of the others. She took advantage of it and is now showing what she has.
As much as I cared about Sara, I think the call was right tonight. First there was the raw fish and next the undercooked chicken. If they didn't consider anyone else's past skills certainly they couldn't consider hers. I was hoping to see the two women in the finals but it didn't pan out that way.

I will never understand why Brian is still there. He hasn't earned it, but hey, maybe the judges know something we don't. One thing for sure, whatever it is hasn't been shown to us. That's why some of us remain pissed Ted.

Hung knew he was good entering the competition and he's pretty much proved it. He put his skills where his mouth is. I think maybe alot of what goes on with him is for the sake of drama. He's difficult to like but he's a darn good chef.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 6:05 PM

Siubobo wrote:

I hate Hung...... He's too self-fish. He never willing to help the other. But when he ask Casey for help last night, she was busy to prepare her dish and Hung complain to the judge that no one able to help him.... Ya right!... How self-fish is that, he had extra half hour to prepare and the other does not and still complian they can't help him..... Like last time when they was cooking breakfast in there apartment, he totally tip over the oil bottle infront of Casey, and running all over the cooking area avoiding what is safety between him and the others, and still claim he didn't do it..! Also one time he was holding a chopping knif and jump and run around the kitchen area, how stupid is that, and he almost cut Casey too!!... "Top Chef" should be wiling to help and share your oppion and about safety first. Even if you share you oppion about how to cook the dish, doesn't mean the other people dish and technical skills can be the same. However, he's not a team player at all. We can all see all others helping each other expect Hung. And from the beginning lots of his dish was bad and he still think the judges are wrong this and that..... Gosh..... I really don't want him to be the Top Chef.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 6:14 PM

Dorothy wrote:

Bet you five bucks that Hung's final dish includes that crisp chicken skin thing yet again.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 7:07 PM

Siubobo wrote:

I hate Hung...... He's too self-fish. He never willing to help the other. But when he ask Casey for help last night, she was busy to prepare her dish and Hung complain to the judge that no one able to help him.... Ya right!... How self-fish is that, he had extra half hour to prepare and the other does not and still complian they can't help him..... Like last time when they was cooking breakfast in there apartment, he totally tip over the oil bottle infront of Casey, and running all over the cooking area avoiding what is safety between him and the others, and still claim he didn't do it..! Also one time he was holding a chopping knif and jump and run around the kitchen area, how stupid is that, and he almost cut Casey too!!... "Top Chef" should be wiling to help and share your oppion and about safety first. Even if you share you oppion about how to cook the dish, doesn't mean the other people dish and technical skills can be the same. However, he's not a team player at all. We can all see all others helping each other expect Hung. And from the beginning lots of his dish was bad and he still think the judges are wrong this and that..... Gosh..... I really don't want him to be the Top Chef.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 7:17 PM

Jimmy wrote:

Hung is arrogant - He is NOT mean - there is a HUGE difference. What would you rather have? Hung's arrogance? Or Casey's inept knife skills? I'd rather have neither. I don't think Casey is much nicer a person than Hung, but a whole lot more tolerable. I'd eat both of their food anyday, but I'd definitely have to give an edge to Hung in the skill department.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 7:40 PM

Camila wrote:

I wish Trey was at the finale! He is better that at least 2 of the chefs that are there!!!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 7:53 PM

ely wrote:

I am neither a big fan of Hung's, nor do I hate him. I am just perplexed and intrigued by who he really is. I do not doubt his technical skills or passion for a moment, but I think a lot of his perceived arrogance masks an underlying insecurity -- like whistling while walking throught the graveyard at night. For starters, I think he may simply be the producers' designated a**-hole of the season. They may be coaching him to behave in a certain way, even to the point of "suggesting" answers to off-camera questions.

Second, although he certainly talks like he is sure of himself, when the chips were down (during the Bertolli infomercial -- I mean episode) he became totally unmanned in the face of Joey's stronger personality. If he really were as arrogant as he seems, he would have told Joey to shut up and listen to somebody who knows what he is talking about. Instead, Dr. Cocky became Mr. Meek. I would suspect him of being incapable of standing up to perceived authority or dominant male figures, and yet it was Hung who knowingly, gleefully, created the doomed "Smurf Village" just to stick it in the face of the uptight judge.

What a man of contrast! It almost makes me like him!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 8:02 PM

Michael Kukich wrote:

Once again it wasn't about the food. for those of you who haven't worked with French chefs, this weeks decision was political & not about the food. I'm classically trained in French cuisine, having opened Paris Las Vegas under several great French chefs. To attempt and criticize Casey for calling her dish coq au vin & declaring it wasn't authentic French is just ridiculcous. Outside of old-school French kitchens it means nothing more than chicken cooked in wine. The fact that he would even go there demonstrates why French Chefs or people for that matter have a particular stereotype about them. In the long run it doesn't matter because like I've been saying for weeks now Casey has already won. BravoTv wants a beautiful female spokepersons to win this year. Hung won only to give him credibility when he makes it to the final two. They are setting up a repeat of last year when Marcel shocked everyone and beat out Sam to go up against Ilan. Contrasting looks, styles & fan base. Dale & Brain have gone as far as they can. Casey wil easily emerge victorious! It has already been decided!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 8:08 PM

Steve wrote:

There seem to be a lot of Hung-haters. I wonder if it has something to do with the condescending attitude of Stephen of season 1 and the annoying attitude of Marcel in season 2. The show seems to set up one talented but arrogant contestant as the antagonist of the season. I guess Hung is playing that role right now. I think that some of the viewer's dislike for Hung is a bit of a latent dislike for the former two antagonist. Sure Hung is not a fan favorite but he doesn't seem to have done anything to deserve as much antagonism that he is receiving.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 8:18 PM

Janice Hooper wrote:

I don't think that Hung is mean. He's in a competition to win $100,000 and big surprise --- he's being competitive. Also, helped another chef plate and if he was really mean wouldn't have done that. He believes in himself and his talent. Let's face it, he has a lot of talent to believe in. I love watching him and am excited to see what he does next.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 8:27 PM

2nd_Opinion wrote:

After reading all your comments regarding Hung, I'm really confused. If we started judging contestants by his/her personality, then this show should be called "NICE CHEF" instead of "TOP CHEF."

posted on September 20, 2007 at 9:17 PM

KatDee wrote:

Ted,

I'm impressed by Hung as a chef and a person. Too bad the TC editors have decided to manipulate viewers so aggressively. They're doing everything possible to show hung as some kind of self-centered egotist, and Casey as the loveable, talented sweetheart of Sigma TC.

I don't blame Casey for the edit. But Hung deserves so much better.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 9:21 PM

Sandra S. wrote:

Ted, I love you!!! and I was verrry glad to see you as a judge here on Top Chef. I thought at first that Casey skated on good looks but now she is really showing as a great chef. Hung, I don't know, don't you have to be part of a team to work in a kitchen, any kitchen, even if you are the "Top Chef"!

I do think it is between these two Chefs, though, unless Brian or Dale come up with some surprises!

I love this show!!!

posted on September 20, 2007 at 10:11 PM

Jeff wrote:

Have to (mostly) disagree with you about Hung. the cockiness grates, but ugly behavior really galls me. If you're going to hold back on the chefs in quick fire, don't go asking for help plating when they're working with 80% of the time you had. And certainly don't go fauning your problems recalling how to put together a dish you haven't made in eight years off the lack of help in front of the judges.

That said, I do think he was the winner in both challenges. Like you say, the skills, the technique, etc. This was Hung's week to win because he is the classically trained chef. If he didn't outright win it, he should just walk away.

But the flip side of this is that after watching Hung week after week, I think he's basically a bad line cook. He can't take criticism, he's always arguing that his stuff is right no matter what the judges say. And it's this trait that is going to be his ceiling, at least until someone he respects slaps him in the face with it. Daniel Boulud should give him a signed copy of Letters to a Young Chef with the passages about taking criticism highlighted in red.

That and the comments on sharing recipes.

Maybe he squeaks through on someone else's mistake, but I don't see Hung as Top Chef. Top Line Cook maybe; look at what he did last night: perfectly recreated another chef's dish to win the quick fire, and used some absolutely remarkable skills and techniques to prep a wonderful but basic dish. He's the project manager assembling parts to make a wonderful whole. Not Top Chef.

As for Dale vs. Sara. Sigh. I think Dale won it partly on that speech, but mostly on failing at executing a better idea versus making mistakes on a simpler one. We'll miss Sara.

And if you ever want lasagna in Boston, give me a day's notice...

posted on September 20, 2007 at 11:16 PM

Jon wrote:

Hung IS arrogant. However, at least lately, little of what he says is untrue. And he's really, really good. Maybe talking less about how awesome he is would make him more likable. But he certainly IS able, at an extremely high level of proficiency. As anyone who has cooked for a living for a while knows: all that matters is that the guy next to you is really good at the job. He shows up, he executes. Bottom line. Hung can walk the walk; all that matters.

posted on September 20, 2007 at 11:25 PM

Donna wrote:

Sous Vide, Huh!?! Sounds like good ol' boil-in-a-bag to me. I guess if it works for chipped beef and processed turkey....

posted on September 21, 2007 at 12:56 AM

Cara wrote:

Hi guys:
I just wanted to express my overall opinion about this season of Top Chef. I was surprised and disappointed that Tre is not a part of the final four. I truly would have liked to see him go all the way to the end along with Casey and Hung. To me, they have the most talent, drive, and ambition. Had Hung and Casey also been eliminated prior to this point in the season, I can honestly tell you that I'd stop watching. Having been involved in the culinary field and employed at top 4 & 5 diamond restaurants throughout my career, a "Top Chef" - much less a "Chef," is a title which I take seriously. I'd like to think that the premise of this series is that we're not seeking at Top Cook, and hopefully not Top Chef of an Applebee's (nothing personal about this brand, but it's just the first example of a generic chain brand that came to mind where ANYONE can be a "Chef" because the recipes are handed to you by corporate). The point I'm making is that a "Top Chef" needs to be someone creative, talented, and ambitious. I just hope that Hung and Casey will have the opportunity to be in a showdown for the finale.
Also, I find it facinating that people are so up-and-arms about Hung. A) Editing: Hello! Like all other "reality shows," characterizations are developed from characteristics of participants. Cocky, yes -- but pure evil?...hardly!! While he may be visibly excited by others' failures (honestly - aren't we all in our own lives?), perhaps he could work on hiding it. B) He's a competitor, in a competition. While Casey is certainly an example of someone who's well-rounded with her charisma, personality, and talent - Hung certainly overcomes his flaws with talent and incredible skills. My favorite part in the series is the knifing challenge - he tore that chicken apart!! I usually don't care for headstrong and cocky people, but unlike most, he can actually back it up!! C) Love him, or despise him ( because hate is such a strong and ignorant term), an antagonist is necessary for any good story line. He keeps you watching the show. Thank goodness for Hung!! =)
If you think that chefs ought not be arrogant, proud, and loud about it - take it from someone who has actually worked 10+ hours a day with some of the most talented culinary geniouses. Yes, they can occasionally be quirky and unstable - but aren't all great artists? Best of luck to Hung and Casey, and I look forward to watching the final episodes! =)

posted on September 21, 2007 at 2:01 AM

tomas wrote:

I agree with all Ted said, EXCEPT that Shepard's Pie is British. The French have shepard pie and call it "Hachis parmentier" and don't think of it is French. It was Louis XVI favorite dish, FYI, although I doubt Brian knows any of this...and it WAS a mistake in my opinion to make a messy casserole for the judges.
PS shepard pie made with LEFTOVER Sunday chicken is called Cottage Pie.

posted on September 21, 2007 at 2:24 AM

Mike wrote:

Hey first poster "Tabatha" -- your statment, "I don't want to eat something, no matter how scrumptious it is, if it has been cooked by a person that is mean" is ridiculous and absurd beyond belief. I mentioned in Tom's post that this is not a popularity contest and that using the litmus test of "Would I want to have a beer with the guy?" is complete nonsense. That's what got Bush elected and look at where we are today.

posted on September 21, 2007 at 3:52 AM

Anniee wrote:

Ted, I love you!! (Sorry, I had to say that first.) I hope you're on the next season as a regular!

This was the best show of the season so far. I am so glad to see Hung finally have a challenge where he could shine so brightly. He's my favorite for the win for many reasons. I love him, ego and all. In fact I liked him from the beginning of the season. So glad to see him make it to the finale.

Casey is most definitely talented, though IMO she lacks Hung's chops, so I'd like to see her come in a close second.

I agree, though, all four are talented and skilled, and hopefully headed for good careers. I am awfully sick of Dale's whining about Hung and how he lacks a heart or soul, though. First of all, it's not true, and second of all, it's petty. I mean honestly, Dale, the QF challenge WAS to figure out how to make the dish - Hung went in there and figured it out for himself. Why on earth would he tell you how to do it? That's ridiculous. Stop worrying about Hung's "soul" (and yes, he is full of soul) and worry about your food.

posted on September 21, 2007 at 6:39 AM

carol sauerland wrote:

i wish casey would win, but we all know that hung will. there are not to many women great top chef. when one is trained in french cuisine of course they will do it better. but the show, i think is to show all area of cooking. if hung loses of course he will blame it on someone else, either the chef (did not know how to judge) or something. i only hope that he disrepect casey in the final 2 as he has some of the other chef.

posted on September 21, 2007 at 9:47 AM

Kevin S. wrote:

My apologies for a error in my previous post. I watched the rerun of this episode and Gail did in fact tell Sara that her chicken was raw. I missed it the first time and slammed Sara for not listening. Sorry bout' that. BTW, Gail, you're much cuter then Casey. See ya next week.

posted on September 21, 2007 at 10:47 AM

Mark wrote:

Best line in this week's blog: "Who knows what the hell Swedes eat?" It made me laugh because it took me by surprise. You were talking about French culinary experts with great respect, and then you made that remark. But it's a great question.

Um, I hate to be nitpicky, but would it be possible to edit your blog and quote Dale correctly? It's just a minor thing, but what he actually said was this: "“Cooking is love; you can taste it when a chef has not had their heart broken and you definitely know who got laid last night.”

posted on September 21, 2007 at 12:14 PM

Kelly wrote:

Ted…

As always, I love your blog, and thank you for the insight. Your intelligent, humorous and worldly outlook on things is great and I love reading every word you write. Before I say anything about TC, let me say that I was so excited to see the commercial that announced 10 more episodes of QE… any time I get to watch you is a great time!

While I might wish that there were others present in the final four, I totally agree with you that the final five all really want this, are all talented and all deserve a chance at the title. They are all passionate about their craft, and love the culinary world.

While on a personality level I have issues with Hung, there is no denying that he is a talented chef. When Dale said that he didn’t want to eat anything from a chef that had no heart, my immediate reaction was neither do I, but on a busy Friday or Saturday night, people will come into my restaurant and I may never get the chance to meet them, so there is no way for them to know how much heart I have, all they know is that my food either tastes good or not (It does taste good) While I try to make rounds to tables, there are just times when we are too busy, and I can not. At the end of the day, the food speaks for itself, and Hung (whose personality I have issues with) is talented. Let’s not forget that we have seen moments where Hung is helping others, taking orders to help his team, and watching out for people. He is competitive, he is in it to win it, and he wants to give himself an edge. I would hope that in his shoes I wouldn’t go about it the same way, but you never know how you will react in a given situation until you are there. I agree with most that feel it will come down to Hung and Casey… but watch out for Dale. He has talent, he can invent and create interesting dishes, his problem seems to be execution, so if he can pull it all together he will be a force to reckon with.

While I don’t feel that Brian is as overall talented as the others, he has survived this far, he has talent and deserves his chance.

I would also like to address those people who are upset about Tre not being in the final four… it is distressing to hear people put down the judges and claim that the judges are harsher this season than in the past, and this type of error has never been made before… lets remember season one… in my opinion, Leann was more talented than Dave, and Dave had made several mistakes along the way, but Leann was not in the final... Dave was. Sam in season two was predicted as the winner, and he didn’t make it to the final, instead it was Ilan and Marcel. We all have people we want to see go far, but this is a subjective competition, and we only get to see a little slice of what actually goes on with these people. The judges are the experts; we are just the Monday morning quarterbacks so we need to give them the respect and credit that they deserve.

Ted… Thank you again for the on point blog.

posted on September 21, 2007 at 1:44 PM

Anthony B. wrote:

Michael Kukich wrote: In the long run it doesn't matter because like I've been saying for weeks now Casey has already won. BravoTv wants a beautiful female spokepersons to win this year. Hung won only to give him credibility when he makes it to the final two.

Thank you for clearing things up for us chef. I guess your classical training and keen eye of watching video and listening to edited comments has made Casey the clear winner in your eyes.

Geez, and I thought Hung was a pompous ass. At least he has the resume and skills to back it up. Hey Mikey, I'll look you up the next time I hit the buffet table at Paris.

posted on September 21, 2007 at 1:46 PM

Adam Goldirng wrote:

I must say, unfortunately, that since I moved up to school I have no acess to bravo and have unfortunately missed the past three or four episodes of top chef. Having said that, I have become entirely dependent upon these blogs and videos to provide me with my weekly fix.
First off, I must make my attempt to chastise the Hung-haters. this competition isnt about being nice, or having the biggest group of chef buddies, it's about food. Clearly, regardless of the points at which he's faltered, hung is extremely capable of producing exceptional food. in addition to this, many great chefs are not so different from Hung. A friend of mine used to work in one of Georges Perrier's restaurants in the philadelphia suburbs. needless to say that she was surrounded ny some of the most talented young chefs, and sometimes chef perrier himself (who i am suprised has yet to make an appearance on TC, regardless of his reputation as a shrewd little man). my freind recalls that the chefs were all very "Hung-like," once noting that (for some) it is there only real talent and they want to make sure you know. Hung does things very few of these bloggers could and that even fewer understand. he is a taalented individual, and desrerves to have finally won a challenge. and anyone who thinks casey lost the quickfire just because she's a women go read toms blog.
Ted, i particularly enjoyed your comment on Hung's "Sous Vide" style of cooking. I a dabble a bit in cooking myself, and have missed it ever so much since i left home where i had a stove. I always enjoy exploring new techniques and given a chef's nature it strikes me as strange that all of the contestants sans Hung have stucj to a very traditional cooking style (no ones even pulled out a pressure cooker for god's sake). your little tidbit up there has made me want to try sous vide for myself, but alas given my lack of resoureces and time I cannot. though i would be very interested to see how the same dish would turn out cooked in a traditional french/dutch oven, a tagine (another item i am suprised i have not seen), and Sous Vide. I think it would be most interesting.

posted on September 21, 2007 at 1:47 PM

dee sias wrote:

i thought tre was better than casey...who i think is the cats meow...and looks like jeniffer anistons little sister...i hope she wins...let heart and passion win over technical skill. go casey!

posted on September 21, 2007 at 1:50 PM

Bob R wrote:

Of all the blogs this week, I found Ted's - after re-reading it - to be the most satisfying. I can't argue about these four though it would have been nice to see Tre instead of Brian - but I did agree that Tre was the appropriate choice to be eliminated when he was. I just watched Sara's exit interview and was stunned to hear her call Brian the most creative, the one who "thinks outside the box" and the one she thinks will win it all. Well, that would be an upset for sure. I must be missing something. However, her discussion of Hung made me realize why - while I actually rather like him - I generally would prefer to eat either Casey's or Dale's cooking. His cooking really does appear to be as much or more about technique than flavor. Sara thought Hung was not very creative which struck me as odd until I tried to remember what he has cooked. I'm going to have to go back to review those dishes but as I remember it, his shining moment of creativity was probably his smurf village.

posted on September 21, 2007 at 2:11 PM

Joseph Cada wrote:

I can't wait for the final battle!!! all I can say is, all of them are good however, I don't see it world class chefs like the original Iron chef in Japan. I will bet on Hung,but I think Casey can pull it off. Tough call! Hung your bad-ass!! knife skills man!!! I can't believe Casey called that coq au vin??? it's still chicken,not an old rooster. I think dish authenticity is very important. you cannot alter the ingredient and call it the same name.

posted on September 21, 2007 at 2:27 PM

julie larsen wrote:

please put the show on itunes...its the only way i can watch it!! i live overseas and the only show i look forward to getting.
thanks! Julie

posted on September 21, 2007 at 4:29 PM

Dave C wrote:

the truth is, you can't ever really tell who is actually "mean" or "nice". i'm sure people react differently to being on TV and also being isolated for a month with the same people on a cooking competition...and let me repeat, a COMPETITION. in fact, its getting annoying that it seems noone except Hung seems to understand this concept. did Dale REALLY expect Hung to tell him how to do the freakin quickfire? that's like asking the pitcher what pitch he's gonna throw next in the world series...do you really expect him to tell you so you can hit one out of the park? ridiculous!

i thought brian's dish was a cop out. sausage? didn't he miss the point ENTIRELY?

and finally...."“Cooking is love; you can taste it when a chef has not had their heart broken and you definitely know who did not get laid last night.”"
is that really true??? i must not have a great palate!

posted on September 21, 2007 at 7:39 PM

laslo_h wrote:

Hung haters, let the sour grapes drop from the vine... Love them all--but don't deny the superiority of good technique. Recall the judges refrain: technique and execution are key. I love Dale and Brian like the rest of you do, and who can deny that the exec. Chef of Oceanaire doesn't have serious chops, but I'll stick to my gut on my final two. Who gives a frig about personality? You think Thomas Keller loses sleep over his sensibilities simmering over into his attitudes during production and service? Doubt it. Peace to all...

posted on September 22, 2007 at 12:43 AM

Chris wrote:

I'm not a chef, but love to eat and cook and love the blogging this season...Ted, Tom and Anthony are so different and yet so entertaining. The challenges have been truly interesting and certainly have tested the range of the contestants. The winner will not only be top chef but top survivor. I feel for those that got shot down without really getting a chance to show their form in some of the more straight forward challenges like this weeks episode. Maybe next season a few of those in the beginning to see the basic skills then all the quirky challenges to follow. But then that's entertainment. Good luck to the final four and thanks to the judges who have had to eat all the offerings - the good the bad and the ugly.

posted on September 22, 2007 at 5:29 AM

FrenchFry wrote:

I like Hung more and more. He grew on me with his big smile and incredible skills. Although many more viewers prefer "Teddy Bear" Dale (who has an adorable personality); Hung has been straight forward in his game plan - to try his best to win!

Let's face it; the remaining final 4 have all had their fair share of hits and misses throughout the season. It is now a horserace. Whoever remains focussed in the last 2 challenges without losing their "sous chefs" respect while doing that will win. Obviously, it could be any one from that group.

posted on September 22, 2007 at 8:19 AM

Anna wrote:

Ted, I have to raise a point on the Hung "issue":
He is a cocky bastard, and looks like he has a right to be, BUT...
While there may be a lot of cocky chefs, there is no room for a liar in a kitchen (or in many professions, for that matter). He lied about not getting help to plate, and he lied in the quickfire about not knocking over the truffle oil. I can imagine that a chef who lies would not be welcome in many kitchens, and I would not want one serving me food! (Yes, ma'am, the sea bass is fresh...)

posted on September 22, 2007 at 10:19 AM

Deborah R wrote:

To Michael Kukich:

For weeks you've been blogging about Casey being nothing more than eye candy. Now you're informing us that in your oh-so-sophisticated (but not terribly humble) opinion Casey will win simply because she is pretty.

If you were as confident as you are arrogant, you wouldn't feel threatened by the idea that a women can succeed in a professional kitchen on merit, even if she happens to be pretty. Your persistent posts belittling Casey because she's attractive make you seem small and sad. I feel sorry for you. But I feel sorrier for any woman who has to work with you.

posted on September 22, 2007 at 2:09 PM

Nick wrote:

I normally find your comments about food on this show (and on Iron Chef) to be good. But I disagreed with much in this blog. For one thing, while I agree that no-one needs to be "pissed off" about the final four, I do think this isn't a very strong final four.You describe all four of these chefs with words like integrity, strength, imagination, charisma, etc. I would take issue with at least the "imagination" part: I just don't find this final four very inspiring.

I thinkthat Brian's dish was ugly, and it did not showcase the chicken, but I disagreed with your assertion that it was flawed simply because it was based on a classic British comfort food. I think you might have been saying that it would be good stategy to put out refined French food for this particular panel of judges, but even there I am not sure that you're right: they honestly seemed to appreciate Brian's dish even as many of us viewers recoiled in embarassment at its appearance. They liked his dish, and these are some pretty sophisticated palates. Who knows, after teaching and eating French cuisine for years and years, do you think maybe these people could find a dish from a different cultural paradigm a nice change? I think you sell these judges short in implying that what they are really looking for is a dish that is the most French. I think they can probably see past that, I think they might agree with what Tom wrote in his blog, that good food is good food no matter what the cultural background. Whether French, Italian, Jewish, or whatever. What if one them made a perfect bowl of chicken soup with dill, with a side of potato pancakes fried in shmalz? And it was absolutely delicious? I would have taken that over a failed "duet" of chicken with a forgotten sauce (!!!!!) How the f--k do you get forget the sauce!!

By the way, I am not sure that Swedish cuisine is particularly known for its sausage, could you have been confusing it with German food? You write, "And who knows what the hell Swedes eat." I was little surprised an educated foodie like yourself could write this kind of a statement. Enjoy a meal at Aquavit the next time you're in New York.

I disagree that Sara's decision to go Jamaican was the problem. Had some real, vibrant island flavors come forth in that dish, the judges would have enjoyed it, I think. Again, it could have been a refreshing change for these judges. I am thinking they are more open-minded than you give them credit for. Enough with the cultural elitism already. You are much more appealing when you get right down to the point of it all... The Food You WANT to eat!

posted on September 22, 2007 at 2:49 PM

Helene wrote:

Hung is arrogant, but he seems to be a talented and creative chef. I would, definately, eat at a restaurant where he is chef. Really people...you don't have to like someone to appreciate their talent. And, you have to give Hung points for being honest. He's said from the beginning that he's in it to win. I've never seen him acting truly evil, only self-serving. Sure, I preferthe personalities of many of the other chefs, and some may even have more talent than Hung (I, actually, believe that they do). That does not diminish Hung's talent, however. Give it a rest. There's nothing so bad about the guy.

posted on September 23, 2007 at 12:13 AM

RA wrote:

I love Padma...can you tell me about the fantastic necklaces she has been wearing in the final episodes? I would like the designers name and where to purchase.

posted on September 23, 2007 at 2:33 AM

Pam wrote:

Ted, You are by far my favorite judge.Padma drives me nuts. Casey is gonna win this one,and she should,she is bright,skilled and has balls to try anything. Lets hear it for the girls. I have been a female chef for 20 years now,and its time we get our props. Hung couldnt lead a horse to water let alone run a kitchen. Nor could Dale for that matter. brian,we'v seen his leadership skills. But I have a great idea for you. Get Tom Collicio's butt,with Padma as his sous chef, to go on Iron Chef and battle Mario Battalli and his lovely sous chef Ann. They wouldn't stand a chance!!!!! And you might want to tell the producers that having "joker" chefs judge like Rocco Dispirito judge discredits the show.(although he was right in the trip to Italy episode when snotty Tom C. said truffles arent Mediteranian--C'MON)

posted on September 23, 2007 at 8:02 AM

Bree wrote:

That Dale even asked Hung how he made his dish was iunbelievable to me. Top Chef huh? Not even close Dale. Did he really think Hung was going to tell him? Say what you want about Hung, you have to respect his knowledge and skills and he is quick and creative. Casey all of a sudden is coming to the forefront. Good for her. Dale and Brian both suck and dont deserve to go to the finals.Brian, who works at a seafood restaurant,never wins the challenges that involve seafood or fish, shame on him.He didnt cook in several episodes and his other dishes were so so. Dale stays under the radar and manages to get by but he and Brian always look petrified when challenges are given. Hung is confident and cocky and why shouldnt he be ? He always watches the competition and knows he is the one to beat and other than Casey, not much competition anyway. Liked her for the most part but Sara needs to stick to cheesemaking. Her skills and knowledge were somewhat limited.Chicken fricassee? She could have come with something better than that.Brian as well. That looked like green vomit.His presentation skills leave alot to be desired as does Dales.This season of TopChef for me is tainted by the lack of consistency by the judges.Telling Howie that they make the decision as to who goes home when he volunteered to drop out instead of letting Cj go home was contradictory to Mia last season who wanted to drop out over Illana and was allowed to without any hesitation, letting Tre go as exec chef then allowing Brian to continue after his fiasco as exec chef on the yacht when he essentially did the same thing in allowing bad dishes to be served was unfair, letting Howie continue when he didnt plate his dish in the earlier episodes and dismissing the chef in season 1 who did the same, on and on. Seems there is no fair, consistent judging criteria on the show anymore.Get it together judges.You criticized Hung several times for doing classic traditional dishes and other chefs did the same or tried to.I think the show has become a showcase for keeping who can bring the drama or controversy as carried over from last season when Marcel and Ilan clearly disliked one another and lo and behold they are in the finals when Sam clearly should have been there.Top Chef needs to get back to who can cook and not what is best for the ratings and to keep viewers.

posted on September 23, 2007 at 11:37 AM

Judith wrote:

I think the only change I would have liked to have seen as to the final chefs would be to switch out Brian for CJ.
I thought CJ outcooked Brian (and several others) over the course of the competition.
I still can't get a han