Kristen Wagner wrote:

Why was Lia the person to go home? She just won the previous episode challenge. She obviusly has cooking skills well beyond some of the other chefs. I feel this was unfair. Your featuring her dish on Wong Way to cook!

posted on July 18, 2007 at 11:08 PM

joel abramson wrote:

It was interesting that one minute the chef wins the challenge
and the next minute she is off the show. The polenta looked better than rice with the browm molasses. Appearance is the only true thing I can base my decision on and i wouldn't begin to touch that dish.

posted on July 18, 2007 at 11:41 PM

Chad wrote:

What was the name of the argentinian wine that Howie won?

posted on July 19, 2007 at 12:00 AM

Mark Simpson wrote:

Tom,
I have to ask you how can you stand there week after week with a straight face and not want to do jump over the stove and do a Gordon Ramsey on one of these fools??

Growing up in the service industry with both parents and brother all studying the culinary arts from the ripe old age of 15 all I can do is put my hands up in the air and shake my head in absolute disgust at the contestants that you’ve chosen for this show! I call them contestants because they don’t warrant or deserve the title of cook never mind top chef! This program is an utter disgrace to the profession and if possible I would picket the FCC offices in DC to have it removed from the airwave because of its insulting content and also as a mark of respect to all the real chefs out on the front line everyday! By real chef’s I mean the ones that gave their eye teeth just to get that first shitty job or first break! Working 15 +hour days with some hard ass head chef that’s sole purpose in life was to break you in a hope that you might throw in the towel and walk off the job!

I’m not familiar with you or your work but it seems that you’ve forgotten what it’s all about!? How does it feel to pimp yourself out to Mr. Big and corporate America? I hope the pay check is physically big enough for you to hide behind when you’re walking down the street!

If you ever find your balls underneath that mangina of yours and want to see how the pros do it I hereby challenge any contestant and/or true professional to try and best my mother and/or brother at preparing a 5 star meal of any classical cuisine regardless of conditions or environment.

For the real top chefs out there I raise my glass!

Mark Simpson, VA

posted on July 19, 2007 at 12:22 AM

Linda wrote:

I am ready for Hung to go home. His arrogant attitude toward the other chefs and toward the judges is disgraceful. I'm sure he is talented, but so are some of the others, and he is just too full of himself. And his food hasn't been that good. If someone was to send food back in his restaurant, he would argue and tell them why they were wrong and should enjoy the food anyway.
Also, I am enjoying this season much more than last. I especially commend Howie and Joey for settling their differences and acting like adults who respect each others' talents (although they didn't start out that way).
And last but not least, bravo to Chef Tom; you are the best part of the show.

posted on July 19, 2007 at 1:20 AM

Elisa wrote:

Dear Sir,

I'd simply like to understand how you can b totally objective and judge so many dishes in the same time....
So much flavors and tastes...
Don't you take time, rince the mouth, breathe?....
My english is probably horrible, sorry...But i'm french.
BTW i think that maybe you should care about each candidates feedback:).
I agree with Kristen, Lia just won....Strange!

posted on July 19, 2007 at 2:43 AM

eBrigand wrote:

It is becoming apparent that there is a large bias against female chefs in this contest. Every year the male chefs dominate the second half of the season. This year looks to be more of the same.

posted on July 19, 2007 at 4:06 AM

carolina wrote:

darn it... all of my favorites have gone home= micah, lia, and camille... i hope kasey doesnt go, she my last resort hey, make better discisions OK... btw (loveeeeee the show wannna be a cook in the future:))

posted on July 19, 2007 at 9:32 AM

Deborah wrote:

Tom:

Congrats on being the winner of THESEXIEST in last nite's vote! Being female, in total agreement. My daughter & I do think Padma is the most attractive female on the show and with that consideration, What's up with the commercial with Padma jumping on your back? Followed by that grin, the audience senses there might be a bigger connection!!

As television audience will, also noted was Padma's scar and concerns about what happened. In either case, she seems healthy and happy! She even seems to be smiling more this round. Bravo team!

posted on July 19, 2007 at 9:49 AM

al wrote:

I am a big fan of the show but must tell you that this season I am disgusted watching Howie cook. He sweats into his food and then people eat what he's cooked. There needs to be a requirement that he wear something on his head to catch that sweat. I find myself looking away when he's cooking because I am completely repulsed by it.

posted on July 19, 2007 at 10:37 AM

Susan L wrote:

I am enjoying this season so much more compared to season 2. At least they are relatively clean and more presentable, as in my opinion, a chef should be. Last season’s chefs looked as if they ALL needed a stiff brush taken to them and a shave. Egad, they looked awful. I realize the unshaven look was the fad for a while, but Harold and Sam seemed so dirty that I would never touch anything they cooked.

I realize that Harold and Sam were the golden children of the two seasons, but they both always had a look on their faces as if they encountered a bad smell and were the biggest whiners. I don’t remember one challenge that they didn’t cry about.

Thanks Bravo for a better group of chefs. I hated all the drinking, bad language and animosity shown on previous seasons.

posted on July 19, 2007 at 10:43 AM

Joan wrote:

I bet nobody was surprised you won the "sexiest judge" poll on last night's show. Chef Tom, my partner and I don't even "bat for your team" and as soon as the three pictures went up on the screen we said, in unison "TOM!"

posted on July 19, 2007 at 10:44 AM

Annie Q. wrote:

Another female chef gets the ax??? That's four in a row!
This was the time that Hung should have left! A chef is more than making good food, and in this episode both of Hung's dishes were at the bottom! His superior attitude and his crazy running around in the kitchen (with KNIVES!) is terrible! I know the producers want to keep him in there for drama or whatever. Hung must go!

posted on July 19, 2007 at 10:52 AM

Jennifer wrote:

Tom,

Why would you tell Brian to stop using seafood?

Yet, Howie gets to use pork every single challenge?

Once again, no consistency.

posted on July 19, 2007 at 12:21 PM

Pier wrote:

Congratulations on putting together a splendid group of chefs and challenges for the third season!
I thoroughly enjoy the show and am impatient to wait a week for my next Top Chef fix. I have definitely taken the visual bait, only wish that I could taste it, too!
In planning your next season, might I suggest New Orleans as an ideal location for the show. Where else in the United States exists such a fusion of cuisines and a love of food? Eating well and cooking well rank high in all quarters of this great American city, which deserves to be recognized for its HUGE importance in influencing our culinary history and traditions.
For anyone who thinks that the city has folded after Katrina, not true. The restaurants in the French Quarter, uptown, and in the modest neighborhoods are still dishing up their creole and ethnic specialties, just hoping that those who love these flavors will come back and partake again.
The presence of Top Chef would be a huge boost to the city's economy and would send a message that Americans do care about their own.
Thanks, Chef, for listening! And, no, I'm not from the Big Easy, just a Gulf Coast resident aware of a very rich culture whose future is at stake.

posted on July 19, 2007 at 1:36 PM

Tammy Wise wrote:

I was hoping to read Chef Tom's blog. He thought Howie was making a mistake to take the time to braise the port suggesting that it would have been smarter based on the time constraint to have roasted it- - further saying it may have tasted better too.

Despite Chef Tom's skepticism, Howie won the challenge so I was really interested in Tom's thoughts regarding the taste and the cooking methods.

Kind regards,
Tammy Wise

posted on July 19, 2007 at 1:45 PM

John425 wrote:

Jeez, Chef: You gotta get Howie to wear a sweatband or a bandana while he cooks. He's dripping all over the food he's preparing and I sure wouldn't eat any of it!

posted on July 19, 2007 at 2:09 PM

renee wrote:

My darling, Tom-

You truly are a bada$$ when it comes to the chopping block. Love to see you tear them down. Is it just me or are these chefs really not very good? The dishes arent imaginative, and if I see one more mf'ing ceviche or tartare, I swear I'll stop watching the show. Call 'em out on the boring dishes-please!

posted on July 19, 2007 at 2:15 PM

renee wrote:

Ugh, I've had it with these folks who try to say they arent watching TC for the nasty namecalling and the drama. Bring it!
If I dont see some bitchy catfights and some brawls, I'll stop watching.

posted on July 19, 2007 at 2:18 PM

Maria wrote:

I am enjoying this season MUCH more than last season. This group of chefs seem much NICER and less given to immature fits and bad drunk behavior. It seems like this season has come closer to being more about the food and the cooking, like Season 1, and less about the drama. I especially appreciate the emotion and support the chefs give each other during the eliminations. Even when they are being critical of each other during interviews, they do so with a good degree of respect (well, except for Hung). CJ and Lia are/were my favorites and I hope you let us know how they are doing in the "where are they now" section of the website when the season is over. I was very disappointed to see Lia go and felt that Casey or Sara Nguyen should probably have gone first. Did we miss something in the editing?

posted on July 19, 2007 at 3:37 PM

Rick Gacek wrote:

Hey Tom,

You made the comment on the Latin Lunch show that Howie was really sweating alot. I've noticed this in previous episodes and I just want to know this. If these are top chefs...why don't they cover their heads with a hat or bandana. Wouldn't matter to me what kind as long as they were following the rules we all do in the foodservice industry...they are still serving food..right!

posted on July 19, 2007 at 3:39 PM

CPH wrote:

It is concerning to me both that there have been four women in a row eliminated, and that Sarah M. failed to snag a spot in the top 3. There seems to be a favoritism to Howie and Joey because they've had a tiff and that's more exciting for the camera when really, they seem to be inferior cooks to Lia! It was also very clear from the show that Sara M's relleno won raves from the actors but she wasn't even in the top 3! She seems to get looked over time and time again. If you keep going at this rate, then it will be just a bunch of irritating men.

posted on July 19, 2007 at 5:52 PM

Shelley Corrette wrote:

Dear Chef Tom,

We all watch "Top Chef" each week, and really enjoy it!!

However, we have a few issues with the show, starting with this one:
Why is Lia out??!! She is better hands down than most of the
chefs, and even won a trip as a guest chef, and you through
her out over Hung!!!
Why in the world is Hung still in the running?? I've worked as a prep cook in a few restaurants, and if anyone was as flippant as he is,they would be out the door before it could hit them
in the butt!!

And Howie should not be allowed to sweat into the food!! Has the health dept. or osha stopped by as he's been cooking?
It seems that the best chef on the show is Joey.

We DO enjoy the show, my 13 yr old daughter wants to attend culinary arts school, and maybe one day go on "Top Chef" or Food Networks "Next Food Network Star"and open her own restaurant... And my husband and I will both be cooking beside her!!
She was saying today that many of your chefs don't show a passion and love for cooking... it seems to be just a job to them!! What a shame!!

Shelley Corrette

posted on July 19, 2007 at 8:03 PM

Ntilthn wrote:

Bravo Top Chef's ! Producer's, Judges and contestents. I feel TC 3rd Season brings back the Food and allows us to know each chef's personality. A nice balance. Love All the judges!
In reply to the critics of the show. I feel everyone feels they're the best, and until they find themselves in a Quick Fire, it is easy to tear someone else down. Love to watch Howie and Joey, my faves. One could win one week, and blow it the next, for whatever reason. It doesn't take away the fact of what wonderful things they have accomplished or away from the fact that they are great Chefs. We all wish them well. This season shows courteous and caring individules. Chef Tom,Padma, and Gail are the best judges in any reality show I watch. For the pepe's out there threatening to leave show..Your Loss!
Until Then,
ntilthn

posted on July 19, 2007 at 8:15 PM

Carrie wrote:

To: Mark Simpson, I am wondering why the extermely rude comments. Picket the FCC on the content of Top Chef? I would suggest that if you have that much passion in life why not put into some real crimes of humanity or if your a chef fight hunger causes. I find your writing weird and think their might be something wrong with you. I am sure others who read your comment agree. So seek some counseling and hope you have not already hurt someone.

posted on July 19, 2007 at 8:47 PM

patsy wrote:

omg im totally with john425 about howie wearing a sweatband or something! i already wrote about it and have to be honest i was glad someone else said something! he does sweat in the food! you can see it dripping down his nose..........where is it falling? dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! please chef do something, say something! you did about hong's knife ediquite! why not howies sweat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

posted on July 19, 2007 at 9:19 PM

kim w wrote:

I'm sorry, are none of you watching Howie drip sweat onto your food? I could not eat anything that he served although he might be a nice guy. Seriously time to insist on a sweat band before you taste anything more. Plus as a restaurant owner on natlonal tv he may want to consider future patrons watching this.

posted on July 19, 2007 at 9:34 PM

kim w wrote:

I'm sorry, are none of you watching Howie drip sweat onto your food? I could not eat anything that he served although he might be a nice guy. Seriously time to insist on a sweat band before you taste anything more. Plus as a restaurant owner on natlonal tv he may want to consider future patrons watching this.

posted on July 19, 2007 at 9:34 PM

Alona wrote:

Poor Lia! She was my favorite to win- I thought she had real talent and she seemed like a sweet person (although I've never actually met her in person, so who am I to judge). From winning the previous challenge to being told to pack her knives and go... once again, poor Lia! Unfortunately for her, the chefs are only judged on the current challenge and not on their performance overall. I guess it just wasn't her week.

Keep it up Lia, I hope to see more from you someday! And keep it up Tom, you're one of my favorite judges!

posted on July 19, 2007 at 9:57 PM

Ted wrote:

The hotel that the people are staying certainly looks nicer than last seasons digs. And a hot tub to boot, WOW that is certainly a step up. I do miss the blogs what's going on? if Cheif Tom is unable to write a blog every week get someone else to do it. I love to read the blogs since the blogs givea little more insight. I love the show and try not to miss it. keep up the good work.

posted on July 19, 2007 at 10:17 PM

Marlene wrote:

Chef Tom and Padma:
I addicted to the show, I really enjoy the competition.
Chef Colichio...you rock! The show would just not be the same w/o you. I like it when you give your honest opinion w/o reservations. You seem gentle but yet sarcastic...:O)
I think last season...Sam should won. He seemed the most interesting of the bunch along with bald girl! I am glad that the show took a stance on violence even though there were more than just one responsible.
Keep up the good shows...

posted on July 19, 2007 at 10:17 PM

Jonny wrote:

I was so pleased that the spanish actresses applauded Sara Mair's dish. She seems to be in the background a lot and doesn't recieve as much screen-time...probably because she isn't busy starting drama like Hung. I can't wait to see him go. My favorites are Tre and Sara Mair. True professionals through and through.

posted on July 20, 2007 at 1:20 AM

Steven L. Gaugler wrote:

Chef Colicchio

In the episode where the chefs combined efforts to prepare a tasting menu, the 4th group chose to do desserts/pastry. In this episode, Chef Sara M. commented that her pineapple effort didn't set up because of her lack of experience using powdered gelatine versus gelatine sheets. Did anyone point out to her that it wouldn't matter what type of gelatine she used? The enzymes/acidity in pineapple break down gelatine. Adjusting the acidity and ph levels (in a experimental kitchen) will allow the gelatine slightly more success in setting, however, the flavor principles are destroyed. She may have had more success using arrowroot or better yet still...tapioca starch.

posted on July 20, 2007 at 4:31 AM

Diana wrote:

I don't know what the response has been to Ilan's blogs because I stopped reading them. Food and cooking aside, I think he and a few other of the Season 2 chefs are boring to watch because they are immature, and I'm tired of hearing from and about Ilan. "I'd just like to tell everyone you were not there." That comment from Ilan's opening comments on the blog summary page (I won't waste my time opening and reading his complete blog) makes my skin crawl because it's just a forewarning of the lame excuses I'm sure he laid out in his blog to try to justify his behavior. A mature person would recognize that it's better to shut up about it, move on and, through your actions, show the world what a good chef you are, and yes, being a "good chef" means also having strong, leadership qualities beyond what you can do with food, pots, pans, knives, etc. Bottom line that I think a lot of Top Chef fans feel: Having a chef who clearly has flaws named the Top Chef is a little disappointing. Having to endure his continued whining and immature attitute on the Top Chef website is painful. I LOVE the blogs from other chefs like Tom, Harold and Leann. These people are clearly respected and liked (I do read some of the fan comments on their blogs). Why waste cyber space on someone who doesn't even come close to these people? I think it's time to replace Ilan's blog with another chef's blog.

posted on July 20, 2007 at 12:59 PM

Chevelle Masters wrote:

Dear Tom,

I love watching the new season of the show. But has anyone else noticed how Howie sweats INTO all of the food he is cooking? It is really disgusting. I noticed on a recent episode the sweat rolled right off the tip of his nose into the dish he was making! Can't he wear a headband to avoid that problem?

Chevelle

posted on July 20, 2007 at 2:51 PM

G A wrote:

I agree with most that Lia should not have gone home. I think that she is a talented chef and had great potential on this show. Sara on the other hand, made guacamole?!! How is that difficult, and, as i've heard Tom say on another show, "she didn't cook anything!" It was an appetizer at best and showed little creativity for a professional chef. Oh well, better luck next week! The other dishes were quite impressive overall. Good episode!

posted on July 20, 2007 at 3:41 PM

patsy wrote:

hi chef
i got so excited about someone else having written in about howies sweat i forgot to tell you i think you are great.........i wasnt surprised you won the sexiest host! how ever while i have your attention i want to say that a previous writer said that they thought the women chef's dont seem to be looked at as closely as the men. is there a chauvinist thing going on at top chef?

posted on July 20, 2007 at 4:02 PM

Jimmy wrote:

Tom,
It was interesting that you said Hung's Pollo con Arroz was under seasoned, with Hung responding that he thought the dish was "highly seasoned". I'm wondering how two developed palates can be so far apart in their opinion of the dish. Was the dish under seasoned for a Latin dish, where the flavor profiles are much stronger, or just plain under seasoned? Or was it Hung, infusing his French-Asian background into the Pollo con Arroz that might lead some people, who were expecting a more bolder Latin flavor profile, to think it was under seasoned? Just curious.

posted on July 20, 2007 at 4:07 PM

mindspot1 wrote:

Speaking of Howie, what's up with his excessive sweating? Is that sanitary? Don't the judges taste that his food is maybe a little to salty?

posted on July 20, 2007 at 10:24 PM

laura wrote:

Chef Collichio said during the challenge of recreating American classic dishes that he wished they came up with some more creative ideas. I was curious some of his ideas of how he would have recreated these old standbys?

posted on July 22, 2007 at 10:51 PM

Raquel Santiago wrote:

If Hung keeps going the way he is he will be the next one going home. Unless i see a big attitude and ego adjustment so far he has my vote for Worst Chef.

posted on July 26, 2007 at 3:23 AM

Kim wrote:

I was just browsing today and ran across this blog. Mark Simpson's comments from 7/19 were actually quite funny. He is someone that purports to be familiar with the culinary world but has no familiarity with Colicchio's work? That, in and of itself, calls his opinion into question.

All in all, the season has been fun to watch. Keep up the good work!

posted on July 30, 2007 at 12:18 PM

Karen wrote:

Every time I watch your show and the close-ups of Howie's sweat, I lose my appetite even for water!

posted on August 2, 2007 at 6:14 AM

Joao wrote:

Tom

Thanks so much for hosting such a great show.

You keep me glued to the screen out here in South Korea, where I'm working as an English teacher. I find your show informative as well as educational and it offers culinary outsiders like myself a panoramic view into the fascinating world of cooking.

Regards

Joao

posted on August 24, 2007 at 1:50 AM