Vickis Hunh? It's Patricia who was catty and disagreeable toward Lorena, not the other way around. Barking at her in the kitchen, talking smack about her knife skills and palette and culinary chops. Uncalled-for and COMPLETELY unprofessional. It was peculiar to me, too, that Kerry was all chummy with the other team while essentially ignoring his teammate Lorena -- for no reason based on what we saw. The three of them all palsy-walsy and not letting Lorena join in their reindeer games! If Lorena did anything to warrant this alienation, apart from being generally exuberant and befriending Art, the producers haven't let us in on it yet.

 Vickis Hunh? It's Patricia who was catty and disagreeable toward Lorena, not the other way around. Barking at her in the kitchen, talking smack about her knife skills and palette and culinary chops. Uncalled-for and COMPLETELY unprofessional. It was peculiar to me, too, that Kerry was all chummy with the other team while essentially ignoring his teammate Lorena -- for no reason based on what we saw. The three of them all palsy-walsy and not letting Lorena join in their reindeer games! If Lorena did anything to warrant this alienation, apart from being generally exuberant and befriending Art, the producers haven't let us in on it yet. Notice, too that it's Lorena who keeps a smile and positive attitude, who keeps her concentration on what really matters, even though she has been marginalized by her colleagues.

 tervito  Vickis Lorena geuninely seems like a nice person, but she has gotten on my nerves as well. Patricia and Lorena clearly don't get along, which isn't the world's biggest tragedy- some people will just rub each other the wrong way- however, although Patricia has been short and curt, and at times dismissively rude towards Lorena, she's been far less irritating to watch. Lorena's constant refrain about being passionate and putting love into her food has become old (for me anyway), and it's a little on the condescending side-  do the others not put their love and passion into their food?! I think the other chefs feel the same as her, but like to express it differently. It would annoy me to have one of my colleagues talk about love so much there's no room for me to express the same in my own way, because they've cornered the market on passion. That said, she's clearly a very talented and determined chef, I just could have done with less Lorena screen time. 

Off topic- Francis you've become my favourite judge on this show. You always have something interesting and measured to say, without sounding too persnickety and pretentious. Sometimes with the judging you end up feeling like you don't really know why some decisions were made, but you've made all the decisions seem reasonable and understandable to an audience that can't actually taste the food they're watching. 

 chairfetishist  Vickis Some worthy points. Although, when it comes to "love", I felt that Chris and Patricia played up their logrolling lovefest a little too much for my taste.