Richard Blais

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Halftime

Richard Blais breaks down the competition at the halfway point.

October 9, 2009

Contestants aren’t allowed to bring music or iPods on Top Chef. Sometimes, parked in an unmarked white van, if a PA is nice enough while they wait for instruction, they will let you listen to a few tunes. But mostly, the chefs have a song or two stuck in their head that may help to inspire them.

For me, there were two:

"The Empirical Death March" from Star Wars and "Halftime" by Nas.

The death march, obviously, was my Quickfire anthem. It was my way of preparing to kill everything. Shoot on sight. Take no prisoners. Attack. Conquer the universe. Or die a romantic death ... of course.

And "Halftime," admittedly, was really just a B-boy anthem that gets me pumped up. It reminded me that the competition wasn’t over. No matter how far we were in it, it really was only halfway through.

And Top Chef: Las Vegas is halfway through. So as if on cue, we will take this time to breakdown the competition and analyze the performances to date.

Ash - Editing is a tough thing at Judges' Table. It’s the one part of the show that is really cut tight. Literally, hours of tape cut down to minutes and context is always difficult to grasp without actually being present. The questions don’t always match the answers and vice versa. That being said, Ash’s oral, um, encouragement of Michael is very telling. He’s certainly intelligent and entertaining. But it does seem that he has accomplished his personal goals and is ready to pack up.

Bryan - A model of consistency. His strength could be his only weakness. Last night, my wife used the word vanilla describing Bryan’s dish. Yet people often don’t appreciate the fact that vanilla happens to be one of the most exotic flavors in the world. Plus, people like vanilla. A lot of people, like me. Win or lose, Bryan is going to get a lot of interesting e-mails after the show concludes.

Eli - Another Nas song, called "Ain’t Hard to Tell," comes to mind. But it is hard to tell whether Eli has hit his stride, fallen off pace, or faded in with the middle of the pack. His creation of the food genre “fat kid food” is a great descriptor and very clever. However, his food seems to lean away from the heart of that definition. The prolonged focus on his relationship with Robin seems to be building, towards what I’m not sure.

Kevin - Confidence is a great thing to watch on Top Chef. It’s Jordan’s flick of the wrist after a pull-up jumper. It's a baseball player whipping his bat and admiring a long shot. Kevin is reaching a tipping point. His calm, intellectual approach in interviews complements his thoughtful, comforting food. He’s playing the game the best at this point. Slightly contouring his talents to fit each challenge, while still expressing an individual style.

Jennifer - Even with her slight unraveling last week and being sick this week, Jen is tough as cast iron and as polished as sterling silver. Her food is eloquent. Her character is blossoming. She’s amongst the best female chefs the show has ever featured. Which doesn’t mean anything to her, but a fact nonetheless. Baring fatigue or emotional distress, we should be seeing much more of her.

See-Through Richard Blais explains why this is one challenge he would have loved to have been a part. October 9, 200910 Comments Top Chef Season 6 / Episode 6 / Richard Blais

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Comments

20 Comments

At least 7 or 8 thousands

Submitted by Keygen on November 7, 2010.

At least 7 or 8 thousands visitors at your weblog now, nice results for single website.

It is great to read your

Submitted by Linna on October 15, 2009.

It is great to read your assessments - but the most interesting part would be your guess for the final four - and for the winner.

Last week, I saw that rerun

Submitted by Andrew on October 14, 2009.

Last week, I saw that rerun of "Iron Chef America" from 2006, and saw Richard almost beat Batalli. I guess that shows Richard's run at the Top Chef title was no fluke. The man has genuine chops! Kinda makes you wonder how he didn't win every challenge. It certainly opens a whole new perspective on what he did accomplish, and his commentary on this blog. It suggests he has some insights into Eli's talent level, too.

Hello once again Richard,

Submitted by craig on October 13, 2009.

Hello once again Richard, and once again thanks so much for your views. Comme ci, comme ça, lol?

I see your view about Ash, and I almost wholeheartedly agree; yet I thought it was very meaningful and clever when Ash remarked on the reason he should not be eliminated; that being this is a competition and even the strong falter, erst the weak may flourish. Summed it up nicely imo. After all do we not pull for the underdog, the dark horse, in our American culture? It gives merit to our beliefs. When life is dark for so many we cherish those who grasp at the stars and in doing so fuel our aspirations when they succeed. Also I believe it is not a detriment to be cognizant when other's abilities surpasses one's own, to me that shows a greater comprehension that only those who truly have a passion and hunger for their work possess. It takes a strong person to admit when they are weak or beaten with honor, a coward will deny.

Truly this competition is reminiscent of our hopes and dreams and thus the empathy generated by the viewers, we can all identify in some level with at least one of the contestants. However there comes a point wherein where favoritism loses out against ability, and that is when we rely upon the seasoned wisdom of the judges. There have been complaints against one judge or another for various reasons on these blogs and boards, and from what I have seen it is because of favoritism of one contestant or another (although some interesting counterpoints have been presented, and it is all a matter of perspective, we are not in the judges' shoes and hindsight is 20-20). Understandable from a fan's viewpoint, especially considering the highly edited content shown as you have explained.

So I ask my fellow fans to be grateful and celebrate this tidbit of our passion, pull for your favorite personality, and enrich your life and the lives of others with the knowledge we are able to glean herein, not withstanding the lack of in-depth technical discussion we get in the limited time allowed. Take what you get and run with it. And I ask Bravo to please continue to entertain us with the demi-gods of culinary competition you have presented us thus far so that we may be the wiser for it.

take care

craig T

To Viewer, it's actually

Submitted by Viewer on October 12, 2009.

To Viewer, it's actually "Imperial March," not "Imperial Death March."

I also saw your battle

Submitted by Viewer on October 12, 2009.

I also saw your battle against Mario Batali. When the scores were tallied and the taste score was so lopsided in Iron Chef Batali's favor, I wondered, "Did Eli oversalt something?"

LOLOL I didn't really at the time but I just thought of that now. I actually thought, uh, yeah, Batali's gonna break out the can o' whoop. Nice to see that you won on creativity though. I think you made some converts. You had some great looking dishes.

Unfortunately, this time around when I saw Eli I thought, "ugh". And I DID think that at the time.

Good luck to you, keep doing what you do and inspiring people.

The Blais vs. Batali episode

Submitted by Amy in VT on October 11, 2009.

The Blais vs. Batali episode was a good one although Alton wasn't hiding his barbs for "science" cooking versus "layering flavors" very well. I caught another episode with another TC alum Arianne who was sous chef to Amanda Freitag (judge on FN'c Chopped) versus Bobby Flay in battle Alaskan King Crab. You can't miss Arianne's jersey accent and who can forget her Today show win. It is available "on demand" through Comcast right now.

richard,love your blog. saw

Submitted by nonni on October 11, 2009.

richard,love your blog. saw you on iron chef,you were amazing. i do need to tell that when you where on top chef my grandson,liam,who has asbergers,(a form of autism) he is now 8 yrs old fell in love with you and thanks to you and the other chefs that season has been trying new foods to expand his culinary exp. he now wants to become a chef.so keep on cooking

Hey Richard, I just saw (via

Submitted by Amy on October 10, 2009.

Hey Richard,

I just saw (via the re-run) tha you competed on ICA in 2007(?) against Mario. Cool! Did that ever come up when you were chef-testing on TC? Will you go again? And one more thing - what's your take on "The Next Iron Chef" versus "Top Chef"? Level of skill? Production quality? I know, I know, it's hard not to like Alton Brown...right?

Anyway, I really think you're great, and I'd be happy to see you in open competition again...

As for this season's Top Chef, I'm pulling for Jen C., as I have been from the beginning. She's a curious compote of aloof sensibility and kindhearted compassion. Really, really likeable gal.

Chef- love the blog as

Submitted by Rachel on October 10, 2009.

Chef- love the blog as always. Question- Jenn is one of the best female chefs of all Top Chef. Who would you put in your top 10, over all seasons, both genders?

I'm thinking my top 10 would be, in no particular order: You, Stephanie Izard, Harold Dieterle, Hung, Bryan Voltaggio, Michael Voltaggio, Kevin Gillespie, Jennifer Carroll, Tiffany (Season 1), and Dale Levitski.

Why do u have 2 different

Submitted by Cecilia on October 10, 2009.

Why do u have 2 different blogs??

I truly believe Jen is an

Submitted by Viewer on October 10, 2009.

I truly believe Jen is an amazing chef. She works for in my eyes the best seafood chef in the world , so if you notice she does not leave her comfort zone. She is consistent , always on top of her work , her plates and so on but for me i want to see her leave her comfort zone. As for bryan being vanilla , i really dont think so. I think he is consistent but definatly not boring.

Richard; I don't even think

Submitted by Glenn on October 10, 2009.

Richard; I don't even think one of your patented Krispy Kreme milkshakes would have helped Ash sweet talk his way out of his "idolization" of Michael to the judges. ;)

It seems pretty evident at this point that the cream is rising to the top; Kevin, Michael, Jennifer, and Bryan seem like the top four chefs; hands down. All of them have put out exceptional food consistently, until Michael this past episode.

I like Ash a great deal as

Submitted by The Reginald Dwight on October 10, 2009.

I like Ash a great deal as well, but I agree with you that he has more or less satisfied his personal goals already and is mentally ready to go home. Even though I agree with the general consensus that the V brothers will likely meet in the finals, the two chefs I find myself rooting for the most are Jennifer and Kevin. I like Eli more than most other viewers at this point, and like you I love his term "fat kid food". That said I don't think he's quite at the same level as some of the others, and expect him to be eliminated within a couple more episodes. Lastly, while I'm sure she is plenty motivated I just don't see Robin as having anywhere near the talent level as the others. Can anybody seriously see a final four featuring Robin alongside the Voltaggio brothers, Jennifer, and/or Kevin. I'll give anybody ten to one odds right now on Robin not making the final four.

Oh Richard...I adore you and

Submitted by Katie-O on October 9, 2009.

Oh Richard...I adore you and you're one of my favorite bloggers, but I have to take serious issue with your condescending characterization of Jen Carroll as "one of the best female chefs" ever to compete on Top Chef. She's one of the best chefs, period, and I'm disappointed that you felt the need to throw gender into the mix.

um...Blais, your the man and

Submitted by Viewer on October 9, 2009.

um...Blais, your the man and all, but its the IMPERIAL Death March from Star Wars

Great post as usual Richard!

Submitted by luvcookin on October 9, 2009.

Great post as usual Richard! I caught the tail end of your spot on Iron Chef America and set the DVR to tape at 2:00am this morning. Will watch when I get home from work. Was that Eli from this season of Top Chef as your sous chef?

Richard, I pretty much agree

Submitted by Steve K on October 9, 2009.

Richard, I pretty much agree with your assessment with one exception: I would argue that Jennifer Carroll is one of the best chefs. Period.

Loved your blog...would like

Submitted by julia on October 9, 2009.

Loved your blog...would like to read or hear you expand on what it's like waiting for the judges decision...will you be writing any articles that we can read?

I'm curious about your

Submitted by Schotsea on October 9, 2009.

I'm curious about your evaluation of Eli - couldn't sleep last night and there was an Iron Chef re-run with you against Mario Batali and Eli was one of your sous chefs - Wondering if there's still any relationship there.