Deconstruction

Do all those people leaving comments in Tom C., Gail S. and Toby's blogs concerning Toby's "mispronunciation" of paella pronounce the Dutch cheese Gouda as "goo-dah" or something closer to "how-dah" as those in the Netherlands do?

"i'm confused. can or can't you leave out an ingredient when deconstructing? if toby is correct (re: "When deconstructing a dish you’re not supposed to leave any of the ingredients out"), then other chefs failed as well - brian (where's the beef?)and michael(for using lettuce in place of spinach - isn't spinach what distinguishes florentine from benedict?). Not suggesting that either one of these two should be sent home; love them. Just want to point out that ash shouldn't be beaten up for not having mash potato, but sure flay him for other errors."

I think the problem was that Ash took out a major, defining component of his dish (the mashed potatoes) and did not replace it with a logical or workable equivalent. Replacing a major compenent with a playful different-but-similar one wouldn't have been a problem.

Bravo, Toby, on that decision. As sweet as Ron is, he truly was unable to perform the task... BTW, have you ever noticed the resemblance between Tom Colicchio and Tom Keane at the Chiswick Auction House? :-) I think Tom K. cutest of the two...

Hi Toby, who cares how people pronounce paella. As long as it's cooked well, I could care less. People from different countries pronounce words differently.Even people from the U.S., if you go from state to state.I'm glad you weren't injured too badly.I think it was a difficult decision between Ron and Ash.It really was a toss up.Ron was a gentleman and I hope his career takes him far.And you Toby....you are the Simon Cowell of food critics. And like Simon I do think sometimes your bark is worse than your bite. Cheerio!!!

Welcome back Toby! You had another set of cheftestants shaking in their chefcoats.

I enjoyed your tussle with Michelle Bernstein (she's Latina??), especially since I am hispanic and I say pie-eh-ya, and mongo for mango, and tah-ma-leh for tamale, all to my husband's discomfort. As for the British and their Spanish pronunciations, I have always noticed that Brits refuse to pronounce Spanish words ala the Spanish. Witness Garcia - Brits say GAR-cia, not Gar-CI-ya. I find it all an interesting statement on how the British look at other cultures. Whatever, you and Michelle lit up the screen - I reckon I can see some Latina spitfire in her after all!

I loved the deconstruction challenge, and I was really glad to see Kevin win. He's a tremendously smart cook, and his recognition of the fact that when he gets away from his own style, he does poorly, is so insightful. I know it's all decided by now, but I am really rooting for Kevin. Michael V's caesar salad was interesting as well, but other comments are right on the money, that a fabulous salad simply cannot compare with a fabulous mole. It was nice to see Ashley do well, and I hope she can stick around. I see the finale as the Voltaggios, Kevin, and Jennifer. But in every season, one of the strongest chefs falls in an unexpected manner. "Restaurant Wars" is still to come!!

Hope you can visit again, Toby!

Did they move the Rio to the Strip? The last time I was there it was still off-strip.

Just a word on pronunciation - this weekend I saw a very old Sherlock Holmes movie on the local university channel, in which Holmes pronounced the word "cinematic" as "ken-ah-met-ak". So..what's in a word? I remember reading Beowulf and Canterbury Tales in high school, you want to discuss pronunciation look at those. Remember language changes over time as well as everyone having regional dialects. In the future maybe Toby's way will be the norm. Don't be so condescending and picky over trivial things.

welcome back Toby!!!!
I love your comments and am glad to see you back!
One question about Ash's Deconstructed Shepard's Pie - and this goes to all the judges - everyone has mentioned that you can't have a deconstructed dish without all of the parts of the original dish - and obviously mashed potatoes are a big part of shepards pie - however Ash admitted he did potatoes but they were so pasty that he could not serve them - would he have been better off serving bad potatoes then leaving them off altogether? just curious as to your thoughts on that!

Oh Toby, please do move to Vegas. The sight of you riding your bike down the Strip will warm the hearts of America.

I'll bet you never thought that pronunciation of paella would become an international incident. I believe the UN Security Council is convening a special session to address it. Part of the problem is that we Americans don't appreciate your dry English wit, so people thought you were engaging in a real fight.

And speaking of appreciation, if you were to move to Vegas you'd have to learn to love the American health care system. Essentially it is this: you'll pay lots of money for the privilege of having corporate bureaucrats determine which medical tests and procedures you can undergo. They aren't bad people, but their jobs are to make profit for their shareholders. Unfortunately, the cost of your medical care comes out of their profit. So you see the dilemma? But have no fear. When you get old you'll go on Medicare, a government-run program that won't deny you any treatment. What a relief. It will allow your doctors to determine what you need. It will be kind of like what you started out with. In England.

Welcome back. I missed you.

Toby, I am glad you recovered after your accident. I think you are a wonderful judge, and I agree with you wholeheartedly that Ron is a likeable guy, but he just didn't bring his A game to this challenge. I always enjoy your critique on Top Chef and think you are an important part of the judging family.

Welcome back, Toby. I was very pleased to see you again.

Toby, I enjoy seeing you on the show. I love how you don't sugar coat your words to the chefs so that they know clearly where they failed and where they made it work.

I hope to see you on Tope Chef more often. By any chance, if you ever get your own show on Bravo you can make sure I'll be the first to watch! ^_^

Paella or not Paella?

Why such vitriol?

I doubt an American judge appearing on a British show would be lambasted if he "mispronounced", lets say, pecan pie.

Get over it and focus on the food.

Hmm, I am repeating this post because it never appeared last time I entered it. My point was that Toby as well as most Foodies would NEVER mispronounce "Hors d'oeuvre" as "Horse Doovers" or for that matter any other French culinary term. The same respect should be accorded to other cuisines. Spanish cuisine is well known in Europe and Spain is a next door neighbor to England. To qualify as a judge you at least should know well what you are judging. Too often I can see where the biases toward classical French customs and techniques color the judges decisions because they do not understand what they are judging due to being unfamiliar with other cuisines. If your profession is being a food critic, then know your subject well. In this day and age when we have access to many distinct and diverse cuisines, these biases are inexcusable. They give the “classical” chefs the advantage while penalizing those other chefs trying to promote their heritage. If this situation persists, In the end we all lose out on the rich diversity that this world offers.

Come on people...it's the old 'you say potAto, i say potaaaahto' shpiel. Shpeel? Whatever. Many cultures pronounce LOTS of things differently...I took Tom's comment to Toby as mild ribbing, nothing more. BANTER. Not so sure why Michelle got snippy.

My biggest issues were the fact that Ash didn't know how to make Shepherd's Pie to begin with, let alone Mike not knowing what Eggs Florentine was, and Ron not understanding what he was supposed to do. He appeared lost. Really lost. Considering he said over and over again how he's made paella many times. He stumbled. He failed to execute the dish.

I just don't understand how someone who wants the title of Top Chef can have a limited scope of dishes. Popular dishes. I live in the middle of nowhere and I even know what Shepherd's Pie and Eggs Florentine are all about. It's their job to study these things, no? It's not like you're asking them to make Kashata or Nem.

Anyway, I'm glad you're back and get better, it's dangerous out there on a bike!

OMG can you people really get off the issue of how to pronunciate paella??? WHO CARES?? This is not a website to air your arguments about political correctness, so please... stop talking about it. And for the record, those of you complaining about how Toby pronounced the word should go take some grammar, spelling and writing lessons yourselves.

OMG can you people really get off the issue of how to pronunciate paella??? WHO CARES?? This is not a website to air your arguments about political correctness, so please... stop talking about it. And for the record, those of you complaining about how Toby pronounced the word should go take some grammar, spelling and writing lessons themselves.

I don't disagree that Ash's and Ron's dishes qualified them for elimination. My problem was with the challenge. It isn't possible to deconstruct a dish without knowing how to construct it. I think the idea should be to take a dish -- well known to the chef -- and test his ability to reconceive it. What's the challenge in asking a chef to try to deconstruct a dish he or she is not familiar with? Bad concept.

As for Julia's snarky remark about English health care, I have three comments. First, America could only be so lucky to have a health care system like that of the UK. Second, the English system -- single payer -- isn't even being considered here so her comment that we are about to get it is just flat out wrong. And, third, I presume you were kept in hospital for 16 hours because, among other things, they were observing you because you might have sustained a concussion. If so, that is pretty much SOP. Why are Americans so dumb on this issue?

Hello Toby,

Welcome back. Your comments on the show (toward the chefs' dishes) display your dry British wit.

OK - now to address the most important controversial thing you said: the Spanish dish IS pronounced, "PIE-EYA"; NOT as you insisted, "PIE-ELLA". You got that now?

Carry on...

Since this is a one sided not-so-interactive section, I will offer my own biased opinion on the outcome. First off, as I remarked on another blog, Ron showed true class after his disappointing loss. Give the man props for that, I believe to answer the call as a chef, to serve others, is indeed a noble cause in its own right. Any one who submits their inner ambition whether it be the id, ego, or superego of Freud or the theories of other psychologists for the good of others deserves respect. How many of you are willing to sacrifice for the good of others? Think about it and what it is like to walk in their shoes before you comment. Most people would sacrifice anyone or anything for their own benefit. To serve others is a cause undervalued in our society. Bravo deserves props for taking a little appreciated and undertsood art to the masses for the enrichment of all. After many years, working in a generally well paid field, I am ready to give it all up for the sole satisfaction of appreciation from ANYONE that I can make a satisfying course for, the reward of gratitude outweighs almost any monetary compensation at this point in my life.

Secondly keep in mind the whole point of this show is to embrace a diversity of talent and give them the opportunity to showcase that talent for our enjoyment, to the possible chagrin of their reputation be it substandard. How many of you are willing to take that potentially career-ending risk? Not many I would bet, 2-to-1 odds I would take considering the Vegas theme.

Although some viewers many take this as another dose of oh-so insignificant entertainment, to other people and prospective chefs such as myself this is a constructive, informative, life-changing event; truly we learn from the mistakes of others. It is always easy to belittle others, indeed Toby has had his fair share of criticism for his views from those who lack his perspective. I have found in general your comments to be "spot-on" and the off-continent view you provide a relevation.

Feel free to submit your (viewers)opinion, I just hope that your awareness is broadened by this program, so that you learn to appreciate this one aspect of our lives; and in doing so you enrich the lives of others. Keep in mind you don't get to see the whole picture, as Tom mentioned in his blog even the judges are not too intimately familiar with the contestants and as such sometimes the decisons made may seem arbitrary, just remember context plays a role and what happened under one circumstance may not happen under another; and all are subject to whim.

Finally I would like to say Toby do not be disparaged by some of these comments, different perspectives are crucial to real understanding; if everyone thought alike we would all be robots. Constructive debate over differences can bring us closer together as humans, we should all strive for higher ground.

Sorry for so much pontificating, I just want everyone to have more empathy for others I see way too much one-sided narrow-minded perspective from people I wish everyone would keep a more open mind.

Thank you.

@Eliot K

It's a bit deceptive to say that 'll' is pronounced as the 'y'-consonant, as there are major differences in different regions of the Spanish-speaking world. The arguably more 'correct', if less common, pronounciation would be 'pa-el-ya', while some people from southern Spain or the Rioplatense region would say something like 'pa-eh-zhya'.

Obviously, it's pretty disrespectful for Toby to just treat the letter 'll' as if it were two 'l's instead of a letter in it's own right, but on the other hand, I am equally annoyed with the judges' tendency (in earlier challenges) to hypercorrect, resulting in a 'pa-ye-ya' pronounciation. That really makes me cringe.

@ Quincy

I thought fish & chips would be pretty easy to do something interesting with, as it's so much defined by textures. I thought of making fritters of a fish-based (e.g. rehydrated salt cod) batter served with a fried patty of brandade (made of rehydrated salt cod, milk, potatoes and garlic) to sort of reverse the roles. Also, wouldn't you normally have mushy peas as a side dish? Spherify peas and mint and let the diners poke it open with a fritter. Anyway, Laurine's dish didn't look too bad to me, she just needed to execute it a little better.

The problem with paella is that - apart from rice and saffron - there is no single flavor or texture to highlight. Maybe I would do something like a sandwich of puffed rice crackers (one flavored/colored with saffron, the other with squid ink) filled with a spread of soffrito-jam and not-overcooked seafood.

I think the biggest reason this was such a good challenge was that it made it really easy for the viewer to conceptualize different solutions to the different dishes, letting us play along.

People from different countries seem to choose which words from foreign languages they do or don't want to pronounce correctly.

Most Brits would pronounce paella as Toby did, perhaps because we have many less Spanish speakers than in the US but on the other hand I had never encountered the flat American pronunciation of words like calzone and mascarpone until I moved here.

It's unlikely anyone pronounces everything as it was intended in it's original language.

I want to know how Toby pronounces "mole".

In his defense, why is it a sin to Anglicize "paella", but it is perfectly fine to talk about eggs "florentine"? The proper pronunciation is "fiorentina". Do you say pronounce "wurst" with a "w" or a "v" sound? I'll bet few people reading this use the proper pronunciation with Asian dishes they eat.

Toby was a jerk for insisting the "pah-ella" was proper. He should have just taken the joke "We can't even agree how to pronounce it!" and let it be.

Jennifer was a great example for this episode- she was out of her comfort zone, but had the skill to pull something that tasted good and was innovative out in the end. Isn't that the point of Top Chef? Michael V did it out on the ranch. The cheftestants must know that the challenges are varied enough that they're going to be pulled out of their comfort zones at least sometimes.

Actually, Eliot K, this isn't that uncommon. The great Gordon Ramsay himself also pronounces it the way that Toby does.

For all the people getting overly excited about the "paella pronunciation" incident... First of all, to me this seemed like it was probably a jokey exchange between the judges--no one seemed angered (i.e., Michelle Bernstein likely didn't 'put you in your place' as stated by the commenter above).

Toby is not ignorant by a longshot - that is simply the way the word is pronounced in England. As an American who worked in an Oxford pub for a time, I distinctly remember an incident where the manager told me to "push the pie-EL-ah." I responded quizzically, making sure I didn't mishear him, "Oh, you want me to push the pay-AY-ah?" He responded, more forcefully, "Yes, the pie-EL-ah."

That's just the way it is. Tomato, to-mah-to.

16 hours in a hospital for a minor injury says a lot about England's health care which we are about to get here ooops. Glad you're back...enjoy both you and gail and this season has been the best ever.

I'm also even more confused about deconstruction as well. With Michael (one with the eggs) the judges said it was more of a reinvention than a deconstruction. What's the difference between the two?

Reading the comments seems like others were confused about deconstruction. Can you take out ingredients or can you substitute ingredients as long as the taste profile was the same as the original?

I'm rooting for the Voltaggio brothers. I need to find time to eat at the Langham Dining Room. :)

Welcome back Toby and I'm glad you have recovered from your accident. The show is better with you on it and your keen insight and comedic flavor is enjoyable as usual.

Eliot K: While I appreciate that you may "say things as they are said by the natives," most people I know don't criticize non-natives for their mis-pronunciation of a foreign tongue. How about we just accept that different languages (and cultures within language groups) pronounce sounds differently? (Sure, Toby came off overly defensive and a little jerk-ish about it, but that's the character he's on the show to play.)

the weakest group of contestants yet, and why do so many of them (including all who have been dinged so far and a couple with their heads above water still) HAVE NO CLUE???? Eve's deer in the headlights look could be the visual icon for most of this season's contestants. jennifer is toque over heels the most savvy contestant and best chef. if she doesn/t win it will be for the same reason previous seasons' female contestants flamed out---their periods got in the way. as for toby----isn't "english food critic" an oxymoron. i'd appreciate his wit more if he had a clue about cooking and/or gastronomy. i had enormous respect for michelle bernstein before she flamed out by swallowing robin's sob story. give us all a break. how does such a sappy, improbable season command my unbroken and devoted interest??? it's not the schadenfreude.

Well, Michelle was kinda snippy about pronunciation when she “corrected” you. Brits pronunce a lot of foreign words their own way. A wonderful family friend was in the navy in WWII, and being a Texan, says “Honalula, Hi-wah-ya.” That is so cute, I wouldn’t think of correcting him!

Anyway, welcome back to the show. I hope you’re not going to be too nice! I found your ascerbic comments last season quite entertaining. It’s going to get hard when the most talented are left.

The only chef from last season who could compete with the best this go-around is Stephan.

Welcome back Toby! We missed you!!!

My predict, Ash and Robin the next to go. And Michael not Michael V. Will crash and burn@resturant wars. He'll assume Executive chef duties and perish.

I felt so disappointed with this week results. Ron was told the
night before by his team mates that he should make the rice crispy and to change the textures.That is why everything was overcooked. I have little doubt that he makes a mean paella! I do not feel that you find the strongest chef when they are not able to embrace the challenge. I feel that a more clear definition of deconstructing and what was expected in the challenge was in order. I also feel leaving the mashed potatoes out of a shepards pie is a fatal error in and of itself. That said, I wish the best for Ron. Enjoying the season.

Toby,
I'm ignoring the culinary sins committed by the cheftestants (there were many), as I was more taken aback by your sin of feigned ignorance as to how to pronounce such a common dish as "paella". If it was an honest mistake, that could be forgivable, especially because the breadth of international dishes a modern diner is expected to know is at times dumb-founding. But "paella" is a standard dish of southern Spanish cooking, which has long been in the lexicon of fine dining knowledge, so just about anyone who knows anything about Spanish cuisine knows that double-"l"s form a "y" sound when followed by consonants in the Spanish language. Instead of admitting your pronunciation error, you made light of, nay, reveled in it. Michelle Bernstein put you in your place, calling you out on your ignorance, and I share her ire. Part of it stems from being of (mostly) Latino descent, as she is, and I don't take kindly to people implying that our carefully constructed language is silly or pretentious. The other part of my anger comes as a traveler and guest, either living or visiting in other parts of the world besides my native country. I've always tried my best to say things as they are said by the natives. Language is a mark of cultural identity, and even though I may stumble in my attempt to emulate that language, at least my attempt is an act of respect towards that other culture. You displayed no respect for either culture or cuisine on tonight's episode.

i'm confused. can or can't you leave out an ingredient when deconstructing? if toby is correct (re: "When deconstructing a dish you’re not supposed to leave any of the ingredients out"), then other chefs failed as well - brian (where's the beef?)and michael(for using lettuce in place of spinach - isn't spinach what distinguishes florentine from benedict?). Not suggesting that either one of these two should be sent home; love them. Just want to point out that ash shouldn't be beaten up for not having mash potato, but sure flay him for other errors.

WELCOME BACK, first and foremost, and I'm very glad you've made a full recovery from that accident!

I liked Ron a lot but it just seemed that every week he was overcooking seafood. That combined with the other elements of his dish just was too much to ignore this time (which you've covered in detail above), although against any other third person, odds are Ash would have been sent packing tonight.

For what it's worth, I thought the fish and chips was the most difficult to deconstruct. What is there to deconstruct?

It seemed that at least 75% of what was presented to the judges here was capable of being in the bottom three.

Jennifer, Mike V and Kevin are the standouts this season easily. Brian V started out in that group as well and I'd still put him up there, but Ashley has rebounded tremendously and is right on his heels.

Toby, next time you're in Vegas, go to the Venetian and buy a $100 ticket to sit in the second or third row for the Blue Man Group. I saw it almost a year ago and I still can't stop thinking about how great and fun it was.