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Tom:

As always, your blog really enhances the competition. With only 44 minutes of actual air time, a lot of the details get wash aside so it is interesting to get to a more granular level to fully understand the competition and the judging that occurs.

This competition was especially exciting because it related more to the viewers. We have all had to create big meals in our kitchens while fighting for burner space or timing oven dishes that all need different temperatures. Seeing the pros work it out reminded me of times when each family member brings a dish and we are all trying to make a great meal that is served piping hot.

On a separate note, the casting is much improved this season. Much less drama and a higher quality of chefs has made this an exciting season (sans the outdoor ranch episode). While we viewers may not be able to actually taste the food, the presentation and the comments from the judges clearly show the bar has been raised this year.

I think Eli or Mike V. should have gone home. While I love Top Chef, I am getting a tired of the same people winning the Quick Fire and Elimination Challenges. It's been either the brothers, Jennifer, or Kevin. It's like they got the other chefs there just to fill space. There were a couple of times that Ashley was in the top four and her food seemed as good as anyone else's and I think she should have won. But no, again they give it to Jennifer one of the four who always wins. Please let someone else who cooks just as well as these people win. It's only fair. I can only imagine how the other chefs felt as they stood by week after week and watched the same ones win again and again. It's getting old. As for Jennifer feeling under the weather, she's no different than anyone else who feels bad and goes to work anyway. No big deal. Tom shouldn't give her special attention just because of it.

What I don't understand is, how many commenters seem to forget that the judges don't see the edited show before they make ther decisions. All they do is taste the food and ask a few questions. The judges aren't making their decisions based on politics, they make them based on food. If you don't like their choices stop watching or try to get on the show. Otherwise, quit bitching. It's not your decision.

Hi Tom, Love Top chef but I think Eli's comments about Robin using her cancer to win quickfire challenges is disgusting. I also noticed he was Chef Blaise sous chef on an Iron Chef challenge last week. Anyway I know the shows are probably taped already but if you still have contact with the contestants tell Eli that a true top chef or top individual has class. Thanks

Thanks for the clarification ,Tom. That was an excellent write-up. I think Ashley has done well dodging bullets this long. We have had a great opportunity for insight into her character. I'm glad we didn't miss out on that. From a culinary point of view, I think Hector was likely more talented. However, I would make a point of travelling to a restaurant Ashley cooks at but would not do the same for say, Stephan or ANYONE EVER from HK. Ashley is one of the rarest achievements -- a good egg.

I love to watch this show to see the food ideas, but I can't stand most chefs (including the judges).

That said, Ashley was great and no way should she have been voted off.

I guess the message is that you should be a selfish asshole to make it to the top of the chef world. Top chef did nothing to alter that and so the cycle continues.

It's been 20 years since I had to work with chefs in the industry and it looks like nothing has changed nor will it change any time soon.

Yuck, turning it off now that Ashley is gone.

A strangely satisfying win and a terribly disappointing loss. I liked the symetry of Kevin's quickfire win and Jen's challenge win, but thought that Ash was the one that should have gone home. I find it frustrating that the chef's don't get credit for prior wins or top place finishes -- because neither Ash nor Eli have been top placed at any point (or I don't think they have).

Jen brings a lot to the table (pun, ha!) and both times that she has teamed with a strong chef she's been in the winner's circle.

First of all: Tom, you and Padma are absolutely great. Thanks for such a classy show.

Now...hmmm...I really think it was a mistake to let Ashley go, instead of Eli or Ash. From what I saw, the judges had more problems with Ash's dish than with Eli's; but if you definitely had to choose Ashley's dish, then Eli was the one who salted the gnocci and didn't even want to touch the prawns.

Ashley showed such class and effort during the entire competition, that it was uplifting and spiring to watch. I couldn't believe that her reward for being professional, ethical and efficient (she was getting better and better) was to eliminate her.

I insist: A mistake.

One more voice here saying you made a terrible mistake in sending Ashley home. What grace and class! I loved watching her prepare her dishes with such ease and control while so many of the other contestants seem so frazzled all the time.

Hi Tom. Love the show. I was curious as to how much you and the other judges see before you make your decision for the week. The season that comes to mind was the one where Cliff was let go because of holding down Marcelle(sp?). Were you alerted for that reason only or were you watching anyway? The reason I ask is because of what happened with Ashley and Eli, if you had watched I would hope you would have launched Eli.

Hey Tom!!

Just had the opportunity to eat at your CraftSteak location at the MGM Grand. WOW!!! Food was absolutely perfect!!

Got to eat at Joel Robuchon's at the MGMG as well while he was in his location in Vegas, and I see why you guys are in such awe of that chef. Top off Nirvana with perfection and you start to scratch on the surface of describing Joel's food. It has been almost a week, and I am STILL drooling over that food ( both yours and Joel's).

Keep up the good work!!

I am a little dissapointed that Ashley was booted. Although she is not my favorite I felt that Eli was the weaker member of that team and should have been let go. He refused to cook the prawns because he didnt want to be responsible for them and oversalted the gnocchi.

Ashley showed the mindset of a champion on two seperate occasions. She could have made excuses and pointed blame at her teammates but instead decided to do what winners do and not make excuses.

Hopefully the judges can learn from that and not make excuses for sending the wrong person home. It is not Ashley's fault for not blaming Eli as you stated in your blog. It is the judges fault for not being thorough in their job. Even edited it was obvious to the viewers who the weak link was on that team. It should have been obvious to the judges as well. No excuses for screwing this one up. Hopefully you learn from your mistakes.

I just saw an episode of Iron Chef America in which former Top Chef finalist Richard Blais was the challenger to Mario Batali. During the show I saw Eli, from the current season of Top Chef Las Vegas, working as Richard's sous-chef. I wondered if Eli currently works for Richard?

Actually HolyMole, I don't think Tom ever really got to know how gracious Ashley is towards her teammates. He did mention in the Hector elimination episode when Mattin had lied about the veloute that he only found out about it during the episode airing.

I am concerned about how the judges aren't able to "judge" or see what happens in the kitchens. It's more and more likely that if a chef is a great person of character like Ashley in this competition, that they'd be thrown under the bus.

I wonder how the gnocchi was questioned about. Could it not have gone like "Who made it?" "Who sauteed it?" "Was it fine when you gave it to Eli to sautee?" It worries me that I feel like the questions aren't going that far.

Kind of late to comment but had not seen the episode until today.
Definitely Eli or Ash should have gone. They did not do a thing.
If you say you asked so many questions did you asked who oversalted the gnocchi!!! point blank? Bad,bad decision on the
judges part and I no longer buy the excuse that they only see the contestants when they taste the food. If as you say a lot of
questions are asked which do not get air time them the right questions are not been asked.

Tom,
Now that you see the episode and know for sure that Eli oversalted the dish, don't you think you should bring Ashley back? I bet that of the prawns she did cook, they tasted great, and she decided they should carmelize the gnocchi so they could hold up to the prawns. The gnocchi would undoubetdly have tasted great without the salt, and you would have had some texture. Also, if Eli would have spoken up while plating, the prawns that were undercooked could have gone back on the grill to finish and you would have had consistenly cooked prawns.

Whereas looking at the other team's dish, there were more problems with conception and execution. For one thing, according to Toby, you didn't have any texture. The panchetta was undercooked, chewy according to one guest, and never got crispy for texture between it, the fish and the ravioli. You stated that the halibut wasn't the right fish to use. Overall, no one was a fan of the egg yolk in the ravioli, which to me sounds like a very heavy thing to serve during an al fresco dinner. From Toby's question, it sounds like you didn't have much texture. I think there were more problems with this dish:

Ash considered Michael's decisions to be better. He says on the show that his own idea of grilling the raddichio was not as good an idea against Michael's idea of an asparagus coulis. I would rather eat grilled vegetables any day of the week against a puree or a coulis. To me it is a crime to not be able to experience savoring a beautiful piece of aparagus and instead having it turned it into a coulis. (To me, the texture is like baby food.) If you think you have to have it for color, a parsley coulis, such as the one Ash did for his vice dish the first episode, would have been better.
So you all said: it wasn't the right fish, the panchetta was undercooked, and the halibut was overcooked. Also served with a shaved fennel and asparagus salad, it sounds like you didn't have much texture. If Ash would have spoken up, you could have eaten grilled radicchio and it would have had some texture. So there were 4 things wrong with Ash and Michel V.'s dish, plus Ash basically said, "Send me home. I'm not worthy." Another good reason for a total of 5. Ash could have gone.

As for Eli and Ashley's dish: two things were wrong: according to Toby, only some of the prawns were undercooked. And thanks to Eli, the gnocchi were oversalted. They get a total of 2.

5 vs. 2? Let's trade an Ash for an Ash. Send Ash home and bring Ashley back!

Also, Tom I am a chef who pleases a lot of people culinarily. I am committed to excellence and passionate about food. How can I try out for Season 7?
Thank you!

Top Chef is one of my favorite shows. As a non-chef (and non-cook, actually), it amazes me how the chefs can just whip something up with ease. Tom - you are the best, and I love Gail and Padma and all of the guest judges you have on the show.

I was sad to see Ashley go as well, I thought she made a lot of progress throughout the season. But, that's the nature of the show! I think a lot of the comments on here are so critical and at times angry. Everything is fair and we don't know what goes on during the actual cooking/serving/judging, we just see the edited version. Just enjoy the show and root for your favorite chef!!

Hello Chef Colicchio,
I just want to say that I love Top Chef, thanks for a good show. You should take the show on the road and visit Stockholm some time.
Its unfortunate that you have to base your decision just on the food. In the real world, a chef would never serve a overcooked fish. So its a bit unfair to blame Michael V. he had no choice, he had to give you guys something.If he had some more fish and some more time, he probably would of made it all over again. Blame the "sous chefs" instead. at least Ashley and Mike V showed leader qualitys.
With that said, Im looking forward to see the next episode and I cant beleive that I have to wait a whole week.
Bye from a rainy, windy Stokholm!

I love Top Chef, I really do, and I completely understand the appeal of having each episode be an independent & enclosed story that doesn't require having seen any previous ones for the purpose of Bravo syndicating them.

But I'm begging you, for next season, please, please use some sort of cumulative scoring system and stop with this.

In a show named 'Top Chef', for Mike V to possibly leave 4 weeks before one of Robin, Eli, Laurine, or Ash borders on insanity. Yeah, it makes for 'more exciting TV', but it's mind-blowingly obvious who the top 4 chefs are this year, and it would be nice if the show reflected that on a week-to-week basis

I was so sorry to see Ashley go - a very warm, gracious personality and an understated talent.

I also have to agree with a few of the posters about working "under the weather" -- what should be heroics is, for many of us, just another bump in the daily grind.

I'm going to miss Ashley--she was my favorite--but the class she showed in the end will stick with me for a long time. She was the first one to not blame the judges or a bad day, but to own up to her mistakes and look to the future. My goal is to eat at a restaurant of hers someday. :)

Sorry, Tom, but comparing triumphant moments in sport to Jennifer's winning performance while sick is a little over the top, no? It wasn't that exciting and turning it into a moment of triumphalism is quite classist considering a lot of people can't even see a doctor nevermind even consider not working while sick. Its too commonplace to be heroic.

Tom, why didn't you press Eli and Ashley more about the gnocci? Are you waiting for contestants to throw each other under the bus. Is YOUR judgment dependent on that happening? I also can't help but notice that you didn't press her on this subject, even though you knew from previous challenges that Ashley was exceptionally gracious with her teammates. Was this a failure of judging, on your part? I'm not saying that it was, but it is a question worth asking. I'd love to hear more from you on this. I am not trying to point fingers, but curious what you think.

Let me also say that I am enjoying this season immensely and as a fan of Vegas' culinary offerings, I am happy you chose to shoot it there. Good job! Will we see the chefs visiting any more local culinary spots? I'd love to see it.

Thank You Tom C. for your insights and for adding other dimensions to the show.
While the editing cutting floor may be 4 layers deep of not-so-good for 'good' tv moments, why be so very low key of 2 contestants that did not pull their weight. Indeed each 2 leaders were sticking their head out graciously and with full responsibility of their respective teams, however their cumulative TC performance were SO far Superior to both 2nd fiddles throughout tonight and every other episode.

Any dish with TOO much salt is unbearable and a major turn off, and may be one of the fastest polluters of one's palate!
Spotted shrimps undercooked are not as much of a turn off (ref: amaebi)
Eli should have been the one on the block.
What was his actual participation besides: oversalting while saute'ing, and plating 6 of the plates... and running to get a good counter top + burner spot?!?... and squirming at the judge's table.
Indeed Ash should NOT have dropped his partner - however gifted he is - to set up the table for 10mn...

BTW it was the most heartwrenching departure of any chef so far in this season and ever on Top Chef : the warmth of each embrace speaks volume on Ashley's personality thorough her competition, her professionalism and the respect rshe commanded from the other chefs in competition.
The brothers exchange was so real (cover, protect and respect during this episode followed by 'sh*t the f**k up in the preview!)

While it's trickier to watch TopChef as www.bravotv.com blocks European viewing, I am still a deeply committed TC fan for what You and Your Team produce for us Foodies! Thank YOU TOP CHEF.

I'm curious about input (or lack of input) from the judges in the editing of judges' table comments...I suspect there is no input, which is a shame.

from the on air edited version, tyler florence gave a ridiculous, inane retort to michael v's statement that the electricity went out. michael's later comment was spot on: while you would never go out to a diner and make an excuse about the stove..on the other hand, you use more time (i've sat forever waiting for a dish from the kitchen) and extra supply to correct the issue, or you tell the diner that the kitchen is out of that entree..not at all comparable to this situation.

it seemed that michael v. was trying to say the same statement that he did in the voiceover...that he recognized the mistake and tried to fix it, and wasn't successful because the fish was overcooked...he did own up to this at judgement.

If on the other hand the fatal flaw was to have walked away from the halibut in the first place as stated above...that's understandable..but I wish that comment from Chef Collichio were in the edited version that aired on TV

I agree tht Jennifer was a real trooper to compete and giving 100% regardless of her suffering. I have been rooting for her since the first episode. I want her to be the 2nd woman to compete to the end and win it all. Not just because she is a woman, but for many reasons. She can cook her tail off even under pressure, she's a real team leader, like she said, "I'm fair in the kitchen but tough", as she pulled off the episode of feeding out troops.

I know everyone talks about a brother cook-off, but where one faulters the other is strong, Jen is really showing Eric Epar just how well he mentors.

Ashley is gone and ROBIN'S still there????
What's wrong with this picture?

Tom, your blog is intelligent, informative and well thought out. I love watching the show, and I love your blog take on it almost as much. Kudos from a fellow N.J. foodie.

I don't know where else to write this. I am hoping that Chef Tom reads the comments or someone with bravo does.

Once, there was an elimination challenge when the group prepared low cal dishes for overweight kids at a camp.
What about having an entire season focusing on low cal, low fat dishes. I'm sure it would go over big with your audience!!!!

CAn someone tell me how the heck Robin is still in this competition?

Chef Tom,
Thank all of you who are responsible for putting this show on the air. I'm in the middle of my fifth decade and grew up on TV. I can, no I have sat through an entire day of T.C. marathon. My mother made sure all her sons could cook, wash, clean bake etc. We have a Caribbean background.
Tom, what I cannot understand is why so many of these very good chefs have a problem with delivering bland food. Why do so many have this problem. Finally, on more that one occasion contestants served either undercooked,overcooked or ammonia smelling,bad tasting shrimp. On the ranch you got rid of the shrimp. How could a chef serve ammonia smelling shrimp? This is an elementary sign of spoiled shrimp.
While this year we might not have personalities that intrigue, the cooking still reigns supreme.

This is the first season I have watched Top Chef. WOW!!! I was rooting for Ashley and was sad to see her go.
Tom, your blog has really helped me understand your process of judging. But, i wonder, in the elimination challenges, do the judges base decisions solely on the dish you sample or is it a accumulation of bad dishes? For instance Ashley struggled in the first few challenges and Eli didn't seem to. Just wondered if that was a factor in the decision to send her home.

Ashley gets sent home for cooking or in this case not cooking but Eli is safe because he played safe. Mike V was the worst on his team because Ash played safe. I think the "safes" should have been up for elimanation.

I would like to be considered as a participant on your program. I have been watching your show for two seasons and eating food all my life. Your program inspired me to get into cooking so I got a job two months ago as a line cook at McDonalds. I have learned all their food preparations and I am ready to move on. I have become creative in my preps at McDonalds, sometimes I add more catsup or mustard, other times I spice up the french fries with a splash of lard, I believe adding a gourmet touch. I take great pride in arranging the hamburgers and fries on the trays, I use the juxtaposition of the sodas to enhance the presentation of the meal on the trays.

Just watched out tapped show of TC last night. Where in the heck were Bryan and Laurine? They were not shown AT ALL during the cooking for the elimination challenge? What up with that? And then for them to bring in one of the top dishes - is it because Bryan is so serious and soft spoken that you don't think he makes for good TV? You should highlight all chefs equally.

Thanks.

It amuses me to no end that bloggers who didn't taste any of the food think they know better than you who should have been sent home.

It seems there were 3 problems with the losing dish:

1. It was conceptually a bad idea to serve a heavy dish like gnocchi on a hot night in Las Vegas. Eli went along with it, but it was Ashley's idea. Two thirds blame to Ashley, one third to Eli.

2. The gnocchi were dense and salty. Ashley made them too dense and Eli made them too salty. Half blame to Ashley and half to Eli.

3. The prawns were undercooked. Ashley cooked the prawns and Eli plated some of them. 90 percent blame to Ashley, 10 percent to Eli. One opiner on one of the other blogs had the chutzpah to suggest that Eli was more responsible for the undercooked prawns because he allowed them to be served. As though Ashley was supposed to just put them on the grill and take them off and wait for her partner to tell her if they were done or not!

Eli will probably go home soon enough, but from what I saw, it seemed like you made the right call.

Tom - thought Mike V. had a bit of an attitude (walking away from you during the walk-through and basically dismissing Ash in the challenge, which was probably why Ash tried to (albeit in a passive aggressive way) throw him under the bus during judging) and was glad to see him in the bottom. PLEASE no more Robin and sort of glad crying Ashley is gone too. Hope Jennifer or Bryan wins!

I'm not sure how Ashley ended up packing her knives in last night's session ~ rather than Eli! Her kindness is heart warming but I wish that she had spoken out on the over-salting issue and shown the judges that Eli was definitely the less talented of the pair. It seems the decision may have been different had the judges questioned the situation a bit more. I'll miss Ashley - sorry to see her go...

I agree with viewer Steve, almost verbatim. I felt bad for Ashley and feel she had a style, better attitude and capability than others. But I, too, rather have her go than any of the perfect quartet -- the Voltaggios, Jennifer, and Kevin. So, how do you only choose three? Don't! Go for the Project Runway approach and let these four brilliant artists go to the finals. I, too, am rooting for a four-person finale. Please!!

I love the show have my own TOP APRONS! My fav is Tom C as judge, Padma's cool too. I'm frustrated that Robin is still in when other chefs clearly have more talent are voted off. Ashley wasn't my fav at first with bachelorette episode but I realized she is kind and genuine. Unfortunately this week's episode is an exapmle of 'the good guy finishing last' YES she should have stuck up for herself but I love her integrity and kindness in not 'throwing someone under the bus' to save themself...far too common in our society.

I wholeheartedly agree with all of the other viewers who believe it was a mistake to let Ashley go. She is a person with real character and class, unlike many of the remaining contestants you have. Eli and Ash clearly took advantage of the "sous chef" role, and skated through this challenge. As for Robin, I cook better than that woman on a daily basis, and I am not a professional, just love to cook. I hope to see Jennifer, Kevin and the brothers all survive to the end. They are clearly the superior chefs, and if you do not allow them to make it to the end, you judges are all crazy.

I think that Eli should have gone home too. The gnocchi definitely didn't need extra salt. Also, I am so tired of seeing scallops, ceviche and lamb almost every week.

Hiya, Chef
was sad to see Ashley be let go...maybe a turn of events and she will be re-added? She's much better than the salad lady. Please bring on one of the top chef masters to judge, I am really not taken with Toby
Enjoy the show as always!

Chef,

I have to agree with most comments - that Ashley should not have been sent home. In previous years you have sent home chefs for lack of contribution - what did Eli contribute other than salt? He and Ash (BEGGING to be sent home...) were by far the weakest of the lot - at least Mike and Ashley conceptualized and executed their dishes (almost singlehandedly).

I also have to mention that it was very telling when Michael (of Michael and Robin) described "his" dish on serving - with no mention Robin, despite his utter lack of knowledge with the ingredients. Every other chef introduced their team's dish by saying "WE made X, WE did Y". I hope he gets bitten by the same lack of respect he seems so content on exhibiting.

Ashley had a great attitude and she seems to be popular with viewers too, I'll have to try her restaurant now. Please to see Tom Douglas as guest judge, he's very personable and awesome restaurant guy, his restaurants are excellent and he has a great weekly radio show, listen to the podcasts at mynorthwest.com...

I was disappointed that Ashley was eliminated. Ash walked away from the fish to decorated the freakin' dinner table while the other dude, Mike V. was doing the rest of the work. If Ash, from his own lips admitted that Mike was a better cook than he is, what would make him think that he would become a top chef? Get real.

i was very sad to see Ashkey go!!! she was so sweet and funny, i think Eli should have gone home because he oversalted the gnocchi and he was watching ashley cook the prawns and he didnt say anything about it, i think he was not a team player and just watched and let ash burn! im very sad she was my favorite chef, i was outraged when i saw her go and it broke my heart. the show is not gona be the same with out her. :(

I feel bad for Ashley, as she was nearing the top of the middle of the pack.

Still, I'd rather have her go than any of the top tier of the Voltaggios, Jennifer, and Kevin. How do you only choose three?

Yikes!

I'm rooting for a four-person finale.

Thanks for your enlightening blog. It added another dimension to what was a less then excellent episode. TC has done far better with it's challenges. It helped to read your blog and understand what you were going for in this episode. it did not really come through on the screen, however, and the whole thing just looked like sloppy, rushed chaos. Very sorry to see Ashley go. She seemed to be one of the kinder contestant and had made some very delicious sounding dishes.

I am sorry that Ashley was eliminated last night, she was a great chef, I'm finding that each week, there are other chefs that should be eliminated, oh yeah by the way when are you going to choose an AA to be top chef, I've never seen an AA become top chef, why is that? even though they are contestants, except for Carla last year she came close but still lost. if they are not good chefs then why are they chosen?

I'd like to see an elimination challenge that dealt with some of the food allergies people have. My brother has Celiac disease and cannot eat any wheat products. Surely a top chef could come up with a truly tasty gourmet dish for someone like him. Remember there are lots of people out there with allergies... can a top chef cook for them too?

Hello, Tom.
Thanks for the interesting blog again. I'm just sorry to see Ashley go. She was as gracious in losing as she was throughout the challenges. I, too, get frustrated when I hear a so-called "chef" say, "I don't do . . . whatever." Asian flavors, deconstructing, you name it. I never heard those words come out of any of the contestants in this summer's Top Chef Masters. Rick Bayless was also so gracious and respectful in listening to Richard and learning some new techniques. Advice to chefs: study French, Chinese, and Mexican cuisine. Use books, internet, and TV. Practice at home. Don't make excuses.

Like many others, I vowed not to watch the next season after Stefan lost out to Hosea. Fortunately, I forgave the show by not only dining at Stefan's restaurant and chatting with him (he really is a nice guy) but also loving the talent this season, including the Voltaggio brothers. I do realize the brothers never cracked a smile but they're so focused and treat the competition like a job. They never threw anyone under the boss and played fair so, so what if they don't smile? They're not egotistical in my opinion. I also felt it should've been Ash or Eli who went. Ashley was the dark horse this season and a fair player. She could've gone a lot further.

Chef Colicchio,

This is my first season to watch Top Chef and it has been a great experience. I especially enjoy reading your blog after each episode for the insight it gives me into the thought processes that go on behind all the editing. You state (and the guest judge did also) that when something like a power outtage happens the chef can't make excuses to his diner for an inferior product but the flip side of that is that the chef can choose to start over because he doesn't have the same time/supply constraints that these contestants are under. It seems to be a bit of a double standard to have them work under such odd and difficult circumstances. One responder made the very valid point that the chefs aren't working from an even playing field when some of them have a kitchen at their disposal while others are using a glass table and plug in woks. It seems a bit ridiculous for them to be held to the same standard. I have to say I admire Ashley for her attitude as well as for her cooking and think she will ultimately benefit from the graciousness she showed. She was a wonderful and far more deserving contestant than some of those left on the show. Since getting hooked on Top Chef this season I have gone back and watched another season in reruns. The contrast between these contestants and the group I watched (I think it was season 2 when Ilan and Marcel were finalists) is amazing. Judges have often mentioned how mature the cooking of this year's chefs are but I think the maturity of their cooking is a direct result of their maturity as people. The overall tendency to work as a team and to treat one another with respect really makes this year's cast stand out. The episode where that was most apparent was when they cooked for the Air Force and chose Jennifer to be the head chef that day and interestingly Mike I. spearheaded that decision. Proof that even he, arguably the most immature person there, still has a level of maturity that wasn't evident in the previous season I've watched and the ones I've heard about. Keep up the good work.

SAD that Ashley's gone. She may have deserved in this episode, but she seems way better than other remaining contestants!!! Shame!

Shucks! I liked Ashley A LOT, and I hope she will return on an episode of Top Chef all stars or something like that. You could tell from the reaction of the other chefs how unhappy her leaving made everyone feel. I want to like Eli, but it's getting tough. Seems like there are quite a few "stalwarts" this season.

Hey Tom,

I was disappointed in last season and sadly vowed to stop watching the show. However I have been sucked back in. This season has been great - a showcase of cooking skills, challenges and amazing dishes without the drama. I love it. I thought Bryan's remark about not commenting on the dishes without having tasted them was very appropriate. Only you and the other judges can truly assess the dishes presented. Although I was sad to see Ashley go, you did what you thought was fair. I must say though I am somewhat shocked that Robin is still part of the competiton when chefs who seem to be significantly more qualified have left. Keep up the good work and looking forward to the next episode.

Just a comment on the show last night Tom - I liked that they did an interview with you after the walkthrough to get your thoughts before the actual meal. It was cool to get a sense for what you were thinking as you approached the meal, and to see how those thoughts played out. I know it's probably too late in the editing to have that for every show going forward but I vote for it for next season for sure...

Forgot to add GO JEN I am rooting for her (but Kevin or either of the brothers are really good too :)

This is truly the best season ever, without a villain and without the interpersonal drama. These chef-testants are intense about their food. This show has raised the bar and taken the show to a new level.

Your blog is excellent as always. Your writing and thinking always blows me away!

Hi Tom!

It has been such a great season so far I haven't had a reason to come and yell at ya... but then I thought what a shame it is that judges always hear about the bad but not the good.

Again, great season, great contestants and thanks for giving Michael V another chance he seems like a very intense and talented chef.

As for Ashley going home its too bad as it seemed like she was starting to hit her stride, but she has been on the bottom a lot and as we've seen before - undercooked protein will do ya in most times.

Ok that is all. I don't like this website it hurt my eyes so I gotta fly.

Also, why not come down and go on a southwest food sampling tour? great foods out here you should come to Tucson and learn about native american sytles of food (all different) and mexican styles (i.e the difference between sonoran style mexican food vs. the chihuahua style vs mexico city style and learn how tex mex is NOT any of those!) & also weather is great these days we'd love to have you!

Nice guys finish last. The brothers are prima donnas and Michael is not a team player and not nice. Yes, it is a competition but a top chef has to be a team player and we did not see that from Michael V or Michael I. so hopefully they pack their knives soon. Others who criticize Robyn need to get a life and go home.

Eli did 2 things - left his partner hanging and took away the stool she was standing on. Most surprising is that the judges let him off so easily - they usually do a better job of getting to the bottom of situations like this one.

I am really sad to see Ashley go this week. My main reason is that Eli was more that half of the issue with the dish, and was about 1/4 of a man in his performance at judges table. He has been mediocre at best, and will be one of the next to go. Ashley was a bright light for me...

Tom, great show, great episode. I just think that you should know that the two times I've gotten my wife to watch the show, the only opinion she uttered was that you should lose the soul patch. Cheers!

If Ashley had not been sent home last night, it would have happened within the next 4 weeks. My prediction is that Ash, Eli and Robin will be the next ones to go and not necessarily in that order. Kevin seems like a great chef, but I think he's going to stub his toes eventually - I still think it will boil down to the brothers and Jennifer. Where the other Mike fits in I do not know, but I doubt he will make the final. JMHO.

And just as a personal observation - enough with the fish already! Where's the beef and the pork???

I was so sad to see Ashley go home. I thought it should have been Eli or Ash. Ashley did her part for the team, and Eli let her down. Best wishes to Ashley for a bright future. She deserves it.

I just have to start by stating I love Top Chef. My husband and I have been watching for 4 years now and the seasons just keep getting better.

Tom - I love reading your take on the challenge the day after. But I do have a question - do the contestants get a chance to read your blogs which they are in the midst of the competition?

Hey Tom --

How long did it take you into this season to notice that Ash never finishes a dish?

I have watched Top Chef since it began and in most cases I have supported the judges decision, however, in this case, Ashley took the highroad which we have not seen from so many competitors in the past and she was eliminated. Makes its seem like being petty, being a poor competitor and whining wins out in the end. Too bad!

Tom, I think you were spot on with your assessment of Ashley. I also agree that she should have stood up for herself a little more. Although I respect her for being a team player, ultimately it's her reputation that suffered. I think chefs should take responsibility for their dishes, whether good or bad.

Ashley was bound to go home sooner or later folks- She's classy, yes, but just not as strong as the 4 best chefs in the house: Kevin, Jen and the Voltaggio Bros.
I was actually worried Michael V. would be the "Surprise Early Elimination"
that each season always throws at us.
P.S.-I thought it was cool of Brian to defend Michael's dish to Kevin's questioning in the Stew Room. I think Kevin's an awesomely creative and intelligent chef, but I think his humble shtick is just an act for the cameras. He seems like he's got an outsized ego lurking in that beard of his somewhere...
Next week give us a double elimination of Robin and Eli please.

I agree with Craig, electrical problems are not that different from the malfunctioning fridge from last season, when you decided not send anyone home. Someone should have made sure the circuits could handle that much voltage (insert joke here). Mike V. did not get sent home but frankly he did not deserve that silly tongue lashing from Tyler about making due in bad circumstances. In real life Tyler would have told his guests that there would be a delay and then he would have started over with new product. I commend Mike V. for being contrite while the judges looked foolish and hypocritical. Someone messed up by not making sure the circuits would hold up and that person should have been sent home. BTW, someone should have given Jenn a mask while she cooked; the country is in the middle of a flu epidemic.

I thought this was a good show. The quick-fire challenge was quite clever and fun. I liked the idea of preparing food from a standard kitchen and serving it family style. However, I was very sorry to see Ashley go home tonight. Although I don't think she belonged in the top four, she seemed a more talented chef than many of the contestants that are still around (Eli, Robin, Laurine, Ash). I also think if the judges had known how Eli had messed up the gnocchi that he would have gone home instead. But it was his responsibility to "man" up to his mistakes, and he didn't, while Ashley did. After last week's episode where Eli bad mouthed Robin, I don't think much of him as a person, and he has yet to wow me with any of his dishes. Although Ashley undercooked the prawns, Eli was the weak link in their partnership (exactly what did he do anyhow?) and should have gone home.

That said, since the judges didn't know about Eli's ineptness, the right choice was made last night. Ashley's and Eli's dish was clearly the worst one (out of the bottom two) and it would make sense to cut the person who made the most mistakes (apparently Ashley in this case).

I'm so sad to she Ashley go. She is classy and talented. I'm hopeful that Karma will treat her well.
In the past you've blasted chefs for not standing up to teammates and not questioning the "leader". It was a perfect excuse to send Ash home. Keeping Mike V after what everyone admitted was a dish that "just didnt work" was lame too. Mike and Ashley both had texture problems and undercooked fish.

I am so disappointed that Ashley was eliminated! From Day One, she has seemed like a truly nice person and a talented chef. She was very gracious in not throwing her partner under the bus! Eli should have been the one sent home!

As much as I understand what you say regarding Ashley and Eli, I still think the wrong chef went home. Though I also think Ashley is still too nice to be a Top Chef. Maybe this will make her a little tougher so she will stand up for herself when her partner tries to throw her under the bus.

I am the only one who thought that Ash's compliments of Mike V's abilities and hard work on their dish were only to save his own skin? Since season 1 of TC, in a team challenge, usually the one who stands out as team leader of the losing team is the one who is sent home. I'm assuming that Ash knows this and therefore by telling the judges- in a nice way- that Mike V. did everything, he was keeping himself safe for another week. Anyone else think this as well?

After reading this blog, it almost indicates that not enough digging was done on the judges' part to get at who did what in the Ashley-Eli dish, i.e. who had oversalted the gnocchi. Had that up front question been asked, "who salted the gnocchi and when," it seems possible the outcome of who went home may, and I do write that with lightness, since Ashley admitted to not properly cooking the prawns, MAY have been different. Who knows. All it seems is that she has far more class than Eli, who had no obvious regrets about slamming Robin, and Mike I, who didn't even include her in this challenge and griped about her onscreen nonstop.

One moment of amusement that I had, though: Jen won the challenge despite feeling sick and having a fever, then gave Tyler Florence a smooch?

Heh.

Hi Chef Colocchio,
Since Eli was the person who plated the prawn/gnocchi dish, and was the one who oversalted the gnocchi, I believe he should have gone home. The gnocchi could have been rinsed and re-heated, and the prawns could have been kept on the grill longer. So really he was responsible for both bad parts of the dish. Basically he ruined Ashley's gnocchi that she made by hand and then carmelized for some texture and to hold up the prawns.
I think the suggestion another commenter made -- to judge two-person teams as one, is a great idea. That way, if they produce the best dish they both win, and if they produce the worst, they have a cookoff to determine who goes home. That forces them both to make sure that every element on the plate is great, whether they created it or not, and does not encourage someone sabatoging another by making seasoning disasters.
Being a Top Chef means taking part in making sure everything on the plate shines, owning up to your mistakes, and helping other people on your team to make sure the final product will please the diners. Eli showed with his decisions that he is not a Top Chef. Also he is very arrogant. I believe he should have gone home.

I think Eli should have gone rather than Ashley. If Ashley cooked both the prawns and the gnocci. what was Eli doing? At this point in the competition, serving as a sous chef in a two-person team should not earn you a pass! Eli's major contribution seemed to be oversalting the gnocci.

Bring Ashley back! Give her another chance. Perhaps she will be able to learn how to politely address the doings and undoings of team-mates in such a fashion that she does not stoop to some of the low levels we have witnessed so far.

I appreciate the professionalism and grace Ashley exhibited during this challenge. She had an opportunity to throw Eli under the bus, and the fact that she didn't speaks louder than words.

Brava.

Thank you, Chef Colicchio, for your great blogs. I was sad to see Ashley eliminated. It's curious to note, inconsistency seems to be worse than mediocrity when it comes to the cooking. Do you take the chef's cooking history, through the competition, in consideration when contemplating who goes home? There also seems to be a fine line between tattle tale and competitiveness. Too bad Ashley wasn't more aggressive in front of the judges. I do agree that failing appliances don't make a good excuse because Mike V. should've rethought the dish to "make it work" but then again, he did seem to take all the cooking responsibility. I think in another season, I heard you mention, this isn't top sous chef. Ash is clearly not of the caliber of the other chefs. BTW, congrats to Jennifer for winning one for the women!

In watching the reaction to Ashley going home I noticed that Jen was teary eyed, and both brothers and Kevins fair well hugs were very sincerely furnished. I think that says a lot for the respect she has gained on this show as a person with honor and talent.

Great blog & analysis as usual Tom. That being said, I think it's a little ironic that this week's episode came down to Eli & Ashley. After the bachelor/bachelorette episode you dedicated an entire blog to Ashley's comments regarding her dissapointment in competing in the challenge (great blog by the way). I was expecting you to address Eli's comments towards Robin in the deconstruction episode from two weeks ago in this blog, but there was nothing. Is there any reason why you were so quick to criticize Ashley for her comments, but Eli is off the hook for what he said?

I thought for sure Ash or Eli was leaving. What a surprise it was Ashley. She was far from my favorite chef, but she seemed to have a good heart. If Ashley had oversalted Eli's dish and his butt was on the line, we would be pulling Ashley from underneath the bus. Personally, I'm hoping the final 3 will be Bryan, Kevin and Jennifer.

It was really sad to see Ashley go at this stage of the competition with Robin and Ash still in the show, although I do like both of them as people. But as chefs and at this stage of the game, we really haven't seen anything outstanding from them whereas week after week, Jennifer C, Mike V., Bryan V. and Kevin G. have been delivering outstanding food since the beginning. But Ashley was the underdog I was rooting for. Farewell Ashley and great things are coming your way :)

Now I am rooting for Jennifer because she is just amazing. Her confidence is just stupid in a good way :) and I really haven't seen any chef, male or female, with this amount of talent and confidence (yet not cocky) in the show so far, ever. Keep up the outstanding work Jen :)

Great episode, I think that this season is going to get tougher for the judges, who might need to go into microscopic detail to separate the winners from the losers. One question to you Tom,; what in your opinion is more egregious, overcooking or undercooking, or does it rely on the dish?