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It was extremely interesting for me to read the article. Thanx for it. I like such themes and everything that is connected to them. I would like to read a bit more on that blog soon.

Tom, very well thought out and written point of view on this subject. I think this is a civil rights issue, and if you've managed to make one person think differently about this subject than you've done us all a great service.

I hope that there are people watching the show, getting to know the chefs, their personalities, their strengths and weaknesses, and maybe begin to see them as people, rather than the gay chefs as some have written.

I applaud you Tom.

Ashley knew when she applied for the show - that "Wedding Wars" has always been a big part of it. She had the right to make a stand by NOT being a contestant on a show that is known largely for "WEDDING WARS" as well as many other returning challenges.

There have been a few challenges that I was like . . .WHoa! Could I do that? Could I do my best for these people, when I am appalled by the environment? After all - it is TOP CHEF, not TOP CATERER. But yes, as someone who has worked all their life- I have never not done my best for my employer - as it is what allows me to to care for my own home, and my own way of life - which I relish!

After all - as has been stated so many times - it is about the food. Period. Paragraph.

Relish. (hee hee)

I have been watching Top Chef from the off and am a big fan. However, this episode with the bachelorette/bachelor party didn't really grab me. I found myself a little bored watching the episode.

As for the gay rights issues that came up - I can completely see why Ashley felt the way she did. Descriminating against gays seems to be okay in most Americans opinions. Most people would never admit to being racist or sexist in this day and age, but a lot will openly gay bash. It is so pathetic! Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Top Chef was discriminating against gays by having a straight couple featured in the show as opposed to a gay couple. I think Ashley is obviously just frustrated by the overall ignorance towards homosexuality that still exists in American society.

Also, the people who say that gays should not be allowed to use the term "marriage" and should have to "call it something else". Come on! Who the hell cares??? I can not understand why so many people are threatened by the idea of same sex marriage! I'm in a heterosexual marriage and could not be happier to see same sex couples have the right to wed. Yes, I said wed, not "join" or be "life partners". Catch up to the rest of the modern world and give gays the right to marry America! Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and pretty much all of Europe have done so why can't the good old USA????

Thank you, Tom, for supporting equal civil rights for all people. I support Ashley. She is a person, and has a right to speak freely. As a person who has been marginalized her entire life (and still is marginalized by some), I can only begin to understand how she feels about not being able to marry someone else loves.

TC is a great show, and I never miss an episode. By the way, I'm a straight, 60 year old woman who married her college sweetheart 37 years ago.

I have had guacamole with corn nuts wrapped in jicama at the brilliant Bazaar at the SLS Hotel in LA. It was indeed creative and "reconceiving" and surely Bryan merely put a twist on a dish that had already been twisted.

I Love this show and I have truely fallen for you Tom after reading your blogs....I have a high respect for you and your ability to judge "anything"... I do want to mention that my all time favorite show has become "Master Chef Australia" I really wish that YOU (Tom) and Padma, with a guest judge could do something similar here... Breaking things down and showing us with wanna be talents (!!!) a few cooking tips! I have since made over 25 of the recipes from that show and all were beautiful! (a few I will need to practice!!) Keep up the great work! With utmost respect!

I don't know if it's been pointed out yet, but I was surprised that our judges (and I'm looking you right square in the eye, Tom!) didn't know the difference between a macaroon and a meringue cookie. Considering how much you penalized Casey for her "take" on a coq au vin (yeah yeah, it was in a "French setting" and perhaps she could have been more explicit in the fact that it was an "homage" to a true coq au vin), one would think that you might have applied the same standard to Bryan when he misnamed his cookie. I guess that none of you actually made the proper distinction or recognized that they are two completely different cookies. But you really should know that a macaroon is usually chewy (unless it's a hard, crunchy style) and uses coconut and/or almond paste, whereas a meringue cookie is exactly what Bryan presented - cripsy shell with a melt-in-your-mouth interior. and, it's actually made with a meringue.

I'm just sayin'...

I'm so tired of Ashley's whining all the time!!! Why is she still here?She shouldve been gone 3 times now.She appears to be a very dark,depressed person.She is always negative and always singing the blues.So she can throw a few dishes together.,and some she cant.I hope next week she is gone so we dont have to put up with her mood dujour.

Kudos to you for speaking out about the gay marriage issue. Your brief comments easily make the most succinct and well written argument I have read to date. I would love to see this in wider print circulation.

Oh, yeh... and your cooking show? Rocks.

The comment you made, Tom, was very nice, but also very unnecessary, I thought. I'm a bisexual woman living with a female partner. I only state this as a qualifying statement. I watched the show and got extremely tired of listening to Ashley's whining and griping about having to do a batchelorette party for a couple. The competition is about cooking, not about who you sleep with or what gender they are. Either cook or get out of the kitchen. Neither politics or garbage belong in the kitchen and this kvetching is both in my opinion.

Hi Tom,

My thoughts EXACTLY on what might happen if Emily owned a restaurant and a heterosexual couple wanted to hold their rehearsal/reception there? Would she say "No thanks - I don't want/need your business." ? She had a rather dramatic reaction. There seems to be some immaturity and insecurity going on there.

Anyway, kudos to you for you being you. Top Chef wouldn’t be nearly as great without your presence. Well, actually, I probably wouldn't watch. :D

Tom,

Love your knowledge of food, but can you spare us all on the marriage comments. While I do disagree with you on your beliefs, I would have a tough time with anyone on a food related show giving their two cents on social issues. Your job on this show is to critique the food, not society in general.

Tom, thank you for taking a stance so openly. I loved TC before and love it even more now.

I"m not going to comment too much on Tom's comments other than to say I agree with some and not others. I will, however, make this general statement about the competition. I have watched every season of Top Chef and Ashley is the first person I've ever heard complain about the wedding challenge. They all knew going into this competition there was a strong possibility of their being a wedding challenge. If any of them had a problem with it, they should have stayed home. Ashley seems to forget that in Season 1, the wedding challenge was for a gay couple. I certainly didn't hear any of the straight people complain about the challenge. She may not like it and it's her prerogative, but that doesn't mean she needs to whine about it. As for Jennifer complaining about it being the men against the women, she gives off the vibe she's perfect anyway. So, she's not one of my favorites on the show. Overall, tho, this is a great group of chefs.

Can the politcal nonsense and get back in the kitchen. Period.

The whole gay marriage topic is stupid. The show is in Las Vegas, Ashley is from Washington, and gay marriage is banned in California, and legal in some other states.

Gays can get married, in their churches or in private ceremonies, and can live together like spouses until death.

Neither Tom or Ashley has the right to pass judgment on California when they are not even citizens of California and the show is not even in California.

If you guys think homosexuality is at the center of the universe, then have the show in Iowa or Vermont or Massachusetts, then we don't have to hear you cry about it.

For Chrissakes, Bravo supplicates to gays 24/7, isn't it ever enough, and what do gays have to do with cooking? Absolutely nothing.

Why do all the gay cheftestants have to annouce thay are gay? You don't see the straight ones doing that. I wish that TC had a Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. No one cares if you are straight or gay, we just want to see the cooking. Any chef who applies for TC should be well aware of some kind of wedding themed elimination challenge, there is one every season!

Tom, I just want to thank you for articulating so well the need for LGBTQ marriage equality! We need more people saying so--and fighting for LGBTQ equality of all kinds--more often. Please keep it up!

Hey all,

It's a cooking show. Who the chefs cook for or what the challenge may be is irrelevant. Wise up Ashley - you're lucky to be on the show. There are probably a lot of chefs who are envious because you are there and they are not. Come down off your high horse and get a grip.

Kudos Tom.... Thanks for your words of support. You just gained a new fan.

P.S. When my wife and I got married we had our reception in Mattin's great restaurant Il Luna Basque... Great guy! Glad to see him on the show...

I do think Top Chef gets a little caught up in the polital correctness thing. It seems every cast is utterly predictable in its composition....racial mix, ethnic mix, gender mix, age mix, sexual preference mix....and by the way, are all gay women suddenly tattood or is this just a convenient way to announce that you checked off that box (no pun intended) when casting? I happen to be hetero, and I could care less if gays marry or not. They have every right to be as miserable as straight partners. I just don't need the social engineering jammed down my throat on a cooking show. If Bravo wants to create the "reality" balance in their casting, then where are the chefs in wheelchairs? How about a chef that stutters? There are no chefs that wear toupees? I'd much rather see a stuttering paraplegic with a bad rug trying to bone a chicken than a tattood lesbian (trying to bone a chiken). Now that I think about it, Graham Kerr (Galloping Gourmet) did seem to dress a bit flashy, along the lines of Paul Lynde.

First, I absolutely love this show.
I have to say that Ashley totally annoyed me during the show. Bravo and the show were NOT making a statement about gay marriage so I don't see why she was so annoyed. It was just a challenge. As a chef, she will at some point be faced will a wedding, rehearsal dinner, etc something like that for heterosexuals. Will she turn it down? Can you please ask her about this during the reunion episode? It's ridiculous! She was in the wrong.

In 1978 my gay best friend and I catered and cooked for a gay wedding! We all had a blast. The bride wore lipstick, and all the guests were in full out regalia. One of the best parties I ever attended.

As a fan of the Top Chef programs, and a retired U S Army cook I feel a need to make a few comments.

First let me address the comments made by the judges concerning the serving of chili and chowder on a hot day. I cooked for 20 yrs. in the military. In that time I was in the desert with normal temps. around 130, for over 6 weeks while training at Ft Irwin, CA. I also trained on the mountain tops of Germany, with the snow 6 feet deep.

My soldiers cared little about anything but one, that was their food. After a hard day of military life, that is usually what they looked forward to. I can guarantee two things: If the food was well prepared, it mattered little what the outside temp was.
Also if the hot food was served hot, and the cold food served cold, no one cared if the meal was "appropriate" to the weather conditions.

I was in a Air Cav unit and one of my soldiers had a birthday upcoming during one of the training excercises we were always on.
I was asked and obliged my commander by preparing a decorated birthday cake for this soldier. Normally back at the base I would have had no problem fulfilling this request, but in the field, training in snow up to my chest, it was quite the feat. I bring this up to let the Chefs who cooked for the Air Force know and understand that military cooks, chefs, or food servivce workers all have to be adaptable to insure that their soldiers always received the best available, no matter the environment they were compelled to work in. I think next time it would be appropriate to have the military food service soldiers involved in the preparing and serving of the items on the menu. If anything else, they would at least learn a little something for future meals for their soldiers.

One last thing: ordinary people as a group are defined as masses. I really don't think this should have been used to define what the Chefs were doing. They were not cooking for the masses, they were cooking for the U S Military. I was appalled that Tom? used this term, And hope in the future he would pick a better way of defining what the Top Chefs' were attempting. Again as a retired militery cook I would say "cooking for the MASSES" would be better used when the chefs cook for a Division, say 2000.
300 Air Force is not a mass by anymeans, just a normal sized company meal with family. In closing I again must repeat that in future dealings with the military, I think the "grunts" in food service should be included.

By the way, I also saw no reason why the Chefs should not have been applauded for their fine meal. Everyone deserves recognition for a job well done. I know this because in my 20 yrs I prepared food for the lowliest private up to and including the President of the USA. ALL of them always showed their gratitude for a job well done.

Have a Nice Day!!

Larry

As a fan of the Top Chef programs, and a retired U S Army cook I feel a need to make a few comments.

First off, just because it seems to matter to a lot of people, I state clearly that the "institution" of marriage is NOT a same sex institution. If people of the same sex want to share their lives, fine by me. At the same time I do not understand why this sharing of their lives has to be a marriage. In this day and age I think anyone interested in sharing their lives in a same sex relationship should be able to come up with a suitable name for this commitment to each other. Unfortunately for the Gay people, the term "marriage" is taken to mean the joining of a man and a worman. If the Gay community wishes to share the joy, then I think they should come up with a better term then the one that already is used to define an institution that has been around for thousands of years. By all means they have a right to live and prosper in a happy environment. They just need to define what they want into a better term, preferably one that is not already in use.

Larry

While I'm not against gay marriage, here's the problem. It seems that the proponents of gay marriage want not only my tolerance, but my complete acceptance. If my opinion differs from the politically correct - gay marriage good, no one wants to discuss, debate, argue, they just want to name call. I know many people against gay marriage who want their opinion tolerated just like vice versa. How long do you think it would be before a member of the clergy was fined or jailed for discrimination if they refused to perform a ceremony for a gay couple. I may not be expressing it correctly, but it seems that I must not only tolerate but ACCEPT gay marriage. My fear is legislation that will force my acceptance. I look at what happened to that Miss U.S.A. contestant for expressing her views, which were certainly not extremist. Look at the total disrespect for the clergy in California when the gay marriage bill was defeated. And Tom, you belittle the African-American community when you compare gay marriage to civil rights.

It's hard to watch this season's episodes because I can't stand looking at all the skin tattoos and facial piercings. I have a tattoo and pierced ears but pierced lips are so distracting. Some of this season's chefs look so dirty too, and I mean the women, not the men. Hector has slicked back hair, but he looks very clean. Some of the gals look like they don't wash their hair or even shower. It makes viewing hard. I am jsut listening to the episodes and waiting for the judging when I can just look at the clean panel. Please try to get chefs for next year that look cleaner. This season is unappetizing in more ways than one.
P.S. I think you are a fair judge!

Bravo should catch a clue that over kill on the gay issue hurts the cause rather than helping it. i agree with the reader that says when everything about you revolves around your sexuality, all aspects of your life, it's not a selling point to equality, it sounds like a problem.

Love the show, but this episode made me sick at the end. Why on earth would a bunch of chefs/cooks stand there just smiling while being applauded for cooking one meal? They should have applauded back with gusto for the men and women putting their lives on the line for all of us.
I guess this is what we've become. What a shame.

I RESPECT GORDON RAMSEY !!!! Tom Ijust have a hard time listening tothe things you say to some of the younger chefs in these competitions. There is no doubt that you have paid your dues in the buisness you're in! I believe that in the Top Chef Masters Series YOU should have been one of the competing chefs. Gordon Ramsey is hard as nails! but he has a love for food and on his shows WE GET TO SEE HIM COOK!!!!!

Tom

I like what you have to say about same sex marriage. Obviously I don't know any of the behind the scene stuff on this season of the show, but I have a feeling Ashley's comments were blown entirely out of proportion in relation to the rest of the episode/challenge. I think she said her peace and moved on...

So, if two women get married they aren't allowed to have bachelorette parties? -- That's why it's a stupid argument, it ends there.

Uh, guys? I know this is a cooking show and all, but... it's also a REALITY show. These are real people with real feelings and thoughts and emotions. Ashley was merely projecting her thoughts on the challenge. But you know what? She went through with it and bit her tongue and everything was okay.

Good onya, Tom, for making your feelings known. I feel the same way that you do, almost exactly. If it's a religious ceremony, it's up to the officiant to decide whether to go through with it or not. And it extends beyond gay marriage -- I'm sure many clergy have refused to marry hetero couples because of race, religion, or, I'm sure, premarital co-habitation. Fine. You move onto someone who will marry you.

Anyway, onto the cooking... because... it's a cooking show too. ^_^

I think the question of timing is irrelevant. You have X amount of time to put out your food. Whether you not you complete your dish with 20 minutes to spare or right on the horn, you need to manage your full time wisely, and the Mens team did that to perfection. A good meal is a good meal, and the Men put together a good meal up and down.

- Brian B.
Philadelphia, PA

Tom is the most handsome man I have ever seen. If he where gay I would be doing my best to get noticed by him. Wonderful show!!!!!! Do not consider leaving, you make the .

chris

Tom,

Thank you for your clear statement about marriage--very inspirational.

One post here argues that religious values underlie all civil laws. Perhaps religious has indeed been the historical source of many laws. But in a diverse culture that included nonbelievers, religious cannot be used as a justification for unequal treatment under the law.

Thank you Tom. I love the fact that people in the creative professions are always in the vanguard on tricky social issues. The people who don't want you to use this forum to share your opinion are absolutely free to move on to another web page.

I don't actually know any gay married couples, but I can assure you they don't threaten my marriage at all. None of my friends' marriages have been weakened because of gay marriage either. I understand people's resistance to change. It takes me a while to adjust to new things too. But the fact is that this train has left the station. Whether you're comfortable with homosexuals or not, they are our fellow citizens and there is no legal justification for denying them full civil and human rights. May as well get used to it...

Seriously, will Ashley never allow a married couple in to her restaurant? Will she never cater anything that has to do with a wedding? Celebrations are about food.

So was the winner a MERINGUE (as it appeared to be) or a MACAROON (as it was referred to, I think by Gail and the editorial caption at one point)? Jeri

So was the winner a MERINGUE (as it appeared to be) or a MACAROON (as it was referred to, I think by Gail and the editorial caption at one point)? Jeri

Tom, I love the show and have learned so much from it. It has encouraged me to try recipes that would have seemed beyond me until TOP CHEF came along. There have been so many fabulous personalities develop over the past seasons and I'm sure someone will shine through this season as well either as a chef or as an inspiration or possibly both (ala Fabio).

As with any reality show, there are always subject matter and personalities that really aren't to my liking but it's all part of the program and, just as with toppings on a pizza, I just disregard and "pick out" the parts I don't like. It's no big deal. Cooking is still the heart of the show.

Congratulations to all of you involved in this wonderful show to which I look forward each week as a kid looks forward to Christmas! I can't wait to see what goodies there will be!

OK we get it, Bravo and Top Chef are Gay friendly. Enough please.

My problem with the topic of gay marriage in this episode is this, this is not the first time that Bravo has championed the gay rights issue which should not be part of a cooking show beyond stating the fact that there are gay chefs...we got that already in season 1. However, Bravo keeps stacking the deck with many contestants/cheftestants who are gay or lesbian, they even had the first couple competing on the show together be a Lesbian couple. There has consistently been at least 3 of the contestants that were gay or lesbian, and I feel that represents a statistical impossibility that 20% of all aspiring chefs are gay or lesbian. It instead shows a consistent bias on the part of the producers of this show to push this issue (sexual rights)rather than focus on the food. I find the topic to be tiring and the show is getting downright preachy.

They could very easily have emphasized the food of the contestants(much of which we did not really get to see) rather than the issues.

Tom -

I have always been a big fan of yours because of the insight and knowledge dabout cooking you bring to a cooking show. You know food chemistry inside and out; you know techniques and methods, and you know the restaurant industry. It is great seeing your knowledge as a benchmark for up and coming chefs.

that being the case, ... why wade into the gay marriage debate on your cooking show? And then your blog? For you to point blank contend on your blog that there is no basis for religion to weigh into civil marriage is about as disengenuous as contending that religous perspectives have no bearing whatsoever on laws against murder, theft, or rape. Or in infuencling property law, or incest.

Even food safety, ... do you think that the concept of "do unto your neighbor as you would have him do unto you" (a religious concept) has NOTHING to do with the regulatory constraints that govern the food you serve in your restaurant?

Law institutes the norms and consensus of the society that is shaped by individuals beliefs. individual beliefs are shaped by religion, or lack of it. It is illogical for you to say that people cannot bring their religious bias or influence into their decisions to vote, campaign, advocate or anything else. If that were the case, I would be completely vinidcated arguing for legal murder. Or that I could breach implied contract law and not pay you at your restuarant for the food I didn't like. What would make that wrong were there not a moral aspect to law? And if there is not a moral aspect to law, how can someone's religion be divorced from it?

Just becuase you disagree with a certain religion's views on same sex unions doesn't mean that practioners of that religion have no right to think that way. Were someone to agree with you that same sex unions were appropriate, and they based that opinion purley on their relgious views, would you then say they have no right to that opinion because they came to it through religion?

Democracy means we all have a right to work things out - not sto say that some people can't have an opinion because of how they formulate that opinion. We used to not let people vote or advocate because of skin color or gender. Should we - now that we're over that - exclude people's vote because they may have some religious background that could have maybe influenced their opinion?

Please go back to juding food, Tom, not people's motivation for being on one or another side of a political issue that has nothing to do with food.

Thank you so much for your eloquent words, Tom! Your support and your willingness to articulate it mean a lot.

I know you don't have anything to do with the challenges, but I couldn't find anywhere else to put this comment. I found the whole nature of this challenge offensive. To pit women against men is rediculous. Jennifer had it right when she said that gender makes no difference.

They're all chefs and they should all be treated equally. A woman and a man should not be given a designation based on their gender.

I find it interesting that people are upset about Ashley's comments. Part of any reality show is to get to know the personality of each of the participants. As much as the viewer can considering it is a tv program. Last year we heard Fabio's hysterical comments, learned about Carla's family and their 'call' to each other, we witnessed Jose's and Leah's little nap time, it just added to the drama of the show. We got to laugh, smile, gringe and get to know them. They become a little more real to us, tt is part of the fun of watching reality tv.

I undersand gay marriage is a hot button for many and if she would have commented if she was in recovery and was put off about the shots. What if she spoke about drinking would there be as many comments? We learned about Ashley, her political views, her sexuality and it made her more real.

But in the end this is about cooking. Who can come to bat when it matters? Who sways the judges with their talent and drive. Ashley's comments will not win or lose the competition, her cooking will. Just sit back learn about these talented people, watch what they do and wish you were there to taste their food.

I love how hetero haters talk about people RANTING because they are being marginalized and denied their rights.... If discrimination isn't worth a RANT I don't know what is.

I'm with Kristen (8/27 - 10:17am). This is a cooking show. Keep gay marriage, and every other social/ political debate, out of the kitchen and let those who are only interested in watching people cook watch the show in peace! Geez Bravo...give us a break already.

I only hope that this situation was blown out of the water simply because of ratings-hungry producers. Ashley should have no right discriminating against a hetrosexual marriage, just as hetrosexuals have no right discriminating against gay marriage.

Top Chef has become one of our favorite shows for many reasons. Up until now not because of the anyone's political stance. The show is about the creativity of cooking and I continue to watch the show for that reason.

However, when I read your blog my respect for you just went through the kitchen ceiling. I've always found you to be an enjoyable personalty on the show. I've had the good fortune to enjoy several meals at Craft and from those two experiences I greatly admire you as a professional. But what you said, I can say I admire your stance and the willingness to go out on a limb. You didn't need to do this. No one would have noticed if you did not. But you should the person that you are. Thank you!

Just an idea for next seasons show. My little grandaughter was diagnosed this year with celiacs disease. Although things have improved and there are many more cookbooks for this disorder exacuting tastey dishes to please the palette is hard. Especially with bread!
It is always heavy like a brick with a nasty after taste. Have the chefs create a tasty dish that is gluten free and appealing even to the kid sect. Should you accept this challenge,
GOOD LUCK! And thanks from the thousands/millions of celiacs.
Grandma D

Another outstanding show filled with inspiring food. I am amazed at how quickly the chefs can create new dishes with no warning. I actually thikn this year the food appears to be much better, or at least from what we see and hear from the jodges.

Nice comments, Tom, on the gay marriage issue. Let's hope it doesn't bring her down to where she loses focus on the competition. The editing made her seem like all she did was complain and it didn't reflect well on her as a chef who is supposed to support the client (and show).

I don't understand the rant from many here about Ashly's view on marriage. I'm sure she was asked her opinion, it was filmed, and then inserted into the show. I'm sure she wasn't venting about this the entire time she was cooking. She was asked her views and she gave them. For those who scream "this is a cooking show and all I want to see is cooking," I disagree. The is a Reality show About cooking that also gives us insight into the contestants personal lives which makes the show much more interesting. If all you want to see is cooking, and Not a Reality show, switch over to the Food Network and I'm sure you'll be very happy.

One comment about the marriage issue is fine...a whole whine and moan session is not. Think about the viewers who are also strugglng with inequalities in their own lives..for whatever reason, genetic or otherwise. Poor vision, physical disabilities, disease, lacking the high IQ genes others may have. Many people are dealing with "issues" in their lives that stop them from having things exactly like they'd wish. While I sympathize with Ashley's views, I don't tune in to witness others' issues. I have enough of my own. FOCUS ON THE COOKING! It is escapism at its best. If want to get bogged down in political discussion I'll tune in elsewhere.

Thanks for addressing, thoughtfully, the same sex marriage disparity in the US. It's more than what some posters insist 'this has nothing to do with cooking' issue. When a fundamental right is denied you, you carry that wrong with you, whether you want to or not. I think that you appreciate that, Tom.
Great show, as always, and this season is shaping up to be one of the best!

Bravo, Tom.

Well said.

Ellie - "Do I really care what they do in the bedroom? My husband refuses to watch this season with me. Why so many gays????"

They don't show what "do in the bedroom" so apparently it is just the whole idea that is offensive to you. Even during Top Chef Chicago when they had a lesbian couple on the show, they were never shown being intimate, not even holding hands. Were you this outraged when Hosea and Leah (two people in committed relationships) were making out last season? Enjoy Hell's Kitchen.

I don't mind seeing the views of the contestants, in fact it helps to see where others come from. However, the main reason for this show is food. The focus seems to be lacking. I think we should get back to basics.

I watch every cooking show on television so that I can learn about techniques, products, and skills. I believe Top Chef and Top Chef Masters have been excellent up until this season's Top Chef production. What I am missing are excellent, professional chefs. Some of this season's chefs are clearly heads above others who seem almost like amateurs. I realize that the pressure of cooking on camera adds an element that would challenge anyone, but please, look for some contestants with the skills that your audience has come to expect. For example, the brothers who are competing are clearly top caliber cooks. Please look for more like them as you put together next season's show. Thanks.

My kids are always glad when I am watching a new season of TC. My dinners are better and more creative!

Tom,

Thank you for clarifying that allowing gay marriage has nothing to do with a religious ceremony, and that the issue is simply about civil rights. I know that one day I will be able to be married to my partner, and what a celebration it will be!

Again, thank you for expressing your opinion on an issue that affects my friends, family and neighborhood.

I am amused by all the complaining "it's a cooking show!"...Yes it is, but these chefs are, in fact, human beings, not robots. She expressed her opinion and later discussed it with her peers. Whining about HER is ridiculous when it's the editing that played it up. Now what I find so incredible, after 5 previous seasons, is that the new crop of chefs always have a few that seemingly have never watched the show or read the cookbook. Rule #1--season your food! and Rule #2--don't make 2 dishes if you don't have to? How many times on how many seasons have we heard Tom say at Judges' Table "...make ONE thing really great..." ..it just blows me away that we still get improperly seasoned shrimp and "duos"....and I also agree with the Ceviche point...Harold won with one in a quickfire in season 1...Sam made more than one in season 2...Howie in season 3....and so it goes...Ted Allen made the point at a judge's table "how hard is it to make a flavourful ceviche?"

I watch for a COOKING show and while I love the people and the drama...I feel it is a COOKING show...the talent is about COOKING...has zip to do with being gay or straight or anything else.
If anyone signs up for this and is fortunate enough to be chosen to COMPETE...Leave your Real Life at HOME!
Otherwise...every one who competes will have some issue about something.
If you can cook. great!
If you can create cool food. GREAT!
If you are on to make an issue about your personal life...
Take your KNIVES and GO HOME!

Tom,

With all due respect, I found your statement that "religion has no business being part of the discussion" to be ill-considered and narrow-minded. Religion is not some abstract concept but is one that plays a vital role in the lives of millions of people in this country. To state religion has no part in the discussion is the same as saying that those people do not have the right to express themselves on this or any other issue confronting this country. An odd belief for someone who claims to support equal protection under the law.

You seem to think religion holds a singular view towards same sex marriage (apparently one that differs from yours), a belief that is simply untrue. There are many different religions in this world and almost as many divergent beliefs on this and many other issues. There are churches and congregations in this country that opened their doors and held special rites to honor same sex relationships long before any civil authority took action to lift legal restrictions against same sex marriage. These churches continue to advocate for equal rights for gays. Would you exclude them from the discussion?

Would you exclude Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson because of his position within "religion?" Or would you include him because he is gay? Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church recently addressed gay rights issue within their own denomination and lifted bans against gay clergy. Would you exclude them from the discussion? Include them because of their "pro-gay" stance? Who gets to decide on which issues "religion" has a right to speak? Conservatives? Liberals? Atheists? Fundementalists?

I do not believe constitutional rights is an "us vs. them" thing. It is "either/or" - either everyone has rights or no one has rights. To exclude anyone from a discussion for any reason serves to strip them of their rights and in the end diminishes us all. I prefer to listen to all viewpoints, whether I agree with them or not. It makes me a better person.

I certainly hope that the arbiters of political correctness at Bravo.com see fit to allow this to be posted to your blog. I have attempted several times to post my comments, but apparently someone there feels this opinion should not be shared.

Now, please, can we get back to the cooking?

Chef, you've been a big inspiration to me for years now. As a nerdy twenty-something chick who reviews video games for a living and has no aspirations of becoming a professional chef, I expect I'm not a big part of your target audience. But I admire you a lot, I love to cook, and when my husband and I visited both of your Vegas restaurants earlier this year we had a blast.

So I've always known you were a great chef. But it's nice to have what I've always suspected confirmed, too; that you're also a great person. As a straight gal with gay friends, thanks from the bottom of my heart for being such a class act about this and making the statement.

The only problem I initially had with Ashley was I was worried she might air her opinions poolside during the party in front of the guests. I'm not saying she shouldn't speak her mind, but at the same time, there's a time and a place. This was a special occasion for two people in love, and it would have been selfish of her to cast a shadow over their special time by using it as a soap box. As it happened, she appeared to handle herself professionally, and whenever she was shown, she was never anything less than friendly and courteous to the people she was serving. Chef Ashley, thank you for being so great about this in spite of your feelings. I wish you all the best and you've got all my support both in this competition and the future.

I've never really been inclined to comment on one of these blogs before, and I may not again, but I guess I was just moved. Obligatory "Top Chef is the best show EVAR!!!1one" comment, bla-dee-bla-dee-bla, Fabio is super awesome, ect.

Keep up all the good work, guys.

And I'll take the chance on ruining all those good vibes by saying the less we hear of Toby Young's "I mistake sarcasm and pettiness for actual worthwhile commentary and experience", the better.

The show is not a political forum it is a contest to see who is the best chef. In the business we always come across things we do not want to do, but we do them because that our jobs and we choose to be chef's. That being said I was far more upset about the behavior of the mens team. They had no place crashing that party by jumping in the pool. It was very unprofessional. I do not care about the heat or that they had to work it again that is something we know about when you get into the business you just deal with it and take a shower we you can, drink water but never crash a clients party. If they worked for me it would have been the last time they worked for me. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT TOM did not address that poor behavior on the show.
Part of wearing the white chefs coat is how you present yourself and the the people you work for. They did not do the coat or the business proud with that childish move.
I would have been wildly angry if that had been my party and they jumped in the pool.

Tom, a couple of ideas for the future:
1. Have a quick-fire challenge where the contestants must use MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat) as the ingredients for a dish (maybe it would have to be soup, in order to further distinguish the soon-to-be-prepared food from the MRE product), and then a military dietitian could taste and review the dishes with Padma.

2. Have the contestants proceed to prepare something for the quickfire fire challenge, but first they must get their ingredients to their prep area for review, which are to be placed at "mysteriously" numbered stations for some reason. Then, announce that the must draw knives to be re-assigned to the station matching the knife's number (some people might luckily draw their own number!). The contestant must then prepare the dist that the initial person sought to make with the assigned numbered station's ingredients (maybe you could let them switch only "one" ingredient with something of their choice, but I say leave 'em be!).

3. For an elimination challenge, have the contestants enter a room that is spot-on with the American Idol room that American Idol wannabe's must first sing in, and have the 3 (or 4) actual American Idol judges at a table. Announce that the chefs must prepare a buffet style meal, perhaps in two teams, for the thirty or so American Idol winners that move on to the "next round".

Also, can we expect another Top Chef Cookbook after the Las Vegas series ends? The first book is amazing!

Hello,

I'm glad to read this blog - and I was equally glad to see Ashley's point of view represented (along with Preeti's.)

Having unequal rights is frustrating, and a lot of gay people are frustrated with the lack of progress on this issue. For that reason I'm happy to see this discussion aired, because it represents the ubiquity of this debate in our daily lives, and the constant reminders in the United States that gay people are not equal. I've read some comments objecting to the "politicization" of Top Chef, but plain and simple, everything related to marriage is political for gay people, until the right to marry is recognized.

Claiming that these issues aren't political, and erasing Ashley's totally understandable reaction, would be a political statement as well - one that erases the reality that gay people are living in.

It may be uncomfortable to see the perspective another person has. But censoring that perspective and pretending gay people don't exist, or only exist without reactions to an unequal situation that affects gay peoples' abilities to marry their spouses - is that reasonable? I would say no. If you are willing to live in an unequal society, you will have to face people's reactions to being discriminated against.

hi tom
speaking of rights why can't i view videos on the bravo website here in japan?
this was possible with previous seaesons
c'mon were not communist china here.
jamie

Chef- I love the show and have been inspired by it. I never cooked before, but now am spending more time trying new things, and healthily- I've lost over 70 lbs so far. It's fun!
BTW- not that I can make it, but is ceviche the new scallop this season? And it is pronounced suh-VI-chay, or is suh-VICH correct too?

I am not that interested in the gay marriage debate. I don't think the state should have any involvement in any marriage. They can certify individuals becoming partners that should be the end of it. As to the comment about ceviche being the garlic potato dish of our time, I loved it, right on point.

I haven't got a feel for this season yet. I wait to see if Tom is more polite,something that bothered me last year. I also wait to judge the judging, I feel it was awful last season.

Several commenters wrote that they didn't want to hear about the contestants' political views. I disagree. Learning what sort of people they are helps me decide who NOT to root for. (Misogynists, for example, are never cheered.)

Some of you need to cut Ashley some slack. She is young. She's also denied the right to marry the person she loves (as are millions of Americans).

Thanks, Tom, for standing up for equality! I just linked to your post on my blog.

Well said, and thanks for saying it.

Tom,

I always appreciate the comments and explanations from the judges. TC has inspired me to be a more creative cook and order dishes in restaurants that I probably wouldn't have tried before. I have experienced wonderful new dishes thanks to TC.

I don't mind Ashley expressing her opinion once, but then Bravo should have stopped airing her comments. I really am more interested in the food than the personal opinions of the contestants. The focus on food was one of the things I LOVED about Top Chef Masters. There was no petty drama.

I don't like the new practice of awarding contestants money for the quickfire challenge. It's too much money for a 30 minute challenge and it "cheapens" the show in my opinion.

This show isn't about your sexual preference or your political views, this show is chef's competing amoungst one another to become top chef. If your concerns are something other than that then you need to leave the show and talk to your city council members, or start your own political group. Besides double dipping as I saw in the last challenge by Ashley is chef 101 rule no no.

Given how cheftestants in the past have received so much grief and invitations to leave after making salads, why is ceviche treated any different? There's really no more effort or mental labor going into a good ceviche than a good salad. Is it just foodie snobbery?

BTW ... enough with the ceviche already! It's become the garlic mash potato of the new millennium.

Love the show! Thanks for producing it.

Tom -

I was very happy to read this blog - I think Ashley's feelings SHOULD have been addressed. I happen to think that anyone who wants to be married should be able to - and here in Iowa, they can! But, that is not the reason that I felt it was necessary to bring up Ashley's concerns...she was HURT and this show is as much about the LIVES of the chefs and the food they cook. If it were just about the food, we would never hear anything that the chefs had to say, right? I read another viewer's post which said that if a chef had a religious objection to something on the show, that it would be white-washed. That is so ridiculous - I get so tired of hearing about the "liberal media conspiracy". If my memory serves me, religion HAS been brought up in one way or another at least once per season.

NOW - I DO have to disagree with one thing, Chef...I did not, obviously, get to taste any of the food at the bachelor/ette party, but I DID see the BEHAVIOR of the guys...and I was absolutely flabbergasted at their lack of professionalism. They were catering someone's BACHELORETTE PARTY - they were NOT GUESTS...so JUMPING into the pool was completely ridiculous. If I had been the client, I would have been really upset. Shouldn't the chef's level of professionalism be taken into consideration during your judging? And why weren't the opinions of the BRIDE-TO-BE, GROOM-TO-BE, and GUESTS taken into account during the judging? Isn't that standard protocol on the show?

I love seeing you, Tom, and look forward to the next show and your next blog :0).
Peace,
Stacie

Tom,
We love the show!! I'm a home cook who has learned so much from Top Chef.

Also, my partner and I thank you for your wonderful endorsement of same-sex marriage. I hope you'll be in Washington, DC on October 11th for the National Equality March! We'd love to have you.

Sharone in DC

Hi Chef Colicchio,

Thank you for this thoughtful post. I have been quite disheartened by the negative reaction to gay marriage in the US, especially state ammendments banning it. This is clearly the next frontier in civil rights battles. I am not gay, and I am happily married. I think all couples who are in love and commited to contributing to a more psitive world as a couple should be able to get married. This is not only about showing love, but also about legal rights. There is nothing special about one man one woman as far as I am concerned. I liked how you approached the issue in your post and I appreciate your willingness to take it on. I know Top Chef is not a political show. But I appreciate the courage you showed in addressing issue. During the show, I was a bit annoyed by the top chef contestant making such a big deal about working a wedding since she can't get married. Though I think she should be able to, I thought she was over-sensitive about the idea of Top Chef including a wedding themed show. It's a major rite of passage, with major food implications, and therefore, very appropriate for the show. You turned her over-sensitivity into a very thoughtful and clear statement about the equality and rights of all. Thanks again! A few other thoughts: I love your diet coke ads and I am very inspired to cook by the show!

How much of a role do the Producers or other Bravo people play in bringing up the gay issue on virtually every episode? Why does it have to be part of some people's identity? Is it not enough that they are part of an elite competition that could put their careers on a long-term success path?

There is something lacking in the selection process when people as weak as Eve, Preedi and the first week's departuree have such low levels of competence. There are some very strong chefs on this season, but the some of the weak ones are an embarrasment to what the show represents.

I think it's great that Top Chef spent some time addressing this issue...even if it is a little off-topic. America's social problems aren't going to change without help from mass media outlets such as Bravo. I personally don't see the problem with gays getting married, adopting kids, or becoming Top Chefs. The homophobic comments on here kind of make me ashamed to be straight, by the way. Get with it, people.

Tom, this was a fantastic posting. The one paragraph you wrote on gay marriage is as concisely eloquent as anything I've ever read on the subject. Yes, this is a cooking show, but it's more than that - the human drama adds to the appeal of Top Chef immensely - and your response here was just terrific. Thanks.

Enough! This show is about being a professional and not a soapbox to broadcast whatever societal problems you feel might exist, so please, act like a pro and do what you are supposed to do, cook, compete, and win. If this is too much to ask of you, then gracefully step aside and give someone else the opportunity to excel.

TC Masters spoiled us. We were treated to professionalism, respect, and the genuine warmth we felt between the contestants shine through our TV screens. TC has gone from being the big show to an outing of the minor leagues. The garbage that ensued on this last episode merely reinforces my opinion. Never again! Ever!

Thank you Tom. I appreciate the rational way you approached this. Bravo puts people in high pressure emotional situations to get high charged emotional responses. That's what they got. Glad she let the emotional impact show. Good for her!

Thank you for following up with your statement.

Thanks for a great show.

Michael

I am surprised to see so many posts from people asking Top Chef producers to please leave out "the politically correct" and "the same sex debate" from the show. Ashley is on a reality show, and as a cheftestant, she is taped from when she gets up in the morning until she goes to bed at night. Her comments about the elimination challenge were used by the producers to color the episode, for better or worse. But I think what many are failing to realize is that Ashley, like many without equal rights for whatever reason, was upset because she was being confronted by the loss of those rights. She was in a situation where she was forced to think about, oh these people can get married, and many people voted against MY right to get married. Whether or not you agree as a viewer of the show, that impacts her daily life, her thoughts, and her feelings. She still put on a happy face, and cooked her ass off, challenging herself (turned out to be a bad idea!) even to make a second dish.
So when viewers say, leave out the politics, ok, the producers can. For SOME at home, it's that simple. But for many others, this issue is a real day to day issue of equality that impacts every aspect of life, and there is no way to separate it out from anything else.

For all the people saying that this show should be just about the cooking, I'd like to remind you that none of these people cook in a vacuum. We've had several seasons of chefs talking about their spouses, children, and personal lives. Did you write in to protest when Ilan's team named their restaurant after their girlfriends in "Restaurant Wars" on their season? Because that was about their lifestyle and broadcasting that lifestyle to the audience, not about the food.

The issue was raised on the show because it was a difficulty that this particular chef faced in meeting this particular challenge. If you feel that Bravo is pushing an agenda by airing it, you might also want to ask what agenda they're pushing by continuously broadcasting Mike's misogynistic commentary. Does Bravo love gay marriage and hate women? Rather than ignore the issue, Tom gave his thoughts on it in a concise, articulate manner that resonates with more than one viewer, and has only increased my respect for him.

If you want to be a lobbyist be a lobbyist - If you want to be a chef be a chef.

I thought I was watching a cooking competition - not a political debate.

The best response among these numerous comments is from Stacey. To Stacey - thank you for your compassion, understanding and grace. Its people like you who make the world a better place.

Dear Chef;

I am entirely Gobsmacked by your eloquence, logic, compassion and humaneness.

What a magnificent surprise to learn that you are not only a genius Chef but an erudite wordsmith and equalist as well.

I haven't, yet,had the good fortune of experiencing your food. Your command of nuance, power and sagacity in the written word leaves me no choice but to feel entirely confident in your cuisine.

Every word and thought of your post was an amuse bouche and I am completely sated.

Thank you very much!

I know this is a reality show, but its also a COOKING competition, right? While it's interesting to learn a little about the chefs backgrounds, I really don't care about their political views, views on gay marriage, opinion of what Padma is wearing, or anything else that takes time away from the cooking competition. I feel like this season there is less of a focus on the cooking than in previous years (maybe its just my imagination). But, its only been 2 episodes and its starting to look like every other reality show: lets-pit-different-types-against-each-other-and-see-what-drama-can-we-create. How about focusing on the cooking?