View All PostsGail Simmons
Dropping the Matzoh Ball
Brooke's oferring hit close to home for Gail Simmons.
Jan 10Bravotv.com: Lizzie was on the bottom…
GS: Lizzie’s idea was really lovely, but her dumpling was too heavy and dense. And the sauce sat too long, so instead of being gooey and runny, which would really have made the dish different, it sort of just sat like a piece of American cheese on top, and formed a skin, which was a little unappetizing. The idea was nice, but the technical execution wasn’t there.
Bravotv.com: Josie’s pork was dry, but she also couldn’t get her food out.
GS: This was a repeat of our experience at the berry farm, and we were all totally stupefied. She just has to get it together—she’s a bit of a mess these days. I KNOW she can cook. But she’s too much in her head and too much about the Josie Show—about talking and not about doing. Cooking needs to be about doing first and foremost.
Bravotv.com: Onto Brooke’s soup, which produced maybe your best line ever…
GS: Ha! Well, I had a couple of issues with Brooke’s duck confit matzoh ball soup: First of all, doesn’t that sound great? It’s like a no-brainer; I loved the concept of her dish. Loved that she made that rye bread. But, the matzo ball was POOP. So heavy and gummy. It wasn’t cooked enough. I’m very particular about my matzo balls! I like there to be some levity. Add a little seltzer.
I also had an issue with her concept, and I know it’s hitting a little close to home here, but I have kind of an issue with it from a moral standpoint. Duck isn’t unkosher—duck can be a kosher meat. So, I don’t know why she kept calling it “unkosher.” Maybe she was going to have more items on the menu -- bacon-wrapped whatever, and I know its supposed to be tongue-in-cheek. I’m not kosher by any means, but I respect the reasons for keeping kosher by Jewish law. There’s a trendy hipster thing of wrapping Jewish foods in bacon and , but, first of all, she didn’t execute that in her dish, so the dish didn’t illustrate her concept. And ff she was just doing elevated Jewish food, like then it shouldn’t be called “unkosher.” That signifies something specific and she didn’t show that to us. It could have been very kosher and it could have been very beautiful, but I felt that her food fought with her restaurant concept, so I wasn’t sold.
I expected to read more about Brooke's dish. Was something edited out? I wasn't offended by anything Gail said, I never am, but then I wasn't offended by using a matzoh ball with a pork product. I believe one of the more popular dishes in Ilan Hall's restaurant is bacon wrapped matzoh balls. Since they are akin to dumplings from so many other cuisines, I don't feel mixing the two disparate ingredients is the shondah Gail does. But I'd really like to know what Gail said here. Call me. We'll do lunch, Nate 'n Al's, on me.
TondalayoSchwartz Gail's issue wasn't with the "unkosher" aspect; it was with the poor texture of the product. What was offensive to Gail was Brooke presenting a "take" on Jewish food that was badly made.
And as a matter of fact, Brooke used duck, not pork, which is a perfectly acceptable meat under Kashrut.
Gail: arbitrary dietary prohibitions based on the belief that your deity disapproves of, or even cares about such things, has absolutely zero to do with morality. Those of us who reject elaborate superstition have kind of an issue with that from a reality standpoint.
Speaking of sushi, Micah might be unfamiliar with a Japanese dish called chirashi. It's a beautiful assortment of different types of fish, each sliced thinly, all arranged atop sushi rice. A squeeze of lemon and the acidity of the rice complement the very subtle flavors of the fish. Not sure if Micah was going for a Mediterranean spin on his dish, but whatever his take, he could have based it on chirashi. Maybe substitute pilaf or couscous for the sushi rice. A salad of peppers, spinach, and sliced artichoke could accompany the fish. Simple, clean, beautiful. Like chirashi.
Watching you scarf down pork every week on National TV is much more offensive to your people than a dry matza ball.
koshermom "YOUR PEOPLE"? I think that folks would find THIS as more offensive than all of the others..........
coocoo64 koshermom I Jewish but not kosher by choice. Besides, a Jew invented the Reuben sandwich, a true example of Jewish food gone awry. When Gail said Brooke had offended her people, she was speaking from a purely cultural standpoint. We expect something from our matzahballs, and Brooke didn't deliver.
koshermom I guess I'm one of "your" /Gail's people, and I am NOT offended that Gail chooses to eat as she does. But I assure you that your comment about "your" people is offensive on many levels.
I don't know why he said that about women in Beverly Hills. I think he thinks that it would sound better as a concept if he made up this story. In the episode though he talks about how he had been on a raw diet before coming on Top Chef, and lost weight and all that stuff. i don't know why he didn't share that with the judges, especially when Meyer said that the concept should come from the heart. That being said I thought the concept was terrible (one that would be difficult to win restaurant wars with much less create a restaurant with) and thus he deserved to go home.
parker85 So agree. Other chefs have failed to "cook" dishes and have lost or gone home. When will they ever learn? Contestants: do your homework before you go on the show!
come to my house for matzoh balls, we'll be shvesters for life!!
How many times does Josie have to be on the bottom before you put us out of our misery?!
Beesbad Agreed! Josie is so bad, and this is her SECOND chance, and you guys keep letting her slide through, with a pork chop that you could use as a hammer. I would at least think, after being in the bottom this many times, and contiually having issues with her timing, which IS part of the challenge not to have a line out to kingdom come, that you guys would have told her to pack her knives and go. Josie has literally no shot to win -- Micah did. Wrong person sent home.
Yeah, I"m sick of Josie. She has added nothing this season and I agree, better chefs are being sent on. Besides, I find her personality offensive. I cringe everytime she opens her mouth. Perhaps she can't help it, but Tom seems as offended by her presence as others. I thiink CJ and Stephon both realize the level of chefs is very high and they have a LOT of competition, she seems to still feel 'better than the other chefs. She really needs to go.
Can't believe two weeks in a row Josie was chosen, this week over Kristen...are you crazy. That was the defining moment for me I'm done with top chef forever!
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