View All PostsHugh Acheson
Das Boot
Hugh Acheson explains why Stefan's pork really didn't work.
Jan 30Kristen is still reigning champ in Last Chance Kitchen and Josie is napping off the hangover of defeat. Did you notice the very awkward exit when Josie got her pink slip? Missed hugs, avoided high-fives, skulking walk of shame back to the Stew Room, but always sporting that trademark smile. The world could be imploding into itself and Josie would be like, “Dudes, let’s party!”
The remaining chefs are packing their bags for the cruise ship to Alaska. Brooke looks horrified because she hates boats. This is not so much a boat as a floating city. It’s huge. We see pictures of an enlisted Stefan colluding with the Axis powers. Ah, history.
Brooke recounts a very confusing story about fears, toddlers, boats, and stuff. Evidently this sunk into my brain because I am now afraid of boats too, and have somehow inflated a life raft in my living room and the blinking beacon light is really bright.
The chefs get evicted from the Olive 8 and bounce around the boat to tunes that are endlessly repetitive. Josh decides to laud all of his compatriots, telling us how awesome they are, how talented they are, and how much he respects them… except Lizzie. He leaves her out. They do include Lizzie in their tropical drinking dance party on the Lido deck though cause freezing trips from Seattle to Alaska make me want to drink Pina Coladas.
Padma and Curtis are in the kitchen looking all kinds of good lookin’. They crack funnies about icebergs. Ha ha ha, massive ice blocks that sink ships. Lizzie starts her emotional journey of endless complaints about the ship’s kitchen equipment. Watch closely -- she whines about the equipment through the entire episode.
I kind of like iceberg lettuce, but it has the nutritional content of paper. It’s a constant in stores and you get your money’s worth in food density, and it tastes pretty damn fine with tomatoes and bacon. BUT, should you go on a 100% iceberg lettuce diet you would need to eat over 25.3 pounds of it a day to take in the recommended caloric amounts for a 40-year-old, moderately healthy man weighing 155 pounds. That’s me, for those taking notes. You would also need a good dentist because it’s high in sugar. I am leaning to not recommending this diet.
I've been pondering a word that best describes Stefan.... I agree he has a big heart but, yeah, "icky" just about covers it.
Hugh, you seem a bit snotty, but I enjoy your wit and writing in your blogs. Funny stuff. Keep it up.
I guess it was Stephan's time, but I wonder how anything could be worse than cold flaccid tempura and a wimpy dynamite sauce...Shame, will miss Stephan's charisma and good humour...the rest of the chefs are a tad boring, not a particularly scintillating season...
are you kidding me? did you really say Stefan is connected to the AXIS because he is on a boat???!! How racist are you? And to say Stefan is "icky"? what is YOUR problem or are YOU just stupid?? There is no need for that crap. I thought you were a little twerp but now I am sure. What a jerk you are. Thumper said "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" If you don't like Stefan, critique his food not where he is FROM. BTW, Finland is not AXIS!!!! BTW I have been to his restaurant and his food IS fabulous PLUS he comes over to the tables to chat up the customers and is extremely gracious I don't think I have ever been to any other restaurant where the owner is SOOO gracious (NO I do not have a crush on Stefan, I am over 60 and married)
Dafni First of all, the axis crack was a joke. Second of all how is it racist? What race are you talking about? The Aryan race? Nationality is not race.
@parker85 sorry you are right. racist is the wrong word. i should have said that i found the axis comment to be offensive
I have spoken to my boss, who is from Germany, and my girlfriend, who was stationed in Germany, and they indicate that the pork was cooked correctly for the areas they were from. This is backed up by what Curtis said as well. They said the skin should be almost like cracklings. Hugh, Being located in the south, I would have thought you would have found a similarity there and been more appreciative. Least I hope you would know what cracklings are and how they differ from fat back. Then again I am cant be sure that you have had either, which would be blasphemy for the south. mmmmm crackling biscuits. But I digress. It a shame that it was percieved as a cooking flaw since it appears to be an unfamiliarty with the cooking style. If his pork and eel pasta where truly the worst tasting I can accept that but like I said I hope the cooking style did not play the biggest part in stefans booting.
AugustaGa Were they on the boat? How do they know that the pork was cooked correctly? I have had good German food with a hard skin, but it's usually not that black, plus Tom pointed out that some of the meat was hard because it, and the skin, were not fully covered by the braise. I think that's where the problem was. Not only was the skin as hard as it was but also some of the meat as well. I was rooting for Stefan but he messed up.
good description, Hugh! He's kinda lovable, kinda not!
It kind of sounds like none of the meals were up to Top Chef expectations at Elimination. We already know that Stefan was on his way out based on TC Host's comments about him this season. WE also know Stefan will not win LCK because Kristin is in for the lock. It was fun, watching Jen, Fabio, Spike and Richard in Life After TC. I'd like to see Stefan, CJ and ___?____ on a follow up show. Or just give Stefan his own show...even if you think he's creepy, Hugh!
So Chef Hugh, what's the deal with Josh. He's probably a better chef than he comes off as on the show, but he doesn't seem to be on the same level as the others. Plus he only seems comfortable making comfort foods.
Oh Chef Hugh. You're just as funny as Stefan is sexy. Very! Doubting that Chef Stone's teeth were real is hilarious. LMAO!!!
Anybody else tired of Hugh's superior attitude? How did he get to be a judge anyhow?
I'm so over that....
pianist33 NO! I love Hugh's blog posts, he is witty and suave.
pianist33 Some would say he got to be a judge because he is a successful chef with a knack for throwing down a witty bon mot. I, however, believe it was because of his superior posture and heroic unibrow.
pianist33
Oh no you didin'...............If there is anything to be into on TC, it is Hugh Acheson! Not only a brilliant chef, but the best writer on the show. Take that back!
pianist33
Recipe for a judge:
3 Restaurants
2 James Beard Awards
1 Unibrow
Combine with an excellent sense of humor
ATLFoodie pianist33 Add an amazing talent for writing.
pianist33 You're crazy. Hugh is hilarious.
@pianist33 i absolutley agree with you. even before reading his blog, I was wondering how Hugh got to be a judge I'd like to see Hugh go into some competition cooking show and see how HE does; then let's see if he still has the superior attitude
Dafni You're kidding right? Season 3, Top Chef Masters, after being eliminated early he comes back as a replacement and finishes 5th of 12.
I love his superior attitude.
started giggling uncontrollably when Stefan leaned over the balcony and said he and Sheldon were on a gay cruise.
JLN1925 lol funny i dont remember saying it ha ha ;-)
Stefan will always have my heart for tricking Josie into saying, "I'm going home next."
I don't get Josh. He constantly reminds us he's so middle America (where men don't get manicures and sushi doesn't exist) but he dresses like a wanna-be hipster doofus straight out of Portlandia. Shave that Snidely McWhiplash and try making something other than breakfast and without pork.
TheCountess
ha ha i love that to she repeadet it so nicley ;-)
stefanfrichter@yahoo.com Ha, Stefan you are a hoot! I hope someday to check out Farm or, failing that, that you open up a restaurant in Boston. Best of luck to you and thank you for being so gracious in your exit.
thank you for the inside. I really enjoyed season 10 and hugh you crack me up. thank you for the fun comments and i love to have a beer and some pork cracklings soon.
stefanfrichter@yahoo.com I agree. You are the BEST. Clearly come person (PL) has it out for you. You should still be there, but, you know there's other things in life besides Top Chef. All the best to you and your family....got to love a guy who loves his mom. Much success. And you're super hot too! LOL
pianist33 stefanfrichter@yahoo.com
thank you very much
pianist33 stefanfrichter@yahoo.com Yup, I've been getting the same impression...a certain host dosn't seem to be following the proper criteria during the judging...
Thanks, Hugh! I fell asleep early last night and missed everything after the quick fire and Lizzie complaining about the ovens, so I'm glad you write such comprehensive, humorous reviews. I can so see all of that happening in this episode! Have you thought about writing some sort of food column somewhere on a regular basis? I'd read it!
Austrailian's also like Vegimite. They are alone in this.
Best part of this episode was when they showed the save a chef results...CJ 94% Josie 6%.
Vic2012 Looks like Josie could not even get the lesbian vote!
Vic2012 Had it not been for Don King, it would have been 100% to 0%.
Vic2012 Yes! I laughed so much - it was AWESOME!
Vic2012 And probably 95% of the 6% voting for Josie is from Josie herself.
TheCountess Vic2012 I hate to say it, but right from the start this season I have had the feeling that there was some kind of deal in the works between Padma and Josie. Josies' attitude seemed like she had it in the bag and didn't have to bother making a real effort. Padma looked very displeased when she finally had to tell her she was out.
LOL, Stefan is not icky, he is European and it shows...a whole different attitude..he can cook for me anytime!
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