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Team Top Chef

Whip It Good - Ep 8

Maybe the chefs should just worry about their own dishes.

Dec 26, 2012

The chefs have to use their harvested oysters to create either hot or cold dishes for Emeril. I instantly thought to make a po' boy for the New Orleans connection, but John one-upped me making oysters in the style of Drago's. Drago's is sooo good. They charbroil their oysters. He also mentions Brennan's, home of Bananas Foster. The chefs come up with some pretty varied preparations. Stefan smokes his oyster, which is legal now in the state of Washington. Lizzie highlights red currants. P.S. Josh called his shucking a "wrestling match for sure." I love that Josh compares everything to wrestling. We're going to need to come up with a name for him. His last name is Valentine, so the possibilites are endless. There was Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, so I vote for calling Josh "The Hammer" from now on, but it's up to you guys! Leave your sugestions in the comments below!

Ultimately, Bart, Josie, and John fall to the bottom. Lizzie, Micah, and Brooke end up on top. And Micah wins! He knew to bring the heat. He reveals that he's a single father with two daughters, and that he was just happy to cook for Emeril, whom he refers to as G-d to his Moses. Okaaaaay.

On to the Elimiation Challenge! The chefs are going to cook for one of Seattle's hottest sports teams -- the Rat City Rollergirls! I instantly thought of a very underrated film, Whip It. Watching the movie has pretty much ben my only exposure to roller derby, so bear with me. The chefs team up. John and Brooke. Bart and Josie. Micah and Lizzie. Joshua and Sheldon. Stefan and his wife, Kristen, who wink at each other. Each team must create a dish inspired by their rollergirl's name.

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bernie_b 14 pts

I really wish that this blog felt like it was really talking about stuff behind the scenes, but it just feels like a big recap with very little insight.   I miss Lee Anne who really talked about challenges the crew faced, how some challenges came to be, and provided insight that went beyond what we already saw on television.

JoditheFoodie 6 pts

I'd like to tell you how much I'm enjoying the "Behind the Scenes" videos that you are doing featuring Sandee Birdsong. I could tell there was a lot of work that went into each episode, and it is fascinating to see it all happen. Thanks for that,  and please keep them coming!

Mizelana 5 pts

FYI - the name of the town they visited is Bow...

motherhubbard 40 pts

So, might we learn more about Micah's father being a "pastor" but keeping a kosher household? I know there are some Christian sects that maintain some elements of Judaism, but I'd love to know what Micah's was. He seemed to be saying his father kept kosher as if it were the norm for a pastor.

iamthewalruscoocoocachoo 14 pts

 motherhubbard

 I thought the same thing.  I haven't met any pastors that are kosher.

motherhubbard 40 pts

 iamthewalruscoocoocachoo His bio says he was raised kosher because he's the son of an "Orthodox Catholic priest," which makes even less sense.

iamthewalruscoocoocachoo 14 pts

 motherhubbard

 It's probably just a preference thing.  I don't think Orthodox Catholic priests have to keep kosher.  But, what do I know?  I  wasn't raised Orthodox Catholic - this is just an educated guess

;-)

ronpurvis64 5 pts

 motherhubbard  iamthewalruscoocoocachoo 

 

Catholic in this case means that the church has a Hierarchy. The Eastern Orthodox Church is Catholic, but it is not Roman Catholic. And they do follow Kosher laws to some degree.

Grandmastephanie 6 pts

 motherhubbard

 Micah was raised as an Orthodox Christian. Thanks for asking.

motherhubbard 40 pts

 Grandmastephanie As in Eastern Orthodox? My Orthodox acquaintances don't keep kosher and don't refer to their priests as "pastors." I do know some Coptics who observe [i]kashruth[/i], so maybe that's Micah's dad's background.

 

As for Cahollics (the term used in Micah's bio), I don't think the clergy are—officially— supposed to be making babies.

fobesq 5 pts

The girl skates in with the tray, and cj says he couldn't take his eyes off her amazing ass.  I find that that rude and crude. Since he found that necessary to verbalize; it shows he is lacking in class and character. Can't this show find people who are more presentable to the youth of America?

Vic2012 99 pts

 fobesq its not a kids show. They bleep out half the conversations.

motherhubbard 40 pts

 fobesq The show is on at 10:00 p.m. on a weeknight. The kiddies should be in bed.

carole1335@msn.com 7 pts

Why is it that some of the chefs have hair falling all over their faces?  Have they not heard of kitchen food safety/cleanliness rules?  And handling food that is going to diners without gloves??  Makes you wonder how safe/clean food is in some restaurants.

JoditheFoodie 6 pts

 carole1335@msn.com I have wondered about that, I'm sure Tom has commented on it before. Kitchen staff spend a great deal of time washing hand, produce and surfaces, and pay an great deal of attention to avoiding cross contamination. Many states have rules that state that anyone who handles food meant to be served to the public as-is (meaning not cooked further) must wear gloves for service. Maybe Top Chef counts these events as "invitation only" events where the usual food service rules don't apply, but I'd be interested in knowing for sure.

bernie_b 14 pts

 carole1335@msn.com You might be surprised at how un-sanitary it is to use gloves.  When you're working hard at cutting food it's not unusual for hands to become sweaty and that pool of sweat in the glove can roll out of the glove into the food.  Gross.  IMO the only times gloves should be mandatory is if the chef has a cut on their hand, or when dealing with particular foods (ex; Chilis)

gryphon0227 6 pts

Love your blog posts, Monica.

 

Just a few Top Chef wonk/nerd corrections:

 

1. It was "unique" crappy, not "interesting" crappy.

 

2. I am pretty sure it was Grayson's dish that was an inside out chicken. (I have a vivid memory of her comparing it to a quasi-abortion to the horror of the judges.) 

 

Other than that, keep up the good work!

(P.S. I think Josh should be "Heartbreak" Valentine or maybe "The Heart Attack.")