Thanks for the laughs!

Wow, Hugh said it in a nutshell. Like this guy. Very upfront and intelligent. Hope Paul gets the honors in the end.

Great blog, Hugh, as usual! I am not of the Peewee's Playhouse generation, and was not looking forward to this episode, so I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun it turned out to be - apparently for both the chefs and the judges. I really enjoyed watching the chefs have to improvise, and loved how the kitchens/cooks they talked their way into got into the challenge. So funny that Ed had to cook eggs to earn his keep!

The TCK reveal was awesome, and I am so impressed with Nyesha. I think she may be the most natural leader of any of the chefs. Yeah, she has opinions and criticisms of some of the ruder/less mature/more aggressive chefs, but, she expresses those opinions privately. In the heat of a challenge - whether winner or loser - she is supportive and professional. I really hope some of the other chefs take a page from her cookbook.

I got your stage name Hugh!........Harry Unibrow. Love the blogs! Sorry to see my fan fave Grayson get eliminated but it was only a matter of time. Hope Paul takes it all cuz I do not want to see either of the 2 queen B's win the final. I am hoping Sara/Lindsey gets the axe next! Wouldn't it be a hoot if there was an all Asian finale? Paul Ed and Bev! Now that would be some good TV

Great blog Hugh, as always.

Coming from a long time top chef fan (watching since the first season), I feel like the contestants this season haven't been given a chance to shine. There's no doubt that these cheftestants are talented beyond belief, and could easily keep pace with any chef from another season (besides maybe Blais). However, with all of the mass production challenges (bbq for 200, make chicken salad for 150, make chili for 200, etc.) they chef's aren't given a chance to really experiment. We all saw how incredible it was when they got to experiment, use their well trained brains, and create. The result? Charlize Theron's amazing evil dinner. Tom even called it the best meal he's had on TC! That's a big claim! While I like the LCK addition, and think it makes the next episode even more intense, I hope that next season the chef's are given more of a chance to do a bangin' job on one dish, than do a mediocre job on 200+dishes. Sorry for venting! And Hugh, your nickname ought to be Surly McBlogs. You could make it McBlogz if you wanted some edginess added in there...

Why do we call you Unibrow? Not merely because of your physical attributes but because in your blogs you manage to unite highbrow and lowbrow (and murky geeky mid-terrain).

I cannot eat a pancake without a protein rolled into it, but perhaps that is because I love corndogs so much. I was surprised no one offered a variation on pigs in a blanket. My biggest letdown of the episode, however, is TC's arbitrary pronouncement that butternut squash and tomatoes are a bad combination. I've had a number of Moroccan couscouses where the two are delightfully married, and pumpkin and tomato combine successfully as well.

On the topic of Moroccan food, "cigars" (usually beef wrapped in phyllo dough) is a typical Moroccan appetizer, and I am fairly certain that there is a dessert variation. So again, Tom's notion that an edible cigars is an inherently unappetizing idea doesn't carry cross-cultural weight.

My favorite moment of the season, so far? LCK last week, when Moto Chris waited in the apartment's kitchen for 20 minutes or so waiting for Tom Colicchio to show up. All the funnier for being underplayed.

The elimination was one of the most contrived exercises I can imagine. Fun having Pee Wee on but the bike trip was sort of nuts. Plus cooking in a foreign kitchen blows. Hated to see Grayson go; but ready to get to the nut-cuttin time. Hugh is insightful and entertaining at the same time. You're the "go to" blog on my Thursday mornings.

Why are you guys going so easy on the chefs this season, its almost like you know they are all not that great so you have lowered your standards. Even though you guys like Bev's cooking, she should be able to cook other types of food to be a top chef or to make it so far in the competetion. Please tell me someone cant go all the way cooking asian food! The show is loosing its credibility this season.

Wit and insight. Be still my heart. I think you've made me fall out of love with Bourdain. (Well, actually I've fallen out of love with him because of his pompous douchebaggery, but whatever.) I love your blog and I can overlook the unibrow.)

That said, Top Chef just isn't working for me this season. Bicycles? Pee Wee Herman? Come the eff on! Would you ask the Voltaggio brothers to do a stupid "challenge" like that ? Or how about Tiffani from season one? Right. That's what I thought. The whole thing was utterly ridiculous, IMO. I want to see the contestants cook. Period. Leave the stupidity for the Cooking Channel.

Bev better walk through those doors next week...

The only thing I'll miss when this tortured season finally ends is this blog.

Love your blog; always on point. The Fawlty Towers Germans episode is some of the funniest TV ever put on tape. I laughed out loud at the reference. Keep it coming.

Have enjoyed reading your blogs. You're honest to a fault and you do it in a very humorous way. Was really no sure of the talent of the chefs this season and did not believe it was at the same caliber as past seasons. Then I thought about it... Last season was the return of the chefs that could have won, but didn't and then the season before that was award winning young chefs. I guess I got spoiled. Rethinking it, these chefs are exceptional even though some of them have personality traits that are not too desireable. Living in Kentucky, I'm rooting for Ed. I never have eaten in his resturant, but have plans to drive down Louisville (for you outsider it's pronounced LOO-ih-vuhl). Keep on writing sir, I truly find your blogs worth reading.

This episode seemed like it borrowed from the Amazing Race. Seemed a bit gimmicky and silly. Really?...having to forage for food AND ride in a bike to 'borrow' kitchen space in some unknown 'restaurant AND then ride to the Alamo?' Who does this?? If people weren't sure living in Texas made you a hoke, this episode gave that impression. Sheesh.

I AM of the pee-wee generation and was really looking forward to this episode (last year, Ad-Rock! this year Pee-Wee! if they cast Robert Smith of The Cure next year, it will be Trifecta time!). I'm glad you made reference to the word of the day. I kinda wish P.W. had. Or at least tasted something and said "mmm, eggy." :)

I think I will follow you now on Twitter if your tweets are as funny and charming as your blog. I nearly fell over laughing when Ed mentioned his "new boss" at the B&B and he, therefore, is now my favorite. Blazer.

I just hope Paul won't end up like the other Top Chef contestants Kevin of Season 6 and Stefan of Season 5. They had been consistent winning QFs and EC at the same time. Just to fall when what matters most. Its like NE Patrioits, consistently winning until the playoffs. Everything just sunked. Kevin beaten by Mike and Bryan. The Voltaggio brothers who has more skill, talent and experienced than Kevin. And yet aren't consistent winners of QFs and EC. On the other Stefan has 20 yrs to back him over Hosea and lost. Kevin and Stefan were consistent being at the top and winning QFs and ECs. Both were at the bottom once, restaurant wars the other a gumbo faceoff(Stefan is from Finland and Fabio who lost is from Italy). And Hosea has been at the bottom consistently. Can't even remember if he has won any QF or EC. I hope Paul wins and not looses because his food is "TOO ASIAN", "A GRAIN OF SALT", "LIKE A MEATBALL", "TOO MUCH IS GOING ON", "THE SAUCE IS STICKY", "FOOD OF THE '80S", "HOTEL DISH", "BIG FOOT" ETC. LOL.

Stage name = Blazerbrow!

chef Hugh, your blogs are the best. Keep them coming.

Great blog but this episode was one of my least favorite of all top chef seasons. Come on, stop with the gimmicks and let chefs be chefs!

dumbest. challenge. ever. Hugh, write a book. I will buy one for every person I know.

I do love me a GIRL DRINK DRUNK reference! Ohh, Hugh, I heart you! Fantastic!

Blazer... great drinking game. Stayed sober during the last show because Sarah didn't make risotto or ground meat and Lindsay didn't mention Michele Bernstein. It was great to see restaurant chefs helping out random chefs from the street. Loved watching Sarah riding a bike. Ed making breakfast for the B&B was hilarious. Only he could get into that situation. Grayson taking Rosario instead of Paul was wrong. She was following him. Sarah should have gone home for underseasoning. Nyesha was eliminated from LCK for that same reason. That's chef 101.

Hugh, you are my new favorite blogger. Spot on recap, and so funny, too.

Too many gimmicks this go roond. While funny and entertaining, the gimmicks are getting in the way of the cooking. They are cooking for $100,000 which is serious money and they have to cook pancakes for pee-wee Herman?

Hugh be do be do, as always crits spot on and funny as hell. Write a cookbook, I'll buy 50 copies straight away for gifts. Nurses promise, no crossed fingers.

Hugh you ROCK!! Thanks for being so freaking funny!

YOUR A KEEPER :)

Your blogs are Hughlarious!!! They are spot on, hope Beverly makes it back in even though I loved Grayson. Abbott (lindsey) and Costello (Sarah) need to go their rudeness and undeserving admiration of each other are beyond the pale, just saying.

please Hugh - teach some of these posters to not clump a diverse set of cuisines as Asian. That's like saying that there is no difference between Spanish, French, and Italian food. BTW - I am so tired of seeing so many chefs cook only european food. How can a person be top chef if they aren't familiar with other cuisines and seasonings beside salt, pepper, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pasta, and cheese?

I like him speaking off the cuff and not beating around the the bush. Hope he stays that way. The rest of the guest chefs should do the say what is on there mind and be done with it.