It really is a shame that Chris C. was eliminated. The show is weaker without him: his radiant presence, his unwavering calm. So zen. If only, in the competition, he cooked from his roots, the judges could have a taste of his beauty...

Ed's attitude about Sarah was wrong. The medical professional called the ambulance. She didn't decide that it was time to slack off, she was having a medical emergency. She came back, and he was an ass. I would have the same opinion if it were Ed in the ambulance, and Sarah being an ass. Texas in the middle of a drought, and a heat wave, and no sleep, in the hot sun at a BBQ pit is a formula for disaster.

Chef Hugh, you are doing a fabulous job blogging. You are witty, insightful, and geeky enough to love and poke fun at Chris Jones' Trekkie/molecular gastronomy statements.

I live in Texas and I like Dr. Pepper bbq sauce...just sayin'.

Chef Hugh, you are right on...about everything!! I LOVE your quirky, story-timey, exciting thrill of vocabulary you unleash! It is simply, amaze-balls! Thank you for being a judge this season, your witt, charisma, and on-point opinions really give this season some, ooomph to say the least! Well done, and thank you for yummy pants!!

Chef Hugh,

I really like your blog. But I felt Ed's anger was justified. The way it was edited, Sarah left, then just came back to serve her chicken the judges, then went away again, leaving the boys who had worked all night, to do HER work as well as their own. They had to have helped with her chicken, or at least watched it, and now they're serving the customers Sarah's food as well as they're own, right? It'd be faster if Sarah was helping out, and then *everybody* on the team could rest -- so it did seem selfish of Sarah.

Oh, hooooo....I had to read much more slowly than I normally do because I was laughing so hard at EVERY SENTENCE! Fabulous work, Chef!

Hugh - I know this is unoriginal at this point but please keep writing! Your blog posts are far and away the funniest, smartest, and originalist (yeah, that's right) in all the seasons of Top Chef.

Brilliant Blog, Chef. I'm so glad you brought up the "I EAT VEGANS" shirt. It was nearly as classic as "I'm not your bitch, Bitch". I want one. I must have one. And I think Beverly is at least one doughnut shy of a dozen.

Fantastic post. The Cobra Commander reference was especially delightful.

For what it's worth, I empathize with Ed, although he certainly went out of his way to be indifferent/mean. When a team member (who is obese under any medical guidelines) gets heat exhasution, leaves, and then comes back to serve Chicken to the judges, and then leaves again? Count me unimpressed, although clearly the girl can cook, as evidenced by last challenge.

Lastly, rational person that you are: explain to us why top Chef couldn't provide some catering help in the actual serving of the food? This is Top Chef, i.e. top cooking. Having two guys slave away to put food on 300 plates doesn't help. If they had stuck to their guns rather than panic, would they have been criticized if only 200 people got food?

I do agree with the general sentiment that Ed could've been more supportive & compassionate but reading this blog i can't help but notice Hugh Acheson is biased. He clearly doesn't like Ed and augments all his errors but fails to even write about sarah's part of returning briefly just to serve the judges and then heading back to rest. And he is supposed to be a judge? In the coming weeks Ed is already down a vote regardless of how he performs!

Moto Chris was robbed on the Quickfire challenge! IMHO, his dish was much closer to the modernist standard of the cookbooks than Tay-lor's dish.

What happened to the line I read on this blog the other day, something to the effect that Ed needed to learn karma is a bitch... I thought it was a spoiler revealing Ed would later get axed on a future episode. Was it edited out?

Speaking of editing, I have been able to guess the eventual winner of the entire competition for the last couple of seasons based on that finale clip showing Padma announcing the winner as "You are the next Top Chef." She is always looking right at the winner, so whoever is standing in her line of sight in the finale is the winner. You all have to do a better job of editing these things!

In the WEEDS at the Haunted Driskill!!!!! Rock on, Hugh. Rock on Paul, my soulbro. Rock on Bev, you space cadet. Possession is fun! Sarah is channeling her missing comrade. EVP is fun too, except we are getting only the most commonplace of EVP requests: "GET OUT!!!!!"

It is voiced by Darth Edward and conveyed to Sneaky Sarah, who is trying to fill the bigfootprints of She Who Shall Not Be Named. Sarah is out to carry on schooling folks on Work Ethics and Team Contribution ... by joining up with The Immune One and Evil Edward. Sarah is strategic. And indirect. This time around. She's learning! Kevin will agree.

Alas, the Ed/Sarah match up will have to make room for the dreaded Restaurant Wars (which I have come to call KNIFE IN THE BACK episodes) judging by the Coming Attractions ... but I am a patient woman. I can wait. Ed is not fooled one bit. He was around during the Kevin-gate. His teeth weren't the only things he's been grinding. I can wait, I tell you! I'm sure Kevin will relish what looks to be a Lindsay vs. Sarah match to come. This time he cannot lose. The question, however, arises right about now.

Is this Top Zenmaster or Top Chef?
Why so much sadism and buttonpushings?
Another session of Nessun Dorma? In THAT heat? Jaysus.

Meanwhile ... back at the proverbial ranch ... This season 9 has been all about pickling. Pickled cherries. Pickled humor. Pickled faces. The Ghost of Kimchi is whispering to me that Moto Chris is now the weakest link. And probably was one even before now. The thing is, Continent Moto thinks he is twice the Continent Emeril. Two Bams. As in Bam + Bam. As in hairdo. The Kimchi Ghost also wants see a bit less corn. It's had a respectable run of 8 seasons, afterall.

My biggest gripe with this episode was that Nyesha did not come back to replace Sarah, whom I had come to suspect would drop out of the competition altogether, from the previewings. Oh well. Something tells me Nyesha WILL find a way back, though. Somehow. She rocks.

Rock on, Chef Hugh.
Of the achingly delicious fun.

MAN, NOW THE BEST PART OF WATCHING TOP CHEF IS BEING ABLE TO READ THIS BLOG AFTER ITS OVER. HONESTLY. COMEDY + TOP CHEF = MY DREAM SHOW.

SALUTE CHEF HUGH.

Sorry for caps.

Hugh,
It's beneath you, but please consider also doing commentary on the real housewives episodes from now on. This blog is frigging brilliant and about 10 times more entertaining than the actual episode!

Miracle berry tree comment was priceless.

Hugh is bigger and better than TC Texas!
Great blog Chef. Prefer readin these to actually (and painfully) watching this Drama-filled, Cohen painted season of Top Chef.
More like a real Housewives episodes....

Hugh, I really enjoy your blog, but I think you are missing the point about Edward. What Sarah did is inexcusable in a competition. Sure, Edward threw a pan, but I'm guessing you've done the same at some point in your life, too. If she was too ill to stay then she was too ill to come back to worry about her chicken. She got overheated. Drink some water, sit in front of a fan and come back... or excuse yourself from competition. The guilt free water after serving only the judges seemingly was telling. She was doubling down in the vignette to sell the lie to herself. She knows she wasn't in any physical risk by returning. So do you. Bravo would not allow a person to die from heat stroke by returning if there was anything medically wrong. Sarah got soft. It happens. Stop apologizing for her. Imagine being in Ed's shoes for a minute. Ty had immunity and Sarah went for the sympathy, hope somebody else really sucks gambit. Worked for her as it has for others(Jamie) in the past. In the future, I suggest Top Chef eliminate competitors if they miss a competition that could eliminate them. In this case, since a portion was missed, that should weigh more heavily, especially when the cheftestant puts out mediocre fare. Roast not smoked chicken in this case. Great blog as always.

mr. acheson you are RIDUNCULOUS... in the most effervescent sense of the word! well done sir!

Hugh, the ribs require lots of attention to detail, like dry and wet rubbing, tubbing, not flubbing.

Keep writing, Hugh. Acerbic, nail-on-the-head nuggets. Delicioso!

Chef Hugh, please write a book.I'm sure it would be as good as As Anthony Bordain's. Love you and your uni-brow.

THANK YOU. I would LOVE to watch a TC episode with you! Your blogs continue to be a huge asset to the show. Best line in this one: "mildly abusive camp counselor." As happy as I am that Karma bit Heather in the tush, it would have been fun to watch her out there in the heat. Edward would've looked like snow white.

Poor Bev looked discombobulated in EVERY scene. Malibu is more fun to watch than Bev, but oh, well.

Til next week...

Chef Hugh -
Thank you for this blog!!! I love the show - and love your wit just as much (sometimes more). Thank you!

My top three, Lyndsay, Paul, TayLor...

Thanks! Very funny and articulate.

Best blogs on BravoTV!!! LOOOOVE Chef Hugh! Sara is so rude and annoying IMO. Even if you watched her face when Paul won the Austin quickfire challenge. She looked PISSED! I understand where Ed was coming from and he is a REALLY nice guy! He stayed in the heat, so give him some credit ppl!

<3 Chef Hugh.. entertaining and very smart..

Salt Lick's owner said Onion Creek because the restaurant is on the banks of Onion Creek!

Watch out, Anthony Bourdain. There is a new --pithier -- blogger in town!

I just don't like what Ed said when Sarah had to go to the hospital. The EMT called it...that she went. JMO He should be WAY more professional than that.

Thank God for you Chef Hugh! I like reading your blogs more than watching the show this time!!

8 chefs left. who will be the top 3?
My guess: Paul, Ed, Sarah.

Hugh, your recaps are Better than the episodes! Sorry, that's not really saying much but, no, your recaps are brilliant. I hate the food fad that is "modern." I was glad that something that tasted good won the quickfire. I read somewhere that the term "modern" only refers to a specific period in 20th century western history and that whatever's happening now is considered "contemporary." Seems to me Modernism is long gone. Just like Durkheimian and postmodern deconstructionism is long past. I think I'll scream if someone creates anything "deconstructed." I for one would love to see late 20th/early 21st century "Agency" theory applied to food. That could be fun. Thanks for the laughs Hugh!

I agree with the above comment, What would be cool is to have your commentary available as the show runs. Really funny. Classic, as in Classic City.
And so chef, is there really this much drama in a kitchen? It would seem to me that people skills and maturity might go a long way to making good food.
I've been voting for Ty-lor for fan fave because he does, as you point out, show compassion, and seems to have good self-awareness, bordering on pervasive guilt. I'm enjoying the show. And it was fun to see the author of the book I can't afford, or justify. Austin and surrounding areas have some killer BBQ. Louis Mueller's in Taylor, Texas is my favorite but Stubb's satisfies with it mix with amazing music. The Gospel Brunch there on Sunday with Mexican breakfast buffet and make your own Bloodies, is crazy as you are serenaded by various black gospel groups. It is what got my son thinking about music as a career. He now leads a band called Mama's Love in Athens and just released his new album, produced by John Keane, called The Great Divide. Last song on the album is Classic City Shuffle. Take a listen if you can.

Hugh your blogs are awesome. Witty, and you hit the mark with your comments. I will say this is a very uninspiring groups of chefs and am not really rooting for anyone. The bright spot to this whole season is your appearances and blogs. If ever there was a group of chefs who take themselves to seriously and need to be brought back to reality is this group. What really bothers me about this group is they all have these awards and worked with all these noted chefs, and yet none can seem to be standing out from the rest. The food appears mediocre and the producers seem to focus more on the drama than the food. I hope that this is just a bump in the road, but it appears the chefs are more interested in appearing "camera friendly" than cooking good food. The preview for restaraunt wars seems to justify my comments as all they showed were a bunch of bickering and not much in the way of good food or service.

Veddy interesting, she lisped!

I agree, your blogs are hysterical and almost more entertaining than the actual show!

Hugh's blogs are oh so clever and entertaining...thanks!

Chris C. shouldn't have been the one to go. Yeah, his rubs were a mess, but Beverly put up two dishes that failed to impress. She should have been the one to pack her knives.

Edward is just very mean spirited and full of himself. I keep hoping he will be sent home.

Chef.. you are HILARIOUS! I adore you :)

+1 Internetz for Leisure Suit Larry reference

Your witty recaps are the best part of this season, delightful and spot on. Hope the chefs step it up, this season is proving to be a dud.

If you could recap everything on TV that I'm vaguely interested in, my life would be so much better.

"ElBullience" made me choke on my breakfast. well played, acheson, well played.

I think you might have a crush on Grayson. Or Maybe I do. At least one of us does.

Your blogs are so witty and on-point, I can hardly stand it! Paul should rustle up some old product and bake it into brownies for Beverly. She seems to be one nervous giggle away from a straightjacket.

Your blogs ARE better than the actual episodes. I stumbled upon them while reading up on Top Chef and may ditch the show and just read your blog. Can't wait for the next post!

So funny! Nice recap!

Don't understand why Sara was upset with Ed for saying heather used his cake recipe. She did and never acknowledged that she won with HIS recipe when he ended up in the bottom three. Sara seems constatantly annoyed. She never has a smile on her face.