Top Chef

Originally Posted by DarkNWorn

Click to expand...

Well, this season has been lacking overall. Any of the top 3 from last season would've been a winner this season. Personally, I like Carla (now that she makes traditional, decent, soul food). She's not the next culinary genius, but none of the others is either.

I think the "last meal" challenge has been the best challenge I've seen thus far in any season. The judges were all top notch and cooking their final meal must have been a lot of pressure for the chefs.

I think culinary genius is too broad a category. I prefer someone that lets the ingredients speak for themselves and gets the best taste to someone who can make a mango, corriander sorbet. That's just me though. I detest fusion food and any other culinary trend that changes from year to year.

Just curious, why is Padma a co-host of this show? Is she just eye candy or does she have actual culinary experience?

Originally Posted by Mr. Argyle

Click to expand...

Just curious, why is Padma a co-host of this show? Is she just eye candy or does she have actual culinary experience?

Did you see her when she walked into the (apparently cold) chef's waiting room to call them in last episode?

Originally Posted by Mr. Argyle

Click to expand...

Just curious, why is Padma a co-host of this show? Is she just eye candy or does she have actual culinary experience?

She's an award-winning cookbook author. But her other assets don't hurt.

Similar?

Originally Posted by KJT

Click to expand...

Similar?

I've been calling her Sideshow Bob since the season started.

I recently finished season 1 ("I'm not your *****, *****!" LOL), and really loved the show. Top Chef is easily better then Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen.

Originally Posted by paraiso

Click to expand...

I think culinary genius is too broad a category. I prefer someone that lets the ingredients speak for themselves and gets the best taste to someone who can make a mango, corriander sorbet. That's just me though. I detest fusion food and any other culinary trend that changes from year to year.

This is Top Chef not Top Cook

Originally Posted by arlee

Click to expand...

This is Top Chef not Top Cook
A Chef is just "Chief" in French. I've worked with "Cooks" that smoke the Executive Chefs, and Sous Chefs.

Originally Posted by Hombre Secreto

Click to expand...

A Chef is just "Chief" in French. I've worked with "Cooks" that smoke the Executive Chefs, and Sous Chefs.

Being a chef is more than just the definition and translation of the word Chief.
Maybe the line cooks you worked with could cook better than the chef, but there's a reason that they were still line cooks and not chefs.

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

Click to expand...

Being a chef is more than just the definition and translation of the word Chief. Maybe the line cooks you worked with could cook better than the chef, but there's a reason that they were still line cooks and not chefs.
Yeah, bullshit Kitchen politics. Executive Chefs are basically businessmen that take all the glory from the Sous Chef, and cooks. Just because you have the title of "Chef" doesn't mean you're a great cook. The title of "Chef" is extremely overrated. And most Chefs proudly refer themselves as cooks.

Originally Posted by Hombre Secreto

Click to expand...

Yeah, bullshit Kitchen politics. Executive Chefs are basically businessmen that take all the glory from the Sous Chef, and cooks. Just because you have the title of "Chef" doesn't mean you're a great cook. The title of "Chef" is extremely overrated. And most Chefs proudly refer themselves as cooks.

Exactly. Being a chef is more than just being a great cook. Which is why those line cooks who can cook better than their bosses aren't chefs, they're just cooks. That's why Top Chef should be about more than just who can cook the best food.

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

Click to expand...

Exactly. Being a chef is more than just being a great cook. Which is why those line cooks who can cook better than their bosses aren't chefs, they're just cooks. That's why Top Chef should be about more than just who can cook the best food.
I see the management side of a Chef almost everyday, so I really have no interest in seeing it on TV. More interested in the food aspect, but I understand that some of you like to see more then just cooking. I just think the Chef gets way too much credit, and recognition when it's the Sous Chef, and cooks pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into a hot plate.

Originally Posted by Hombre Secreto

Click to expand...

I see the management side of a Chef almost everyday, so I really have no interest in seeing it on TV. More interested in the food aspect, but I understand that some of you like to see more then just cooking. I just think the Chef gets way too much credit, and recognition when it's the Sous Chef, and cooks pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into a hot plate.

Chefs do get credit, for sure. A lot of times it's deserved, some times it isn't. I mean, Alain Ducasse isn't working the passe at his restaurants, but I don't think there's much doubt that he's one of the best culinary minds and talents in the world. Same goes for Keller, and others, etc. Don't you think a lot of these chefs are talented at least as much as the line cooks? I mean, Achatz is an executive chef now and maybe he has some line cooks more talented than he is.... but the only reason he's an executive chef now is because he honed his skills as a line cook under Keller. At the same time, you always see guys like Bourdain saying "It's just my name on the restaurant.... my sous is the guy responsible for my reputation," so I guess it runs the gamut.

Are you a line cook Hombre?

What is a Chef? A Chef is basically a former everything in a resatuarant (Some even former Dishwashers). To be a Chef you have to be decent cook not necessarily great. Not bashing Chef's as cooks, but like I said before the title is overrated. And I work the not so glamorous Pantry station. Myself being a true masochist, I hope to rise to Sous Chef, and run my own kitchen some day.