Top Chef All Stars

[Reggs]

Originally Posted by StephenHero

lol

Wow, he has not aged well at all. That's just awful.

 

[Parker]

The thing between Fabio and Bourdain was kinda embarrassing to watch. Was it unfair criticism? His dish did look like crap to me, too.

And, yeah, where's Kevin from the Vegas show? He was my favorite that season.

 

[Thracozaag]

Bourdain actually apologised in his blog about being overly critical of Fabio; maybe he's losing his edge, heh.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by Thracozaag

Bourdain actually apologised in his blog about being overly critical of Fabio; maybe he's losing his edge, heh.
What edge

 

[Johnny_5]

The kind of edge you can only get growing up in New Jersey. Like me.

 

[foodguy]

I'll second the surprise of the real Stefan v. the TV one. it's not like I know him well, but I've spent some time with him and found him really pretty charming. he's the kind of guy who will say just about anything to get a reaction, but he is smart and funny. i can see why his cooks would be loyal to him.
should be kind of an interesting season, though i have to admit that wasn't a big fan of angelo last season ... he seemed the kind of cook who talked better than he produced. this does seem to be a well-rounded cast cuisine-wise ... you've got some real solid kitchen dogs like dale, some molecular guys, some chez panisse-rs...should make for an interesting mix of dishes.

 

[Johnny_5]

There are two Dales this season, and a few people are naming one as the front runner. Which one is it? The asian one?

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by Johnny_5

There are two Dales this season, and a few people are naming one as the front runner. Which one is it? The asian one?

No, I think people mean the other one, who appaers to be a stronger chef and ran a really great restaurant in Chicago before it closed four years ago.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by Manton

No, I think people mean the other one, who appaers to be a stronger chef and ran a really great restaurant in Chicago before it closed four years ago.

God it's hard to imagine that was only 4 years ago.

 

[Axelman 17]

Originally Posted by Parker

The thing between Fabio and Bourdain was kinda embarrassing to watch. Was it unfair criticism? His dish did look like crap to me, too.

And, yeah, where's Kevin from the Vegas show? He was my favorite that season.

+1, was really hoping ginger Kevin would make an appearance, he was awesome. I also had a friend who ate at his place in Atlanta and raved about it

 

[foodguy]

it is a bit weird that chefs who actually have working restaurants would agree to appear ... it's not just the money (but remember that $100,000 or whatever only goes to the winner) ... but the time ... my guess is that it takes 2-3 weeks to film that. my guess is that the list of acceptances ran very high to a) people who are corporate, so they can take time off; or b) people who really desperately need the pr boost (hello FABIO!).

 

[Axelman 17]

Originally Posted by foodguy

it is a bit weird that chefs who actually have working restaurants would agree to appear ... it's not just the money (but remember that $100,000 or whatever only goes to the winner) ... but the time ... my guess is that it takes 2-3 weeks to film that. my guess is that the list of acceptances ran very high to a) people who are corporate, so they can take time off; or b) people who really desperately need the pr boost (hello FABIO!).

I would have thought that the PR boost would be worth it for any chef. However, I guess if you are running your own place that is packed every night and arent particularly interested in expanding, it might not be that beneficial.

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by foodguy

it is a bit weird that chefs who actually have working restaurants would agree to appear ... it's not just the money (but remember that $100,000 or whatever only goes to the winner) ... but the time ... my guess is that it takes 2-3 weeks to film that. my guess is that the list of acceptances ran very high to a) people who are corporate, so they can take time off; or b) people who really desperately need the pr boost (hello FABIO!).

I have heard them say that filming takes a month.

One of the Chefs from last season said "The reason we're all here is packed restaurants." So for Bryan V., whose restauarant in Frederick is apparently booming, taking time off would have been unecessary and possibly risky.

 

[foodguy]

Originally Posted by Axelman 17

I would have thought that the PR boost would be worth it for any chef. However, I guess if you are running your own place that is packed every night and arent particularly interested in expanding, it might not be that beneficial.

three weeks in the life of a privately owned small restaurant is forever. you would not BELIEVE the number of things that can go wrong. very few chefs i know ever take much more than a week at a time off ... until they get to the level they can afford thoroughly reliable people to delegate to.

 

[foodguy]

Originally Posted by Manton

I have heard them say that filming takes a month.

One of the Chefs from last season said "The reason we're all here is packed restaurants." So for Bryan V., whose restauarant in Frederick is apparently booming, taking time off would have been unecessary and possibly risky.

i don't have a hard time believing a month at all. the stupid TVFN spin-off i did took almost 3 weeks of 12-hour days. trust me, a television production makes teh federal government look like the very model of efficiency.