I think she would be a great replacement for Padma.
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In all fairness, Richard Blais has made himself more ubiquitous in tv cooking shows, so thatâs what folks talk about, but he also has some great restaurants. Juniper and Ivy in San Diego was amazing when I ate there (admittedly pre-pandemic, not sure if they are still in biz). Also his fried chicken local chain is sooo good, and they are very popular.
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Thank you for this info. Iâll have to check these out.
I think, if they have a new host, they would probably go with another women? And KK would fill a youngish demographic that would be a good addition to their other people.
Same! I finally caught up (typing from France actually) and was so happy for her although so sad for the elimination.
Itâs a Top Chef night! And the finale?!?
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âItâs not the first time youâve burnt beansâŠâ
(softly) âYeah, I knowâ 
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Surprise!
If Sara hadnât served the raw liver she may have won.
Edited to say, because I just saw the endâŠâŠwhat the heck is Padma wearing?
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Aside from the liver and onions, I loved her food. Not a liver fan, unless itâs cooked or blended in with other things, like a pate or a mixed offal dish, so even if she had cooked it well it would not have gotten any love from me.
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Also Gail was back with her hideous padded shoulders.
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Not very surprising but a good episode. Au revoir Padma. She had her last scenes in quite a Padma like slightly cheesy get up. Iâll miss her but onward.
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Iâm presuming that at this point, no one will require spoilers so if you do, look away since I donât feel like blurring the total substance of my commentâŠ
Iâm so bummed for Sarah. She had two dishes otherwise that seemed to be outstanding, with one on par with the others (the first course). To lose for undercooked liver is just such a drag.
I would have also liked to see Gabi win. I donât know, Sarah and Gabi seemed to be really pushing flavours and cooking, whilst, and this is what I couldnât get over, it was Buddhaâs technical excellence and the beauty of the dishes that kept receiving comment.
Iâm not anti Buddha-- Iâd love to eat his food. Itâs just that his win lacked satisfaction for me. I think that as the judges cited necessity of acidity and textural variation in dishes, so too, is this needed in a television programme.
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Gail looked like she dressed for the Joan Collins Dynasty watch party
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And Padma was dressed for a Dynasty night on the town with some Halloween touches (those bats on the bodice). Not sure if I always agree with her somewhat distracting clothing choices.
I personally would probably prefer eating Gabiâs food. Spices and cooking that combines street food with high end dining. Bhuddaâs looks a little boring and very tasting menu âbeautifulâ bites on a plate. Sarah is great although the liver dish, cooked or uncooked, looked unappetizing. It was a fun season and Iâll miss TC.
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I didnât quite understand what went wrong with cooking the liver. I donât cook liver. Is it unpredictable or something? Is it hard to tell the doneness?
I didnât realize the liver was supposed to be sweetbreads, at least according to the Vince recap.
I especially liked this part in the recap about Padma;
âsheâs really going to be hard to replace (I highly recommend this interview in the LA Times). You might find someone as knowledgeable about food, as glamorous, as worldly, or as literary, but no chance youâre going to find all four.â
Not to mention speaking four languages!
Iâve been ambivalent about her having as much influence as she seems to have at the judges table, but she seems to have earned it.
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Yes, she went to a market and they didnât have sweetbreads. Seem like she could have easily found them elsewhere since they are popular in Paris.
I wonder if they were limited to certain stores by production.
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