I kind of like this episode- the quickfire in particular. I am sad about who went home. I have to say, not being able to visualize how to display food on a table is not my idea of a criteria for a top chef. I’m really not a fan of the challenges this season.
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I agree. It seems like the elves might be running out of ideas. And maybe sponsors. And viable locations.
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I wonder how much the locations have to do with it. I mean….Wisconsin? Boring. I’d rather see them go back to other places that they’ve been to.
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Feels like some of their best chefs are gone with one random bad meal. Sometimes I wonder if they should all cook all season and then pick the best chef at the end. There’s a cooking show on PBS that does that and it was kind of nice not having the arbitrary pack your knifes and go stuff every episode.
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Sometimes I wonder if they should all cook all season and then pick the best chef at the end. There’s a cooking show on PBS that does that
I like that! I think somewhere on this thread is a link to Tom’s explanation of including quick fires in the decision. Not the same as having everything count, but I think it’s better than sudden death.
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Yes, it’s really interesting to see how this can allow some people who are middling/high middling to pip top performers and risk takers to the post.
I have always found this argument interesting - the wrong people going home. I’ve often felt the same way.
But … I think we as viewers are basing our opinions off personality - because it’s all we can do. The judges though are basing decisions off taste. As viewers we have no access to that perspective of course.
So there will always be a gap in that sense. It’s an interesting mind game for viewers - how much do we just have to trust the judges when it come news to taste.
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And the judges never (or rarely) have any clue as to any of the possible shenanigans the viewers see. The judges only see and taste the food prepared for them and see what goes on in the kitchens if they’re in there for any period of time, or what is said/how cheftestants act at Judges Table.
I think we can concede that the dish was flawed. It’s just frustrating to see a strong performer go so late in the game.
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Maybe. But lately I have started to think viewers are basing opinions off of what they choose to show us about personality. Maybe I just want to believe that, and I am a bit off, but maybe not way off.
Somehow I think what they show us on Top Chef, with regard to cooking and food, may be less biased.
I’ve forgotten my point. 
I’m watching "Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars. "
Not the same show of course, but I’m finding the point of the challenges to be very clear; developing, marketing, and serving things like Wine country baskets, ghost kitchen lunch delivery, etc.
I totally agree Michelle is likable and talented , but on this challenge (make a dish that’s directly plated on a tabletop), her dish was judged fairly.
I guess I am wondering if the recent food challenges predict who will be successful as “Top Chefs”, whatever that means right now.
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I’m with you too. I love her as a contestant and I would have liked to see her make it into the end. She’s fairly consistent, but she’s had some mis-steps too. For instance in the Frank Lloyd Wright challenge - where there was a similar need for creative inspiration that was fairly broad in what that influence could be. She had some good ideas and good thoughts around how to tie it to the theme, but it seems like translating that into a focused dish for the challenge was waaay off. Time was always a problem in those challenges too, so often the bad food was having to rush and not take the care that she normally does with all of those components of the dishes.
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Wow this challenge really seemed to throw people for no apparent reason. The pressure got real.
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For someone who just didn’t stand out much the first half of the season, it’s interesting that Savannah has seemingly become the one to beat. I like her a lot.
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I ended up watching a recording really late last night, and can’t recall most of it! 
I do recall who went home though, and I’m not mad about it.
A recap by Buddha Lo! He seems to be saying a six week break before the finale is longer than usual.
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That might be why they were all a bit off on their game coming into this.
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I love how much Kristen can relate to what they’re all going through. Makes it all very real. My god that boat was massive. Not a fan of those huge cruise ships.
I’ve become a big Dan fan. Seems like a nice guy and dealing with some tough medical issues. Also great glasses!
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Yes! And I was having flashbacks of a few cruises we’ve taken.
I’ve become a big Dan fan
Apparently you are not alone! I saw a commercial about this.
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And she really has the knowledge for the job. She and Tom seem to have the same opinions.
I have too. He’s talented and a great personality. I’m happy with who went home.
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