Thursday, June 10, 2010

The Winner?

Did we really have a winner last night? Here were the final scores, 17 Stars, 17 Stars and 17 1/2 Stars. How do you pick a winner from dishes that apparently that close? Discuss.

11 comments:

moi said...

I was conflicted on this. How awesome that Marcus took a risk and tried to highlight African cuisine. But the judges didn't seem to really dig the dish. Whereas they waxed rhapsodic about everything Rick did. Hell, he got a marriage proposal out of the deal! So, what did we miss there?

Big Shamu said...

What you missed and what I'll touch on later is a little brouhaha over Sustainability and Rick's affiliation with that rather vague term.

Aunty Belle said...

well, I'se low sick an spent some days clutchin' mah sides that wuz wracked by coughin' so much--meanin' I missed this drama, so I'll wait fer yore touch on it later.

BuUt, what about the BIRTHDAY???? Came over heah to wish all the best wishes an ter see what ya done ter celebrate??

An' I did see the bison--yum. Love cous cous of any dimension.

Big Shamu said...

Aunty, I've had better birthdays. Let's just say getting old sucks.

Sharon Rudd said...

Yep, the outcome of TCM was a bit of a head-scratcher, and for once seemed to be shaded by not simply whose food tasted best but by issues of political correctness. Sustainability v. carbon footprint assumptions on the one hand. On the other, an attempt to embrace unfamiliar flavors from an under-represented African cuisine? Hmmmm. At least we'll have some old-fashioned drama and shenanigans when the new TC starts Wed. Gotta keep reminding myself it's gonna air an hour earlier.

Sorry to hear 'bout your b.d., Shamy, and yes, getting old sucks. Just remember: it beats the alternative.

Noxy said...

I was somewhat surprised that they hammered Rick on sustainability... Considering the usual fate of what I think of as "soapbox chefs."

Any time a chef comes into a competition like this with a agenda - whether it's nutrition or green food or whatever - that they value above just straight-up winning the challenge, they tend to do very poorly.

I'm an environmentalist, but I still liked Rick's little speech about how he's a chef first, above everything. Because frankly, that's a good attitude to have - everything must be in moderation. There's a time for soapbox and a time to just cook. This was just cooking time.

Still, I don't feel that he was robbed... Rick was my fave, but this was much too close to call.

Jenny said...

I got nothing to add, other than I'm looking forward to Top Chef DC AND the news I learned today; my 12 year nephew now watches too.

perhaps a future contestent for Top Chef Season 14?

moi said...

I wondered myself about why Rick used imported venison. Surely there are local resources for the meat? Deer are everywhere.

I also find it exceptionally ironic that he lives and works in Las Vegas, the most offense place in the U.S. from an environmental standpoint. Vegas was originally intended as a hideaway for the mob; it was never supposed to support so many people. Unlike other places in the desert, it has no aquifers and relies solely on the Colorado River for its water. So I can't take his ethos seriously at all.

In fact, I'm rather Rayner-esque cranky about it.

LaDivaCucina said...

Hey where's my comment? I wrote the other day.....dang. I can't remember except that I was surprised that Susur didn't win and I loved all their stories from childhood. Getting to know them on a personal level is my fave part of this show. I was very touched by Susur's story of losing his first wife. It would be tough to live in a foreign country all alone. He seems like he'd be a lot of fun. I thought it was too close to call too.

Not sure how I feel about the Noonen sustainability thing. I agree with Noxy's comments AND Moi's. I do know one thing for sure, I loathe Las Vegas on so many levels. Better get off now then, cranky pants is rearing it's ugly head again....

LaDivaCucina said...

Oh yeah, before I go, I think I know why Gael Green looks different. I think she's been sporting false eyelashes! And I noticed lip gloss too (which I think looks wrong on a woman her age)

Big Shamu said...

Except Gael Green wasn't in the finale.