Winning Was Never So Sweet

Don't know what everyone else thought about the finale of Just Desserts but it was a bittersweet ending to a enjoyable twist to the Top Chef series. In my humble opinion the right person won, the underdog almost took the whole shebang and Karma had a little surprise for the third place loser in the form of unsellable souffles.

One of the biggest surprises, at least for me, was the finalists going straight into the finale. Certainly no rest for the weary. The chefs show up at the Kitchen expecting one more Quickfire only to find Gail in a hot new outfit but apparently unable to move below the waist. Gail fills them in on their final challenge, a four course tasting menu, totally chef's choice of what they want to make. All served to a dining room chock full of outstanding chefs and well known critics waiting to pick apart their desserts.

Gail generously gives the chefs the night off and sends them off to enjoy a night of cocktails at the Edison. It's a dark little spot and there our chefs find Chef Johnny lurking in the shadows, enjoying an adult beverage. After reassuring them there's no twist waiting in the kitchen, Johnny orders some desserts to share.

These desserts look so yummy but sadly there's no hint as to what they are or who made what. Well, no specifics exactly but we do get to meet the chefs.

It's the Three Blond Aces!! From right to left, the very perky Chef Sherry Yard, next to my longtime pretend girlfriend, Chef Elizabeth Falkner, next to old school pastry Chef Claudia Fleming (former pastry chef for Tom Colicchio at Gramercy Park). They made the fancy desserts and they will be serving as Sous Chefs to our finalists as they prepare their final desserts. Yigit pulls Sherry from the Cookie Jar of Destiny, Danielle takes Elizabeth leaving Claudia for last. Danielle, of course has a face for just such an occasion that mixes anxiety and elation.

She really should market this ability. Perhaps Danielle's Face A Day Blog. It could go on for years. There's another night at the condo where more childish stupidity happens but I'm so sick of it that we're just not going there. Back in the kitchen, all the chefs crack down to get as much done as possible in the seven hours they have on that first day. It's uneventful yet productive. It might have even been a learning experience had one wanted a lesson....say in the technique in spherification (the culinary process of shaping a liquid into spherical shapes). Morgan does his best to enlighten Chef Fleming...

(I'm not here for a chemistry lesson, you big mook)

...while Danielle listens attentively, wondering if Chef Claudia will embrace Morgan's methods to her bosom?

Yeah.....I'm guessing Chef Fleming is going to take a pass on spherification. So Day One ends with hugs for Sous Chefs Falkner and Yard. Chef Fleming, having failed Spherification 101, is not rewarded with a hug. Fast forward to Day Two at the kitchen where a whole new set of Sous Chefs have replaced the hard working crew of the day before.

Guess who doesn't play well with most of these folks? It's at this point that the Idiot King makes his last nasty, violent remark. However this post is about the winners of this last episode, not the loser. So the Cookie Jar of Destiny is produced for the last time and Yigit pulls Tim, Danielle pulls Tania and Morgan pulls Heather H. and before you know it their three hours is up and it's time to start serving. Lots of familiar faces among the guests.

Elizabeth Falkner.

Suzanne Goin with James Oseland. While Suzanne is looking really spiffy in her should cut-out dress, James has decided on the outfit he wants to be buried in.

Susan Feniger, another one of my pretend Girlfriends (for when Elizabeth is out of town...)

The remaining contestants not working in the kitchen also get to join in but only after they are segregated away from all the Adult chefs and relegated to the Just Dessert's version of the Kids Table. Damn that's cold.

Now when it comes down to the Finale dishes, it's really about perfection. There's a lot of other criteria but if you fail at one thing, you get shoved to the bottom and then those who performed better are judged against each other. I think I can safely say Yigit had a pretty flawless night.

Yigit's First Course

Cucumber Lime Sorbet with Straus Yogurt Caviar Pearls

Of all of Yigit's desserts, I think I want to try this one the most because it totally challenges my idea of what a dessert should be. It's so intriguing.

Yigit's Second Course

Strawberry Sorbet & Lemongrass Ginger Ice Cream with Berry Meringue & Consommé

Yigit's Third Course

Muscovado Braised Pineapple & Coconut Cake

This is the dish I most want to try and make. Pineapple and coconut? Yes please.

Yigit's Fourth Course

Hazelnut Dacquoise, Milk Jam & Salted Caramel Ice Cream

Everything else just looks amazing. It's a menu full of confidence and energy and really shot Yigit into the Winner's spot.

Team Go Diva, together again.

Top Chef Master - Lost in Confusion

The beginning of the Elimination round finds our Top Chef world turned upside down. The two rookies have a solid lead over our former judges. Still it's anyone's game as they head into the Elimination Round. What do they have to do for the elimination challenge? Well.....
...it's the most convoluted way to get to use an unusual protein (wild boar) and force the chefs to do a canned food challenge. It's the Lost Supper. Cooking a meal for some of the producers and writers of the ABC series Lost. I don't know if NBC and Andy Cohen have some future quid pro quo going on that some angle of Top Chef will be worked into the series finale of Lost but I wouldn't be shocked.

Filling in for the Dharma pantry is, of course, Whole Foods. Lists in hand, it's time to shop.Wylie is apparently having issues getting the Dharma Charms cereal from it bulk bin.Graham relies on his youth and cat-like reflexes to snatch product from beneath Wylie's nose before he even knows it's gone.

Back in the kitchen it's time for Product Pimping. Ready?

So in the span of roughly 45 seconds of airtime we had 4 visuals and 1 verbal (Wylie asks for PAM) product placements. Exquisite, is it not? Nobody does pimpage like Top Chef.
I'm not touching that with a ten foot pole......or plantain......except to say..........shouldn't that have been Faulkner's line?

I know, what was I thinking. Anyhoo....
The Guests are assembling.
No, not him.

Him.
The Hostess with a giant red fleurchon on her head. (Fleurchons are the new black)

And the judge who apparently snared a rare black island bird and covered a Dharma trashcan with it's feathers because nothing says style like a feathered bucket.

Service starts and again the clock bites one of our chefs in the ass.
A sauce that never makes it to the plate is no sauce at all.
First up is Faulkner's Boar two way, Ancho Beer braised and Coffee scented poached loin with Yam Papaya pudding. Someone at some point will have to explain to me why one of the best pastry chefs in the country elected not to do any sort of pastry at all. Anyone? Ferris? The judges seem ok with the boar but pine for sauce. Hardly anyone enjoys the pudding. Not good.

Graham one ups Faulkner's Boar Duo with his Tuna Trio. Maki roll with tuna & dehydrated pineapple, Tuna Niçoise and Tuna a la Plancha. No complaints from the guests, even the canned green beans get the green thumb of approval.

Wylie asks the eternal question: Which came out of the Immersion Circulator first, the chicken or the egg with his Roasted Chicken and Poached Egg with banana mustard, Beets & dried corn and Plantain Puree. In a bold move he tries to avoid judgment by not giving one of the judges a complete dish but at the last moment rethinks the strategy. Wylie gets sort of a mixed bag from the chefs, the Critics seem to like his poached egg mostly because it seems to be a Dufresne signature while some of the guests are not so enthralled.

They ended with Suzanne's very busy and full plate of Risotto with Uni, clams and prawns, Wild Boar strip with oyster beer sauce, a mango corn salad and baked yam. So busy is her plate that she forgets what's on it. I'm guessing the stuff that looks like pasta is the mango salad with some really nice knife work. Again, no complaints from the guests.

Judging is fairly harmless for 3 out of the 4 chefs. Faulkner gets pinged for both the pudding and the sauce-less plate. The one dish of all of them I would want to try (even combined with episode one) was Suzanne's risotto. Uni, clams and some of those huge prawns just seems really decadent and delicious. I also think we will see at least one chef do some version of risotto every single episode.

The quiet unshakable Suzanne Tract takes the win while our former judges feel the burn of being on the other side of the judge's table. Oh Karma, you are a harsh Mistress.

Next Week? The Church Lady stops by...
...to give her long lost brother some TV tips.

Top Chef Masters Round Two

Meet your Round Two contestants. For long time Top Chef fans, you'll recognize Elizabeth and Wylie from previous judging experiences. Like Hubert Keller, they come into the kitchen as favorites compared to the Top Chef virgins. Will their experience help them? Onto the Quickfire.
Yes, it's the most excellent vending machine challenge from Season Two. Sadly not one of these chefs complained a peep at all about the challenge so I'm guessing Mike Migdley's title as Master Bitcher is safe. 30 minutes to make an Amuse Bouche from the ingredients from the machines AND the well stocked pantry. Suzanne Tracht, known for her use of fresh ingredients is looking highly agitated.

Simma' down now, woman!

The salty bags and sugary cans of product tucked safely away, their 30 minute time limit starts ticking away.

Falkner goes all Wagner with her Ride of the Valkyries use of Nitro.
Suzanne channels her teenagers to create her dish which is smart considering one of the judges is Midgley.
Young Graham seems to be handling the pressure well while...
...Wylie seems to be the one in the weeds.

Now for your Judges. You know them, you may or may not love them, here they are, live from Season Two, Betty, Ilan and Mike .
Up first is Wylie with his Grilled Cheese and Crispy Ham and Dr. Pepper Reduction.Betty calls out the sludgy sauce, Ilan thinks it's too big but Mike loved it. Wylie knows to not count on too many stars.

Suzanne is up next with her Fried Shallot Rings, Microgreen Salad & Dr. Pepper Aioli.
All three judges suck down every trace of the dish.Betty Lickin' Good!

Suzanne EXPLODES with happiness.

Elizabeth tries to break out of her little pink box with Braised Beef Jerky with Orange Juice, Lemon and Horseradish Ice Cream.This is a split decision with the boys enjoying it but Betty hating it with a passion.

Graham is last with his Tuna Salad with Pickled Shallot, Ginger Orange Bubbles & Beef Jerky Miso Powder
As with Suzanne's dish it's a hit with all three judges.

Now before we get to the final results, I have bone to pick. In the original Season Two Vending Machine Challenge, quite a few dishes were called out for being outside the box of the definition of Amuse Bouche, mostly for being too large a serving or too difficult to easily eat in one or at the most two bites. I'm seeing the same thing here. Aren't we seeing more appetizer than amuse? Shouldn't it look more like this?

(Oh crap, now I've gone and pissed off Suzanne!!)
The winner with 5 Stars?

Proving once again, cooking for teenagers is a winning strategy.



Next Up on Top Chef Masters Round Two?
Suzanne tries to stay awake for the Elimination Round!