Top Chef (plus Masters, Just Desserts)

punkysdilemma wrote:Precooked prepackaged anything in the final round before the final round? He was asking for it. Jeez.

Yeah, this is when I knew he was a goner.

Man, I can imagine how irritated I'd be if I lost a spot in the final to a formerly eliminated contestant. Ed seemed really cool about being booted though. I'm rather tickled that Beverly got into the finale if only because Sara annoys the hell out of me, and knowing that she's annoyed at Bev's inclusion is pretty rad. Also, PAUL, FTW! Seriously, he's the only person that I'd care to see win. This season felt rather lackluster, and he's just about the only person who never got on my nerves and whose food always looked and sounded amazing.

whatthedeuce wrote:Man, I can imagine how irritated I'd be if I lost a spot in the final to a formerly eliminated contestant. Ed seemed really cool about being booted though. I'm rather tickled that Beverly got into the finale if only because Sara annoys the hell out of me, and knowing that she's annoyed at Bev's inclusion is pretty rad. Also, PAUL, FTW! Seriously, he's the only person that I'd care to see win. This season felt rather lackluster, and he's just about the only person who never got on my nerves and whose food always looked and sounded amazing.

We were discussing this and my feeling is, another contestant there or not shouldn't matter, because if your food is the worst, you're gone, 4 competitors or 5. Ultimately, it's what you do that matters on this show, it's only indirectly about beating others. So I was glad Ed didn't dwell on that point. I totally agree that I love Beverly being back because Sara and Lindsey are so snide about her, and I am Paul for the win all the way!!!

Also, Sara was dumb and should have taken the car. Top Chef is not Survivor, it's about your own skills. Also, it's a guaranteed something won. Free car!

I want Paul to win, but at the same time, I don't want the prices at Uchiko/East Side Kings to go up due to newfound fame.

Also, Sara was dumb and should have taken the car. Top Chef is not Survivor, it's about your own skills. Also, it's a guaranteed something won. Free car!

I so disagree. First of all it isn't free because of taxes she has to pay and secondly she was a the end of an intense month of absurd challenges, yes the elimination challenge was straightforward and didn't have any twists but she didn't know that would be the case when she made her decision. In fact, I wish what they had done was make all the chefs choose before they did the quickfire what they would choose and hold them to it because it's really easy to talk about her lacking confidence by taking the instant ticket to the final four when you weren't given that decision. I seriously, think Paul might have been the only person to choose the car in those circumstances.

I'm with biakbiak. Even the best chefs on TC have bad days, so why chance getting eliminated? The other chefs sneered at Sara for skipping the last task but essentially what she won was immunity, which was something all of them really wanted and were completely happy when they got it. Now that I think of it, she got bonus immunity. With immunity, the chef still cooks in the challenge but she got immunity and didn't have to do a grueling, stressful challenge. Pretty smart IMO.

I was thinking from my point of view of what I'd want to risk walking away with, not from a feeling that she should "earn" it or anything. You've got a 4/5 chance of finishing with nothing but the car or 3/4 chance of finishing with just nothing. I'd go with the guaranteed car and the slightly decreased win chance. This may be my innate risk-averseness wanting to be sure I walk away with something! :)

The taxes, true, I hadn't considered that.

I was surprised she didn't have to cook afterall - it's my memory too that immunity usually means you cook still but you can't go home for it,

Also I believe she already had won a car in an earlier challenge, so why not just take the spot?

BreezyK wrote:Also I believe she already had won a car in an earlier challenge, so why not just take the spot?

She did? Ok, that would may have swayed me differently then.

BreezyK, I think you're right and she had won a car. Someone did earlier this season, and I think it was her or Lindsey. If she hadn't won the car though, that's the choice I would say she should've opted for because at least she walks away with something even if she doesn't win the grand prize. I didn't doubt she'd make it to the finale even if she'd had to compete anyway. She gets on my nerves, but she's certainly also a solid competitor!

It was Heather, not Sarah, that won the car.

Oh, that's right! It was Heather!

whatthedeuce wrote:Oh, that's right! It was Heather!

I think I've forgotten everything about Heather except what a major bitch she was in her last few episodes.

I just can't root for Bev. She annoys me. She didn't deserve the attitude she got, but she bugs me.

Heather was rather frightening. I'd have been scared to be in a kitchen with her and her scary 'tude.

Pleeeease Top Chef Gods, let Paul win. I heart him.

MaddyCat wrote:Pleeeease Top Chef Gods, let Paul win. I heart him.

I second that request!

Seriously, I never root based on gender but despite the fact that the final four has three woman, I will be so disappointed if Paul doesn't win.

I'm sure everyone knows already, but I'm Team Paul all the way, baby!

I have been rooting for Paul since day 1. I swear if either mean girl Lindsey or Sarah win I am going to be SO PISSED OFF. And not really because I don't like them personally but Paul's food really does look amazing every single episode!

Co-sign. As much as I'd like to see a second female top chef, Paul has been the only one with a consistent wow factor. And on a personal note, I dislike Sara and Lindsay so much. Team Paul!

I have to go with Paul, too. Most of his food has looked amazing.

The food Olympics was kind of fun, though the whole biathlon thing was a little over the top.

I found the biathlon conceit pretty irritating. Just let them COOK. We know it's a reality show, but come on.

Yeah, I fast-forwarded through the biathalon parts until they were actually cooking. So silly.

I hope, hope, hope Paul has not peaked too soon and that he doesn't overthing everything and fall apart in the final challenge a la Richard Blaise in his season. My heart will be pounding the entire hour, I swear.

I found the ice block challenge just as bad. If it had just been Lindsay, Bev and Heather I don't know that they would have gotten anything on the plate, give how Paul had to force the ice blocks off and helped them both.