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Bravo/Trae Patton
I always knew Jen Carroll was not going to make it to the final three on this season’s Top Chef, Eric Ripert mentor-ship and all. She started cracking under the pressure in the middle of the season and always looked like she was about to burst into flames after being picked second. Like all tests, whether or not you win is not just a measure of how good you are at the task, but how good you are at competing. And Jen just lost her mojo and was never able to quite get it back. She actually looked relieved to be gone when saying her goodbyes to the boys. Look at that smile in the above photo taken in the stew room! Have you ever seen Jen look so happy at any other moment this season?
Bravo/Virginia Sherwood
For next week, I remain FIRMLY on Team Kevin. Maybe Team Bryan, but certainly not Team Michael. He lost me when “joking” with the guests that they should serve themselves because the food was “free.” I’ll tell you what else is “free:” me kicking your ass! Scared yet, Voltaggio!? You should be.
Michael Chiarello of Bottega and Top Chef Masters was the guest judge, and surprisingly, he didn’t get into a fight with anyone! Maybe he signed up for anger management classes between filming this and the time he lashed out at Dale on Top Chef Masters. Or maybe staring at Gail Simmon’s amazing decolletage (they were so prominent they should have received an acknowledgement in the credits!) that he was all mellowed out.
Bravo/Virginia Sherwood
And hey, they were in Napa, his home turf, so he felt comfortable. Did you know they were in NAPA? Did you realize they were in the MOST AMAZING FOOD REGION ON EARTH where artisan honey flows out of the taps and the locals eat 5-course meals of ducks who were given daily massages and quietly, lovingly killed so Jen Carroll could make her duck on top of duck special?
Bravo/Virginia Sherwood
Padma showed off her baby bump in a nice white dress. Pregnancy definitely suits her, but then again, what wouldn’t suit her? Did anyone hear Jen say that her foie gras dish would be “good for the baby?” Can anyone confirm that duck liver is good for growing fetuses?
Bryan Michael won a Prius. That was nice. Kevin looked seriously ill on the Wine Train. I thought he was going to ralph in front of judge’s table. All in all, a nice episode. Who do you think will win!? The judging at the table next week looks mean!
I thought Michael won the Prius, not Bryan.
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Michael won the Prius, not Bryan.
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MichaelBryanBryanMichael, what’s the difference? Okay, one is slightly less d-baggier than the other. I was ugh on them by Episode 2.
I was hoping Jen would win the car since we all knew, Jen included, that she was going home that night. Plus, as a fellow ten-year-old car owner, I know how sweet it would be to have those keys tossed to me.
I loved Padma’s knit dress, her softer hair and bangs are very becoming, and she just looked very pretty. But I still don’t like her.
Gail, as usual, heartily enjoyed the food. GF is not a dainty eater! And for real on that boobage, right? She is always my favorite… seems genuine and just nice.
FTW: Kevin, of course.
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Yes indeed. Kevin for the win. he is a hard competitor, a nice guy, and yet so talented — way more talented than Hosea from last season. The brothers are doing some interesting things, and they are skilled, but they seem to be favoring flash over flavor. And focusing more on each other than the food. I agree “good brother versus bad brother” would have been much more fun to watch. Maybe then we could have told them apart!
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Firmly on Team Michael. He’s the only one left with a personality. He’s also the only one who takes any risks with his cooking. We all know Kevin doesnt’ take any risks – and if this was Top Comfort Food – then Kevin definitely would be the shoe in for the win. Bryan – he does some interesting things, but it seems to all be stuff he has done before – he isn’t trying new things just for the competition. So I think Michael is either going to win big, or totally choke.
Kevin is just annoying me. It seems like every challenge – Kevin just has to talk about how this is what he does all the time. Pigs and Pinot – not even do I have a pig tattoed on me, I was engaged to one before I met my wife. Local Food in Napa – My restaurant only serves local food, even my salt and pepper is local. Vegetarian – I’m a vegetarian 99% of the year since we give up meat for lent. Bocuse D’Or – It’s called the culinary olympics, and we had the real Olympics in Atlanta. Restaurant Wars – I’ve been responsible for opening MANY restaurants in my career. In fact, as a toddler I had a play kitchen, and every day I would open a restaurant.
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Love Kevin, though I expect it will be Brian for the win.
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Daisy Mae, you hit the nail on the head I’m SO over Kevin’s pretending to be such a simple guy yet he is always tooting his own horn, you did miss one, when he reminded viewers that he was nominated for some award, he was able to bring it up because the guest judge had won that award, I guess I need to take notes too because I don’t remember which award.
I think if Michael wasn’t in the competition at all, everyone’s favorite would be Bryan, it is a shame he is getting such negativity just because of his brother. He has shown what a great guy he is over and over again and has shown what an outstanding chef he is over and over as well.
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I was shocked to see Jen go….Michael really praised her food and wanted the recipe…although I did bet my husband that she WOULD go, because they (Bravo) love the sibling rivalry drama, and Kevin is hopefully the winner of this thing!
As sad as I was to see neurotic Jen go, an hour long massage was won!
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Disappointed you thought Chiarello lashed out at Hung when it was Dale on Top Chef Masters.
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You’re right. I can’t tell them apart, to be honest.
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I fixed it! For some reason I wrote it down as Bryan (yes I take notes when I watch the show, otherwise I’ll never remember) :)
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Bryan is definitely under appreciated! It’s really too bad Michael has to ruin it for him.
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