The moment we’ve all been waiting for
Who had to pack their knives and go this week? Image from
One of my “Top Chef” watching buddies had a great idea last night while we were watching “Top Chef” season 6, episode 9. “They should make restaurant wars into its own show,” he said.
I couldn’t agree more. Padma knew what she was talking about at the beginning of ‘Top Chef’ season 6 episode 9 when she said it was the most anticipated episode of the season. If people got as excited about payday loans in Kentucky as they do about restaurant wars, I’d be rich!
What’s so great about restaurant wars?
It’s true that “Top Chef” fans, yours truly included, get really amped up for restaurant wars. I think part of the draw is the fact that it’s a tough challenge that has some people making multiple dishes, some acting as host or hostess in a cooking competition and the one-night-only restaurant inventions really take on a distinct identity.
However, restaurant wars also symbolizes a turning point for a lot of people I think. Not only is it far enough into the competition that very strong chefs start getting eliminated, it’s far enough along that people have gotten to know the personalities of the chefs and formed opinions about every one of them.
So, what happened?
True to “Top Chef: Las Vegas” form, the quickfire was a high stakes challenge worth $10,000. And it was a tough one. Kevin at one point called it “insane,” I believe, and he was right. The chefs had to team up, they were forbidden from talking to each other, and the three chefs were blindfolded while the other cooked, and then they took turns finishing the dish, relay-race style.
The blue team, composed of Kevin, Jennifer, Laurine and Mike I. won, and Padma gave them the choice to take the $10,000 or “let it ride,” in which case they would get $10,000 each instead of $10,000 for the team. After the team agreed to let it ride, though, “Top Chef” season 6 episode 9 got predictable very quickly.
Winners and whiners
The red team — the Voltaggio brothers, Robin and Eli appeared to be right on the mark from the beginning. They put together a great menu, cooked great food and Eli ran the front of the house like a pro. Tom Colicchio said it was the best ever performance on restaurant wars. The red team won the war, and Michael won the challenge and the $10,000. He chose to split it with his team.
Despite the sibling rivalry and the weird mother/child vibes between Eli and Robin, they were able — for the most part — to keep the squabbling out of the kitchen. There was, of course, one flare-up on the red side, when Robin got super protective of her $%#@ dessert when Brian tried to “help” her. One of my Twitter friends calls Robin “The Crazy That Will Not Go,” but I think she is just misunderstood. Also, after Michael won the challenge, Brian (bitterly?) told Michael to keep his money. Weird? Yes, I think so.
Say goodbye to…
While the red team held it together all along, the blue team appeared to be unraveling pretty quickly. Laurine volunteered to be front of the house, and that was the team’s first mistake. Toby Young said she acted like “a deer in the headlights.” The judges had to ask her to explain the food. She was responsible for one dish, and it turned out to be very undercooked lamb.
I’m sure you can see where this is going. Jennifer got reprimanded for her underdone shellfish, Kevin got reamed for undercooking the lamb and Mike I’s dish was criticized for being bland. The judges agreed that leaving dessert off the menu was a bad idea. But in the end, Laurine’s performance was the worst, and she got sent home. I couldn’t agree with the judges’ decision more. I called it from the moment Laurine saw the customers in the lobby.
Overall, though predictable, “Top Chef” season 6 episode 9 defintely delivered on the restaurant wars hype. Tune in next week for more “Top Chef” talk!
