Welcome to my new weekly column recapping and reviewing the new season of Top Chef (9pm CST, Bravo!). Similar to my Runway Roundup, don’t expect a blow by blow but rather my own take on the dazzling array of dishes and egos. With that said, let’s get on to week 1.
As always, the “getting to know you” first episode is always a bit of a failure. With 17 competitors lined up you’re inevitably left trying to figure out such questions as, “which bald guy is European again?” Still if you’re a reality vet like me, you know that the overcrowded kitchen is unavoidable. A few folks stood out like the self-taught kid from Vegas. The two Euro-dudes certainly made an impression, although I’m still not sure if a vinaigrette is an emulsion. I like two thirds of Team Rainbow and better still liked their cooking. Ah yes the cooking isn’t that what we’re here for?
The first Quickfire Challenge marked the first time they’ve sent a contestant packing before the first Elimination Challenge. I was surprised to see the kid from the culinary institute struggle here as I thought his knife skills would be up to snuff since he’s using them in school everyday. Once he and his school buddy went to the final stage of the challenge and churned out apple salads, you knew they were on the chopping block. Perhaps my favorite part of the Quickfire was the Indian contestant insisting in an earlier interview that she was not going to turn out Indian cuisine and then doing a chutney when stuck in a pickle. In the end, though it probably saved her as the lady with the boring salad hit the bricks.
Having the new season in New York is obviously going to provide a wealth of opportunities for challenges. I loved last year’s first head-to-head challenge and enjoyed that the producers brought it back this year. Having the contestants create dishes from the various ethnic neighborhoods was both fun and challenging. I felt so bad for the Russian team while I marveled at the ease presented to the Italian team. Our judges were already in midseason form as they dissected the dishes. My personal favorites were the two Jamaican dishes and the Indian dishes. The culinary kid was clearly the lowest. His salmon with black rice noodles and bok choy (pictured above) looked like something out of a culinary school or worse yet a mall food court. The guy just lacked imagination and refused to learn even though he had all of Chinatown at his fingertips. Meanwhile the Vegas kid embraced the challenge of cooking Indian food for the first time. He showed off an impressive palate as he sampled dishes at the local store and then turned around and incorporated those same flavors in his dish.
It’s a long season folks but based on last night I’m expecting some drama and a hell of a lot of good food. Tom, Padma and Gail clearly enjoy this and their enthusiasm is part of what makes Top Chef the best reality show going today. Just keep it light on the Rocco this year.
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