Having recently logged TV-critic-time gazing at the hideous I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, watching Top Chef Masters seems like a delightful palate-cleanser after eating way too much bad junk food. The show is charming because most of the personalities themselves are charming. Two dozen well-established chefs are competing against each other. They take the competitions seriously, they make a few mistakes. When one chef’s cakes failed to rise, the others chuckled: Hey, dude, it happens, was the implied agreement. When chef Tim Love accidentally put his ingredients in a freezer instead of a refrigerator, it just made him seem more human. And who couldn’t love that competition in which these culinary big shots had to cook with the humble implements in a college dorm room?
Granted, it’s not like good old regular Top Chef, where the players are young and hungry, so to speak. It’s not as though any of these top chefs will be out of work and scrounging if they lose. But watching Top Chef Masters sure beats feeling like a lamb being brought to the slaughter of I’m a Celebrity. And Masters works on its own, as good summer fare, in the months before the crispy original Top Chef begins.
Did you watch Top Chef Masters? What did you think?
I loved this, and not just because I am desperately grasping at TV straws because nothing else is on. I really like the camaraderie among the masters. Hubert Keller draining pasta in a dorm shower was worth tuning in alone.
I miss Padma and Tom, but it isn’t bad. It is more fun to see a regular group stressing through each challenge during the reg “Top Chef”. These guys don’t have any stress. They already have a name and don’t need the dough, so its lacking in that respect It was fun to see the girl scouts pick apart their food though.
I’m assuming the producers are going to continue challenges that do NOT make fools out of the chefs that lose. That is, because they were making desserts for girl scouts and cooking food out of a dorm, the “losers” don’t have to suffer from damaged egos (as opposed to a more serious competition where if they lose, it could hurt their business or their reputation). I guess this is a good thing…
I loved it! Finally, something to look forward to watching on Wednesdays this summer!
loved it! the challenges were really clever. and i liked the camaraderie. who the heck is kelly choi?
I loved it! Just fun, not catty. I loved the humor & respect that the four chefs had for one another tonight.
I loved this show. It seemed more real than that regular show. i loved the camaraderie that the chefs showed. To be honest with, I have stopped watching BRAVO due to all of the Drivel reality shows that they show
Totally agree with your review… it will whet my appetite while waiting for Top Chef. Don’t care for the host so far.
Really enjoyed it. Can’t wait for next week.
I’ve seen top chef—and this is no top chef. But agree, that the chefs were adorable and real. But, can we talk about the judges???? Though they’re all established and acclaimed, they could not be any more boring. I mean, get a personality–you’re on tv now!!! There’s a reason they’re great print writers and we’ve never see them on tv before.
I was surprised! I love all seasons of the show and was worried that the snobbery of accomplished chefs would dominate the fun rush of competition.
Kelly Choi is a former model, and host of Eat Out NY. I’ve seen her a few times. She comes across exactly how she did on the show. Pretty, but not exactly Padma, if you know what I mean. Gets the job done, but isn’t anything spectacular.
I LOVED the show though. They were all so endearing, especially Hubert. I loved the camaraderie and the fact that it wasn’t anything TOO high pressure, high risk for them. It is a welcome change from the regular Top Chef, where you feel so sorry for everyone, looking so tired and stressed out. I love how even though the caliber of the dishes are clearly much better, the chefs are all humble and acknowledge that the regular Top Chef contestants have a rough time. Can’t WAIT for the old Top Chef contestants to come back and judge.
I just miss Tom and Padma
I liked it. Definitely good summer TV watching. The only disappointment was not seeing Padma and Tom. But regular Top Chef will be returning, right? Top Chef has always been one of the only reality shows I actually enjoy.
Didn’t realize how much I missed Padma, Tom, and the gang until I saw tonight’s lineup of judges. I gues it’s true that the really good ones make it look effortless and like they are not doing anything.
Having said that, I enjoyed the chefs. I’ll just FF through some of the judges’ comments.
So this lineup is temporary, right? Tom and Padma will ne coming back? They better.
Didn’t think Tom and Padma were doing such a great job until I saw someone else try it. Guess it’s true that pros make it look effortless.
Nevertheless, I will watch this until the regular Top Chef comes back with Padma and Tom – they are coming back, aren’t they?