This week’s Top Chef Masters gimmick — cooking a meal for the folks who labor on Lost that included a Dharma Initiative-approved shopping list — wasn’t nearly as hokey as it sounded, and resulted in another satisfyingly civilized, amusing hour. I’m really enjoying what is now one of the rare reality/competition shows that doesn’t rely on a lot of bad, rude behavior for its drama. Instead, we get the pleasure of watching what judge-critic Jay Rayner referred to, in praising one dish, as a “generosity of spirit” that extends to the whole hour. The fact that the food was also being eaten and judged by Lost brainiacs such as Damon Lindelof, Carlton Cuse, and Brian K. Vaughan was visual dessert.
Granted, these chefs weren’t without competitive spirit. It was fun to watch lank-haired Wylie Dufresne mutter bleepingly when his vending-machine Quickfire Challenge didn’t go completely as he’d planned. But I was happy that the ultimate winner (here you go: spoiler alert) was the soothingly calm, wry Suzanne Tracht. Her heaping bowl o’ various foods, from risotto to sea urchin to boar, certainly seemed truest to the Lost theme of hungry-stomach-filling grub.
What did you think? Are you enjoying the Masters as much as regular Top Chef? Did you agree with the judges’ choice of winner?
This version of Top Chef is pleasant eough. But last night’s winner (Suzanne I think) was so personality free. And Wiley came off as kind of a dbag.
I’m definitely liking the show, but I enjoyed the first episode more than this one. The chefs in the first episode all seemed to get along as a group. These 4 didn’t seem to bond as much. I assume it was because Graham and Wylie were already close friends so that kind of altered the dynamic. And I agree with Buffy Freak, Suzanne Tracht seemed like a very nice woman, but she may have been the most boring person I’ve ever seen on TV.
I long for the days of Padma Lakshmi. I hope that she is coming back for the next real season.
I love this version of Top Chef because the contestants DO seem to care about the outcome. It seems like a smart way of getting some great chefs involved while including challenges previously seen on Top Chef for nostalgia.
I was gonna watched, so I turned it in Bravo…and it wasn’t on! Turns out, Bravo Canada doesn’t carry it. I as pissed.
http://tvdonewright.com/2009/06/17/tv-tonight-thursday-june-18th-2009/
There wasn’t a lot of personality in this group – they were a pretty dull group.
This show is great as a straight food competition show, same way that Iron Chef is, but it still is no Top Chef. I miss Tom and Padma. The new host just doesn’t have it, and she looks like she should eat a few more of the meals the chefs are serving.
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And I did seriously geek out when I saw Brian K Vaughn. It was the moment I knew I was truly a fanboy. SMH.
Love the spirit of this show! I enjoyed Wiley and Graham’s antics at the grocery; they have a passion for food and cookery. Wiley was hilarious when he was ****ing everything up! I was disappointed that the vending machine challenge allowed pantry items; I think the original challenge did not allow that. Loved the Dharma challenge! I still can’t decide if the hosts and judges lack personality or are just different people than I’m used to.
I loved it when they were in the Stew Room and decided to bake cookies!
I miss Tom and Padama. That said, this version of the show is growing on me. I think it’s because the judges are so collegial and friendly with each other. Yes, it’s “fun” to watch in-fighting and discord, but this is nice for a change.
Susanna was the correct winner last night. But, I would have liked to see Wylie again especially in the company of Hubert. I could have watched Wylie the whole hour. This group was really fun I thought and the whole episode was v interesting.
This had less “cooking as carnival act” than the first one and thankfully, no food prepared in a college dorm bathroom. With top-level professionals, we’re not gonna get the crazy/embarrassing antics we’re used to on TC, but I think it’s a good sub for the summer. Padma will be back; calm down, people!
I’ve seen that brash yet highly insecure Elizabeth “I have a Rock Star vibe” Faulkner on so many Food Network competitions. I would love for Christopher Guest to write a film spoofing foodie culture just so the divine Jane Lynch could play her.
I have seen the brash yet highly insecure Elizabeth “I have a Rock Star Vibe” Faulkner on so many Food Network challenge shows. I’d love Christopher Guest to write a film spoofing foodie culture just so the divine Jane Lynch could play her.
Good show last night. It works in much the way the arena league of football worked (and hopefully will resume working) vis a vis the NFL: Its different enough to be interesting in its own right but it is ultimately only a fill in for the real thing. (of course where as the arena league uses lower quality players than the NFL, the opposite is true here). I fully intend to keep watching and can’t wait to visit LA to get a taste of Suzzane Tract’s restaurant. Wiley should get his own show