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Top Chef Las Vegas
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Slap Shot
I got nothing
This show shouldn't be called, "Top Chef" it should be called:
"Best Chef that can make changes that have nothing to do with real life situations regarding their menu, availablity of ingredients or clientele in their restaurant and that may have nothing to do with their true ability to cook"
"Best Chef that can make changes that have nothing to do with real life situations regarding their menu, availablity of ingredients or clientele in their restaurant and that may have nothing to do with their true ability to cook"
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
Re: Top Chef Las Vegas
A couple random thoughts about the first episode....What is with all the tatoos on these people? I think more had tatoos than did not. Not my cup o tea anyway. I'm glad the chick with the tatoo on the front of her neck got the axe. What was she thinking, on more than 1 level?
Do we have to have a flaming gay person on every year? You just can't keep that to yourself? What does it have to do with cooking?
A couple random thoughts about the first episode....What is with all the tatoos on these people? I think more had tatoos than did not. Not my cup o tea anyway. I'm glad the chick with the tatoo on the front of her neck got the axe. What was she thinking, on more than 1 level?
Do we have to have a flaming gay person on every year? You just can't keep that to yourself? What does it have to do with cooking?
bostonewe
Short/Round
Re: Top Chef Las Vegas
Bear in mind that I haven't seen the first episode yet...
Assuming the age group for the current chefs is 25-40, the number of people with tattoos, particularly in people who don't work traditional jobs pretty high, I would wager. Now factor in that a majority of these folks work in urban areas (more accepting of alternative/individual ideas/lifestyles) and I bet that would account for an increased percentage as well (for example, 90% of my friends here in Boston have at least one tattoo, the number is closer to about 45% when I go back home to rural Pennsylvania).
As to the person's sexual identity, not sure why it should be an issue? If that's their personality, then you're right, it has nothing to do with cooking. But since the show (at least in past season) has also given you a window into the lives of the chefs, rather just showing them in the kitchen, it's bound to come up. Using your thinking, I'd ask why they continue to have a55holes on the show, like Howie or Stefan or Joey, but if they're good chefs, then it shouldn't matter (and it also makes for good tv - and it would be foolish to ignore that factor).
Bear in mind that I haven't seen the first episode yet...
Assuming the age group for the current chefs is 25-40, the number of people with tattoos, particularly in people who don't work traditional jobs pretty high, I would wager. Now factor in that a majority of these folks work in urban areas (more accepting of alternative/individual ideas/lifestyles) and I bet that would account for an increased percentage as well (for example, 90% of my friends here in Boston have at least one tattoo, the number is closer to about 45% when I go back home to rural Pennsylvania).
As to the person's sexual identity, not sure why it should be an issue? If that's their personality, then you're right, it has nothing to do with cooking. But since the show (at least in past season) has also given you a window into the lives of the chefs, rather just showing them in the kitchen, it's bound to come up. Using your thinking, I'd ask why they continue to have a55holes on the show, like Howie or Stefan or Joey, but if they're good chefs, then it shouldn't matter (and it also makes for good tv - and it would be foolish to ignore that factor).
Rimbaud
New member
Re: Top Chef Las Vegas
You don't get a Michelin star or be a finalist for a James Beard award by being middle of the pack.
You don't get a Michelin star or be a finalist for a James Beard award by being middle of the pack.
bigblue_dl
Armed
Re: Top Chef Las Vegas
From what I noticed it wasn't just that they had a couple tattoos, several of the contestants had large areas of their bodies, like their entire arm or, as mentioned earlier, the front of the neck, completely covered. I don't really have a problem with that, tattoos don't really bother me, if they're done right. I just found it interesting.
I was thinking that too. I don't think Top Chef has had contestants this established before, I don't remember any talk of a Michelin star or James Beard finalist before this season...I'd have to think that the brothers (Michelin star, James Beard finalist) and the big guy with the beard (James Beard finalist) have to be the early favorites.
Slap Shot
I got nothing
I still would prefer to see people exit the show based upon their ability (or lack thereof relative to the others) to cook, rather than bowing out because they mis-timed cooking their chops or whatever and had to send it out under/over cooked because of some artificial time limit. I know it adds entertainment value, but there's so much editing going on that I'm sure they could do so without such gimmicks. It won't keep me from watching the show (every episode since Season 2) and mho only of course. 
Re: Top Chef Las Vegas
Yeah, the time limit is artificial, but in order to have an actual competition, I think you need to have some sort of common rule, and time is pretty good. For the quickfires, it's not an issue IMO.
I completely agree with your point, but I don't see how else you could run a competition like this without some sort of time rule.
I still would prefer to see people exit the show based upon their ability (or lack thereof relative to the others) to cook, rather than bowing out because they mis-timed cooking their chops or whatever and had to send it out under/over cooked because of some artificial time limit. I know it adds entertainment value, but there's so much editing going on that I'm sure they could do so without such gimmicks. It won't keep me from watching the show (every episode since Season 2) and mho only of course.
Yeah, the time limit is artificial, but in order to have an actual competition, I think you need to have some sort of common rule, and time is pretty good. For the quickfires, it's not an issue IMO.
I completely agree with your point, but I don't see how else you could run a competition like this without some sort of time rule.
Slap Shot
I got nothing
Re: Top Chef Las Vegas
That's a good point. Perhaps extend the time a bit relative to each challenge?
That's a good point. Perhaps extend the time a bit relative to each challenge?
melmac
Math atheist
Re: Top Chef Las Vegas
Chefs do have time limits in the real world, they're just not timed, if that makes any sense. Do you really want to wait for hours to get your food at a restaurant? I realize they can prep a lot of things before service, but they do have pressure to get the food out.
I just like seeing what they can come up with. I'm not quite as adventurous in my cooking, yet.
Chefs do have time limits in the real world, they're just not timed, if that makes any sense. Do you really want to wait for hours to get your food at a restaurant? I realize they can prep a lot of things before service, but they do have pressure to get the food out.
I just like seeing what they can come up with. I'm not quite as adventurous in my cooking, yet.
Re: Top Chef Las Vegas
Well, of course there's time limits, even if they're not fixed. I think that Slap is getting at would be trying to avoid situations like in the last episode where one contestant made a gastrique but didn't get it on the plate in time. It was sitting there, cooked, ready to go.
I get the objection, but I don't see how you could run the competition without some sort of hard and fast deadline.
Well, of course there's time limits, even if they're not fixed. I think that Slap is getting at would be trying to avoid situations like in the last episode where one contestant made a gastrique but didn't get it on the plate in time. It was sitting there, cooked, ready to go.
I get the objection, but I don't see how you could run the competition without some sort of hard and fast deadline.
Slap Shot
I got nothing
Yes, they have time limits but that's known in advance. So is their menu, their inventory and their staffing. And I don't think the show should do away with them completely, but in some cases I think the restraints hide the true overall abilities of the contestants.
melmac
Math atheist
Re: Top Chef Las Vegas
I'm just sayin'...
What the time limits do show is who has the ability to adapt and plan a dish and who doesn't. While that doesn't necessarily showcase their talents, it is something to consider. Besides, it definitely makes things interesting.
Side note: Not that I'm even in the same universe as these chefs, but I seem to lack the knack to have all my elements of a meal come out reasonably close. I couldn't even imagine having to work under a time limit like they do on the show.
I'm just sayin'...
What the time limits do show is who has the ability to adapt and plan a dish and who doesn't. While that doesn't necessarily showcase their talents, it is something to consider. Besides, it definitely makes things interesting.
Side note: Not that I'm even in the same universe as these chefs, but I seem to lack the knack to have all my elements of a meal come out reasonably close. I couldn't even imagine having to work under a time limit like they do on the show.
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
Re: Top Chef Las Vegas
I am not interested in seeing into their personal lives. I want to watch the cooking andthe drama in that.
I live in rural WI. Folks might have 1 tatoo on an ankle or a shoulder, not half their freakin bodies. It comes down to personal preference and I dislike them severely.
Time limit...it's a tough one. Time management is a pretty important part of cooking. You can make great food, but it you time it poorly, your product may get too dry, too cold, too thick, too thin, under-done, over-done. If someone has an issue with the timed events, then they probably don't like "Chopped". I really enjoy that show. But then again, I would watch just about any cooking show, other than Sandra Lee or Rachel Ray. It was neat to see all the 3 finalists in Top Chef Masters had/have their own PBS cooking shows.
I am not interested in seeing into their personal lives. I want to watch the cooking andthe drama in that.
I live in rural WI. Folks might have 1 tatoo on an ankle or a shoulder, not half their freakin bodies. It comes down to personal preference and I dislike them severely.
Time limit...it's a tough one. Time management is a pretty important part of cooking. You can make great food, but it you time it poorly, your product may get too dry, too cold, too thick, too thin, under-done, over-done. If someone has an issue with the timed events, then they probably don't like "Chopped". I really enjoy that show. But then again, I would watch just about any cooking show, other than Sandra Lee or Rachel Ray. It was neat to see all the 3 finalists in Top Chef Masters had/have their own PBS cooking shows.
Slap Shot
I got nothing
I agree - but that can happen in a real kitchen without actual time limits. And again, I'm not against time limits per se I just think in some challenges they are a bit too short.
The Paragon of Virtue
Captain Ressentiment
bostonewe
Short/Round
Re: Top Chef Las Vegas
Nope -- go to all the BU games that I can and listen to the others on the radio. Unless you're referring to NHL, then I don't really need it as the bulk of the Bruin's games are on NESN (New England Sports Network), which is pretty standard. Nonetheless, I'll be figuring out the cable package before too long so that I don't have too many episodes of Top Chef to catch up on.
Nope -- go to all the BU games that I can and listen to the others on the radio. Unless you're referring to NHL, then I don't really need it as the bulk of the Bruin's games are on NESN (New England Sports Network), which is pretty standard. Nonetheless, I'll be figuring out the cable package before too long so that I don't have too many episodes of Top Chef to catch up on.