| « Holiday Cocktails with Mike Ryan | Grate Like a Pro » |
TV Mon Dec 19 2011
Top Chef Texas, Episode 7: The Most Dangerous Game
Better late than never, right? Right guys? Now that you've had a chance to ponder the vagaries of roasted squab and rack of elk, here are three short thoughts on this week's "Top Chef":
Typical. I publicly state my support for cheftestant Heather Terhune and she goes all crazy-eyes mean girl in this week's episode. This doesn't necessarily mean I'm not still rooting for her, as with all the Chicago chefs (several of whom were on the bottom this week for offenses like lack of cohesion on the plate and...sweet potato fries). But this week's episode veered into sort of uncomfortable territory, as chef Beverly Kim was helplessly put up for scrutiny over she and Heather's five-spice duck and polenta. Basically, we saw further proof of what we already know: Heather's tough and Beverly cries a lot, both attributes thrown into sharper relief by the editing, which, as with Angry Dale's wall-punching back in season four, eschewing food porn shots and overly descriptive commentary at Judges' Table for aggressive chef-on-chef confrontations. (What IS it with this season? Is a poorly seared scallop just not the drama it used to be, Bravo??)
After watching that tequila quickfire, I found myself wondering if it would even be possible to be a cheftestant (or a chef, for that matter) if you're a teetotaler. Is lusty enjoyment of the fermented beverages just a self-selecting mechanism for success in the kitchen? Or is it just the only way to get through those nights of 200 covers in a cramped, hot kitchen? You tell me, Chicago.
Undercooked venison = THE WORST. Shudder. Despite all the Heather-Beverly drama, it was no surprise to me to see Dakota and Nyesha pack their knives. Though I will miss Dakota's enormous, dangerous-looking earrings.
