Top Chef 5.4 — Today Show Recap

December 4, 2008

Well another Wednesday night has come and gone and with it, the third episode of Top Chef season 5. Did you watch? To discuss the episode (warning: spoilers ahead), read more.

Can we talk about the intro? I'll admit I've done a little "put on my chef coat" dance in front of the mirror. Has anyone else?
Do you consider Jamie the strongest member of Team Rainbow?
Rocco: love him or hate him? I love him!
What is your favorite breakfast?
In Jamie and Leah's amuse bouche war, who won in your mind?
What dish would you make for a television presentation?
Which chef do you think is the best for television?
Wasn't it interesting how we already knew which dish won?
What did you think of Kathie Lee's behavior?
Were you surprised by Ariane's win? Did she take the easy way out, making a salad?

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32 Comments

ilanac13 4 years 24 weeks

1. well everyone gets into it right? i can't say that i've done the same but that's just me 2. she seems to have done the best so far - so yes i do think so 3. i used to HATE him - coming out of his show the restaurant - i didn't care for him, but he's much better to deal with now i think. 4. i liked the idea of the breakfast blt thing w/o the bacon since i don't eat that. leah did do a good job 5. leah - hers really was good looking and right on point for the whole challenge 6. something simple like the salad that arianne did. you have to remember that you don't have a lot of time and you want EVERYONE to be able to make it 7. arianne was good - she plugged her restaurant and she was personable and that was something that's really smart 8. well - not so much that it was 'interesting' - just a given 9. i think that it was a bit OVER dramatic 10. she did the SMART thing - not the easy way out. there's a difference there

ilanac13 4 years 24 weeks

tlsgirl 4 years 24 weeks

kscincotta - I got that too, but then, having watched the travesty that was The Restaurant, Rocco was barely ever in the kitchen and it was mostly his elderly mother who was in the kitchen every morning and evening, so I don't much respect him as a chef at all at this point.

kscincotta 4 years 24 weeks

Did anyone else feel like Fabio really just didn't respect Rocco as an Italian chef? I mean, he said the right things, it just was really clear to my husband and I that he didn't like Rocco.

shoneyjoe 4 years 24 weeks

I just saw the Today Show segment from this morning, where Kathie Lee described the mouthful that she spit out as "putrid." LAME.

Pallas Athena 4 years 24 weeks

My thing cut off so this time I'll post without the questions. I don't have a favorite breakfast. I think Jamie won. I have no idea! I'm not a good cook and just playing the Top Chef game is too much pressure for me. I thought Ariane was perfect for television. It wasn't intersting, but it wasn't boring or stupid to do. I thought Kathie Lee was obnoxious. I thought Ariane might win. She didn't take the easy way out. She made a dish that people could make easily and quickly at home and that people would eat everyday or whatever. It was a smart move. GO ARIANE!

Pallas Athena 4 years 24 weeks

My thing cut off so this time I'll post without the questions.I don't have a favorite breakfast.I think Jamie won.I have no idea! I'm not a good cook and just playing the Top Chef game is too much pressure for me.I thought Ariane was perfect for television.It wasn't intersting, but it wasn't boring or stupid to do.I thought Kathie Lee was obnoxious.I thought Ariane might win. She didn't take the easy way out. She made a dish that people could make easily and quickly at home and that people would eat everyday or whatever. It was a smart move. GO ARIANE!

Pallas Athena 4 years 24 weeks

1. Can we talk about the intro? I'll admit I've done a little "put on my chef coat" dance in front of the mirror. Has anyone else?I hate the intro for this season. I don't do the "dance" ever. 2. Do you consider Jamie the strongest member of Team Rainbow?Eh, I just consider her to be strong in general. 3. Rocco: love him or hate him? I love him!Rocco? Are you kidding me? That is like asking if I love Tom! OF COURSE I LOVE ROCCO! <33 4. What is your favorite breakfast?From the show? I don't know. In life, I don't have. 5. In Jamie and Leah's amuse bouche war, who won in your mind?Jamie! 6. What dish would you make for a television presentation?I can't even think about that. I can barely decide what to make for breakfast for myself. 7. Which chef do you think is the best for television?I thought Ariane was fine. 8. Wasn't it interesting how we already knew which dish won?Eh, it was okay. I wouldn't say interesting. 9. What did you think of Kathie Lee's behavior?I think Kathie Lee is obnoxious. 10. Were you surprised by Ariane's win? Did she take the easy way out, making a salad?Eh, not really. No, she didn't take the easy way out. She made a great dish that didn't take a lot of time and that everyday people would it. It was a challenge that someone at home who can't cook well or who doesn't have a lot of time can make and she did fine.

Pallas Athena 4 years 24 weeks

1. Can we talk about the intro? I'll admit I've done a little "put on my chef coat" dance in front of the mirror. Has anyone else? I hate the intro for this season. I don't do the "dance" ever. 2. Do you consider Jamie the strongest member of Team Rainbow? Eh, I just consider her to be strong in general. 3. Rocco: love him or hate him? I love him! Rocco? Are you kidding me? That is like asking if I love Tom! OF COURSE I LOVE ROCCO! <33 4. What is your favorite breakfast? From the show? I don't know. In life, I don't have. 5. In Jamie and Leah's amuse bouche war, who won in your mind? Jamie! 6. What dish would you make for a television presentation? I can't even think about that. I can barely decide what to make for breakfast for myself. 7. Which chef do you think is the best for television? I thought Ariane was fine. 8. Wasn't it interesting how we already knew which dish won? Eh, it was okay. I wouldn't say interesting. 9. What did you think of Kathie Lee's behavior? I think Kathie Lee is obnoxious. 10. Were you surprised by Ariane's win? Did she take the easy way out, making a salad? Eh, not really. No, she didn't take the easy way out. She made a great dish that didn't take a lot of time and that everyday people would it. It was a challenge that someone at home who can't cook well or who doesn't have a lot of time can make and she did fine.

Mel475 4 years 24 weeks

1. No...but it doesn't mean that I won't!2. I considered Jamie a strong chef from the beginning.3. The only times I've ever seen Rocco, he comes across as a nice guy but I never watched The Restaurant to see any other side of him.4. Homemade pancakes (hate restaurant ones or scrambles with eggs, potatoes, veggies, meat (love chorizo/spicy sausage or bacon) and cheese (or a big bowl of Cocoa Krispies!) 5. Jamie's looked good but Leah's was a true amuse bouche and also looked yummy so I vote for Leah.6. I make a pretty good blackened steak salad that would be easy to prepare, discuss and replicate for the home cook.7. Fabio came across very well so he's probably the best for tv.8. I don't watch the Today Show and I missed the previous post so I didn't know. That said, I would have been bummed to know the outcome before watching the episode.9. Am I surprised by KLG's behavior? No. Do I approve? No. I think she is an attention hog, unprofessional, and completely rude. I felt bad for the chef.10. I wasn't surprised by Ariane's win given the guidelines - it seemed fairly tasty and easy to recreate by a home cook. I think she played it a little safe but like Tom said, the point of the competition is to win and that's what she did!

Mel475 4 years 24 weeks

1. No...but it doesn't mean that I won't! 2. I considered Jamie a strong chef from the beginning. 3. The only times I've ever seen Rocco, he comes across as a nice guy but I never watched The Restaurant to see any other side of him. 4. Homemade pancakes (hate restaurant ones or scrambles with eggs, potatoes, veggies, meat (love chorizo/spicy sausage or bacon) and cheese (or a big bowl of Cocoa Krispies!) 5. Jamie's looked good but Leah's was a true amuse bouche and also looked yummy so I vote for Leah. 6. I make a pretty good blackened steak salad that would be easy to prepare, discuss and replicate for the home cook. 7. Fabio came across very well so he's probably the best for tv. 8. I don't watch the Today Show and I missed the previous post so I didn't know. That said, I would have been bummed to know the outcome before watching the episode. 9. Am I surprised by KLG's behavior? No. Do I approve? No. I think she is an attention hog, unprofessional, and completely rude. I felt bad for the chef. 10. I wasn't surprised by Ariane's win given the guidelines - it seemed fairly tasty and easy to recreate by a home cook. I think she played it a little safe but like Tom said, the point of the competition is to win and that's what she did!

Rabbit88 4 years 24 weeks

did ariane even cook anything in her dish??? and i totally keep noticing the little cuts from commercial towards the end of the show... they've done it every week... and this is the second time that it has shown leah and hosea flirting/cuddling... weeeeeeird.

tellmemorex2 4 years 24 weeks

1. I haven't lol. 2. Yes ! I like her..but havent most of the members been eliminated ? 3. I love him too! 4. Poptarts 5. Leah. 6. Oh idk I cant cook. 7. Fabio is amazingly funny. 8. Yeah ! & weird. 9. So immature. She's a drama queen. 10. I was suprised, but I don't think she took the easy way out. She was being smart.

tellmemorex2 4 years 24 weeks

tlsgirl 4 years 24 weeks

I'm sort of curious to see just how hot Melissa's dish was. You've gotta wonder if people like Padma and Tom said that it was unacceptably spicy, and if Tom actually had to spit his out.

LaurenG22 4 years 24 weeks

1. Isn't the intro the same every season? lol 2. Yes, but Idon't remember who else was part of team rainbow now that richard has left! 3. He is annoying bc his food is so generic and wal-martized. 4. Yogurt, not much of a breakfast gal. 5. Leah, bcs hers was small and amusey :ROTFL: 6. Maybe a seared grilled steak salad? 7. Fabio probably is the best on TV... 8.I did not realize who had already won :) 9. Really unprofessional.She is always trying to get attention and its really getting old. I like how meredith viera emphasized that she liked ALL of them. :) 10. She was smart, who cares? It is cooking for the american public, something they can replicate not 5 star cusine!

LaurenG22 4 years 24 weeks

1. Isn't the intro the same every season? lol2. Yes, but Idon't remember who else was part of team rainbow now that richard has left! 3. He is annoying bc his food is so generic and wal-martized.4. Yogurt, not much of a breakfast gal.5. Leah, bcs hers was small and amusey :ROTFL:6. Maybe a seared grilled steak salad?7. Fabio probably is the best on TV...8.I did not realize who had already won :)9. Really unprofessional.She is always trying to get attention and its really getting old. I like how meredith viera emphasized that she liked ALL of them. :)10. She was smart, who cares? It is cooking for the american public, something they can replicate not 5 star cusine!

partysugar 4 years 24 weeks

Check out Ariane on this morning's Today Show!

partysugar 4 years 24 weeks

Check out Ariane on <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28018940/">this morning's Today Show</a>!

nancita 4 years 24 weeks

I really don't mind that Ariane won. The challenge was about making the best dish for TV, and she also had a pretty good on-camera presence. I am not a huge fan of hers really, but she did perform better than everyone else I thought. Except maybe Fabio.

tlsgirl 4 years 24 weeks

1. Nope, never have, but I skip through the intro.2. Yep, but I didn't think Richard deserved to go home last week, either. I thought it should have been Jeff.3. I sort of dislike Rocco from watching The Restaurant, because he came off kinda d-baggy.4. Fried egg sandwich with cheese and bacon. I'm easy to please. As long as there's bacon, I'm happy.5. Leah, just because hers was closer to the definition of amuse bouche.6. Like Leah, I don't belong on TV. I'd probably have a panic attack at the thought of speaking in front of people.7. Fabio. He was so cute and charming, and I totally have a thing for his accent.8. I don't watch the Today Show, so I didn't know.9. I'm not surprised by her behavior necessarily, but I thought it was incredibly rude. But then, I'm guessing her palate isn't all that sophisticated and she probably wouldn't know good food if it smacked her in the face. That made me REALLY dislike her.10. I wasn't surprised, given the judges, but I don't think she deserved it either. Come on, it was tomatoes, cheese, and watermelon with some blended oil on it. Total cop out. I'm biased though, since I dislike her anyway.

tlsgirl 4 years 24 weeks

1. Nope, never have, but I skip through the intro. 2. Yep, but I didn't think Richard deserved to go home last week, either. I thought it should have been Jeff. 3. I sort of dislike Rocco from watching The Restaurant, because he came off kinda d-baggy. 4. Fried egg sandwich with cheese and bacon. I'm easy to please. As long as there's bacon, I'm happy. 5. Leah, just because hers was closer to the definition of amuse bouche. 6. Like Leah, I don't belong on TV. I'd probably have a panic attack at the thought of speaking in front of people. 7. Fabio. He was so cute and charming, and I totally have a thing for his accent. 8. I don't watch the Today Show, so I didn't know. 9. I'm not surprised by her behavior necessarily, but I thought it was incredibly rude. But then, I'm guessing her palate isn't all that sophisticated and she probably wouldn't know good food if it smacked her in the face. That made me REALLY dislike her. 10. I wasn't surprised, given the judges, but I don't think she deserved it either. Come on, it was tomatoes, cheese, and watermelon with some blended oil on it. Total cop out. I'm biased though, since I dislike her anyway.

POPSUGAR Entertainment 4 years 24 weeks

1. No, but I got that intro song in my head the second you mentioned it.2. I do, but I think she needs to step it up. (Also, she totally should have just gone over the time limit rather than serve raw egg.)3. I'm on the fence. I was surprised he was arguing so strongly for Jamie to go home when the other two seemed so much weaker to me. 4. I don't get in the mood for them <i>all</i> that often, but I love a good pancake. 5. Definitely Leah. It was the actual amuse. 6. I'm kind of with Ariane on this -- some sort of simple but tasty salad. 7. Fabio annoys me, but I have to admit, he's great on TV.8. I was wondering about that! I didn't watch the segment when it aired, though, because I wanted to be surprised.9. I was surprised any of those three dishes would be so bad that she'd spit it out.10. I think she did take the easy way out, but she was also successful at completing her dish, unlike most of the people who tried to do complicated things. Also, has anyone else noticed the way they've been coming back for commercial break toward the end for a tiny little segment in the Stew Room? Last week's was Daniel and Jamie fighting, this week's was Leah and Hosiah cuddling ...

POPSUGAR Entertainment 4 years 24 weeks

1. No, but I got that intro song in my head the second you mentioned it. 2. I do, but I think she needs to step it up. (Also, she totally should have just gone over the time limit rather than serve raw egg.) 3. I'm on the fence. I was surprised he was arguing so strongly for Jamie to go home when the other two seemed so much weaker to me. 4. I don't get in the mood for them all that often, but I love a good pancake. 5. Definitely Leah. It was the actual amuse. 6. I'm kind of with Ariane on this -- some sort of simple but tasty salad. 7. Fabio annoys me, but I have to admit, he's great on TV. 8. I was wondering about that! I didn't watch the segment when it aired, though, because I wanted to be surprised. 9. I was surprised any of those three dishes would be so bad that she'd spit it out. 10. I think she did take the easy way out, but she was also successful at completing her dish, unlike most of the people who tried to do complicated things. Also, has anyone else noticed the way they've been coming back for commercial break toward the end for a tiny little segment in the Stew Room? Last week's was Daniel and Jamie fighting, this week's was Leah and Hosiah cuddling ...

shoneyjoe 4 years 24 weeks

1. Nope. Sorry. 2. I had considered Jamie the strongest member of Team Rainbow, yes. But I hadn't considered Richard to be *so* weak to be the 4th cheftestant dismissed. 3. Hate. I have found him to be smug and unpleasant to watch. 4. I don't really have a favorite breakfast. I have greatly enjoyed a nice continental croissant, slice of cold pizza, ramen, pork chops, oatmeal... 5. Leah's. I thought Jaime's looked good, for sure, but Leah's looked better. 6. I'd make a seared pork chop and a risotto. 7. I really liked Fabio's presentation. And I really hated Danny. Bababooie? Really? 8. I didn't, but that's because I don't watch the Today show. 9. Nothing about the women of morning or daytime TV shocks me. I'm rather bored by all of it. But I did find it phenomenally distasteful. 10. Given the judges, I was not surprised by Ariane's win. In the same way that previous seasons' challenges have culminated in judging by children, policemen, and other average palates, I knew that this vote would come down to the safe choices. Ariane may not have the confidence to do everything brilliantly (and I still think she should be gone soon), she was the smartest of the chefs this week. I was unsatisfied with an elimination challenge that felt more like Next Food Network Star than Top Chef. Plus, I think Melissa should have gone home instead of Alex. Nonetheless, I'll miss Alex a lot less than I still miss Richard. Likes: Stefan, Eugene, Leah; Dislikes: Ariane, Danny, Melissa.

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