Top Chef 5.5: Gail's Bridal Shower

December 11, 2008

Last night on Top Chef, the contestants catered Gail's bridal shower. Food and Wine's Editor in Chief Dana Cowin was the guest judge. To discuss the episode, read more.

Cute or creepy: Stefan being in love with Jamie?
What did you think of the ingredient identification challenge?
Wasn't it interesting how they all mentioned salt as the first ingredient?
Which theme was the easiest?
Can you name any blue foods?
Whose dish would you want at your bridal shower?
While watching the episode, can you tell who will win and lose?
Were you surprised by Ariane's win?

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17 Comments

yvettecq 4 years 22 weeks

Cute or creepy: Stefan being in love with Jamie? Cute What did you think of the ingredient identification challenge? Liked the new spin on it. Wasn't it interesting how they all mentioned salt as the first ingredient? It's a no brainer...salt is in everything! Which theme was the easiest? Something new. Can you name any blue foods? other than something for dessert (berries, cobbler, pie, ice cream)...nothing! Whose dish would you want at your bridal shower? New team. While watching the episode, can you tell who will win and lose? Sometimes though recently I've been wrong. Were you surprised by Ariane's win? Yes...don't really think she's been deserving of it. She seems to do well w/meat.

Pallas Athena 4 years 22 weeks

Cute or creepy: Stefan being in love with Jamie? Creepy. What did you think of the ingredient identification challenge? I liked it. This wasn't he Wasn't it interesting how they all mentioned salt as the first ingredient? Eh, I didn't think it was. Which theme was the easiest? Borrowed. Can you name any blue foods? No, because there aren't any. Whose dish would you want at your bridal shower? Honestly, I liked team New's idea. While watching the episode, can you tell who will win and lose? Most times I can. Were you surprised by Ariane's win? Yes.

356UIK 4 years 22 weeks

Ah, someone is marrying Gail!? Weird!

kscincotta 4 years 22 weeks

Am I crazy or was there a blue challenge last year as well? I'm thinking it was during the Improv challenge, and their solution was to make birds. I think fish makes a lot more sense, although seriously - why didn't they make bluefish? I don't even cook and I thought of that immediately.

mswender 4 years 22 weeks

1. fitting actually, I think it totally fits with Stefan's personality. I am not saying I like him in any way though. 2. I really liked the quickfire, I think it is really important to be able to taste food and know what is in it. 3. Hey you are in it to win it so if you know salt is in the sauce say salt. I want to try this challenge! 4. Old was probably the easiest, you could have taken the idea in many different ways. 5. Wasn't there a study that said that people don't want to eat blue foods? Also I don't think there are any. I like the sea idea, what about blue crabs? they are blue before you cook them and if it was in the summer they were in season. 6. I thought borrowed looked amazing and it probably tasted delicious too! 7. I could tell who was in trouble, and Danny got on my every last nerve! 8. I see why they gave the win to Ariane, but I think that Jaime deserved it, it was her concept. Also, didn't Radhika marinate the lamb so wouldn't that make her responsible as well for the delicious taste? I still love Top Chef!

ilanac13 4 years 22 weeks

1. CREEPY - he needs to stop already. it's too much 2. it wasn't as great as previous years. i think that we were all looking forward to the one where they are blindfolded and eat weird stuff. 3. well - why go for the hard stuff when you're not being rated on that - it's naming things - that's the common sense piece 4. old - for sure 5. nope - nothing that's pure blue 6. none of them. i'm a vegetarian and i don't like a lot of fuss 7. kind of - yes. i feel like you knew that ariane wasn't going to bomb, and you knew that the sushi would. 8. not really. although i'm really not all that awed by her.

CaterpillarGirl 4 years 22 weeks

1) I think stefans crush on Jamie is just him thinking his manlihood will cure her lesbianism. You know "if you slept with me once, I could turn you" sort of egotistical stuff. I still love him though. And she might , away from him, diss that effort. But with him? she flirts right back. 2)I loved the ingredient identification challenge, I wouldnt have said salt or pepper, because I would be too freaked to list the "duh" stuff 3)see above 4) I would say Borrowed 5)there are no blue foods. 6)the sushi, but bring it up a notch 7)I couldnt tell on this one. 8)Yes, but her lamb was perfect so, too bad jaime If I was in this, for this challenge? Old- I would make my own miniature "thousand year old" eggs, out of quail eggs, some Gravlax with perserved meyer lemons capers dill, and some Panzanella which is bread salad made from stale bread. New- Citrus Ceviche, Stuffed Zuchinni Flowers, Oysters opened at the table fresh and tasting of the ocean Borrowed- I would play with this word, what do you borrow? Sugar and flour from your neighbors make a trio of desserts Blue- I would think of the sky, and make dishes inspired by it. any bird that can fly like Ducks, or Doves, Pheasant,Goose, Quail. I would whip up a cloud of potatoes or roasted cauliflower.

tlsgirl 4 years 22 weeks

Did anyone else find his (danny's) comment about the guests taking their clothes off and eating totally weird and inappropriate? Especially for a bridal shower!

POPSUGAR Food 4 years 22 weeks

I must admit that I never liked Danny. It's hard to like someone who wears a t-shirt with the words, "Trust me. I'm perfect."

jopperma 4 years 22 weeks

I prefer the old food ID challenge... This one seemed a little arbitrary to me.

LaurenG22 4 years 22 weeks

The blue team was stupid: CHILEAN SEA BASS!?!?! I thought Whole Foods didn't sell it out of principal!

tlsgirl 4 years 22 weeks

1. I think it's kinda cute, but then, I like Stefan. I don't see him as a bully necessarily, just someone with a big ego. At least he's been able to back it up thus far. 2. I liked the old ID challenge better. This one was weird, and I didn't like the way it was "scored." 3. It's probably a gimme choice, so it made sense. 4. I thought NEW would be the easiest, but they managed to really kill it. 5. Blueberries, even though they're sorta purplish 6. Borrowed, definitely 7. Sometimes you can tell just by the editing, but this time it was pretty clear who the loser was. 8. Not really surprised, but disappointed since I find her irritating, and now we have to hear Carla squawk about how the universe wants her to succeed or some such new-agey nonsense. I just wish Jaime would stop being such a sore loser. It's really unflattering.

mannylove 4 years 22 weeks

I don't know...I used to really like Jaime, but last night's episode, she kind of annoyed me. The way she was sulking when she didn't win. Sure it was her concept, but she didn't cook the lamb! I don't know, she should have just been happy her team was in the top 2. For the blue team, if they were sticking to the ocean thing, they could have done bluefish, at least something with the word blue in it...maybe bluefish pate? Blueberries were another good idea too.

bff345 4 years 22 weeks

Does anyone know who was sitting on Padma's left side....across from Gail at the shower? Does she work for food and wine? I thought she looked familiar. Probably not going to get an answer from this...but hopefully the magazine will see this. Thanks!

mamasitamalita 4 years 22 weeks

1. creepy 2. awesome, I have a great palate too I would love to do that 3. I think once they got that they could name really basic "no duh" stuff they would 4. NEW, but they messed it up! 5. there aren't any 6. the borrowed plate looked divine 7. the teams, yes 8. no because she is a really great cook, Jamie is just a sore loser this round, but is also great and I think she'll win another challenge later on

sandy82 4 years 22 weeks

for blue foods, I thought they'd use blueberries! I thought the challenge was complicated and strange. I like the challenge where they individually taste ingredients. I thought Jaime should have won or the guy on the other team for the sorbet. Stefan is such a bully!

shoneyjoe 4 years 22 weeks

I'm so sad to have missed it, as I love writing in on these things. Stupid law school exams... Blah. I am also so sad to hear that Ariane won, as I'm a total hater. But at least the right dude got sent home.

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17 Comments

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