Top Chef Masters Recap: Teppanyaki or Crappenyucki?

14 Comments

1. 1
   Andyourlittledogtoo
   Posted August 10, 2012 at 12:43 am

   I paid extra attention this episode and yep, I still like Art. I think he is a very emotional person, very reactive and ‘heart on his sleeve’ kind of guy. And I would have a hard time having a relationship with him as I am reactive myself (of course I’m the wrong gender so that would be a problem too!) but I like the guy. I thought Chris was a little heavy handed in his dealing with Art frankly – very controlling and condescending, although I don’t hate him either.

   This is the main reason that Top Chef Masters is by far my favorite of all the Top Chefs – the chefs really treat each other with respect and cheer each other on. There’s none of that ridiculous posturing and sabotaging and trash talking on Masters. They all seem to really like to be together and want to do their best among the best. I really like that. It’s like a breath of fresh air in reality TV.

2. 2
   snowshoecat
   Posted August 10, 2012 at 6:04 am

   So good to see Jonathan Waxman. He created my fave MinniApple restaurant, Rosa Mexicana, and I’m a wee bit in love.

   Loved the Green Team’s non-traditional approach to the dishes. Wish I could have sampled them.

3. 3
   vallegirl
   Posted August 10, 2012 at 9:40 am

   I never thought Moonen was brash, at least on his other appearances on TC. Hyper, occasionally scattered and sometimes on the verge of going out of control, yes. But not arrogant. Of course, he’s also the only person who didn’t present a dish in a quick fire and was pretty good-natured about how he screwed himself over, so I’ve been using that as my gauge. Although he did smack down Jay Rayner but good and had Bravo scrub all memory of him from TC Masters, so maybe…

   But I will plug Francis Lam. He seemed reserved on the panel but he’s a lovely food writer. He’s a storyteller before he gets into the cooking aspect and I always want to try his recipes.

   As for Art, that whole kerfuffle with Chris is what bugs the shit out of me. He actively doesn’t listen to anyone else in the kitchen, so he has plausible deniability when he pulls his stunts, then he mugs for the judges when Curtis brings up how aggressive Chris was so that they feel even more sorry for poor Art, then he gives a freakin’ Miss America speech when he wins the challenge. Like he’s the only one whose charity is worthwhile and everyone else is trying to save heirloom tomato seeds. He’s so draining.

   And I have no doubt he did it to mess Chris up and try to send him home. I have no proof except my irrational disdain for him, but I have no doubt that he’d have been happier to see Chris go home than to win the money for his charity.

   Maybe if his emotional nature extended toward being more gracious toward others I’d like him more. But he isn’t. There never seems to be real joy or empathy for others. It’s all how it makes Art look and feel. And his clear jealousy of Chris’ ease in the competition is unbecoming someone who allegedly cooks for billionaires.

4. 4
   LAC
   Posted August 10, 2012 at 11:30 am

   MisRed, be sure Curtis is done with you by 7. He is supposed to come by and be a cop about to arrest me for being a naughty girl. :>

   Great recap. I do like this season of the show so far. The chefs are wonderful.

   Vallegirl, I really like Francis Lam too. He is a wonderful food writer and totes adorable on the Cooking Channel’s “Unique Eats”.

5. 5
   featherhead
   Posted August 10, 2012 at 11:43 am

   I totally agree with you vallegirl about Art – Chris was nice enough to lend him his mandolin and specifically said to Art to make sure he put it back on the cart because he needed it for the challenge. Art only cares about Art. I can’t stand him.

6. 6
   lindaw205
   Posted August 10, 2012 at 11:55 am

   Gotta jump on the Art hate bandwagon and agree with everything vallegirl said. I’m kinda sick of his name dropping, too.

7. 7
   sagittariuskim
   Posted August 10, 2012 at 3:52 pm

   I really like this season so far. They’ve had a lot of creative and interesting challenges. And the chefs are all pretty likable to me. And so far none of the housewives have made appearances.

8. 8
   awfuleyebrow
   Posted August 10, 2012 at 5:35 pm

   Oh you’ve cursed us now Sag! They’ll be dragging all the chefy housewives of NJ in next week. Mama Manzo will be schilling her brownhouse sauce, Theresa will filling mystery boxes with crazy ingrediences like “koomen”, and Kathy will be impressing all of the chefs with her cannoli made of cannolis. Maybe JuicyJoe will tag along to show off his Judo master pizza dough slinging.

   I am really enjoying this season too. Chris is always a favorite of mine, so it’s no surprise that I find myself siding with him. Art’s actions did seem a little sabotagey. I think I’m developing an old man crush on Thierry. He’s adorable.

9. 9
   sagittariuskim
   Posted August 10, 2012 at 6:09 pm

   Sorry, that did occur to me after I commented. I’ll knock on every tree I see to make up for it.

10. 10
    Pegalicious
    Posted August 10, 2012 at 6:25 pm

    I’m loving your recaps, MisRed! Especially well-captioned screen grabs.

    My only impression of Mark was that he reminds me of Rocky in “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” (The picture of him in the team challenge, with his hair arranged in a “bowl cut,” is especially reminiscent.)

    @Andyourlittledogtoo, I agree that the respect with which these chefs generally treat each other (well, with the exception of Art), and their good humor and genuine support of each other, make this a particularly enjoyable show.

11. 11
    Leto
    Posted August 12, 2012 at 3:53 pm

    Now I know why I like Art. I think somehow he got stuck in my mind with Jonathan Waxman, whom I love. I liked him better when he was fat, though, I remember him being shy and emotionnal, now he’s a little too bitchy and selfish to my taste. But Chris gets to my nerves, I HATE bossy people, so no sides taken in this fight ^^.

    Thierry killed me. Making crêpes on a plancha was crazy, you have to be able to control the heat to make them perfect, but the filling seemed just like heaven. I mean, pears and almonds: I could kill for that.

    I enjoyed seeing contestants of previous seasons (especially Waxman, like I said above, I love that man, I was crushed when he lost in season 1 & 2). This was a really good episode, and I have to agree that Takashi is cute, and so is Patricia.

12. 12
    Mummy Butterfly
    Posted August 12, 2012 at 8:09 pm

    Love Patricia (and her mole), love Takashi and LOVE Chris – loved him since he and Aaron Sanchez did that show together (City Chefs? Chefs in the City? CrazyChefRunningCompetition?)

    Art annoys me. And I go back to last week’s episode when Art’s cake started to come apart and he yelled for help, and Chris (and one other chef, can’t remember who) came RUNNING to his aid. RUNNING.

    Love me some Chris!

13. 13
    MisRed
    Posted August 13, 2012 at 9:26 am

    In fact Chris’s exact words, when Art’s cake was falling “Hang on buddy, I’m coming!” (the other chef coming to his aid was Patricia. Her mole stayed behind to help char Debbie’s cabbage, though)

14. 14
    MoHub
    Posted August 14, 2012 at 12:31 pm

    Chris and Aaròn did Chefs vs. City on Food Network. I love Thierry and his Gallic charm and laid-back approach. So glad to have him back, although I doubt he’ll go the distance.

    To me, it comes down to Patricia, Chris, and possibly Takashi.