LA has made an asparagus and ginger soup with parmesan cheese. Ramsey asks where the idea came from to put asparagus and ginger together and LA says she just "threw it together". Ramsey thinks the soup looks like it came out of the bottom of a dishwasher. Yeah, it looks pretty gross. But how does it taste Chef? "It also tastes like it's come out of the bottom of a dishwasher." AND "Like some camel's shit in your pot." That is nasty. LA's is deemed disgusting, PrettyGirl's is foul, and neither gets a point.
Let's hope Carol and Robert can do better. Carol has made a ginger rubbed seared tuna with fried leeks, and the tuna is glazed with a ginger soy reduction. Chef Ramsey informs Carol that there was, in fact, no soy sauce on the ingredient tray. Same color, but not soy sauce. He wants to know if she tasted it. And she says she did. She probably should have lied and said she didn't taste it.
Andrea can't believe that she can't tell the difference between soy and balsamic. Yeah, I have to say, that is pretty bad. Balsamic has a really strong flavor. The only thing I can think of is that maybe her taste buds are staging a revolution in protest of their fallen comrades from cigarette smoking. It's really the only thing that makes sense. Aside from the soy/vinegar error, Chef also thinks her dish is dry. Yikes.
Robert's made peppered pasta with sautéed butternut squash with a pan seared lamb loin. Chef asks where the idea came from and Robert says it came right from his mom's kitchen. Awwwwww. Ramsey thinks the portion is a bit large for tapas, but the flavor is spot on. Robert wins the point for the men. Robert gives a shout out to his ma. Double Awwwwwww.
Time for Andrea and J. Andrea has made an open faced lobster and asparagus ravioli with a pinot reduction. He thinks it looks boring, but it delivers big time in taste. He moves on to J's "slightly phallic" dish. What is it? It's lobster with a fennel and leek broth. Ramsey thinks J has gone too simple; he needs more creativity. And with that, Andrea wins the point for the women.
Well, blow me down! Look at that. Now the red and blue teams are tied at two points a piece. Whoever could have guessed that? I wonder if the producers think that we are all morons.
In this moment, I turned to my sister to make yet another prediction: "Wanna bet Gio's plate is going to win so that the red team wins because Ramsey moved Gio over?" Denied again! I don't understand why she won't take these bets.
So last up are Ben and Gio. Ben has made grilled tuna served over grilled asparagus with a sauce made from fennel fronds and balsamic. Ramsey thinks it is absolutely delicious. Gio has made a surf and turf style tapa; pan seared beef with a fried lobster claw. Ramsey loves his also.
But which will he choose? However will he decide? We get a commercial break for added dramatic tension (not), and the winner is.......the red team! God, this show is so unpredictable. I never even saw that coming.
Gio is happy to have helped his new team get the win. Andrea is beside herself with joy. She tells us that the spice rack needed some testosterone and Gio has "an overabundance of it to give." Gross.
Ramsey tells Ben he should not be upset because that was the most difficult decision ever. I don't believe him. Ben has been on the losing end of three head to head challenges, and he's understandably disappointed. And humbled.
Ramsey tells the blue team that this punishment sucks. And he is not lying. They get to prep both kitchens for service that night. Yeah, that's not going to be fun. He goes on to tell them it's tapas night. What that means is that they are changing plates down to the smaller sized ones, so they need to be unloaded, washed, dried and polished. Polished? I have never heard of polishing plates. Fancy Schmancy.
The ladies and Gio have won a day at the track with Chef. I can't really judge that as a prize since I have never been to a horse race, but it sounds pretty fucking boring to me. They head upstairs to get changed.
As the red team prepares for their day at the track, Carol is wondering if you have to dress super fancy for horse races. Who could we ask?
« I Love Money 2: Not Safe for Life | Main | America's Next Top Model: Obstacle Course For Bag-Ladies »
Comments (11)
Your recap really pointed something out: all the contestants have already decided somewhere in their heads that Gio should win. The blue team has acknowledged Gio as the best cook, and the red team believes they won only because of Gio's leadership. If the women are incapable of leading and need someone to guide them, they shouldn't win this thing, and if Gio cant cook circles around all the other guys and they know it, case closed. Thye should all go home and Gio get on with his new career.
Ramsey HAS to know how much work Pretty Girl has blown off. She only has a quitting tantrum when there's prep to do...and the producers have to have shown Gordon the footage. So I agree with Robert. P.G. is being kept for "entertainment" purposes.
As for the tapas trend...it's easy to see why it's spreading. Smaller portions at higher prices. It's cost effective for restaurants. I still prefer going somenwhere less ritzy where I can get enough to eat without ordering three or four dishes and running up a $150 bill for two people (before the alcohol is added.) Texas Roadhouse, anyone?
1 of 11 | Posted by cattyfan | Posted on March 23, 2009 8:35 AM
Big hugs Potty Mouth - excellent recap!
Seriously snorted at your comment that Pretty girl was working at snail's pace. When she started to complain about "alllll the haaaaard prep worrrrrk" - OMG I had to wonder why she became a chef? That's like saying I'm a nurse but can't stand the sight of blood. Robert is right, she is a cancer and a spoiled brat. This game of running off and crying whenever she doesn't feel like working makes me want to jump through the screen and smack her silly. PM, you say you've worked with people like Andrea - I've worked with people like Pretty Girl and it does make you homicidal.
Andrea is a serious witch and she is not all that when it comes to cooking. Although I am tired of Carol's whining, I can't wait to see Andrea get what she deserves and hope she goes before Carol just for the laughs.
Paula is looking like a possible dark horse (as opposed to Pretty Girl who just looks like a horse's ass). I think Ben is delusional that Chef is picking on him because of his potential. Pssst - he's picking on you cuz you suck. Let's see if Gio continues his good streak, he seems to be quite competent and able to hold it together during a rough service.
I've never worked in a kitchen, but if you read Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential it will make you wonder about what happens in the back of the house.
Thanks for the giggles Potty Mouth - Mwah! (kisses)xoxoxox
2 of 11 | Posted by njgasmifan | Posted on March 23, 2009 10:58 AM
Sorry, Cattyfan, I have to disagree. My husband and I eat out regularly and the bill at the tapas places are generally about the same as the other restaurants we frequent. I enjoy tapas because instead of having just a starter and a main course, I can have several different things.
Gio seems to be the golden boy at the moment, but remember the steak episode? He couldn't cook a decent steak to save his life. And he works at a steak house! Granted, he seems to have bounced back but I would love for the show to throw some steaks back on the menu to check it.
Hate PG. Love Robert. He cracks me up. I'm more annoyed by Carol than I am by Andrea, but both are annoying. Carol just is slightly more so.
Great recap. Thanks PM!
3 of 11 | Posted by Snootchy Bootches | Posted on March 23, 2009 12:53 PM
You know what I discovered in this episode?
Both Lacey and Robert barely have chins. Their faces melt into their necks like who you might ask?
The people on the spaceship in Wall-E. Both of them look like Wall-E people. It creeped me out. And I hope both of them lose weight before they die of some preventable issue.
4 of 11 | Posted by pixiegal262 | Posted on March 23, 2009 2:54 PM
Excellent summary, as usual!
Giovanni seems to be the front runner, as far as I'm concerned. I must say, though, that I wouldn't give any of these poor performers a restaurant of their own to run. I'm not rooting for anyone.
Lacey is an idiot and shouldn't be anywhere near a kitchen.
I'm amazed at how little experience most of the contestants have. Based on experience alone, I think this contest is between Paula, Giovanni and Robert.
5 of 11 | Posted by Streaker | Posted on March 24, 2009 2:00 AM
Snootchy Bootches...guess I need more experience eating out. Hmmmm...I'm sure it will be a trial for me, but I'll do my best to check it out. :) (Here's hoping the chefs in the kitchen are not J, Lacey, Seth, or Ben.)
6 of 11 | Posted by cattyfan | Posted on March 24, 2009 8:37 AM
Dear Pottymouth,
Please, please, please make pretty girl go away. If she isn't gone at the end of next episode, I'm giving up on this season, but I'll still read and love your fab recaps. So, if you don't mind lying and pretending that she's eliminated or maybe just combusts in a spontaneous grease fire, I'd really appreciate it.
Hugs,
Yenta
7 of 11 | Posted by yentapatrol | Posted on March 24, 2009 10:00 AM
PottyMouth! Awesome job! But didn't they have a picture of Robert in his crack-whore outfit you could have posted for his niche-market-johns like me and juddfan? LOL, kidding! Sorta.
Ugh, and PrettyGirl, Jeebus Krispies she is annoying! At least we can rest assured that she's going to have a rough time getting food work when this is done (who would want her in their kitchen? Maybe Hannibal Lecter)
Awesome recap, loved it!
love, J-Mo :)
8 of 11 | Posted by J-Mo | Posted on March 24, 2009 1:55 PM
i actually read that whole picture caption in the melody of "I will survive" and it fits perfectly.. friggin hysterical.. good job lol
9 of 11 | Posted by angelbayyb | Posted on March 24, 2009 3:21 PM
His name is Ramsay. Gordon Ramsay. R-A-M-S-A-Y. Not -E-Y.
10 of 11 | Posted by jakeinla | Posted on March 25, 2009 12:40 AM
cattyfan: I'm sure he's seen the footage too. I just wish he'd stop "entertaining" us so much.
njgasmifan: My only concern about Paula is how quiet she is in the kitchen. At some point she's going to need to step it up and prove that she can lead the kitchen.
Snootchy Bootches: I do find Carol to be annoying also. I think if Andrea wasn't such an evil witch, I'd dislike Carol more, but her "I'm so awesome” attitude just really rubs me the wrong way.
pixiegal262: OMG - Wall-E people! True. And HilARious.
Streaker: Ramsay likes to populate the show with a variety of experience levels. I mean, last year Christina won and she had very little experience compared to Petrozza. I think he likes to be able to mold them. I just wish he'd pick people that suck less. ;)
Yenta: Believe me, if I could disappear PrettyGirl from the show she'd have been gone loooooooong ago. Keepin' my fingers crossed for tonight!
J-Mo: I searched and searched and searched and couldn't find Robert's ad. Maybe it'll turn up before the end of the season. :P
angelbayyb: Thanks! I had so much fun writing that, my four year old was singing along with me!
jakeinla: Oops! How embarrassing. But where've you been for the past six episodes? You could have saved me SOME of the embarrassment, at least. Oh well. Thanks for the heads up.
Thanks everyone for reading and sharing your comments with me! You guys make my day!
SWAK, PottyMouth
11 of 11 | Posted by PottyMouth | Posted on March 26, 2009 6:29 AM