In the laundry room, Jean-Philippe is trying his hardest to cheer up Jen who is extra mopey after their loss. He brings in Sebastian, the live crab, and tells her that he's as feisty as she is today. Jen forces a fake laugh, and I'm really confused because that was hilarious! How could she not laugh? JP is such a cutie! And he's holding an enormous crab! And making it talk! If that isn't the formula for comedy, then I don't know what is. But Petrozza says that Jen is a volcano, and if she goes off, it could mess up their whole little kitchen village. Well put.
Jen says that it's not fair she's there because "as usual" her dish was "flawless." Ugh, annoying. And, by the way, why are they using equipment that hasn't been used since pioneer days? I haven't seen stuff like this since Pa Ingalls packed up the oxen and moved Laura, Mary, Carrie and Grace out to the Big Woods.
The teams get to the kitchen and start prepping for dinner service. Jen, holding a grudge, bosses Brushy around. And the Red Team is NOT missing her attitude. Matt even sings a little happy song. They think that things will move better without her. Gordon asks what it's like not having Jen, and Christina says that it's great. Then Gordo asks how the Blue Team is doing, and Jen says that they've bonded together and are working as a team. Um, what team are YOU on? That's a little far fetched, wouldn't ya say?
Gordon then tells everyone that tonight they will be serving two of America's finest food critics, and their reviews will help determine a winner. And with that, Hell's Kitchen is open for service.
Everyone files in, including the critics. Sporting a very high hemline and pink jacket is Sophie Gayot of Gayot Guides and Merill Schindler of Zagat Guides. I think he should start his own guide like Sophie has and call it Schindler's List. Ba dum ching! They decide to order the same dishes from each kitchen, so they can compare. Sophie, by the by, definitely has that strange platypus complex with the bulbous nose and thin lips. I'm pretty sure that this is EXACTLY what Heidi Montag can look forward to looking like two decades down the road.
Corey says that now that Jen is gone, it's her time to shine, so she's going to step up and lead the team. And the critics like her risotto, so well played. TB knows that he has to redeem himself from the challenge, so he cooks scallops like never before. And Gordon says they are perfect! The critics think they are wonderful, too. So far, so good.
Now this is where things start to fall apart for the Red Team. It's Matt's turn to impress and he does anything but. He cuts up the filet mignon in uneven portions. There is a huge one, a medium one and a tiny one. And the tiny one will shrink when it cooks and only get smaller. Then Matt says, "All right, let's wake up, guys. Especially me." Huh? Sometimes I swear he has a learning disability. Not only does he constantly talk to himself, but now he orders himself around!
The Blue Kitchen is having beef issues too. Petrozza cuts the filet in half before TB is ready with the side dish, despite Jen's warning. Gordon is furious because the flavor and juice is going to drain out. Petrozza says that he just couldn't contain himself from looking inside. Now TB has to rush before Petrozza's beef is ruined.
In the Red Kitchen, Christina overcooks the salmon and then needs a full seven minutes to make a new one. I guess it should only take, like, two minutes or something. Christina totally freaks out because she has to make two entrees and scallops at the same time. Rams says that if she can't do two things at once, then she doesn't belong there. Xtina gets all huffy and puffy and starts making excuses. Did anyone else notice how red she was this episode?
The critics taste Christina's salmon and think it's just so-so. But they love Toilet's salmon. It's more flavorful and beautifully presented. And the critics can't help but notice that none of the tables on the red side even have food.
« Top Chef: When The Cat's Away, The Mice Shall Play | Main | Celebracadabra: Magic on the Move »
Comments (8)
Was it just me, or did it seem like Ramsey changed his mind about who he was getting rid of?
I know he's an annoying bastard, but putting Rosann back in line - then eliminating her - seemed overly cruel and not his style.
Don't get me wrong, he's a total ass in the kitchen, but in general he seems like a guy who just expects perfection.
I'm ready for Jen, Matt, and Corey to go - and I'm surprised at how much Petrozza is growing on me since the first few episodes!
1 of 8 | Posted by lonebutterfly | Posted on May 24, 2008 12:08 PM
So far the only chefs I'd have any faith in winning are Bobby and Petrozza. It amazes me that a guy who stuck a hen in a pumpkin the first week is my favorite to win!
Matt's performance last week was a total fluke. He was so motivated to show up the Blue team that he willed himself to have the service of his life.
2 of 8 | Posted by FreewayShark | Posted on May 24, 2008 1:02 PM
Oh, the humanity! It was quite nauseating to see Matt lose the tip of his finger. It seems like working with Ramsay is a safety hazard. What if one day Ramsay's barking causes someone to accidentally dump a scalding vatt of porridge on themselves, burning themselves beyond recognition, disfiguring themselves and ruining their lives. All for the love of reality television. Then the poor disfigured permanently scarred chef will have to go live on some reservation and be the cook at some retreat for freakish outcasts of society where they will all dance wildly screaming "GABA GABA ONE OF US! GABA GABA ONE OF US!" as they accept the new member to their unfortunate fraternity. Well, Chef Ramsay, I hope you will be able to live with yourself when that happens, I truly do. Oh, wait, that's right Chef Ramsay, I forgot. You don't care. Hmmph. Well, anyways there are some more very fine articles on reality tv and reality in general at jviz.blogspot.com
3 of 8 | Posted by jimmyfungus | Posted on May 24, 2008 1:02 PM
The idea the working with Ramsay is a safety hazard is kind of bizarre, jimmyfungus. Have you ever watched any of his other shows? On BBC's kitchen nightmares, he spends his entire time getting really bad incompetent chefs to perform to their best. I think the problem is that FOX gives him completely awful chefs who have no real experience working in a the kitchen of a gourmet restaurant. Most of them cannot handle the pressure.
Anyway, I'd agree that Petrozza and Bobby seem the best suited for a win right now. That said, and as much as she has an awful personality, Corey rarely fucks up in the kitchen. And since the show is usually won by the person who fucks up the least, she's got to be considered a contenteder.
4 of 8 | Posted by Anonymous | Posted on May 24, 2008 4:53 PM
I, too, only eat fish for the tartar sauce. I don't know how I lived for almost 36 years without tasting Hollendaise sauce, but I will now spend the rest of my life making up for it.
Rosann being 33 totally shocked me- I would've put her closer to 40.
5 of 8 | Posted by laska | Posted on May 24, 2008 5:41 PM
I could have rooted for Jen if she didn't have such a big mouth. But I will say, she was much more reserved handling Corey than what I could ever be.
Bitch would have been socked in her mouth right about now.
6 of 8 | Posted by you you you | Posted on May 25, 2008 10:33 AM
I was shocked that Rosann was eliminated too, but only for the simple fact that RamJam put her back in line before he shoved her out the door. I totally didn't see that one coming.
I still can't get over the absolute lack of talent the show has this season. FOX didn't even go for appealing characters, since hardly anyone has yet to impress me in any way. My favorite to win right now is Petrozza, which sure enough means he will be eliminated in the next couple weeks.
7 of 8 | Posted by jaded | Posted on May 26, 2008 6:08 PM
Ugh. I agree with the general consensus here that all this seasons contestants stink.
Petrozza is alright I guess, but as jaded said, that probably just means he's the next to go.
Excellent recap though!
8 of 8 | Posted by Nemesiis | Posted on May 29, 2008 9:30 AM