As the number of chefs dwindle in Hell's Kitchen, the show faces a horrifying dilemma: how to keep the drama interesting as the food service becomes less chaotic? Well, luckily, there's never a true shortage of drama on this show, and for the first time ever, the elimination ceremony actually seemed more exciting than anything in the kitchen. This was a great episode -- full of resentful chefs, bitter rivalries, and cruel twists of fate. Granted, Gordon Ramsay didn't fly off the handle in any spectacular ways that called for the vein-popping screams of "DONKEY!", but the word "cow" was uttered many times, and not in a friendly way. Basically, as long as G-Ram uses a farmyard animal in some derogatory way, I'm a satisfied customer.
Tonight's show began with the final four returning to the dorms after the unceremonious dismissal of Garrett, or as Gordon calls him, "GARRETT!!!!" (Not as good as "GIACAMO!!!" but a close second). Feeling proud to be the last man standing, Keith announced, "Yo, I got my bitches now." I wonder if in his fantasies, he sees himself as the culinary world's answer to Snoop Dogg. If that's true, that's a really, really sad thing to behold.
Keith may have been flying high, but Virginia, who had just escaped elimination for the umpteenth time, was emotionally drained. She collapsed on her bed and cried, occasionally wiping tears and snot with her little stuffed monkey. Note to her future grandchildren: don't get too close to that monkey.
Sara attempted to make Virginia feel better by mailing in some token phrases of encouragement such as "It's a hard knock life." Way to go, Sara. That's what I call empathy! Meanwhile, outside, Heather asked Keith how it felt to be the only guy left. "I'm a pimp, son. What can you expect?" he replied. Yes, Keith, you are a pimp. You are the pimpiest pimp there is. Your street cred is off the charts. In fact, if you were left to fend for yourself in Compton, I'm sure no one would shoot your oafish head at all. No one at all. Hey, let's test that, shall we?
Keith then told us that he wasn't concerned about Heather being his main competition. Why? "K-Grease is stronger than her," he said. K-Grease also apparently loves speaking in the third-person (or third-and-a-half really. He's a large man).
The next morning, Gordon called the chefs into the kitchen and asked them all who was the strongest. Each person volunteered themselves except Virginia who stammered that she was strong but not the strongest because her skills weren't great and last night's service wasn't very good and-- SHUT UP!
Luckily, Gordon put Virginia's insecurities to rest by saying, "I personally think you're all strong chefs because you've all gone to hell and back." Don't you mean, Hell's KITCHEN and back? Get it? Get it? I'm sure the narrator is chuckling somewhere.
Anyway, for this week's challenge, each chef would be running his or her own restaurant for lunch. "That's pimp!" Keith said. Well, if that's pimp and K-Grease is a pimp, then would it be safe to say, "That's K-Grease"? Just thinking out loud. Anyway, the winner of this challenge would receive a guaranteed spot in the final three, thus making this competition very, very important, especially for such dubious talents as Sara and Virginia. Gordo then blindfolded everyone and took them all to the secret location of their restaurants. What they didn't know was that their "restaurants" were actually just catering trucks. Insert Debbie Downer wah-wah-wah here.
Actually, this twist was pretty awesome, and the chefs welcomed it with open arms. "I've always dreamed of having one of those!" Sara told us. Kind of a random dream. It's like me saying I wished I could someday have a bottle of sun tan lotion. Nevertheless, these trucks were located at a construction site, and the chefs would each be feeding a hundred workers who'd then vote on their favorite lunch. How very Top Chef. Would Tom Colicchio be making an appearance? Or perhaps Katie Lee Joel, a.k.a. the Human Dot Matrix Printer?
Sadly, neither person showed up, but that didn't temper the enthusiasm in the air. "I was excited because I love construction workers!" Heather exclaimed. Well, too bad this wasn't a competition for who had the biggest love for construction workers. I know -- bummer.
Well, for the big challenge, Virginia served up turkey proscuitto and feta cheese sandwiches. Sara went for seared quail with a microgreen salad and berries (that just screams "construction worker"), Keith opted for a poached lobster on a bed of greens, and Heather kept it simple with a grilled chicken sandwich and fries.
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Comments (27)
Yo, B-side, "creamer" comes to mind for that implement Virginia gave Sara, along with the knife in the back.
K-Grease will make the sloppiest, dumbest-looking in Vegas. Unluckily for Vegas, what happens there, stays there.
No, Virginia doesn't deserve to win and, in spite of all his trying, G-Ram has the hots for her funbags. She really laid it on thick during the shopping spree.
Loved Sara's pluck when she bid adieu with the "kiss my grits" line. Left Gordon speechless and he probably had to go ask what the hell that meant, then realized he'd been zinged.
1 of 27 | Posted by Tony A.
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Posted on August 1, 2006 4:23 AM
B-side, you must have stayed up all night getting these (HK and RR/RW) recaps done. Thanks because I needed to have something to do this morning.
I think Virginia may be smarter than she seems. She totally paid Sara back for all her backstabbing. I really don't think that any of these yahoos could run a kitchen so I am not sure what G Ram will do. Maybe he should give it to Michael from last year. At least he can run a kitchen without his underwear showing.
2 of 27 | Posted by dent
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Posted on August 1, 2006 5:52 AM
Oh dear B-Side, I love love love when the recaps are already up when I get to work in the morning, thank you! "In fact, if you were left to fend for yourself in Compton, I'm sure no one would shoot your oafish head" For some reason this made me laugh deliriously. I so wanted Sara to go home in previous weeks, but I'm not sure I like the way it happened.
3 of 27 | Posted by Pamsey
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Posted on August 1, 2006 6:00 AM
So to put things in BB way, Virginia won HoHK(exemption), but it looks like G-Ram was going to execute his power of veto("you're not safe"), and then pulled a fast one.
Is it me, or was last week the "best week ever" for dumpy reality show contestants, ie K-Grease and Chicken George?
This was an OK episode. I couldn't find the tagline. The turnaround at the end was a bit of a surprise. And G-Ram needs to stop kissing the contestants, it's creepy. And WEHT leaving out the front door like last season?
I also noticed the last 2 times when the picture went up in flames, the frame went as well. The previous ones had just the picture go up.
I can't believe K-Grease got this far. I guess it's not looks, but what you slap on that plate that matters.
4 of 27 | Posted by BigTeebo
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Posted on August 1, 2006 7:01 AM
Funbags is so messed up. One minute "I can't go on...I don't deserve to be here..." and the next..."Oh Chef I want to be here with Youuuuuuuuu."
I just can't see anything with K-Grease's face on it (like a ad for a restaurant in LV) being a real draw. I mean - he is not exactly appetizing ~
Rewind the tape of Heather saying "It's me, it's me, it's me, it's me...."
hb
5 of 27 | Posted by HoneyBunny
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Posted on August 1, 2006 7:11 AM
Wasn't Michael Mina, one of the celebrity chefs, on Top Chef as a judge during the finale?
Maybe Sara and Tiffani from TC could open a restaurant together. The fighting and bitching in the kitchen would more than make up for the lack of good food.
6 of 27 | Posted by draw
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Posted on August 1, 2006 7:28 AM
I keep think when I watch this show that I have no desire to go to an restaurant when any of these people who be the top chef (unlike, say. the top chef winner).
I hear that Garrett is now working in the new mecca of cuisine (Giddings, Texas).
7 of 27 | Posted by Dugg
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Posted on August 1, 2006 7:42 AM
Suddenly, I'm really nervous for Heather. She's so obviously the best choice here--I'm afraid the producers will introduce some kind of weirdness in the last episodes to trip her up.
Sara's backstabbing made her the-one-you-love-to-hate, but I thoroughly enjoyed her giving it back to Ramsay. As another poster said about another show treated here at Gasm, reality tv makes it seem like you have to be the boss's doormat in order to win.
8 of 27 | Posted by AufWithHisHead
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Posted on August 1, 2006 7:48 AM
Big props to you B-side (or should I say B-grease?) for sticking up for chickens, crabs, and pea-ness. This was a stellar recap for a great episode!
I wonder about the voting for the challenge. Couldn't Heather figure out that if Viginia got 50% of the votes from 100 construction workers that it's a good bet that the other 50 votes were probably split fairly evenly and her sandwich was not as "worst" as she thought? The histrionics were unecessary from a pro like her. I also wonder if they just gave them certain ingredients in their trailers to choose their menu from, b/c they were all fairly specific as to prepping and cooking all that food in an hour.
9 of 27 | Posted by zoobabe
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Posted on August 1, 2006 7:59 AM
I don't mean to start a conspiracy controversy or anything, but has anyone seen K-Grease and Zippy the Pinhead in the same place at tha same time? Hmmmmmm?
10 of 27 | Posted by zengolfguy
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Posted on August 1, 2006 8:05 AM
Heather's my girl, but I was disappointed in her chicken-and-fries food choice for the construction workers. Working people eat fast food because it's fast and cheap, not because they think it's yummy yum yum. She needs to think beyond stereotypes.
11 of 27 | Posted by Loo
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Posted on August 1, 2006 8:12 AM
There's a difference between, say, BB and "Survivor" and this show. Sure, the competition is the same, but HK shouldn't allow any alliances ot chicanery to make the winner. This is a show that should ONLY reward the best all-around chef. In that category, anyone besides Heather fails big time. She seems to be the only one that can organize and run a kitchen and its cooks. Speaking of that, in a REAL kitchen, are the orders rapid-fired to the chefs the way GR does to the aspiring chefs? Me, I'm lost after the first two items for a table.
12 of 27 | Posted by Tony A.
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Posted on August 1, 2006 10:12 AM
I don't think it matters much that Virginia made it to the final 3 because she is NOT going to win. How could she, if she is so crappy in the kitchen? Keith just grosses me out for some reason; did anyone else catch when he stuffed a strand of spaghetti into his mouth? I think Heather is by far the most together and hard-working of the 3 left, she should win.
13 of 27 | Posted by busybee68
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Posted on August 1, 2006 11:03 AM
Gordon screaming 'FAT COW' ad-nauseam to Sara was the highlight of this episode. I was hoping she'd take a frying pan and tatoo 'Cuisinart' on his left cheek. Man, that was some mental abuse coming from the G-man. LOVED IT!
14 of 27 | Posted by milostea
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Posted on August 1, 2006 11:03 AM
This website also calls it a creamer, as Tony A. mentioned earlier:
http://www.simplybovine.com/kitchen.php
15 of 27 | Posted by busybee68
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Posted on August 1, 2006 11:11 AM
so- we have a creamer, a pea-ness, big boobies, and someone worried that a chef is getting up in their croth... I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!
16 of 27 | Posted by zoobabe
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Posted on August 1, 2006 11:16 AM
crotch. I should really use the preview button more.
17 of 27 | Posted by zoobabe
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Posted on August 1, 2006 11:19 AM
Time for Brenda's inappropriate joke:
B-Side, I'll be your cream-holder.
Pressing forward.
This episode was awesome to the maxx! Virginia's turn at the end had me going, "What, son? What?" And Virginia's challenge win only further proves how fixed these challenges are. Of course she would win, she's "cute" and flirty. I don't care how drunk your onions are, a bunch of men and dykes are gonna go with funbags over fries ANY day. Which also explains why K-Grease didn't get last place, cuz he has some decent funbags hisself.
18 of 27 | Posted by brendahamLincoln
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Posted on August 1, 2006 11:26 AM
Great recap B-Side. While I hated Sara, I feel Virginia should have gone home. Both of them made mistakes but Virginia just doesn't seem able to function in the kitchen, let alone, run one. I wouldn't be surprised if she won that challenge because of flirting with the workers but I have to admit I would have prefered her sandwich to Heather. Here's someone who doesn't love a grilled chicken sandwich, Heather!!!
busybee68- I missed Keith stuffing the spaghetti strand in his mouth but one of the ways to test if pasta is cooked properly is to bite it. I'm hoping that's what he was doing.
If Heather doesn't win this thing, I'll be shocked.
19 of 27 | Posted by zevonia
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Posted on August 1, 2006 12:59 PM
Heather should win. Virginia.. I sort of enjoyed how she twisted things around but I'm sort of going to miss the fat cow. great recap, b-side.
20 of 27 | Posted by Terence
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Posted on August 1, 2006 4:04 PM
this show makes me hungry
21 of 27 | Posted by RockitGuy
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Posted on August 1, 2006 7:41 PM
Oh B-Side...the dot matrix printer...the zoloft ball...
22 of 27 | Posted by tvtvtv
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Posted on August 1, 2006 9:55 PM
Even more accurately, it called a "cow creamer". P. G. Wodehouse wrote a Bertie Wooster / Jeeves story that revolves around a stolen cow creamer and a British fascist.
If there is something duller than watching people cook vegetables and meat, I don't know what it is.
A REALLY good hour would have been the lunch wagon trial. What were they thinking? Where does anyone find lobsters in a lunchwagon? Could they go and buy stuff? What comments did the workers make about chicken and fries? Who doesn't like chicken and fries?
23 of 27 | Posted by Pennywhistler
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Posted on August 2, 2006 5:36 AM
"What comments did the workers make about chicken and fries?"
Probably:
You're gonna be a big fucking chef, and you serve us fucking chicken and fries? DON'T FUCKING DISS US, YOU FUCKING DONKEY BRAIN!!!
24 of 27 | Posted by TimGunnSucks
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Posted on August 2, 2006 7:12 AM
I found the irony of Virginia holding Sara's stones in her hand after that early epi where she actively tried to undermine her and hung her out to dry so. very. delicious. indeed.
Remember, Sara, be careful of who you step on on the way up. You'll be meeting them on the way down.
25 of 27 | Posted by Samuel John Klein
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Posted on August 4, 2006 5:20 PM
Pennywhistler's so right here. The lunch-wagon trial would have made terrific television. We always get to see what the indoor patrons think--why couldn't we have seen more of the outdoor response?
Tony A. and Auf, I loved the "Kiss my grits" exit, too. Sara's not nice, but neither is El Gordo. That was a beautiful moment.
26 of 27 | Posted by Mehitabel
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Posted on August 7, 2006 1:05 PM
I think we all know Heather should win. WE knew it from day one. I also think Keith was right and we all agree>> Ramsey has the hots for Virginia, but hell he could get any woman he wanted. He doesnt have to give a girl a restaurant to get her in the sack. So whats up??!!! Virginia has been a failure in every dining service. Shes a basket case in that kitchen. What the hell is she still doing there!!!! Heather is "spot on".
27 of 27 | Posted by HeidiG
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Posted on August 8, 2006 4:58 PM