Lovely recap, Flipit.

I just need to get this out because it irks me to no end, but omgosh Howie sounds like he's salavating when he talks. Oh, and what's Joey's neck moles name? And why does Sara look Indian, talk likes she's from Ireland and say she's from Jamaica?

I've got no qualms with the dirty-faced Zack Morris tho. Nones.

I like Hung/Dung, he's a good villain in this show, unlike the other reality show where moron gets abusive and personal.....

girrrrrl...i'm so on your side for a full 99%. but i honestly thought rocco looked YOUNGER. was i drunk? trippin off overripe truffles maybe? not sure. tis possible his whole trainwreck of a reality show was so poorly lit that i'm just amazed to see him in real light. jury's still out on the hotness though. there's hot cocky and supremely annoying just-go-die-somewhere-quietly cocky. he always fell into the latter for me.

if gail simmons were to 'work' a man, it'd involve showing up in a ford minivan donning a cardigan sweater set and sensible shoes.

Flipit, you glossed over the quickfire challenge, probably because you were bored out of your tiny mind (HEART!) but it was interesting for a number of reasons. Certain foods were way harder to identify than others. Whomever had to identify "bow tie pasta" (WTF?) -- and I think that was Bunny Foo Foo and her snotty pony tail (love dat!) should AT LEAST have been asked to specify its Italian moniker; namely Farfalle. ::takes a bow::

That Hung was eliminated by his own hubris is priceless. He looked at the dish and spat that he didn't need to taste it. Basically he thought he could tell just by looking at it that it was aniseed (I think). When he tasted it, he realised it was celery seed. Serves him right for being so arrogant.

But I like the evil little blur. Up until this episode, Hung has cooked up a storm. He lost because he didn't assert himself - FOR ONCE - and perhaps was trying not to be such an arsehole. Tough luck!

I like how Rocco tried to call DaddyTom out on the whole "truffles aren't very mediterranean..." oh PLEASE! Yes, it's true Scar, truffles are better known in the northern part of Italy (also France, Middle East, China etc), but talk about splitting hairs!

And no, I don't feel sorry for 'tri-colore fusilli'. It IS the lamest pasta out there. Someone was dead on when they pointed out it is a feature in every crappy buffet selection.

holla!!
yes, i did gloss over it because it was like an ingredient list by the time i was done with the page. some were way harder than others, but there was plenty of easy to go around.

down with hung!

and dmg why haven't you cooked me dinner yet?

LOVE

At first I thought Rocco looked pretty good (a little to much man tan, but I'll let that slide) He's lost quite a bit of weight. But then I looked back at older pictures and realized, you are right-he was hotter then.
http://z.about.com/d/gourmetfood/1/0/1/5/RoccoDiSpirito_ScottDuncanNBC400x233.jpg

Everytime Howie sweats over the food he's cooking I throw up in the back of my throat a little. It's disgusting. I would never eat at his resturant simply for that reason.

And while I felt bad for Hung (a little), I loved it when CJ called him a dooche. Good call big guy. :)

Can I vote for no one to win? These ppl are reminding me of stale white bread, Tre included.

lol -- Sorry Flip, I don't do french fry/krispy kreme souffles.

Yay, I actually get to comment from experience this time. I don't live in the U.S. so I don't get Bravo, but NBC (which I do get) was kind enough to replay it over the weekend.

Usually I just read these recaps because I'll read anything by Flipit but it was fun to actually see first hand all the stuff he snarks on. My thoughts from my very first Top Chef viewing:

1 - Rocco: total douchenozzle. Admittedly, I disliked him from the craptacular 'The Restaurant'. I loved how Daddy Tom could barely contain his seething contempt for him during the great truffle debate.

2 - Padma: takes herself and her opinions way too seriously.

3 - Gail: saw too little of her to form an opinion.

4 - Daddy Tom: sweet chicken, that is one sexy beast!

5 - The castoff: At first I liked Joey, what with the stocky build (see above) and the pledge to send his mom and sister on the trip to Italy, he was quickly my first impression favourite. However, his ridiculous behaviour towards Hung/Dung had me reeling. First he completely ignores Dung's REPEATED instructions and then acts all surprised when Dung points out he screwed up the task. Um, Joey, you did screw up the task! By the end of the show I was laughing hysterically at his blubbering all over the place.

Thanks for another great recap Flipit.

Did it bug anyone else that Joey's facial hair changed back and forth between the challenge and the confessional? He had a goatee at the challenge, but whenever they cut to him commenting to the camera, he was clean shaven. I guess that means the big tearful farewell was shot well after the elimination? Not that that is a surprise after the way Bravo tried to cover everyone's shaved heads in the earlier confessionals last season, but it still took me "out of the moment". I like it better when I get to buy into the dream. Great recap, as always, Flipit! You rock.

Did it bug anyone else that Joey's facial hair changed back and forth between the challenge and the confessional? He had a goatee at the challenge, but whenever they cut to him commenting to the camera, he was clean shaven. I guess that means the big tearful farewell was shot well after the elimination? Not that that is a surprise after the way Bravo tried to cover everyone's shaved heads in the earlier confessionals last season, but it still took me "out of the moment". I like it better when I get to buy into the dream. Great recap, as always, Flipit! You rock.

It was so nice I posted twice. Kidding - bad clicky! Sorry. Flipit still rocks, tho.

^ huh - well spotted. I remember thinking something was off, but couldn't put my finger on it.