Foo Foo's prawn comes out looking like the oceanic version of the Boogeyman. He has long octopus like arms to grab you and there are unborn babies spilling out of his head. Way to keep the chicklets of the sea up at night, Foo.
And you thought it was just a story.
CJ's Baldhawk's is the most popular of the second courses, and it gets extra credit for being the surprise dish. Scar thinks that Hung's second is again suffering from a lack of acid, and Rocco says that all Hung needs to be a great chef is more confidence. Like he needs a hole in the head. What show have you been on TWICE? No one likes Foo Foo's dish, and thank God for Ted Allen. He points out that it's her second dish in a row with fish eggs. What gives? The pork bellies are coming soon. Is Foo Foo subconsciously telling us that she's barren? Aw! Don't worry, hon, Peppermint Patty loves you for you! You can adopt! Even Michelle Bernstein has trouble standing beside Foo on this one. "What I love about this dish is....it really shows how hard she's trying." Ouch.
The third course is served. Hung's sous vide duck looks like an esophagus to me, and it's floating on another bed of waiter spit foam. WTF? I'm only sure of one thing at this point, Marcel is so getting laid the second Dung gets home.
Monkey Spit Foam Love
Baldhawk's lobster and gnocci comes out beautifully, but now that Tom's seen the excuse tic in action, he's probably looking at this and thinking...
That gnocci is so not French.
Foo Foo's pork belly is kinda depressing for reasons already mentioned. My fingers are crossed for ya, Foo. I hope none of the Judges' minds are looping "barren" over and over again. I really do.
That reminds me. There's a sale at Pea in the Pod.
Hung's duck is by far the winner of these three dishes. Todd English calls it "three star" and Michelle Bernstein says that it is prepared so perfectly that she's jealous. Baldhawk's lobster gnocci doesn't have as much luck with Michelle. The gnocci is too heavy and the curry is overpowering. Rocco doesn't like it either, agreeing that the sauce was too much. Daddy Tom doesn't waste time with too many adjectives for this one, expressing his thoughts with a simple "terrible." Lucky for Baldhawk, he's followed by Foo Foo's pork belly, which is over done and dry. They all liked the peach though. Score French Grandma!
For the final course, Hung is the only Chef to serve dessert. His chocolate cake with nougatine tuile looks pretty pleased with itself.
:)
Baldhawk is putting himself into his duck fat poached lamb finale. Literally. It's a freakin' self portrait.
Rembrandt would be proud.
I am now on my knees praying that Foo Foo really knocks this one out of the park, but her seared sirloin looks waaaaay undercooked (again). Hopefully, the judges' critiques will be inconsistent and they will call it brilliant.
If Spencer Pratt was a Guest Judge, he would spread an internet rumor that Foo Foo's dish has beef curtains.
And they like it! They think this is Foo's best dish so far, and Baldhawk's eggplant puree was "baby smooth" (? gross, Bernstein) and complemented his perfectly poached lamb. Hung is the only one who faltered a bit on the fourth course. His cake was light and delicious, but Daddy Tom thinks it didn't go at all with the rest of what he prepared and made his progression "disjointed". Todd English said the point was to be blown away by every course, and he wasn't blown away today. Well, you just didn't give Baldhawk enough of a chance when you had him alone. Too bad so sad.
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Comments (13)
How unsurprised would you be to know that I looooove Rocco? I'd totaly lay down & put my ankles to my ears for him. Five dolla, two dollar, no dolla - don't care!
Glad you didn't commit hari kari when the Hung Train of Awesomeness rolled over the rest of the competition!! The knowledge that you had to write this recap made the victory that much sweeter!!
Yaaaay Hung!!!!
1 of 13 | Posted by Pegster | Posted on October 7, 2007 8:05 AM
flipti! i love reading your recaps. great job. I'm a little sad you missed it when Scar said, "well, hung...." I laughed so hard when I heard her say that. with that said, I'm thrilled that Hung won! I'd love to eat at his restaurant. btw, asian seafood isn't known to have citrus in it. so don't see what they were yammering bout.
2 of 13 | Posted by lolafan | Posted on October 7, 2007 10:54 AM
Flipit you sick son of a bitch you!
MONKEY PORN!!!!
OMG I laughed so hard I gave myself a freakin headache!
I love you, you crazy man!
Can I come live with you? I cook and I can tell people how to clean!
3 of 13 | Posted by CheriesTake | Posted on October 7, 2007 12:34 PM
Baldhawk's self portrait was priceless! Thanks for all the Top Chef fun,
Flipit. YOU made the show so much better!
4 of 13 | Posted by Jellybean49 | Posted on October 7, 2007 3:43 PM
Oh, man -- love you, Flip it? Where to start? Do I chastise you for the beef curtains reference/visual? LOL at you for the requirements for a proper fag hag? Or confess that I didn't immediately get "scalpy watcher", 14 across? (LOL & Duhhhhh.)
Let's just say, great recap, great season, and I don't have any problem with Hung winning -- because, well, he's not Ilan.
5 of 13 | Posted by Lime23 | Posted on October 7, 2007 6:08 PM
Actually Baldhawk called Todd English his "prep bitch", but I doubt anybody cares at this stage.
HUNG ROOLS!
6 of 13 | Posted by Donna Martin Graduates! | Posted on October 8, 2007 2:35 PM
Oh, and I had to look up 'french gnocchi'
It is not made with flour and potatoes, but with a choux pastry dough (flour, butter and egg) that is piped into tiny pieces then boiled, and then usually baked in sauce.
So it is an especially light version of this Italian classic.
7 of 13 | Posted by Donna Martin Graduates! | Posted on October 8, 2007 2:57 PM
Thanks again my favorite flipit man!!!! Don't you think we should all go over Donna Martin's for some home cooked meals!!! OR maybe DM, you should apply for next season . . . I'm very impressed with yours and Flipit's culinary knowledge!
Loved the pig in the wood chipper, and that's some serious disdain posting some monkey love . . . liked the sound track though--hopefully Amy Wino will pull it together and give us more music!
HEART and Can't wait for Project Runnway!!!!
8 of 13 | Posted by juddfan | Posted on October 8, 2007 5:58 PM
Thanks for making TP entertaing yet again, flipit. Was it just me or the live feed results kind of. . .sucked. Sure it was cool to see Marcel there, but I would have rather him been a picture-in-picture where he found teh results the results out the first time. In any case it sucks Hung one, I was going for Foo but she fumbled her pork belly right on the goal line. Now ung can get the full prcedure with $100 grand, and maybe have enough leftover to buy Marcel a spit foam machine for his Cpt. Crunch in the morning.
9 of 13 | Posted by mattypopo | Posted on October 9, 2007 11:37 AM
Hey, juddfan, thanks very much for the vote of confidence.
But some of those challenges really put the chefs behind the eightball, you know what I mean? They were so difficult they were almost impossible.
Too stressful!
10 of 13 | Posted by Donna Martin Graduates! | Posted on October 9, 2007 11:52 AM
Well . . . we wouldn't pressure you! and with us in attendance, crushed fritos could go a long way!!!! I do see what you mean about the challenges . . . the worst part is how little time they give them, but as a contestant, I would do cue cards to myself for as many things I could do with "pork belly" for example . . . speaking of pork belly, that sounds like a challenge ingredient, not one someone would choose . . . ah well Foo, just not meant to be!
Mr. Flip . . . will we be getting a recap of the reunion? HEART
11 of 13 | Posted by juddfan | Posted on October 9, 2007 2:13 PM
Thanks Flipit.. you are a joy and I am better having known you....
I am really happy Hung won..... he deserved it.
12 of 13 | Posted by giffordsaz | Posted on October 9, 2007 10:57 PM
you guys thanx so much. of course i will be recapping the reunion!! i want to see if they will drag sam back out to be all hot for ratings, even though he's so last season. i trust they'll find a way.
thanks for all your funnies throughout the season. love
13 of 13 | Posted by flipit | Posted on October 10, 2007 1:54 AM