Bokky spells it out that their challenge will be to create a dish inspired by the qualities of magic. Duh. They get $250.00 to shop at Whole Paycheck Market, 2 hours to prep in the TCM kitchen, and then an hour to cook at the Magic Castle itself on the following day for Neily-O and company. So it's off to Whole Paycheck for the weekly 45 minute spree!
Marky Doody's trying to figure out how he's going to embody his dish with "mystery" and decides to use a classic French preparation technique called en papillote which means "in paper", or, more aptly "cooking something with the wrapper still on" (which means all of you lunchtimers who nuke burritos in the microwave at the 7-Eleven are using a French technique... oui oui!). Anyhow Marky thinks this will be perfect because nobody is going to know what's inside of his paper pouch until they open it. It'll be just like opening a Christmas gift that the cat peed all over first!
CaJohn Boy's desperate to knock this challenge out of the park since he's lagging way back in the Half-Star Loser's Ward, and since his word is "surprise" he's thinking that he might use the giant liquid nitrogen tank back in the kitchen for something. I'd say rig it up in the ceiling and at a key moment have it drop down on Neil's head. That'd be a surprise. Kidding! Have it drop down on FugTaser, instead.
Meanwhile, El Shalito's keeping his ideas close to his chubby vest... all he'll say is that since his word is "spectacle" he gonna cook dishes that knows will make people say wow... "Any good magician or chef doesn't wanna divulge all their secrets, so I can't tell you the spectacle part, you're gonna hafta.... wait and see."...
...which I think is his coy way of saying "I don't have a clue what I'm going to do yet, either."...
Checking back in with NoNita Mann, she's going for "illusion" by making something that looks like a scallop. Jeeeeezusss, If she's going to do that by slicing up a fucking banana then I'm going to throw something at my TV. Ah, no, she's going to make her scallop out of some kind of other seafood meat, like pork. NoNita drones that she's not the most "theatrical chef" (no!) so this is actually kinda fun for her to have the chance to branch out and do something different for a change. Dear God, I just realized where I've seen her smile before...
...at the Gorgeous Pretty Beauty Nail Salon...
Marky Doody says the unspoken concensus between the three male Masters is that Miss Five Star NoNita's the one to beat, and that he briefly fantasizes about oversalting everything she makes today, but he's just kidding. However, he admits that she has a "massive reputation" in New York (I'm not sure if "massive" means good or bad) and that there is a definite rivalry between East Coast and West Coast chefs. Marky explains, "Someone said 'No chef has really made it until he's got a restaurant in New York!'..."
...I think he disagrees...
Back in the TCM Kitchen, El Shalito's saying that his main influence was Julia Child. In fact, even when he was just 8 years old and his brothers wanted to watch cartoons, he always wanted to turn to PBS and watch Julia Child. I'm thinking that little Shalitito spent a lot of time getting the shit beat out of him by his brothers. Hey, I don't blame them... nobody messes with my SpongeBob Saturdays. Anyhow, he's going to do four different preparations of duck, plus flames and ice. We'll see.
Suddenly, like a big burst of sexy, in strides Daddy Tom! Yay for Daddy Tom actually doing more than 10 seconds on this show! He smiles and tells the Masters he's not there to judge, he's just there to check in and see how things are going and lend moral support (and maybe steal some recipes). Starting with CaJohn Boy he asks what the heck the liquid nitrogen is for, and John says he's thinking about making a horseradish sorbet tableside. Gee, that sounds... gross. And tooth-shattering. Daddy Tom lets out with an uncharacteristic giggle and asks if he's ever done that before, and CaJohn laughs and insists he has...
..."You are so full of shit!"...
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Comments (16)
Excellent recap, J-MO! I agree that NPH was very bitchy and it looked like he was not at all excited to be there. I totally appreciated your shout out to Twin Peaks!!!
I do hope some more personality shows up for the champions round...
1 of 16 | Posted by bluzgirl | Posted on July 13, 2009 1:59 PM
CONGRATS on entertaining us for the last year J-Mo!
For all of you who enjoyed Ludo-criss last week -just in case you missed this important news item I thought I would share:
Thu Jul 9, 6:06 am ET
PARIS (Reuters Life!) – French tourists are the worst in the world, coming across as bad at foreign languages, tight-fisted and arrogant, according to a survey of 4,500 hotel owners across the world.
Anyway....LOVED having Daddy Tom and Gail. Hope we get to see more of both of them! (especially DT...sigh)
As for the bunny-in-the-hair(hare?) magic trick - I am betting that Mexi-Jay from the Fashion Show has animals and rodents in his hair, too.
No-Needa was amazingly lukewarm about the whole event. I do love John Besh, but he totally blew this time. And yes, Queen NPH was quite the bitch and not in an entertaining way.
J-Mo, you so do NOT look like the Michelin Man, we have seen you and your moves - total cutie. In fact, last week I dreamt that there was a gathering of all the recappers and posters, and I got to meet you in person! (I do realize that it says something about my quality of life when I am dreaming about people I don't know..but it was cool to meet everyone in dreamland).
As always, your recaps really crack me up - this week was no exception! Hugs xoxoxo
2 of 16 | Posted by njgasmifan | Posted on July 13, 2009 2:27 PM
CONGRATS on your anniversary! and thank you very much for continuing with your recaps! they are awesome! :)
it seems to be a pattern with the winers boy/girl hmm
ever since you mentioned that they dont let or care about bok choi's comments I cant help but pay more attention to this and you are so right - even camera cuts her out often!
Thanks again for making me laugh on such a shitty day :)
3 of 16 | Posted by Rebecca1968 | Posted on July 13, 2009 4:10 PM
Slightly off topic, but what happens to the losers on Top Chef? Jeff, Carla & Fabio are making celebrity sundaes for Marble Slab! Go here (you can't post links but I think you can figure it out) ht tp://w ww. mar blesl ab. com (click on the "Celebrity Sundae" button). And that picture of Jeff - WHAT is in his sundae that's making his face go like that? He's clearly feeling no pain! I love Fabio but his sundae looks like...well, you can fill in the blank. 3 of my favorite chefs...humiliating. sigh.
4 of 16 | Posted by sillygrrl | Posted on July 13, 2009 5:04 PM
It's only been a year . . . oh my . . . time usually flies in your 40's, but I guess all these savory recaps of your's have just made the time simmer!!!! Congrats baby!!! I concur, you are way to cute to compare to the Tire guy (can't spell . . . sigh) tho he's cute in his own way. I'd likely do Mr. Clean, but that's another topic . . .
DT is looking very hung over and sloppy on these . . . since it's just little blips of screen time, you'd think he could shine up a bit. Is he that desperate to shake us queeny fans that he's sabotaging it . . . I know, just me . . .
I was loving No-nitaman--too funny on the name there, J-mo!!! The top six on should be very good, with some formidable chefs . . . will it be one night, or six!? who knows . . .
njgasmifan, I'm with you, and often think of all you peeps and the things you think and say, whether during shows or sometimes just in life. I had SWAK running through my head for a whole weekend, before I figured out it meant Sealed With a Kiss . . . I know, so lame of I . . .
J-mo, you are getting sooo good at the screen caps. That Maxi pad was so subtle and the flames--amazing!!! Keep up the good work.
Next time you hit LA, lets at least do a west coast meeting (I know just the place) Or I suppose if ya all head east, NJ can be your host! (I assume what NJ means . . . )
Anyhoo, I'm sure Amy Winehouse got some ideas from that magic trick, and I'm sorry, but couldn't we all don a jesus wig with a compartment in the hairline . . .
SWAK ; )
5 of 16 | Posted by juddfan | Posted on July 13, 2009 5:49 PM
J-Mo, as always, another stellar recap!
I just loved the pic of you dancing with your blue scarf! (I've always heard of Michelin stars, but truly never thought about them being associated with butyl-donuts for the car).
Christmas gifts that the cat peed on are the greatest! Well, almost ... the ones that have been puked upon are the absolute awesomest ones.
I can't believe that dork made the sternoconut bowls. You're right, it would smell nasty, and it is downright dangerous, as sometimes you can't even see the flames in a brightly lit room. What an asshat! Maybe the magicians should have made the flambe' disappear.
I didn't think the rabbit trick was all that bad, prolly 'cuz the bunny was so cute. But after Happy Bunny (TM) watered the Bok-Choy garden, I swear I heard him say "this has been fun but I have to barf now".
I agree that the en papillot pocket looked like a turd with diarrhea sauce. I don't know if I could even taste something that looked that "shitty". Ew!!
Great job, as ever. Many thanks for staying up to the crack of dawn (insert your own joke here) to give us such funny stuff to read - you are hilarious!
Lots O' Love.
6 of 16 | Posted by arizonatom | Posted on July 13, 2009 8:23 PM
Loved this recap for mention of Jamaican Patois.
7 of 16 | Posted by natpatben | Posted on July 13, 2009 9:03 PM
I laughed until I cried the first time I read about Gail and her BURNT CHARRED RUBBERY EGGS!!! and I still laugh about them to this day. That woman is serious about her unfertilized chicken spawn.
I was weirded out by Miss Lezasian. She seemed completely bored to be there. Although, to be honest, she seems kinda beaten down. Like the jackassery that goes on with male chefs has just pissed her off to the point of numbness.
And NPH was being Queeny beyond Queenieness and I'm with you JMo...there was some furious, bitter masturbating going on that night.
8 of 16 | Posted by pixiegal262 | Posted on July 13, 2009 9:21 PM
Just FYI - Kelly Choi is 5'10" and wears heels, and that's why she dwarfed Ming the Merciless, who's about Tom Cruise height.
9 of 16 | Posted by theminx | Posted on July 14, 2009 6:27 AM
J-Mo! Has it really only been a year that you've been recapping? It seems like so much longer - and I mean that in a really REALLY good way!
I was laughing my ass off yet again this week - your take on this show never fails to crack me up. It is legend.....wait for it.....dary.
Love love love you!
SWAK, PottyMouth
PS - You are FAR sexier than the Michelin man.
10 of 16 | Posted by PottyMouth | Posted on July 14, 2009 6:41 AM
Yep Michelin Stars are awarded by the tire company since they started a travel guide in France (where the company started in 1888 since it is considered that the French in fact invented the automobile) that detailed restaurants and rated the food quality as well as detailed places where to get gas and maintain the auto. After a few years the Michelin Stared restrautants not only got other awards or already had them from food critics for food quality, presentation but also were considered extremely clean and saw a huge increase in customers willing to pay the high prices for the food.
So having the Tire Company travel guide say you worth the trip was a major award.
11 of 16 | Posted by yeschef | Posted on July 14, 2009 6:43 AM
Oh juddfan! Sorry I stumped you on SWAK! It sucks when you get something in your head and can't figure it out - I've done that MANY times myself!
SWAKKK, PottyMouth
12 of 16 | Posted by PottyMouth | Posted on July 14, 2009 6:43 AM
One last thing! That was Sealed with a Kiss Kiss Kiss - not sealed with the KKK. ;)
13 of 16 | Posted by PottyMouth | Posted on July 14, 2009 6:44 AM
Thanks PottyMouth, literally all weekend it plagued me . . . until the epiphany, which I can at least say I puzzled out without google (rare, I know . . . ) I kept thinking it was a sound effect for a kiss . . . ya know, like smack, only swak . . . okay, I know it's whack!!!
but KKKK back at 'cha, and I added the 4th for the same reason you amended!
; )
14 of 16 | Posted by juddfan | Posted on July 14, 2009 11:04 AM
juddfan:
Thanks for letting me know I am not alone (or crazy) in thinking of you all - I also think find myself thinking about how much fun we could have if we could all get together.
Also - you are spot on about travels - J-Mo darling, if you ever travel east we can have vodka martinis my me and maybe we can get Yenta to make brisket for us!!!
hugs xox
15 of 16 | Posted by njgasmifan | Posted on July 14, 2009 12:09 PM
J-Mo,
NoNita Mann? Sheer. Fucking. Brilliance. I'm still laughing at that one.
Look I know those hats are Gramma's trademark, but someone needs to take her aside and gently explain that she's starting to look like Emmett Kelly. Does she carry all her belonging s tied up in a handkerchief on the end of a stick from location to location?
Actually I'm waiting for the episode where she has one too many gin Rickeys and takes out her teeth at the table. Now that has event television written all over it.
Anyway J-Mo a year of your writing is a banner year in anyone's book, congratulations and thank you.
16 of 16 | Posted by waffleboy09 | Posted on July 16, 2009 10:20 AM