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'Top Chef: Chicago': It's not a party without a pig
Top Chef: Chicago abandons my fair city for the sunny shores of Puerto Rico, where we discover that raw plantains are nasty, that there's more than one way to skin (and dismember) a pig, and that nice girls do come last if they try to pitch their undercooked beans as al dente. Nice try, though.
This spoiler is resisting the urge to break into that song from "West Side Story."
The Final Four cheftestants are tanned, rested and ready, which is good, because they are almost immediately confronted with a plantain challenge. Plantains, for the uninitiated, look like bananas and taste like... well, not much, really. But fry those puppies up as tostones (plantain chips, basically) and you've got an addictive treat. Because frying, like bacon, makes almost everything better.
The mission: Create frituras -- luscious little plantain-based snacky things that will go well with beer. Lisa continues to fight last episode's war - the first thing she does is check out the proteins to make sure she won't pull a Spike. Stephanie admits that she's been too scattered in previous quickfires - she needs to narrow down the possibilities immediately and just focus on a few things.
Antonia makes the mistake of using plantain more as a garnish than an integral part of her dish - sorry, but plantain jam isn't enough. Richard tries to get a bit high-concept by serving plantain chips in ripe plantain salsa. Guest judge Wilo Benet agrees that raw plantains are pretty icky.
Finally, Stephanie wins a quickfire! Her advantage is revealed the next day, when they suit up for the elimination challenge. The cheftestants will be cooking for a passel of VIPs at the governor's mansion, and they each get a sous-chef from the latest eliminees. Stephanie gets to assign the chefs. Stephanie wins my approval by declining to screw over her competitors - she makes matches she thinks will actually work. She chooses notorious hothead Dale as her own sous chef, then assigns Spike to Richard, Nikki to Antonia, and Andrew to Lisa. Lisa is a bit peevish, because she burned a bridge with Andrew when she threw him under the buss. Of course, she also hates Dale, and Spike was pretty pissed at her, too. Lisa really didn't have a good match, because Lisa is insufferable.
While the cheftestants butcher their pigs, the sous chefs are running around San Juan's central market, which is this glorious amalgamation of fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, specialty foods, and assorted yumminess. It helps to speak Spanish, which Andrew discovers to his peril. I'm amazed that anyone working in a restaurant these days isn't at least conversant in Spanish.
Stephanie and Dale get on great, throwing out ideas and basically creating godlike food. One problem - Dale forgets to put the spice-rubbed pork bellies in the fridge overnight. Oh, crap. Stephanie ditches the dish (as well she should - no WAY was that meat safe after sitting out all night) and goes into damage control mode. I love that she doesn't panic or throw a tantrum (unlike Dale himself undoubtedly would). Dale actually comes up with a solution: a tropical fruit salad livened with chicharrones -- basically pork cracklings. It sounds delicious.
After the Ceremonial March of the Chafing Dishes, it's time to release the bigwigs. Richard's pork ribs glazed with Malta, a sweet malted soda, draws raves. Thankfully, so does Stephanie's chicharrones salad, as well as her coconut-braised pork on plantain pancakes. Lisa and Antonia don't fare so well - Antonia's pigeon peas are undercooked (and if you're going to serve food in Puerto Rico, at least get the pigeon peas right), while Lisa has a sweet potato and sweet plantain puree that tastes like candy, and her tostones aren't quite right.
Richard and Stephanie get top marks, with Richard taking the prize. He gets a new car - which is great, but is he supposed to drive it home from Puerto Rico? He's in shock.
Antonia is spanked for her dry, underdone pigeon peas, and her explanation that she likes her beans al dente isn't cutting it. Plus, she heaped all of her food up on one plate, which is hardly chichi cocktail party style. Lisa gets flack for her super-sweet puree, and Gail tells her she seemed to focus more on the garnishes than the pig itself. In the end, Antonia is the one going home. Dammit! Lisa squeaks through AGAIN!
But Lisa isn't content with staying in the competition, again, against all odds, by once again being slightly less bad than the other person - she wants Stephanie and Richard to throw her a parade, or something. "I know you guys are upset that Antonia's leaving, but a congratulations would have been a little bit nice.... It just makes me feel like you feel like the wrong person went home." That's because they do, Lisa - and so does 91 percent of the people voting in tonight's poll. I barely restrain myself from flinging something at my television.
Highlights, thoughts and odds and ends
- This recap is abetted by my brother-in-law, Jorge, who's from Puerto Rico, introduced me to the full range of Puerto Rican food, and shepherded me around that awesome market (as well as other fantastic places on the island.) Next time, try to get me into the governor's mansion, ok?
- If they just wanted Puerto Rican food, they could have stayed in Chicago - the city has the highest concentration of Puerto Ricans in the continental US outside New York. Just head over to Humboldt Park - plantains galore there! If they wanted beaches and palm trees and fabulous resorts... ok, Puerto Rico was probably the better choice.
- When they broke out the plantains at the beginning, I joked that someone should make mofongo - if nothing else, because it's ridiculously fun to say. The dish itself is kind of tasteless (it's basically a big mass of mashed starch), but hey, Lisa gets points for even knowing it existed. Plus, she fried the mofongo into a fritter, which is always a good choice.
- Dale is miserable when he realizes he ruined one of Stephanie's dishes: "If I get her sent home, I swear to god I will never forgive myself." Neither will I, Dale.
- When will the cheftestants learn that rice = danger this season? This time, it's Antonia who has rice trauma, and dumps her rice out.
- I love that Stephanie and Lisa were doing Jazz Hands at the end of the quickfire challenge.
- The Assault on Precinct Pig was pretty dramatic. Lisa broke the tenderizing hammer, Richard hacked away with glee, and even Stephanie was doing a bit of rending and tearing on "[her] own Wilbur." Antonia is aghast - slip the knife in right and you can just pop the bones out of their sockets. "I know.. it sounds terrible," she says.
- Richard talks about how his food comes with a story - but do you really want that story to reference canned pork and beans? Or talk about how your mom couldn't cook?
- I'm amazed that Stephanie didn't mention her disaster in the kitchen at the judge's table. It makes her accomplishments that much more impressive.
- Lisa, at the judges table, says her dishes were strong, but she allows that Richard's and Stephanie's food was "also very strong." I think what you meant to say there was "kicked my ass."
- Apparently, in Lisa's world, the Caribbean borders Asia. Interesting.
- Stephanie spent her break from Top Chef traveling around Southeast Asia, and incorporated Asian flavors into her dish. Lisa, who usually is all about Asian food, decides on a traditional Latin menu. Weird.
- Gail, at the judging table: "There's no such thing as al dente beans..."
- When Antonia leaves, she says her daughter will make her feel better. Of course, this is the same punk kid who told her that if she didn't win, she shouldn't bother coming home. Brat.
Wow, unbelievable, did everyone heard what Lisa said at the end? What an arrogant biatch. I love when Richard said "Congratulation you won the Freaking Bronze metal". Haha. I feel really bad for Antonia cuz I love to see her, Steph and Richard duke it out in the final. Oh well, let hope Steph and Richard wipe the floor with Lisa and her smug attitude.
LT | Jun 4, 2008 11:08:21 PM | #Once again, as it did with Sam in season 2, a change of venue seemingly trips up one of the top chefs letting a lesser competitor into the final. This time the contrast seemed much more apparant though.
Still, it would seem the worst competitor of the night, though not the season did go home. But I will definately miss her.
Bring it on Stephanie.
sac | Jun 5, 2008 5:53:15 AM | #Once again Lisa slides through! She's so mean and can't get along with anyone. Each time at the judges tables she stands with her arms folded, in that very hostile, defensive mode. If you can't take the heat...!!!
I'm so going to miss Antonia. I was really rooting for Stephanie, Richard and Antonia to match up. Now I've really got a reason to root Stephanie and Richard on!!
bren | Jun 5, 2008 6:40:54 AM | #Am I the only one who wants to slap that smug look off Lisa's face!!! It's obvious the producers have a say in who stays cause she should have gone home long ago.
jo | Jun 5, 2008 7:05:13 AM | #Ok folks. I know that a lot of people hate Lisa, but you have to admit that it's also part of the editing on the show. We don't see everything that goes on.
I'm not saying she's a dream to work with, but she does know her cooking. She's very creative with ther dishes, so we have to give her credit for that.
My money is on Richard to win this season. He's been consistent and all his creations are truly mouth-watering.
Peace.
Mofongito | Jun 5, 2008 7:32:00 AM | #God Lisa. When she said 'you could have said congratulations' I was like WTF. You wanted them to congratulate you in front of Antonia? How disrespectful was that. She's just declasse, I want her GONE. The fact that she's been allowed to slip by with mediocrity time and time again is just unacceptable. Its not even that she makes for good tv. I don't get it. If it comes down to it, Dale was more like what people come to expect as their 'villian' in these things. Lisa is just a whiney pain who sits there with that continual smug expression that makes me want to shake her.
Oh and who didn't totally love Antonia and Stephanie's last hug, and Antonia telling her to beat them in her ear. LOVED THAT.
Oh and usually if something goes wrong with a dish in the kitchen like with the pork belly, we usually hear Tom go 'What happened to the pork belly..'
It wasn't asked this time for some reason.
Francesca | Jun 5, 2008 7:32:07 AM | #I can't believe Antonia blew it! I was rooting for her. I really like Richard but if a woman doesn't win this time, I don't know if I can watch this show again.
tv | Jun 5, 2008 8:10:00 AM | #Wonderful recap.
I still really wonder, if Tom had not being missing from the judges table, would Lisa have went home instead of Dale the other week?
I am looking forward to Stephanie and Richard cooking in the finale, but there is no way Lisa can hold a cnadle to them, she has been in the bottom now on SIX of the challenges, and usually seasoning, the lack of, is what gets her there, or poor cooking skills.
Amazed! Lisa made it through from Antonia's mistake! The end was Lisa's obnoxious statement...loved Richard's follow up comment.
Gotta point this out...if you want the Sous Chef's video it's here:
http://video.bravotv.com/player/?id=258856&dst=btv|widget|Bravo%20TV%20Video&__source=btv|widget|Bravo%20TV%20Video
Don't blame editing for Lisa looking bad. First, all the other chefs hate her, and they DO know the whole story, so that says something. Second, even if you want to judge by her cooking, she's been in the bottom SIX FREAKING TIMES. I'm certain that's got to be the weakest record of any chef to make the finals.
I did love Stephanie for creating pairings for strength rather than friction. I appreciate people who want to win against the best competition. She also scored points with me for not mentioning the snafu with her pork belly (at least, not that we saw). It shows that she truly refuses to make excuses and doesn't feel the need to try and garner sympathy. Either Stephanie or Richard would be absolutely fine in my book.
Beth | Jun 5, 2008 9:39:33 AM | #Regarding Stephanie not mentioning the snafu with the pork belly, it's much easier to not make excuses when you're in the top two. It might have been different if the dish she created to replace the ruined one was criticized instead of praised.
Marisa | Jun 5, 2008 10:27:40 AM | #I don't know, Marisa. A lot of cheftestants would have brought it up regardless. Since judges are always talking about how being a Top Chef includes being able to shift gears when you hit an obstacle, they would have felt they could garner points for showing how well they dealt with adversity. In any case, I feel that Stephanie is just a class act overall. She didn't berate Dale or try in any way to make him feel guilty (although he was properly humble and contrite) and they ended up working well to come up with an alternate plan. I shudder to think what would have happened if it had been Lisa's pork belly that was left out.
Beth | Jun 5, 2008 11:37:59 AM | #The problem with Lisa is that she seems to only make dishes that she's made before rather than invent new dishes. Granted Steph and Richard have done that too but they also create new dishes. I really hope they don't make a stupid mistake in the finale that will allow Lisa to squeak by and win.
rc | Jun 5, 2008 12:46:34 PM | #Honestly, I truly will never watch this show again if Lisa wins. That would be a travesty!
I think this episode really illustrates the differences in Lisa and Stepanie. Stephanie is not only talented, she is a class act. She had every right to make an issue of Dale messing things up, but she didn't.
Lisa, on the other hand, goes out of her way to alienate every body she deals with. Ugh! It is just so wrong that she is in the final 3. She does not deserve it!!!!!!!!
Becca | Jun 5, 2008 2:20:04 PM | #Evidently, the judges enjoy eating dishes that have been described as baby vomit with woodchips; campfire smoke laksa; cold buttered shrimp; shockingly bland, under cooked and under seasoned edamame; under cooked rice; raw shrimp; and a salad that tastes like bananas
Frank | Jun 5, 2008 3:26:31 PM | #I can't stand Lisa! Try to blame editing all you want, but the chefs don't like her either and they are with her all the time.
I've never watched Top Chef before. Just started this year because it was in Chicago. I wonder if they do a reunion show like some others do so we can see Lisa blame editing for everyone hating her.
jen | Jun 5, 2008 3:54:29 PM | #Becca, I agree with your comments 100% If you lived near me, I'd cook you dinner.
Jason | Jun 5, 2008 5:41:01 PM | #Is it just me, or does anyone else think that the wrong person was told to "pack their knives"? Hello--- Lisa has been in the bottom 6 times. Although Antonia made a mistake by undercooking the peas, Lisa has made mistakes consistently for the last few episodes. Although this is the first season I've ever watched, I truly believe that your track record should count at least a little bit when you're being judged. The point is Lisa's track record sucks, and Antonia's didn't. Lisa should have been the one to pack her knives!!!
Michelle | Jun 5, 2008 11:14:11 PM | #I really can't believe that they eliminated Antonia over Lisa. Lisa was in the bottom for the sixth time, and she keeps going on always because she's the "second worse". But in this case... was she the secondo worse? I don't know. Is making a little mistake in cooking and plating worse than pretendinf to be great at cooking latin, but not cooking it good? At the beginning of every challange she says "I love that -type- of food, I cooked it before, I know the produce, I know this, I know that", but in the end she always manages to prepare bad dishes. Antonia was also great at butchering the pig.
I know this is a producers choice, 'cause if it was for them, I'm sure that Tom, Gaile and Padma would've choosen Antonia over Lisa even under torture. I'm sorry but this time I'm really disappointed. I understand Dale being eliminated cause of restaurant wars, it's part of the game, but this is not good Top Chef.
Hope Richard and Stephanie will kick her ass in the final round.
redman
redman | Jun 6, 2008 12:44:56 AM | #Last year Brian was sent home because the guest chef didn't like that he offerred a cheese choice to his guests and felt that a great chef should be able to choose the perfect cheese for everyone. So Antonio going home for undercooked peas and bad plating is certainly consistant with the way they've seemed to make decisions in the past. Tom made a comment that of all the chefs there was one section where the guests were not milling around and that apparantly was Antonio's. I understand and agree, in principle, with the idea that chefs should be judged on the body of their work throughout the show. However, at the final 4 round I'm not sure that is feasable. Otherwise, Lisa would have had no chance to compete and what would be the point of her being there?
If it ain't a party without a pig, then I guess it was a freakin' festival having Lisa around. Ick! She reminds me of Hung, only without talent.
Really disappointed with this season. Too many "characters" and not enough stars.
Grr | Jun 8, 2008 10:05:01 AM | #Stephanie started the season pretty strong as I recall, hit some bumps, but has managed to produce dazzling food AND not be an asshole at the same time. I think I'm in love.
Diner | Jun 10, 2008 10:02:43 PM | #
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