Friday, June 18, 2010

Top Chef DC Initial Impressions

So, as usual with the first episode, I barely remember anyone's names or much about their actual dishes, but a few things did stand out:
  • Dude with the dreads. Sorry, I know this is shallow, but to be honest I'm kinda glad I'm not going to have to be creeped out by his hair anymore. I know that dreads are just as likely to be clean as some random sweaty chef's hair, and he wore a bandana to keep 'em out of the way, but seriously, dude's hair scared me. Also, if the dish you make to represent yourself and where you're from is something I can make at home, you probably aren't quite ready for Top Chef. No offense.
  • Big chick with a big mouth... I thought at first I might like her, until she decided to call another contestant a hick and implied that would mean he sucked. Yeah, I didn't see you in the top 4, babe. Maybe keep a lid on the insults til you show you're any good either, k?
  • Kenny is freakin' fast at the mis en place. Doesn't guarantee he's good (but the top four placement in Elimination Challenge does tend to suggest he is), but, wow. I think I'd still be working on the onions, myself...
  • On the other hand, dude needs to learn how to lose gracefully. Seriously.
  • And speaking of someone who's gonna have to learn to lose: Angelo? Is that his name? The one who won, with the attitude and the smug and the self-absorption and the admittedly good-sounding dish? Yeah. You aren't gonna win all the challenges. Trust me.
  • I hope the culinary instructor lady kicks some serious ass this season, because I'm sick of all the winners being young-ass kids. She seems to be pretty collected, so hopefully she'll do well under pressure. Don't know what I thought of her food, though.
  • Kenny and Angelo may've clearly set the "people to beat" mark, but... Alex? Russian dude. *just goes and looks it up* Yeah, Alex. Anyhow, deconstructed borscht that actually sounded kinda good? Sounds like he's got some interesting ideas, at least.

Maybe by next week I'll remember more people's names...