Last night's episode of Top Chef Masters upped the "reality show" factor on the show, as former Top Chef contestants came back and controversy was injected. This was most evident in the confrontation Dale had with Michael Chiarello (KEY-a-rello). More controversy isn't necessarily a good thing when it comes to a cooking show (it's been good to see civility), but it certainly spiced things up.
I thought this was the finale, but it's not. The finale is actually going to be aired next Wednesday at 10:15 PM, after the premiere of Top Chef: Las Vegas. That's confusing.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-13-2009 @ 8:52AM
Jay said...
I didn't watch it yet, but is (KEY-a-rello) a mispronunciation from the show?
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8-13-2009 @ 9:47AM
PR said...
No, that's actually how he pronounces it.
8-13-2009 @ 10:25AM
wulfn1 said...
apparently people pronounce it wrong and he made a point of explaining how it's spelt.
The chefs who worked well with their group, and allowed creative license to their group were the ones who succeeded in getting the highest scores. These chefs showed their adaptability both with new personalities and difficult spur of the moment situations , which after all brings their abilities to higher levels and shows them as true masters of their trade.
Through several different episodes, and several different situations the two chefs who won the highest accolades last evening have managed to create quality and elegance in their offerings to the judges and guests of TCM.
Funny though that the "kids" knew they would have curve balls tossed at them and responded with resilience and innovation.
8-13-2009 @ 11:35AM
Allison said...
What a shift! Every week prior to this each episode was filled with respect for all of the participitating "Masters". The chefs seemed to enjoy working together and helping each other out. This week was filled with snarkiness and fighting and unfavoriable editing, especially Mr. Key-a-rello.
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8-13-2009 @ 10:29AM
jackie said...
Here's an easy way to pronounce Chiarello's name. Jerk.
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8-13-2009 @ 11:05AM
dkny said...
yea michael looked like a dick but that mini-tough guy probibly didn't help his perception amoung future employers
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8-13-2009 @ 11:55AM
jffm said...
I think Chiarello's "problem" was that he expected the guest chefs to put their egos in their back pockets and do what they were there to do, be the best sous chefs, not executive chefs, possible. That's what his drilling them was about. It wasn't ego games, it was seeing who could be a good role player instead of a prima dona.
The name thing? He was *trying* to see who he could get a rise out of, see who would get rattled and thrown off task; the same thing as when he asked Jamie to tell him about herself at the same time she was trying to do other tasks. It was painfully obvious, and rather sad to see the chefs take it personally.
Chiarello was using some of the tough standards he'd use in actually hiring someone for his business. Sadly, it looks like none of the guest chefs were really up to it. The other 'master chefs' got by with a little ego stroking and behind kissing, a strategy better suited to winning the challenge, as opposed to running a working kitchen.
And unless it was edited out, Anita Lo really dropped the ball by not yanking Dale's chain really hard and telling him to either shut it or leave the kitchen (Though Dale was conspicuous by his absence in most of the remaining kitchen scenes, so maybe there was some repercussions from his behavior). Whatever you think of Chiarello, trying to egg someone into a physical confrontation should get you bounced anyplace that even pretends to being professional.
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8-13-2009 @ 4:35PM
Laurence Kohn said...
I am really sorry - actually no I'm not - but Michael Chiarello is a fantastic chef.
Dale should easily have been ejected for acting like such a nutcase. You don't go up to someone and say "What are you going to do about it?!" in an angry voice like you want to body slam them and put them into a choke hold. I mean what the F was that about? The guy is clearly nuts. It is almost as nuts as another idiot on another show who said "I'm not your B!" to another chef. What happened to class and civility? Are these losers the best we have out there?
Here is my take on it however. If you are "on" and confident in yourself then you do your job and ego should play little part in it. Get it done.
Show that you work well with a master chef. Instead they came in and pretended like they were master chefs.
As for Chiarello - I remember 10 years ago when I was in college catching his show every saturday on PBS. He is a great chef and had several nice shows which were a joy to watch. Chefs like Dale show no class, and no respect. Also - If someone called me "young man" I'd be happy and see it as a complement of my graceful aging and smooth and silky skin. (Okay maybe that was a stretch but you get my point.) But not Dale. No he takes offense at it. Maybe if some of these "top chef" contestants had any humility, class and respect for others - they would be on a reality show as a "master chef" and not as a sous chef. And I can't even understand why they were trash talking some of the other master chefs. Like dude, they are a master chef! You are a reality show contestant! Don't be angry because you are a loser!
8-13-2009 @ 1:00PM
Jimmy_MO said...
You know, from what I've read of most "celebrity" chefs, even the ones we really like, they can be complete divas and sometimes total a-holes. But hey, they've worked hard to get where they're at and if any of those young chefs wants to achieve the same thing they should show some respect. I thought both Anita Lo and Michael Chiarello came off badly. Lo especially looks totally scatterbrained and unhappy to be there.
You never really know how someone will act in real life, but both Rick Bayless and chef Hubert seem like really good people who like to develop talent rather than beat it down (otherwise known as the Ramsay Method).
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8-13-2009 @ 2:07PM
Cyn said...
I agree with the last 2 comments. However, Anita Lo comes off as moody and disorganized, even though she is a creative chef. She should have bounced Dale out of the kitchen- he has a chip on his shoulder like no other. Wrong place and time to "bring it". Who would work with him?
I found Chef Chiarello arrogant and egotistical. These were all qualified and capable sous chefs familiar with these kitchen mishaps, so they deserved respect.
When you don't give respect, you don't get it, either. His team did not really work for him and that is why is was in the bottom two along with grouchy looking Anita Lo.
Rick Bayless and Hubert are tolerant and easy going under stress. They included their people in decision making and worked as a team. A big difference cvompared to the other two.
I love this series. Finally, big name chefs competing against each other. I hope Rick Bayless wins.........
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8-13-2009 @ 4:37PM
LDK2009 said...
I like Rick and Hubert. Both are cool dudes.
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