Top Chef(s)

The James Beard Award nominations came out Monday, and although I have not eaten at Bluestem, I have eaten at the other four JBA-nominated restaurants in our region. Alex deserves the nomination as does Isaac, both of who deserve the recognition, which is long overdue. But pound for pound, the cooking that Tim is doing at LBV outshines what anyone else has been doing in this town for the last two to three years. And what’s more, there are dozens of chefs more deserving than the guy at Bartolotta’s. I have eaten there several times, and it’s good bistro fare, but it is nothing that makes it Beard-worthy in my opinion. More on all the JBA news on Monday.

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Top Chef received two nods, and I have to say this show keeps getting better each season. Finally, a show that merges the challenges and evictions that reality TV junkies crave and the rigors of cooking that food fans hunger for.

Some observations so far:

Richard and Dale seem like potential winners to me, both will be there in the end.

Erik is a bozo. Perhaps the dumbest thing I have heard come out of a human being’s mouth regarding food was the insulting, ethnocentric, and ignorant drivel he hurled at Rick Bayless: “I don’t think fine dining and Mexican go together, so he can go screw himself.”  Erik came close to equaling that feat when he declared, after being tossed out, that, “I have a bright future ahead of me . . . .” Not with that attitude and talent level, you misguided idiot!

The only thing you need to know to be convinced that Padma neither enjoys nor understands food: She tried to eat a toasted marshmallow rolled in finely ground graham crackers and chocolate in two bites.

Someone please tell me who does not belong in this group of judges: Tony Bourdain, Rocco DiSpirito, Rick Bayless, and Ted Allen. I need to hear from anyone as to what qualifies this fella; although, he did a fine job explaining why it’s a bad idea to serve corn dogs two hours after they are fried. Then again, my three-year-old could have explained that one.

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According to yesterday’s DailyCandy that arrived in my box, there is an answer for all the folks out there who want to eat some of the world’s most obscure delicacies. Everything from croc, scorpions, civet coffee, and mopane worms can be found at the Edible website.

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Scott Pampuch sent me this great article: “The Revolution Will Not Be Pasteurized.” It is a piece as timely as it is relevant. Raw milk should be labeled as such and sold legally; it’s a no-brainer. In similar news, Rep. Michelle Bachman is pushing for a dismantling of the new legislation requiring incandescent bulbs to go the way of the horse and buggy in favor of the more environmentally friendly long life bulb. Again, a no-brainer. Except in this case, it’s Bachman that needs to have her cortex examined.

Comments

[geoff]

I swore off Topolobamba and Frontera Grill. Not that they aren't fantastic...it's just that in a city with so many great dining options, I feel like repeat visits have a high opportunity cost. But I have to go now in order to try that jicama-wrapped taco thingy that Chef Fauxhawk du Jour made in the quickfire last night.

Word on Bartolotta's...I used to live a few blocks from the Lake Park Bistro, and it's just another bistro (with a nice view, though).

[Kelly Red]

While I will wholeheartedly agree that Rep. Bachman is a nutjob I am a little PO'd at the "lightbulb law". Not that I'm against the new bulbs but that they are not usable in all places. I live in a house that is 100 years old. We have light fixtures in our living room and dining room with exposed bulbs. We use clear incandescents. The dining room uses "candle" bulbs. I DO NOT want to be FORCED to use the new bulbs in those fixtures, they will look ugly and out of place. The new bulbs can't be used on a dimmer (well they can but apparently burn out quickly) nor do they make 3-way bulbs. I already use the new bulbs in the kitchen, bathroom and lamps were they work. I resent being made to use them in fixtures and rooms were they will stick out like a sore thumb. Not every house on the plant is a suburban house with new fixtures. A sweeping law to force people to use florescents in ALL fixtures is annoying. I can't believe I'm actually backing Michelle on this, but until they actually take things like that into account, I hate the new law as it is written.

[MSPD]

Kelly, get over to Sam's Club or something and stock up on a few hundred incandescents.

Or just wait a little while for the lighting manufacturers to roll out their new products, which will surely accommodate your needs. There are already high-efficiency incandescents, halogens and LEDs that meet the new standards. And the dimmable compact fluorescents are improving (or so I've heard).

On a side note, in some countries, there are exceptions for unique architectural situations such as very old fixtures by the way. I have no knowledge whatsoever about the fine details of our law but maybe there's something in there here in the U.S. as well.

p.s. - I really haven't formed a personal opinion on the inefficient bulb phase-out law, nor Michele Bachmann. But I believe that market demand will lead to a bunch of great new products by the time I choose to stop buying the old-style bulbs. Necessity is the mother of invention.

[erik]

I was embarrassed to share a moniker with the no-talent-clown on Top Chef last night. But I expected about as much coming from him. What a tool. I'm sure Bayless was crushed. I hit Topolo or Frontera every time I'm in Chicago, opportunity cost be damned.

Well said regarding Padma and Ted, too. Hopefully they don't have as much say in who stays/goes/wins/loses as the actual chefs on the show.

That "Outstanding in the Field" dinner at Cedar Summit Farms is already sold out. Huge buzzkill. Any chance they add another date around here? I assume not, but let us know if you hear anything.

[Walter Broughton III]

Dear Mr. Zimmern,

Why are you so upset with Padma being on Top Chef? This is a reality TV show, that is for some a form of entertainment. As such, I have no problem with having a little "eye candy" on the show. Let's be honest, its not like Top Chef is a prestigious honor, like a James Beard award. Therefore, the show does not need to hold their judges to a high culinary standard. I think we need to cut the show a little slack, and take it for what it is...Entertainment.

[Irene]

I agree with geoff on the lightbulbs. With three way lamps and older fixtures, the flourescents don't cut it. There's also a study *somewhere* showing that they add to the problems of SAD. Newer incandescent bulbs with brighter, more natural lights are better for the soul.

Thanks for the thumbs up on raw milk. It's the only milk I can drink and I love it. I feel like a criminal when I try to find it. Wait ... I *am* a crminal in my state! I can smoke all the cigarettes I want, but can't drink raw milk. How dumb is that?

[andrew]

Is there something in the works for a sort of homecoming for the folks in Stillwater? I'm willing to make the trip........

[Brian]

AZ - So great to hear I'm not the only one that gets annoyed with Padma and Ted... Somehow having Queer Eye credentials and a cook book put him in the same league as some of the best chefs out there? I think not. Every time I hear something come out of her mouth, in an attempt to be "culinarily intelligent" everyone else either disagrees or dismisses her. Amen.

Stop by next time you're in Chi-Town - I've got a great joint for veal kidneys.

[foodaq]

My father was a good chef before.That's a great job.He always give our family something special.
I love him.

[Tom]

Andrew, how would you like it if the government outlawed fried foods? Or any food with high fat content? Or they made all restaurants stop using electricty all together? Where does it end? If the government can mandate what kind of lightbulb you can buy, at what point is any private decision out of the government's grasp? Lightbulbs today, anything else tomorrow.

I find it somewhat hypocritial for someone who has generated tens of thousands of Carbon emissions flying around the world to eat chicken uterus supporting a government ban on incandescent bulbs, and criticizing someone supporting private rights.

[Jenny Kerwin]

The government got rid of lead in gasoline, right?

[geoff]

I'm going to disagree with your take on Ted Allen's not belonging on the judging panel. Chefs (and former chefs) are taking themselves far too seriously of late...it's fine to take the craft and art of cooking seriously, but please back off on deifying each other for a moment and realize that chefs' opinions are far less important than those of the dining public who pay the bills. Also, remember who the general audience for Top Chef really is. I'll bet less than 10% have worked in professional kitchens.

[c.l. ball]

I was hit with a nasty head-cold and watched the weekend re-runs of Top Chef. Agreed that Richard and Dale are potential finalists, but the real puzzle is why Spike is still there. He's scored at the bottom of 3 elimination challenges, and is a jerk.

Disagree on Ted Allen. He's not a chef, but there no reason he can't be a judge.