Top Chef All-Stars: Unshockingly ends w/Cocky Elfin Lesbian Boy Genius victory

[Impromptu]

I haven't watched all of the seasons, but I would have much rather seen Kevin Gillespie or Brian Voltaggio come back than Mike Isabella.

I can't find the link now, but I read an interview with Brian Voltaggio, who mentioned that he was invited back but decided that he couldn't leave his restaurant for that long again.

[maatTheViking]

yeah I was wondering who their 'first choice' were...

[BigB08822]

Anyone enjoying the premiere? I love this cast, so amazingly stocked full of talented chefs! I have NO idea who can win this. I am rooting for Tiffany from the most recent season since she is from Beaumont, TX. However, there are a number of chefs who I would love to see win. I didn't agree with Richard Blaise's assessment that he was remembered for "losing" as if he was a shoo-in to win. Stephanie was amazing that season and was my pick to win from the beginning. He was certainly her biggest competition but she was right with him the entire time as the one to beat.

Ugh, Chicago won the immunity challenge which was, no surprise, the biggest group of them all! Is that really the most fair way to do this?? Now 4 people have immunity.

[Matryeshka]

I think a lot of people expected Richard to win because molecular gastronomy was such the "it" newest-bestest style of cooking, and unlike Marcel , he had the basic cooking chops AND a more likeable personality. I can see why to some Richard was a shoo-in for winning.

LOVING this quickfire, but wondering how the invitations went out that some seasons only had 2 and Chicago had 4 I understand season 7 only having two because it was the most recent.

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this challenge.

[Allen]

I'm really enjoying the premier, although I knew I would. I'm a little about Chicago winning the quickfire...mostly because I wanted Spike to go first as I think he's the least talented and annoying.

I was kind of surprised by Richard's comment as well. Stephanie won an equal number of challenges, so I didn't find it that surprising.

[BigB08822]

Well, what's her name got eliminated. Elie? I didn't really remember her, I think she was from the season I didn't watch. At least all my favs remain. Stephen seems way out of place, should go home soon. I knew he wouldn't be first, he is clearly a producers favorite as he is ALWAYS asked back for specials.

[Matryeshka]

Stephen has just enough food knowledge to be a very successful restauranteur and to impress people that think they're foodies because they shop at Whole Foods. I can see him extolling the virtues of arugala and cooking with the right white wine while making perfect, bite-sized portions that will draw comments like "elegant" and "refined" but not necessarily "tasty."

I think the majority of the other chefs, if you gave them five ingredients--ANY ingredients--and some time, they could throw down something at least edible. Stephen, OTOH, would be lost without the latest issue of whatever food magazine is currently the best to tell him what to do. I could just see him--a boneless, skinless chicken breast? What does one do with such an oddity? Where is the chipotle and salted caramel--what do you mean salt and pepper only?

[DubbalinGirl]

Or Stefan. WHY ISN'T STEFAN ON THIS SHOW?!!! Talk about the second worst decision in Top Chef history. Stefan, Jamie, and Fabio together again would be tons of fun. I'd love to see Tiffany F. and Stefan go at it too--that would be some

WORD, WORD, WORD! On another board I read, the posters hate Fabio and Stefan, they call them the "Euros", as if that's a bad thing???

Am I the only one who loathes Carla? I don't get the love at all, and if she Hooties one more time....

[Allen]

A lot of people don't like Stefan, so that could have had something to do with him not being on the show. I actually heard someone say that Elia and Fabio shouldn't be on the show because they were "foreigners." When I asked the person where he thought his ancestors came from, he replied "Texas."

[Aceon6]

Well, I'm somewhat relieved that Elia went over some of my pre-show faves. Surprised that Fabio couldn't knock it out of the park. I would have expected all the chefs to do some introspection on the dish that got them kicked off the first time - woulda, shoulda, coulda type analysis that had most of them ready for this challenge.

[Beefcake]

Angelo! Winning the elim challenge and the $10 grand, and impressing Richard as someone who might be a big threat.

Elia ... she whose casting I wondered about ... probably the best elimination for future interest purposes, and she really seemed the least "ready" for the stress and challenge ahead. Oh, and thanks, Bravo, for revealing her auffing earlier with an extended fluff piece on her. I mean, c'mon!

Marcel ... ... still polarizing the heck out of the rest of the cast.

Strong start to what promises to be a great season. And what a good-looking cast.

[ArtisticFan]

I enjoyed the first episode very much.

As an Atlanta resident, I have enjoyed eating at Richard's Flip Burgar quite often. When he is there (splits time between ventures), he is extremely gracious and kind to everyone who comes in to eat. We were there one night during this last season of Top Chef and he discussed it with us. So I can't help but have a soft spot for him to win.

I didn't agree with his assessment that the season is remembered as the one that he lost. However, I can see some arguments in that direction. Stephanie, who I was rooting for, was just as winning a chef as he was at the time. Unlike many of the other winners (especially from the first three seasons), she has not come back for other shows as a judge. Other than a few online video appearances and commercials, viewers have seen more of Richard on the show than Stephanie. That being said, Bravo has put his loss out there quite a bit.

While I don't think she'll go far on the show this time, I do have a soft spot for Carla too. She is probably the chef who is the least likely to have the inflated ego. I can appreciate that about her, as she just seems to want to do her thing and go to the next level. She doesn't appear to have grudges.

Jamie surprised me the most, as I remember enjoying her (other than the whining about not winning certain challenges). However, she was quickly falling down my list of ones I do like. While I am sure she is talented and sad she didn't do as well has she had hoped on her season, the two others from the New York season finished higher than she did. To be as dismissive as she was about them was not only rude but foolish. While they may not have her skill set, they were good enough and smart enough to get past her and become part of the top 4 and top 3. When she didn't win this first challenge, I thought, "Uh oh - here comes the whine."

Some other notes:

• Jennifer's hair and the way she holds her mouth both still bother me.
  
• Mike I. will never be a favorite of mine. I just want to see him fail.
  
• Fabio's speech to the judges was dramatic, but he did have a point.
  
• Spike is still immature, but he did well with the elimination challenge.
  
• The previews for the season look good.
  

[Matryeshka]

More wuz-robbed of Stefan: I don't care what Tom C. says. Stefan's food couldn't have been too awful as he made the final two, unless everyone else on that season sucked more than any chef show has ever sucked. Even if the latter is true, they could have cast him for drama/general flirtiness. I loved that he was an equal opportunity flirter--straight guys and gals, not-straight guys and gals, didn't matter. Seriously, what was the point of Elia and Antonia? Does anyone even remember Antonia for food or ?

I'm wondering if Jamie's done some high-falutin' cooking classes since her season of TC--she has that I know everything cause I went to culinary school vibe about her. She was not as arrogant IIRC on her first season as she is now.

Can't wait for the cook off against Tom C.--I'll be every cheftestant ever on the show will be waiting for that one.

Random thought--it might be fun, not as a full season but as a mini-season, to bring back the chefs that were elminated FIRST to see what they can actually do and if they've improved.

[skatesindreams]

Bourdain may prove a "thorn" as a permanent judge.
Some of his comments were really inappropriate, IMO.

[Beefcake]

Bourdain may prove a "thorn" as a permanent judge.
Some of his comments were really inappropriate, IMO.

Yes, very. Translation: x 1,000

Fabio pretty much posturing that there would've been fisticuffs if Bourdain's azzholeness would've been out-of-context of Top Chef.

On the one hand, uh Fabio, I say to you [in my best Bette Davis voice] "but you ARE on Top Chef" ... so the embellishment is pointless. On the other hand, yes, AB's comments were excessively insulting ... so yeh, just what Padma and Co wanted from him.

Random thought--it might be fun, not as a full season but as a mini-season, to bring back the chefs that were elminated FIRST to see what they can actually do and if they've improved.

I've always wanted The Amazing Race to do this, especially since - as I recall - all of the first philiminated on TAR have been promising for either racing potential or potential ... or both. (First legs on TAR are a free-for-all crapshoot ... the weakest teams never go out first.)

[Sparks]

Question: Wasn't Jaime the chef who always made scallops?

Fabio: Thees eez Top Chef, not Top Scaallop.

[millyskate]

Mike Isabella appeared to be putting himself in perspective this time round - he was one of the most likeable characters of this episode.
Probably learnt from seeing himself in the series.

I'm glad Stephen didn't leave, I have an irrational soft spot for him. Fabio was always very charming, but I can't remember him as one of the most versatile cooks, so I wasn't surprised to see him in the bottom.
Elia leaving was probably due to producers choice, out of those three... she's the most forgettable.

[ArtisticFan]

Seriously, what was the point of Elia and Antonia? Does anyone even remember Antonia for food or ?

I mainly remember her for failing in Puerto Rico. I was upset with her because her failing meant that Lisa moved on to the finals. That was still a great snarky moment when Antonia left the stew room. Richard and Stephanie were both quiet and obviously shaken by her leaving. Lisa started b***hing at them that they didn't congratulate her.

She was competent as a cook, if I remember correctly. I think she had a daughter who she missed. There was some strange comment that she said during that season about her daughter telling her not to come home unless she won.

[DubbalinGirl]

Bourdain may prove a "thorn" as a permanent judge.
Some of his comments were really inappropriate, IMO.

In what sense? If you have watched his own show or read his books, you know he's irreverent and profane. Nothing he said was personal so it shouldn't be construed that way, but Fabio's dish did really look like roadkill! I think Bourdain offers up an edge (like Toby did) that none of the other three judges have. Rarely Tom comes up with a biting witticism, but otherwise the other three can be pretty boring with their critique. Bourdain's like the Simon Cowell on the panel. Painful at times, but brutally honest.

[Allen]

Bourdain may prove a "thorn" as a permanent judge.
Some of his comments were really inappropriate, IMO.

That's just how he is and people seem to like it because his own show is very popular. In fact, he's actually a nice person, he just likes to hit it hard with the zingers.

Antonia is a really good cook. I've eaten in her restaurant. I think Lisa would have brought a lot of drama, but I'd rather have a lot of good cooks. I wish Sam had been there instead of Elia and that LeeAnn would have been there instead of Stephen, but I'm assuming she is still working as a producer for Top Chef. Otherwise, it's an amazing cast.