Just a quick alert that the new season starts Wednesdays, March 20.
I hope they went for Swedish pancakes in Door County, cream puffs at the Wisconsin State Fair, and cheese curds. And went to the Wisconsin Dells and House on the Rock. (Just a few fond memories from our Chicago days.)
I’m m excited! And for Kristin. Can’t replace Padma but she can be great too!
I was in Madison not too long ago and also happen to follow a couple Madison food people so happy to see it featured!
That was a fun start! Kristin made a great host, I thought.
I like the new way of using immunity - getting it for winning an elimination challenge is more logical than for a quick fire. And now cheftestants with immunity won’t be able to relax because they’ll want to try for immunity again in the next elimination challenge. Perhaps a bit relaxed since they’ll know they can’t get eliminated that next time. But they now have a reason to go all out.
The challenges were good general tests; liked that they didn’t start off with teams. That always seemed unfair at the start of the season. But it was disappointing there was nothing related to Wisconsin - usually the first week highlights something local or regional. Husband watched hoping to see Wisconsin locations and did recognize the hotel, but says he likely won’t watch again. He did note the ballpark in the previews! I told him they like to go to sport arenas.
Very happy with the elimination - I sure did not want to see that guy again! I guessed there would be a cook off. That way they didn’t have to compare apples and oranges to dump someone - they all were on the same playing field. Honestly, anyone going on the show should have a mental file cabinet of quick generic recipes that can be easily adjusted for conditions.
No one else is watching?
Everyone on my tv boards was happy to see David go. And here’s some thoughts from Buddha; interesting idea on why the one guy left off the dark chicken.
Glad Top Chef is back!
Just watched the first 2 episodes. It had to be hard for Kristen to follow Padma, but I like her!
Looking forward to the rest of the season.
I’m watching! I just don’t usually get to it till a few days after it airs. I miss Padma but I do like Kristen.
Don’t really know the names yet. I like the guy who won the first week. And the guy who has Kennedy’s. 
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Oh good, I’m not the only one watching. I like Kristin a lot as host, but overall the season and cheftestants seem a bit boring. Husband was hoping to see some of Wisconsin but so far they’re staying close to Milwaukee.
For some reason I thought it was going to be in Madison and I was excited because I’ve been there recently. Maybe they will pit stop there.
Agree that these contestants seem (it’s early) not quite the caliber in skill - and personality - we often see.
Of course it is a VERY tough act to follow that last all stars season. I just LOVED so many of them!
I just learned on my tv boards that Kristin does a weekly bit after each episode with the guest judge called The Dish with Kish. Now I know why they picked Buddha as the guest judge for the architecture episode! I was thinking through the whole episode what he would have done with that challenge and now I know.
Oh I’ll have to look for that! I have to admit I don’t really like watching LCK with Tom.
Just watched last weeks episode. I’m beginning to think besides a couple (like the team that one) the talent seems limited this season. Wonder why.
A little sad and surprised to see who went this week. I thought he might have chops to last a while. I thought the steak guys both faltered quite a bit.
Loving seeing Madison in such a positive light. And LOVED the Supper Club concept. I’d love to do a whole supper club experience!
My mid season review of Kristin. Like her a lot - always have - I do find that she brings a different perspective to the judges table - she can be more critical of technique and just a little more critical overall - probably comes from being a “recent” contestant.
Sometimes I can stand whining Tom. When he complains he WHINES. I want to say “shut up Tom!”
It seems the challenges are a bit more forced this year and maybe more team challenges? That tends to produce “safe” dishes or dishes that are not the chef’s food? I like a few team challenges to break things up and evoke some drama, but too many times good chefs go because they drew some short straw.
Apparently the restaurant is not a true supper club but pays homage to it and worked up a classic supper club menu for the cheftestants. Also it’s not descended from nor related to the classic Harvey House restaurants of The Harvey Girls fame.
I’m wondering if they will still do Restaurant Wars when they’re down to eight people since Supper Club was similar. And they had trouble even with that; can’t picture teams with working well with Front of House and Expediter leadership. I know these chefs have good resumes, but maybe they didn’t practice enough for the competition?
Very interesting and different things going on in Last Chance Kitchen. The more I learn about “16th cheftestant” Soo, the more I’m convinced he’s a ringer. Very impressive performance so far.
I don’t generally watch LCK - I watched a couple episodes and personally don’t care for this 16th contestant “twist”. I think more of Tom doesn’t suit me, lol.
Saw him recently on an older episode of Chopped before Top Chef.
I think I have one episode to catch up. But I kinda feel like that too!
I wondered the same thing!
I read on my tv boards that the cowboy hat chef learned he was going to get a villain edit so he just didn’t show up for LCK. I also read that they were recruiting Soo for the season, but his wedding was the same week as the filming for the first episode so he passed. Ergo, if you want to believe gossip, when cowboy hat guy dropped out, they reached out to Soo. The only way they could bring him in was via LCK as a surprise. It does make sense.
They did a poor job explaining chaos cooking. I hadn’t heard of it, but was easily able to Google some good descriptions. It sounds like the sort of new fad that good chefs should have been aware of, even if they don’t practice it. One of the female cheftestants correctly described it but they kind of ignored her. Clearly many of the other contestants, not to mention the judges, did not understand it.
It was a minor plot point briefly discussed in the second season of Beef, which is why they paired the challenge to the guest judge.
I’ve also read that the production has to pay overtime and lodging for the crew if they travel more than 50 miles from the base kitchen. Which is why they are staying close to Milwaukee.
IMO stupid contrived challenge with no clear purpose. Two of the stronger contestants were at the bottom. Very few dishes that came out that I would say, gotta try that and would pay for it.
Yes, I was SHOCKED that Rashika went. I thought she was one of the stronger chefs. And LCK still is a thing after bringing TWO people back? I’d love to see her make it back but these LCK spins kind of cheapen the show for me.