‘Top Chef’ Las Vegas, episode seven: What’s with the attitude?
October 8th, 2009 by Emily Hansen in Food mediaThat a boy, indeed!
Red beard sporting, southern food cooking Atlanta chef Kevin Gillespie took home a win, and $15,000, in last night’s episode of “Top Chef” Las Vegas for his venture into Asian cuisine, proving he can cook more than just bacon jam. Kevin’s Vietnamese inspired grilled pork with herb salad impressed guest judge Tyler Florence and his gutsy move – choosing the $15,000 over immunity – caused an outburst from otherwise calm and collected Padma (“That a boy, Kevin!”). And while his confident attitude (“At this point, I’m not concerned with immunity”) could have read as cocky, Kevin still managed to come across as a good guy. I hope Jen buys him that suit.
The same cannot be said for Eli’s attitude, however, which seems to be growing by the episode. I’m convinced some of his showy attitude is an act (and I’m sure some of it is editing), but his constant need to speak so highly of himself is quickly getting old. He may just be “looking out for number one,” but he should be looking out for his food, which slipped through the cracks during both challenges last night. While his quickfire mushroom ceviche with avocado was at least an interesting idea, his contribution to his team’s elimination dish, radish sauce and super salty gnocchi, was beneath his ability, and I kind of think he let Ashley take the blame for his mistake.
The only attitude that rivaled Eli’s last night was Michael Isabella’s, who took out a thesaurus to describe how mad he was about having to work with Robin (“I was livid, I was upset, I was angry”). Although he seemed to learn some coping strategies (letting Robin talk and talk, redoing everything she did), his immediate panic – I’m working with Robin, so I’m going home – was irritating. Sure, Robin should’ve packed her knives a while ago, but she’s capable of the basics, and Mike should have recognized as much.
As for Ashley’s departure, I can only say it was expected. She had a decent showing, but her food couldn’t stand up to the likes of Bryan or Kevin or Jen, who cooked through the flu, and managed to win the elimination challenge.
The bigger question of last night’s judges table was how Ash got away with admitting to playing sous chef to Michael Voltaggio. Even if Voltaggio is a Picasso (and I think he’s more of a burgeoning surrealist), Ash shouldn’t have been “let off the hook” for basically following orders. He showed no intuitive of his own and no confidence in his own ideas. I’m hoping he’s next to go. Either him, or Michael Isabella, whatever.
October 8th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Good points. Now that the show is moving into the final states we will see how performance versus personality plays out.
I am still on record predicting Eli going first with Kevin making the final three.
October 8th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Kevin, the Voltaggios, and Jen; it’s hard to predict which one of the four won’t make it to the final three. They’re all very strong chefs.
Everyone else is just biding their time before they face the axe.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Jen and Kevin are about even, but she’s a heavy-drinker and that might bite-her-on-the-butt again.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
How do you know Jen is a heavy drinker?
October 8th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
I almost enjoyed Michael Isabella working with Robin — I thought for a minute that we were guaranteed to lose one of them. But then the production team thought that I wanted to hear what Michael Isabella had to say about it. For like half the episode. Thx production team, I definitely tuned in for some schmuck’s opinion of some other schmuck, not for cooking!