Let’s recap and get something clear – I am not a huge fan of reality television. There are a few shows I like and will watch faithfully, but there are some pretty bad ones out there that drive me crazy. Mostly I tune it because (a) we have one tv and (b) we have one tv.
Having said that, I admit to liking Top Chef on Bravo. The funny thing is I might be one of the pickiest eaters you would ever encounter and there is no way I would touch let alone eat 95% of the food on the show.
The contests seem real and not too over the top. Many of them have been in the field for quite some time and are very good at what they do. Season 4 winner Stephanie had her own place in Chicago the last couple of years so this isn’t amateur night at the local culinary institute.
I have already documented my dislike for Padma, the de facto host of the show. I don’t know what makes her an expert much less why she wrote a cook book.
Tom Colicchio is alright but don’t you get the sense he wants to always have the final say? Apparently he is a hell of a chef so you have to give him his due. Yeah yeah yeah, he’s the head judge but you never know where you stand with this guy.
Ted Allen is pretty funny; he seems down to earth and honest whenever he opens his mouth. And I am glad he managed to get a decent gig out of Queer Eye. Of all the guys on that show he is the one that came across as having the best personality. I am not sure what the other guys do now except for the Jai Rodriguez who has the worst gig on television as host of Groomer Has It. If you haven’t seen it, don’t bother.
The guest judges are always interesting, especially Anthony Bourdain, Rocco DiSpirito adn Eric Ripert.
But the best judge on Top Chef is easily Gail Simmons. Aside from being cute, she is Canadian so that scores a ton of points in my book. She seems down to earth and is always honest, well as honest as you can be on reality tv. I don’t know if you caught any of the reunion show last night on Bravo but they showed a clip of her sleeping at the judges table while they were changing out cameras. That’s our girl! She’s not Cat Deeley but she certainly is close.
I’d hit that.