Top Chef 4: Episode 2- Welcome to the Jungle

After 2 episodes of Top Chef, I must say, despite the sponsor over-exposure, I like the tweaks to the show and the challenges are interesting, reasonable and fun.

I love the fact that the chefs were able to bring $200 worth of their own ingredients and any extra little gadgets and what’s-its to shove in their lockers.  Mr. Gadget, Richard, was quick to bring out his gastro-molecular gizmos, I am curious to see how this will continue to develop throughout the season.  I am sure he felt know pressure with Gastro Pioneer Wylie Dufresne guest judging this week. Ha!

The Green Market Quickfire Challenge was great because I think it is a true mark of a great chef.  Some of these chefs I think are good, maybe not great and some of them I think are just crumbling under the pressure.  Case in point is Erik.  I was amazed that he made  basically something that I would through together at home.  He really looks like he is stressed and is making some poor choices maybe not because of skill, but because of pressure.  It’s funny, because I would think that the daily stress of running and cooking in a restaurant would be prepare you, but I guess you probably don’t feel that you have so much at stake, nor do you have cameras following you everywhere.  Andrew nailed the challenge and his saving grace was probably that he left behind that 5th ingredient.

I absolutely loved the challenge.  This was actually a very clever idea, and for some of those choices to be made were absolutely shocking.  Again, I think that people start crumbling under the pressure and are racing to decisions that if they took a moment, breathed and thought about it, they would say, “WO, what was I thinking!?”  In the end the Lions, Vultures and Penguins made some great choices and surprise of all surprises, Andrew won!  He was on top of his game, thought a little out of the box, kept with the concept and he and his team mates truly kicked it out of the ball park.   Was anyone as stunned as I?  He seems to be a little bigger than life…and not necessarily in a good way.  He’s that type of guy who just seems to try too hard, but boy, I guess he can cook, huh?  It was actually enjoyable to watch him win.  He had a few tears in those eyes.  For all the smack-talk, he is just like everyone, he needs validation.