This was a good season. But I wouldn't call it a great one. The team competitions should be limited once we get past restaurant wars.
This season suffered from just how good Buddha was and I think everyone is probably about over seeing him after 2 straight seasons. It was also hard to get behind a lot of the foreign contestants, Gabri had probably the best personality but he really struggled cooking most of the season. Sarah is just eh.
I actually liked a lot of the international contestants personality wise. If they do something like this again they need to make the judging system more international as well.
Sarah is awesome. I do not get this particular line of thinking. I loved Ali, Gabri, Charbel, and Victoire's story was great from the international side. I do get the Buddha burnout, even if I was rooting for him.
I mean, it wasn't. Putting pomegranate seeds in a fritter is bat shit insane. Nobody miffed at Amar missing on his elimination. I feel like some of you watch only for the personalities.
I found myself rooting for the foreign contestants over the Americans. Ali, Charbel, and Victoire had refreshing backgrounds. I think they fumbled the bag outside of Amar with the American contestants. Sara is not that interesting, Dawn was clearly checked out from the beginning, and Buddha, while a phenomenal talent, has very little stage presence and can sometimes come off pompous.
Amar tried to warn her at the Boucherie. Ultimately I'm glad she wasn't named the first world all-star.
I think most take into account the entire season vs getting eliminated for one specific reason. In your view, Sarah should’ve never been allowed back after making a mistake and getting eliminated?
I don't think it's bogus that Ali and Amar didn't make the finale. Both got eliminated for good reasons. I thought both were better than Gabri from an execution point if we want to take it there. Sarah got eliminated and then worked her way back through the rules. I get the point. we want to see the people who did the best across the season in the finals, but shit man, the 8 seed Heat are playing in the NBA finals as we speak.
they were the only other Finalist-worthy contestants damn shame Sarah was the feel good story of the season
I do think that the judging needs to be a bit evolved. I get that it's a cooking competition and things trend towards "refined" but often times, any pop of flavor that's outside the judge's comfort zone is just randomly described as aggressive.
She would have been if not for that. Huge mistake obviously - like getting out scored by 20 in 2nd quarter and then saying “we would’ve won if that didn’t happen.”
That seemed like an insanely close finale and wasn't going to be surprised by any of them winning. They seemed pissed that Sarah fucked up the liver because if it was just ok she easily wins.
She had a really good menu and I do think would have won if the livers were cooked right. Buddha pumped out 4 michelin star level dishes but nothing that the judges hadn't really seen before. My gripe with Sarah (and really anyone that does this) is the dessert was her grandmas recipe which obviously is fair game I just think its also a little bit cheating in a way
def think budda got more eye rolls from the judges as the season progressed. Almost all scripted and uninspired concepts. Obviously the final is tailor made for fine-dining which has consumed his entire existence. Feels like the 3rd time we have seen that flower shaped ice cream, 2nd time this season so doubt he scored many bonus points. he left the door open for sarah if she executed but no way she could win off that mistake.
just rewatched the finale so it would be fresh when I listen to Pack Your Knives today and 100% I was coming here to make this exact post. Sarah wins with very little discussion if she doesn't completely and totally fuck up one dish by serving almost raw liver.
She got it read to her live on the podcast. She said she pretty much knew but honestly it’s better to have that closure.
Can’t really read this thread because I still have about 2 more episodes to go for this season, but will come back in here if this is quoted. Anyway, does anyone know of a heat map of all Top Chef contestants’ restaurants? That could be a fun road trip.
It might exist on eater or something. But great week for top chef alums. Gregory got beard award for best new restaurant and damar got I think best chef great lakes.
She was one of the first names I heard floated (probably posted in here). and Wisconsin is a surprise but could be fun. No idea what the food scene is like up there
https://www.eater.com/24065178/what-to-expect-top-chef-season-21-wisconsin-kristen-kish-new-host Notably, each episode will also now run for 75 minutes, as opposed to the current 42. How exactly this additional time will be spent remains to be seen. And while most of the season is taking place in Milwaukee and Madison, it’ll end with a “high-seas finale” set on a cruise. There will also be appearances from W. Kamau Bell and The Bear’s Matty Matheson.
I'm sure they give you some advantage or money for winning but still it feels like you'd be better off resting yourself and focusing on the elimination challenge
sounds like immunity might come from winning elimination challenges? imagine we’ll see more in the way of spectacular flameouts on quick fires but hopefully it prompts interesting risk-taking
have juicy details on one of the contestants from this year but would likely feel more comfortable private boarding it since randos regularly find these threads https://ew.com/top-chef-season-21-cast-premiere-date-trailer-8559815
i haven't watched since that challenge on the football field a few season back. has it been as good as the previous seasons?
1 episode of David was enough for me he got so pissed at Tom's critique, not long for the top chef world.