Top Chef?

I should be a judge on the panel on Top Chef. I didn't go to culinary school, nor do I run a restaurant. But I do know the difference between a good chef and one that shouldn't be in the kitchen.
I did not agree with the judges decision to eliminate Tre. Yes, his salmon dish was too salty and his potatoes was too smoky. And he even agreed with judges when they pointed that out to him. Unlike Hung who thinks every dish he makes is perfect. He even doubted the opinions of three top executive chefs. Yet he remains in the competition.
Sara has had some bad dishes, but for once she stood up to the other chefs and made her voice heard in the kitchen. Does that make her better than Tre?
Even Howie makes one wonder how he still remains in the competition. And can some one please make him wipe the sweat off his face. Seeing sweat drop in the food that he is preparing is really gross.
Do the Top Chef judges talk to the Food Network executives before they decide who to eliminate?

Hell's Kitchen

Congrats to Rock. And well done to Bonnie. I have to say that Bonnie is a real team player. Even if she didn't win. She took her lost with a grain of salt and still have a smile on her face and well wishes for Rock too.
Now, Julia. Shame on you girlfriend. If you didn't want to come back on the show you should have said so. I am not happy with the way you acted in the kitchen. Hopefully when you finish culinary school you will learn that a chef is a professional. And no matter how you feel, you back your kitchen crew up. Cry over it when you clock out.
I should also say that Josh should go back for a refresher course in how not to burn food. My son gives me evil looks if his French fries are slightly over cooked. I would never serve burnt crab cakes.
All in all, to me this was the best Hell's Kitchen season. I hope that Rock will do well in Sin City.

Tomatoes

For anyone that has read my past post, I planted tomatoes with my dad this year and I bragged about my first harvest. I even took my tomato to work with me and showed my co-workers my perfect tomato.
Today's blog is to inform you that I am overwhelmed with tomatoes. Big ones, long ones, huge ones. They are everywhere.
I told my co-workers that I would be bringing some in for them to enjoy but, that won't put a dent in the crop that is growing in the tomato patch.
I am not Italian, althought I do make a mean ziti, broccoli rabe, caponata (thanks to a guy name John from Edison who I met and cooked with at the East Brunswick Vo-Tech High School's culinary program), sausage and peppers, lemoncello cocktail and meatballs, just to name a few.
I want to make Sunday sauce, but I want a recipe fromthe old country. Can anyone help a sister out?

Hell's Kitchen

Best of luck to Bonnie and Rock.
The two chefs got a chance to meet their future bosses when they went to Las Vegas. In the challenge, Bonnie won with her dish. Yes, girlfriend has a few tricks up her sleeves that is just now coming to surface. But Rock made a point when he said he was being set up to lose against a nanny/personal chef.
Not saying that a nanny/personal chef can't cook. I am a journalist but my passion is in the kitchen.
But Bonnie will be working in Las Vegas where money pours 24/7. Will their future boss really risk hiring a nanny/personal chef to run a multi-million dollar restaurant instead of an experience executive chef? For that matter, will they hire Rock just because he would be the first African-American to run a Las Vegas restaurant?
Stay tune to next Monday to find out.

Top Chef

I had to watch Top Chef twice before I posted this blog. I am beginning to wonder just who decides who goes and who stays in this contest.
Howie is clearly the "bulldog" that rubs everyone's last nerve. Sara from Jamaica is a good cook but she is not a great chef. And "baby"Sara isn't bossy enough. Why wasn't Howie given the boot before Sara?
And when Hung didn't follow his own plan to freeze the food in separate containers instead of letting Joey put the sauce in with the pasta, why wasn't Hung let go for not being a leader?
By the way, I think Hung is a fake and he is so like Stephen who thought all of his dishes were great yet he has not been able to get the respect from experienced guest chefs yet. Come down to earth Hung, it's ok if you don't know it all.
At any rate, I hope that Top Chef puts out a cookbook of all the recipes. I do have room for another cookbook now.

Holding on to the Summer

The summer is almost over folks. :(
The thought of not having Jersey Beefsteak Tomatoes, summer corn and melons is making me sad.
I try to visit as many farmers markets each weekend to savor as much of what Jersey has to offer because I know soon it will be over.
I also want to mention that my first tomato plant has graced me with a ripe tomato. Yes, my single tomato is perfect. It has no insect marks, it is a perfect shape. And yes, I love it so much that I will hold on to it for as long as I can. I will even take pictures of it. It is a great feeling when something that you planted and watered and watched over, protected and talked to, finally produce such a beautiful tomato.
I am so proud.

Hell's Kitchen

The kitchen is really heating up on Hell's Kitchen. Chef Gordon gave Josh the boot before service was over. So that left four chefs to finish kitchen duty.
In the end, Bonnie had to choose between Jen, Rock and Julia as to who would go home.
With Rock and Julia on the chopping block, C.G. asked Julia to take off her chef coat.
I had to hand it to Julia, she is a true chef in the making. She doesn't have all of the skills that it takes to run a kitchen of her own, but you can tell she loves her job. And believe me, if you don't love what it takes to be in the kitchen, you don't need to be there.
I was really happy that Chef Gordon decided to send her to culinary school. She may be able to work in his kitchen when she is done.
Now that leaves Rock, Jen and Bonnie to fight for the chance of winning the competition. Who do you think will win?
By the way: Congrats to Tyler Florence on your marriage to Tolan, the birth of your new baby boy and the upcoming restaurant.