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I'm not always a fan of the recap show but this one was different enough to keep me watching. With audition tapes and extra scenes we never saw, it was entertaining enough.

The tapes sent in by the remaining contestants can be summed up in just a few words each:

Ken - he's a kid alright, Sugar - fun, wild girl with a sweet personality, Randy - hates people, big surprise, Matty - beach baby, laid back, Crystal - medal bragging, but what happened to her professed ability?, Corinne - promised to be a flirt, turned out to be a back stabbing something else.

The extra scenes were fun enough with leeches, eating bugs, romance between Marcus and Jackie, Matty singing for his girlfriend, and Bob teaching science class out in the wild. Some character enlightening scenes we hadn't seen involved Corinne complaining about how people acted at the reward picnic and how she hated them all, and how Sugar really grew up in exile, proving to herself that she can take care of herself, but all the while feeling guilty for eating when others weren't (okay we'd seen some of that).

My favorite scene was back at camp with Sugar talking to Corinne, telling her she really shouldn't be so negative, even saying that she was "a cancer in my ears." Priceless! Though Corinne let out her inner b*#&h after that and ranted to Randy.

A nice repeat performance of Randy getting duped rounded out the evening.

Coming attractions left the viewer wanting more with a scene of blurred butts as the boys go skinny dipping. Even Bob dove in without his bowtie. Looks like it will be fun! And seriously more entertaining than past nudity on the show.

Blog entry by Amy Hanek

Last night's Thanksgiving special began with a quickfire challenge from Padma and guest judge, Grant Achatz (named best chef of the year for 2008 by the James Beard Foundation). But there was a twist, of course.

Padma randomly gave each cheftestant a recipe from a previous season to recreate. No big deal, right?

"Wait." Padma interrupted everyone just 10 minutes into this challenge to say she had changed her mind. She wanted soup instead. Say Wha?

Leah won immunity in this soupy challenge with her White Asparagus Soup. You can find that recipe here: http://recipes.mt.bravotv.com/top_chef/season_5_1/episode_3_3/white_asparagus_soup.php

Leah also got to pick her team for the elimination challenge. She chose Fabio, Hosea, Stefan, Melissa Jamie and Radhika and they called themselves, "Team Sexy Pants."

Thanksgiving leftovers in this challenge were Carla, Gene, Ariane, Alex, Danny, Jeff and Richard. Because of Ariane and her cougar ways, the team went with the name Team Cougar.

And everyone couldn't believe it when they found out they'd be cooking for the famed Foo Fighters.

After a few minutes of hooting and hollering for their rock star clients, the teams are taken to Rochester to the arena where they would cater a Thanksgiving meal for the Foo Fighters and their 60 member entourage. Hopes of winning this challenge are deflated though as each team finds out they are not only preparing everything outside, but with one burner, toaster ovens and microwaves. Here's where I wonder if Swanson just couldn't afford to spring for a real kitchen.

Surprisingly, a little rain offered the biggest hurdle for the teams and they each produced a very nice Thanksgiving meal. Ariane actually rose to the challenge, performing one of the greatest comebacks ever. After all, it is about the turkey and hers was the best bird served.

Despite Ariane's moist and delicious turkey, Team Cougar got stuck doing dishes while Team Sexy Pants won the reward of attending the concert.

The losing dishes by Team Cougar were: Daniel's undercooked potatoes, Jeff's weird pumpkin mousse and Richard's not-so-great smores.

In the end, Richard got cut from the show. And I felt so bad for him, he was really upset. Poor guy.

During the quickfire challenge, I came up with a challenge for anyone reading along. Sometime soon, I plan to choose a recipe from a previous cheftestant (from any season) and reproduce it. Well, try anyway. I will take a picture and let you know how it turned out.

So, which recipe would you like to see me recreate? And please, please don't choose something with an outrageous or really expensive ingredient. You can find all of the recipes at this link here: http://recipes.mt.bravotv.com/featured_recipes/

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Cookies!

The fates were smiling though as Bob chose to share his handiwork with Sugar...the one person who could truly appreciate it.

It was auction time, Survivor style, with a few twists thrown in this season. Susie bought herself a hot bath and change of clothes, Corinne purchased a secret bottle to open at the next challenge, and Ken bought the rights to send someone to Exile...he chose Bob, and got to take his cash. Matty snatched up a cheeseburger and fries, while Randy slapped down the cash for a beer and peanuts. Sugar hit the sweet spot with chocolate and peanut butter. The controversy came in when Jeff offered up a tribe treat to the first person to cough up twenty bucks. Randy thought he was going to hold it over people's heads and "offered" up the plate to Sugar first, who turned him down. Take a sweet from a wicked man? She knows better! Corinne took one and half, and when it was down to one, Randy offered again to Sugar, who took it but handed it over to Matty. Randy was seriously irritated.

Back at camp it was all anyone heard, how Randy's offering was not appreciated and how Sugar took "his" cookie. Whatever!

At Exile, Bowtie Bob goes on his own personal African safari rather than hunting the missing necklace. He found his Eden.

The challenge was an interesting one with balance beams and a fun domino type course to raise the flag. With Corinne's secret bottle she was given a free pass to the head of the line and became one of three competing for glory, but even then could not grab the necklace. Ken won immunity.

Back at camp, Sugar convinced (pretty easily) Bob to hand the fake immunity necklace he'd made over to Randy and let him think it was real. The trap was set. At Tribal, Sugar prophecied, "This will be the funkiest night of your life."

The tribe has spoken.

During voting, Crystal was none too confidential and shouted to the camera, "Forget you! Go Home!" Which started the giggle fest. Jeff asked that anyone who had the immunity necklace step up and use it, and Randy chose to play his ace. His face and Corinne's were so smug and confident, while Sugar and Crystal and others were trying hard to keep from bursting out laughing. Even Jeff seemed to be trying hard to hold it together. And as he announced that it was not the immunity necklace, and tossed it into the fire, Randy and Corinne's faces dropped in shock. Priceless! The votes were read and Randy was sent walking the dark path as the laughs finally escaped. Even the jury found it amusing. Me? I was laughing out loud in an empty living room. Glorious! I did feel the slightest bit of schoolyard shame, but not enough to dampen the mood.  How about you?

 
Blog entry by Amy Hanek
 
This week the contestants were asked to Hot Dog it NYC style in the quickfire challenge for the guest judge, successful NY restaurateur, Donetella Arpaia.
 
Jill and Stefan fell into the loser category with their unimpressionable dogs and Fabio and Radhika landed on top of the heap with their version of this street fare. Radhika won the challenge with her Indian-inspired kabob, taking immunity with her into the elimination challenge.
 
Heading to Tom's flagship restaurant, Craft, the teams broke into groups of five to create appetizers, entrees and desserts for 50 Top Chef wanna-bes from NYC. These guys were brutal.
 
Told to create New-American cuisine, the menu ranged from a simple cold corn soup to meatloaf. Comments ranged from "really, really good" to "I coulda done way better than this." But the defining moment of the show had to be with Padma, spitting her food back into her napkin. It was Arian's way-too-sweet Lemon Meringue Martini. That's just good television.
 
In the end, Joe, Jill, and Arian lined up to defend their losing dishes. But Jill was sent packing after giving the lamest excuse ever on the history of Top Chef, according to Gail. And Arian squeaks by, if only to redeem herself next week. Let's hope so.
 
Carla, Jamie and Fabio were the Top Chefs this week. With Fabio's spherical olives, his Beef Carpaccio really won Donetella over. And no wonder. The dish was unique, beyond anything else dished up that day.
 
Now that Team Euro has taken the first two elimination challenges, I wonder, is arrogance really the attitude du jour needed to win Top Chef?
 
Here's the winning recipe from Bravo TV: http://recipes.mt.bravotv.com/top_chef/season_5_1/episode_2_2/beef_tenderloin_carpaccio.php
 
Next week, Team Euro may face their most difficult elimination challenge, Thanksgiving. How will their food fare? What do you think?

Bowtie Bob

It was a night of desperate measures on Survivor:Gabon, for some. Going in circles, mock idol making, two faced talk and hand slamming fire sparking made for interesting television.

At reward challenge, Corinne and Charlie reacted hard to Marcus having been voted off. Corinne spoke up, saying that Marcus deserved to be there more than anyone else. Does that mean the rest of the tribe is full of losers who don't deserve to be there? Ken thought so. Turning the focus back to the task at hand, the challenge was a fun one. Slingshot golf on a large scale. I'd love to play that game! Fang won after a bit of an argument between Matty and Randy over how to get the ball in when it is just six inches outside the goal. Relax people! Bowtie Bob was exiled and felt truly on the outside. In a desperate measure, after not finding the idol that Sugar has in hand, Bob concocted an awesome fake to take back "home" to camp. Science teachers can be mighty creative it seems.

The reward seemed a good time with a village visit complete with adorable two year old girl to hold hands with. Talk turned to strategy even in the midst of fun.

Meanwhile, back at camp, Ken was desperate to get the boat unleashed from a hangup on a branch. Paddling in circles, he was truly pathetic. Sorry, but wow. He did bring home the bacon, er, fish, and made some points with Susie and Crystal.

The immunity challenge started out with the news that desperate Bob may not need to be so desperate, with the merge finally occuring. Relief? Or grief? Time will tell. The challenge was basic. Build a fire before anyone else and burn the string over it. Those who thought so much of themselves got pretty desperate as Sugar and Susie sparked flame and got the job done. Susie won individual immunity.

The combining of camps wrought a pile of food and even coffee, and the task of creating a new tribe name if not a true tribe unified. Randy gunned for Crystal, Corinne demonstrated her two faces to Sugar, and Ken got sneaky. At tribal, the gloves came off of Randy with Crystal challenging him to be upfront. He goes off on her "posse" and "gang" attitude early in the game. Open mouth and insert foot. Randy showed his true colors and he isn't pretty.

Sweet Sugar cried over her vote and in the end Crystal got four and Charlie got five. At least he'll get to hang out with his bud Marcus on the jury.

Blog entry by Amy Hanek

Top Chef, Season Five, premiered last night with a few twists of the knife. Before even arriving to the kitchen, Tom, Padma and Gail gave the 17 cheftestants a Quickfire Challenge, Big Apple style. This surprise challenge was a real shock to the newly arrived. Especially to Lauren who failed and was sent packing. Buh-bye.
 
The judges took advantage of this season's new locale and sent the cheftestants into NYC's diverse neighborhoods in search of inspiration and a meal.
 
Stefan won immunity from the quickfire apple challenge. But this didn't stop him from winning over the palate of world famous chef, Jean George Vongerichten in the Elimination Challenge with his rendition of a middle eastern dish: Lamb Chops with Tabouli, Hummus and Middle Eastern Yogurt Sauce.
 
Check out the dish and recipe here: http://recipes.mt.bravotv.com/top_chef/season_5_1/episode_1_2/lamb_chops_with_tabouli_beef_skewer_hummus_and_yoghurt_sauce.php
 
With a great big target on his chef jacket, Stefan may need to watch his back in the kitchen. Ovens have been known to turn themselves off during past seasons.
 
Patrick, the youngest cheftestant and culinary student, had to listen to Padma say those five little words, "pack your knives and go."
 
This kitchen crew really seemed to show a lot of support for each other. It was refreshing. But I wonder how long this will last. Right now, my favorite has to be Gene (Eugene). He's self-taught, but really seemed to surprise the judges last night with a middle eastern rendition of lamb, sweet rice and tzatziki.
 
For more pictures of cheftestant's plates go here: http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/photos/gallery.php?e=episode_1_rate_the_plate
 
So, dish it. Who stands out as the favorite this season? Which cheftestant doesn't deserve to even be there (if there are any)? What do you hope this crew will do in NYC?

Blog entry by Amy Hanek

Look out foodies. Top Chef will begin season five this week on Bravo, with a kitchen crew of 17 very diverse "cheftestants."
 
With a chef for a husband, and my own food and beverage background, I've always been a regular watcher of this show. But remember, Top Chef is great because it brings out the chef in all of us.
 
Many may actually use the kitchen for something other than the storage of leftover Chinese food and pizza. And I think this simple act should award those chefs the title of Top Chef at home.
 
Who wouldn't want to turn breakfast into a quickfire challenge or dinner into an elimination challenge? And at the end of the day, when dinner is on the table, who doesn't sometimes feel the kids have turned into a panel of judges, picking apart every ingredient? (I'm raising my hand).
 
Back to those new "cheftestants."
 
After perusing the Bravo TV website (found here http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/about/index.php) I found bios. After glancing through them all, it looks like Tom, Gail and Padma (the judges) will once again mix the self-taught with the well-schooled, forcing the question, which type of training better prepares you? And what really makes a chef, a chef?

Is talk cheap television? Some viewers may have been bored by all the chatter last night on Survivor:Gabon but this is where the real social game comes to play. It's not all about strength of body.

Fang began the evening saying how they would stick together through a merge they all expected to be coming. While on Kota, Corinne was being vindictive over what Susie had said at tribal. Pretty high school if you ask me. Tree mail hinted at the merger that wasn't to be. The feast was on in a big way. I was drooling over the variety of foods and can only imagine how those starving people must have felt. Elation comes to mind. Yet there were temptations that were not to be touched. A Pandora's Box sat waiting for all to finish eating and hidden in plain sight was a clue to a close by immunity idol. Ken was first to spot it and Charlie second, but rather than keep it a secret, Charlie spilled the beans and shared. Randy dug up the thing and acted like it was the greatest achievement ever. It was practically in plain sight with a map pointing the way! Marcus seemed to convince everyone that it would be best to, as a group, toss the idol to Tritan, thus keeping an even ground among the tribe members. This decision was held over everyone's heads, but in the spirit of becoming (what they thought would be) one tribe, no one wanted to grab the forbidden fruit. Randy was a bit obnoxious in the presentation of the idol to the ocean, but maybe it was the wine talking. Back to the secret in the  box, everyone drew stones and new tribes were formed, evening out the numbers if not the odds.

New tribes: Marcus, Crystal, Ken, Susie and Bowtie Bob on Kota, Randy, Matty, Charlie, Sugar and Corinne on Fang. And the talking grew more desperate.

The biggest result of the chatter was Sugar being told by Matty that Ace hadn't been gunning for her, and her tearing up over it. Perception is the key though. Who was telling the truth last episode? Was Ken dissing Ace or being real?

The immunity challenge was interesting in a power of wills and arm strength. And just when Fang had seemed to decide to throw the challenge and vote out Matty, they are faced with a challenge that didn't allow for a fake out. Matty gained immunity for his tribe but also saved his own behind.

The talk at camp continued as Marcus talked to Susie and Crystal, and Crystal talked to Ken and Susie, and then talk at council had Marcus looking sort of bullyish to Ken. Two and two and then Susie's vote was counted to help Marcus get snuffed. Words seemed to be mightier than muscle in this episode.  So was it a cheap shot or classic Survivor style?