Top Chef - It's All In How You Cut It

The Chef's go to Allen Brothers which is a meat supplier. They also do catalog orders which I have had and they are fantastic! The challenge is to cut individual chops from a dry aged rib rack and french the bone in 20 minutes. With the racks being dry aged, it was hard to cut. My mouth was watering just thinking what those steaks would taste like. Spike says that both of his grandfathers were butchers and it showed up in this challenge, he flew through those ribs.

The second half of this challenge is to cook a steak for guest judge Rick Tramonto. They get to use the chops they made at Allen Brothers. Chef Tramonto didn't taste any of the steaks, only looked for the butchering techniques and doneness. I couldn't judge a steak without tasting it, you would have had to roll me out of there! Spike and his butchering wins him the challenge.

The elimination challenge is to take over Chef Tramonto's restaurant, Tramonto's (how original) for a night. Chef Tramonto seems very reluctant to hand over his restaurant going as far as to beg the chefs not to upset his customers. Go take a tranquilizer Chef, it will be over before you know it! The chefs get to the restaurant and have to wait while Spike decides his proteins for appetizer and entree' which was his reward for winning the quickfire challenge. He chooses the tomohawk steaks for entree' and scallops that he found in the freezer for appetizer. Chef Tom is back and will be expediting the service. He stops by each chef's stations and makes some nervous about their choices like Lisa's peanut butter mashed potatoes. I love peanut butter but that is something I would have to be talked into trying. Stephanie's entree is beef tenderloin piled on a plate with mushrooms and apple sauce.

The guest judges for this round are the winners of the previous Top Chefs. They all loved Richard's sweetbread appetizer. Antonia also made sweetbreads and it looked as if Ilian was actually gaging over her dish. Chef Tom gets on Richard for being slow but Richard says he wants everything to be perfect even if the customers have to wait. Remind me to order another glass of wine if I'm going to be waiting! The judges loved Stephanie's dish, the taste as well as the presentation, which was, let's just say, different. Chef Tom looked like he was having more fun expediting the service than he does when he is out front eating. He has to remind the chefs that he is judging and to save him some food.

At judge's table the judges went to each chef in turn with the critique. Stephanie, Antonia and Richard all took it well. Then there is Lisa. Lisa was beaming when they praised her entree' and her peanut butter potatoes but then they started criticizing her shrimp appetizer, she had death ray look in her eyes again. That is one scary woman when she gets mad!

Spike screwed up royally. He picked frozen scallops from the walk in and challenged Chef Tramonto for having them there in the first place. Someone should shove a scallop in his pie hole. Talking to a chef, not to mention that he is a judge as well, only makes that target on your back that much bigger! Just to keep you guessing, the judges went after Lisa making her death ray glare scorch the table cloth. Stephanie wins the challenge (and Richard doesn't look to happy about that) and gets a prize of Chef Tramonto's cook book and a suite of GE Monogram appliances. Antonia and Richard will join her in Puerto Rico for the final.

The judges get on Spike and Lisa one last time telling Lisa that she has been in the bottom five times now but it's Spike that has to pack his knives and go. Stephanie has really jumped to the top out cooking Richard. I'm still thinking Richard to win but Stephanie is going to make him work for it! Double D

Hell's Kitchen-Goodbye Louross

Matt is still reeling from his poor performance during the dinner service from which he managed to squeak by without getting fired. The challenge the next day is a cooking relay which looks fun. They are to cook three items from the dinner service menu, scallops, Jan Dore and chicken. Jen's bossy side is still in control telling Louross that he should sit this one out since he is quick but gets nothing done. Louross, Bobby and Petrozza are frustrated with her yet they won't stand up to her. What! Are they afraid of her or what? When Chef ask which one will sit out, Louross says I am. Chef says he's surprised and Louross says so is he. Each chef will have 6 minutes to cook and 15 seconds to tell the next person where they left off. It's Matt vs Petrozza, Christina vs Bobby and Jen vs Corey who will go last. The last person will be the deciding factor for each team. Jen thinks she will be able to whip the other side, but in the end forgets to put sauce on two dishes and ultimately the red teams wins. The red team gets a day at the beach learning how to surf with Chef Ramsay. It looked like so much fun especially when Chef Ramsay threw JP into the water. I'm wondering if JP is not only the maitre'd, but also Chef Ramsay's personal manservant, he was bringing up the beach towels for heaven sake. Meanwhile, the blue team gets to scrub down HK for dinner service. Once back at the restaurant, Chef Ramsay tells the teams they will be creating their own dinner menus. The red team is working cooperatively while the blue team, you guessed it, it's a hostile takeover with Jen trying to control everything. Chef loves the red team's menu while he hates the blue team's and tells them to make some changes. At dinner service, both teams run into trouble with getting the plates out, but it is Matt who is dripping sweat into the pasta sauce and everyone is complaining that the sauce is too salty! Gawd, isn't that illegal or something? Good Grief, put a bandanna on your sweaty head! Matt is falling apart at every station on the red team, while Louross has a breakdown in the meat station. In the end, I think the red station had the most mess ups, but Chef declares the blue team as losers and chooses Petrozza to pick two for elimination. Petrozza chooses, Louross, he reminds me of a rabid chihuahua, and Jen, the snarling bull dog. Petrozza says of Jen, that she feels she has more to teach, when in fact she has more to learn. Spoken like a true poet chef! Chef Ramsay then asks Petrozza who he would choose to leave, and Petrozza says, Louross, which is exactly who Chef Ramsay said he would eliminate. So it's bye, bye for little chihuahua Louross. He should have stood up to that bullying like his mohawk stands up on his head, but in the end he could not stand up to Jen's snarling bulldog attitude. Jen, go pick on someone your own size and Louross grow a backbone!-Single D

The Bachelorette-Magic in the Air

DeAnna and her first three bachelors to share the mansion, Jeremy, Jesse and Rich (first impression roses) while the other poor fools have to live dorm style with bunk beds and outside showers. Yes, outside showers, no privacy there. The first group date is to LA's Magic Castle. The place looked like so much fun, the place where magicians gather and I suppose swap magic secrets. The first trick was the disappearing box, where DeAnna chooses Jason to accompany her. Into the box they go and poof, disappear, much to the disliking of the rest of the group. Jason pours his heart out to DeAnna but is unable to bring himself to tell her about his 3 year old son. How much of a lead does one need. He kept saying the time wasn't right. It's never right when there's kids involve. Spill, spill! Back in the salon, DeAnna is forced to watch the guys perform their own magic tricks. Some of them will need some magic to cover up their lame performances, like the twit Twilly, who instead of performing magic decided to do a 10 hr. one man play. Yawn, will some one wake me up when this is over, was the look on DeAnna's face. I thought that big goof, Richard making her an origami flower was very sweet. Paul from Canada must have really worked some magic on DeAnna, because she ended up giving him the date rose. She fell for that, I'm the youngest one here, 23, and I so know what I want in life ....gag me!

Back at the house, it's Graham that snags the single date. We all knew that was going to happen, since DeAnna is all but panting for him. As she said herself, "Graham is smoking hot!" Frankly, I just don't see it, I guess you have to be there. Their date is to the beach where they weakly attempt to fly a kite. After kite flying, DeAnna gets down to the serious language of why are you here and have you been in love before stuff. He tells her he has only been in love once before. DeAnna acts surprised by this and is concerned that he's only had that experience. Gee, how many affairs of the heart does she expect? The body language between the both of them looked so frozen and awkward, but I guess the bonfire lit something under DeAnna. Back at the house Graham kisses and tells and the guys are jealous. I thought it was funny when Ryan told the guys that he's still a virgin at 28, noticed how the room came to a screeching halt. Ok, I'm all for that finding the right one, but at 28 you might as get over it and just go for it or you'll end up like some 40 yr old virgin.

The next group date is to Dodger Stadium where they all meet with Tommy Lasorda. He reminds me of a fatter version of my dad. Hi Dad! I'm thinking the cutest one of that group date is Brian. Jeremy wins the most home runs hit and get quality alone time with DeAnna. I loved it how Lasorda got all frustrated with the guy's hitting, no matter what advice he gave them, they just swung at the ball when they wanted. Lasorda was so charming and spirited. I just love him! Jeremy tells DeAnna that both is parents are dead, which hits home with DeAnna, Now we know she's been through the same thing, but did she have to give him another rose? Come on, spread the wealth or in this case roses and give some other poor sap a chance. I think that just wasn't fair and the rest of the guys weren't too happy. But not to worry, because lunch is served, hot dogs and wine. Hey, where's the beer?

I loved the pale blue gown DeAnna wore to the rose ceremony. Three previous roses given out to Jeremy, Paul and Graham. Jeremy still tries to monopolize DeAnna's time. I guess he's going to be the Robin of this season. Jeremy better be careful or I might start to dislike him. Meanwhile, it's goodbye to Eric, quit the Greek talk, Chris and Ryan (the virgin). Ryan one word, don't save it, it's too late in the game. Maybe if you had sex you could have wooed DeAnna better. Sorry to see ya go. In this stage of the game, I'm getting a crush on Brian and have a soft spot for Jason, single dad. -Single D

OK, we all know DeAnna got jilted by Brad. Are we going to be subjected to the history at the start of every episode? Enough is enough, it's a new show and speaking of which.........I love it, 3 guys each week sharing the mansion with DeAnna while the rest stay in the guest house which has bunk beds complete with cowboy sheets and outdoor shower. Apparently the shower doesn't have hot water prompting Graham to comment that there will be a lot of shrinkage! To me, it looks like the perfect bachelor pad.

The Magic Castle did look like fun. They used to have something similar here at Caesar's Palace that I got to go to and it was fun! When Jason and DeAnna get some alone time after "disappearing", Jason starts to feel out DeAnna about kids but doesn't yet let her know he has one. Later, DeAnna asks Sean to go for a walk and they end up in a room with a player piano which mocks Sean every time he tries to talk. Frustrated, they go back to the group.

DeAnna asks the guys to perform their own magic tricks, that was ballsy. Knowing the guys I do, they would offer to pull a banana out of their pocket. Some had the usual card tricks but Twilly went WAY over board acting out an entire theatrical skit. I hope she made up her mind right then that he is out! Geeky science teacher Richard gets a big AWE by creating a paper flower for DeAnna, Ryan professes his faith and Paul tells DeAnna even though he is young he knows he is ready for marriage and kids which earns him a rose.

The first one on one date is with Graham. To the beach they go and try to fly kites. Graham tells DeAnna he has had only one relationship causing her to rethink her choice then turns around and gives him a rose. I guess the beach will do that to you. Meanwhile back at the bachelor pad, Ryan drops the "V" bomb and Jason drops the kid bomb. No one really had anything to say about Ryan being a virgin, but I'll bet they were thinking all kinds of things! I guess Twilly realized what a twit he made of himself at the Magic Castle and hid out in the bushes like some deranged rabbit waiting for DeAnna to come back from her date all so he could tell her about his serious side. What about that stalker side Twilly?

The second group date is at Dodger's stadium with Tommy Lasorta bearing Dodger's jerseys for all. He gives the guys a pep talk on how to win DeAnna but it didn't look like anyone was really listening. This is how I picture it, Tommy giving the pep talk and guys are thinking "wow I'm in Dodger stadium with Tommy Lasorta! Wait 'till the dudes at home see this. This is way cool! Oh yeah, I guess I should look like I'm listening". After the pep talk, it was time to sing the National Anthem. Half of the guys didn't even know the words much to Tommy's displeasure and the ones that did know the words butchered the tune. Oh well this isn't American Idol. The challenge was to see who could hit the most home runs and win time with DeAnna. I was hoping for hunky Brian when he tied two others with two runs each but he failed to get any more. Jeremy gets up to bat and kills it with 6 home runs and earns his prize. He finds a common bond with DeAnna in that they both have lost parents. I know it's bad, but I briefly thought maybe he was pulling a Johnny Fairplay (of Survivor fame) and just telling her his parents died. Erik gets a little face time with DeAnna but all he could talk about was being greek. OK, we got it! I could see it now, she would pick Erik and he would expect her to be in the kitchen or the bedroom all the time! He just strikes me as a controlling person. Uncle Tommy gives DeAnna some advise and she gives Jeremy the rose which was broadcast on the jumbotron which really depressed the other guys.

Before the rose ceremony, Twilly gets DeAnna alone when Jeremy comes in and steals her away. Come on dude, you have two roses give the girl, and the other guys, a break! Jeremy is getting on everyone's nerves since he does have two roses and not letting anyone else get alone time. That's ok, it's either a good game plan or he will start to get on DeAnna's nerves as well and then he'll be out. Before she gives out the roses, the guys start posturing like Peacocks and end up doing pushups. As they dropped out, it came down to Jesse and Brian. Go Brian! Brian dropped out at 97 pushups and Jesse would have kept going but the others picked him up at 99 and said that's enough and he gets some alone time with DeAnna.

DeAnna sends home Erik the Greek who still thinks he is all that and Chris who thinks he is all that and more. Ryan took it a little better. Looks like he'll stay a virgin a little longer. I too think Brian is a looker, tall, handsome, muscles to next week, hubba, hubba! I just hope he turns out to be a nice guys too, if so, I've made my pick! Double D

Tila Teliqua-Shot at Love # 2-Bo Punched

We left Tila Teliqua with a cliff hanger, Chad head butting Bo. I had to see what happened to Bo after that attack. Well, not only did Bo get head butted by the psycho maniac Chad, Chad also gave him a right to the jaw. Bo just stood there stoically, not even letting out the smallest of yelps. Where was the security on the set while this was happening? They should have rushed in immediately when Chad head butted Bo, but to let it get out of control to continue for the sake of TV ratings is just not right! Shame on you MTV! And Bo, why didn't you step back out of the way or at least go down or turn away when he first made contact? Instead, I know you stood there like a man and took it. Must be a guy thing. Some guy thing, now you're left with a broken jaw. Bo is spitting up blood and his tooth is gaping. I hope MTV is going to cover the hospital bills. Bo is rushed off the set to the hospital where we learn that his jaw is indeed broken and needs surgery. I hope Tila was worth it. What's a nice guy doing on a show like this? This guy is smart (well?), good looking, has a great job (high school football coach), why would he want someone whose reputation is so seedy that she makes Anna Nicole (bless her heart!) look like an angel. Maybe it was for that 15 minutes of fame? After learning that Bo took a beating and that Chad had been escorted off property, Tila cries for all of five minutes and then announces that she's hungry and getting cabin fever, so it's off to her favorite Moroccan restaurant, but not before she makes a stop to pick up recently rejected George and asks him if he's still interested in another shot at love. George of course is tickled. He's so sweet and innocent, she's going to break his heart all over again, smuck! In the restaurant everyone's happy that George is back, well, maybe some, looked like Jersey was less than pleased. And speaking of Jersey, I'm wondering why no one came forward to tell Tila that Jersey was co-conspirator in the Chad head bashing incident, that he was partly to blame for prodding Chad on and pumping up his roid rage punch. Lisa's not too pleased with the whole situation, as well, and asks Tila, "why did you bring back George" putting Tila on the spot. Lisa then says under her breath that "Tila's a fake" which of course is overheard by Tila. Gee Tila fake? Now there's a new concept! Everything about Tila is fake right down to those fake eyelashes. When they get back to the house Tila calls it an evening but everyone else feels like partying. MTV sensitively intersperses the party shots with poor Bo in lying in the hospital bed, IV's and all. The next day, Bo comes back to the house with a big bandage on his chin telling everyone that it was either have his jaw wired for six weeks and not be able to talk or have a plate put in so he could come back. He's back so what do you think he chose? Dummy, go home, she ain't worth it! You know you're getting dumped come next season if she decides to pick you! You've been punched, warned and wired shut! The challenge is a bathtub race, but Bo has to sit this one out along with Sibrina. Poor George, you're darned if you do and darned if you don't. George gentlemanly offers to sit this one out because he was brought back and wants to be courteous of the others. Tila said to George that she was disappointed that he didn't fight for a spot because he has to show that he wants to fight for her love. Aw come on Tila! Give the guy props for having a decent bone in his short little body for heavens sake! Of course, Lisa and Brittany win, Lisa wins every challenge, and Brittany says, that every time she wins, the other person gets eliminated. The double date with Tila goes well for Brittany, but Tila confronts Lisa as to why she called her fake. Lisa walks out and Tila goes chasing after her. Such drama which leads to arrrgh, a passionate kiss tween the two of them. Ugh! Tila's digging all the drama from Lisa, I think she likes to be dominated. In the end, it's Sibrina and Michelle that are eliminated, but not before Lisa gives her another big smooch in front of everyone during elimination. Ok everyone, close your mouths! My guess, Tila will chose a girl this time around, hey, it didn't work out with man-boy Bobby, maybe she'll see if she can make it with a girl. -Single D