Judge Carla

Carla tries out the other side of the table...

NPR asked viewers to send in 'your best garlic recipe', and then asked local DC foodies to pick the best from the final three winning recipes. And 'Chef Carla Hall': competitor on Bravo's Top Chef and the owner of Alchemy Caterers, was one of the judges! (The NPR garlic recipe article.)

True Flavor

Top Chef's Stefan and Carla do a Cook-Off!

In Chicago on Saturday April 4th? - you're in luck.
Their duel is at the Merchandise Mart, from 6-9 p.m.

Its sponsored, ironically enough, by a place called 'The Chopping Block', and here are the True Flavor Cook-off details. Anyone up for a quick flight to the Windy City?

p.s. will upload my TC truck pics -this- weekend, honest!

*Pic credit to Arsenic and Old Face; he likes Carla too!

Fabio > Toby > TomC

TomC makes me like Toby...

... As for the decision to name Rosenberg the winner, Colicchio says he’s "not positive" if it was completely unanimous.

“It may have been three out of four [judges],” he says. “I don’t remember one hundred percent. I think Toby may have wanted to give it to Stefan if I remember correctly.”

And I hope this comes to pass:

Adds Colicchio, “At the end of the day, I would say Fabio will end up doing more than the winner only because of his personality. That’s where the personality comes in. This season, most people are going to remember Fabio.”

*Hopefully Hootie Hoo too. ;-)

MSNBC link: TC finale interview

Not So Easy

Tonight's the TC finale in the Big Easy! I'll be crossing my fingers for Carla, since I'm tired of Stefan & Hosea, the bald, quirky tools. And the preview showed this (see below) as the proteins for what must be the quickfire... (turns out they were for a surprise 4th course) Will any of these three have an advantage with this? (gator, anyone?)

Then its off to this place, er 'palace':
Not very royal looking; hadn't realized it was a such a dining icon. Was in New Orleans ages ago and never noticed it. But I will be paying attention tonight, honest! (their usual, non-TC menu)


eta: ... I'm sad

Oh Carla, why a sous-vide for the first time in the finale!?!

Q.) Think she might've won with Rich or Marcel as sous chef?

eta2: Answer: ,..'Nope' (thanks minx!)

Now Hair This!

Tidbits about Carla from a recent interview:

Q&A Top Chef's Carla Hall... Finding Her Sea Legs
(legs? she must use crabs vs. scallops...)

Viewers will see her tonight with a sleek new hairdo
as the cooking competition moves to New Orleans.
(Previews show Carla's hair is straight now.)

Q. Will we be seeing any photos of you from your modeling days?

Carla: Yeah, you might. (can't wait!)

Q. How hard has it been to read stuff... that wasn't so complimentary?

Carla: My husband would get upset when he read blogs, (uh oh) but I still don't read them. (whew!)

I wouldn't necessarily disagree with some of them. I knew I could cook better. I just needed to find my sea legs. It's like being on "Jeopardy!" and suddenly all the categories are the ones you know.

The Washington Post link - can be slow loading.

SubparBowl

The 'What Were You Thinking' Awards
for Top Chef Episode 5.10 are in:

(drumroll...)

3rd place: Nikki - chicken livers?...
For a SuperBowl snack? Really?

2nd place: Fabio - eggplant & dry oatmeal? Ew.
And made into a cylinder no less... 'nuf said.

1st place: Fabio(encore) - overdone deer. Ew.
But this award is mainly for the missed opportunity:

Dude! - You're from Italy, you had meat, you had cheese, this was a SuperBowl Party... If you'd only made them some little pizzas on toast you would've been the one going to the SuperBowl! Sheesh!

Couldn't've said it better myself, congrats Carla!


*Thanks and credit to Minx for the pic!