Top Chef season 7 episode 6 was rather cold

by Teresa Gubbins, Shannon Sutlief

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Dallas chef Tiffany Derry came in second.

The most interesting thing about Wednesday night's episode of Top Chef season 7 was in the judging process: It had the chef-testants judge each other.

They formed two teams. While one team cooked, the other voted for best and worst dish. This was no empty exercise: Their choices became the finalists from which real judges Tom, Padma et al picked the winner and loser. Kevin won, somewhat unexpectedly, for his Tuna & Veal with Mediterranean Condiments. Tamesha lost for a scallop dish that wasn't skillfully prepared.

Dallas contestant Tiffany Derry, chef at Go Fish Ocean Club in North Dallas, came in second for her seared tuna in gazpacho, which everyone pronounced refreshing.

PegNews staffers Shannon & Teresa make like the U.S. versus the USSR:

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TG: First thing I hate: that they've turned the announcement of who wins the quickfire into a cliffhanger. Just to get another commercial break. They used to say who won the quickfire right away. I find cliffhangers to be manipulative.

SS: I guess they're trying to force us to stick around.

TG: Unhappy face.

SS: I also hated the whole Cold War contrivance tonight. The pointlessness of taking a ride on the boat.

TG: With the annoying "strategy" subplot. Strategy! Cold war STRATEGY! The entire direction of the episode seemed to be to imply that Angelo was "using strategy". I did not get that at all. I thought he & Tamesha were friends?

SS: They were, but then they insinuated that he let her send out bad food instead of giving her his honest opinion.

TG: But it makes no sense. Saying Kenny's dish was bad -- THAT would be an act of strategy.

SS: I just think Bravo was trying to make it seem like Angelo is such a villain he'll even sabotage his allies. No one is safe!

TG: The quickfire was pretty gross. Gross-out food.

SS: Never seen llama before. But doesn't making an omelet from emu eggs seem like a cop out? I think ‘cold challenge’ was a little lame, too.

TG: Yes. Boring dishes. Although it did make me think of what would be good cold. I was surprised they all did meat. I woulda done a lovely veg casserole. I have my sweet-potato pone of which I am very fond. Can be served room temp.

SS: They all picked stuff I thought of like carpaccio and tuna salad and gazpacho.

TG: The whole thing of voting for each other seemed new-ish and interesting.

SS: I liked that, except they really tried to push strategy side of it.

TG: Yeah F the strategy.

SS: And there was practically no judges table discussion. I actually missed it.

TG: : It looked like Tiffany was going to win this week.

SS: They seemed to think a lot of her tuna and gazpacho dish.

TG: She comes off as very dispassionate. I fear she'll prove to be an unsatisfying winner. You need someone to jump up and down.

SS: But I also don't like Kevin's reaction. Like boastful, a little ungrateful.

SS: Well, he's young. He had the clear-cut enthusiasm. The fist pull or whatever you call it. He made all the judges smile.

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