Podcast

Top Chef CANADA!

Top Chef Canada is back and I’m really excited. Well, I was until I watched the first episode, but more on that in a moment. We’re not going to have time to podcast about each episode but we are going to try really hard to write short blog posts each week to spark discussion and hopefully we’ll do a podcast at the end. Please comment with your thoughts or tweet at us @packyourmics.

Now, some thoughts about s04e01. I should say, I’ve absolutely loved this show before but I’m a bit discouraged by the first episode of the new season. Specifically:

I’m done with immunity forever. There has never been a point on the show when I’ve thought, “Thank goodness that person had immunity or a serious injustice would be done here.” The only time it matters is when it’s causing harm. Every Quickfire should be for money the end.
“The most extreme season”? Ugh. And part of that teaser included the mild insinuation that a chef dies in a fire. What the hell? I love talented people being talented, not chefs running from fires and being EXTREME.
Battle of the sexes? Ugh some more. More 90s reality TV tropes. You’re better than this!
The only chef I’m even a little interested in at this point is Gabriela Neda. Most of the other chefs seem like jerks and WAY under qualified compared to previous seasons. Did they have trouble casting this season?
On the plus side, at least the Canadians have their knife block at the ready when the season starts. MORE KNIFE BLOCK!

For those we encouraged to watch this show, I may have to apologize soon. Are you worried too? Did you find anything to love at this point? Let us know in the comments!

Episode 17 – GIGANTIC SIGH

Well, it’s happened. The thing we all dreaded, the thing Alex promised us would never happen, the thing the Mayans predicted all those years ago. And all we have left to do is pick up the pieces.

It’s sad, of course, but we had to have seen it coming. The lengths the producers went to trying to convince us Nick was human and the finale was close, it had to be a give away. Still, as we move through our stages of grief towards acceptance, at least we have each other. And this picture of Stephanie looking how we feel.

Nick, you peaked well at just the right moment. Congratulations.

Nina, I’ll go to your restaurant any chance I get.

Thanks to everybody for listening, it’s been a really fun season. We’ll be back from time to time during the off season to talk about Top Chef Canada, Masters, and maybe even Extreme. Keep in touch!

Episode 16 – Anybody But Nicholas

Our time here is drawing to a close. There’s only one more episode, a classic battle between good and evil. Will Nina win it for all that is great and wonderful or will Nicholas go down in history as the worst performing chef to win since Kevin in The Lost Season?

If Nick wins, everybody watching will make this face.

We spend this episode trying to find something, anything, to like about Nick but we also talk about Hawaii, Nick’s perceived neck thickness (PNT) and, of course, listener mail. See you at the finale!

Episode 15 – Ticket To Hawaii

Is it so much to ask for Nick to get eliminated? Geez. All I want is for some hot reality-show food justice to be served on season 11’s undisputed villain.

Instead, Nick gets his ticket for Hawaii punched and we have to wait one more week to find out who gets eliminated along with him before the final challenge.

In their last week in NOLA, the chefs cooked one bite for Gail, one vegetable for Tom, and then one mark you’re leaving on New Orleans. As usual, the Power Duo of Shirley and Nina left more of a mark than the boys.

And then somebody made Emeril cry.

Episode 14 – Turning Points

This week feels like a return to the regularly scheduled Nina/Shirley show after the insane drama of last week. Sure, Nicholas is still around and Stephanie isn’t and sure, he’s super annoying about everything still, but at least the people we want to see doing well are still doing well.

It’s still hard to figure out why the producers keep offering immunity (5 chefs? Are you nuts? We asked them but you’ll have to listen to the show to find out.). We also talk about how fun Jon Favreau is a guest judge and what we look for in a funny celebrity. Who would you like to see as a guest judge? Also WHAT IS PADMA WEARING??

Episode 13 – Controversy City

Holy knife block, Batman. Things are about to get controversial up in here. I want to dive right into but first, some facts:

[1] Nicholas wins immunity in the Quickfire, the first time immunity has ever been awarded with just 6 chefs remaining.

[2] It’s a team challenge, so the losing chef has to come from the losing team.

[3] Nicholas sucks it up and causes his team to lose, despite objections about his dishes from podcast favorite Stephanie Cmar.

[4] Thus either Stephanie or Shirley have to go home for dishes that the judges LOVED.

[5] Tom is not happy.

There is so much to say about this so let’s dive right in!

Episode #12 – It Came From The Sea

We’re back from the holiday with another action packed episode* (*please note, action in this case refers to giggling). First up, John Besh and his weird hair returns. What is with his hair and why does everybody on the show love it so much?

John and his hair challenge everybody to cook tiny lobsters. Padma does her impression of one of the crawfish before it gets killed.

Continuing the theme of sea-bounty, the chefs have to cook a dish featuring two different local seafood items. Almost everybody makes ceviche. The chefs in the bottom are there for making tasty dishes that don’t highlight the ocean critters enough.

In comments, tell us your favorite thing that comes from the sea, whether you can eat it, watch it, or make fun of its weak superhero powers.

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Episode #11 – Back To School Special

College is the place for experimentation, not boring shrimp.

But first! For the Quickfire challenge, the chefs have to cook drumsticks. For a drummer, because Top Chef loves the puns all of a sudden. Specifically, they’re cooking for Questlove of the The Roots, which is awesome. In a slightly awkward moment, he’s there to plug his restaurant which has since closed. Oops.

Next up, the chefs “go back to school” as they keep saying. Really they’re just going to a school, but it’s hard not to be cute. They’re at LSU (the only university with a live tiger, apparently).

They cook for 500 students, which is amazing, and they do it without well distributed cooking equipment. Who will help the kids put on the freshman 15 and who will make them wish they didn’t have a meal plan? Find out.

Also, if you haven’t, you should definitely watch Behind the Mask on Hulu.

In comments, tell us if your college experience was mostly about stealing food OR when you became a foodie.

BONUS! Interview with Top Chef’s Executive Producers

Holy crap, you guys. Something really amazing happened. I got permission to interview Nan Strait (executive producer of Top Chef seasons 1-10) and Hillary Olsen (EP of TC11) from Magical Elves!

I got them both on the phone and grilled them about the Knife Block, pea puree, and many other important topics. Oh, and by grilled, I mean I was a bit nervous and I asked them softball questions. But it was really fun and I learned a bunch of stuff about Top Chef. I hope you do too!

Episode #10 – Cook Your Mom’s Food

Every week the chef’s say they want to be able to cook their own food. But it turns out their also pretty good at cooking their moms’ food. But first, a Quickfire that features the unsubtle sponsorship of Dunkin’ Donuts. Here, guys. Cook something with our sponsor’s coffee on it.

Once that’s over and Shirley has a new air conditioner, it’s time for a very straight-forward challenge that lets the chefs excel: Cook something that reminds you of home.

But cooking well and thinking about your kids can make some people emotional.

But he still cooks so well, Anthony Mackie wants to be his daughter.

What do you crave when you go home? (Is it cheese?)

Also, stay tuned in a couple days for a very special Pack Your Mics Extra!