I’ve tried to not bag on Wisconsin cuisine too hard, but boiled, unseasoned fish and potatoes is so dire. And these people are proud of it!
Tom said that Manny didn’t make a Top Chef-level plate — and was right — but this was not a Top Chef-level challenge, at least not this late in the season. It’s fitting that Justin and Sara were here because it reminded me of that stupid barge party challenge they did on the Kentucky season.
Forcing chefs to make great food out of frankly insane bullshit like boiled fish explosions seems like...I mean...where *else* are you gonna put that? That can't be an early challenge, you'll instantly be numb when a solid 10 of the chefs completely fuck it up...at least at this stage we know there'll be chefs that take the garbage they're given and make something good out of it.
Then again...throwing it out there as the FIRST elimination challenge (and make it a triple elimination) would be a fun bit of SHOCK and AWE to throw at the chefs, lol
It also made sense in some ways as the final elimination challenge before LCK's finale. That way if you were to lose on such a wackadoo challenge, you'd still be able to come back the next episode. Too bad that wasn't the case for Soo however.
I feel like there's no way they would have done that challenge were it not for the whole FIRE element. I mean, I'm not a fan of plain boiled fish either but now I really want to go to a fish boil just for the spectacle.
Not only for the gore and excitement of it all, but for how it embodies our almost *viciously* uncaring universe, lol. You start getting on a roll and then BAM some crazy stabs you in the hand! I bet Savannah would have at least been in Manny's position (obviously not the one going home) if she was still in the bottom three.
I kinda lowkey started rooting for her a bit more the last few episodes, just too bad she had to go and commit te-kiri(?) early on and started spiralling.
Cornelius lay on the sidewalk catching his breath, internally trying to assess how badly he was hurt. He had reflexively shifted as the kick came in, sparing his testicles the full brunt of the impact. His thigh would probably be worse for wear, though.
As he went through this process he heard his assailants hustling away, removing their rubber Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan masks, respectively.
There's a Cornie Rempel who's locally famous in the town near where I grew up as an Elvis impersonator, so I guess rural Manitoba is different than rural California. Who knew!
Meanwhile on Vince's other Substack his eyes are bulging and teeth are clenched to shattering, spittle flying as he hammers on his poor keyboard, pouring out a landslide of fan-fiction where he gets bitten by a radioactive Manny becoming The Amazing Mannycini.
Legitimately one of the funniest reviews of Top Chef I've ever read. Harkens back to the days of Isaac ups and and his sidekick Peppa (IYKYK).
"Chez Fart Smith," Tom talking to his goons, and "Nux Haddocksmasher, Chief Gas Thrower for the Society of Wisconsin Fish Boil Appreciators" had me legitimately laughing out loud.
Everyone reading this for free should subscribe just based on those puns alone.
Thank you. I miss Isaac and Peppah. I had so much more material back in the day. I feel like I have to really sweat for it these days, so I'm glad it's appreciated.
Lived in Wisconsin for almost my entire life and have never heard of a fish boil...and this episode really left me never wanting to hear about or go to a fish boil.
My other thought on why Tom thought the fish boil challenge was a good idea for a full episode (rather than Last Chance Kitchen) was because it aligns with the Top Chef abhorrence of foam by literally pushing the foam formed in the boiling process away with a fireball. Very foam-focused, flashing back to Marcel circa season two or three.
Speaking of fingerlings with duck fat, your...
*falls into trap door*
I’ve tried to not bag on Wisconsin cuisine too hard, but boiled, unseasoned fish and potatoes is so dire. And these people are proud of it!
Tom said that Manny didn’t make a Top Chef-level plate — and was right — but this was not a Top Chef-level challenge, at least not this late in the season. It’s fitting that Justin and Sara were here because it reminded me of that stupid barge party challenge they did on the Kentucky season.
Forcing chefs to make great food out of frankly insane bullshit like boiled fish explosions seems like...I mean...where *else* are you gonna put that? That can't be an early challenge, you'll instantly be numb when a solid 10 of the chefs completely fuck it up...at least at this stage we know there'll be chefs that take the garbage they're given and make something good out of it.
Then again...throwing it out there as the FIRST elimination challenge (and make it a triple elimination) would be a fun bit of SHOCK and AWE to throw at the chefs, lol
Fair point!
It also made sense in some ways as the final elimination challenge before LCK's finale. That way if you were to lose on such a wackadoo challenge, you'd still be able to come back the next episode. Too bad that wasn't the case for Soo however.
Sara should have bought ingredients for Michelle to make 300 jello shots.
#partymom
I feel like there's no way they would have done that challenge were it not for the whole FIRE element. I mean, I'm not a fan of plain boiled fish either but now I really want to go to a fish boil just for the spectacle.
Oh yeah, it was definitely a “flame get big” moment. I’ll go to a fish boil, but I’m bringing my can of Slap Ya Mama to cover everything with flavor.
This season really has been a genuinely good commercial for a Wisconsin lake vacation.
I can't believe you didn't mention the blood. SO MUCH BLOOD.
Not only for the gore and excitement of it all, but for how it embodies our almost *viciously* uncaring universe, lol. You start getting on a roll and then BAM some crazy stabs you in the hand! I bet Savannah would have at least been in Manny's position (obviously not the one going home) if she was still in the bottom three.
I kinda lowkey started rooting for her a bit more the last few episodes, just too bad she had to go and commit te-kiri(?) early on and started spiralling.
"Take that you old shriv!"
Cornelius lay on the sidewalk catching his breath, internally trying to assess how badly he was hurt. He had reflexively shifted as the kick came in, sparing his testicles the full brunt of the impact. His thigh would probably be worse for wear, though.
As he went through this process he heard his assailants hustling away, removing their rubber Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan masks, respectively.
"O'Doyle Rules!"
"Wait, I thought your name was Mancini?"
"Shut up Laremy, you'll blow our cover!"
"Cornelius?" In rural Fresno County? Come on, anyone with that many syllables in their name we'd ride out of town on a rail.
There's a Cornie Rempel who's locally famous in the town near where I grew up as an Elvis impersonator, so I guess rural Manitoba is different than rural California. Who knew!
Okay, I take it back, "Cornie" is awesome.
Meanwhile on Vince's other Substack his eyes are bulging and teeth are clenched to shattering, spittle flying as he hammers on his poor keyboard, pouring out a landslide of fan-fiction where he gets bitten by a radioactive Manny becoming The Amazing Mannycini.
Legitimately one of the funniest reviews of Top Chef I've ever read. Harkens back to the days of Isaac ups and and his sidekick Peppa (IYKYK).
"Chez Fart Smith," Tom talking to his goons, and "Nux Haddocksmasher, Chief Gas Thrower for the Society of Wisconsin Fish Boil Appreciators" had me legitimately laughing out loud.
Everyone reading this for free should subscribe just based on those puns alone.
Thank you. I miss Isaac and Peppah. I had so much more material back in the day. I feel like I have to really sweat for it these days, so I'm glad it's appreciated.
Lived in Wisconsin for almost my entire life and have never heard of a fish boil...and this episode really left me never wanting to hear about or go to a fish boil.
My other thought on why Tom thought the fish boil challenge was a good idea for a full episode (rather than Last Chance Kitchen) was because it aligns with the Top Chef abhorrence of foam by literally pushing the foam formed in the boiling process away with a fireball. Very foam-focused, flashing back to Marcel circa season two or three.