Greetings Top Chef fans! First off, I want to thank everyone who has signed up, so far. We're on track to have a pretty good pool this year. For those of you who haven't signed up yet, you have until this Thursday, 9:59PM (before the episode starts). As soon as the episode starts, the draft form will close. You can draft HERE.
If you haven't drafted yet and want some unsolicited thoughts from yours truly, you can find my Episode 1 Recap below. Since we've seen all the Cheftestants before, let's play some...
"Second (or Third) First Impression Roundup"!
Kevin
"At this point in my career, we like to call this 'PFTS': People For That Shit. I got people for that shit." ...immediately follows that up by finishing first in cleaning artichokes. Chokes in the Elimination.
Draftability: Not a good start for my strategy of going with a Season 6-led team (Kevin, Jen, Voltaggio).
Jamie
Along with Stephanie, Jamie got an "unfair elimination" flashback. Was the only chef to be in the top team for both the Quickfire and Elimination.
Draftability: History will say (and by 'history', I mean this blog) that I dismissed Jamie for being a "dumb-dumb". I may have to eat crow. Could he be a darkhorse?
Mustache Joe
Made pasta (poorly) in the Quickfire, then makes super rookie mistakes in the Elimination. (Maybe wrongly?) is the 1st chef to pack their knives and go... to Last Chance Kitchen.
Draftability: I guess I was right about Season 15...
Melissa
We find out that she's a Libra and is super zen... but backs that up by being in the top team of the Quickfire and gets a positive shout-out from Tom at Judges' Table.
Draftability: A strong, under-the-radar start and may reward the fans who pick her.
Voltaggio
Is clearly the chef who the others respect the most, but what does that get you, really?. Gets the Quickfire monkey off his back and cooks a split-opinion dish in the Elimination.
Draftability: A clear favorite. Didn't see anything in this episode that changes that.
Nini
Really leaning into being the young one. It doesn't seem like she believes that she can win.
Draftability: A favorite of mine from last season. Fool me once...
Lisa
A non-descript, middle-of-the-road showing. Got picked last for
Draftability: I have no emotional investment in her, and didn't show much here.
Stephanie
Like Jamie, got an "unfair elimination" flashback. "I'm excited to introduce myself to these people on a fan level." Was part of the winning Elimination team and cooked a great dish.
Draftability: Another one where I might need to eat crow. If we had seven spots, she'd be on my team.
Karen
Was she even in this episode? She is a James Beard Award winner, which they noted in the first few minutes, then hardly heard from her since.
Draftability: Another darkhorse (if only for not getting much screen time). A contender for my 6th slot.
Malarkey
Malarkey started off by being slightly overbearing, or just a a dick, depending on how you look at it. Respect for working out at 5:30AM.
Draftability: Had no plans of drafting him before this episode. Hasn't changed.
Lee Anne
Messes up in the Quickfire with a bad tempura batter then follows up by pouring oil into the fire and charring her fish. (Maybe wrongly?) escaped elimination, but that means we get more of her one-liners.
Draftability: The only reason why I'd draft her is because she'd earn points in LCK.
Greg
Typical Greg. Pleasant, soft-spoken, and cooks great food. If I had to predict anyone winning the first Elimination, Greg was on the shortlist.
Draftability: The only reason why I wouldn't draft Greg is because everyone else is going to.
Angelo
Was the only chef where I had a "man, they got OLD!" reaction. Was terrible at mise and got a negative shout-out from Tom in the Elimination.
Draftability: My biggest surprise. Angelo is falling apart about 10 episodes before I thought he would.
Eric
Bragged about his speed, then got out-raced to the seafood selection table. Didn't quite shine as brightly as he did during his season.
Draftability: He was #1 in my pre-season Power Rankings. Can't give up on him so easily.
Jen
She can't shell almonds but she sure as hell can still cook fish. Her flashback was about her attitude in Season 8. Does that mean that she turned the corner or that we're about to get more of the same?
Draftability: If Jen is around, I will pick her. It's a lock.
Stray Thoughts:
- I gotta say, I feel a little bit robbed that everyone was just standing there at the Quickfire site, ready to go. No walk up? No "getting the gang back together" montage? For the record, the best "getting the gang back together" montage is this (and I will accept no other submissions):
- Padma welcomed back Gail officially which means that Gail is officially back which means that Graham must be gone!
- The accolades that Tom cares about: James Beard Nominees/Winners, Top Chef Runners-up, and Sexiest Chef winners.
- Mrs. Commish's Snark of the Week (during Stephanie's Elimination flashback): "I HATE NICK. I HATE HATE HATE NICK. HATE."
- "There's a lot of premature check from the boys." -- Lee Anne
- It's cool that my girl Brooke gets to do the awkward integrated marketing commercials this season, but does her husband's huge nose have to be a part of them too?
- Top Chef respects the snake draft.
- The house this season is beautiful... but was there no pool?
- It's interesting that Tom is shouting people out at Judges' Table, both positively and negatively. If he continues to do this, it might be up for a new scoring category for next season, not this one.
- If you have some time, check out Watch What Happens Live with the three Judges as guests. It was fun, and they had Nini as the bartender. Unfortunately, Andy called her Nina multiple times. Use that information for drafting however you'd like...
Scoring (if this Episode had been scored):
QF Win (+5 each): Red Team (Kevin, Jamie, Mustache Joe, Melissa, Voltaggio)
Elimination Top Performer (+5 each): Stephanie & Jamie
Elimination Winner (+10): Greg
Elimination Bottom (-3 each): Mustache Joe, Lee Anne, Malarkey
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