Hello TCFL! I apologize for the longer-than-usual absence. Life just gets in the way more often when there are two mini-Commish-es running around. But we're back and in advance of this season's first foray into BBQ, let's talk about Episode 3 and 4. As always, the Standings can be found HERE and are updated through Episode 4.
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I'm annoyed that I haven't written more in-the-moment because I think we've been treated to two great episodes, back-to-back. The Night Market was a lot of fun and made me feel all kinds of feelings as a Filipino-American.
Filipino dining has been having a prolonged "moment" for several years now, but in mainstream pop culture, we've always kind of been on the fringes. For several years, our biggest claim to fame in the U.S. was Lou Diamond Phillips. Or that one guy from the Black Eyed Peas. For us, it was always exciting hearing someone exalt their (often half-) Filipino heritage. Especially when it's someone like my childhood crush Vanessa Hudgens. Sometimes we were taken aback and had no idea... like with Rob Schneider (?!).
I'm still getting used to it. I couldn't believe it when in the middle of Spider-Man: No Way Home, a Filipino Lola shows up and just starts scolding the shit out of people in full on Tagalog. I had no idea how to react in the moment, and I couldn't really process that it had happened till after. I mean they broke open the Multiverse and there is possibly a recurring Lola in the MCU? C'mon now...
I'm a little more used to it in the context of food. Because of the success of places like Bad Saint and Pig & Khao, I'm no longer that surprised when I see the Philippines in our American food culture. But Episode 3 was something else. It's awesome seeing Asian and Filipino brands that are in my mom's pantry (and now in my pantry) on Top Chef. It's awesome seeing Kare-Kare, and Tocino, and Bagoong not just once or twice a season... but multiple times an episode. It's awesome seeing Monique and Jo cooking this food, our food.
I've always supported and empathized with Representation Matters in media. But to me, I thought it was both reserved for, and more important to, groups that have been WAY more marginalized than I've ever been in mine or my families lives. But I'm wrong. It feels good to see all of this. It feels good to be able to point these things out to my daughter (and when he's old enough, my son) and say things like: "Look! That's the food that we cook!" "They're where Nana and Nunu are from!" "She's half-Filipina like you!". It's fun. It matters. Bring on more of it, for everyone.
Stray Thoughts (from Episode 3 and 4):
- Hung made his triumphant return to the franchise and his salt and pepper hair is awesome, better than Blais', and gave me some serious coif-envy.
- I do not understand the mental gymnastics when an expert tells you to not fry the damn samosa... and you still fry the damn samosa.
- The Asian markets in Houston are remarkably clean and not at all what I'm used to.
- The Top Chef shopping totes continue to haunt us, to the point where I emailed Bravo about it earlier this afternoon.
- Hung: "Shrimp paste is pretty hardcore." -- It's true. It is. And it was obvious right away that Robert used it wrong.
- We had one Sam-centric episode and that was more than enough for me. As a lot of you know, I watch each episode two or three times so I can score and write, and I can confirm that his "right hand, left hand" line upon elimination makes zero sense every time.
- Episode 4 had one of my favorite Elimination Challenges of recent memory. Not going to lie -- as soon as I saw Wylie, I thought "we're gonna have to watch something stupid tonight." I couldn't have been more wrong.
- But you did know right away that this was tailor-made for both Buddha and Noma.
- Bringing a Mississippi-shaped biscuit/cookie cutter is next-level love.
- I don't often support double- or out-of-the-ordinary eliminations, but when it's early in the season like this, it makes sense.
- I do like that they don't give immunity for Quickfire wins all the time, but to offset that, the Elimination advantage needs to be substantial. This time it was. Picking your partner is one thing, but that extra 30 minutes of cook time is gold.
- Having a full Elimination Challenge in the "home" kitchen is fun, but I hope that's a once-a-season kind of thing.
- Top Chef All-Stars Champion, fantastic dresser, and quiet bad-ass Melissa was NOT properly introduced (if at all). She deserves a full on intro like everyone else. I hope she's back for future episodes.
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