Ted Allen is a now permanent judge on "Top Chef"

[LostinVA]

*SWOON*

[xchrom]

1. step back miss thing -- he's gonna be cooking MY breakfast!

isn't he cool?

i love his voice -- and SO nerdy.

[LostinVA]

4. LOVE him!

And, his funny little comment last night on how cute someone was (Sam?).

[xchrom]

5. what is it about some nerdy geeks with glasses?

he's so funny -- i'm glad he still has a televison career.

he's really sort of refreshing.

[LostinVA]

6. He's cute and smart and sweet and has a dry wit

I like girls, of course, but I'd love to give Ted Allen a big hug.

[xchrom]

19. hey there are girls that give me the same reaction.

i would love to spend time with nigella -- the british cook show host.

[LostinVA]

22. OOOOOOO --- she's sexy

[LynneSin]

45. It was about Sam and he's right - Sam is a HUNK!!!

:drool:

[LostinVA]

46. He looks way better with his hair short

I must say, though, I was very disappointed at his involvement in "Shavegate."

[dropkickpa]

2. I know!!

I LOVE Ted, I'm so excited about the new season I was boncing up and down on the couch last night! I love when he's a judge on Iron Chef America!

[philosophie_en_rose]

3. excellent.

Ted Allen brought some sorely needed class to Season 2. His advice is fair and constructive. Plus, he's just fun to watch.

[Pithlet]

7. I wasn't going to watch this season, but now I may change my mind.

Since his first guest appearance on that show, I thought he'd make a perfect regular judge.

[LostinVA]

8. It seems like this season has ALOT of "Marcel groupies"

God help us all. I think Ted can definitely give them a smackdown in his witty, nice way.

[AllegroRondo]

9. I hope he still makes appearances on Iron Chef

we need his humor to balance out that grumpy guy.

[bullwinkle428]

10. I didn't know if most people had lost interest - I posted a reminder

thread last night before the show aired, and only got two Loungers to reply. There was so much negative buzz after the way things unfolded in Season 2. Last night's show was great!

Hung reminds me of Marcel minus the charm... :evilgrin:

[LostinVA]

11. Hung will suck -- a Marcel groupie without Marcel's occasional wit

[bullwinkle428]

12. Yeah, that permanent sourpuss-looking expression is going

to get old really fast if he keeps it up! The previews suggest that those two husky guys will provide us with the early drama for this new season...

Regarding your initial comment, I have to agree that Ted Allen is a fantastic choice for permanent judge - he certainly knows his stuff, and delivers his constructive criticism with plenty of wit without resorting to anything insulting towards the contestants. Some of those guest judges left a lot to be desired last season...

Most of the summer's reality shows are pretty worthless for the most part, but "Top Chef" and Hell's Kitchen" are definitely my 2 "can't miss" choices for the season!

[LostinVA]

14. Hell's Kitchen makes me swoon -- and this season looks like gold

Asian Cowboy having a nervous breakdown, Waffle House snobbery, Jean-Phillipe and the wonderful Maryann and Scott, and Chef Ramsey himself.

*SWOON*

Haruka watched it with me Monday night -- she had never really watched it before. She now adores it.

"Next Food Network Star" looks decent this year, too.

[bullwinkle428]

25. I was THRILLED when Melissa decided not to place Julia

(from the Waffle House) on the chopping block - she was the only one that could handle the freaking quail eggs!

Stephen on Top Chef last night really made a great point - eggs are a great "litmus test" of sorts when it comes to cooking talent! Yeah, I can do a decent job preparing eggs for myself in my own kitchen, but handling multiple orders at the same time has to be a major challenge, and she was up to the task.

Here's a little something for all the Hell's Kitchen fans (stolen from another board; wish I could take credit) that I enjoyed...

[LostinVA]

26. And, choosing Julia would have done in Melissa

Why? Because Gordo grew up in a very poor, abusive home and worked his way up in the culinary world. He's known to have a soft spot for people from a similar background who are hard workers and have some talent (ie Danny from "Kitchen Nightmares," Elsie from Season 1). Like Julia.

Watch the extended video of the Julia-Ramsey exchange. He was very kind to her.

And, those women were classist twits: short order cooks know how to cook eggs, multi-task, be organized, be consistent in the kitchen... all of which I suspect the blond Bonnie who's a nanny/personal chef (read grilled cheeses) can't do.

[bullwinkle428]

31. Ramsey absolutely does have a sensitive side! He even

seemed geuninely concerned when goofy Aaron had his freak-out in the kitchen, and gave him the opportunity to collect himself outside for a few minutes. He sure realized Julia's talents once the egg fiasco got resolved.

Bonnie the nanny/personal chef...translation : she cooks for the brats she takes care of every day!

Speaking of "Kitchen Nightmares", did you know that a new American version is in the works for this fall?

http://www.fox.com/kitchennightmares/

[LostinVA]

33. OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE "KN"!!!

[philosophie_en_rose]

24. Maybe Hung will rap Marcel-style, too.

:rofl:

[LostinVA]

27. Dear God, the humanity!

[Left Is Write]

13. I love him.

[LostinVA]

15. Wouldn't you just like to give him a hug and go to a cheese shop together?

[Left Is Write]

16. Yes.

Yes, I would!

[LostinVA]

17. Me too!

And talk about books.

[AwakeAtLast]

18. Can you believe he's from Indiana?

I live in Indiana and I can't believe it! Maybe we're moving up in the culture category. :shrug:

BTW, I think he is a great judge! :hi:

[LostinVA]

21. Is he?

I think he's a great judge, too -- both on TC and Iron Chef.

[AwakeAtLast]

23. After further research, not exactly

I read a really good article about him in Indianapolis Monthly. He lived in the Carmel area.

on edit: He received a degree from Purdue, but the other info I read has him listed as born in Ohio and a Chicago native. He must have lived here in late teens or early 20's? The article I read made it sound like he spent more time here.

Oh well, at least we can claim a piece of him.

[grace0418]

20. Damn, just when we gave up cable television. Of course, it wasn't working anyway

so keeping it wasn't really an option. Have I mentioned that I LOATHE Comcast?

Sigh, maybe I can download episodes somewhere.

[Shakespeare]

28. I love Ted!!!

My favorite (but it's also heartbreaking) Queer Eye moment was watching--and having the exact same--reaction from Ted when the guy he was helping dropped and shattered a GORGEOUS vintage martini set he'd bought him (it was beautiful--had gold leaf embedded in the glass, and I lusted after it the second he showed it to the guy in the shop). Ted was devastated. And so was I.

[LostinVA]

29. I remember that!

It was the young guy, right? Who hosted the totally uncomfortable meeting between his GF and his parents.

[Shakespeare]

30. Yep, that's the one.

I still weep for the lost martini set. :cry:

[bicentennial_baby]

32. How about Marcel's latest rap?

:rofl:

Sniffa was walking by the tv when it started, and he was like "Dear God, not this again!!"

:D

[LostinVA]

34. I liked the lobster foam almost as much

[bicentennial_baby]

35. The saffron foam was puke-worthy looking

But yay for Season 1! :bounce:

[LostinVA]

36. Even Tiffani seems normal compared to the Season 2 freak show

And Ilan!!! She all know he shouldn't have won, but come on: he couldn't even sear duck right?! Even I can do that!

[bicentennial_baby]

40. It should have been Sam, damnit...

x(

[LostinVA]

43. I think it should have been Elia, even though I don't liek HER

[davsand]

37. Like I said in the other TC thread, Fishy Foam just sounds nasty.

I can't get my mouth excited about a fish flavored foam--and to have it TABLE SIDE is just about as gross as it gets, IMO. I think Marcel is just a nasty little high busted queen with a bunch of gimmicks rather than good food.

Stephen, on the other hand, does seem to know his way around a kitchen, and Sam is adorable even if he is a predictable cook...

I'll go back to eating my peanut butter out of the jar now...

:evilgrin:


Laura

[GRLMGC]

38. Sweet, I love him!

To be honest, I prefer him over Gail.

[LostinVA]

39. I like Gail -- TOM gets on my last nerve!

[GRLMGC]

41. Gail isn't bad, I just like Ted better

and, yeah, Tom is abrasive

[bicentennial_baby]

42. Oooh, I hate Gail...

"Your eggs are brown, burnt, rubbery...I hate brown, burnt rubbery eggs"

:P

[LostinVA]

44. She's lost too much weight, imo