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A couple of years back I met a guy named Cam Thrower who is a friend of a friend. He has been doing some short films recently and has made a short film about Prop 8. It was inspiring to me.
Great job on the video Cam…
A short film about a girl named Anna, Proposition 8, Equality, Freedom to Marry and a couple of wishes.
Filed under: Personal LogThis is a full excerpt from my food blog, Foodie In Disguise.
I have been waiting ALL SEASON for this moment. Every year for the last 5 seasons of Top Chef I find myself on the edge of my kitchen counter waiting to see who will be named TOP CHEF.
This season was no exception but I got an added bonus this season. I know one of the contestants! I have worked with Carla Hall when I was doing my culinary sabbatical in Washington DC. Carla and I worked together when I was the Culinary Manager at Sur La Table in Arlington, VA. From the first day I met Carla I knew I liked her. Her energy was always positive and her philosophy of sharing love thru food has been the foundation of her soul. If you are a regular reader of FoodieInDisguise or The World of Scott Mindeaux you know that I have been rooting for Carla since day one!
After last week’s defeat of Jeff and Fabio, our three chefs have been on pins and needles waiting for tonight’s episode. Our three chefs meet Padma and Tom at the Historic New Orleans Collection. All three are ready. The final challenge? Cook the judges the best 3 course meal of their life – dessert is not required. The stakes are high. They will be serving their meal in front of 12 distinguished judges and guest at the renown Commander’s Palace! What a treat that is! They will get two hours of prep at the Audubon Tea Room, then three hours to complete their meals for service the next day.
Tom says they’ll probably need a little bit of help in the kitchen. Three silhouettes emerge from a dark walkway and we find Marcel, Casey and Richard, past contestants that also made it to the final three. There is a knife block out and since Carla won the last elimination challenge, she gets to draw a knife first. The knives will determine what order they get to choose their sous chef. Carla draws a 3, Hosea a 1 and naturally, Stefan is 2. Hosea opts for Richard Blaise, Stefan choosed Marcel and Carla is teamed up with Casey!
The chefs get going and they all get to work. They have two hours tonite to prep. They are all scrambling in the kitchen searching out protiens and seeing what is available. There is some foie gras in the walk-in and Stefan is seen grabbing it and then tossing it back on the shelf. In walks in Hosea and he takes the foie gras. He walks out and then Stefan confronts him that he can’t have it all and the “claimed” two of the three packages. Ugh. There is more rumbling later about some caviar…I’m over it Stefan. Please…pack your knives…no wait..just leave.
So Carla is opting to do something comforting and decides to do something with meat and potatoes. Casey is prepping the beef and she recommends to Carla to sous-vide the meat. Carla says she’s never done sous-vide and wasn’t sure but Casey convinced her to do it. I’m not quite sure why Carla gave in. This is the Carla show, not the Casey show. Carla is skilled in classic technique. While I applaud what sous-vide brings to the table, I feel that this will change things for the outcome of Carla’s dish. It’s not hers anymore, it’s really Casey’s.
So prep is done and our chefs head home for a good night’s rest. The chefs show up the next morning at the Commander’s Palace and they find Tom with a table of “surprise” ingredients: an alligator, redfish and crabs. Come on, it’s the finale of course they’re going to throw in a twist! It’s a mini contest. The winner will get to choose their protein AND get to assign the remaining proteins to the other two chefs. They have to use these ingredients in an hors d’oeuvres. The contest? In the spirit of Mardi Gras, there is a King Cake. It is divided into three parts. Who ever finds the “baby” hidden in the cake wins. So they each get their piece and start chowing down on it. Hosea finds the baby and he decides on the redfish. He assigns the crab to Carla and the alligator to Stefan. That’s right Hosea, stick it to Stefan!
So here are our menus for this evening:
Hosea
Blackened Red Fish on Corn Cake with Creole Remoulade & Micro Cilantro; Trio of Sashimi; Scallops & Foie Gras with pain Perdu; Closing with Venison Loin with Wild Mushrooms
Carla
Shiso Soup with BLue Crab & Chayote Thai Salsa; Seared Snapper with Saffron Aioli & Crouton; Sous-Vide New York Strip Steak, Potato Rod with Merlot Sauce and finishing with a Cheese Tart with Apple Coins & Marmalade
Stefan
Alligator Soup with Celeriac, Parlsey Leaves & Puff Pastry; Halibut & Salmon Carpaccio; Squab with Braised Red Cabbage & Schupfnudeln and ending with Ice Cream & Chocolate Mousse with Vanilla Syrup & Lollipops
So who are our guests and judges for the evening? Susan Spicer, Chef/Owner, Bayona; Rocco DiSpirito; Toby Young; Hubert Keller, Chef/Owner, Fleur De Lys; John Besh, Chef/Owner, August; Branford Marsalis, Musician; Tory McPhail, Executive Chef, Commander’s Palace; Gail Simmons; Ti Martin, Owner of Commander’s Palace, Tom and Padma, and least by not least, Fabio Viviani!
The remaining three courses are all served one course at a time, but from each chef altogether. As each course came out the guests and judges offered their opinions on the dishes. On the first course, it was pretty unanimous that everyone loved Carla’s Snapper dish. THey weren’t too keen on Stefan’s carpaccio and felt that Hosea’s sashima needed something.
Second course is up and presented. Right off the top everyone loved Stefan’s squab. Next is Carla and the meat is a bit tough. A discussion ensues about the sous-vide. Many at the table enjoyed the foie gras/scallop with the pain perdu.
The last course is up. They are finishing up service and everyone is plating. Carla puts her souffles in the oven. Carla forgot to turn down the temperature of the oven and her souffles started to bubble and curdle. She knows she messed up here and inside I start to tear up a bit. They present their plates and Carla has to announce that her souffle didn’t work and she did not put it on the plate. Hosea is the only one who did not do a dessert. Everyone at the table was saddened and disappointed that Carla’s dish didn’t work. If anyone could have made a wonderful dessert tonight it was Carla. The judges and guests laughed at Stefan’s dessert. Gail said the presentation looks sooo 1982. Fabio even said that he was disappointed in Stefan’s last course.
The three are in front of Judges’ Table and there are compliments and criticisms handed out to all three chefs. They work their way thru Carla, Hosea then Stefan. During Carla’s review, Tom points out that Carla allowed Casey to change her course and that she second guessed herself. I think that if she did what she inteneded to do tonight, she probably could have won tonight. Padma then comes out to ask each chef why they should be Top Chef. Stefan says that he should get it because he deserves it. HoseaWhen they got to Carla, she started to explain to them that she is a good chef. She says, “I’ve proven that when I cook my food it’s really delicious. When I cook my food, there is alot of heart, there is a lot of flavor. Do I think I’m a Top Chef…yes. Do I think my food is good…yes. When I make it…yes.” At this point, she starts to tear up and cry.
I just about lost it and I’m crying at this point myself. Even Stefan is affected and goes over to Carla to console here. You can see in each of the judges’ faces that they too are affected. I firmly believe that if she did her food her way, she would have been Top Chef tonight. Carla was really sad and I think she knew exactly what happened tonight that lead us to this point.
The chefs leave the room and the judges start their deliberations. To start, they all agree that Carla is out of the running. Tom offers, that even Carla would agree. They go back and forth between Hosea’s dishes versus Stefan’s. Overall, they knew who they were picking now that it was only down to Stefan and Hosea. Stefan has won many challenges, while Hosea hasn’t. Stefan is more classically trained, but Stefan has a touch of thoughtfulness that Stefan cannot touch.
The chefs return and we can’t wait! Tom thanks the chefs. He goes on to say to Carla that when the food comes from her heart, they love what they see. Hosea put on a great meal and was steady across the board. For Stefan he says he’s had some highs and some lows.
Padma announces that Hosea is TOP CHEF!!!!
Everyone comes pouring out and hug Hosea. Fabio, Jeff, Jamie and Leah are there too and they congratulate Hosea. The chefs are giving their final thoughts and this is what Carla had to say while she was choked up and a tear in her eye:
“I should have done my food and I will not make that mistake again. When I came here I wanted to show people a different way of competing – to compete with love. So, I did do one of the things I wanted to do here…”
Carla, you’re a winner in all of our hearts!
Filed under: Top Chef!
So I’m on some new meds to control my blood sugars and one of the damn side effects is weight gain. That’s right, it my attempts to lose some weight, I’m not gaining it. My doc says that the new med is necessary and that I will experience an 8-10 lb increase.
WTF!?!? How counter productive is that. I have been on the meds for a month now and I’m feeling it. I’m also feeling very tired these days and feeling sloth like. Thank god for work or I’d never get out of bed.
Work is going well over all. Been working on a few projects and my trip to Columbus a few weeks back was very informative.
On the dating scene…oh wait..what dating scene? Social life has sucked big time these last few months. Anyone wanna go out on a date with me? Ih ave been on a couple of websites trying to meet people. What is the purpose of being on the site if no one wants to meet?? It’s very frustrating.
ON a good note, things are going well for my food blog: FoodieInDisguise.com. Check it out!
The Top Chef Season 5 Finale is tomorrow night (Wednesday) and I can’t wait to see how my former colleague Carla Hall will do. I have been rooting for Carla since I found out she was going to be on the show. She is the underdog against Hosea and cocky Stefan..but I have a feeling…. 
Well I’m off to get my clothes out of the dryer then off to bed for me…
Filed under: Health Status, Personal Log, Top Chef!
So I have been Twittering now for quite sometime. Somewhere in my travels I have come across Jeremy Lucido thru CDX on Twitter. I haven’t had anyone added to the Cute List in quite some time.
Ever since I have seen Jeremy online I have had the biggest crush on him. Our paths will probably never cross and if I ever get the opportunity to meet Jeremy, I’ll probably clam up and not know what to say in front of him.
So can I say that every picture I see with him makes me light-headed? Such a handsome guy! I”m sure he has someone special at home, but that won’t stop me from having the crush!
Jeremy is a photographer here in Los Angeles and is 30 years old. You can visit Jeremy at his website and see some of his work on his Flickr photostream.
Filed under: Cute List!, Internet
So new this year is the voting procss for the Top 36. America gets to vote who makes it t the Top 12. The Top 36 is broken down into three groups of 12 and each roup will perform LIVE in front of America and we will decide who moves forward.
Last night we saw some amazing and some pretty awful performances by the first group.
At the end of last night my predictions would be Ricky, Alexis and Danny. Did America agree with me?
So the show has started and I’ll say this again, as I have the last few years. The resuts show should only be at MOST, 30 minutes. Enough with the fluff, drama and all the filler.
The group did a measly group song and they all looked pretty awkward up there. Thy are asked to sit and they review last night.
So who made it thru to the Top 12??
I’m not going to recap that Carly and Michael Johns from last season performed and blew the pants off Group 1, oh I just did recapped it didn’t I. It was nice seeing them both again. They have some kind of chemistry going on.
Suffice it to say, Alexis did make it to the Top 12. I had no doubt that she was going to move on to the Top 12. Some of her teammates weren’t so lucky. So who is next to make it to the Top 12?
Next up is the next group and what happens next, floored me. Anoop and Michael are up on stage. Both are going home. Nope.
Michael Sarver makes it to the Top 12! I’m not sure what just happened here. Stevie and Ricky are up and both of them are sent home. Ricky will win a spot in the Wildcard round…he has too!
So we have Alexis and Michael. Three more are sent home and we are down to drama queen Tatiana and Danny. Tatiana is pouring on the acting job while Danny stands there humbly waiting for the result. Of course, in true Idol fashion, they pause for a break.
After the break we find that Danny is going to the Top 12!! So there we have it America. Danny, Alexis and Michael move on to the next round. Next week, Group 2 performs and we vote again.
I have to say that I am still in shock about Michael Sarver and very glad for Danny and Alexis. Congrats!
Goodbye Tatiana….guess we might see you in the Wildcard round, unfortunately…
Here we go America! We have our Top 36 and tonite 12 of those 36 will perform LIVE and voting starts tonight. We are voting for the Top Female, Top Male and a 3rd runner up. The goal by the time we are done with the groups is to whittle it down to the Top 12.
Let’s get to it. This is Group 1, the first 12 that will compete for 3 spots to the Top 12.
Tonight’s Theme: Hits from the Billboard 100 since the charts began!
Our 12 contestants performing LIVE are:
Jackie Tohn – 28, New York, NY
Rick Braddy – 26, Elizabeth City, NC
Alexis Grace – 21, Memphis, TN
Brent Keith – 25, Blanchester, OH
Stevie Wright – 17, Phelan, CA
Anoop Desai – 22, Chapel Hill , NC
Casey Carlson – 20, Minneapolis, MN
Michael Sarver – 27, Jasper, TX
Ann Marie Boskovich - 22, Nashville, TN
Stephen Fowler – 26, Cleveland, OH
Tatiana Del Toro - 24, San Juan, PR
Danny Gokey (cutie!) – 28, Milwaukee, WI
Let’s do it!
Jackie Tohn (5701)
Little Less Conversation by Elvis Presley
Ok…what you have on is horrible. On the plus side, this sultry, throaty voice is wonderful. Nice way to work the stage as the first person up in the LIVE portion. I think the song choice if anything will be your downfall. You’re full of fire aren’t you! I thought about it again and yes, your outfit is horrible.
Randy wasn’t blown by the vocals, but liked the “entertainment” factor. Kara said she has a big personality. Paula was up dancing and agrees the voice needs some work, but a true performer. Simon? He likes her voice, but said she played the clown act tonite. Score: 7-
Rick Braddy (5702)
A Song For You by Leon Russell
Personal comment: he’s cute, warm, seems real. Now to the singing: This is a song sung by Elliot. I have to say that I like Rick’s interpretation of this song. This boy can sing. Confident, definitely confident. If I didn’t know better, I would say he was singing this song to a special someone back home. He’s only the 2nd person on tonight and I luved it. I don’t have alot of criticism!
Randy said THIS is it. He thinks he is the star of Season 8. Kara said he killed that song and was amazing. She said it was effortless. Paula is proud and said he deserves to go far. Simon said it was very very good. He thinks he doesn’t have “star” quality. Score: 9 (not just because he is cute!)
Alexis Grace (5703)
Never Love the Man by Aretha Franklin
I kinda like this 1920’s/Charleston look you have going, but not sure it matches the song. The vocals are ok so far, nothing special. If you don’t make it thru, it may be song choice. You’re young, choose something recent! While I don’t dislike your performance, I’m bored already. Hmmm…..
Randy said she worked it out. Kara said the genie was out of the bottle. She said it was a pleasure to watch her. Paula said she has the ability to present soul (I disagree) and passion. Simon said she was the best so far of the night. Come on Simon, there have only been three. Rick’s performance was way better than Alexis’. Score: 8-
Brent Keith (5704)
Hick Town by Artist
Well I think it is clear that you will be the Country singer of the group. You’re a looker and you’ll certainly have the girls (and some of the guys) voting just for your look. As for the singing, it’s just mediocre. The song has a good beat, but it doesn’t do anything for me. I think choosing a song called “Hick Town” just wasn’t the right thing for you. I dunno, I think Paula and Kara will like you.
Randy liked that he went back to Country. He liked it. Kara felt he was a little “safe” tonight. She wanted to see more. Paula want America to remember his auditions. She wants to see him go forward in Country/Western. Simon thought he blew the opportunity and that it was forgettable. Score: 7-
Stevie Wright (5705)
You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift
She kinda reminds me of Anna Torv from Fringe, but younger and a brunette. Oh no. This is not starting off well. It sounds like you’re whispering into the microphone. Simon earlier said during the auditions that it was like she was an 8 year old singing in her room. I totally see it. I’m sorry Stevie, but not sure you’re moving forward. I don’t know where Phelan is, but I think you’re a bit disconnected. The song is still going and it’s getting worse. Oh no. I think you know it was a bad performance.
Randy said wow, wow and that is wasn’t hot. He said it was way too safe. Kara felt the song wasn’t “wright” for her. Paula agreed. It wasn’t the Stevie they fell in love with. Simon said it was terrible. He’s right! I thought it was horrible. Score: 5
Anoop Desai (5706)
Angel of Mine by Monica
So I have to say that I don’t remember your audition or seeing you during the Hollywood weeks. Will you blow me away? Ok, a bit rocky at the start. There is a bit of nasal action going on. Watch the timing Anoop, listen to the band. Watch the pitch too. There are some songs that are song by women, that should stay that way. I’m not sure this was a good song choice for you. You might get lost in the voting tonite and not move forward.
Randy said it was an interesting and is a fan, but felt he was “sharp” most of the song. He felt it wasn’t his best, but still a fan. Kara said it was a hard song and didn’t handle the rifts well. Paula says America has connected with him. I don’t think so. Simon asked why he picked it. He felt the song was a bit too grown up for his tastes. However, Simon said he has massive likability. Will that be enough? Score: 7
Casey Carlson (5707)
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic by The Police
Casey kinda reminds me of Kristin Kruek from Smallville. It think it the eyes and cheekbones. Ehhh, not sure that was a confident start. This is kinda childish. It sounds like you’re trying to turn this song into something “country”. You’re not challenging yourself Casey. Your voice is very flat, there is no fire, no heat. I think the judges will rip you a new one. Did you see that camera pan of the judges? They are bored!
Randy said it was not good. He said it was weird and karaoke-ish. Kara said that performance was wrong. Paula said picking that song there was no connection between who she is and the song. At this point Casey looks very dejected. Simon offered that she looked good, but the singing was atrocious. I agree, this was the worse. Score: 4-
Michael Sarver (5708)
I Don’t Wanna Be by Gavin DeGraw
Ok Michael, please bring us back after that horrible performance by Casey. I think you’re a bit nervous up there. It wasn’t until about a minute into the song that I recognized the song. I think it was a shaky at the beginning. You need to project over the band. I think you figured that out, but not soon enough that the beginning was weak. It wasn’t great, but not really that bad. It just lacked something. I bet the word karaoke will be brought up.
Randy said he can sing but pitch was an issue. Randy wished he went more “blues”. Kara said it wasn’t his best performance. Paula thought he did a real good job. Did he Paula? Don’t nitpick his mic handoff thing. Simon said it was tricky. Simon talks about opportunity all the time. It will be his likability that will get him thru and hopes that America does pick up the phone and give him a shot. Score: 7-/6+
Ann Marie Boskovich (5709)
Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin
This is another song that takes guts I think. Can she pull it off? The vocals aren’t bad, its just that I don’t think you have the “deepness” in your voice to pull off this song. I think if you brought the song down in pitch, you might have pulled it off better than you did tonite. I like the rifts, but I think the electronic reverb helped out alot on that one.
Randy said it was a bad choice for her. Kara said the song was sooo big, that she has to be on top of it. She felt the song was a bit too old for her. Paula felt she did better than the Hollywood weeks, but the song need alot of soulfulness. Simon said her song choice destroyed her. Score: 7
Stephen Fowler (5710)
Rock with You by Michael Jackson
Before we get to the singing, this is another one of those songs that you just don’t touch. Even the Muzak company has stayed away from turning this song into “muzak”. Can you pull it off? Umm….it almost sounded like you forgot the words and fumbled a bit at the beginning. Ok, my TiVo is acting up and it messed up a bit. Oh wait…that’s ok, because I don’t think this performance is worth getting excited about it. Not sure this was the song that was going to move you forward.
Randy never thought he would choose this song. Kara felt this song made him disconnected. Paula was glad that he got a second chance last week, but not sure he used that chance. She said picking that song was the kiss of death. Simon said it was pointless. Score: 6
Tatiana Del Toro (5711)
Saving All My Love for You by Whitney Houston
Oh…I remember you from Group week. D-R-A-M-A! Hmmm…you actually have a good voice, just don’t do that whole stare into the camera thing. There is some feeling that you are over-compensating and being too showy. Will the judges agree with me? You are D-R-A-M-A.
Randy was worried, but said there were several moments where he felt it was good. Kara said she is like a roller-coaster. She wants to know who she is. Paula is right by saying that she is the most talked about person. Yes, Puala cuz she is D-R-A-M-A! Simon said she is a drama-queen! Thank you Simon. Simon said it wasn’t that bad actually. OMG, when you went reaching your peeps to kiss them, there was a drama move on your part. oh please…STOP! Score: 7+
Danny Gokey (5712)
Hero by Mariah Carey
Ok…close the night and bring down the house! First off lete just say, that when I first saw you on screen, you are one of the most cutest guys I have seen on Idol. Second, my condolences on the passing of your wife this past year. What a wonderful thing you are doing right now. Sing, boy, sing!
I’m a little worried about the song choice now that you have said it. Will you prove me wrong? I’m a bit surprised actually. There are a few places where you sound kinda flat (not in a pitch way), but then there are moments where you just shine and make the soul alive. I commend this arrangement of Hero for a male singer. You nailed the last note, excellent!
Randy said he was the redeemer of the night. Kara said he was the HERO. Paula said he was stellar. Simon said it wasn’t fantastic but it was good and he is a good singer. Score: 9 (yes, my vote was influenced by cute factor too!)
So there we have it America. Here is your chnace to pick 3 in this Group that will move to the Top 12. Who are my choices of the night?
Top Male: Danny Gokey
Top Female: Alexis Grace
Top Third: Rick Braddy
Tune in tomorrow night as we listen to the results of tonight’s voting by YOU!
Scott….OUT!
