Weekly Top Chef thoughts

I couldn’t get a simulblog of “Top Chef” up last night because, much as I may love the show and all things culinary, the Associated Students of Madison were once again teetering on the verge of collapse and my first responsibility is, of course, to The Badger Herald.

That said, we live in the wonderful age of recordings, so a few thoughts:

First, I am pretty sure that Stephen Asprinio followed in the footsteps of Antonin Scalia in making a certain gesture when his street food wasn’t going over so well. As the Associated Press reported March 27:

The Boston Herald reported Monday that the justice made "an obscene gesture, flicking his hand under his chin…”

Mr. Asprinio seems to have used a similar gesture while hawking his food on last night’s “Top Chef,” but it was almost certainly made with a certain degree of humor.

Entertainment-wise, it was my favorite episode thus far because it finally showed a lot of character with the contestants. Now that there are only eight (seven after last night), it seems easier to offer that third dimension – the bit with the faux junk food challenge in the house was absolutely delightful, hilarious and, in a strange sense, warming.

As for the elimination (and watch the darn show to find out who it was), no real surprise.

I will say that Tiffani Faison, after having ticked me off wildly with the children’s challenge, is starting to grow on me again. As for Mr. Asprinio, he still feels a touch too arrogant to be likeable, but watching a street vendor try to sell food dressed to such a formal level sure was enjoyable.

It will be interesting to see where things go from here, but my early guess is that Ms. Faison, Lee Anne Wong or Harold Dieterle should walk away the winner – they simply have superior culinary talent. But I also wouldn’t count Mr. Asprinio out as a dark horse.