'Top Chef': Jamie wins 'Top Scallop', but bad fish sends Eugene and Melissa home

You were wrong, Fabio. The latest episode of “Top Chef” was “Top Scallop.”

Jamie redeemed herself and finally landed on top, a goal she’s been whining about since Week 1. How did she do it? With scallops. Jamie must have been a student of “Top Chef,” because, as longtime viewers also know, it is truly stunning how much the judges enjoy a perfectly seared scallop. Padma, Gail, former judge Ted Allen ... they’ve all marveled at the wonders of a single, nicely caramelized scallop atop, oh, anything really. And Jamie, well, she just kept pounding away at those mollusks until they brought home gold. Good for her. Barring the previous week’s raw scallop atop lukewarm vichyssoise debacle, her track record has been strong. So grumbling or not, the tattooed one will definitely be in the running for the Final Four.

Other creatures of the sea were not so lucky. Eugene attempted a whole deep-fried fish, which would have been fine had it not be accompanied by fettuccine with daikon, tomato, basil sauce. Jaime instantly dubbed the idea strange, as did Tom. (Me? Being Filipino like Eugene and therefore a little biased, the idea didn’t faze me. Filipinos eat all manner of, how shall I say, niche combos. Unripe green mango slices with fermented shrimp paste? Deeeeelish.) Apparently though, his sauce just wasn’t good.

Melissa, who has not once impressed me, was also finally sent packing. I would have had to stop watching this season if Carla had gone home before Melissa. It’s nice that she really, really, really wants to compete, but she made tuna tacos in a challenge in which the contestants were asked to make anything they wanted. Really? Tuna tacos?

Handicapping whose left, I’d say the next to go will be either Ariane, Carla or Radhika. Ariane’s won more than any one else, but she hasn’t wowed anyone with something new. She’s impressed with her technique cooking proteins (and with a watermelon salad chosen by the female hosts of “Today.”) Carla’s not bad, but not great. And Radhika has been both really great and really bad.

Which leads to new judge Toby Young...

Young is a food writer and former critic from London who has already been painted as the Simon Cowell of "Top Chef" in commercials leading up to this episode. Young’s first words on the show? “The U.N. inspectors were looking in the wrong place in the run-up to the Iraq war, because I have found the weapons of mass destruction and they are in the bowl right before us.” He was talking about the bisque Radhika was so convinced would be a winner. Fortunately for her, she had immunity. (Stefan also had some choice words: “Absolutely against my taste buds. They’re numb right now.”)

Like Cowell, his metaphors are long, and although some make sense, others ... take a little more work. Hosea’s dish of bacon-wrapped halibut and roasted vegetables, for example, reminded him “of one of those Hollywood films in which the classically trained British actors have been cast in character roles. The two leads upstaged by the supporting cast.” (Bonus: Name that film.)

Praise sounded something like this: "The avocado sorbet, it was like Tom Cruise’s cameo in ‘Tropic Thunder,’ it was an unexpected treat." I guess that works if you agree that seeing Cruise as a balding, foul-mouthed movie exec was a “treat.”

I miss the laughs that came from Ted Allen, who’s left Bravo for the Food Network, and Anthony Bourdain, who’s exclusive to the Travel Channel now, or something. But Young seems most promising. Come back to read what the Brit’s secret is to berating food with style. A Q&A with the new judge will be posted next Wednesday.

-- Denise Martin

Related:
Complete “Top Chef” coverage.

Photo credit: NBC Universal

Comments

[Dave in Northridge]

Agreed, for the most part. It was glaringly obvious that Melissa didn't belong on the show from the third episode or so, and Eugene miscalculated, which is a pity. I think the next to go will be either Carla or Jeff. Arianne reminds me of Antonia from last season, and the skate wings last night showed she really can make something out of unpromising ingredients, while Radhika probably has three or four episodes left since she keeps winning Quickfire challenges, which is no mean feat.

[Stephanie Lysaght]

Ariane is such a mystery to me. She acts like she just stumbled onto the show, and yet, her food MUST be good -- she is always winning! Denise, who would you compare her to from previous seasons in terms of natural talent?

[Summer]

I have`nt seen any comments about the contestents judging each other? I thought it was hilarious when Jamie said how bad she thought Stefan`s dish was and how quickly the new judge and Tom corrected her, saying how great it was. Reminded me of Stephanie and Stevens rivaly from Season 2? Totally agree about the former judges, Gayle, Gayle please help!! So funny! They should bring more guest judges on that us "Non Professional Chefs" would know.
Love your Blogs, Denise Keep It Up!

[Summer]

I was hoping someone would mention the part where the contestants had to judge their opponents food. I thought that was the Best part of the show. Jamie`s comment about Stefans` food and the judges saying how much they liked it, then seeing Stefan`s reaction. PRICELESS! They seem to be setting up a rivalry like the one Stephanie and Stephen had in season 2? I think the new judge could be fantastic especially since he seems to say what he REALLY thinks. I wish they would have more Guest judges that us "NON CHEFS" can relate to.
Just my opinion! Love your BLogs, Denise, Keep up the good work!

[John Beard]

I really believe that they missed the mark on this one. Eugene is far more likely to be a great chef than Carla ever is. Carla lives in some ridiculous spiritual fantasy world and consistently creates dishes that do not please the palate of the judges at all -- fully assembled, that is. She also vehemently defended a dish that she ruined. I was shocked to see Eugene go after Toby Young made his comments about how he didn't feel Carla could ever develop her skills to "top chef" level.

Obviously, I didn't taste Eugene's dish, but he was one of the Chefs that I enjoyed watching the most. I found him to be interesting, humble, and receptive to constructive criticism. That being said, as soon as he revealed his concept, I knew he'd probably be going home... the judges don't tend to favor his style of Asian cuisine, and as remarked in the above article, they seem to adore scallops. Good on Jamie for that; I concur with the final four prediction for her.

I'm a little disappointed, I guess -- my votes were for Melissa and Carla, neither of whom I particularly care for.

[Edmar]

i hate how jamie always thought that she should have won a challenge and how she made others feel so bad that she didn't win. i really hope she goes home soon. also, i want stefan to go home to europe where his snooty butt belongs.

[Lori Campbell]

Personally, the new judge is a loudmouthed jerk. Since when was Britain known for it's great cuisine? How do you fix most dishes in England?...Boil it, Boil it, Boil it and if that doesn't work, Boil it some more!!!

[Top Scallop the shirt]

I had to share this. I have been wearing this around and you should see the looks I get.

http://www.cafepress.com/Fabiorules