'Top Chef': So many on the bottom, but Ariane takes the fall

What is the bigger crime when competing on a team in "Top Chef" -- fumbling the centerpiece dish or contributing little to nothing at all?

The judges found bunking the main dish to be the bigger offense tonight, but I 100% disagree. The decision to send Ariane home was the wrong one.

Did she really have a shot at winning "Top Chef"? Probably not, as I've pointed out more than once. And while her dishes often lacked some of the finesse of her competitors, this New Jersey mom certainly deserved to hang around longer than the two whiners who were spared.

Leah bothers me. But excusing that, she made a tomato salad, which if you'll remember was composed of sliced tomatoes, shaved cheese, lemon and salt. Was there something green too? I'm not sure, not that it matters. That was her entire contribution to Team Lamb. Her TV boyfriend Hosea, who I like, roasted potatoes. That's it.

What did Ariane do? She freaking broke down a baby lamb! Even though she doesn't know how to butcher meat! This is not the same as attempting to make creme brulee if you don't know how. Butchering can be done, if very poorly. Ariane also made a marinade. She decided to try and do a fancy roulade with the meat -- maybe not the best idea but at least she was pushing herself, while her teammates no doubt used most of their three hours to grope each other in a corner somewhere.

(Hilariously, in their weekly viewer poll, "Top Chef" asked viewers which team "honored their protein" best? The results: 63% of viewers said Team Lamb. Just goes to show how much of a fan favorite the underdog Ariane became.)

Then there's Radhika...

Fabio put it best: She used the first hour to peel and grill 10 ears of corn. What??? Seriously, what would Hung say? It's not even that she's slow, she just isn't willing to throw out that big idea. Originally, she had a bread pudding in mind. The kitchen didn't have figs? So she throws her hands up and settles for just doing corn with bacon salad then. (And Jeff cured the bacon!)

Leah and Radhika can't win this show. Both have won individual challenges, it's true. But I look at someone like Jeff, who is always trying to do too much for better or worse, and I think someone like him needs to win. Someone who's pushing and trying new things. He's not the most consistent player, but given the choice whose food I'd want to eat, he'd be up there with Stefan and, ordinarily, Hosea.

In fact, those three -- Jeff, Stefan and Hosea -- and Jamie are my current picks for the Final Four. If there's any justice, that is.

-- Denise Martin

Related:

'Top Chef' preview: Toby Young says he isn't trying to Simon Cowell

Complete coverage of 'Top Chef'

Photo: Ariane Duarte / Credit: NBC Universal

Comments

[Tjr]

You know, for the blog of the LOS ANGELES times, you can at least wait until the show has aired in the LOS ANGELES time zone before spoiling the show. And not just spoiling the show, but spoiling the show in damn headline, right on the frigging front page. I realize there are people in other time zones who read this blog, but i'm tired of west coasters getting shafted by spoilage. C'mon LATimes. This is the third time now this blog has ruined a show, and its almost enough to make me stop reading it.

[tjr]

and now this article says the posting time is 11:00 pm PT, but it was up at 10:24, while i'm sitting here watching the show.

[Chris]

Ariane got screwed. They kept Leah to see her hook up with Hosea next week.

[Dan S]

Do you have to put the spoiler right in the headline? I haven't watched the show yet and now you've ruined it for me.

[K]

Ariana got hosed. Toby said something interesting; each person is judged based on that nights efforts. That's garbage. Of course the persons history (winning or nearly winning competitions) plays into the judges' decision. And it should. Otherwise, the implications are as follows: don't work hard to win competitions - since your accumulated effort doesn't matter and can't save your skin in a jam. Simply work to survive. Then, if you get to the finals, unveil any big ideas you might have and run to victory.

[jamin]

this is crap, leah should have gone home, Ariane worked really hard but the judjes want to see more nastiness from the love birds, thats disgusting , when they both have their couples, I am so not watching that program any More, ugh

[BJay]

Leah should have gone home. The business between she and Hosea is what kept her there. I liked Hosea before, now I question his character. I don't think we can rule Karla out for going pret;ty far - she knows what she's doing. I'm fearful that Fabio may be going soon. I like Hosea, Jeff, Stefan and Karla - Jamie gets on my nerves with her whinny, why not me attitude - prefer she not be the winner. Also, don't care for the new judge - he tries too hard to be amusing.

[periwinklebluewoman]

I am tired of stupid mistakes staying and the ones that are good cooks getting booted. Do us all a favor please remember that the world in the US has 4 time zones not just 1 (East Coast).

[Ariane's niece's bffffffffff]

HEY this si Arian' niece's bffffffffff and she DID TOALY NOT DESERVE TO GET BOOTED OFF! WHAT WERE THE JUDGES THINKING?!?! I DONT EVEN WATCH TOP CHEF ANYMORE! SHE WAS THE BEST AND SHE BENN WINNING AND THEN WHAT? SHE GETS BOOTED OFF BECUASE OF STUPID LEAH?!!??!!?! LEAH SAID SHE WOULD TIE THE STRING BUT SHE DIDNT EVEN DO IT RIGHT!!!! LEAH TOTALY DID THAT ON PERPOSE! AND RAHDIKU DIDN'T EVEN DO A SINGLE THING TO HELP HER TEAM! AND HOSEAH SAID HE WAS GOOD AT THAT STUFF! SIGH

[AlwaysALady]

Where is the post for Restaurant Wars? I wish all the previous posters who complained about an early posting would just hush up a bit. It's just a funny blog about the show. It's not that serious. Please! Do not be discouraged Denise! Keep on blogging.

[michiganruth]

if you guys in LA haven't seen tonite's show yet, I won't spoil it for you. buy let me just say, this show has gotten so intensely stupid I can't believe I'm watching it--and I don't think I will be next week.

remember when it used to be a cooking show? god I miss those days...