Just because: [link]

Brenda, awesome!!

I hope Carlos comes back from Last Chance Kitchen and beats Nick's ass. At least Padma agrees with me - she seemed genuinely angry at Nick for his lack of salt and genuinely sad about telling Carlos to pack his knives.

Brenda, that's amazing. I would love to go to his restaurant and eat that seafood tamale. It looked delicious.

I'm pretty sure they are just keeping Nick around because he brings the drama. Feh.

I'm really afraid they keep putting him through because subconsciously he looks more like a top chef. I can't decide if I'd prefer producer drama shenanigans or internalized racism/sexism....

I can't decide if I'd prefer producer drama shenanigans or internalized racism/sexism....

Unfortunately, I suspect producer shenanigans are at least partially driven by internalized racism.

True, true.

So, I interpreted Shirley's comments to mean that Carlos' cooking is a bit narrow in flavor profiles and techniques.

I also feel that her comments have a lot to do with how long Carlos has been cooking. He is one of the newcomers, no? I don't know if he has been cooking professionally longer than Shirley though. So I was wondering if it was a time/status thing?

I knew Carlos was done as soon as he won the car.

So, I interpreted Shirley's comments to mean that Carlos' cooking is a bit narrow in flavor profiles and techniques.

Yes, but virtually all of hers are based on Chinese flavors and techniques. She's not necessarily wrong, just pot/kettleing a bit.

His restaurant is actually Mexican/French, but I think because most of his dishes sound more Mexican the French influence and techniques get a bit lost, particularly since the other chefs aren't generally tasting things.

I do get the sense that Carlos, not coming out of the culinary school path, possibly does not "speak chef" fluently if you know what I mean. It feels like there are some assumptions about how you interact that he's not quite on the same page with the others.

Partisan rant:

Only one of y'all has a Michelin star (and just awarded again this year), and it's not you, Shirley, Nina or Dickhead.

I knew Carlos was done as soon as he won the car.

Never win the car. A refrain old-time Survivor fans know all too well.

Carlos was the only one in the final four who was not classically trained - he got hired by a restaurant and worked his way up. So it makes sense that his cooking experience hasn't been as broad as the people who have been through culinary school.

Still, Nick has been underseasoning his beautifully plated dishes all. season. long. He has all the high-brow technique you could want, but he doesn't seem to know at all how to cook normal, simple, delicious food. And he's a dick and I hate him and his stupid whiny face.

BTW, any of you who hit Chicago need to come to Mexique with me. It is right at the end of my street and is awesome.