yeah, bottom five is harsh.

Ugh. I hate people who go out and are then all "I'm just too good hearted for this show. It's gonna get ugly and people are actually going to try to gasp win . . . and I'm just not like that." What-evah. You weren't singing that tune last week, were you?

Top Chef: First thought is, does anyone else think it odd (or perhaps, not so odd) that the two non-Americans are the ones that had the most trouble relating to American comfort food? Not saying they should get a pass for it, but still. It's noteworthy. Sorry to see Micah go, but I have to agree, she' been all over the place, and I think she's had a serious problem focusing. (As opposed to Howie's time-management problems, which seem to be under control.)

On the other hand, as hot as Hung seems to be overall, he's yet to actually win anything besides a Quickfire. And Tres' stock is sinking fast. Certainly, they can both pull it out, but they started out in front, and haven't seemed to be able to get the lead back. Whereas Brian? Rocks. Even in the bottom five, he rocks. I think if he can keep up pushing at the edge of things, he's in with a shot.

I thought Micah was totally off about the meatloaf. I mean, it's essentially shepherd's pie w/o the pie, surely in SA they eat shepherd's pie or something equivalent? (Plus, rumor has it that Micah is actually from Massachusetts.)

Plus, rumor has it that Micah is actually from Massachusetts.

Yeah, I've heard that. But then, it was a "someone online said they knew her in high school" situation, and when you weigh that against the fact that Bravo would have requested proof of citizenship or residency at some point, and ... well ... can't say it holds up well. Not impossible. Just doubtful.

The other side of that is that in the big comfort food revival of the past, what 5-10 years, meatloaf is one of the dishes that has been all over the place.

Hasn't she been here at least a few years? Plus, cooking is her business.

Chicken ala King seems less obvious: more like bad school cafeteria food. But Sarah's re-do of it was just odd.

SYTYCD:

I just had an epiphany. Pasha and Shauna would make an awesome, and possibly unbeatable, pair.

Ooh, looks like Padma preferred Dale:

Howie and Dale were the only ones to play off of the classic dishes by putting a modern spin on them while keeping within the guidelines of the challenge -- to be healthy and low in cholesterol without tasting like boring health-food. In the end, while I thought Howie’s dish was superb and I loved the slaw, I thought the effort and skill involved in preparing Dale’s dish was at a much higher level.

I love that Dale took those ingredients and made something that nobody would have thought had those origins. His seemed more family-like and Howie's the more haute cuisine version of the original.

Yeah, I've heard that. But then, it was a "someone online said they knew her in high school" situation, and when you weigh that against the fact that Bravo would have requested proof of citizenship or residency at some point, and ... well ... can't say it holds up well. Not impossible. Just doubtful.

she could still be south african and have lived in the States at some point as a teenager, then back to SA. If that's true, she wouldn't necessarily be eating amerian "comfort food", so she wouldn't have had any exposure to it.

the non american chefs were at a disadvantage, and the food that they offered did not look appetizing at all. if I hadn't known what any of the dishes tasted like, I wouldn't have wanted to taste them.

I just had an epiphany. Pasha and Shauna would make an awesome, and possibly unbeatable, pair.

I am so hoping for this result, but I'm afraid that Cedric may get pity votes tonight because Mary was so harsh (not wrong, just harsh). Lauren/Neil seem to have a big fanbase, probably due to the cuteness factor, so I can see them managing to stay out of B3 again despite the fact that they've been among the worst couples every single week. It would be awful if anyone other than Jessi/Lauren or Cedric/Neil goes this week when they were all so good.

And because it can't be said enough, I love Debbie Allen and her dirty mind. Lusting after Danny and Pasha. Chiiiild!