My brother makes a great (and original) pasta salad with cannelli beans, red onions, sundried tomatoes and a balsamic vinaigrette. Something like that would have been perfect.

Top Chef: Yeah, it's not hard to upscale a pasta salad. There are lots of ways that could have been made better, just with spices we already know they have in the pantry.

I could believe people would have that much in the way of groceries. I have a pretty big pantry and it's just the two of us. I just live so far out that it's easier for me to buy large quantities and have them in storage. I probably had about that many lemons recently, because my neighbor's friend offloaded some of their (fabulous!) fresh citrus and we got the benefit of it.

I hope someone calls them on their attitude, because if they're pissy the whole season about being in Chicago, I am going to be seriously miffed.

I just live so far out that it's easier for me to buy large quantities and have them in storage.

I guess that was part of my disbelief. You have a (I assume at least weekly) farmer's market and you stock up on that much?

I should add that I don't consider the Italian dressing option to be in any way upscale, but it wouldn't have been bland, which was the crux of the criticisms.

They did have a suspiciously large amount of fresh produce on hand. But, maybe that was for the week. And I think that Padma said that they had food that they had bought in anticipation of the block party.

And I think that Padma said that they had food that they had bought in anticipation of the block party.

OK, I didn't hallucinate that. Good to know.

Well, I assume the producers gave them money when they went to get permissions and such, because 7 full bags of groceries is a lot more than anyone would contribute to a block party.

I haven't seen the ep yet, but I'd be very surprised if Bravo hadn't at least helped these people go shopping.

[xpost]

I hope someone calls them on their attitude, because if they're pissy the whole season about being in Chicago, I am going to be seriously miffed.

Some of them mentioned in Ep 1 that Chicago has finally gotten a reputation as being a top-flight foodie town, but this week's ep isn't showing that respect. Featuring Mexican food is definitely a Chicago thing (most local foodies think that we have the best Mexican cuisine scene north of the Rio Grande), so it was great to have Rick Bayliss on as guest judge.

I hope that they branch out and focus on both the traditional Chicago foods (they already did pizza, now they can do steak) and other newer cuisines (our Thai restaurants are as varied and numerous as anywhere in the country).

It's so ridiculous that I've never been to Chicago! It really sounds like my kind of town. Plus my parents met there so I wouldn't even exist without it!