Product placement on TC was really blatant tonight. I mean, even in the waiting room, you could see the glad wrap on the wall. I didn't think that they would kick Stephanie off on her first mishap.

Tom with saying that Mark should have used his budget better? Dude, have you bought veggies at Whole Foods?

Dude sounds like some 12 pack a day Marlboro man sucking on a Bud Light in the back of a catgut bar in the Greyhound station with a beat up karaoke machine in the corner. And not in the good way.

I don't watch American Idol, I was just skimming through to catch the comments about Top Chef, but this caught my eye and I loved it so much I thought it bore repeating.

Dude, have you bought veggies at Whole Foods?

Yeah, but everyone else managed to work some protein in, and even at WF sweet potatoes are pretty cheap.

I can get four meals out of $5 at my normal grocery store! Not Top Chef quality, but whatever.

Well, and honestly that was my other problem with this challenge - I appreciate the charity aspect of working with kids and teaching them to cook, but what the fuck does it matter if a restaurant chef can't cook cheap & simple home food??? This was a challenge I'd have liked on Next Food Network Star. NSM on Top CHEF.

Seriously. They even could have done "simple, work with kids" without the money aspect. And of course the one with a kid won. When was the last time any of the rest of them cooked anything at home for dinner?

I appreciate the charity aspect of working with kids and teaching them to cook, but what the fuck does it matter if a restaurant chef can't cook cheap & simple home food???

Yes. This.

I didn't think that they would kick Stephanie off on her first mishap.

In prior seasons, other than late late rounds, has anyone been kicked off the episode after they one an elimination challenge? Does WINNING an elimination round get you anything but bragging rights (as opposed to winning the quickfire challenge which saves you from the next elimination)? I'd at least have it so you have some minimal advantage (head start, first choice, etc.) in the next quickfire.

I didn't think that they would kick Stephanie off on her first mishap.

Not really her first. She was on the bottom last episode, too. Still rooting for her, but she needs to pull herself back together.

Does WINNING an elimination round get you anything but bragging rights (as opposed to winning the quickfire challenge which saves you from the next elimination)?

Nope, except for the random times they have prizes. That being said, no one really believes that the judges will through someone who has won once or twice on what's obviously an off day, unless the food is really, really bad. I can't think of an example, though.

And IIRC, Antonia follows Mikey as the first person to win both a Quickfire and a Elimination challenge (by themselves and not pat of a team or duo) on the same day. Of course, Mikey went home the next day.

Still rooting for her, but she needs to pull herself back together.

Yep, all of this. I get the same way when I'm under stress - I can't focus or plan, and I wind up overthinking the most mundane tasks. Hopefully she'll be able to take a breath and step back from it enough to make it through.

peanut butter and tomato sounds really wrong on top of cous-cous.

peanut butter and tomato sounds really wrong on top of cous-cous.

Granted, Richard's white chocolate thing sounded wrong like a wrong thing too, but I can't even grasp what the concept was with the PB&T.

Oh, and Ted Allen agrees about Whole Foods:

Now, on this Elimination Challenge: Feed a family of four for ten bucks? At Whole Foods?! Have you ever been to Whole Foods? It costs $10 to drive past the place. I once brought an organic melon to the checkout in a Whole Foods in Chicago, and it rang up at $12! (Needless to say, that melon stayed in the store.)