And Antonia is growing on me, even if I still haven't been impressed by her food

Someone upthread said it for me, though -- even if I don't think Antonia is at the same level as the others with regard to food, she seems like someone I could hang out with comfortably for hours, minutes after meeting her. Just no bullshit there.

The thing is, though, Dale clearly does not have the chops to be an executive chef. He was just like Nikki in the Wedding Wars - deciding early on that his team was too irritating to deal with (understandable given the players involved) and abdicating all responsibility for his kitchen.

I quite agree. He knew what he was getting into with this team, and actively took the reins at the beginning, but never throught through how to make personalities like these work together. Which, admittedly, is a tough question. But he seemed to be going through the motions of leadership, and not actually leading.

(and bless you, Tony B, for pointing out that Asia is, in fact, a pretty big place)

Indeed, this had bene driving me crazy for ages, especially when people complain that Dale"only cooks Asian," when in fact, he's probably covered a larger geographic area knowledge than just about anyone else on the show. Fucking Americans.

Plus him and Ted seemed to try to top each other for most hilarious comments on the dishes during the tasting, which is a hoot.

Heh. I think Bourdain's gotten very comfortable as an occasional part of the show, so his appearances are both exciting and fairly seemless.

But I thought the neat bit was that he was a little less the snarky guest judge this episode, and seemed to be making an honest effort to do Tom's job. Which somehow made him even more terrifying.

But I thought the neat bit was that he was a little less the snarky guest judge this episode, and seemed to be making an honest effort to do Tom's job. Which somehow made him even more terrifying.

yes! Although, I think that Tom would have been more mad at/disappointed in Dale's team than Bourdain was.

Lisa DID blame Dale for the rice at judges table, though - she said WF didn't have the right kind of rice so she got the kind Dale said to buy.

I'd forgotten about that until I read the thread over at TWoP. A couple people there noticed on rewatch that was in fact what happened at WF, which Dale later denied at the Judge's table. Though I doubt that played into the judge's decision. I think Dale got sent packing because he was EC AND produced that horrid scallop atrocity.

Right - as EC he should have made the decision to NOT make sticky rice w/o the actual sticky rice and then he created a really bad dish. Why did he ever think that butterscotch scallops were a good idea?

(And apparently, he should have said "no" to that soup - which he didn't have any knowledge about.)

(And apparently, he should have said "no" to that soup - which he didn't have any knowledge about.)

He should have said "No" after tasting it at least.

Very true. I wonder what they could have made instead.

Oh, and scarily people over at TWOP are mentioning the name "Wendy Pepper" in connection with Lisa. Please. . NO.

I'm hoping that her inability to judge whether or not her stuff tastes good will make her fail in next week's challenge.

Oh, and scarily people over at TWOP are mentioning the name "Wendy Pepper" in connection with Lisa. Please. . NO.

Could we please start calling her Chef Wendy Pepper? (although not if it means she makes it to the top 3)

Oh no, Stephanie, Richard and Antonia must be in the top three.

Oh no, Stephanie, Richard and Antonia must be in the top three.

I know, I would have traded Antonia for Dale based on talent, but as it stands? No contest.

Oh, and scarily people over at TWOP are mentioning the name "Wendy Pepper" in connection with Lisa. Please. . NO.

There's some serious, full-blown crazy going on at TWOP today, particularly the people blaming Tom (evidently for being absent) and Bourdain (for being too hard on Dale). One person was comparing Tom to Pialte and ranting that he can't wash his hands of it just because he wasn't there. Wow. Seriously, folks. It's a TV show.