Thursday, June 12, 2008

Silver, Not Bronze



















Redemption and second place. It was the Dale Levitski story last year, and it was Lisa Fernandes’ turn this year. Congratulations.

11 comments:

Dorothy Snarker said...

I'm glad Lisa did well. I wasn't a hater (nor a lover, by any means -- just in awe of all the overwhelming hate directed at her). But, God, could you image the pitchforks and torches that would have come out had she won?

Anonymous said...

Do NOT equal Dale Levitski's performance with that of Lisa. Lisa has spent more time in the bottom three than any other contestant I can remember. She's the Wendy Pepper of Top Chef.

Anonymous said...

I don't know if I started to like Lisa just because everyone hated her so much or what but I was kind of rooting for her to take this. While she's obnoxious, I found Stephanie to be a bit boring and Richard started rubbing me the wrong way in the end.

Of the food presented tonight the things I really wanted to try were her soup and dessert and Steph's pistachio thing.

Anonymous said...

Dale Levitski would wipe the floor with Lisa. She should only wish she is half his talent.

Mom said...

Lisa's "success" was due primarily to being in the right place at the right time when others stumbled. It was not due to the merits of her cooking. Wendy Pepper indeed!

Anonymous said...

Lisa's food in Puerto Rico looked delicious. But then again, we can't taste it, can we? So who knows if we'd agree about her deserving a silver metal?

I thought she was often frustrated, but also down to earth and sincere. I liked her. Congrats, Lisa.

Unknown said...

Lisa was just lucky! She was consistently nearly ready for elimination and so tired with the peanut butter!

Anonymous said...

Not to pick nits, but technically, they don't award second place. Clearly Richard's (and Casey's last season) meals weren't as well received as Lisa's (or Dale's). But, 2nd is as good as third. You get bupkiss. She can, justifiably, claim to have beaten Richard in the final. And Richard can flick her off while she waits for the bus as he drives by in his new car.

She did redeem herself. Her soup dumpling (technically not a soup dumpling) looked great. I want one. Or seven. But she's still a festering mole on the butt of humanity. I would rather book a flight to Atlanta to taste Richard's nitrogen ice cream.

Anonymous said...

Love your blog and the snark. but I think you are very mistaken about Lisa being 2nd and Richard being 3rd. It was classic Bravo editing. here is ted allen himself talking about the finale.


"Lisa did a great job at the finale, but she did not come in second place.

Unanimous: Steph, first. Richard, close second. Lisa, very much third.

I'l explain more on my TC blog about how judging and editing went ASAP, but I'm a little busy. "


http://www.skilletdoux.com/2008/06/chicago-rules.html#comment-118652414

i consider Lisa a top cook and not a top chef. All her dishes are classic regular thai food. She must have cooked it perfectly but so does the cook in the thai restaurant around the corner from my house !!!

Anonymous said...

I find it ironic that with all the comments about Lisa's luck that everyone seems OK with everyone saying that this contest was "Richard's to lose". Since that sounds to me like saying Stephanie is not the better chef she just got lucky that Richard had an off night.

Anonymous said...

"I find it ironic that with all the comments about Lisa's luck that everyone seems OK with everyone saying that this contest was "Richard's to lose". Since that sounds to me like saying Stephanie is not the better chef she just got lucky that Richard had an off night."

As much as I really like Stephanie and respect her chefliness, yes, I can't help but believe that she won because Richard had an off night. I'm sorry, but I think a lot of folks feel that way. It in no way negates her win or is patronizing toward her. I think Richard is more imaginative and was in a different league than anyone else there.

Add me to the folks who say BOO at this blog stating Lisa won "second place." She did not.