Interesting review. I agree that having one judge doing non-blind judging was a big miss for this show.

https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2024/04/24-in-24-last-chef-standing-food-network-review/

I liked it for the most part. The things I didn’t would be spoilers and this is the first post-premier post about it.

I love Michael Symon but wasn’t familiar with Esther Choi at all but she’s growing on me. She’s more down to earth than I thought she would be.

There are a lot of judges with familiar faces which will be cool.

I enjoyed the challenges this week. Glad to see something other than cake made. Steven did an amazing job. I agree with the baker sent home. It was sad to see her go but I feel it was correct. I think it will mostly be between Steven and Alex in the finale.

They really let the episode air stating that the first SUNDAY in May is the Kentucky Derby? It's on Saturday. Has been for decades. A very easily Google-able detail they didn't bother checking or editing. Embarrassing mistake on their part, especially with Bobby Flay having owned and bred horses. They even have someone on the network who could help.

Sorry. That's all. Rant over. What details like that have you heard that bugged you?

Looking across seed and season, both in terms of number of battles and the average score.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5zf3p5xj4H/?igsh=MWI0eDV1YjlrZTdwNQ==

Not sure when these are being released in real time, but there have been new food network shows coming out on HBO Max the past few weeks. I'm enjoying the new content. What are your thoughts? Seems like Jet is becoming increasingly a staple on the network!

https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/hollywood/i-just-so-admire-her-food-network-star-ina-garten-shares-how-she-booked-taylor-swift-concert-tickets-at-3am-1295656

So we all know what happened with Lenny McNab and why he never got his show (they should have done sm sweeps way before but too late now🤷🏻‍♀️)

I guess i'm confused as why they didn't just give the runner-up his position instead? i'm sure Luca Della Cassa and/or Nicole Gaffney still could have made shows that would have done decent.

My theories are either: The network just wanted to push it under the rug as much as they could and never mentioned it much and just focused on the next season. or they replaced it with another show all together but i'm not sure what since that season ended in august 2014.

i'm just curious if anyone knows since i love season 10 and i finished rewatching it last night

Why oh why is the Food Network app going away? I use it as much as a person uses facebook! WHy is it going away?

https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2024/04/britt-rescigno-toc-v-interview/

In this episode, the contestants are paired with a Brownie Girl Scout, and must demonstrate how to make a kid-friendly meal during a segment on the “Rachael Ray” show.

My theory is Shane was eliminated, because at the time of filming, he was 19, and the next challenge is a trip to Las Vegas. Therefore, he would be too young to consume alcohol, or possibly even too young to go to some of the bars.

This brings me to another question: why would production cast someone under the age of 21 if they knew a challenge would take place in Las Vegas?

Anyone else find it ironic that Jen, whose culinary point of view is kid-friendly meals that the whole family will enjoy, was eliminated right before this challenge?

Once again, I felt the Selection Committee gave mixed messages to Kelsey. They tell her they want her to have some authority, then get annoyed when she directs Rachael. Yes, Kelsey was a guest on Rachael’s show, but the point of being a Food Network Star is being a Star.

I felt bad Lisa cried at the Final Evaluation. I read spoilers, so I know Lisa does not win this season, but I really hope Food Network at least gave her a role in production. She has lots and lots of culinary knowledge. She comes across as if she is better than this show, and that is a compliment. IMO, she doesn’t need this show. I could see her as more of a Martha Stewart type of on-air personality.

I thought the Selection Committee gave Aaron a really silly critique for washing his hands on-air. Hand-washing is the first step of cooking, and Aaron was teaching a child how to cook.

I thought the cooking part of the challenge itself (the part where the contestants had to come up with a recipe) was too easy. I really thought the Selection Committee would critique Kelsey for basically making a healthy version of a banana split, but I am glad they did not critique her for that.

The meal that Adam prepared looked very good. I felt horrible for him when he talked about how his restaurant failed. I am glad he is still in the competition.

Overall, it was not my favorite episode of the season, and I was not pleased with the Selection Committee. I look forward to seeing how this season progresses in episode 7.

Trying to find an episode of something where Antonia defeated Maneet. Help?

https://preview.redd.it/w6w47lf99iuc1.jpg?width=616&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f14ea84f0b6793192b17cf2d82a152796686d0c6

24 elite chefs compete in a 24-hour cooking challenge, with the first segment testing their speed under pressure, judged by Jet Tila, and an early twist setting the tone of constant elimination threat.

I just feel bad for him sometimes. Anybody else feel the same?

He's very wealthy so I don't feel bad for him in that way. He is just so clearly in the shadow of his dad and I hope one day he grows out of it.

I'll start. Beat Bobby Flay, Best Bite In Town, Chopped, Guy’s Grocery Games, Last Chef Standing, Next Level Chef, Top Chef, MasterChef, MasterChef Junior, Wildcard Kitchen, 24 In 24

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It's a bit messy but it overlays the scores and winners of each battle

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5wAJpCxMlr/?igsh=dXZuanNyYjlzZWNh

I think Wildcard Kitchen is a great show. I like the concept and the banter and the friendly competition, and I really like Eric Adjepong, but I'm close to quitting it. What bothers me is that during the judging of the dishes the judges are given the community cards information but not the Wild Card information. Without that Wild Card information they might penalize a chef for what they think might be a mistake or a fault. For example, rather than being critical of a dish because the chef couldn't use salt, if they had that Wild Card information, they might commend the chef for originality for doing what they did despite the inability to use salt.

I couldn’t take Jen seriously at all even though I liked watching her. When Tanika and the other ones that were like “did she actually cook…anything?!” I thought it was pretty on point. I blurted out laughing when she timidly served her fennel dusted salad.

In the first challenge, the contestants have to make a dish from a mystery basket. IMO, the baskets looked like they had fairly simple ingredients. Afterward, they had to switch dishes with another contestant (that’s the twist) and describe the other contestant’s food to the camera in 90 seconds.

This looked like a very hard challenge. The teams of two were chosen by production. Was anyone else wondering why each duo was not one man and one woman? There are enough contestants to have each team be comprised of one man and one woman. IMO, the teams were designed as they were because production wanted to re-do the duo of Adam and Aaron, as they previously worked together during a challenge on episode 2. It would have been more fun to have one man and one woman on each team, because I have no idea what Lisa would have come up with as a dish in the second challenge if she were paired with Adam.

In the second challenge, the teams have to redesign a difficult dish for the home cook to recreate in 45 minutes. The winning team will have their recipe featured in “Bon Appetit” Magazine.

I completely forgot about Chef Cat Cora from “Iron Chef.” This is the second episode in a row where there is at least one chef from “Iron Chef.” I hope this trend continues this season, because Chef Morimoto would make an excellent editon to the Selection Committee.

Why did the Selection Committee tell Kelsey to stop talking about culinary school? They always tell the contestants to tell stories about their experiences. IMO, Kelsey wasn’t talking about culinary school to imply she is inexperienced. My theory is, she genuinely had a really good time at culinary school, so of course she wants to talk about it.

I compare it to someone who came back from a month-long trip to Disney World. If a person had a really good time somewhere, of course they will bring it up whenever they can.

Also, I was confused at how the polenta was Adam’s dish, when there was a clip of Aaron mixing it. Yes, this was a team challenge, but I really thought Aaron was the chef behind the polenta.

Also, during the second challenge, Kelsey was surprised at how hot a surface was. Why wasn’t she wearing an oven mitt?

And, I saw Jennifer banging the juice against the counter. Why was she banging it? She should have use a different method to open the jar.

I felt bad for Aaron this episode, because I agree with the Selection Committee, and he did look nervous. I want him to go further in the competition.

Also, considering how often Shane and Kelsey have been winning challenges, I was not surprised they won both challenges (Shane won the first challenge).

Overall, the challenges this episode were very difficult. I did not enjoy the “Bon Appetit” challenge.

This episode was not as good as episode 4 was. I would rank it as my second to last favorite episode this season, with the first episode being my least favorite episode this season.

Reposting because I put “S2” instead of “S4” and couldn’t edit the title.

In the first part of the challenge, the contestants have to make a 1 minute demonstration video on a culinary skill. The twist is the contestants don’t know which skill they’ll be showing off until they are ready to film.

I’ve seen it commented before that these challenges are a hybrid of culinary knowledge and presentation. That part I like, so that the contestants aren’t being judged on only one skill all of the time.

I also find it refreshing that production does not show or highlight any drama or infighting between the contestants, like other reality shows do.

I thought Lisa or Aaron should have won the first part of the challenge.

In the second challenge, the contestants had to make two different fish dishes: one for Red Lobster (the winner has their dish featured on Red Lobster’s menu), and a second dish, which includes an “Iron Chef” ingredient.

Michael Symon replaced Bobby Flay on the Selection Committee this week. I didn’t realize Bobby wasn’t on this episode until the end when the Selection Committee said Michael replaced Bobby this week.

I felt bad Lisa fell, but I agree with the Selection Committee that she had a very good presentation.

I don’t blame Nipa for dancing as part of her presentation. Adam sang on his knees for Martha Stewart and the Selection Committee enjoyed it, so of course Nipa is going to think that’s what they want to see.

IMO, production told the contestants to greet the audience, which was comprised of members of the Coast Guard, by saying “how is everyone doing?”

Was anyone else confused when the Selection Committee explained why Aaron’s fish was overcooked? His fish was seared instead of steamed.

I did not want Nipa to be eliminated, but I thought she would be eliminated because she did not properly filet her fish.

Overall, episode 4 was better than episode 3. I am really enjoying this series.

The first part of the challenge where the contestants had to create a dish using a potato was a bit silly, but it was still fun to watch.

Lisa tried really hard, but only used fifteen seconds out of her 1 minute.

Sorry, Jen, but mashed potatoes on pizza doesn’t sound very appetizing to me.

The main challenge: the contestants have to make their own signature ingredient. This was a really fun concept. I enjoy how creative these challenges have been so far. Why did they make it such a big deal that Martha Stewart doesn’t eat sloppy joes? Martha isn’t the consumer of the product. The product would be marketed to the average consumer, who does eat sloppy joes.

I wasn’t surprised Jeffrey was eliminated. His product was versatile, though. Kelsey’s speech at final judgement was too over-the-top. We know how bad she wants to be in the competition, that’s why she is in the competition.

It feels like Lisa is in a different class than the rest of the cast. Does anyone else agree? She brings a certain level of sophistication and elegance. She reminds me of if Countess LuAnn DeLesseps from “The Real Housewives of New York City” were a contestant, and that’s a compliment.

I preferred episode 2 over episode 3. I probably won’t be recapping/reviewing episode 1, but I’m hoping to recap/review the rest of season 4.

Her IG content is a freaking delight! Very down-to-earth, easy to watch, fun stuff - and really handy easy recipe ideas.

Anyone ever work with or met her IRL? Is she actually like that? If so, nice!

They said that New Haven was the home the first burger and didn't go to Louis' Lunch?

https://louislunch.com/

Best bite pizza? No Sally's or Pepes or Modern?

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He’s often referred to as a “mad scientist” in the kitchen whose brain “doesn’t work like other chef’s.” Sometimes it really makes him shine and other times it is his ultimate downfall.

I loved his and Bryan’s season of Top Chef. I don’t think either would have won if they weren’t fueled by the brotherly rivalry.

Ina Garten and Martha Stewart LIVE in New York and Philly!

Did anyone else get weird vibes on the episode April went home on? The judges all seemed almost offended by her output that episode. And the vibe between her and Jesse in particular felt weird. He doesn’t usually offer a critical 2 cents and even his goodbye felt weighted.

TL;DR…did they bone?