"...Mike's sexist machismo self"

Jamie-you were on the show and you know they edit.
Mike was actually growing on me.
He was funny!

Wanted to ask some of the chefs from Bravo what they plan to cook for Thanksgiving or is that the one day you let others do the cooking for you??

ha ha ha
couldn't agree with you more about vegetarians
i think anybody flirting with the idea should do what i did
go and work as a chef in a vegetarian restuarant
please dont get me wrong i adore fruits and vegetables and think animal treatment in farming is a major issue but one month of listening to thier flawed crackpot ideas and almost religious zeal was enough to cure me for a life time
keep up the good work jamie i loved your cooking last season

Jamie, Don't be too harsh on the SOS! It's a great, comforting, middle America breakfast dish. In my family it's typically served on a flaky, homemade biscuit rather than toast.

On the subject of vegetarian vs. non-veg: it's just part of the cooking lexicon. EVERY chef should be able to make a solid vegetarian dish, when called upon, a tasty, simple dessert, produce commonly understood classical sauces/dishes, etc. Anyone who is totally "one-note" or "one-cuisine" in their skills might be a decent cook, but can't really be considered a Top Chef.

Wow Jamie, great blog! I laughed so hard I wish someone would
give you a TV segment or special column. Michael's food maybe
rad but please...Kevin is being one classy guy. I agree withyour
food comments but it looks like a brothers V face off. Boring!
Thank youfor making this season more fun!

Jamie, I so agree with you. These chefs didn't have any fun this episode. Or really this season for that matter. Your season was a lot more fun. Plus, I think you should have made the finals!

While the Elimination challenge wasn't the most exciting...Breakfast in Bed?!?! CMON...I love making that for my family/significant other!

I agree that extreme veggies should tone it down!

And...also...write a book..it would be awesome!! I'd buy it!

This episode, and entire season is absolutely a snoozer. I'm not sure if it the combination of personalities or the venue, or both, but I rarely try to catch up if I miss an episode. I am however looking very forward to the next season of Top Chef Masters.

Nothing outstanding to comment on, did'nt see Top Chef, just wanted to say how much I enjoy your blogs. I have the same feeling re vegetarians, nice people but I don't want to marry one.

Hi Jamie, amusing blog - as usual :)

Even though I AM one of those "evil vegetarians", I must say I can see where you're coming from. Those who love meat, especially chefs, usually feel pretty strong about it and can't understand why a person would choose not to eat it. The way I see it, to each his own. I still think you're a great chef, and really enjoy reading your blog each week.

Question: I noticed that you said you're still paying off student loans.. as am I. Those loans are a biatch haha. Did Bravo give you any sort of compensation for coming on the show originally, and/or being a guest blogger now? If not, I think they SHOULD. It seems like in the time you're away filming the show you're missing out on making money at your restaurant.

Hopefully you're getting TONS of business due to your being on the show! Thanks for all of your insights. I was hoping to see you on that reunion show to spice things up with Stefan, but alas, you were absent.

Just stumbled across this. Who knew we would agree about the food and competitors this year.

Hopefully your Mom recorded the reunion show. It felt like an idea looking for a show. It had some good ideas, shots of down time activities in the booze room, for example.

Fabio was put in a difficult spot. It is hard to be a peer who has been promoted. He may have the chops but needs more experience/training.

Like your blog and not just because I agree with you.

Also, thought it interesting that Michael (or was it Bryan) had to spend time cleaning up after Robin. Granted, he seems a bit retentive, but I was hoping you might write a bit about how that comes into play during the competition- do you have to leave your stations as you found them, or are there hordes of unseen kitchen cleaning gnomes? Does a chef who works like a juggler in a house afire throw off others who are used to working in a Home & Gardens, Betty Crocker kitchen- or do those unable to adapt just get eliminated early?
Also, a confession- while watching the show I love to eat absolute crap- frozen pizza, Spaghetti-o's, Yodels- just for the irony. "OMG, I can't believe he didn't get a decent braise on that lamb... Damn, my pizza is still cold in the middle!"

Really like your blog, frankly of the contestants' posts yours are the only ones I've found interesting enough to go back and read for more than one episode. The other commenter was right- write a handful of columns and send them to local newspapers or magazine. Offer to write a weekly column for free- They'll snap it up, and you get a free ad for your restaurant while creating material for a future book.
Jen almost seems to be sabotaging herself with her lack of confidence... The SOS was almost like "crap, I've got to give them something," and calling it that showed poor judgment, no doubt stemming from exhaustion.

I have to agree I got halfway threw it then tune it out to clean up from a party that I had the other night. But I disgree I enjoy Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast dispite my girlfriend protest of it!!!

Even though it was time for Robin to go I think that Elis' and Jens dishes were worse.I wish Jen could get herself together .She showed so much promise in the beginning but she looks so exhausted.I love Kevin, he's so consistantly good. He loves what he's doing and he has the most pleasant personality of the bunch.Bryan is a great chef too in a quiet way. Michael will be his own worst enemy if he doesn't get that arrogance under control.You might be a flashier chef Michael, but the rest are as good and some better than you!

Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast (often referred to as: S--- on a Shingle) was a common menu item in rural Midwest communities - in the 1940's and 50's. As with any food, if it's prepared right it's very tasty; if not, well ,, it's SOS.
Mental fatigue: In any competition, once a competitor mentally gives in to fatigue they're usually finished. It's hard to regain momentum once one has given up. Still, I think Jen will make it to the final four.

I must say that Eli's aweful little dish was a perfect representation of CircusCircus. It was right on when someone said that the description of his visit was like looking at a sad black velvet painting... or something like that. I've been through CircusCircus once. And that was enough. What a dated, creepy place. Too bad, because the theme could have so much potential. My dish would have been a disaster too if I had to get inspiration from that old, yucky casino. What a bummer.

Hi Jaime! Love your blog every week - is it me or are the 'cheftestants' on this season fairly dull characters??? Yeah, there are some amazing chefs, but I just find them to be a bunch of humorless bores. Every other season there were people who were funny and cracking jokes (like you and Stefan), but I couldn't even pick my "fan favorite" because I can't pick one!!! You know when they're really dull when you find yourself saying, "Well, I guess Kevin seems nice..." I know it's about the food, but I miss people with some personality!!!! I couldn't care less who wins... ho hum...

I think the reason this season has produced some sleeper episodes is that there aren't any real characters to compete with those in season's past. And now that Robin's gone, it seems to be a tension free environment. It seems to me that every season has had it's villain (at least one) but nothing this season...just good cooking.

I had the opportunity to meet Jenn at her restaurant in Philadelphia last week. She is warm, engaging and lovely and her tuna carpaccio was to die for. Oh, and definitely it was not morning sickness... the girl is seriously skinny.

Creamed beef on toast in Vegas? If I had been drinking the night before I would have found that beyond revolting, no matter how good it tastes. Personally, I dislike it. I really hope Jen can get back in the game. She seems to be a good chef, but competition seems to put her off.

Perceptive blog as usual. I agree, the food concocted for the elimination challenge was not very imaginative, even the winning dishes were a bit bland.

One question--why do you not watch the ending of the episodes? Is there a reason you do not want to know who gets sent home?

What happened to the Jen that made boys cry? I really like her and hope she comes back, Right now I hope Bryan wins, he has the most class.

Creamed chipped beef may not look like the most appetizing thing in the world, but it can be quite good. It's pretty similar to biscuits and gravy, though it's not necessarily a breakfast dish.

As for the rest... yeah, I'd have to agree it was a little boring. Towards this point I guess I just expect more curveballs and surprises, and this one was straight up the middle. I think this one would have been a better challenge towards the begining of the season. I also figured out who was going to be in the top and bottom pretty quickly, which took a good bit of the fun out of it for me.

Creamed chipped beef may not look like the most appetizing thing in the world, but it can be quite good. It's pretty similar to biscuits and gravy, though it's not necessarily a breakfast dish.

As for the rest... yeah, I'd have to agree it was a little boring. Towards this point I guess I just expect more curveballs and surprises, and this one was straight up the middle. I think this one would have been a better challenge towards the begining of the season. I also figured out who was going to be in the top and bottom pretty quickly, which took a good bit of the fun out of it for me.

Im suprised Robin went home,I think that Eli's dish was the worst there.I am glad Robin went though.

another great blog...you should get your own column in your local newspaper (do they have local newspapers where you are). Always interesting and insightful.

"Vegas is filled with life." If you mean filled with life by people walking around drunk, or taking pictures of ceilings in hotels, or "dancing" in overcrowded night club spots, then not really. I think they found what each Casino offered up best as far as amusement. Vegas is overrated for that mere fact that really, the only fun you do have is drinking and gambling.

Also, do chefs burn themselves a lot. I made a cold Tombstone pizza earlier (the absolute ceiling of my cooking potential) and I'm like damn, this is insane, burning my thumb inside an oven. How do you all do it?

Jamie ... a BIG +1 on your outlook towards vegetarians. I'm right there with you. What really surprises me that Robin isn't one ... she really seems the type, doesn't she?

Morning sickness...lol... Jen did give Mike a nice big smoootch when he left... joking aside I think that IF Jen can get her head back in the game she can compete with any of the chefs that are left. I like Kevin though, I think he's been under rated and I would love to see him take the whole thing!

Ever since Jen was sick for the quickfire she has not had her head together. Morning sickness?

Way to go! You didn't get to see the ending, but your knowledge of the show kicked in and you picked the right person both to win, and the bottom 2 to go home.

Question: You bring up the mentally tired state of the competition as a major reason for your departure from the show. Didn't you get a mental breather for a few months, and then come back to compete in New Orleans? Was hoping you would fare better in the rematch, but you still seemed on TV to be over the TC competition.

Thanks for the responses. I totally agree, generally a snoozer episode after giggling over the thought of Nigella and Padma in bed.