Matthew Moore wrote:

I worked with Otto at the Ships Inn Nantucket for several years. I think that Otto getting busted stealing lychees is the funniest thing i have ever seen un my life. I dont believe he really did it and if i didt see it i wouldnt believe it, BUT!!! I have to say that im sure, knowing Otto that, he was also fully prepepared and probably planning (outside the show) to contact whover and make good on the flat of fruit! Its really too bad Otto never got a chance to show everyone how to make Steak Ou Poivre!!!!! Ill always see Otto as the best Chef on the show! Call Chef Keller from the French Laundry and ask him what he thinks about Ottos perdicament, im sure he will support Otto!!!! - MM

posted at October 26, 2006 02:52 AM

Mike P. wrote:

Dave, Dave, Dave. How does Marisa have integrity and Otto doesn't? Marisa (and Elia) heard Otto say, 'I think we got a case of lychees for free,' while they were loading the van. A person with integrity would not jump in the back of the van and then throw his/her teammate under the bus by altering Otto's statement to, 'I got us a case of lychees for free.' She is 100% as guilty as Otto (as is Elia). If you were shopping and your friend leaned over as you walked out the Gap and said, 'I scored some free jeans,' what do you do as a person of integrity? Jump in the car? Or do what you can to get your friend to return them? All Marisa or Elia or Otto had to do was not get in the van and make it a little issue before it became a big issue. All three are equally guilty and there is simply no way around that.

posted at October 26, 2006 03:38 AM

meliblu wrote:

Still and yet, don't like the whole way Marisa handled the situation and kept her knowledge to herself. Why didn't she tell the rest of her team immediately as this was a team challenge and wasn't just her personal problem with Otto, but affected everyone? Of course, that was the whole problem with this team a lack of leadership and focus and working through a complete sangria and alcohol fuzz. Panna cotta may not be an Asian dish, but I have had gelatin desserts and seen them on the menu at Asian restaurants -- Chinese actually -- and what a terrible dessert decision for the chef because these were nasty desserts, almost inedible. The most memorable one contained coconut milk and spices and still didn't like it.

posted at October 26, 2006 04:15 AM

dave martin wrote:

just a quick side note...i don't have it in for Otto but as someone who participated in the show and knows that there are pages and pages about rules and not to garner anything inappropriately , in this case that is what happenened...we as adults have to be accountable ...did he intend to take the lychee...i am not saying that but once he noticed they had them in the cart for free...he should have said...oops...it's in the rules we can't bring these back to the kicthen without paying for them ...etc......that's it...point made...carry on...dm

posted at October 26, 2006 01:57 PM

Meredith wrote:

Dave - love ya, great insight, etc., etc. But BIG THANKS for the hot picture of Harold!

posted at October 26, 2006 01:58 PM

Ken wrote:

I think you met the cast of TC2 at Craftsteak not Craft. They were both designed by Peter Bentel and thus both beautiful, but actually look nothing alike and are in completely different parts of NYC. Just thought I'd mention it because Craft is already super-famous, but Craftsteak is new and though amazing, hasn't really gotten much (good) press. Every little bit helps, you know?

posted at October 27, 2006 01:56 AM

laurette wrote:

I agee with mike,he said it so casual,that it was not intensional,and that bitc- was coveering her butt. she should have mension in the parrking lot,i hope they pull A sneaky and brring him back.

ps whats up with yourr restaurant

posted at October 27, 2006 09:18 AM

laurette wrote:

I agee with mike,he said it so casual,that it was not intensional,and that bitc- was coveering her butt. she should have mension in the parrking lot,i hope they pull A sneaky and brring him back.

ps whats up with yourr restaurant

posted at October 27, 2006 09:21 AM

laurette wrote:

I agee with mike,he said it so casual,that it was not intensional,and that bitc- was coveering her butt. she should have mension in the parrking lot,i hope they pull A sneaky and brring him back.

ps whats up with yourr restaurant

posted at October 27, 2006 09:23 AM

oncle willie wrote:

Oh Dave, Dave, Dave. I think you missed the call on the Lychee faux pas. It appears that Otto tried to bring the mistake to Marisa's attention by saying "I think we got..." Otto did not KNOW the lychee nuts were free, he said I think we got...for free. He did not have control of the money, he was not in charge at the check out at the cash register, he did not have the register receipt. He acted correctly in bringing the issue to the attention of his teammate. Marisa chose to ignore it for whatever reason.

Otto taking the whole blame is heroic but Marisa was equally culpable as she KNEW of the presence of the nuts before ever leaving the store parking lot. She is not a good person.

posted at October 27, 2006 12:53 PM

Stephen wrote:

"I agee with mike,he said it so casual,that it was not intensional,and that bitc- was coveering her butt. she should have mension in the parrking lot,i hope they pull A sneaky and brring him back."

As Dave noted, 1) it was against the rules
2) Marisa brought the matter up to at least one other teammate, and it was brought up to Tom, before she had problems with her dish
3) no one who breaks the rules should be brought back, save that for someone who is eliminated due to one bad dish

posted at October 27, 2006 01:11 PM

Yez wrote:

I agree with Mike P. and oncle willie. Otto and Marisa both should have yelled "hold it!" to the rest of the team, explained the situation and taken the lychees back right then and there. I dislike Marisa for keeping the incident under her hat until they were back in the kitchen, and I'm going to miss Otto :-( I don't believe he knew for sure that the lychees went under the radar at the cashier, and I think it was noble of him to bow out. (Plus, he just looks like a chef :> so he was fun to watch!)

posted at October 27, 2006 03:43 PM

cheflovah wrote:

Dave, I am so glad that you are doing a blog. I loved you in the first season of TC. I always found your emotional honesty and vulnerability courageous and refreshing. You will never ever be anyone's bitch.

posted at October 28, 2006 09:27 AM

Mike P. wrote:

Stephen - I see your points. However:
"1) it was against the rules" - What rule did Otto break that Marisa and Elia did not? Otto noticed that the case had probably not been paid for and informed at least two teammates. He did not, as far as we know, take action to ensure the lychees were free. His sin is not speaking up - same as Elia. We do not know if he would have mentioned it to Tom if he had spoken to him first.

"2)Marisa brought the matter up to at least one other teammate, and it was brought up to Tom, "
Otto also brought it up to at least one other teammate (and he did so first) and we have no idea if he was going to inform Tom. Given how willing he was to take blame I can believe he was more deceptive than we were shown, but from what I saw Otto's only sin was not telling Tom first.

"3) no one who breaks the rules should be brought back"
Agreed, but we need to establish what rule was broken. The lychees were under the counter and were not going to be used. It was unclear how this decision was made, although it is likely there was some discussion amongst the team we did not see - and this would make everybody involved as guilty as Otto. No rules were broken. Otto's sin was not telling Tom first - same as Elia's.

From what I saw Otto, Marisa, and Elia all acted with a significant lack of ethics. I simply don't see why Otto got creamed and Marisa and Elia skated, or got credit. In other words, I don't see what Otto DID that Marisa and/or Elia DID NOT.

posted at October 28, 2006 04:15 PM

Brian wrote:

Dave, I'm a big fan and appreciate you offering your insight, but this week I'm surprised at you giving Marisa a pass.

If she had integrity the van would never have pulled away from the market with the lychees inside. She's weak and she manipulated the whole thing to score points. Once the word was out any time a judge was around, or rather, one of "these judges that I respect!" Marisa never failed to hop up on her soapbox.

Otto needs to take the hit, no doubt, but Marisa is just as culpable for letting the thing go on so she could use it.

btw ... great camera work by the crew to catch Marisa with that hideous "Olive Oil" face not once, but twice. She quickly replaced Marcel as the show b*tch. Too bad she won't last long enough to take it to Tiffany proportions.

posted at October 28, 2006 10:16 PM

johnw wrote:

I find it amazing that Marisa and Elia were not aware of the lychees not being rung up as those two were the ones emptying the cart onto the conveyor belt at the cash register. Once the upper basket of the cart was empty, how could they not see the red case of lychees still sitting on the lower rack? Maybe Elia needs new glasses. Otto was watching from the back of the line about 10 feet back. All three, Otto, Elia and Marisa are culpable for not saying anything right then at the register. Otto's conscience got the best of him as they were loading the car and he mentioned the "free" lychees. The two women kept silent until back at the kitchen. After inspecting how hard her dessert had gotten, Marisa realized that she needed something to divert attention away from her bad panna cotta. And then she began the whisper campaign. Elia, being the youngster in this year's group, accepted the older Marisa's word as gospel and became Marisa's accomplice in calling for Otto's departure.

posted at October 29, 2006 11:18 AM

Phillip wrote:

For Shame, For Shame, This is very distressing that the very integrity and concept of the show is constantly being put to test by the cast and members, with thier lack of self worth and childish egos at battle with one and other. Rather than showing thier true worth as top professional or culinary artisans, they choose in poor taste and efforts, to place themselves above one and other, they seek to cause harm to each others by any low and no account means. Does not anyone see that the Show's integrity and what the Title of the show stand for. Without this perception going into the show, the show might as well be called "Top Dog" "No holds Barred". The Show's concept and direction must be above the peityness and the call for "only the best" in the land must be protected. This will in the end make for a better "Show" and more a desired watching. Because the partisipants will have a great goal to achive to not only display greatness but to produce it before millions.

posted at October 29, 2006 01:59 PM

Vicky wrote:

I too agree with MikeP! That Marisa is a coniving biotch and I for one can't wait to see her sent packing. She made a mountain out of a mole hill. If she has so much integrigy, she should have simply checked the receipt after Otto mentioned that..."I think we got a case of lychee for free". This could have all been nipped in the bud at the parking lot. Marisa knows that she is lacking in skills so she did it as insurance to cover up her own ineptness! She bragged about being a "pastry chef", then BOMBED the dessert. Good thing Otto did "steal" the lychee, else Marisa would have been sent packing.

By the way, and this is totally unrelated, does she remind anyone else of Morticia from the Adam's Family???

posted at October 29, 2006 07:08 PM

leigh anne wrote:

DAVE!!! You were my favorite on TC1!!! I loved Harold and Leeanne too but your humor, anxiety(which I share in my life as a restaurant mgr.), and mad skills to pull it all together are oh so inspiring. Also, what the hell with Big Head Tiffany not givinh you full cred on the desserts ion the final challenge? You didn't even like her but you came through for her only for her to do that???? What a crackhead!!! Anyways I love you and your style and would love to know where you are or will be wowing the taste buds next!!!!

posted at October 30, 2006 07:36 PM

Spade wrote:

I am surprised that you called Otto a thief. You must know more about it than we saw on TV. I thought that Otto's remark to Marissa thinking they might have got a free case of Lychees was calling her out since she was involved in paying for the food while Otto was not.

Since it was a team challenge, the issue of what to do about the lychees should have been resolved by the team. Elia and Marissa tattling to Tom that someone stold lychees was not appropriate either.

I believe that Tom actually caused the team problems by requiring Otto to take time out to return the lychees. Perhaps a call to the store would have allowed them to return the lychees at a more opportune time since the team had no plans to use the lychees anyway.

In the haste of trying to get back to the kitchen and work on their project, I can understand why Otto might have hesitated in taking time to resolve the lychee issue until later, when on such a tight schedule.

Perhaps there is a lot more to the story than we have seen. Bravo tends to put a lot of alternate spin on things at times.

Speaking of stealing, Dave, you were robbed last year. Even though you were a dish short, your two dishes were a hit. I think that one or two of Tiffany's dishes should have been sent back to the kitchen as inappropriate, which in my view is worse than not sending one.

posted at October 30, 2006 10:52 PM

Jody T wrote:

I was also a big fan of yours Dave, because you were animated in your work, in your likes, and even in your deep dislikes. I do see your dessert finale for the ambitious Tiffany as the ultimate act of professionalism (even with hangover).
You are an integrity hero to all who have humbly watched their work be claimed away or downplayed. I hope that you continue to be successful and keep your "frantic" moments because they are an endearing part of your character.

posted at October 31, 2006 06:52 PM

toddgsanford wrote:

dave you are a great chef and fun to watch. your gamesman ship and confidence is inspiring. one important factor in top chef and any reality show is working and playing well with others. marissa needs to under stand that but realy dont think she will make it to episode 5 myself at least I am hoping. she is a mediocre chef and cannot work as a part of a team. and also will not accept responsibilty or admit fault or flaw.

posted at November 1, 2006 02:12 PM

Laura wrote:

I agree with the rest who think that Marissa is just as guilty as Otto. She was aware of the non-payment of the lychees and she also left the store.

Going to the judges and telling on him is so "na na na na" childish.

She was trying to cover for her own failure and to keep from being eliminated. I'll bet if her contribution was going well she would have been as quiet as a churchmouse.

posted at November 5, 2006 07:59 PM

Tad wrote:

i just wanted to say that i also agree with mike p. if playing by the rules was actually that important to marissa, she would have taken care of the situation in the parking lot when she had a chance. otto certainly made a mistake, but marissa used that mistake to her advantage instead of solving the problem for the benefit of her team.

posted at November 16, 2006 11:13 PM