rebecca wrote:

i'm fairly certain mike was going home in this round.it offends me that mia did not let that happen,instead offering herself up for the cut.pretty much an insult to who she is and how far she has come in her life to let some guy(cliff)ruin what she stood for.not good enough,mia!

posted at December 20, 2006 11:22 PM

Mikey for Prez wrote:

Coliccho said very clearly in the blog for this episode that they were ready to send Elia home when Mia chimed in. Rightfully so... Elia made bad decisions, showed no leadership and stubbornly held on to two catering no-nos: last-minute cooking and few selections.

I just find it hilarious to see so many people chapped by the fact that Mikey's made it so far. Why anyone think he should have gone home, of all the episodes, for the catering challenge, is beyond me.

I'll assume the pressure of living and shooting the show is immense, but her final episode was a little over the top and the judges were right in expressing disbelief that she truly tried to make herself heard. I give her all the credit in the world... she wanted a way out off the show, found a good opportunity to do it with purpose and pulled the trigger. She wanted to control her own destiny... and in a reality show, that's a rare accomplishment.

posted at December 21, 2006 09:41 PM

Bob wrote:

excellent post as usual Dave. I was thinking the same thing about Mia ( in that it mirrored your situation with Tiff and Harold) I think there is a tendency for Highend Chefs to look down on and dismiss chefs who treasure a more comfort food oriented approach. Mia's input was also sort of ignored when when she was paired with Betty, and I think what Mia did to alleviate that situation was to just be a team member and not dwell on her treatment by Cliff and Elia. Cliff ( who i used to respect) was snooty and condescending to Mia, not at all a Top Chef attribute.
I was surprized at how silent Mike was the entire episode, guessing he thought that as long as it wasn't him under the bus, he'd keep his head down and mouth shut ( another non-admirable quality) As much as I like Elia, the decisions were all hers, what to serve, how to prepare it, when to prepare it, and despite her seeming to be an excellent chef/cook, the downfall of her team rests on her shoulders and, from what i saw in the episode, not in her not getting help and support from her staff as Cliff vehemently suggests. Elia shouldn't have let Mia go home in place of herself. As everyone who is paying attention to the series, it isn't just about who can cook the best.
Good luck in your endeavors and a happy holiday to you and yours.

posted at December 22, 2006 08:50 AM

Mioshye wrote:

Even though this is Daves blog I have something to say about Elia and Mia's situation. It was wrong for Elia to let Mia go home on that episode because it was not her time to go. Elia was responsible for that elimination challenge and she should have tooken the blame. She's the one who wanted to wait and cook as the function was going on. Now on to you Mr. Dave I really loved you on the show even though you cried just a little too much, but hey you have to let it out some kind of way, RIGHT? Well anyway i wish you all the blessings in the world and continue to be you (keepin' it real always).

posted at December 23, 2006 11:12 PM

maryc wrote:

Dave loved you and love your blog! I re-watched this ep last night and I just wanted to ask (in my best Tim Gunn voice)
Chefs? What happened to Stephen?

Seriously, I could have SWORN I saw a teaser for this ep that featured the infamous Stephen. Was I dreaming?

posted at December 24, 2006 12:13 PM

Sharon Johnson wrote:

Dave, I'm glad I took the opportunity to check the website. I think about you at least once a week and wonder how you are doing. For some reason, I really connected with you on the show. I'm glad to see you have a restaurant opening in '07 and that you have been busy since season 1 ended. All the best in your career. SJ

posted at December 24, 2006 11:26 PM

Smurfe wrote:

I did not find Mike being quiet during this episode a downfall. This was a team effort. Mike and Mia displayed the "TEAM" attitude to me. I just got the feeling Mike was trying to work to the best of his ability as a team member and not a solo artist. I feel he displayed the best team attitude in this competition. Sure, it looked like he didn't do that much but it looked to me he did as he was told and contributed to the team as much as anyone else.

I still have this gut feeling that Cliff, safe with immunity, used psychology to eliminate Elia, a true threat to him in this competition.I feel many of the bad decisions made by Elia were indeed induced by Cliff.

Mia's outburst at the end did not impress me at all or make me feel the least bit sorry for her. I thought many of her statements are going to come back to haunt her business. Hopefully her customers are not regular viewers. The "feel sorry for me cause of my past" was very tacky. It made me glad she left.

I'd like to thank Dave for this blog and keeping us up to date on how things are going in your life. You were my favorite last year through the entire season and one of the major reasons I watched then as well as now. I have the DVR set to record all of the last years episodes set to air on Wednesday, December 27!

posted at December 25, 2006 04:22 PM

MAMAPAYNE wrote:

If Cliff did not have immunity - he should of been the one to go home- he is rude, arrogant, and nonprofessional. I think Mike should of been the one to go- as for Mia she did throw Betty under the bus in the camp glucose challenge - maybe it was payback time - the team was set themselves up for elimination with only doing 4 dishes - there was no variety - hats off to the other team - hopefully Cliff or Mike can be next

posted at December 26, 2006 03:02 PM

Heather wrote:

Hey Dave,
Just wanted to say we love you and think you are the best pepper monkey out there. But where are the chefs we watched the entire first season and think you guys had more imagination and talent in your little pinkey than these guys have in the entire group. All of us at the fresh spice market love you and wish we could have had some of your mac and cheese

posted at December 27, 2006 01:07 AM

Kris wrote:

I agree that Cliff went along with Elia's "wonderful" menu planning (definite way to lose), then if Mia stepped in to complain about it at JT, he was sooo ready to save Elia (a non-threat) by blaming Mia for the failure with his lame excuse. Thank God the judges didn't buy that BS. They even questioned him on the menu and he was looked blank (poss. shocked that they were onto his game). I hope they keep that Cliff ep. in mind for judging the rest of the season.

posted at December 27, 2006 05:30 PM

David Beggs wrote:

Dave:

I simply must have your mac'n'cheese recipe.
I can't wait for the book........HELP

David

posted at December 27, 2006 10:36 PM

Ingrid wrote:

Hey Dave!
I just wanted to drop you a line, because they have been rerunning your season one episodes this week, and it reminded me of how much I loved you, your approach to fine dining, and how your dishes were actually usually favorites of the people who ate them across the board. Whatever anyone wants to say- I still want to actually eat dishes of yours more than the other ones- Grape Ape sandwich, truffle mac'n' cheese-yum!!! I really hope you open your own restaurant, because I am a flight attendant and would send all my friends on the road to eat there! I think you are planning one, but if I may ask When and in what city?

posted at December 28, 2006 03:05 AM

katy D wrote:

Dave, Love your Blogs. Would love to hear about
the trip you went on with Jeffery Chodorow.

posted at December 28, 2006 09:04 AM

IRENE wrote:

Hi Dave
I really miss you on TC. Your sense of
humor and passion for your craft were just amazing. I loved that you were always yourself. Congratulations on your restaurant. I only regret that it is inLA and not NYC. Best
Wishes and much success and happiness!

posted at January 21, 2007 07:47 PM

timshell wrote:

Dave
I didnt know you had a blog !! I loved you on the last season. I hope you are doing great. I was happy Harold won but thought you were a big sweety who was also a great chef!

posted at January 29, 2007 02:07 AM

diane lopes wrote:

hi, i wish marcel would have been elimanated. he has had such an attitude with just about everyone except for elan (female chef). he got along with her upto the end of the competition in hawaii. i think that sam and ilan would have made good competitors for the final challenge not ilan and marcel. i was sorry to see sam told to "pack his knives and go". i think he brought some special receipes to the competition since he is a diabetic. i have been a type 2 diabetic for about 10 years and was happy to see someone on tv make some special recipes for people like us. the first one was when he made some special dishes for the kids from the camp that had to watch their sugar intake. love watching the show and will continue to watch in years to come. i feel i learn so much on how and what foods can and cant be combined together in a recipe. wish you would make a cookbook from season 1 and 2 and donate part of the profits to the american diabetes associate or some other worthy cause. diane lopes, tucson, az

posted at January 29, 2007 05:26 PM