Sweet holy Moses it has not been a good week for our hometown heroes on the televised cooking competitions.  To wit:

  • Fan favorite Ashley Merriman of Branzino was ignominiously booted from Top Chef, in spite of the fact that she is a genuinely talented and decent human being.  I’m embarrased to admit I actually screamed at the television.   Against all odds, Robin Leventhal somehow continues to dawdle around the kitchen.  +5 rage points.

ashley merriman

  • Much more predictably, Holly Smith of Cafe Juanita will not be the the Next Iron Chef.  After only two episodes, Ms. James Beard 2008 was sent home for botching a bouillabaisse.  I called it after the first episode.  She just didn’t seem to have the warrior spirit necessary to compete in Kitchen Stadium.  And the judges thought her food was too salty, which makes me laugh and laugh and laugh.

holly smith

  • Also not entirely surprising, Daisley Gordon of Café Campagne was defeated by Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America in Battle Berry.  He was remarkably composed during the show, especially given the somewhat lackluster secret ingredient.  But an Iron Chef rarely loses, even though Gordon clearly appeared to have the advantage.  And it didn’t help that this particular panel of judges was dumber than a bag of rocks.  Seriously, where do they dig these people up?

daisley gordon

Ooof.