More Martha, Please!

This episode of Top Chef was a bit of a yawn!  I have to say that Martha Stewart was a highlight, but I was bummed that she did not stay to judge the elimination round (but Natasha Richardson’s cleavage was a nice consolation prize).  Martha judged a “one-pot wonder” challenge, where Ariane won with a filet mignon w/ cauliflower puree.  However, Jamie’s potato/scallop/kale stew looked amazing as well.  Martha was pretty disappointed by what the chefs put out, but this was nothing compared to later….

For the elimination challenge, the chefs had to make a dish based on one of the twelve days of Christmas (12 drummers drumming, 11 pipers piping, etc.) which I thought was a pretty creative theme!  Unfortunately, they chefs didn’t really stand up to the challenge.  Things were made worse when a refrigerator was left open overnight, ruining  the meat that Hosea and Radhika had prepped.  In a stroke of awesomeness that would never happen on ANTM or some other skankfest, the other contestants pitched in to help them out.  Coincidentally, Hosea and Radhika ended up having the top dishes, with Hosea winning the challenge.  HOWEVER, all the judges agreed that even the “winners” were pretty sub-par, so Colicchio gave them a little speech and said that there would be no elimination this week in the holiday spirit.  LAAAAME!

At least there’s a double-elimination next week, as well as a new judge, Toby Young!  Toby is the British guy who wrote “How to Lose Friends and Alienate People”.  I’m excited for a British accent (it should hopefully counteract Padma’s stoner dialect), but I’m mildly annoyed that this kinda wannabe guy is joining the crew.  What does he have to do with food?!?! Yes, he might be a tough critic to take over Gail’s post while she gets married, but I don’t want another Simon Cowell!!!  Time will tell.