Top Chef All Stars: Dale Wins $30K While Angelo Packs His Knives & Goes

For a couple weeks the part of the internet that comments about Top Chef has had some with supposed inside info saying that there was going to be a surprising Cheftestant sent home this week.

And there was. Padma told Angelo Sosa to pack his knives and go.

Last week it was not too shocking that the likable Fabio got the knife cut. But Angelo failing while making something simple like soup, was unexpected.

The Quickfire and Elimination Challenges have really gone up a notch for Top Chef All Stars.

Last week's Jimmy Fallon Birthday Lunch was a good one. Making a fancified versions of Jimmy Fallon's favorite. Like Top Ramen and Burger and Fries.

Fabio turned a Burger, or Booger as he pronounced it, into Meatloaf and Fries. Which got him the boot.

This week's Cookie Quickfire Challenge was amusing with 3 Sesame Street characters doing the judging. I have never watched Sesame Street, but I did know who the Cookie Monster is.

Dale Talde won the Quickfire and $5,000. Richard Blais and Angelo's cookies where the least favorite, Blais' because it was not a cookie, but was instead something he froze with zucchini in it using liquid nitrogen. I forget why Angelo's cookie was not liked.

The Elimination Challenge was a strange one. The Chefs were taken to an empty Super Target at midnight. Then given 3 hours to collect all they needed to make 100 portions for Target employees arriving at 3am.

It was exhausting.to watch. And exhausting for the chefs. Finding everything from tables to cooking irons to spoons to salt.

Unfortunately, Angelo found too much salt, rendering his soup inedible, according to Tom Colicchio, who could barely tolerate one spoonful.

Carla wasted a lot of time looking for a table cloth. Which cut her soup cooking time short, which ended up putting her in the bottom three, along with Angelo and Tiffany, who used too much of a spice blend she found in the Target spice section.

Dale used an iron to make grilled cheese sandwiches. Not a cooking iron. An iron your clothes type iron. He also made tomato soup. Antonia was in the top 3 due to her well made egg dish. Richard Blais rounded up the top 3. I've already forgotten what he made.

Dale's iron grilled cheese got him the win and the biggest prize in Top Chef history. $25,000.

I had expected Angelo to be in the finals and likely win. Mike Isabella was more likable this episode. I can't believe he has lasted longer than Angelo. Now I want Antonia to win. She is very likable. Dale sort of grows on me too, what with his snarky one-liners in his confessionals.

Top Chef All Stars: Jennifer Carroll Has Angry Emotional Outbursts & Packs Her Knives & Goes

It took me a week, but I eventually got my DVR to successfully record Top Chef All Stars.

Usually I am not a fan of Reality TV All Stars shows. Not Amazing Race All Stars, not Survivor All Stars, not Big Brother All Stars, especially not Big Brother All Stars.

I never watched Big Brother again after the disgusting non-All Star Mike Boogie Man won, with him only being on the show only because the #1 Big Brother All Star, Will Kirby, would not be on BB All Stars if his non-All Star BFF was not on.

I digress.

I've now watched the first 2 episodes of Top Chef All Stars and I believe this is the first time I am going to like a Reality TV Show All Star iteration.

Angelo Sosa won the first two Elimination Challenges. That sort of seems familiar to how the previous season of Top Chef started.

The second episode really delivered, what with a spectacular angry outburst directed at the judges by Jen Carroll.

I think she may have been sleep deprived.

A pop star with very bushy eyebrows, who little kids seemed to recognize, named Joe Jonas, had the chefs making midnight snacks for kids for the Quickfire Challenge. It had been planned, obviously, that Jonas could not decide between 2 top treats for the win. So, it was off to a New York City natural history museum where 100s of brats would decide who made the best junk food.

The two contenders, Spike and Tiffani, chose teams. who then whipped out the goodies. Tiffani's won. The kids really did not like Spike's at all.

Ready to go home and to bed the chefs were not happy to see Tom Collicchio arrive to tell them their Elimination Challenge had begun, that they were spending the night in the museum. And cooking breakfast for 100s of brats and their parents in the morning.

Due to winning the Quickfire, Tiffani got to pick if her team was T-Rex or Brontosaurus. With T-Rex being a meat eater and Brontosaurus a vegetation eater.

Tiffani picked T-Rex, making an erroneous assumption that T-Rex ate everything, not just meat.

Tiffani's team lost. Jen Carrol was the worst of the worst and she was not happy about it. She argued with what the Judges were telling her, talked back sarcastically, sort of called them stupid. And then after getting told to pack her knives and get the hell out of there, Jen left the Stew Room and as the door shut could be heard yelling and swearing.

Who to? The Judges? No one?

Jennifer Carroll had been a favorite on her season of Top Chef, making it to the Final Four where she flamed out. Something seemed real off about Jen Carroll, throughout the episode. Was she exhausted? PMS? A combo of causes?

I am guessing this was not the last we will see of talking back to the Judges on Top Chef this All Star Season.

Top Chef D.C.: Kelly Packs Her Knives & Goes From Singapore

Ed may a self-described douchebag, at least regarding how he treats Angelo, but he is one big douchebag on a roll, winning both the Quickfire and Elimination Challenges. Again.

After their arrival in Singapore, Kelly, Ed, Angelo and Kevin eventually met up with Tom Colicchio and some famous Singapore foodie who's name I could not possibly be expected to remember. The Singaporean took the chefs on a tour of Singapore street food.

And then they came to Padma, at the end of a long day of flying and eating. Padma gave the four 30 minutes to cook their version of Singapore street food. This was a super high states Quickfire. No money, but for the first time in Top Chef Final Four history, the Quickfire winner got immunity from elimination.

Everyone assumed Asian oriented Angelo would have this nailed. But, Ed beat Angelo. Again.

For the Elimination Challenge the 4 had to work as a team to feed 80 people at some event held by some well-know lady in the food business. Again, I don't remember the name. But, I'm sure she is famous.

The dinner was to be done restaurant style, as in waiters took orders and the chefs cooked the orders as they came in.

The night before the four decided to each do one dish. The next day Ed told the camera that he was making a 2nd dish. Then Colicchio arrived, all appalled the chefs were only doing one dish each, with Ed chiming in that he was already doing 2. So, now the other 3 had to whip out a 2nd dish.

There was an awful lot of unseemly sweating going on with all that pressure, particularly from Ed, who really had now pressure, because he had immunity.

The chefs worked real well together in the kitchen, there were some communication problems with the order takers and food deliverers. But other than that it was a way smoother dinner service than you ever see on Hell's Kitchen.

In the end Ed came out the winner, again, at Judges' Table.

Back in the stew room Angelo was sure he was out, due to comments made about his soup. Then the 3 were back at the firing line. Angelo lost his composure, so sad, due to being so sure, he was out. Then Kelly got the boot which really got Angelo sobbing. Angelo did not, til then, seem like a sobbing type of guy to me. Just like his food, he has layers of complexity that make him interesting. And just a tad weird.

Then the 3 finalists, Kevin, Ed and Angelo relaxed for a second before Padma shows up to tell them there is one more thing, and they need to see them back at Judges' Table.

From the previews I'm guessing what Padma has to tell them is that they have a group of former Top Chef chefs to choose from as helpers, like a heavily tattooed Voltaggio brother.

Top Chef D.C.: Tiffany Leaves While Angelo, Kevin, Ed & Kelly Go To Singapore

I was disappointed to see Tiffany go down in flames last night on Top Chef.

This week's Elimination Challenge was to prepare a freeze driable dish for the International Space Station.

The Chefs were introduced to the challenge by two astronauts on the Space Station. And one of those, for whom they were cooking, was Apollo 11 moon walker, Buzz Aldrin.

Tiffany ran into some woes with the mussels part of her dish. That may have been her downfall. But in the end, the judges had high praise for all 5, but, with at least one judge having some issue with at least one aspect of each dish. Particularly that very picky Frenchman, Eric Rippert, who was nicely counter-balanced, this episode, by the always amusing Anthony Bourdain.

Angelo won the high stakes Quickfire with his successful wine/food pairing. He won $10,000.

Each episode we seem to learn something new about Angelo. Weeks ago some were surprised to learn he had reproduced. Then there was the revelation of some of his rituals, like Angelo's shrine to chefs he worships. Last week we learned about Angelo's Russian mail order bride to be. And this week we learned that that child we learned about weeks ago was produced during Angelo's marriage to the kid's mother. They divorced because the wife's family had no respect for the chef profession, wanting Angelo to be a doctor or lawyer.

Angelo seems to be doing fairly well for himself. At least this week on Top Chef. He recovered from the fumbles of the past couple weeks and won the Elimination Challenge, which gave him a new Toyota Avalon, a trip to London, a trip to Cape Canaveral to watch a Space Shuttle launch. And a book by Anthony Bourdain.

For the finale Top Chef is leaving the United States for the first time, heading to one of my favorite places, Singapore. The previews showed Padma taking extreme umbrage against something Kevin said or did. That should be interesting.

So, it is a final four of Angelo, Kevin, Ed and Kelly. Why does Kelly smoke? Why would any chef smoke? I don't get it. Angelo or Ed for the win. I'd be saying Tiffany for the win. But she's gone.

Top Chef D.C.: Tiffany & Ed Dominating, Amanda Packs Her Knives and Goes

Last week on Top Chef it was Tiffany winning both the Quickfire and Elimination Challenges, making, I think, 2 in a row for Tiffany in the Elimination Challenge department. Tiffany won $10,000 and a trip to Paris. Tiffany was very happy to win a trip, due to getting married soon.

Last week Ed was hoping he'd win the trip because it would make his fiance happy.

This week Ed won the Quickfire, but it was not a High Stakes Quickfire, so no $10,000. But, Ed did win the Elimination Challenge and a trip to Australia.

Angelo has had a rough time of it the past 2 weeks. Early on Angelo seemed to be the chef to beat for Top Chef. Now, not so much.

I really like Tiffany. What an infectious laugh. She's funny and fair. Ed has also grown on me. Though I could have gone without seeing him walking around in Tiffany's dress.

Last week we learned, from Angelo, that he has a Russian mail order bride that had him hoping to win the $10,000 Quickfire so he could get her into the U.S.

This week we learned that Angelo has only met his mail order bride a couple times, but they talk for hours, almost every night. We got to listen to their lovey/dovey conversation. I won't say it was sickeningly sweet. However, at Judges' Table the Judges did say that the strange Asian themed hot dog, that Angelo made for the baseball stadium concession stand Elimination Challenge, was too sweet, And soggy.

Angelo started off, when we first met him, seeming to be a bit of an arrogant guy, but the way he owns it when the stuff he cooks is not good, makes him very likable. That and he is funny.

Last week we got rid of the annoying Alex, this week the annoying Amanda. I like all who remain. Except for Kevin.

Tiffany for the win. Or Ed. Or Angelo. Or Kelly.

Top Chef D.C.: Tall Skinny Angelo Flirts With Tamesha & Makes Sandwiches at Xie Xie in New York City

I had not noticed that Top Chef Cheftestant, Angelo Soso, was so tall and skinny. But, judging from the picture of him standing somewhere in, I think, New York City, that would appear to be the case.

Several Top Chef seasons ago there was a Cheftestant named CJ Jacobsen. CJ is 6 foot 8. CJ cooking looked uncomfortable. All that leaning over.

Some viewers, judging by what I've read, are not reacting well to what they perceive as Angelo being arrogant. But, I'm in aggreeance with those who think it's okay to act cocky when you back it up by doing well.

I thought Angelo showed his honest, fair, nature at the George Washington's Mount Vernon BBQ Picnic challenge, when he waxed poetic over Amanda's ribs. Telling the other chefs they were the best.

In the latest challenge, that being the Hilton menu challenge, Angelo was paired with Tamesha Warren. Tamesha is from Christ Church, Barbados, hence a charming accent.

Angelo also found his partner charming and went in flirting overdrive with Tamesha, which had Tamesha saying "It is not going to happen."

The Quickfire Challenge was baby food themed. During that challenge we learned that Angelo and others, among the chefs, had reproduced. Angelo has a little boy named Jacob. There was no mention made, by Angelo, of Jacob's baby mama.

Angelo owns an Asian themed sandwich restaurant called Xie Xie. Mandarin for "thank you". It opened in July of 2009.

Angelo hopes to open a chain of Asian sandwich shops. Currently, I believe Angelo has opened 2 Xie Xie's in New York City. One is located in the original Hell's Kitchen at 645a 9th Avenue. The other is a St. Marks Place
location at 32 Street Marks Place, between 2nd & 3rd Avenues.

I want to try Xie Xie's signature Cha Cha La Vong sandwich. Turmeric coated tilapia with cilantro, carmelized onions and dill.

I don't think Angelo is too happy being in New York City in summer, preferring to be back in his hometown of Durham, Connecticut. Angelo said, of New York in summer, "I think it's dreadful and stinks like a fish market."

I have not quite figured out who the top runners are yet, for this season's Top Chef. Angelo seems like he might be in the running. If he doesn't get distracted by too much flirting energy.

Top Chef D.C.: Tracey Bloom Packs Her Knives & Goes

You are looking at Tracey Bloom. I don't know if Tracey is any relation to Orlando or Brian Bloom. I do know that on Wednesday's Top Chef D.C. Padma told Tracey to pack her knives and go.

Tracey had trouble making a pie for the Quickfire Challenge. Try one was a disaster. The rushed Try 2, also did not go well. If I remember right, blueberries were involved

Tracey's partner in a previous challenge, Angelo Sosa, made a really bad sounding pie. I think curry may have been involved.

When Tracey was Angelo's partner she gushed about having a crush on him. In the same episode, the one about making a healthy school lunch that kids would eat, Tracey said kids were close to her heart due to helping her girl friend raise hers.

I'm guessing this means Tracey is a girl who likes girls. Which is a fine thing. I only mention it because Tracey was, by far, the most likable girl who likes girls ever to be on Top Chef.

Tracey is funny, good-natured, self-deprecating and I don't think we saw any anger directed at anyone but herself. Very much not the stereotype. And I think Tracey is cute, in a Rosie O'Donnell can be cute type of way.

The Elimination Challenge, that sent Tracey home, involved making a grilled picnic type dish, to be served to D.C. interns, while doing the grilling at George Washington's Mount Vernon.

Was George rolling over in his grave over this? Who knows. But there was a moment of some sort of divine guidance when a bird attacked with a dropped projectile that hit direct on a chef's table while the judges were getting their plates of food from him.

Tracey's grilled picnic had some problems. She couldn't grind meat fast enough to make her intended sausages. So, she turned them into sausage sliders. Which were really big, and in which she'd stuck un-ground fennel, which overpowered a bite or two.

I thought it would be the annoying Stephen Hopcraft who was told, by Padma, to go, due to his disgusting looking fish wrapped with bacon, that apparently was cooked all sorts of wrong. I would have thought, all things being equal, and with both Tracey and Stephen not doing well, send Stephen home and keep Tracey, because she's funny and likeable, while Stephen is sort of a personality-less, annoying toad.

Another annoying toad, Arnold Myint, won the Elimination Challenge with his grilled meatballs.

It's only a couple weeks in, with this being an entertaining season of Top Chef. I'll keep watching. I always do.