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In SO FL, where the Latino population is quite large, almost any sandwich you order from an authentic place has commercial potato sticks on it as a matter of course. This is NOT true for the traditional Cuban sandwich, but for pretty much any other kind you get potato sticks. Kobey's (sp?) is one popular store brand here, but the quality varies dramatically from can to can. Sometimes they are fresh and a tiny bit under-cooked, pale and tasty. Many times they are over-cooked and and darker and lose that fresh flavor for one that is slightly, well, flat with a distinct aftertaste. So, the burger-with-chips is not at all unheard of idea.

Wow. FN re-ran this episode tonight and seriously this 'cook' comes off as entitled and simply dirty. First, he misplaces his own ingredient and proceeds to accuse another contestant of stealing from him. Then grabbing and sticking his hand in her mushroom pot before asking is she minds if he takes one. It's already in his hand! After being told his mushrooms were found in the kitchen he begrudgingly and only after prompting mind you..apologizes?! Then on to the spoon and multiple trips from the can to his mouth and back then into the food. Disgusting. When the other male who has worked in a kitchen with this "prodigy" is asked what he thinks of him he says: "he's a bozo!" High praise indeed. Somewhat unlike the rash of posters on this thread who claim to personally know and love him. LMAO!

A couple times a year after a dinner party, I have to go online and find the other chocolate haters. I try to be conveniently be away from the table when dessert (invariably chocolate) is served. Yet, they hunt me down and try to force it on me. Finally, I relent. "Really, I'll pass. I don't like chocolate." "YOU DON'T LIKE CHOCOLATE?!" And then everyone starts talking about chocolate! For me, it's like they are talking about eating slugs. I despise chocolate. I find myself getting more and more sick to my stomach. It IS curious to me that there are people (lots of them) who love chocolate, and sometimes I kind of wish I could have that orgasmic chocolate experience that people talk about. But then the chocolate..slugs ..chocolate...slugs...bleech part of my brain takes over and I nix that wish.

I don't hate chocolate, but neither do I love or crave it. Not much of a sweet tooth, I guess.

Someone told me once that people either have a salt or sweet preference that was inherently genetic. I don't know if that is true, but I'd definitely hit the salty stuff before the sweet stuff. Whatever.

Oh I am with you on this! I cannot stand chocolate! The smell makes me want to retch, I think it smells like dirty socks. The taste is an abomination! Trust me if I ever find a Genie to grant me wishes, I'm totally asking him to eradicate the public nuisance that is chocolate.

Yes, teenage foodie, there are quite a few "personal friends" of Chris scattered around the internet, pimping him, as well as a number of people who've worked with Chris at restaurants before he discovered he was better suited for work in an environment in which his offensive personality would be less likely to get him fired and/or shunned by his fellow workers. Foodtv fan, nobody said "all I'm concerend about is personality," and nobody said Chris can't cook. Just the opposite. Chris certainly can cook. I enjoy humor and personality, and I didn't find Chris the least bit funny and didn't notice any of the judges finding him funny, either. Did the woman whom he wrongly accused of stealing his mushrooms find him funny, I wonder? Fine with me if they included Chris among the second round of also-rans--that's entertainment--but face it--the guy's got a serious attitude problem, and apparently is so obsessed with making it as a celebrity that he either writes his own hype while pretending to be his "friends," or calls up his friends and begs them to hype him. Pathetic.

I happen to personally know Christopher, and he is a wonderfully talented chef. His personality is wonderful and he is an entertainer. Again, I must state that if the directors, producers, judges, etc, did not want him to act that way they would have made it clear from the beginning. Shows like this are dying for talent and comic relief and funny moments. If they are not that way they become boring and tedious. Chris has cooked with some of the best chefs and is constantly improving his technique. Even the chef who won liked Chris. Cechitoff, I would never let you be a judge on my show if all you are concerned about is personality. Flair, attitude, humor all add to the show. Even if he did overdo, it was not unpleasant.
Oh, and by the way, if the show did not like him they would not have asked him back, and guess what? He is taping his SECOND chance CHOPPED tomorrow night to air in June. So I guess that they liked him just fine.

I have personally worked with Chris. He has got to be the most talented chef I have ever known...and my father's opinion and that is 25 years in the New York metropolitan area.

And he lives food. I learned quite a bit from him...one day I was cutting chives and he comes up to me and says "Hey what did you do hit this with a broomstick?!?" He is a real motivator and is constantly wanting to learn. I continue to keep in touch with him through a friend of his.

And honestly the only reason he lost was because they give the money to the family man...a kid like Chris has his whole life ahead of him and should become quite successful when he finds his place.

Currently I am a hospitality business major and will most likely work with the food industry. And from what I see in Chris, he will go far. Like stated by judges "he shows flashes of brilliance" and that is what people look for.

Personally, I think Chris Burke was absolutely fantastic! The judges, well, mainly the woman, was ridiculous! She should be on Flavor of Love, instead of Chopped! Chris showed the most creativity out of any of the chefs, and had a better personality than all of them... Chris rocks!

Oh forgot one thing if you look at Chris's rating he is 65 percent approval just goes to show you the judges aren't always right.....

I do not think Chris deserved to be chopped first. The two girls did not make dishes that were appetizing looking and even the judges said they lacked taste. As to the theatrics, if there were none, the show would be boring and I would not be so naive as to think that the show producers do not pick one of those chefs to "act up" or spice things up. Truthfully Chris's dishes looked professional, and if not for the grilled cantaloupe he could have won. I would also not be surprised to find out that more chefs double dip than we would like to know about.

@mattyB -- a little rough don't you think.

mmmmmmmmmmm........... saliva! If you had a bowl of it, I'd double dip in that! I understand the importance of good kitchen sanitation, but germaphobes crack me up... these are the same folks who end up dying in a hotel room in Vegas with 6 inch fingernails!