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Let's see... you're in Miami, on the shows coin, as a contestant on a TV “semi-reality" show that has a quick fire and "bigger" challenge for every weeks episode. You’re told after the quick fire, to "take the night off and party"... am I the only one that TOTALLY, saw this "just kidding, have we got a challenge for you" like it's the 500 pounder in the room?

Howie is nothing but the abusive, self-absorbed, prima-dona drama queen the likes of which you’ll find in many professional kitchens. He’s the staffer that does an OK/acceptable job, shows up for work, covers the base is, mostly ignored by the balance of the kitchen staffers and is, basically, tolerated as the devil ya know. Unfortunately, without him, the balance of this season would be a mellow exhibition of professional culinarians doing their jobs to the best of their understanding and abilities (some more passionately and adventurously than others) and not the controversial, water cooler point-of-discussion that this show needs to be to fulfill on the “viral” commitment to the advertisers/sponsors! Good riddance to Howie!

Am I the only one that "rubber-necks" this show like it were a roadside accident at rush hour? Over-the-top product placement, a host that, seemingly, brings no applicable culinary expertise to the mix other than, perhaps, having eaten in restauranst and her eye-candy appeal, "professional" chefs who can't work together for the betterment of their end product and tears, tears and more tears! I've worked in a pro-kitchen for a Master Chef for 5 years and the only time I've seen tears in (or around) the kitchen were onion-generated or death/serious accident in the immediate family! Hell, these contestants can barely follow the simple challenge-specific, directions!

OH WELL, on the positive side... it's, certainly, better than The Next Network Star, The Restaurant and Hell's Kitchen (does anyone, actually, know what this winner receives?) professional culinarian embarrassments (have I mentioned crying in the kitchen, lately?).

Casey, simply answered the questions that were given to her, that is all you can do. As I recall, Howie (the chief complainer in this scenario) got some real brain-busters for questions too, like identifying tomato paste and cheese slicer. Somebody, should have showed him a bandana, given his propensity for seasoning his dishes with glandular secretions. As one who has been generally been supportive of Howie throughout his bi-weekly crashes and Phoenix like ascents, I think he just needs to shut his mouth and focus on cooking for the balance of the competition. His edit on the show is going from the articulate loveable lug to surly shithead rather quickly.

Bourdain subbed for Colicchio again for this week's Top Chef blog and compared Rocco's new appearance to David Gest's.

I actually really didn't enjoy the "no-cook" Quickfire - it's one of my favorite parts of the show, because it's all about the cooking and the food - something that I wish we'd see even more of on the show. Yay, Casey can identify bowtie pasta. We didn't even get a "farfalle" out of her! Anyone else agree?

re: rocco. o he's had WORK. see awfulplasticsurgery.com. he's had a deal with bertolli for quite a while now. it's such a pity with him. his cooking was sublime when he broke. his story should be a cautionary tale to all chefs who (particularly those contestants on top chef) want celebrity over acknowledgement for their talents.

you know, i think tom colicchio has suffered as a consequence of this as well. who takes him seriously as a chef any more. one of these days i will write about my experience at craft the first week or two it opened. it was hilarious.

on a more practical note. this show was very illuminating with respect to freezing. i never liked freezing food and reheating food. it always changes its texture. now i see if you freeze it separately, the outcome is likely far better.

Tart, that's not off-topic at all. I was going to say something in the write-up, but, well, I couldn't figure out a way to do it gracefully. Although, I wasn't sure if it was surgery or not enough time with the make-up crew.

Rocco has signed as a spokesperson for Bertolli. That's why he was the guest judge for this challenge.