jcesar4’s Profile
Recent Comments
'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 7: Toby Young Rocks
so far erin is pretty much the only food writer/blogger i've read today who gave toby props. everyone else seems to universally despise him. his jokes were stale, and his "insights" (the fennel gave the dish an anise flavor?--yeah, no kidding) make him look like an unqualified fool.
Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'
Stir-fry is my go to. I throw whatever veggies I have laying around (usually mushrooms, sprouts, sea weed, broccoli) and some tofu into a pan with some sesame oil and ginger, and voila.
See more comments by jcesar4 »
Recent Posts
jcesar4 hasn't written a post yet.
Recent Favorites
jcesar4 hasn't favorited a post yet.
Recent Polls
jcesar4 hasn't answered any polls yet.
Recent Quizzes
jcesar4 hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Things I Ate in Milwaukee
love the MKE shout-outs, but also have to respectfully object to Adam's custard comment. I don't even consider Shake Shack's 'tard in the same food group as the MKE version. shake shack chocolate tastes like vanilla that a hershey bar once said hello to. and in terms of shakes, a true custard aficionado would expect a refund on the soupy mess the shack is trying to pass off on unwitting new yorkers--$3.50 in the Brew gets you twice the custard to liquid ratio that $6 buys at Madison Square Park.
'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 7: Toby Young Rocks
so far erin is pretty much the only food writer/blogger i've read today who gave toby props. everyone else seems to universally despise him. his jokes were stale, and his "insights" (the fennel gave the dish an anise flavor?--yeah, no kidding) make him look like an unqualified fool.
Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'
Stir-fry is my go to. I throw whatever veggies I have laying around (usually mushrooms, sprouts, sea weed, broccoli) and some tofu into a pan with some sesame oil and ginger, and voila.
Things I Ate in Milwaukee
Aw, Adam. We love you and we love the south side.
(Gilles' custard in 'Tosa is also really good. So there, I'm revealing something about where I'm from and who I am by disclosing that I grew up in the west burbs. Solidarity, Kuban.)
Things I Ate in Milwaukee
Out of the way Mexican - Fernando's (West Oklahoma & 16th? or 17th?) - looks like every other south side corner bar, but has great homemade chips with 3 fresh salsas, yummy poppers (get there early before they run out at dinner time) and they do a pretty good take on the Friday fish fry.
As long as you're on the ss, try to catch the traveling corn guy for the corn on the cob slathered in butter & mayo with queso cheese and chili powder. I know it's an artery-hardner, but I have to chase him down the block every time I hear the horn.
My fav new pizza - Transfer. Hands down. Any of the garlic pizzas are beyond great. They also support local growers.
Things I Ate in Milwaukee
@jcesar4: I'm with you on the consistency. The Shack's is too soupy. But we did a frozen custard taste test in which I unwittingly picked SS as best in vanilla, but it did come in tops for chocolate—of the brands we tasted:
The two clearly superior vanilla custards came from Shake Shack and Kopp's. Shake Shack was the winner because you could clearly taste the egg yolks and the real vanilla. Kopp's was also damn good, though, and we can't discount the fact that Kopp's had frozen their custard and Fed-Exed it overnight, and Shake Shack's was as fresh as frozen custard could be. Michael's was a fairly distant third, and (if you're from St. Louis, stop reading) Ted Drewes trailed the pack. It practically disappeared the moment it hit our palates. It had very little flavor.
Kopp's edged out Shake Shack in the chocolate category. Kopp's chocolate was chocolatey and creamy and smashingly good. Shake Shack was also damned fine, but we liked Kopp's better. Again Michael's was a fairly distant third and Ted Drewes trailed the field.
So while the vanilla at SS might be a touch better, you're right, the chocolate at Kopp's is superior.
I think I had it in my mind that SS had won overall and that I wasn't necessarily missing out on anything. The reason I had that in my mind was the shock of Kopp's losing in the vanilla category.
I'd love to to a head to head with Leon's, Kopp's, and SS. Everyone in my family is a Leon's partisan.
Also, @everyonewhocommentedonthesouthsideasbeingitsownthing: I had no idea there was this dramatic split between the South Side and everything else. I'm afraid I may have just unwittingly revealed something about where I'm from and who I am with the disclosure that my family comes from MKE's South Side. Oh well.
'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 7: Toby Young Rocks
Despite the schtick, I actually agreed with what Toby had to say. Melissa has been bland since day one. Carla did add a protien because she was insecure with her base dish, she admitted that herself. And Eugene is experimental beyond his abilities. So I liked Toby because he was able to go in and instantly and accurately read these chefs from one dish. That, to me, shows skills that quite honestly Gail seems to be lacking.
As for some of the other characters mentioned, I find Padma stiff & disturbing, and Carla just works my last nerve. She is too cheesy and that hootie hoo is just ridiculous. Go ahead, go to your NY grocery store and try that.
'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 7: Toby Young Rocks
I have to agree with Buckethead: "Toby's schtick was funny for a moment three weeks ago, when I saw it in the previews after the 'Christmas' episode. But the reality of his criticism seems to be that he picks his snarky comments in advance and just looks for the opportunity to recite them."
Toby's attitude and comments seemed forced; if it was a snarky judge they wanted to bring into the mix, please bring on Bourdain! At least he's the real deal, and funny!
And the comment about fennel having "an anise flavor"?!?! Give me a break, is this Toby guy a real food critic with food knowledge, or does he just play one on TV?
'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 7: Toby Young Rocks
Toby seemed to get some coaching to adjust from what he thought the producers wanted to some actual food criticism. I think we'll see less WMD type lines in the future. (I hope, we have enough of the stereotypical snarky British judge on other shows.)
The judging during the quick fire was pointless - the French chef only used the word "interesting" or said nothing. From Toby's comments on his blog on the TC site, it seemed the producers paired them because of Toby's harsh criticism of Novelli on a UK cooking show and the subsequent banning of Toby from all of Novelli's restaurants.
As for the eliminated, the judges got it right. Raw fish tacos on a cooking show? Melissa seemed like a fodder chef that had stayed longer than expected as did Euguene, who is too inexperienced.
This season's chefs couldn't hold a spatula to the best chefs of seasons past. Richard or Stephanie from last season would blow every one of these chefs out of the water.
'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 7: Toby Young Rocks
Erin - You are clearly out of your mind saying Toby added something to the show. I know that everyone is entitled to their own opinion - but I am firmly putting my little stiletto down and telling you NO, NO, NO. His lame lines were clearly prefabbed - and I was underwhelmed by his knowledge.
Please watch the show again without the aid of whatever hallucinagens of copious amounts of alcohol led you to give him a thumbs up.
'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 7: Toby Young Rocks
@pupster - Ahhh ha! Someone else noticed Fabio's pronunciation of Tom's last name! I'm glad I'm not the only one.
Everyone I wanted to get kicked off has now been kicked off, except maybe Ariane; I'm sorry, I'm still annoyed she won with watermelon-feta-cheese salad. :P
And Jamie got a win! Hurray! So even if she does go I'll be okay with that. I think it would have been very disappointing if she'd been eliminated before that happened.
Now I need to check the Bravo site for Stefan's red cabbage recipe. It looked reeeeally goooood.
'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 7: Toby Young Rocks
I felt bad for Melissa but I was really waiting for the episode when she'd be kicked off. She seems like a nice girl but not nearly as effective a contender as she needed to be, even to have lasted this long. I was concerned that Eugene would be allowed to stay yet again over Carla. I don't have an affinity for either one of them but I feel as though Carla's food has been more consistent while Eugene's brash personality and arrogance makes for better TV.
Speaking of arrogance, I agree with the majority of the commenters about Toby Young. He seemed more interested in throwing out forced metaphors/similies that he probably thought were clever, than critiquing the food. I am also annoyed by the editing because Young's self-indulgent remarks overshadowed the more food-appropriate comments from the other judges.
Piss off, Toby!
'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 7: Toby Young Rocks
You all should check out the griping that he's doing on his own Wikipedia article...
'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 7: Toby Young Rocks
Having just emerged from a time machine from the year 2002, I found Toby Young's quips fresh and hilarious! Especially the WMD joke -- so topical! And comparing food to CAT FOOD? I can't believe no one has come up with that one before! Toby is a true original.
'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 7: Toby Young Rocks
So glad I'm not the only one who noticed that Eugene was stealing the daikon recipe from Morimoto's cookbook. He totally deserved to go home; you can't hack someone else's recipe and then turn around and declare that you're being sent home being "too creative". Loser.
'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 7: Toby Young Rocks
I have to agree that Carla's wail for Gail was serious funny! Eugene must have Morimoto's book from 2 summers ago wherein there is a recipe for daikon fettucine. Original? Methinks not. Lastly, I wonder if Toby's snarks would be even half as funny if an American was spewing them. Ta.
Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'
Thanks for entering and congratulations to our winners:
jesskel
KPruitt39
azured00
stacy7911
fiatluxsemper
Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'
A fresh garden salad topped with grilled chicken
Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'
A bowl of mixed fruit & cottage cheese
Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'
Spinach salad with Balsamic dressing
Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'
A small serving of grilled chicken or fish, either steamed veggies or salad with vinaigrette, brown rice or grilled sweet potato and a small glass of red wine.
Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'
...everything fresh , in it's natural form....before sugar, alt and fat.
Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'
Rice and veggies. So quick to make and you can change up the sauce to match your mood!
Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'
Asian-style stir-fry, with chicken and Oriental vegetables, plus broccoli.
Canola oil, five-spice powder(available in most larger groceries), boneless/skinless chicken breasts. Serve atop brown rice.
Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'
HADDOCK AND STEAMED BROCCOLI
Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'
Yogurt & Fruit for breakfast. Tuna with fat free mayo and tomatoes at lunch. Tofu or Turkey Chili for dinner. Yumma-rama!!!!
Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'
Baked Salmon, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots and a whole grain rice blend... yummy!
Recent Posts
jcesar4 hasn't written a post yet.
Recent Favorites
jcesar4 hasn't favorited a post yet.
Polls
jcesar4 hasn't answered any polls yet.
Quizzes
jcesar4 hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
love the MKE shout-outs, but also have to respectfully object to Adam's custard comment. I don't even consider Shake Shack's 'tard in the same food group as the MKE version. shake shack chocolate tastes like vanilla that a hershey bar once said hello to. and in terms of shakes, a true custard aficionado would expect a refund on the soupy mess the shack is trying to pass off on unwitting new yorkers--$3.50 in the Brew gets you twice the custard to liquid ratio that $6 buys at Madison Square Park.