Top Chef: Roaring Munchies

January 13, 2019 2:21 PM - Season 16, Episode 6

The chefs walk in on an epic battle of Last Chance Kitchen and are drafted into the fight. Once Tom declares a winner, the chefs begin a challenge making dishes based on Prohibition Era cocktails. Chef Ken Oringer joins for a Roaring Twenties party.
posted by Anonymous (7 comments total)

So... can I LCK sidebar here? (Skip if you need to.)

How... what... so, putting Brother back in the game (and seeing him go, fine by me) was somehow not the last episode? What in the world is that about? Even though I professed my enjoyment of LCK last week this was just befuddling.
posted by hijinx at 4:13 PM on January 13, 2019 [2 favorites]

Having them re-show pretty much the entire LCK was pretty annoying. The one thing good I can say about this was that it was nice watching everyone gang up on Brother.
posted by tofu_crouton at 4:54 PM on January 13, 2019

I assume it was a twist and then there's going to be the normal readd at the end.
posted by Carillon at 8:55 PM on January 13, 2019

...I guess it's not "Last" Chance Kitchen then, is it?

Having the reinstated chef eliminated immediately is anticlimactic for viewers, and it undermines the credibility of the second-chance gimmick. You have to assume the producers are annoyed when that happens.
posted by cribcage at 10:33 PM on January 13, 2019 [1 favorite]

Brother seriously can't let go of Asian cooking. WTF was he thinking when he's like "yeah, let's make Southeast Asian flavors for an American drink!" Huh? His seemingly one note cooking works a lot easier in LCK when it's typically "make the tastiest food" but the TC elim challenges it doesn't quite work that way.
posted by xtine at 4:28 PM on January 14, 2019 [2 favorites]

I like Brother and I really wanted him to beat that other dude who won last season. But I agree, he is better at Last Chance Kitchen style cooking than the regular show. I thought it was weird how much time they spent in the talking head segments (is that what they're called?) explaining how unwelcome Brother was. Like if you hate the LCK rules so much don't let Tom move into the house - Brother didn't come up with this plot. I have to assume the producers really pushed this angle so it would feel like there was Interpersonal Conflict to Keep the Viewer Engaged or something.

It seems to me that there are a number of people left in the competition who are not as good as Nini, and now I guess she's done... what a bummer. Maybe we'll see her as a returning contestant someday? Anyway, if they really want to keep the viewer engaged, maybe don't dump one of the best chefs before the season is half done.

Michelle seems like a nice person and a good chef but I find her really boring. I'm surprised they cast her. I would have thought they would cast someone with a bigger presence and less talent instead.

I'm pretty sure Padma's wig was itchy. Especially by the time they got to Judges' Table.

I'm so happy for Eric! His dish concepts always seem really smart. Maybe not in terms of time to execute, but he pulls it off. I would love to eat his food.
posted by Emmy Rae at 3:47 PM on January 16, 2019

Also, Brother's parents are both exotic dancers! That was unexpected.
posted by Emmy Rae at 3:53 PM on January 16, 2019