Top Chef Power Rankings (07/07/10)

This episodes challenge was crazy intense. A three round elimination tournament with two Chefs being sent home. The last three teams each had a member that was ranked 2, 3, or 4 so a huge upset was coming. Arnold and Lynne were sent packing in a night full of surprises.


Top Shelf


1. Angelo Sosa



Angelo retains his spot on top. He finished in the top of the quickfire and moved on after the lunch round. I thought his breakfast plate was kind of weak, an egg and toasted bread and that's it? Come on. Atleast he advance on that meal. His rivalry with Kenny looks to be heating up next week.


Best of the Rest


2. Kelly Liken



It was a tough call where to put Kelly. She had to cook until the final round, but somehow won the competition (I don't know how that worked). So that is the reason she didn't make the top shelf category. She now has two elimination challenge wins which is leading the competition. If she has another strong show she will reach top shelf level and could potentialy dethrown Angelo


3. Kenny Gilbert



HOW CAN KENNY BE THIS HIGH! He has now been on the chopping block twice, he has only been in the top of an elimination challenge once! Two reasons. 1. He's been on the top of every quickfire including 1 win. 2. His rivalry with Angelo is going to keep him around for a long time. Also, both of his bottom finishes were group challenges. I don't know what that really means. Just something to think about. Lastly, who do think should jump in front of him?


4. Amanda Baumgarten



Amanda was part of the team that moved on after the breakfast round. She helped cellar dweller Stephen avoid another bottom finish. This strong performance follows a top four finish last week. I think she's too scatter brained to do well, but her past two performances disagree.


5. Tiffany Derry



I was actually tempted to move Tiffany to four, but she did exactly what Amanda did, move on after the breakfast round and helped cellar dweller Tim avoid another bottom finish. I couldn't justify having her jump Amanda based on that. I was very impressed from her performance and continue to expect good things from her.


Middle of the Pack


6. Alex Reznik



Alex stays at 6 for the second straight week. Him and Ed did not work well as a team, but still were able to move on after the lunch service. Their breakfast took too long to plate and they missed a couple of pieces. Alex blamed Ed for the screw up, and Ed blamed Alex. They were able to recover but I don't see these two getting along much going forward.


7. Ed Cotton



See Alex's Comments




8. Andrea Curto



Again, I don't know how to judge this past episodes performance. She had to cook all the way until dinner service, but did end up with the elimination challenge win. Because she had to cook until dinner, I couldn't justify jumping her over Alex and Ed. She did cook better last night, but I still don't see her lasting long in the competition.


9. Tamesha Warren



I was tempted to have Tamesha be a big mover after her quickfire win and her solid elimination challenge performance. I however kept her down here because I don't think she's had as strong as of an overall competition as the three above her. I think she is poised for a move and may be making her way toward the top, but isn't quite ready yet.


10. Kevin Sbraga



Back to back bottom finishes is a way to drop fast. This is exactly what happened to Kevin. Kevin once again seemed please with all his dishes, but the judges, once again, didn't agree. If he can't make food the judges like, then he won't last long. He did complain about Kenny putting in the horseradish, but all the judges agreed, more horseradish was needed and would have made the dish more complete.


Chopping Block


10. Timothy Dean



Tim has no confidence left, which is not a good thing in the competition. Yes he moved on after only the breakfast round, but he was nothing more then a glorified assistant to Tiffany. The crab cakes did look delicious, but I don't think he was doing anymore then hanging on for the ride.


11. Stephen Hopcraft



Maybe it was because we saw so little of Stephen yesterday that I kept him down here, but he didn't do anything that justified him moving out of this spot. Yes he was on one of the two teams to move on after breakfast, but I think like Tim, he was riding the coattails of his partner. I still think he is the best bet to be sent home packing next week.


One last thought. I am not sure if it's still early in the season or if this season is a little more up in the air, but it seems there is a lot of jumping around in the power rankings. Last season we knew who the top 4 were pretty early on and everyone stayed pretty similar. This season seems like there is a lot more movement.