http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/08/23/TOP-CHEF----Second-Helping.aspx Well, tonight we got a “second helping” of the restaurant wars. The contestants did such a poor job last week that they were all given a second chance to prove themselves worthy of the title Top Chef this week. I don’t know if I would want that on my resume, but then again, they were only given 24 hours – and in some cases – less than enthusiastic restaurant partners to create magic, so I guess we can’t expect miracles. That being said, it seemed as if the food wasn’t even up to par. At this point in the competition, I would expect to see the judges salivating at all the tantalizing treats put before them. At one point, it seemed as if somebody put a raw tarantula in front of Ted and forced him to eat it. But there was more to tonight’s episode of TOP CHEF than sloppy leftovers from last week’s show. The contestants were thrown into a relay race of cooking, in the Quickfire Challenge. Watching Howie continuously be forced to act as a team player is just pure entertainment. I swear he’d have pulled all of his hair out by now, if he had any to begin with. This is one guy that has to be in control, and having to put his fate in his competition’s hands kills him. I know this, because it’s written all over his face week after week. No wonder he sweats so much. It would actually be funny, if it weren’t so gross. Whether Howie wins remains to be seen, but he will definitely be one reality TV personality I remember, if for no other reason than the extra special sauce he adds to all his food. en-US Critics Rant info@criticsrant.com Subtext Version 1.9.4.0 http://www.criticsrant.com/images/default_gravatar_bullhorn.png http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/08/23/TOP-CHEF----Second-Helping.aspx 77 60