Starts March 9! International All Stars. I believe we have some watchers here… 
All the Chefs Competing This Season on Top Chef.
Buddha!!! 
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It should be fun! I recognize many (but not all) of the chefs.
FWIW my D and SIL have been to Buddah’s restaurant in NYC twice and say it is fabulous!
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Oh boy, must see tv! I didn’t realize there were so many international Top Chef franchises.
If you want to see the best of the best go to YouTube and watch the 2023 Bocuse D’or. It’s a biennial international contest that pit the best chefs in each country/region. This years competition was in January. I won’t give away the winner though it’s easily looked up.
Thanks for the reminder, @abasket. I am originally from Paducah, KY, the hometown of Sarah Bradley who will be a returning chef for this series. I don’t normally watch, but I did watch Sarah compete a few years ago and will watch again to see how she fares this season. I think she was runner-up previously. I have eaten at her restaurant, Freight House, many times and " kind of" know her since I have known her mom for many years. Her mom is a retired social worker and often does the deserts for her restaurant. Nice family.
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very cool!
Reminder, starts tonight!
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Thanks for the reminder!
Good first episode. Some fun personalities. ALL the accents! Always a trick keeping everyone straight right away.
Interesting that the France guy said that in his country’s season quick fires are 90 minutes long. 30 must speed by!
Didn’t like Dawn on her U.S. season and don’t like her now! How’s you feel about her putting the Mexico (?) guy on the spot for spilling water in her dish to the judges at elimination???
I agree about Dawn. That wasn’t cool to tap on his shoulder and throw him under the bus at Judge’s table. I missed this (severely hearing impaired:)), but did the Polish lady say she thought Buddha was a snob when she watched him on his season?
Seems like the Kentucky woman has interesting food, the Spanish lady could be a dark horse (she seems really good but the cameras don’t focus on her as much as the Kentucky lady due to her English). I like the Mexican guy as well. The German guy also could have some interesting combos. The MENA guy was a little arrogant in his interviews even though his onion dish was innovative, imo.
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LOL, all your comments were said by one person or another in my household last night when watching!
You know the accents are so strong I wonder if it might help to have close captions on. Yes, I do believe she said that about Buddha - I personally disagree! I mean he was a very serious chef but he also seemed to be courteous of the other contestants, light hearted at times etc.
I also liked the Mexican guy and was so glad he didn’t go yet.
I also like the German guy! For some reason he gives me Chris Martin (Coldplay) vibes and I can’t unsee that (which is not a bad thing!)
I usually have the closed captioning, but I realized it wasn’t on and the show was almost over!! Uggh! I don’t know why the Polish lady felt that way about Buddha— if anything, I really liked him and empathized with him when he shared his story about his father.
Amar Santana seems like a fun guy to hang out with, but I have had his food at his restaurant in Laguna Beach. It was only “eh,” imo. I never went back, and to be honest, his dishes he prepares are never super impressive to me.
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My kids always use CC and it usually annoys me but I put them on pretty quickly when I was watching this! It doesn’t help that I never just sit and watch TV, I am always either playing on the computer, folding laundry or something like that so it was extra hard to follow.
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Her restaurant has a Michelin star – not sure if any other contestant has that honor. Her precision and sense of focus make her a favorite IMO. Because of format involving time and different challenges, the successful chefs usually have a clear vision quickly.
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Anyone watch the second episode?
I won’t say any spoilers- but I like the German guy. I like his humor, and his food looks interesting. Dawn annoyed me again- she talks too slow. The Polish lady is also a little stubborn, imo. The Spanish lady is interesting and I also still like the guy from Mexico.
Yes, I watched. Look forward to the rest of the espisodes.
I watched. Good episode even though I don’t care for rice (something my kids chide me about relentlessly). I am without question rooting for Sara and it was fun to see her picture with her mom & sister (have known her mom since we both had young children). I like Dale as well.
I like Sara, too!
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I didn’t care for Sara in her season but she seems much more likeable this season - admire her still breast pumping!
Not sorry to see Dawn go. She seemed to have sort of a “not sure I want to be here” attitude.
I did not know how they ate 15 piled high Ritz crackers! And all those tastes/ingredients?! Belly ache!
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Any opinions on Thursday’s episode? I would have loved to sample both the pub crawl food and the chefs’ elevated takes on those dishes. Like the chef from Poland, I love potatoes. I hated to see Dale go, but thought May was somewhat petulant given Dale conceded to her choice about the Scotch egg.
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