Food Fight

I have declined to comment so far on Top Chef Season 5 because it usually takes me about a half-dozen episodes to learn people's names and form an opinion on them. It doesn't seem like there have been any unjustified eliminations yet, but then (as last night's episode showed) the overall level of competition hasn't seemed to very high. Are they just playing it safe? Are the judges just being pickier this season (which highlights the show's biggest drawback - we have to rely on the judges to tell us how something actually tastes unlike Project Runway here we can see the garment for ourselves)? And what's with all the purees? Hopefully these questions, and many more, will be answered as the season goes on.

My quick handicap of the remaining contestants, preserved for posterity so we can all laugh at it it a couple months:

• Ariane: She has been very inconsistent - she was down in the first couple of challenges, and on top in the next ones. Is she finding her stride, or is she the only loose one while everyone else is playing tight? My money is on more of the latter. I see her sticking around until late in the season, but gone before the finals.
• Carla: Wholly unimpressive thus far. I think she'll be gone soon. Also, she reminds me of a baby giraffe. A very easily startled baby giraffe.
• Eugene: I want to like him, but he's been making some bad decisions. Mid-season elimination.
• Fabio: I really like Fabio. He's charming without being overbearing, and his beef carpaccio with 'spherical olives' was the most exciting dish we've seen yet this season. I think if he doesn't make it to the finals, he'll be around until close to the end.
• Hosea: I'm still having a hard time figuring him out. He's done really well in some challenges, and made some disastrous decisions in others. At this point, I don't see him making it to the finals, but I wouldn't be shocked if he does.
• Jamie: I don't think Jamie is as talented as she does. For all her talk of how arrogant Stefan is, she's been the one saying she deserves to win all the time. I think she will stick around until close to the end, though.
• Jeff: My wife and I call him "Chase" (for his resemblance to the character from House). At this point, he seems like a better organizer than chef, but he's been showing flashes. I think he'll make it pretty far.
• Leah: She seems to do well in the quickfires then disappear in the elimination challenges. I don't think that bodes well for her.
• Melissa: See Carla, except for the giraffe part. Also, I really really really hate her bangs.
• Radhika: Like Leah, she seems to be a little invisible at times. I think it may be editing in this case, because she's done some dishes the judges have responded positively to. Of course, it is possible that I am being influenced by her cuteness, of which there is much.
• Stefan: Nobody aside from Fabio seems to like him, but everyone respects his talent. Unless he screws up at some point, I think he has to be considered the favorite at this point.

Assuming 3 people in the finals, I am prognosticating Stefan, Hosea and Jeff. I think Fabio and Radhika also have strong chances, and Ariane and Jaime have outside chances.