Top Chef Season 3 Episode 2

Watching it on reruns, but I have avoided any news of it. Let's see how this season goes.
I do wonder, though, what happened to Kenmore. Now the kitchen is GE Megasomething. Did Kenmore not want to give them a big kitchen? Did the Top Chefs not appreciate it? I wonder if Harold was able to use that kitchen in his new restaurant.

Also, I think they should create a Top Chef Restaurant guide. So in x city, what restaurants are run by former Guest judges or contestants. That way, when I'm in Orlando, I turn to that page, and can visit one of their places, etc. I think this is a genius idea. Anyone agree? I wonder if I can sell it to Top Chef in exchange for a free meal at some of these places.

The quickfire challenge seemed kind of cool - lots and lots of citrus. The display did look really nice. Hung is turning out to be very pompous, though, and may not stay as my favorite for very long. I know he and Tre are good - they were on the top of the first challenge, but they keep editing him with these ridiculous quotes - (and I paraphrase)" we're clearly the favorites" and after winning the quick fire " I didn't expect anything less." C'mon. Every time CJ is on screen it is kind of awe-striking how tall he is. He is clearly literally the top chef. I also loved the amount of alcohol in the quickfire - a tequila hinted smore, a mojito, a Grand Marnier drink. The guest judge, Van Aken, was very blunt with the contestants, but I thought his being critical comments all seemed like they could be helpful.

Champagne Barbecue - the sheer name of the challenge makes my stomach growl. And high end barbecue, I actually think this seems like something a Top Chef should have to do!
I love Tre - in the kitchen he quickly switches away from Shrimp quietly, smartly as he sees that others are doing it. He just seems so nice. Hung continues to be intense and kind of annoying. I am, however, surprised there was no coordination between the contestants. Maybe there was no time, and maybe barbecues don't require it, but they could have eliminated repetition, made sure there were some drinks, etc.
The barbecue itself is kind of boring. Everything looks fairly tasty, but nothing seems amazing. Part of it, though, is some of the people are getting so little screen time. Camille, for example, is not getting a lot of screen time. Makes me think she's not going to be the best or the worst this challenge. Someone who is getting a lot of face time is whiny Joey. Why is Joey so upset about Hung's Watermelon drink? They aren't allowed to make a beverage with the same fruit? You'd think Hung stole the watermelon literally out of Joey's hands.

SO Sara was a surprise. I thought the whole episode that she was going to be eliminated - she has trouble with the quickfire with shrimp, orders the wrong amount of protein until Hung corrects her, she doesn't know what her peppers are, can't start a barbecue. Micah being in the top, though, is frustrating since she was annoying all day.

Again with the bottom 4. Total insanity.
Joey needs to watch more Top Chef. Picking other people to be eliminated is not a smart idea.
I like that their decisions are made on a definitional question of what is up scale barbecue. However, I am really touched by everyone's reaction to Sandee's departure. She must have been really great to be so well loved after so little time.

Another episode down. I'm lukewarm about this season. Nothing turning me off, but nothing really getting me invested in these chefs either.