Top Chef: Texas

                 I did not watch Top Chef when it first came out.  It did not seem like my kind of thing.  After landing on a marathon several seasons in, I became hooked.  Set in a different location each season, the newest batch of competitors is competing their way through the state of Texas.  Already this season seems to be an interesting ride.    

                Usually the first episode stars the main contestants and the competition begins.  Not this season.  Instead, when the chefs arrived there was one further challenge.  Twenty-nine chefs had to compete one more time in order to get into the main draw of sixteen.  Once the sixteen were determined, then the main competition began.

                Each main competition episode is set up with two challenges.  The first is fast and the winner usually earns immunity from elimination.  Second is the elimination challenge.  These challenges are much longer, but as it can send someone home, the stakes are very high.  Sometimes this challenge is battled as a team, which does not always go well, and other times it is individual.  Afterward comes the judges’ decision as to who should leave the competition and go home.  This decision I do not always agree with.

                So far this season there have been some elimination decisions where I have turned off the television not too happy.  One of them I was greatly disappointed and another I was greatly upset about.  Both make me shake my head, but the second one I am mentioning truly makes me do so.  I will not get into the details as I do not want to ruin anything for those who have not watched.

                While I have not agreed with all the decisions made, there are still others I am cheering for and want to see them do well.  With six chefs in the main draw from Chicago, I am curious to see how each one of them does.  I am also curious what kind of challenges the judges will continue to throw at them.  So far it has been quite interesting with competitions in places such as rodeos and fields.  Let us just say I am happy to not be in their shoes.