Top Chef recap

Let's just plow right in about last night's "Top Chef" episode.

During the Quickfire challenge, the contestants had 30 minutes to create an appetizer to go with a "new, modern" cocktail. Uh-oh. That's always scary. I dunno, I'm not a big fan of the new bartending trend of using savory ingredients and certain herbs - like fresh basil - in cocktails. There's way too much room for failure. Have you ever gotten a mojito where the drink slinger has chopped the mint too finely? It's like drinking a salad. Then you have spent the entire time wondering if mint leaves are stuck in your teeth. Just saying.

Sorry, I digress. Back to the program:

- Kudos to Casey for winning immunity - especially after getting stuck with a strawberry balsamic rickey. (Rickeys are dry gin drinks, but syrup or sugar can be added.) Now, really. Does that sound like something you want to drink? Me neither. I want balsamic drizzled on a salad or Parmigiango-Reggiano cheese, not in my beverage.

- Hung is proving to be the thin-skinned, Wendy whiner of the group (beside Joey.) When Hung didn't win, he had to question the judge's taste. Geez, if you think you're so good, go show-off in your own restaurant.

- Then, the group had to break up into teams and prepare a four-course dinner for a bunch of food connoisseurs. This is no easy task, believe me. I've eaten out with food critics from other newspapers and magazines and the pack dog mentality begins. Some alpha critic will start picking apart a dish and the rest of the pack joins in. You either submit to those who are dominant or dominate those who are submissive.

- Camille's pineapple upside cake looked like a tiny hockey puck. I can't figure out why in the world she would serve this kind of grandmom dessert to a group of epicureans (or dog pack). If you're going to do dessert, what's wrong with chocolate? Or using fresh berries? Actually, I forgot Camille was even on this series. She just blended into the background. I still don't know all the contestants names yet.

- Dale's mohawk looked even more goofy when he wrapped a red bandanna around his head.

- Boo-hoo. Queer Eye Ted wasn't given that much air time. I look forward to his insightful comments. (Yeah, no Gail this week!) And Tom Colicchio is even better this season with the biting zingers.

- More Ted and Tom, less Padma, please.