5 Times Chefs Spoke Out Against The Judges | Top Chef (Top 5)

[@TopChef]

What moments did we miss? Let us know in the comments.

[@l-wolverine2211]

Betty’s Poor Excuse of a “Thanksgiving Creme Brûlée”

[@laurirobinson8346]

Anything Marcel had to say in season 8

[@l-wolverine2211]

@@laurirobinson8346 Which is Better than anything Betty or Ilan had to say.

[@user-ho7mg9ol7w]

"We still serve grass fed beef." "We always serve corn fed beef" Erm.. so which is it Tom? Was she right?!

[@l-wolverine2211]

@@user-ho7mg9ol7w No, Elia was Completely WRONG, and all because she was Eliminated First in All-Stars.

[@nativesun7661]

“…Like a meatBALL??” 😂🤣🤣🤣 that line killed it. Even Tom had to acknowledge it.

[@DivineAtheistWannabe]

3:10 "In your book though, the part about Ecuadorian line cooks....." The best callout in history

[@jarlnieminen4307]

And Anthony was in awe.

[@albertoavena]

Just read his book and yeah, before this chef called him out, I also thought of the same thing haha Love Anthony Bourdain though!

[@akaiwrx]

Mr. Bourdain is missed.

[@justinthomas27]

The first guy had a valid point, why would they even keep frozen scallops in the walk in? Seems like a waste

[@brianpeterson8667]

You would be quite surprised at what is frozen in some walk-ins.

[@BigstickNick]

But...they were right. Why use it?

[@jayharv285]

When I see stuff like that to me it could be they want to see who is willing to cut corners as a chef.

[@FluffeyPandasWorld]

@@jayharv285 Sure, but even Ramsay uses low grade ingredients you're in a competition you should have been able to tell the difference to be honest. There's people who will pay big money and can't tell the difference obviously.

[@the2tum]

"Why would they even keep frozen scallops in the walk in?" The obvious answer being that this is a television show so sometimes they have things out there to throw the chefs off, or to see if they can adept a "garbage" ingredient into something amazing. Also, frozen scallops can still be used to make great food, just not the way that Spike wanted to. There's no way you're going to sear frozen scallops. Puree it into a mousse would have been great, or do what he did in the All Star season and serve it cold.

[@DavidSmith-wr5sj]

I love how Tony Bourdain loved that guy for calling him out, cool exchange from a real legend. I miss that dude.

[@lvl6humancleric216]

He was excited because the guy read a very specific part of his book. Very cool, I agree. 😎

[@banzaisdead]

Me too man, me too

[@jeffreyklima7612]

He also beat women, do you miss that too?

[@DavidSmith-wr5sj]

@@jeffreyklima7612 Don't see anything about that, and I'm totally unaware. That's terrible if he did and he should be condemned for it, but being he's dead now... Either way, absolutely love the art the man created. If you got a source, shoot. I don't really care, but sounds like you're just saying this with no proof.

[@divaah4406]

@@DavidSmith-wr5sj There is no record or official allegation of him ever beating women. I call Major BS.

[@abrahamkim1078]

The most legit statement was, “as exciting as a meatball?”

[@miriamfontes3393]

Legit, chicken salad can go so many ways, with various ingredients, a meatball is a meatball, is a meatball, meeeh.🤷🏼‍♀️

[@truth4004]

Yeah I do get excited about meatballs when I make them. lol

[@truth4004]

@@miriamfontes3393 And hers was boring.

[@junkerinhistrunker]

right but then she followed it up with "...or asian food.." yikes

[@chefcardonalopez]

Yes... Tom finally was speechless.

[@corgeousgeorge]

I'm fine with the contestants speaking up and back. Sometimes these judges are high on their own supply and need to be brought back down to earth.

[@baconbap]

Shade with the meatball comment. He knew she got him, too.

[@TheDollyce]

I loved seeing Howie stand up to Anthony Bourdin! And so did Anthony! This scene was hysterical!!!

[@kristaanderson1940]

I just read Howie died

[@sophieamandaleitontoomey9343]

My favorite one was when Jen talked back to Tom in All Stars about her dish and then later on he's like "Defend it all you want. It was still a bad dish." That made laugh. lol

[@ronhanisco8697]

I love it. Grayson actually shut Tom down. LOL.

[@jgodbee3090]

but then put her foot in it "and Asian food". I agree that chicken salad and meatballs are as interesting as each other, but you cannot throw the multiple different cuisines of an entire continent into that comparison and not sound silly.

[@sheilafisher3764]

I keep playing back the meatball retort. It's funny because last week I was thinking of her comeback comment, laughing as I pictured the judges reaction. Priceless. 😂😂😂

[@Melpheos1er]

The meatball and the ecuadorian line cooks comeback are the best

[@robertwhitten265]

Great comeback at 5:00, "Like a meatball?"

[@leesnow1382]

You can do a lot more flavor profiles with meatballs than chicken salad

[@l-wolverine2211]

Too bad Grayson was Lame on Season 13, Like A MEATBALL!

[@noneyabidniss4763]

@@leesnow1382 not true, any dish can be elevated

[@GGtheRealest]

@@noneyabidniss4763 agreed. You can change sauces and condiments like peppers, cheeses, the kind of produce, the kind of bread, etc. Lol the man got roasted

[@jonah.donohue]

I would choose a meatball over a chicken salad in fine dining any day of the week.

[@NVR-fold]

The meatball vs chicken salad, had me.

[@mv2537]

...Asian food can be elevated...TF

[@djanime317]

Imagine having a whole argument and your dreams and admirations are crashing down hard all because a chef you like, sells and drinks Diet Coke, like what???🤔

[@donsmith3590]

"Diet Coke has bad stuff in it." Ah, so she believes in pseudoscience regarding artificial sweeteners I'm guess.

[@Psychobeppe]

@@donsmith3590 Depends really, whilst cancer research UK and similar studies in the USA suggest they don't cause cancer there is some evidence to suggest that they increase appetite which can cause obesity leading to diabetes. I've used the cancer studies as an example as i think that is generally what people are getting at when talking about the bad stuff in in Diet Coke. Whether that is true or not personally I would rather consume a natural sugar but in smaller quantities or alternatives such as honey or Stevia extract rather than artificial sweeteners such as Aspartame or High Fructose Corn syrups due to me personally believing that the less processed a food item is the better it is for you. Almost all my meals are prepared from scratch using few natural ingredients and I really do notice a difference in energy the few time I eat a ready prepared meal from the supermarket which is heavily processed.

[@MyGreenPathway]

@@donsmith3590 it is a toxic, cancer-causing beverage 😊

[@yasseford]

@@Psychobeppe High Fructose Corn Syrup is not a sweetener alternative, it *is* sugar. And either way, the damage sugar does to your body is scientifically irrefutable. If you can drink Diet Coke instead of Coke, you are without a doubt making a healthier choice.

[@DayquanDamas]

It honestly depends on where you are from. There is a region in Mexico, Chiapas region, where Coke practically contaminates their water which makes it undrinkable. The locals beg you to not buy Coke products due to this contamination and yet even when I would buy bottles of water on the back it says, product of Coke. So not only does Coke poison their water but capitalizes on it by selling them clean water.

[@mattliechty1269]

Elia's sour grapes is so cringe worthy.

[@sheteg1]

The chef with the frozen scallops in his walk in was called out

[@baconbap]

The meatball girl owned him. I loved it!

[@NealFowler]

elia really seems like she has a chip on her shoulder about everything. i mean, you're going to go after tom for doing a diet coke commercial while you are on a reality competition show? come on.

[@truth4004]

They literally advertise products on top chef. lol She's nuts.

[@jdtroup198683]

@@truth4004 She better off cooking in the asylum

[@frankieseward8667]

Why couldn't Brian Voltaggio be in All Stars?

[@l-wolverine2211]

@@frankieseward8667 Didn’t you see Season 17, and Top Chef Masters: Season 5???!!

[@CarbiesChronicles]

Diet Coke is riddled with nasty chemicals... so that chef is a hypocrite... screams about cooking fresh food and endorses processed drinks...

[@indiegemsthatjam3986]

"As exciting as a meatball" gave Chef Boyardee a mini-seizure there

[@jamessis3427]

And then the next time she was back she made meatballs...way to stick to her guns

[@ladyofthecreek279]

😂😂😂

[@seanahmed9079]

Elia DID NOT go to the back of the kitchen!! She literally contradicted herself in the span of 10 seconds

[@frumpusnumpus]

Diet coke girl was off her meds. You really got a chip on your shoulder because you 'heard bad things' about it? Opening her mouth just so she can say she contributed to the conversation. Then she started calling out the sous chef too? She must be a real joy to work with.

[@jonah.donohue]

I would love to work with her. Somebody who stands behind their character. You have an issue with that? There's the front door you sir sound like somebody who would sell their souk for 2 cents.

[@rmusic08]

Lol why are they chastising spike for using frozen scallops when they were in the dudes freezer like..i get he coulda picked something else but the guy is like, its ok for me to have them but not ok for you to use them....what??

[@DJinnyjinster]

The producers put the scallops in his fridge though... www.grubstreet.com/2008/05/top_chef_guest_judge_denies_al.html

[@sundevilpeg]

@@DJinnyjinster This episode made Rick Tramonto look like an arrogant goof. That restaurant venture in the Westin in Wheeling didn't last long. Gee, wonder why?

[@toddtrimble2555]

@@DJinnyjinster So, huh, they put the frozen scallops there to see who would take the bait? Seems like kind of a D move.

[@MichaelJW72]

Todd Trimble yeah but he’s the one who took the bait. As soon as everyone else realized they were frozen they were excited that he was dumb enough to use them.

[@miralabualjadail4206]

Its competition, they probably put it there on purpose and he failed by using it.

[@noneyabidniss4763]

Like a MEATBALL? 😂😂😂💀💀

[@mintmilano4074]

To my mind Tom asking the chefs who sell Diet Coke in their restaurants to raise their hands was the end of the discussion. Elia (and Dale, for some reason lol) just kept digging their holes even deeper. Bonus points: Grayson got mad that a meatball performed better than her chicken salad, and then made a meatball first challenge when she came back in season 13. An amusing full circle I noticed while binging :)

[@plantbasedchef7569]

I’m sure she had nightmares about it leading up to season 13

[@krislv9219]

Dale was unnecessary

[@AznRUs]

Throughout the year the top chef judges have refined the way they give their critiques. It's a lot softer than the earlier season. On top chef Canada however they still are cutthroat with their comments.

[@susieq18]

Really glad Tom decided to move on from the soul patch.

[@alexandriamays3202]

My exact thought lol.

[@kbob9625]

Talking back to a judge who’s going to decide your future isn’t very smart lol.

[@chillyman7340]

I do commend some of the Chefs Speaking their minds and defending themselves becuase at the end of the day the judges are your real competition not your fellow Chefs lol, I love top Chef.

[@jonathannieman9264]

“Like a meatball” - mic drop

[@josephineadamo178]

I remember this group of Top Chef

[@jay1hi547]

I love Grayson! I felt Tom was picking on her bc that challenge she was in the top but he made her feel like she was in the bottom.

[@jonathan91732]

Except for when she dismissively referred to "Asian food"

[@stac3426]

@@jonathan91732 I think she knew you can't just dismiss Asian food and got stuck having to say something.

[@Super_Middleman]

Tripping over Diet Coke is weird, especially when you consider how much fat, sodium, sugar, and cholesterol are in the dishes in any average restaurant menu.

[@GrandizerGo]

I was thinking if it is because in Mexico they use real cane sugar and not the high fructose corn syrup they use in the US? I have tasted the Mexican version of Coke, it is superior to the US version.

[@garygsp3]

@@GrandizerGo You would think that except.... most Mexican coke is no longer made with cane sugar even though it says so on the bottle. Sorry. I watched an hour long documentary on what "Coke" is doing to Mexicans a few months ago and what they used as the sweetener was a huge topic of discussion. I could likely find it in my history list somewhere if you really wanted it.

[@gretchendietz1599]

True, but that at least is real food. Diet coke is just chemicals and it's pretty toxic. And no I don't drink it. However, chefs are real people who eat and drink things that are bad for them and a whole lot of them smoke too. If he was a nutritionist doing a diet coke commercial, that would be different. Elia's a problem child - this is just one example.

[@dawnywarthog6642]

I still haven't been able to watch anything with Anthony. It hurts my heart....still.

[@samfilmkid]

Oh man, seeing Jenncome back for All Stars… She was so in control and focused and professional on her first season and then to see her come back and being…not any of those things was really jarring. Like, something seriously bad must have happened to her in between that.

[@gretchendietz1599]

She was one of my favorites and I was disappointed in the way she behaved. However, in a competition after that, Tom did say he didn't have a problem with her standing up for her dish.

[@marcoscarvalho4650]

According to reddit she was having some problems with substance or alcohol abuse, so hopefully she is now ok :)

[@cherveny]

love in all stars spike having to come back and redo his dish again, with frozen scallops, then being judged, Bourdain saying "is it me, or is this dish doing everything possible to hide the scallops" and the cheftestants "that's the point"

[@bartduynstee1577]

have to agree with most of the cooks. these days judges seem to have to chip on their shoulder as big as the empire state building. whatever they say is perfect and everybody else is wrong. being successful is also being able to admit that you are wrong about stuff

[@zack9777]

Chefs*

[@lindacosta1105]

Those were the days! Great contestants!

[@abrahamkim1078]

“We never not-served corn fed beef”.

[@user-ho7mg9ol7w]

"We always serve grass fed beef." You missed that one right before

[@truth4004]

That woman bringing up selling for coke is crazy the top chef show itself is sponsored by companies! The prize money etc. She's a karen.

[@Kate-qr5pj]

A+ content right here

[@bluxe7372]

The meatball contestant won with the word, "Right." Drops mic. The look in Tom's eye was like a vanquished contestant walking off the field of play. However, then when she looks at the chef to the left and then says, "And Asian food?" in a derogatory way ... at that point, the umpire just called back the game winning touchdown and she lost her win.

[@jstuart1980]

Spike made a valid point, though he still should not have used the scallops.

[@rachelsummers3002]

Yep presumably the chef would have decided they weren't quality and tossed them which spike knew and didn't do

[@adrianadrian4585]

Why is the explanation stating that Grayson came back to Season 13 of Top Chef All Stars? It's definitely a regular season and she's invited back and was in low rankings most of the time

[@eduardocastillo1489]

Tom's expression....."ah Geez..Here we Go..."

[@Annie1962]

RIP Howard Kleinberg

[@nessa2481]

❤❤❤ Anthony Bourdain!!! Kitchen Confidential is a great book!

[@MrProy33]

According to your own book... hahaha!

[@yukarikuran8255]

I want these chefs to participate on Hell's Kitchen, I want to hear them talking back like this on Gordon Ramsay. And I want to see their reaction for anything Gordon will throw back at them. Hehe

[@joshuaknight311]

Gordon wack nobody scared of him these people are real chefs the went to culinary school gordon didn't hell's kitchen is also make the people on there are not real chefs people on top chef are real chefs

[@jadegale6833]

@@joshuaknight311 www.britannica.com/biography/Gordon-Ramsay Obviously you don't know what you are talking about. And Gordon Ramsay is #1 chef in the world. And for hells kitchen they take people that are chefs or instructors from different states.... 👀

[@truth4004]

They'd be in a fetal position on the floor. lol

[@DivineAtheistWannabe]

Fun Fact: Gordon Ramsay doesn't yell at people who do things right.

[@cizrx1599]

@UCQrHrIj05tfL4lqpEhJcMgA Gordon did go to culinary school he was a part time student even if he didn’t the way you learn culinary is the way he did it just like all the other great chefs It isn’t in a school it’s working for the best chefs in the world and learning from them culinary school is like training wheels for the world of culinary. You clearly have never worked in a kitchen or gone to culinary school because if you did you would never say something like this

[@the_fd_180]

"like a meatball."

[@bennyb44875]

Like a meatball?.... I loved her!

[@jamessis3427]

Did you like it when she came back and made meatballs?

[@sirfultonbishop]

Thank you, chef.

[@TheDollyce]

The frozen scallops: who knows WHY they were in the freezer? Maybe they were in there in preparation to eliminate them! Like freezing stinky bad seafood until you can get rid of them.

[@brettblute7739]

I watched this sixteen years ago and as a Chef with 40yrs experience, it was creepy then and it's creepy now. I think creepy is funny and you know everyone loves to see a cockroach crash! This show was more of sociological Romper Room, than it was about being a chef. It is scripted television.

[@thickymcghee7681]

I like the bald judge. He is smart.

[@erwinflores6364]

Hahahahahaha classic Meatball vs chicken sandwich

[@sterlingforbes3872]

back when this show was new and amazing...

[@lefreakful]

I never liked Elia.

[@robertthompson6352]

I thought that said Ella and my nickname is Ella.. I can’t read

[@LordHypnos4]

You son of a well respected businessman

[@mygrammieis]

Awesome vdeo

[@sorrowsorrow6759]

These honest people speaking out know showbiz is bullshyt

[@mortb9]

The judges tried to tell him he was using too much butter.

[@Djpiglatin187]

“Asian food.”

[@NinjaGamerGirls]

My big respect to Howie. he knew he fail in quick and elimination challenge and he say he must go home other than try to bash another person like Tiffany in season one for example. She was discusting.

[@jimmygoodrich9590]

Disgusting

[@elainegoldman4222]

Oh the horror, frozen scallops.

[@hendrixj.8356]

Tom buys diet coke from small farmers

[@isaachaze1]

don't remember her name, but contestant at 4:10 best looking top chef contestant ever hands down. I believe she came close to winning it also

[@ndy3849]

Can sombody please tell me which reunion show with the diet coke topic??

[@suziewood4207]

Season 8 All-Stars

[@timothyprice3670]

Top Chef: Texas had a lot of racists on the show.

[@adamgoldsteintv]

RIP Howie

[@Saravon]

Elia is petty AF.

[@dej3201]

They always tried to make Jen look crazy I couldn’t stand it

[@jf76]

It is hard to be a woman in any business. However listen to respectful advice from experts, whatever gender. I think that those judges said their opinion frankly about what they were given. Valuable advice. One is not always right nor is the most experienced. If, for instance, an experienced 'customer' says it is not seasoned enough, taste it again and correct it. Do you want you customer or judge to enjoy their food or do you want to shrug?

[@anthonyjsgamingchannel7272]

RIP HOWIE

[@fluppi123]

People selling diat coke are poisoning the people. Bad bad chef.

[@kristaanderson1940]

I just read Howie died

[@geddoe316]

I've always wondered about grayson. Was she a plant in her second appearance?She was already in a season, and then randomly appeared in another....as the only returning contestant . It was so completely random and made no sense to me.

[@oOmary1389oO]

Yeah, it really weird and super random

[@jayharv285]

No not weird at all. For example in MasterChef USA Luca appeared in season 3 and he failed to qualify and then he comes back in season 4 and qualifies and then actually wins that season

[@nachoalvarez7171]

@@jayharv285 Thats not how it works in Masterchef

[@jayharv285]

@@nachoalvarez7171 they never said you can't do that actually

[@jayharv285]

@@nachoalvarez7171 plus it was to qualify so he can show up as much as he wants to qualify for the show

[@TheDollyce]

Jen has a huge chip on her shoulder! No respect for the judges! She's delusional! She'll never learn anything when she's so certain she's always right! Total hubris!

[@eduardocastillo1489]

Apparently..Elia doesn't remember whom she spoke with ...

[@eduardocastillo1489]

She had "Sour Grapes".... Kicked out Twice from Competition.....

[@unerevuese]

Jennifer was so over it.

[@GuitarD30]

Second one is just crazy chick think

[@demcduff]

This show is like adolescents fighting. Adults should behave better.

[@empyrion1]

That Asian food comment did not age well.

[@toughbikkies3699]

So is it grass fed or corn fed? According to your last comment it's corn fed but your second to last comment it was grass fed. BIG difference between the two.

[@Gurl-5150]

Jamie was horrible when she came onto the all star season. She was LAZY. Not sure what happened to her while she was out there but she changed (for the worse)

[@bailodescalza]

Watching this vid made me remember why I stopped seeing this series. It wasn't entertaining, too much arguing and the judges sometimes were mean

[@jaredmehrlich6683]

Honestly .. "diet coke" drama.

[@davidschmidt7761]

He sells coke but it’s not diet

[@mexicanprivilege7848]

“I drink Diet Coke everyday” This is why I’m not for healthcare for all.

[@ChristopherTradeshow]

"tom cleco is an icon" never heard of em

[@Gshock714]

Bravo should just drop a bombshell and Gordon Ramsay makes an appearance on Top Chef

[@FransceneJK98]

Someone tell me please how a meal can have a personality or be elevated??? This doesn’t make sense to me

[@ushift]

How its prepared the ingredients and flavoring like you can have two different types of egg and toast. One in a fancy restaurant and one in IHOP. One probably has a much different flavor profile.

[@truth4004]

Flavor profiles and the way each ingredient is treated makes it more elevated. Also style of plating.

[@scallen3841]

@@truth4004 it's still egg and toast lol

[@jarthur5094]

Elia was sooooo annoying

[@mikep9312]

She wants to rag on the judge for doing a diet coke commercial because "it has a lot of bad stuff in it", She should try going to a high caliber traditional Japanese restaurant, they make gourmet food with basically brain eating additives.

[@JB-wo4zy]

Anyone that took any criticism from AB suicide. Definitely should not take it to heart.

[@victormartinez6986]

To me Tom Colicchio is not an icon in sorry.

[@kimreif9520]

I personally can't stand Tom Colicchio he is the most arrogant "Chef" around and the most pickiest person I have ever seen I have read on yelp that his Craft Restaurant is permanently closed I can see why cause by the reviews of customers seems that he deserved to have his restaurant closed permanently!

[@lightandtheweight]

Tom is a selfish baby and y’all attacking Diet Coke lady miss the point that at his level he’s just milking the system and that my friends is a lack of integrity.