will_5198

My point is that's too late if the choice had already been made. Explaining to someone the rules after the fact is absurd in my opinion unless a part of the show is about being cryptic, e.g., in the Amazing Race, I don't think they know the details of the challenge until after they made a choice.

It does seem as if further details were not explained until after the choice (although it seems as if quick-fires start as soon as they're given too, when in reality they are prompted for awhile then returned to their spots in the kitchen). Personally, I don't think it was a deceptively crippling situation. Tiffani's team won the quick-fire advantage because they made a sugar ball for kids (not exactly a great culinary feat) and then lost the elimination challenge because of execution issues (over salted, under salted and undercooked) more so than a discrepancy in product.

Jen seems to think there was a conspiracy to remove her from competition, which I find hard to believe from Bravo's standpoint. Her status as a fan favorite would outweigh the one-week controversy of her removal.

Since you think it's so clear, let me ask you whether team T-Rex could use salt, pepper, vegetable oil, or garlic? If you interpret the word "only" literally, then presumably they can't use any of the items I mentioned. They can cook the food anyway they want but they can't use any seasoning?

Colicchio wrote in his blog that the producers of the show explain each challenge in greater detail off-camera*, and more specific parameters were given.

* During TC: Just Desserts, one episode showed this procedure. The contestants were brought back to the stew room, where a producer went over all the rules of a certain quick-fire. It aired because Seth had a breakdown after being explicitly told he could not make his own ice cream.

I like it so far -- some old Molto Mario reruns and a few of the new programs stand out (Unique Eats, Drink Up). I wish they'd subtitle Iron Chef; it's unwatchable with dubs.

What they need to add are the reruns of Into The Fire and A Cook's Tour (I'm probably dreaming when it comes to the latter, considering all the smack Bourdain has talked about FN since). Into The Fire was one of the best series FN has ever aired: behind the scenes look at Campanile, Carnegie Deli, Trio (when Achatz was there), Joe's Stone Crab, etc. It's a shame they ran it only briefly and buried the reruns at 4 a.m. time slots.

There is beer at the other Hell Burger as well. Just sayin'.

Oh really? I've been conditioned just to order a soda when there, but that's good to know.

i was there a couple of weeks ago. way easier to deal with than regular hellburger. Burger was the same as I had at the original but way less stress about where to sit and a much calmer area.

Agreed. There's not really a waiting area -- but the hostess did a good job finding people out on the sidewalk. And that's a minor detail considering the advantage of table service, using credit/debit cards, and beer.

Had the tasting menu last month, about a week or two after they reopened. All of it was wonderful, but my two favorites were the eggplant ravioli (loved the olive crumbs) and veal carpaccio (lots of different elements here, but it came together in a very subtle, clean and delicious way).

Does anyone know if they’ve transitioned to a fall menu yet? The website still lists summer courses, and I regretted missing some of the three-course options on my last visit.

There were other highlights too, such as a fantastic tuna tartare with soy air

I went for lunch a few weeks ago and the tuna tartare was indeed excellent. Despite being such an overused dish, VOLT's preparation was a refreshing take.

It's a shame that Frederick is quite a distance for me, because the $25.10 prix fixe lunch they've been running is an absolute steal. Lunch reservations are also *much* easier to book, with only a couple days notice needed. I'll be back if Table 21 has an opening sometime this decade.