They've totally cast made-for-reality-TV types this time around. Tiffany, the poker player on Bobby's team, was also a contestant on The Amazing Race. Libby Floyd, the sequin-encrusted Southern belle who went home last night, was a longtime host on ShopNBC. Even so, I think it'll be a good season.

Another Restaurant Impossible with pahst-er. *Sigh*

However when one of the sons told the mom she should be at the restaurant instead of tanning and she spat back that she didn't judge him for tanning....*snarf*

My husband (who has been a professional cook for over 10 years) and I caught the re-run. He was dumbfounded at some of them not being able to produce eggs and pancakes in an hour. He said besides the reduced syrups, he could have had the whole order out, including all four eggs in under 8 minutes....which is true, because his last job had a ticket timer and his average ticket time was 6 minutes.

Re: Chatterbox Cafe on Restaurant Impossible
With nails like that, this restauranteur is doomed.

I know, right? And almost all of those, as well as some of the things that they made for the earlier challenge, are things you do pretty darn near the last minute. I'd really hate to eat eggs or pancakes that had been sitting on someone's plate for 45 minutes.

I had wacthed it Sunday night, but the whole family watched last night. The kids -- 14-year-old son in particular, couldn't stop laughing. Even he knows more than some of these people.

I about died at the guy looking for a dishwasher to cook his salmon. I've heard of it before, but was he looking for originality points, or what?

I was intrigued by the IDEA of Vanilla Chicken and I think it could work if executed properly.

Also, if the girl picked last would think about it, it isn't a bad spot - so she's not "good" enough to be picked for a chef's own team, but she's also not bad enough to be picked to give to the competition...so it pretty much puts her in the exact middle of the pack.

Exactly.

But just no on the vanilla fried chicken.

No, not vanilla fried chicken - I was thinking more along the lines of chicken medallions in a vanilla almond cream sauce over pasta - maybe some carmelized onions, fennel, and carrots in it...I'd have to play with it, but I could make it work.

That doesn't sound bad.

I love that show! But even I can cook eggs those four ways and I definitely DON'T cook

So, I ended up taking this as a personal challenge to prove that vanilla and chicken can co-exist. I got it - not exactly as described above! Now, if this was ICA and vanilla was the secret ingredient, I don't think it would fly because the vanilla was not REALLY pronounced, but you could actually taste it.

I did a Nutmeg Vanilla Chicken & Shrimp Pasta

I started with the Mario Batali Bechamel: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/m...ipe/index.html

Ingredients:
1 Yield Bechamel Sauce
1/8 Cup Pine Nuts
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken, chopped (I had thighs)
1 lb cleaned shrimp
Salt & Nutmeg to taste
1 Tbsp Vanilla
1 Onion chopped
3/4 Package spaghetti, cooked

Make bechamel sauce and add another tsp or so of nutmeg and the vanilla.

Toast the pine nuts in a large skillet and set aside. Using the same skillet (with the pinenut residue) spray with cooking spray and brown chicken. When chicken is brown, add shrimp, salt and nutmeg to taste and cook another 4 minutes or until the shrimp are done.

Caramelize onions in a small skillet.

Add all components together. I added them in the large pot that I cooked the spaghetti in.



ETA: I think some coconut would send this recipe over the edge from "Yes, vanilla CAN co-exist with chicken" to AWESOME! I WANT TO EAT THIS!

LOVE: Food Network Challenge, especially the extreme challenges, and Ace of Cakes

HATE: Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade (UGH...something about that woman just gets on my nerves) and lately Iron Chef America (too many episodes with fish as the secret ingredient and they are sort of a phobia of mine)

I have full respect for this woman after the Food Network did a bio on her & explained that from the age of 11 she raised her younger 5 siblings. Went on to do those Curtain things on QVC. Put herself through college. Self made Woman... Love Her!!

I don't mind Sandra Lee. Some of her recipes look easy enough for me to make. But for some reason her "tablescapes" just get on my last nerve.

You should read her biography. It's really amazing what she went through. She does annoy me with the way she pronounces her "Ls" i LLLLOVE this LLLLLACE. It's a bit obnoxious. But when you learn her story you forgive her a bit.