This episode sucked. We already have a show that is all about cooking and selling food and product placement (Food Network Star among other shows), this is supposed to be TOP CHEF. I enjoy the creative challenges, even the gas station quickfires are cool and interesting, but the product placement in this episode and catering the entire episode to it was just awful.
The whole freezing and reheating was such a gimmick and is really lame I think. No chef has to worry about whether something will taste good the next day after its been completely cooked and then frozen.
Maybe it was my additional hatred for Rocco after having seen his failed reality show, but I could not stand this episode.
Also, WTF? to that quickfire.
Hey you get to identify taro root, japanese eggplant, etc.....
Now Casey, identify this:
Are you [censored] kidding me?
That was retarded. And if you are telling people "identify this by taste alone, PUT A [censored] BLINDFOLD ON THEM, cause hint to producers THEY ARE LOOKING AT IT, THEREBY MAGICALLY COMBINING INFORMATION FROM TWO SENSES!
God that episode sucked.