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being a big fan of Vietnamese cuisine I am not at all surprised that Hung is classically French training.. some things that came out of colonialism was the French influence in Vietnam.. there is a strong emphasis on fresh, clean flavors.. which parallels the french and if you ever want pastry try a Vietnamese bakery..

I notice now Hung's confessionals oddly discuss his passions, his "soul" his history.. until this we got cocky schoolboy.. facinating...

As for Casey she is comfort food no doubt, she has a clear style and while not unique and particularly well schooled it is solid work, perhaps unadventuresome but still good/safe.. we see Hung however rely on "classic" over and over again so while it be more stylized again I have yet to see Hung break out of the box.. he is more schooled and trained but there is nothing anymore original.. he just is a better "chef chef". As for the big gay chef there is risk taking a sense of trying to experiment, a willingness to fail with a dish and try again.. he seems actually someone who would benefit the most from this money frankly... while again he may not be a chef's chef or a soulfood cook there is something that makes him someone who will work to improve, to grow and that is in my mind a Top Chef... for reality.. in reality a Top Chef is an Eric Ripert not Rocco (today but 5 years ago sadly yes) or even Bourdain who will admit he is a cook but he has a love of food that transcends the average cook..

I think it is unfortunate that Tre left so soon he was another person to watch and frankly better at it than Sarah. ... Brian could have gone sooner... Brian seems obsessed with showman food.. the kind of chef with a open kitchen doing silly dishes for attention and really missing the idea of what makes cuisine.... CJ had some potential as he wanted to learn... like Dale he knew his weaknesses but pushed past them.. maybe they miss the mark but again the need to take a risk in the kitchen.

This show is going to struggle if the challenges remain as stupid as they are and frankly again and its been said again and again there needs to be a CONSISTENT judging panel whom we can rely upon.. let's lose all the "guest" judges, the pop in's by Bourdain and Ted Allen... keep Bourdain, Gayle and well lose Kojak and find a real chef who can be a Tim Gunn Mentor and mediator who has something to say other than look disgruntled and grumpy.. as for Padma.. she needs to stop sucking dick long enough to learn to enunciate properly.. if we must keep her but frankly there has to be a foodie who has something going on in the noggin... like Ruth Reichl say 10 years ago.