Andrea Strong's Weak Top Chef Appearance

Last night food blogger Andrea Strong played the role of her (really mean) self in the Restaurant Wars episode of Top Chef. She was there as an "undercover blogger," an accurate title given by Padma - as Strong got less screen-time than random walk-ins.

The competition split the contestants into two teams each with the task of creating a restaurant. Strong gave comments about the decor, service and meals that were read aloud during the judge's table; she also included her thoughts (slightly altered from what was read on air) on her blog, The Strong Buzz.

"The host had a sweating problem. Note to host: get thee some Right Guard."
"The first sensation I had upon walking in to Restuarant Garage was the suffocating stink of vanilla."

"Who wants to eat off a black tablecloth? It's very Billy Idol and I don't want to eat off Billy Idol."

Who sees black tableclothes and thinks: Billy Idol?! Anyway, she didn't seem to like the food either but confesses on her blog that, "I know that I really like Casey, Tre and CJ, and I didn't really love their dishes, and had I known more about them and their personalities, I might not have been as clear-sighted in my judgments." Um, way to go?

Grub Street has a chat posted in which it's disclosed that "it was supposed to be a whole table of bloggers…but they wanted us to not write about Top Chef at all, and that couldn’t happen. Only Andrea took the pledge." The pledge included signing "a million dollar confidentiality agreement." When did the foodies become so evil and corrupt?

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment, Food on August 16, 2007 2:40 PM

Comments [rss]

guest

My household just watched a re-run of this episode and we all agreed that her presence made the show seem a bit less professional (and I think that's something to really think about). She didn't come off as thoughtful or necessary, and about as witty as the coulda-been-funny kid in the back of the class who makes fun of people you actually kind of like. I'm so sick of the "simon cowell is my idol" brand of sass that being alone too much in front of a computer brings out. I'm glad I found this post to help me get through my annoyance (though the ad hominem blows in the comments are the same brand of lameness she'd possibly use as stands in for cleverness)

I don't really want to read her blog but if she's knee-deep in the snark, I recommend a marathon of extreme makeover: home edition. That will take the unnecessary bitchiness out.

guest

I think her next guest appearance should be on Extreme Makeover. Youch.

Tim N.

Zodak: Dude, you'd hit anything... not that I have a problem with that...

guest

Her inclusion on the show likely has more to do with Andrea's relationship with Tom Colichio and his chefs (she's Akhtar Nawab's number one shill, er, fan - especially during his days at Craftbar) than being a food blogger.

guest

Did James Beard die? Why would I listen to her opinion when it comes to the color of table cloth I would like to eat off when dining out?

Where in Williamsburg does she live?

Bitch get back in the kitchen where you belong.

jammer

she could opened her own restaurant in that episode for all the cunt she was serving up. her personal jabs at the cast of TOP CHEF were ridiculous; cattiness is not synonymous with competence (or criticism, really).

guest

all I asked was is she a NY Jew?

I see news stories everyday mentioning the ethnicity of someone. I don't think I need to post examples.

zodak

I don't know Andrea Strong, but felt compelled to say that I'd hit it.

guest

I subscribe to Andrea Strong's blog. She writes with much enthusiasm and thoughtfulness about food and the restaurant scene in NYC. She also organizes Dining for Darfur.

Jen Carlson, it seems pretty hypocritical to be slamming a fellow blogger when Gothamist itself has been in cahoots with various self-serving or purely promotional posts. In addition, Andrea Strong has more food writing cred than anyone else on the Gothamist food writing staff (for that matter, the Gothamist staff in general).

Reading the original post and the subsequent commenters left a very bad taste in my mouth. I don't know Andrea Strong, but felt compelled to say something.

guest

Sounds like someone has a bit of blogger status envy

guest

A face for photoshop.

guest

It's amazing how many useless dunces are taken seriously in their own little corners of the Internet. There's that chick with over 1 million friends on MySpace and now there's this Strong lady. WHO CARES?