Top Chef, Episode 3: Dale Talde

There continues to be scant little published about Dale Talde on Season Three of Top Chef. It is, however, refreshing to note that we seem to have moved beyond Dale is Hung. Now I think it's fair to say that Dale is the silent killer. I say this due to the fact that most people say he is talented, cocky, and a good cook, yet they say surprisingly little about his actions on the show with relation to some of the other guests. Lately the only substantive post concerning Dale was highly positive if not terse, saying that Dale has not yet had his moment in the sun, being constantly overshadowed by the work of others. Judging from this example, though, Dale appears to have become an exceptional cook since the days when we slugged it out side by side in the stifling heat of a mid-summer Hudson Valley Skills kitchen (k-14) roasting veal bones and clarifying consomme.

Food Dale has cooked:

soy-marinated tuna taco with avocado-yuzu puree, mango-jalapeno pickle and tequila cream

grilled pork and pineapple skewers with smoked red curry BBQ sauce and marinated mushrooms and edamame

Go Dale. You bad as hell, bro.

Top Chef Episode Two: Dale Talde

this post is devoted to recapping what blogs are saying about Dale Talde on Top Chef. Dale, to reiterate, is a former classmate of mine who I have not spoken with in years. Not much to report. This week there were six blogs that showed up on my Google search. Dale was mentioned very little, though people seem to group him as mildly annoying though a good cook. As someone who knew Dale quite well, I can say he is an amazingly nice and funny guy.

There were more reports that Dale is the new Hung. In fact, some bloggers seem to think that saying Dale=Hung is all that ever needs to be said about the guy.

My feeling is that Dale is going to make it far on this show, maybe all the way. Let them eliminate the bad cooks, and when it comes down to the good cooks sounds like Dale is more than positioned to fight it out with the best of them.

Here's a list of the blogs who have mentioned Dale with regards to episode 2 of TC.

http://jordanbaker.blogspot.com/2008/03/alright-well-give-this-shot-top-chef.html

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/thestew/2008/03/top-chef-a-bear.html

http://idontknowmuch.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/top-chef-chicago-week-2-lions-tigers-andpenguins/

http://www.seriouseats.com/required_eating/2008/03/top_chef_lions_penguins_bears_et_al.html

http://remote.lohudblogs.com/2008/03/20/top-chef-week-2-animal-diet-challenge-makes-for-great-dishes-little-suspense/

Top Chef Episode One: Dale Talde

So the first week of the new season of Top Chef has aired and we are going to report on feedback around the Internets concerning former amigo numero uno, Dale Talde. People seem to have a consensus about my former classmate and pal, which is reflected by bloggers here, here, here and here. Since we are not "TV people" in the conventional sense, all reporting will be done in this manner.

Here are some general feelings about Dale:

-Dale is the new Hung

-Dale is overconfident

-Dale is talented


The first feeling means absolutely nothing to me, since I have no idea who Hung is, though apparently Dale reminds them of him. I can only assume Hung was a contestant on TC last year and that this is some kind of put down. Lame way to categorize someone, simply putting them into a box to define them before they can define themselves. Reminds us of a certain political party during an election.

The second point, that Dale seems overconfident, seems like a net plus to me, given that he is on a reality TV show that is very competitive. Not to mention that Dale has reason to be confident. He's a CIA grad, which means he's undergone the best culinary training in the world. After that he gained ten years experience in top restaurants in Chicago and now in New York. Go Dale.

Which leads to the third point. 'Nuff said.

Dale, you rock, baby.

Keep it up.

Dale Talde: you rock

a classmate of mine from the CIA is on the new season of Top Chef: Dale Talde.

Dale, you rock!

Can't wait to see you take the cake, baby!

Here's his bio video.