2. Each show begins with a
"quickfire" challenge.This short
timed challenge has very
precise requirements in terms
of the ingredients contestants
can use.The winner gains
either immunity (cannot be
eliminated in the final
challenge) or sometimes a cash
prize. How do we “judge”
something so subjective as the
taste of food?

3. After the contestants have
been praised or debased for
their “quickfire” cuisine they
are immediately told of their
elimination challenge.This
challenge usually takes place
over the course of two days
where one day is “prep” time
and the other is service.
Contestants are asked to
sometimes work alone,
sometimes in groups and
sometimes with former
contestants.The challenge is
usually around a theme –
strange meats, someone’s
birthday party, creating a
restaurant, etc.
The judges attend the event
and eat all the contestants
dishes and “dish” about them.

4. The last segment of the show has
the contestants divided into
winners and losers.They are sent
in small groups to the “judges
table,” a long table where three
main judges and one guest judge
sit and face the contestants
(rather menacingly.)
Contestants are asked to defend
their dishes and are subject to
harsh criticism. “Inedible!” “What
were you thinking?” “Did you
even taste this?” are typical
comments.
The segment ends with a winner
announced and they usually win a
cookbook written by the guest
judge who proudly smiles as the
dollar signs of residual sales
gleam in their eyes.
What makes someone qualified to
be a judge or an expert on a
reality show?

5. The show as a whole is
entertaining and there is a lot
to learn when it comes to food,
but what about other messages
that might be problematic
especially for women who
watch the show?
In season 6 two brothers faught
it out to become top chef.
Their brotherly rivalry
dominated the show’s
storyline. Is this problematic for
women viewers?

6. I believe this show in particular
has a massive appeal for
women because of the
convergance of private/public
aspects. It considers something
we all must do - eat!, but also
cooking has been long part of
the domestic/private sphere
and in that sphere primarily in
the domain of women. How
does a show that elevates the
cook to the chef play out for
women?

7. In a recent episode ofTop Chef:
Just Desserts there was a
competition where the
contestants had to run to the
table of sweets to pick their
ingredients. One of the male
contestants actually knocked one
of the women in the face trying to
get his ingredients. She had to
continue with the challenge while
nursing a very bruised cheek.The
only way the show addressed this
was a cutaway interview with the
male contestant saying "if you go
to the post with Shaq and you get
hit, you don't go to the post with
Shaq again" essentially saying he
had every right to knock this
woman down because of the
"challenge" atmosphere.
His sexist comments went
unchallenged. What does this say
to women viewers ?

8. Often the men are very
egotistical and many are not
very complimentary of the
women on the show.
I think the chef as male is very
dominating in this genre and
can have a negative impact on
women viewers who see
cooking or becoming a chef as
something pleasurable and
inspirational.
One of the main questions I
have as I continue to consider
this show is are women resigned
to being "cooks" (amateurs)
having to aspire to be "chefs"
while the men are a priori
"chefs" (experts) to begin with?