Stephen - Love Him? Hate Him?
It’s taken me awhile to really warm up to Top Chef in general. Maybe it’s the terribly obvious voice-overs that throw me off every time the host and wife of Billy, Katie Joel, gives instructions to the chefs. Maybe it’s that whenever someone wins a challenge, they get… nothing. Maybe it’s the terrible attitude of half of the cast. In any event, I’m just now getting into it (and cheering on natural foods chef, Andrea Beaman).
But it’s Stephen Asprinio, the cocky Sommelier from Las Vegas, that has really piqued my interest. Why? Because in the tradition started by Richard Hatch of Survivor, he is the castmember that you love to hate. He’s pretentious, condescending, rude, and annoyingly long-winded with every explanation of his dishes. But the presentation of his dishes is always lovely and while he hasn’t exactly impressed the judges lately, he seems to have a lot of potential.
So here’s my question to you - who do you want to take the title of Top Chef and who would you like to pack up their knives next?
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POSTED IN: Top Chef
18 opinions for Stephen - Love Him? Hate Him?
Terri
Apr 6, 2006 at 4:55 am
I hate Stephen. I really do. He is obviously talented but his attitude just ruins it for me - if I walked into a place and saw that he was connected with it in any way, I’d leave. I’d rather eat deep-fried earthworms than to eat anything prepared by such an arrogant schmuck.
Ashley
Apr 13, 2006 at 8:22 pm
I actually adore Stephen. I think that he’s talented enough to back up his “arrogance.”
Jacqueline
Apr 14, 2006 at 2:35 pm
Stephen - Used to hate him, now hate to love him. Stephen, with all his annoying traits, has grown on me.
Miguel Morales needs to pack up his knives and hit the road. On second thought, someone should pack his knives for him because he’s liable to take a knife and run amuck.
I would like to Lee Anne Wong to win the title of Top Chef.
Seyla
Apr 15, 2006 at 11:38 pm
He’s rude and his thought process is scewed at times, but I think he makes the show more fun to watch. I mean, watching him explain all the spices and flavors he added into the tamale without flinching or realising how ridiculous it sounded to everyone sitting around him really made me laugh. When he bought the ingredients to make the dish, it’s as if the thought never occured to him that he was trying to sell a dish to family women/mothers to feed thier kids and husbands. Women who could care less what shiso leaf or yuzo juice really is.
donnacaren
Apr 19, 2006 at 1:31 pm
I love to watch Stephen. I want him to be in the final two and then…lose!! Awesome.
Harold should be the winner. He keeps getting the shaft by the judges though. He’ll have to add some personality ’cause that’s really the only thing missing from his dishes.
jami
Apr 20, 2006 at 1:08 am
I love, love, love Stephen. He’s got style….but Harold on the other hand has skill. I just wish Harold would man up on the line. Unless he wants to be a sous chef forever, he’s just got to toughen up(I think he should win). Tiff has skill and balls but her attitude is going to help leanne get the best of her. Dave is such a whiner….If Stephen goes before Dave I will be picketing Collichio’s restaurant
Tami
Apr 25, 2006 at 12:54 am
I hate Stephen he is an arrogant rude obnoxious person. I hope he gets voted off Wednesday he is just a copycat of a mad scientist not a chef. Hey if you have a chance visit my food blog at http://cheftami.blogspot.com/
Mary
Apr 25, 2006 at 1:37 pm
I am not a fan of Stephen and am looking forward to his eventual elimination. I hope it’s tomorrow night! I hate the way he talks down to everyone. And frankly, the flavors he combines sound so WRONG! I know I wouldn’t ever want to eat anything he cooked.
I like Harold, Tiffany and LeAnne.
Dave the crier has got to go too!
Dawn Jimeson
Apr 26, 2006 at 9:46 am
I can’t stand Stephen!!! I have wanted him kicked off the show since the beginning. Nobody’s perfect, but he’s totally pathetic. The term SCHMUCK certainly fits.
Chris
Apr 26, 2006 at 9:41 pm
I love Stephen even though he’s gone now. He isn’t so bad as people says. He is always pretty much right and fair in what he says of people (like when he stood up for Miguel). He doens’t back stab people or is hateful to others (unlike Tiffany, and he also agreed to bake the cake, remember?) He is just passionate about what he knows (the food info bit) and just comes off arrogant because of his mannerisms. I’m so sad that he’s gone and also so sad that people hate him so much without good reason. What I loved was this mutual respect and friendship I seemed to see between Harold and Stephen. I love them both. If you could add those two up and divide em in half, you’d have your top chef!
Dawn
Apr 30, 2006 at 9:26 am
I’m just thrilled to see Stephen pack his knives and leave. He always projected the attitude he was so much better than anyone else. I think you probably need someone like him on a show like that to keep things worked up and more interesting but it gets old after a while!!!
donnacaren
May 2, 2006 at 9:42 am
I miss my Stephen. He was so entertaining with his delusional self. But he was harmless. Ah well. He just didn’t get it. He wanted to be front and center, not just a chef. Wrong show for that attitude. He’ll get on with it. Now on with the real competition. Now Dave is the big drama to watch.
Michelle
May 11, 2006 at 4:44 pm
I’m going to have to say that I adored Stephen. I thought that yes, he could be cocky sometimes but I also thought that he has talent and he seems so much older than his actual age. I miss him but I also think that if he had won, it would have created a mass hysteria.
Amy
May 13, 2006 at 8:14 am
You have to admit that the show is not as entertaining without Steven. He made for “good TV.” At least we can watch Dave weep through any remaining episodes.
Jeannette
May 13, 2006 at 10:27 am
I love Stephen! Are you kidding me…okay wait…yes I hated him for like a second at a time. But he is great…I was actually a little disapointed in him with the reunion, appologizing and dressing down. I think he was majorly humbled by the show, but I don’t like the new him! LOL…okay he is sweet now, but still. I mean, he was right about Candice. She was very weak and non-talented. I mean, I liked Candice, what a beauty and a sweetheart, but not Top Chef material. And I hate Tiffany….aaaaaahhhhhh please don’t let her win!!! I want Harold…he is great.
Sam
May 18, 2006 at 2:26 am
I went to Cornell with him. He is somewhat odd, but I love him for it. If you allow yourself to look beyond his perceived arrogance you will find a very sweet guy.
Dawn
May 21, 2006 at 2:44 pm
Yes, Stephen did seem humble. I hope he was a bit embarassed by watching himself on the reruns. I can’t imagine a guy who wants to teach about and sell wine getting on a show to cultivate a top chef.
I was also amazed at how Tiffany actually downright lied in front of everyone and they have tape to prove it. In her mind she does NOTHING wrong. What a jerk!
Steve Savage
May 29, 2006 at 10:20 am
Stephen Rocks. He has the kind of arrogance that comes not from being a total blowhard (Ken), but from an admitted sense of obsessive-compulsiveness that is expressed in his food. Its not necessarily a bad thing, since his dishes were always avant-garde and even the judges had to appreciate his sense of style.
His appearance adds to this mystique, with the flamboyant ties, uncle fester walk and spiked hair that I haven’t seen since I went to a clash concert in 1980’s.
He’s a talented little punk, and I respect that.
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