Was the Technique Challenge Unfair?

[Food Network Fan]

Was the Technique Challenge Unfair?
YumSugar.com - San Francisco,CA,USA
On last night's episode of the Next Food Network Star, the remaining seven contestants faced challenges introduced by Tyler Florence and Iron Chef Michael ...

[isilzha]

I think maybe it would have been more interesting to have each contestant do the same technique and see how they compared.

[BerryBaby]

In school all the students take the same tests, in the Olympics they all compete doing their designated sport, that would have made more sense, and fair, to have them do the same technique.

[ibcheft]

I found the technique challenge interesting, because of it, I went and looked up how to clean squid, refreshed my filleting techniques, if it had not been for Iron Chef I would have never known how to crack a coconut, Bobby Flay makes it look so easy, even though it is not. I thought the pineapple would have been easy but they got side tracked on garnish thing. I think this was more of even if you don't know show me something and make it sound real. Seemed like most were more concerned with trying to get it real. I am not sure where you would use the fakery, because most shows are taped and there is staff to help, and you have way more than the time allotted for this. What surprised me was why not some normal stuff, like peel a carrot and julienne it, or clean a pepper and explain where the hot stuff is. Stuff we could use for everyday things. Slice an onion for fajita, season a steak. Was it fair ya somewhat.

[Clove]

Originally Posted by Food Network Fan

Was the Technique Challenge Unfair?
YumSugar.com - San Francisco,CA,USA
On last night's episode of the Next Food Network Star, the remaining seven contestants faced challenges introduced by Tyler Florence and Iron Chef Michael ...

Although I do not watch this type of show, after reading this article, the tests seemed to be easy for anyone that is supposed to be able to show America how to cook.

• Peeling a pineapple?
• Cleaning a squid?
• Frenching a rack of lamb?

Give me a break!
You don't even have to go to Cooking School to learn these things. All you have to do to browse the Internet and you will find 5,000 videos on how to do these basic kitchen tasks.

[Clove]

Originally Posted by ibcheft

...normal stuff, like peel a carrot and julienne it, or clean a pepper and explain where the hot stuff is. Stuff we could use for everyday things. Slice an onion for fajita, season a steak...

IB,

Don't worry, that's the kind of show the winner will give you.

[aoneil]

I didn't think that it was unfair. I would have found it VERY boring if they all did the same thing.

[MiseEnPlace]

Finally caught the whole episode last night.

My thoughts:

This was a little odd to me because all shows have a tremendous amount of research and prep that goes on way before a show is filmed. Sure the host should know these techniques but it was a little unfair to surprise them with a food and say you have a minute to do something with it. Like Alton, Tyler, Ina, Paula, et al. are going to show up on their set one day and not know what they are filming. Give me a break. Plus, how many of them get it completely right on the first take?

I think it would have been better to give everyone the same thing, keep them apart so they don't see/hear what the others do, then judge everyone one the same thing.

As for the coconut and squid.

I do enjoy seeing Bobby Flay whack a coconut on ICA. But Shane's idea to get the liquid out as how Alton did it only AB used a drill instead of a nail. I knew his technique was correct it was just a matter of not getting it right on the first take, again this goes back to the whole problem about making them do a perfect take. That's a little unfair because very pros don't get everything perfect every time.

Nipa's squid incident was funny because she was so afraid of it... what was the deal with her? First the squid, then the trout. Anyway, cleaning a squid, though I've never done it, is something I learned from Alton too. It's pretty simple. I guess these people don't watch Good Eats much, do they?

[Food Network Fan]

I am starting to think some of them have never watched the Food Network PERIOD.

[isilzha]

Is there a lot of fish used in Indian cuisine? Although I suppose it really depends on what area of India you are from. If her whole thing is Indian food and she doesn't use fish or squid her reaction isn't really that surprising.