Watch What Crappens: Episode #2779 – Top Chef Season S22: Cooking The Canada Cast

Release Date: March 28, 2025

Introduction

In Episode #2779 of Watch What Crappens, hosts Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam delve into the sizzling drama and culinary feats of Top Chef Season 22, focusing specifically on the Canadian cast. With their signature blend of praise, ridicule, and humor, Ben and Ronnie provide an engaging breakdown of each contestant, their backgrounds, performances in challenges, and potential trajectories in the competition.

Overview of Top Chef Season S22: Canada Cast

Ben and Ronnie kick off the episode by sharing their excitement for the show despite being on tour for other Bravo programming recaps. They emphasize the difficulty in recapping Top Chef due to the plethora of culinary creations but decide to focus on a comprehensive cast roast to navigate through the initial episodes.

Ronnie [03:56]: "Yesterday we did a trailer trash for the Valley. What? God, that was fun."

Cast Roasts and Culinary Critiques

Anya El Watar

Anya, a Russian-born chef from San Francisco, quickly becomes a favorite for her unique focus on cabbage and Russian-inspired cuisine. Ben appreciates her dedication to showcasing her heritage, while Ronnie admires her foraging skills and edible pine cone creations.

Ben [05:54]: "I like it. I think the evolution of Top Chef has been a remarkable one. The chefs are so talented now."

However, despite her creativity, Anya faces elimination early on due to her specialized focus, which the judges deem as a hindrance to versatility in challenges.

Ronnie [15:37]: "She got eliminated right away."

Paula Andara

Originating from Ecuador, Paula brings avant-garde cuisine with a blend of local Arkansas ingredients. Ben humorously critiques her restaurant name, Roots, while Ronnie questions her execution in the competition, noting her ceviche confusion and insufficient use of peanuts in challenges.

Ben [23:30]: "If we had read these before, I would've said she's gonna lose."

Corwin Heming

Corwin, a private and pop-up chef from Brooklyn, impresses with his strong culinary resume, including stints at prestigious restaurants like Pearl and Ash. Ben labels him as the competition's ringer, expecting him to advance far due to his extensive experience and technical skills.

Ben [55:46]: "He seems like he's really good. I think he'll probably make it pretty far in the competition."

Katiana Hong

Katiana stands out with her confident and somewhat aloof demeanor. Ronnie praises her for her biscuit dish despite her quickfire mishaps, noting her strong presence and superior culinary skills.

Ronnie [36:24]: "She seems really talented and she also seems kind of exasperated with the people around her and the competition in general."

Vincenzo Laceto

Vincenzo, with a robust background in French cuisine and multiple Michelin accolades, is portrayed as ambitious and somewhat bossy. While Ronnie is skeptical about his potential villainy, Ben remains optimistic about his chances, given his impressive resume.

Ben [55:50]: "He's kind of the guy we're being led to believe will win this whole thing."

Zubair Mohajir

Zubair, known for his award-winning chicken sandwich, garners positive attention from both hosts. Despite his flamboyant persona and previous controversial appearances, Ben and Ronnie express interest in his culinary creations and potential longevity in the competition.

Ronnie [59:46]: "He seems really talented, and I think that probably of all the chefs, his is the food that I want to try the most."

Cesar (Last Name Unmentioned)

Cesar, a shy chef from North Charleston with experience under Rick Bayless, receives mixed reviews. While Ben notes his respectable background, Ronnie empathizes with his nervousness and soft-spoken nature, hoping he gains confidence as the season progresses.

Ronnie [60:07]: "He just seems really nervous."

Massimo

Massimo, the loudest and most jovial chef from Quebec, is a double-edged sword. While his exuberant personality makes him entertaining, his over-the-top antics in challenges often lead to culinary disasters, much to the hosts' amusement.

Ben [65:12]: "Massimo, he's a lot. But he seems nice. Like, everybody likes him."

Bailey (Last Name Unmentioned)

Bailey's laid-back and somewhat disorganized approach contrasts sharply with her strong culinary background. Her focus on acquiring pots and pans over winning challenges earns her both sympathy and critique from the hosts.

Ronnie [70:40]: "Mimi's whole thing was that she wore a little hat and her girlfriend broke up with her and took her pots and pans. She's like, I just want to get some pots and pans."

Samuel (Last Name Unmentioned)

Samuel remains a bit of an enigma with minimal exposure in the competition. Ben and Ronnie speculate about his potential based on his brief appearances, hoping for more impactful performances in future episodes.

Ronnie [63:32]: "I can't believe he was."

Eliminations and Performances

Throughout the episode, Ben and Ronnie discuss various eliminations based on contestants' performances in both Quick Fire and Main Challenges. The hosts highlight instances where contestants either excelled or faltered, often attributing failures to overly ambitious or misguided culinary choices.

Ben [09:39]: "This challenge is a dish best served cold. Like revenge."

They emphasize the importance of balancing originality with practicality, noting how Anya's deep-rooted focus on Russian ingredients led to her downfall despite her creativity.

Predictions and Wrap-Up

As the episode progresses, Ben and Ronnie engage in playful banter about future outcomes, attempting to predict the top contenders for the season. They weigh the strengths and weaknesses of each chef, considering their culinary prowess, adaptability, and personal dynamics within the competition.

Ben [78:03]: "Katiana, Zubair, and Massimo."

Ronnie [77:26]: "Top three. I'm going to say Schwai, Katiana, and Vincenzo."

The hosts conclude with light-hearted final thoughts, reiterating their anticipation for upcoming episodes and the evolving dynamics of the Top Chef competition.

Key Takeaways

• Diverse Culinary Styles: The Canadian cast brings a rich variety of cultural and culinary backgrounds, from Russian and Ecuadorian influences to French and Afro-Caribbean cuisines.

• Importance of Adaptability: Success in the competition hinges not only on technical skills but also on the ability to adapt and innovate under pressure.

• Personality Matters: Contestants' personalities, whether amiable, aloof, or over-the-top, significantly impact both their performances and the hosts' perceptions.

• Judges’ Expectations: The hosts critique the judges’ decisions, especially regarding eliminations based on specialized versus versatile cooking approaches.

Notable Quotes

• Ronnie on Anya's Elimination:

  "[15:37]: She got eliminated right away."

• Ben on Corwin's Potential:

  "[55:46]: He seems like he's really good. I think he'll probably make it pretty far in the competition."

• Ronnie’s Take on Katiana:

  "[36:24]: She seems really talented and she also seems kind of exasperated with the people around her and the competition in general."

Conclusion

Episode #2779 offers a thorough and entertaining analysis of Top Chef Season S22’s Canadian cast. Ben and Ronnie’s dynamic commentary provides both insight and amusement, making it a must-listen for fans eager to stay updated on their favorite Bravo culinary competition.

Note: This summary excludes advertisement segments and non-content sections to focus solely on the podcast's main discussions and insights.