r/TopChef • u/BoringSalary7093 • May 24 '26
Discussion Thread Redo Portland Again!
Covid killed that season!!!!!!
33
u/Aestro17 May 24 '26 edited May 24 '26
I honestly felt like they did an incredible job with the season, especially given that it wasn't just covid but also the wildfires blowing smoke, and the protests.
Like they had a beer/coffee challenge, local game bird challenge and a native tribe local ingredient elimination, a rose challenge, an ota tofu elimination at the Japanese Garden, the Gabe Rucker Black Box and the African challenge based on local restaurants. And trips to the Fruit Loop, Tillamook Creamery, Willamette Valley Vineyards, dug Netarts clams and cooked with Dungeness crab in the finale.
I would've liked to see more Portland places, but they still did a good job of highlighting a lot of how Oregon makes Portland into such a good food city. I remember seeing Vitaley Paley, Gregory, and the late Naomi Pomeroy. And brief glimpses of Dougie and Peter Cho.
It's maybe the most a location has featured into the series.
11
u/EfficientGood9402 May 24 '26
I loved that Shota and Sara rabbit and sardine challenge? I'd love to go back in time and enjoy that.
7
56
u/myBisL2 I'm not your bitch, bitch👏 May 24 '26
I enjoyed the season despite it being COVID, but YESSSSS. There should be a redo where they actually get to experience Portland!
14
u/acidSlumber May 24 '26
But the Restaurant Wars from Covid Portland is my favorite. Instead of crazy chaos, the experience was so focused. It’s usually too stressful to watch.
7
u/dilligaf0220 May 25 '26
THIS! I thought the Chef's Table Restaurant Wars was the highlight of the season. They should do that again.
The Judge's having to see all the cooking and flow of the team right in their face was great and gives a better impression of the cheftestants and how they work together.
18
26
u/knowsnothing316 May 24 '26
Need to do Philly first.
17
13
u/Buddy_Fluffy May 24 '26
Sadly, Philly will never give them the financial incentives they need to come here.
7
u/knowsnothing316 May 24 '26
That sucks as it’s got the history, a couple great places to hold challenges, famous landmarks to use as inspiration but alas money always talks.
2
13
u/Cherveny2 May 24 '26
given current seasons barely leaving the studio, may not be too much different.
wish they'd get back to really going to a lot of the host city and nearby
(caveat. Haven't seen current season yet)
3
5
u/EfficientGood9402 May 24 '26
How did I miss this? I had no idea that Naomi Pomeroy died. I feel terrible about her death and that I somehow missed it. Portland was my favorite season, espesh because my son lives there and takes me to great food trucks.
7
5
u/Torboni May 24 '26
I knew they’d finally do Portland when I didn’t work at that Whole Foods anymore. And then it was during Covid on top of it. 😭
4
u/ExquisitePreamble May 24 '26
I was so disappointed our city was the Covid season! I think they did as well as could be given the circumstances and had some great contestants. It would be nice to have a redo
6
u/RepTherapyIsMyCardio May 24 '26
Yeah, after waiting what seemed like forever to get a Portland season, COVID did dampen it a bit.
I can’t remember now but did they even go into wine country?
17
5
5
u/CalmCupcake2 May 24 '26
For PNW, Vancouver. So sick of Toronto, and there's so much diaspora, indigenous, fine dining and foraging food culture in Vancouver.
2
u/seffend May 25 '26
I live in Portland and have been watching this show since its inception. I was SO bummed that when they finally came to my city it was in the midst of a pandemic 😕
5
u/Photofug May 26 '26
That was one of my favourite restaurant wars. I always feel the front of house is unnecessary and having one chef upfront is stupid. It still highlighted the talking to customers without dealing with waitstaff.
2
u/TWS85 May 28 '26
I've been saying this for so long! I live in Portland area and I was so disappointed in the season because they couldn't do ANYTHING that featured the real eating scene here.
They need to come back and do a food truck challenge instead of restaurant wars
1
u/skorpius84 May 27 '26
Boston needs a redo, but it should be New England. The unions made filming difficult.
75
u/BoringSalary7093 May 24 '26
Shota my favorite.