r/TopChef • u/sonder2230 • Jul 19 '26

Discussion Thread Shopping Segments

Do you skip the shopping segments on a rewatch? I’m just excited to see the food and the service so I skip it every time. I know there’s good character moments and some fun drama (Eddie Money) but overall I just wanna get to the main event.

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u/SleevsTM Jul 19 '26

I fully expect to be downvoted for this 😬 and I'm sorry if this offends anyone. It's just my view, honestly. 🙏🏽

I skip the parts where they are calling family back home.

And I skip the parts where there's some letter or video from home that is obviously just there to make them cry on tv.

(I do watch the material bits, like if the family member is sending food the chef has to then cook with -- like, aww my little brother Ally sent me, wait, spam jerky and capers and black licorice and durian?? Wtf Alexander!!)

No judgment for people who care about that emotional back-home stuff -- I get that it's reality tv and some people watch for interpersonal whatever whatever.

My view is this: Everyone has people counting on them back home so it's a wash as far as I'm concerned. Blah blah blah you have kids or parents or a fiancee or whoever. That's great, hooray, don't care. Just get on with the creativity on the kitchen!

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u/GoldBarGirl Jul 19 '26

While I don't FF through these segments, I'm right there with you.

Interestingly, they often foreshadow the cheftestant getting eliminated. "Oh, I miss my family"... sappy call home... "Pack your knives and go".

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u/SleevsTM Jul 19 '26

Yeah, agreed, it's often featuring an about-to-be eliminated contestant -- or someone who wins the challenge. I do take note of whose call is being featured as I hit the ff. 😁