We'll admit it: Last week, we were a little concerned. On the season premiere of Top Chef, our hometown hero — Arnold Myint, chef-proprietor of PM, ChaChah and Suzy Wong's House of Yum — didn't stand out much. Among the 16 competing chefs, he seemed kinda shy and retiring (which is not exactly Arnold's style). He stayed mostly in the background, letting hotheads Kenny and Angelo take over the show with their instant clash.
And that made us worry. Was Arnold an imminent casualty, soon to be voted off the kitchen island? Or were the producers shrewdly withholding his screen time, waiting for an underdog to challenge the alpha canines?
Now we know. Like a NASCAR racer who sees the inside lane clear, Arnold made his play last night. Now that he's got a team victory under his belt — and more importantly for the demands of reality TV, now that he has a nemesis — Arnold has definitely announced himself as a competitor to watch.
Some highlights from last night's episode, along with some stray thoughts:
