by Michael J. Lamp

 

In what felt like a bit of a foregone conclusion, Jamie Lauren was sent home this week on Top Chef: All-Stars. After a tumultuous run during her second Top Chef session, Jamie caught up with RealityWanted and other reporters to talk scallops, cut fingers and the power of editing.

 

Q. Michael, RealityWanted: Ok, Jamie, here's the million dollar question: when did your love affair with scallops begin?

A. Jamie: (Laughs) Let's see. I've always liked coking scallops. Here's the funny thing: I don't really eat them. (Laughs) They're never something I order at a restaurant. There is something about cooking them that I really love.

 

Q. Michael, RealityWanted: In one of Eric Ripert's Bravo TV video blogs, he offered to bring you to Le Bernarndin to finesse your fish cooking skills. Do you have a comment on that?

A. Jamie: I just heard about that this morning. I haven't seen it. I'm not going to comment on it [until I've seen it].

 

 

Q. You came off very differently this season. In your previous season, you were one of the early favorites. You came off much more timid and recessive in these episodes. What was going on?
A. Jamie: It wasn't anything with me. I was exactly the same person. I was grateful to be there. I was happy to be asked. Unfortunately, there was a lot that wasn't shown, due to how the show was edited. That's all I can say.

 

Q. Do you think you were characterized as most likely to be kicked off each week?

A. Jamie: The first episode I was in the top. Then, I cut my finger, and it was downhill from there. I haven't even watched them. I watched about three episodes. I stopped watching, because I didn't like how I was being portrayed.

 

Q. Richard Blais said that you had a story going. Either in the tennis challenge or when you cut your finger, do you wish you had done things differently?

A. Jamie: When I cut my finger it was 5 o'clock in the morning. The medic looked at me, looked at my cut [and] said point blank to my face that I needed stitches. I've never been to the hospital; I've never had any of that in my life. It wasn't even about the competition at that point. It was about my health. Do I regret going to the hospital? No, because my finger works, and I don't have any nerve damage. And then for the tennis challenge, and I said this before, there's a lot that you don't see.

 

Q. When there are activities like fishing on the show, is that actually fun or are you too busy to enjoy it?
A. Jamie: That was one of the first times, for me, that I actually had fun. Once we started catching fish, it was like, "Oh my god, this is so fun!" What a great thing to learn how to do. I caught three fish and I'd never been fishing in my life. It was exhilarating. I thought it was a great challenge.

 

Q. Do you have any regrets about coming back for All-Stars? You did get portrayed in a different light this time.
A. Jamie: Yes and no. I do wish I had been portrayed a little differently. I'm, I think, a better chef now. It's unfortunate that wasn't shown. I have some regrets, but life goes on. You learn from it.

 

Q. Do you think the judging was any different this time around?
A. Jamie: No, I don't. I think it was the same. I think it was hard for them. Even when the food was bad, it was still pretty good. I think they had a really hard time judging people.

 

Q. The judges said that if Antonia had been more critical of yours and Tiffany's dishes, it would've changed things. Do you agree?
A. Jamie: Antonia and I are really good friends. A couple of weeks ago, we had lunch and talked about this. She liked the dish that I made.

 

 

Top Chef: All Stars airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on Bravo.

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

 

 

Follow Michael @mjlamp

 

For more Top Chef links, visit SirLinksALot.net