by Gina Scarpa

Last week on Top Chef: Seattle, the chefs were paired together for both the Quickfire and Elimination challenges. At Pike Place Farmer's Market, they were asked to create a dish that highlighted a specific ingredient from the market. When CJ and Tyler decided to present a burger to accentuate a fried pickle, the judges were not only unimpressed with their creativity, but the end result as well. Both were eliminated and sent to Last Chance Kitchen, but defeated Kuniko and now await their next competitor. We talked to Tyler today to find out more about his experience competing on Top Chef: Seattle.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What made you decide to do Top Chef?

A. Tyler: The reason I decided to be a part of Top Chef this season is because I really thought it would be a once in a lifetime chance.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How were you feeling, initially, coming in?

A. Tyler: Coming into the show, I definitely felt like, "What kind of twists and turns and craziness are they going to pull on us?" I certainly was nervous. I just didn't want to be the first chef sent home!

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: This week, you were paired up with CJ for both the Quickfire and Elimination challenge. How did it come to be that you two would work together? Did you feel like you are similar chefs in style and point of view?

A. Tyler: CJ and I worked together because we were standing next to each other. It was just an easy quick decision. I had no reservations about working with him. We are both very passionate about cooking and food, but our styles are definitely different. CJ and I are both creative, we just have a different vision when it comes to food. I think we worked well together, and we both respected each other as well.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Was there any discussion about doing something other than a burger? Did you have any reservations?

A. Tyler: I had an idea of doing an oyster chowder with a dill pickle fritter, and a dill pickle-beet relish. He wanted to do a pork burger with fried pickles, dill pickle aioli, served on a crumpet. We went with the pork burger. I had no reservations about CJ's idea. He is a veteran of Top Chef and a talented chef, and I have no regrets.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Before Judges' Table, you and Josh got into it because he felt you were too passive about the possibility of you going home. Obviously, he misunderstood you. What were you trying to say?

A. Tyler: Josh can be an extremely arrogant, know it all person. It is either what he believes or you are wrong. He is really good at telling you how you should feel, act, cook, and if you don't agree with him, you are just wrong with no discussion. Josh did misunderstand me. I wasn't talking to Josh in the first place. I was trying to tell CJ that if we go home for our pork burger, I will be completely crushed but I did my best and if that isn't good enough then I will have to accept that fact and move on. Josh is really good at dishing it out, but he can't take any criticism negative or constructive.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you feel that your burger was the worst dish or were you with CJ that the dessert should've been under fire?

A. Tyler: I know that Gail Simmons told all of us that the scary part about the pork burger was, "Tyler and CJ don't know how bad it was." CJ and I tasted the burger three times! I really, in my heart, still don't think it was that bad. But in the judges' eyes, it certainly was and that is all that counts in Top Chef. I also didn't get to try any other teams dishes either, so I really don't know where we stood. The comment CJ made about the dessert was obviously out of desperation.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Anything else you'd like to add?

A. Tyler: On my soap box... I must say that I thought being a part of Top Chef 10 was an amazing experience.  All of it!  The good, the bad, and the ugly. I have no regrets. I am one of the most fortunate people on earth. I have an amazing wife, a beautiful 22 month old daughter, I have an outstanding job as a chef. I signed up for Top Chef and no one forced me to do this. I am also proud that I was true to my sobriety.

 

 

Top Chef: Seattle airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on Bravo.

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

 

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa