Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 1:20 pm
Posts: 7730
Location: Portland, OR
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ha, found this on another board... apparently Lee Anne posted this on some board re: the episode she went home on (the Napa Valley challenge):
Hi everybody,
With much dread and humiliation, I watched tonight's episode when I returned home from a glorious dinner and night out with some friends (Andrea Beaman being one of them). I actually skipped the 10 and 11pm showing due to a lengthy meal at Tom's newly opened Craftsteak and the NBA playoffs at a bar nearby. Needless to say, I was feeling pretty good about everything in the end until I actually got home in time for the 1am rerun of episode 9. For the record, there is quite a bit not seen on tv. I may or may not seem petty in that last epi, but it all seems quite out of context because what is not shown is Big Tiff and the 28 someodd days Harold, Dave, and myself had to put up with her smug, arrogant, condescending bull[FA edit]. She beat up on A LOT of people. And what a [FA edit] obnoxious know it all. We have already filmed the reunion and finale, and out of professionalism (and I guess "hope") I gave her the benefit of the doubt in terms of trying to see the good in Tiff and speaking posiitively about her outcome. She played me, just like she played the judges, and let me tell you, I'll say it once, I will say it a MILLION times, karma is a bitch. The show was a humbling experience for a majority of us. Even for someone like Stephen, he took it as an opportunity to learn a little bit more about himself and assess what he put out there (and believe it or not, he is a stand-up guy). There is a huge part of me that wants her to win. She is a strong female, creative, resourceful, and most of all, smart. But you ALL know when someone is trying to put one over on you. You ALL want to strangle that [FA edit] manipulative two faced jerkoff on the job that seems to keep getting away with the snowjob. Not to detract from anyone's culinary skills, but I firmly stand by the fact that it takes much much more to lead a group of cooks, and inspire and work with others than sheer skill alone. No chef is an island. No Top Chef, including Tom Colicchio, achieved all that he/she has without the support and hard work of the staff below them. What it boils down to is people skills. And let me say, while the Red Dragon apparently wanted it more than anyone else in this competition, and was willing to go to any length to get there, she gets my props for a mission accomplished. "I didn't come here to make friends." Guess what bitch????
In the end, I am so incredibly blessed to have met a group of people as passionate and focused about cooking and food as I am. I am still in close contact with many of my castmates...Dave, Cynthia, Candace, Harold, Miguel, Stephen, and especially Andrea. Top Chef was such a tremendous stepping stone for many of us. We review each episode as it debuts with the rest of tv land, with a bit of laughter and frustration, as the editting room is not necessarily kind, or just. Many of us are working on personal projects. Since the show, I have cooked New Year's dinner at the James Beard House in NYC, I am currently consulting on a remake of the German film ""Mostly Martha" starring Catherine Zeta Jones and Aaron Eckhart, we just finished production on our own show at The FCI "Chef's Story", which is set to debut on PBS in Spring of 2007, and god knows all of my other duties at the job keep my head spinning and my knives sharp. I want to thank all of you who have supported me and some of my soulmates on the show....we couldn't make great tv without the viewers. Please feel free to contact me at my work email: lwong@frenchculinary.com
This has been one of the most bizarre and wonderful experiences in my life to date, and I don't think it will be the last. As long as you all keep eating, we'll try to stay ahead of the game, even with 16 hours and boxed cake mix.
xo,
Lee Anne
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