The wrong chef was eliminated on Top Chef 5 on 1/14/09 episode?

I agree...me and my sister are fanatics and watch together...we were shocked to see ariane go....and sad...she had a rocky start but she did nail the lamb before...I think that leah and hosea set her up for failure..to save their own asses...I really think that ariane has way more potential than leah. Even on the top chef web site 79% of views said that they thought leah should go...

I don't think Ariane deserved to go, if anyone Leah should have went for not doing sh**, or Hosea because he stood there and said he had butchered Lamb before but he didn't offer to help her. He and Leah both threw the Lamb on her because she cooked it perfectly before. They even said as much when they were planning the menu. Then Leah was supposed to tie the roasts and knew she didn't do a good job of it, said she knew she didn't do a good job she just wanted to get it done. They both (Hosea and Leah) just let Ariane take the fall. I agree that the producers may have kept them on for ratings, because they have whatever they got going with each other. That's my opinion on this episode.

I agree and disagree w you.

I definitely think Ariane should have gone a long time ago - she doesn't have the sophistication and edge of a "Top Chef". She couldn't butcher, wrap, and tie lamb properly much less cook it - that is total grounds for elimination.

However, I agree that Leah and Hosea need to go at some point. Leah, Hosea, and Radhika are the weak ones left.

Sorry, but I disagree. Ariane was the proper one to go home.

The judges kept bringing up the "poor butchering of the lamb -- it all goes back to the butchering" as well as that the rub was not good. Ariane did the butchering and made the rub. Yes, Leah tied it poorly and didn't give a sh*t that she did; Hosea should have offered to butcher the lamb; BUT Ariane is the one who actually butchered the butchering AND made the rub that the judges didn't like.

Looking at it logically, and not by who has the better personality, Ariane was the right choice.

It is true that Ariane did a poor job with the lamb; if she wasn't confident about how to treat it she should've pushed back. Also there was that time she made deviled eggs.

HOWEVER, Hosea and Leah have their little fling, and I find it all too convenient that neither one of them took it to task to help her out. Leah's half-a$$ed effort to tie? Come on. It's a competition, tell me that they had no ulterior motives sticking the lamb on Ariane.

Either way I predict Leah will be leaving soon anyway. I personally thought she was a weaker contender than Ariane.

well after seeing the previews for next weeks episode I think your right-they kept them around for ratings. Hosea, I think has the potential to make it to at least the last 3, but leah, well I think shes a good chef but she has a lil attitude about her. I mean dont get me wrong its cool to be laid back & all but she has a very "whatever" way about. the lambs not tied right, "whatever", your canopy isnt going to win Top Chef, "whatever"

I Like Rahtika, but I think maybe she should have gone home this time around. Ariane was great for everyday home chefs-like a Rachel Ray I think.

OMG Top Chef was on tonight? I completely forgot? Ariane left? WOW...I thought she was going to go a little further.

That explains why my mom wanted me to leave her house at 9:45....lol.