MovieChat Forums > The Taste (2013) Discussion > Anthony's being a pig

Anthony's being a pig


Laying into Tom in front of his team mates, but also, Tom did the exact same thing as Vanessa, (stewing multiple meats), yet Anthony complained about Tom doing it, yet told Vanessa, "something awesome is going to come out of there".

Anthony did the same thing last season with Brad, constantly complaining how "boring" his cook was even though he consistently did well in the tastings.

What an ass!

reply

I know I'm late to the game here, but I was totally disgusted with him pretty much this entire episode, too.

First off, I hate when people try to convince everyone of how nice they are. Pretty much only people who aren't nice do that. And then not only the way he humiliated Tom - which he easily could have done privately - but strategized to get him eliminated? I don't think even Ludo would do that, and he's the one with the reputation for being a jerk.

Plus, to make it even harder to watch, the poor guy has such a good attitude about all of it and even still says Tony is one of his idols. Then, on top of that - if he wasn't clued into what was really going on during the Taste Off - he'll have to find out watching national TV with everyone else that all along Anthony was calling him his worst cook and trying to get him eliminated? It honestly was hard for me to watch. He's such an ass.

I wonder why Tony hates Tom so much. There seemed to be some obvious prejudice against him, even though, like you said, he got at least one gold star (unlike Vanessa).

reply

I think you're completely dead on. Brad was a chef within the ministry and my guess is Tony was Southern Baptist, so draw your own conclusions.

Bourdain picks his darlings and dogs, determining who to put on a pedestal and who to throw under the bus. I agree with you in that even in his insanity, Ludo fights for every member on his team where as Anthony decides a pecking order of elimination, so he can put all his energy into the one he thinks will win the competition.

Anthony's uses the same tactic every season and it always backfires. He's a terrible mentor and frankly, low rent announcing on air that he is a prick, so it fails me as to why anyone would want to be on his team.

reply

I have lost all respect for Tony. His actions were inexcusable. There was NO reason for him to treat Tom in the manner he did.

As mentioned, Tom was a nice guy who had nothing but respect for Tony and Tony treated him like crap! After that show of prejudice and bad taste, I wouldn't want to be on his team either.

I've talked about Nigella's lack of mentoring skills but what Tony did was worse than anything Nigella has ever done! I'm going to back off Nigella a bit and reserve most of my disgust for Tony.

I can't believe he talked badly about the man from the word go and then ACTIVELY played a part in having him eliminated.

They need to take the mentoring aspect from this show. The show should be about cooking and judging. The mentoring aspect actually takes away from the show, IMO.

reply

I've talked about Nigella's lack of mentoring skills but what Tony did was worse than anything Nigella has ever done! I'm going to back off Nigella a bit and reserve most of my disgust for Tony.


LOL. Me too. Only Tony takes himself so seriously that he's willing to sabotage one of his own teammates to get that stupid trophy. I highly doubt he does it because he's so passionate about getting his "best"/favorite cook to win. He pretty clearly has some kind of personal stake in the game.

And I agree that the mentoring is unnecessary. Not even just unnecessary, but potentially downright unfair - these are mostly trained chefs, or at least experienced home cooks, so why would someone telling them what to cook and how to do it be seen as the best way to gauge their skills? It's supposed to be a competition, not a cooking school or a job interview for a chef position. I think they just do it to add drama.

@larpine, I actually forgot about Tony's treatment of Brad, but you're totally right. It seems "Tony cool," as Ludo called him, likes edgy people from big cities, particularly if they do a lot of Asian or middle-eastern cooking (Shellie, Diane, Tarik, Lee, Uno). If you're friendly, not from Seattle, Brooklyn or San Francisco, Christian, or cook less exotic food, how dare you impress Anthony with a blind taste and make him deal with your awful self more than an episode or two?!

reply

Tony takes himself so seriously that he's willing to sabotage one of his own teammates to get that stupid trophy. I highly doubt he does it because he's so passionate about getting his "best"/favorite cook to win. He pretty clearly has some kind of personal stake in the game.

Yeah, I'm done with him. That was beyond disgusting. I can't take him seriously anymore.
...I agree that the mentoring is unnecessary. Not even just unnecessary, but potentially downright unfair - these are mostly trained chefs, or at least experienced home cooks, so why would someone telling them what to cook and how to do it be seen as the best way to gauge their skills?

It's very unfair as we just witnessed. I've been saying for a while now, they need to lose the mentors. They serve no purpose and skew the "competition". Just let them freaking cook!
It's supposed to be a competition, not a cooking school or a job interview for a chef position. I think they just do it to add drama.

In their attempt at drama they're undermining the show.
@larpine, I actually forgot about Tony's treatment of Brad, but you're totally right. It seems "Tony cool," as Ludo called him, likes edgy people from big cities, particularly if they do a lot of Asian or middle-eastern cooking (Shellie, Diane, Tarik, Lee, Uno). If you're friendly, not from Seattle, Brooklyn or San Francisco, Christian, or cook less exotic food, how dare you impress Anthony with a blind taste and make him deal with your awful self more than an episode or two?

As if there isn't reason enough to dislike him. I had somehow forgotten about his treatment of Brad.

Like Ludo, Tony is also a snob; just a different kind of snob. I'll take Ludo over Tony now and I've been screaming for Ludo's head for some time. I just don't see Ludo stooping as low as Tony did. I would actually be surprised if he did.

reply

Like Ludo, Tony is also a snob; just a different kind of snob. I'll take Ludo over Tony now and I've been screaming for Ludo's head for some time. I just don't see Ludo stooping as low as Tony did. I would actually be surprised if he did.


To see you remove Ludo from the bottom of your list in place of Anthony - Now that's saying something! LOL.

But yeah, I don't see Ludo doing that either. As unstable as his moods are, it doesn't seem he plays favorites with his cooks, and he does a way better job encouraging the weaker ones than Tony does (since, you know, he doesn't AT ALL).

Can't wait to see what sleazeball tactics Tony throws out tonight, now that almighty Team Anthony has been pared down.

reply

To see you remove Ludo from the bottom of your list in place of Anthony - Now that's saying something! LOL.

And you KNOW how I feel about Ludo. The thing is, I still think Ludo is loco but Anthony is conniving! Conniving is worse than loco in my book! 😊

Anthony's actions were despicable. Ludo has never openly tried to get rid of someone on his team. Hell, he went out of his way to save Jen TWICE! He gets more points than Tony. I have my opinions, but am willing to modify them if shown the error of my ways or if new facts come along to change those opinions. Anthony, unwittingly has shown me the error of my ways and changed my opinion of him. I don't like him no mo! lol!
But yeah, I don't see Ludo doing that either. As unstable as his moods are, it doesn't seem he plays favorites with his cooks, and he does a way better job encouraging the weaker ones than Tony does (since, you know, he doesn't AT ALL).

I honestly couldn't believe what I was hearing when Anthony was going on about Tom. I paused the TV several times because I thought I was hearing incorrectly. I had just changed my sinus medication and thought I was hallucinating or something. It was awful
Can't wait to see what sleazeball tactics Tony throws out tonight, now that almighty Team Anthony has been pared down.

The world is upside down. I'm now rooting for Ludo, instead of Anthony. Marcus is still the man, though. Too bad Nigella's already out; I'd take her over Anthony at this point. I'll catch it another day.

Tonight I'm watching Chopped Canada and Project Runway All Stars.


reply

Hahahaha. Yes, I know how you feel about Ludo. But I think you're right - moody and volatile is more excusable than calculating and Machiavellian.

I paused the TV several times because I thought I was hearing incorrectly. I had just changed my sinus medication and thought I was hallucinating or something.


LOL. Anthony Bourdain: Such a jerk, you'll think you're hallucinating. I'm sure he'd happily accept that claim to fame, that's what's even worse. It's like, make up your mind, dude. Are you a "nice guy," as you tried to say right before you reamed Tom in front of the whole team, or are you the prick/bastard you also brag about being when it's convenient? Ugh.

reply

He's a jerk, totally digging on Vanessa's adoration of him. Shame. Tariq is the superior chef.

reply

I actually thought he seemed a little creeped out by Vanessa, but I suppose it could be possible to both find someone unappealing and find their clear adoration of you flattering.

Personally, I think he just kept her around because of exactly what he said - she's a "hustler" like him, and he even admired her manipulation tactic to an extent, while Tarik is a "sweet, decent, loyal, good guy." Anthony appeared to like Tarik better than a lot of his other contestants (Brad, Tom), but he still seems to prefer shady, ruthless people in the end.

And he did seem genuinely shocked that exactly what Vanessa cautioned turned out to be right, so I think he (temporarily) was seeing her as some kind of culinary soothsayer/guru.

reply

I keep thinking about how Anthony screwed Tarik and what a different competition it would have been had Anthony sent Vanessa home instead.

And I'm thinking that future contestants may think twice about choosing Anthony, if they are in a position to choose. I wouldn't want to be on his team, especially how he treated the other guy, whose name I can't remember right now.

reply

I wouldn't want to be on his team, especially how he treated the other guy, whose name I can't remember right now.

Tom, who owned a southern restaurant. Yes, the way he treated Tom in the head to head with Eric really was off-putting. Bothered me more than the elimination of Tarik.

reply

I think the elimination of Tarik was more of a big deal. I don't think Tony is being awful as much as he's acting desperate and tried to play his teammates like he's playing chess. AS far as his treatment of Tom, I saw where Tony was coming from. He didn't handle it well, but he's told Tom to simplify and Tom didn't listen, so Tony got frustrated.

I think he was more frustrated with Tom more than Vanessa because I think Tony saw more potential in Tom. He tasted or saw Tom's dishes and thought they were heading in a great direction and he'd come back and Tom just added more stuff that changed things. That would frustrate me. But instead of scolding him he should've talked to him and explained in detail why he's frustrated while forgiving Tom some encouragement.

There's also the fact that Anthony is a bit sexist. He never yells or scolds the women on his team. Maybe he thinks the women can't take it.

I think if Tony wants to be strict, he should be that way from the stat and not be the cool dude at the beginning and suddenly lash out as Ludo-Lite. It's unsettling when your lazy bloodhound goes all pit bull on you. Lol

reply

There's also the fact that Anthony is a bit sexist. He never yells or scolds the women on his team. Maybe he thinks the women can't take it.

I think if Tony wants to be strict, he should be that way from the stat and not be the cool dude at the beginning and suddenly lash out as Ludo-Lite. It's unsettling when your lazy bloodhound goes all pit bull on you. Lol


Both good points. Tony is definitely one of those reverse-sexists, where in trying to be so pro-woman, he still treats them differently than they maybe deserve.

reply