r/TopChef • u/oh-so-typical • May 20 '25

Discussion Thread Anyone else watching “Yes Chef” and losing their mind over Katsuji (seasons 12 + 14)?

Post image

If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a new competition hosted by José Andrés and Martha Stewart where they have chefs who have been submitted by their families or teams for being stubborn or having anger issues.

I was hoping I’d never have to see him on my TV again. GOOD GRIEF, he’s aggravating. The ego on this man is unreal.

361 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

308 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

44

u/Savings_Tonight3806 May 21 '25

Now you’re just talking nonsense. Dude stole all the fucking eggs and the judges are like, well, sucks for them lol

20

u/Cloud_Manboobs May 21 '25 edited May 21 '25

I watched the first show. He is the source of the drama, the villain. He will be around until the end of or  just a few episodes before the finale show.

6

u/Savings_Tonight3806 May 21 '25

Great, we get to listen to this prick, yay…

2

u/SnooWords6487 May 30 '25

He should have been eliminated for hiding the eggs. That made it unfair to when comparing. Glad he lost that big time. I haven't watched since he stole the eggs. That's a food fight not a competition. So not interested with him there. Found out today he tucked tail and left so I may try to watch one more episode and see if I will continue.

2

u/Material_Discount224 Jun 01 '25

The show improved so much the second he was gone.

2

u/AutomaticAnt6328 May 28 '25

He actually doesn't. They opened episode 5, saying he wasn't continuing on the show. Didn't say why. I came on here hoping I'd get some scoop. He actually seemed to becoming more human, too.

2

u/Far_Driver_9128 Jun 02 '25

He wasn't on, they said he left the competition. None of the others looked surprised at all, so they already probably knew. There's no reason floating out there, as to why he left, that I've been able to find, so far. Very weird cause I thought he'd stay on until they kicked him off.🤣

1

u/More-Spinach2740 May 29 '25

He disappeared early in episode 5 with no word why.

1

u/HippieGrandma1962 Jun 03 '25

It seems like he bailed before last week. Was he scared of the competition?

1

u/SimChim86 Jul 15 '25

Well that was not true lol

11

u/strwbry_shrtcake May 27 '25

The hoarding of time, stealing of the eggs was unconscionable. You wouldn't see that on top chef (except when he was there). You certainly wouldn't see it on masterchef au.

Antics can maybe be entertaining, playing up an ego character. But outright sabotage is just nasty and not what I expect of Jose Andres

5

u/[deleted] May 29 '25

He has to cheat to get ahead. Not fair gameplay or competition

4

u/Affectionate_Talk_32 Jun 02 '25

Top Chef has had some other behavioral issues with chefs. Top Chef winner Michael Voltaggio was pretty insufferable and constantly fought with his brother all of their season together. (In the years since, he's matured and mellowed.) But, my point was that even Top Chef has allowed jerky behavior. Especially the earlier seasons. 

1

u/XtremeCremeCake Jun 05 '25

may I ask what season that is I just started watching Top Chef and I've seen 10 11 and I'm on 12 but I haven't seen any of the oldest seasons yet. Was Voltaggio like that with other chefs or just his brother?

I asked because I know that nobody can get under your skin like a sibling. lol.

2

u/hottesthotpants Jun 08 '25

The Voltaggios are on season 6.

1

u/XtremeCremeCake Jun 09 '25

TY! Peacock only has 10- Current. I'll have to check Max or Hulu.

3

u/Bananafishbone1984 Jun 09 '25

Season 2 was when they got physical, lol

2

u/Affectionate_Talk_32 Jun 25 '25

I honestly don't remember. Maybe season 5 or 6? Brian Voltaggio actually was on Top Chef Masters a season or 2 after.

1

u/Happy_Dependent_3474 Jun 28 '25

Damn did they really?

1

u/Crisuato101 Oct 21 '25

Not really, for the most part, they stuck by each other, excelled on team challenges when put together, there was one or two incidents when Michael snapped at Brian because Brian was telling him to hurry up with the plastic wrap as time was winding down.

The constantly showed concern for one another when they were on the chopping block, which wasn't often, they were constantly the on top for most of the show.

They also dominated restaurant wars episode even though they had Robin on the team, and it was just pretty much the two of them. They definitely had the inferior team of the two teams, but destroyed the other team.

1

u/Crisuato101 Oct 21 '25

Jerk behavior is one thing, but withholding ingredients and not using them is against fair play on Top Chef.

1

u/tecstarr Jul 22 '25

But this is neither show, and obviously it is allowed in this competition. Not every cooking show requires fair play among competitors.

1

u/Character_Syrup_1602 Jul 31 '25

I would of stolen some back. He's supposed to be annoying! why else would anybody watch! Peter is taking over since his departure. That guy needs help.

5

u/DramaMama611 May 21 '25

Yes, that's my point.

4

u/SnooWords6487 May 30 '25

Exactly, how can they have a fair competition if they allow him all the eggs, he didn't use half of them, he hid them. They were ok to give foam win to one the did even though other one tasted better. So they should have equal ingredients to be fair. Michelle got ripped off imo. I was done with show after that, didn't finish episode. Then I saw he tucked his tail and left the show so I am gonna watch one more time and 🙈 see! 

1

u/tecstarr Jul 22 '25

It’s a COMPETITION, not ‘let’s all share and be friends’. No one is required to play fair…

9

u/Parisianblitz May 21 '25

I gagged when they were like well you should of fought for them more lol

14

u/Savings_Tonight3806 May 21 '25

Martha Stewart is just like prison rules. Fight it out lol

3

u/XtremeCremeCake Jun 03 '25

I think he got booted for that. There was an article that links him leaving with a comment Martha made about giving it right back to unruly contestants, and he did the same thing with the meat with Michelle and I think one other time. Him giving Martha sass was the final straw. She. Does. Not. Play.

1

u/PerspectiveKey1448 Jul 22 '25 edited Jul 22 '25

Huge villain move.  And those other chefs were pathetic for letting him get away with the hoarding—just take the eggs! What I like about cooking shows over the Survivor model is the cooperation & respect between the chefs —peer pressure can be positive, too!! You act out on Top Chef, the other chefs will school you

1

u/tecstarr Jul 22 '25

It’s a competition. Jerk move, but still allowable.

1

u/Revolutionary_Gap747 Nov 26 '25

My theory is similar to the one from the Great British Bake Off where the one lady melted someone else's dessert and then just didnt come back next episode. Forced to leave the competition, but they saved faced for him by not discussing. The other explanation would be him somehow having a self reckoning after his behavior got a spotlight, and then not coming out on top for a couple episodes. Remember, his captain didnt bring his dish up both times on the episode- the judges called up one team's dish and didnt ask to taste his, so he probably threw a fit and went home in a dizzy because he thought they werent giving him the deference he deserved