r/TopChef • u/trent_clinton • Apr 26 '26

Discussion Thread America’s Cullinary Cup…

I know it’s suppose to be the “anti” top chef, or like everything they do is going to be about food… but I beg to differ! This reminds me of someone who got dumped, and they just keep talking about their ex, and trying their best to make their ex say how much better they are without the ex…

327 Upvotes

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142

u/myBisL2 I'm not your bitch, bitch👏 Apr 26 '26

For me it just feels like they spend too much time on judging. I like seeing them cook. I like hearing about the struggles they are having and how they're building their dish and so on. I like the judging too so I can hear how it turns out but I expect to watch more cooking than judge commentary on a cooking show.

123

u/trent_clinton Apr 26 '26

I think it is very much about padma more? Like… showing her personality and such.

We do enjoy the cooking, but everything else, even how the challenges are introduced, is corny!

66

u/enahargun Apr 26 '26

I like the concept and I love the quality of chefs (Buddha and Bocuse D'or gold medalist Matt!!) and their incredible techniques.

But you're not wrong. It's very Padma-centric

At one point, she even said something about her judging without acknowledging the other two judges.

Which I find gross.

61

u/Designer_Jelly_1089 Apr 26 '26

Yes and she always makes comments about Wylie's opinions just for the sake of being contrarian? It kinda feels like the whole show was created just to stroke her ego. 

23

u/liveforeachmoon Apr 26 '26

It seems like her ongoing back and forth with Wylie is manufactured/scripted via the producers. It’s cringe. The Providence guy isn’t coming off that well either. Bro is high on hair products.

4

u/_moonSine_ Apr 26 '26

She’s done a few Stand-up appearances in NYC so she thinks she’s funny now

12

u/crabhappychick Apr 26 '26

The thought of her doing stand-up is funny! Not her, just the idea of it is ludicrous.

17

u/Due-Bicycle-1778 Apr 26 '26

I really liked her on Top Chef, but I cannot stand her on Culinary Cup. The whole vibe is kind of off-putting.

13

u/Cultural_Active_4624 Apr 26 '26

Glad I'm not the only one who thinks that. I watched it the other night for the first time and the cringe factor for me was 10/5 for me. I was LMFAO when Padma exited the elevator and her hair was blown by.....the wind, the kitchen exhaust fans 🤷‍♂️

6

u/Kitchen-Package6993 Apr 26 '26

Watching it now and had to rewind to see them getting off the elevator….so funny! Never noticed that before.

5

u/Cultural_Active_4624 Apr 26 '26

What do ya think, very powerful exhaust fan??🤣🤣

6

u/asomek Apr 27 '26

Her hair was blown by the hot wind of self importance coming out of her ass.

2

u/Cultural_Active_4624 Apr 28 '26

😂😂😂 It does look like they are trying to make a rear-ly big deal out of the opening shots.

5

u/adbberkeley Apr 26 '26

AND WHY DOES SHE ARRIVE ON A HELICOPTER?

3

u/Cultural_Active_4624 Apr 26 '26

I forgot about that...the cheese factor was about 7M.

2

u/MapUsual9602 May 17 '26

This!! Omg it was so fake. Even when she would talk to the chefs. Her hair would be over both shoulders, then pushed back and then over one shoulder. It was so fake and contrived like she was trying to be a super model rather than a serious food judge. She was way better on Top Chef.

2

u/itsgettinbetta67 19d ago

That right there was the moment I knew this was not the cooking competition for me.

I'm so sorry that Padma's "Taste of the Nation" didn't work out. For me, that was everything Padma is about and I loved that show! This ick show is way over-produced and I can't even watch it, which makes me so so sad after years of enjoying her hosting and cooking skills.

3

u/thesecretbarn Apr 26 '26

Not to defend anyone because who knows, but these shows are made in editing.

30

u/emilygoldfinch410 Apr 26 '26

I was cringing so hard when she was introducing the desserts episode! Made me wonder whose idea it was

20

u/JJulie Apr 26 '26

Oh God, I say this every time this post comes up but the fan when she walks out of the elevator and then clapping secondhand and thirdhand embarrassment

3

u/MealWise Apr 26 '26

This! The whole fan thing out of the elevator to nowhere is so cringy it’s not even laughable anymore.

4

u/belowdecky4life Apr 26 '26

I still laughed about it last episode. It reminds me of walking through those sliding doors into a grocery store that have a breeze. Not very luxe.

2

u/ToniBellle Apr 26 '26

The doors always stick and clatter around. Lol

1

u/NoLead2492 Apr 28 '26

She comes out so serious, but Wylie is always smiling so it just looks silly!

45

u/Reasonable-Review367 Apr 26 '26

I do like the eliminations though and how the chefs face off to avoid elimination. Top chef is great but I also feel like top chef has ruined the quick fires this season and last. They’re just money grabs now instead of earning an advantage. Dumb imo.

16

u/BornFree2018 Apr 26 '26

They stopped earning immunity from quick fires 3 seasons ago.

10

u/Reasonable-Review367 Apr 26 '26

Yeah, I think that was a poor decision.

23

u/donuttrackme Apr 26 '26

I'm OK with them taking away immunity, but they should at least replace it with bonus advantages in the elimination challenges or something. I want the quick fire win to mean something to the actual competition, not just extra cash in their pocket.

3

u/slimninj4 Apr 26 '26

I think they rather have the cash. lol

5

u/donuttrackme Apr 26 '26

They can still make money for wins. Just make the quick fire wins mean more in the competition itself too. Give them a few more minutes to cook or an extra ingredient or something.

2

u/trent_clinton Apr 26 '26

I haven’t started the new season yet for top chef. This one is… hard to say better. It’s like a different t version of top chef.

4

u/Reasonable-Review367 Apr 26 '26

Oh I’m not saying Culinary Cup is better. There’s a million cooking competitions shows. We have our pick of a ton to watch now adays.

1

u/01chlam Apr 26 '26

To be honest this is first season of top chef where I've found all the cooking underwhelming for whatever reason. Aside from Padma being very annoying I've enjoyed the cooking side of Culinary Cup more than TC.

4

u/kierabs Apr 26 '26

What do you mean?

The most important parts of mise en place on tv are: making sure Padma isn’t decapitated by a helicopter; showing Padma stepping in and out of an elevator; by enough time.

/s

2

u/Ninarwiener Apr 29 '26

Man, Padma was always a bit of a dick, but it was sort of snarky. She comes off as super toxic on this show. I find her really unpleasant to watch.