Top Chef: Las Vegas - Conference Call with Ashley Merriman

[lovesenlin]

This week, on Top Chef:Las Vegas, the contestants were paired up and asked to put together a luncheon for the Macy’s Culinary Council members, including chef/television star Tyler Florence. Ashley was paired with Eli and the two created a dish that included prawns and gnocchi. At judges’ table, they were told that the prawns were undercooked and the gnocchi was too salty. Ashley took the fall for her team and was eliminated from the competition. Today, she shared her thoughts on this season in a conference call with reporters.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What made you want to try out for Top Chef this season? Are you a fan of the show?
A. Ashley: I have been a really big fan of the show, pretty much since Day 1. It’s definitely my favorite show and I think that, because it’s my favorite show, and because the level of competition is far higher than that of other food reality shows, I wanted to throw my hat in the ring and see what would happen.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Earlier in the season, there was that bachelor/bachelorette party challenge that seemed to offend you, but not Preeti and other chefs on the show. What was it exactly that bothered you? Would you have been happier if they included same sex couples?
A. Ashley: My objection to that challenge was really about Bravo. It wasn’t about the bachelor or bachelorette. My objection was really about the decision at really what is the height of a civil rights movement. I didn’t think that it was appropriate timing. I find it really hard to believe that Bravo would make us go do a luncheon at a golf course where Jews aren’t allowed. I’ve done weddings. I am thrilled to do weddings. It really isn’t about that. The producers at Bravo have a job to do and their job is to make good tv and they did a great job with that one.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Which judge is the toughest to impress?
A. Ashley: Impress… I mean, they all have their own merits. I can tell you that I was most concerned about impressing Tom, because I think that he’s the most qualified judge up there. I can say that. I was most concerned about impressing him. I wouldn’t say that

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you have a moment from this season that really stood out to you and showed what you are able to do as a chef?
A. Ashley: I think there’s two moments that really stand out for me. One is the potato gnocchi I made in 45 minutes in a quickfire. That, to me, really stood out because that’s a stretch to try to do that in 45 minutes and that showed a little bit about the level that I’m cooking at. Also, I really liked the deconstruction challenge and I think it was a high point for me.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: We hear that word “deconstruction” a lot on Top Chef. Can you explain it to fans of the show, who don’t have a culinary background or aren’t familiar with the process?
A. Ashley: I thought it was a great challenge because it is a trend in cooking but the challenge was perfect: take something and put it back together in a unique and different way. All of us are familiar with potroast and chicken Caesar salad. All of us have eaten that at one point or another. The challenge is to take elements of the dish and take them apart and put them together in a way that is new and different.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about the Robin situation? There were chefs who were saying she didn’t deserve to be there. What was your take on it?
A. Ashley: I really made a point the entire program to not really say anything about any of the other chefs that could be negative. That’s not my style and it’s not, in many ways, my place. That being said, I think there are better chefs than Robin who are no longer in the competition but that she drew the gold coin at the beginning of the competition and I think there’s been a little bit of luck. She has her own culinary point of view and I’ll watch what happens the rest of the season.

Q. Who do you expect to go far this season?
A. Ashley: I think it’s very clear that Bryan and Michael are front runners, as are Jen and Kevin. They’re all tremendous chefs and all of them have a different style and a different approach. Really, any one of them could win.

Q. What are you up to now?
A. Ashley: Shortly after taping, I came back to Seattle and I’m starting to transition out of being an executive chef there and I’m moving to New York. I’m very excited to be back in the city. You can check my website for updates on what I’m up to.