(Deviating from the food stories for a moment…)

So flippin’ excited for this.

My main concern is this: How do I participate in one of the challenges as a taster? You know, how do I become a patron during restaurant wars, or when they have a street food challenge? How do those lucky bastards get chosen? Did they just happen to pass by, or be involved with the right people, or is there somewhere online where the locations are announced? Or is it like audience casting for other TV shows?

Being a fan of this show is like torture. You’ve heard the cliché. It’s food porn. That’s exactly what it is. You can look, but you can’t touch (or taste). For once, I’m in the right town. So if this will ever happen it will be now! Anyone who has insider info, please let me know. Tweet me. @food_stories

If all else fails, I will still be a devoted home viewer. I guess. *hmph*

Ok no. No premature sulking. Now on to my predictions ‘n stuff… 

It’s hard to even pick a winner in this group. So many of them were my favs. Elia, Casey, Jennifer, and Tiffany Derry were all my favorite women of their respective seasons. My heart broke a little when Tre was voted off too soon. Carla was pure joy to watch, I want to be friends with her.

But I think I’ll root for Blaisy. Richard was consistently good, confident without being douche-cocky, creative, into molecular gastronomy without it being overkill (i.e. Mr. Foam-everything, Marcel) and oh-so-badass.

Also excited to see how Spike does. He’s the only one whose food I’ve actually tasted (Good Stuff Eatery in DC) and he makes a burger that makes my clothes fall off leaves me speechless. He could probably use the ego boost, too [/sarcasm].

Speaking of egos, there’d better be a smack down between Fabio and Angelo. And between Fabi’s thick accent and Angelo’s absurd behavior, there’s bound to be some misunderstanding. Arrogance AND confusion. Delicious.

The two Napoleons, little Dale (Talde) and Marcel, with their small statures and large…-ly obnoxious… personalities, are bound to entertain. One is easy to anger, the other easily incites anger in each and every person he interacts with. Meltdown. Party of two. Please.

The only person I really can’t stand watching is Mike Isabella. I’m sure he’s a great Chef. I only had a drink at his restaurant Zaitinya, so I can’t comment on his food, though the ambiance was nice. But he just rubs me the wrong way. There’s a fine line between douchetastic and just straight-up douche.