On Demand Weekly

I need an intervention. My "Top Chef" addiction is way out of control (somebody call A&E's "Intervention"!). And you know this because I even wrote you about "Top Chef Just Desserts." We've already basically forgotten that show in the wake of the "Top Chef All Stars" coming on to the set like a blender full of stuff out of control.

Just when I thought there couldn't be any more wonderful Top Chef spinoffs (I mean they even got actual big time chefs like Rick Bayliss and Govind Armstrong to hash it out in front of judges - and they OWN restaurants already!), somebody comes up with the genius idea to get a few of the best of the past contestants (the ones who almost won and who showed mucho presence during taping) and have them hash it out with each other.

This episode is just after Jennifer Carroll (Season 6) got the boot after arguing with the judges that her breakfast dish made for tons of hopped up New York children who spent the night in the Natural History Museum was basically not delicious. Jen, who was kind of quiet and spoke with her food skills in Season 6, ventured towards taking off her earrings, slapping on some Vaseline and going to blows with with the judges (Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, Padma Lakshmi and that foodie rebel Anthony Bourdain) over her dish. This kind of meltdown usually happens in the kitchen and not a judges table and came ask a shock to all in the room. It also set a bit of an edgy tone with those contestants who remained, armed with their utensils.

- T. Tara Turk


T. Tara Turk is a novelist/playwright/screenwriter, living in LA with her boyfriend and dog - all three successful TV addicts. You can find her at www.ttaraturk.com or follow her on Twitter @ttaraturk.

Media savant T Tara Turk goes deep inside cable TV to reveal Video On Demand's Hidden Gems so even the busiest of our readers can get the most out of On Demand TV. Tell Tara what VOD shows you think deserves her attention.

Chef Roble & Co.

By T. Tara Turk

I know I said Bravo was in danger of xeroxing its best shows to the point where we didn’t recognize the originals but I have to make an exception on Chef Roble & Co. On Demand.

Before you say “T. Tara, not another food show!”

just hear me out.

The world of catering has always been something I’ve been interested in because, having been on the receiving end of passed hors d’oeuvres, I can tell you those little bite-sized gems are a treat. And once I went to a small private dinner that was catered and delicious so my Martha Stewart Top Chef Giada De Laurantis Rocco Dispirto G Garvin mind went off day dreaming of what I could do.

Then this Chef Roble and Co. show comes on and I realize, I’m all good on eating rather than creating. Chef Roble Ali apparently is some kind of culinary wunderkind, having started cooking professionally at 15 and then worked his way up the gastronomy world ladder from there. Now, he’s got a catering company along with his sister Jasmine, who mainly focuses on the ambiance and logistics of the catered dinners Chef Roble and his team put together.

This show takes Rocco’s Dinner Party a step further by actually showing a team put together an event from client meeting all the way to the end of the dinner. And there is LOTS of drama in between. One of Chef Roble’s Floor Captains, Shawn, is a sassy quick witted, short tempered no nonsense social butterfly who is quick to throw a curse word and wave a hand if he feels threatened.

In contrast, the other Floor Captain, Artie, is so mild and efficient that he could valet Bruce Wayne/Batman without breaking a sweat (sorry Alfred). Along with Roble’s trusted kitchen staff (Kiku, Che and Adam) the company encounters clients that range from a Harlem diva who has made her global stamp on the world with an high demand and eclectic group of friends, a Chihuahua wedding, a gastro party for four year olds and a cook to impress event for THE Vanessa Williams.

This may be one of the only

new Bravo shows that I feel lives up

to old Bravo programming standards.