Top Chef: All Stars

That was one of the best season-openers of a reality show I've seen. Usually it takes a while for me to get a sense of who everyone is, but in this case I mostly already knew, and the two contestants I didn't (from Season One) quickly gave an impression of their personalities and skill levels. (Doomed. Especially Stephen, who apparently hasn't been cooking for a while.)

The quickfire was smart, and the elimination challenge was inspired.

Previews show the contestants cooking off against Tom Colicchio. Oh boy oh boy, I cannot wait.

Blogs by Anthony Bourdain and Tom Colicchio, up at bravotv.com, add a lot to my enjoyment of the show. I recommend them if you're watching.

( All the scallops come home to roost )

Books for sale! (Joanna Russ; Drujienna's Harp)

I'm de-cluttering the apartment, and found a couple books which might be of interest to people here. If anyone wants them, they're $7 each, postage included.

Drujienna's Harp, by Ellen Kindt McKenzie. Too allegorical for my taste, but many people love it. Library discard.

And Chaos Died; Picnic on Paradise; The Two of Them, by Joanna Russ. I like her nonfiction, but not her fiction.

Just in Case, by Meg Rosoff. Absolutely gorgeous British trade paperback, purchased new. I thought it was twee, but many people thought it was brilliant. It does have a killer opening.

For this entry only, you have to comment at Dreamwidth so I can get them all in the same place. First offer gets it.