Congratulations Slave and Catrin!!!

[Flinty_McFlint]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

This summer, I want to go to a Greek island. I want to rent a house or an apartment within a decent walk of a beach. I want to hang out on the beach with young kids, and I want enough of a town that I can choose from a few decent places to eat out or get groceries easily to cook for myself. I don't want to be somewhere big and crowded, or too remote. Sites of cultural interest that aren't too far away would be good. Lots of drunken Englishmen would be bad. Anyone have any ideas how to find the right place?

I really liked Santorini, one of the most striking places I've seen--white houses with blue domes and trim overlooking cliffs and all sorts of stuff, plus white, black and red sand beaches. I can't vouch for the lack of drunken Englishmen though.

[LessinSF]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

This summer, I want to go to a Greek island. I want to rent a house or an apartment within a decent walk of a beach. I want to hang out on the beach with young kids, and I want enough of a town that I can choose from a few decent places to eat out or get groceries easily to cook for myself. I don't want to be somewhere big and crowded, or too remote. Sites of cultural interest that aren't too far away would be good. Lots of drunken Englishmen would be bad. Anyone have any ideas how to find the right place?

Santorini was my favorite island. Physically striking with the crater bay and town spilling down the cliff, and the town is nice with good restaurants. Multiple beaches all around the island. The main town has a party element to it, but there are lots of other places to stay and you don't see that element during the day and early evening.

Lesbos was also meant to be nice, but I didn't go. Crete is meant to be awesome, but much bigger. Avoid Ios and Mykonos for what you want.

[Penske_Account]

Originally Posted by LessinSF

Lesbos was also meant to be nice, but I didn't go.

Not exactly on point, but I was sorry to see Jamie go.....she was certainly a notch up from my paisano, Fabio, and from Leah, and possibly from the Buggin Out chick, although she should have shown more respect for Ripert. He;s a legend! and a hard partyer, according to bourdain.

If you are in Absinthe, tell her I said hi, and I agree with Stefan, she's cute.

[Fugee]

Originally Posted by Replaced_Texan

It is difficult to maintain a straight face when introduced to someone for the first time and hearing, "My sister is a first year at Regent Law School in Virginia."

My reply: "Oh, the first year is very hard. I hope she's hanging in there."

I'd have had a blank face -- I didn't know there was such a place.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by LessinSF

Santorini was my favorite island. Physically striking with the crater bay and town spilling down the cliff, and the town is nice with good restaurants. Multiple beaches all around the island. The main town has a party element to it, but there are lots of other places to stay and you don't see that element during the day and early evening.

Lesbos was also meant to be nice, but I didn't go. Crete is meant to be awesome, but much bigger. Avoid Ios and Mykonos for what you want.

Anyone have thoughts on Evia for less-beaten-path Greece?

[Adder]

Originally Posted by LessinSF

Santorini was my favorite island. Physically striking with the crater bay and town spilling down the cliff, and the town is nice with good restaurants. Multiple beaches all around the island. The main town has a party element to it, but there are lots of other places to stay and you don't see that element during the day and early evening.

Lesbos was also meant to be nice, but I didn't go. Crete is meant to be awesome, but much bigger. Avoid Ios and Mykonos for what you want.

Santorini is fabulous, and as I think about it a bit more if you stayed at Ia (at the top of the crater on one tip of the island) or maybe at one of the beach towns it might fit with what Ty was looking for. Thira might be a bit too lively, it was great in the early season.

Our arrival by ferry from Naxos was spectactular, sailing most of the length of the inside of the crater.



ETA: The photo is from Ia, looking back along the caldera toward Thira (which you can't see).

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally Posted by Flinty_McFlint

I really liked Santorini, one of the most striking places I've seen--white houses with blue domes and trim overlooking cliffs and all sorts of stuff, plus white, black and red sand beaches. I can't vouch for the lack of drunken Englishmen though.

2. I also was there in the off season, but I thought it was a lovely island. I'd love to return.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally Posted by Penske_Account

Not exactly on point, but I was sorry to see Jamie go.....she was certainly a notch up from my paisano, Fabio, and from Leah, and possibly from the Buggin Out chick, although she should have shown more respect for Ripert. He;s a legend! and a hard partyer, according to bourdain.

If you are in Absinthe, tell her I said hi, and I agree with Stefan, she's cute.

It irritates the shit out of me that Jaime was kicked out before Leah was. I just voted for Jamie as "fan favorite."

[greatwhitenorthchick]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

This summer, I want to go to a Greek island. I want to rent a house or an apartment within a decent walk of a beach. I want to hang out on the beach with young kids, and I want enough of a town that I can choose from a few decent places to eat out or get groceries easily to cook for myself. I don't want to be somewhere big and crowded, or too remote. Sites of cultural interest that aren't too far away would be good. Lots of drunken Englishmen would be bad. Anyone have any ideas how to find the right place?

Naxos is family-oriented and quiet. When I was in Greece I went to Santorini, Eos, and Naxos. Naxos was definitely my favorite -- very peaceful. (however, that was 12 years ago -- things might have changed, but I doubt it).

[greatwhitenorthchick]

Originally Posted by Replaced_Texan

It irritates the shit out of me that Jaime was kicked out before Leah was. I just voted for Jamie as "fan favorite."

Are the producers keeping Leah on because of the "drama" with Hosea? Ugh, ugh, ugh.

I like Jamie too. Although Carla's wackiness is beginning to grow on me. Stefan will win for sure, although I'm thinking that Carla is a wild card.

[Adder]

Originally Posted by greatwhitenorthchick

Are the producers keeping Leah on because of the "drama" with Hosea? Ugh, ugh, ugh.

I like Jamie too. Although Carla's wackiness is beginning to grow on me. Stefan will win for sure, although I'm thinking that Carla is a wild card.

I can't believe Carla is still there.

Stefan seems like the clear favorite to me too, although I would have said Jamie could have been a wild card if y'all hadn't included the spoiler and told me she was out.

[Adder]

Originally Posted by greatwhitenorthchick

Naxos is family-oriented and quiet. When I was in Greece I went to Santorini, Eos, and Naxos. Naxos was definitely my favorite -- very peaceful. (however, that was 12 years ago -- things might have changed, but I doubt it).

I really liked Naxos too. Especially after we found the little cafe on the hill (which we got completely lost trying to find again) run by a woman from Dusseldorf that served good German beer.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally Posted by Penske_Account

Not exactly on point, but I was sorry to see Jamie go.....she was certainly a notch up from my paisano, Fabio, and from Leah, and possibly from the Buggin Out chick, although she should have shown more respect for Ripert. He;s a legend! and a hard partyer, according to bourdain.

If you are in Absinthe, tell her I said hi, and I agree with Stefan, she's cute.

I was at Absinthe last week -- didn't see her.

This is the second or third time I've been mystified by the decision on who got sent home.

A couple of weeks ago, Radhika gets sent home for being an inattentive host, instead of Carla for making a miserable dessert that cost her team the win. This isn't top maitre-d, it's top chef -- right? Carla is hilarious and I like her personality on the show, but I don't like the feeling that a decision was made on that (producer-driven) basis.

Then, Stephen -- hair-boy -- who made what everyone seemed to think was a tolerable dish, instead of Fabio, who overcooked his venison. Over-cooked meat should be an automatic fail. Again, this felt like a decision driven by the producers, who wanted the charming, popular Italian to stay around.

And last night -- Jamie at least knew what she'd f'd up. Leah gave that blank, semi-stoned look that she does so well, and clearly had no clue. Moreover, the challenge seemed to be figuring out how to cook a dish you'd tasted once. Jamie figured it out; she just blew a last, crucial step in execution. A bad f-up, but an understandable one. Leah was lost from beginning to end. Once again, it felt like a producer-driven decision: Let's get Leah and Hosea to the final, so we can ask them if their significant others dumped them when the episode with them smooching aired.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

What are you people talking about?

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally Posted by Sidd Finch

And last night -- Jamie at least knew what she'd f'd up. Leah gave that blank, semi-stoned look that she does so well, and clearly had no clue. Moreover, the challenge seemed to be figuring out how to cook a dish you'd tasted once. Jamie figured it out; she just blew a last, crucial step in execution. A bad f-up, but an understandable one. Leah was lost from beginning to end. Once again, it felt like a producer-driven decision: Let's get Leah and Hosea to the final, so we can ask them if their significant others dumped them when the episode with them smooching aired.

That was my general feeling too. I think someone who gets it, but screws up the execution is infinitely better than someone who doesn't get it at all. ESPECIALLY in light of the fact that she just quit in the middle of the quick fire challenge. I got the distinct impression that had they switched the admittedly difficult dishes, Jamie would have been fine, but Leah would have still fucked it up.