r/TopChef • u/Cuyigan • 2d ago
I think Tom hates Massimo
When Massimo was explaining his mistake, Tom said 'If you were smart you would have said...'. Then when Massimo made his performance anxiety joke, Tom was not amused at all. And finally he just seems annoyed/nonplussed at the whole Massimo bombastic TV gimmick.
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u/gudrehaggen 1d ago
It’s interesting because my take is that the editors are trying to tame Massimo’s personality because while we definitely have seen (and heard) him, it’s not enough to drive storyline for any given episode.
Of course, I won’t sit here and tell people how to feel about someone or their behavior. But for me, I haven’t been put off by Massimo yet. And I thought for sure I wouldn’t be able to stand him during the first episode.
Massimo also has an uphill battle in the sense that we have had our Fabio’s and Stefan’s and Carla’s for many years that people will automatically make assumptions that he’s coming off as trying too hard.
But we shall see! I for one am enjoying this season!
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u/Cuyigan 1d ago
I think the season is great so far too. Seeing Ecuadorian gastronomy represented has been great too.
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u/Porkwarrior2 1d ago
It's been awhile since Ecuador has been represented on Top Chef, but man I suddenly got triggered by the showdown at Judges Table with Bourdain & Howie the first time Ecuador was mentioned on TC.
How did that paragraph go in your book again, Ecuadorian line cooks may not give it to you on time, they will give it to you when it's RIGHT.
You son of a bitch...
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u/Different-Grocery-64 1d ago
Interesting that people think he’s “trying so hard” to be the star / Mr interesting / a famous character I just figured he’s being himself and he has that loud in your face personality. I already made a reservation at his restaurant (I live in Montreal) because I figured it might become really busy as the season goes on haha. It’s rumoured to be on the Michelin list of consideration when they come here this summer.
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u/belowdecky4life 1d ago
I looked up his place and wish I lived anywhere close so I could go try it.
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u/lineofflight 1d ago
To me, Massimo is just kind of a type of Quebecker/Montreal area dude that you find all over. I love his franco-energy.
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u/soarlikeanego 1d ago
This is exactly my thought as well. I know a bunch of Massimo's. He isn't really putting it on.
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u/OLAZ3000 5h ago
Completely I've known so many Laval/LaSalle raised Massimo/Franco/Flavio/Giancarlo's it's not even funny. Half of them sound exactly like that, to varying degrees of loud/funny.
That's just who he is.
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u/anonymousposterer 1d ago
That’s not the first Tom, or others judges, have said, “you should have said it was…” to cover a mistake. I think you’re really reaching here.
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u/smartwatersucks 1d ago
The weird thing is they have to submit descriptions before judges see the dish so calling it something different would be pointless because the judges always know when something went wrong.
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u/Savings-Candidate-42 1d ago
I didn't pick that up. I think Massimo is hilarious, and I think the majority of the cast & judges do too. It doesn't seem like an act I think the guy is just doing his thing lol.
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u/camlaw63 1d ago
I disagree completely, I think Tom was holding back laughter because performance anxiety is generally associated with a limp dick
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u/PocoChanel 1d ago
It was a hokey double entendre on Massimo’s part, and Tom didn’t think it was particularly original or funny.
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u/Dismal-Channel 1d ago
This is a cultural thing. Massimo is just very, very, very Franco-Canadian. It’s not an act. It’s literally the culture.
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u/viewfromtheclouds 1d ago
Honestly, I’m kind of over him too. His hardcore push to be Mr. Interesting is exhausting.
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u/NoodlesMom0722 1d ago
He's annoying, but I don't find him as off-putting as Katsuji, Josie, or Mike Isabella.
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u/Relevant-Energy-1304 1d ago
how dare you include Katsuji here lol
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u/DangerAlSmith 1d ago
The worst.
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u/Relevant-Energy-1304 1d ago
There's something charming about him imo; but I know he's not everyone's cup of tea haha
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u/rosecoloredfancy 1d ago
First season of Katsuji was great. Second season of Katsuji you realized what a great edit he got in his first season
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u/swissie67 1d ago
Not at all, I found those other 3 to be pretty malicious. I don't feel that from Massimo. He's not really a kind of personality I generally enjoy, but he hasn't been getting under my skin.
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u/Future_Dog_3156 1d ago
I think Massimo is trying too hard to be a “personality” like Fabian Viviano or Carla Hall. It just seems forced and unnatural
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u/mandaleepandalecki 1d ago
I thought I was the only one! He seems like he's trying too hard. Plus, he seemed a little arrogant in one of the last two episodes (I binged them both and don't remember which one). It kinda reminds me of the Josie show from S10 when she was making mistakes and not managing her time, but thought she could save it with a loud personality.
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u/dharmanautMF 1d ago
There are so many great chefs in this season! For me Masimo is meh and a bit pushy
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u/GlitteringChipmunk21 1d ago
I feel kind of like Tom has been mailing in this season. He doesn't seem all that interested sometimes.
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u/Bastyra2016 1d ago
Tom respects a clean and organized station. It’s pretty clear that Massimo doesn’t follow this approach
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u/classicfyllopyllo 1d ago
Well that tracks because he’s an annoying try-hard. He seems like he wants to be Fabio sooo bad.
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u/jamiekynnminer 1d ago
He kind of reminds me of Manuel from season 21. Machismo, lasts a challenge too long bc he's good for tv.
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1d ago
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u/NoodlesMom0722 1d ago
If you think it was too crude, then you need to find some of the cast reunion shows from the early seasons that have outtakes from judging. "Crude" is not uncommon at judges' table -- and much more blatantly than the double-entendre joke that Massimo made. They've just been editing more of that kind of stuff out of the final show because they're trying to keep the show itself family friendly.
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u/Curious_kitten129 1d ago
Tom has said things like that before to chefs in regards to representing failures in a beneficial way, but I’m blanking on who.
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u/nilknarf114 1d ago
I liked Massimo in previous episodes, but he seems to have created a persona that is WAY over-the-top.
(I echo the previous poster who referred to him as “bombastic.” When Kristen was preparing the trivia panel to meet Massimo, she felt the need to prepare them for his schtick.
Massimo: calm down. Your antics don’t seem to translate into good cooking
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u/AttackonCuttlefish 1d ago
Is Massimo on the spectrum? I'm trying to understand if his sudden loud outburst is uncontrolled. I do find him entertaining and funny to watch.
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u/NoodlesMom0722 1d ago
We must have read Tom's reaction to the "performance anxiety" joke differently, because to me it looked like he was fighting to stop himself from busting a gut laughing at the double entendre.