At first, I thought it was a mistake on the part of some of the Top Chef cheftestants to choose cheesy movies like “Top Secret” as their challenge inspiration; especially since guest judge chef Daniel Boulud just finished telling them that “Casablanca” is his favorite film.  Balaud probably hasn’t had the pleasure of seeing such great American film classics as “Top Secret” or “A Christmas Story,” but guest judge Richard Roeper is nothing if not a film critic who can appreciate a little less sophistication in his film classics.  In the end, if your dish is good, you get away with using the cow scene from “Top Secret” as your culinary inspiration.  (Warning:  off color humor in what I’m guessing in Polish ahead.)

The lack of imagination, with the exception of “Willy Wonka,” and “Like Water for Chocolate,” which cheftestant Spike promptly rejected for “Good Morning Vietnam” so he could cook Vietnamese food, was a bit disappointing   How about “Eat Drink Man Woman” for instance?  You’d think that would be a movie on most chef’s viewing lists but I could be wrong.  The chick focus probably spoils it most male chefs.

Watching cheftestant Ryan shout out that “Dumb & Dumber” and “Old School” are his favorite movies was, well, not surprising.  Watching his teammate Kiwi Mark discuss the plot of “A Christmas Story,” a movie’s he’s never seen, was priceless.

Parting note: Richard’s smoke equals Marcel’s foam.