Maybe there's something to the "reality" of reality TV

OK, Bravo. I've got the next great reality show for you..."The Real Housewives of Champaign-Urbana". Yeah, it could happen and I'm pretty sure I experienced the pilot episode the Saturday before last. Justin and I went to "Front Ro" a fashion/hair show put on by Bacaro, Ippatsu Salon, and Circles (clothing boutique). We were actually kind of invited to go by Rebecca, who owns Ippatsu. I happened to have a hair appointment on the Wednesday before the show and there were still a few tickets left and Rebecca promised it would be awesome...and it was. The actual runway show was in between food courses with the bar being used as a runway, which was a great idea because then everyone has a front row seat (hence the name of the show). So we were seated at a table with seven other people. They were all very nice, but Justin and I soon realized that we were sitting with some of the wealthier people in C-U, and while listening to them talk about their apartments in Beverly Hills and about how they come to Bacaro on a regular basis so that their kids will learn to like quail or whatever I couldn't help but think that this was just like those "Real Housewives" shows on Bravo and Justin and I were like the down-to-earth couple who just happens to know some of the rich people. I was just waiting for some producers to suddenly emerge to take us off to the side for one of those interviews where you say what you're really thinking about everyone and completely forget that you are on camera and that everything you say will be broadcast on national television. And now I've just revealed that I watch way too much TV. :P

Hey Top Chef Fans

Top Chef season 5 starts tonight (exciting!) and the Top Chef power rankings are back! During the last season of Top Chef, I discovered an awesome food blog called Skillet Doux (thanks to Ted Allen's blog on the Bravo website) in which the blogger ranks all the chefs competing in the current season of the show (in addition to posting about restaurants and interesting recipes). He also gives his reasoning for why they are ranked the way they are, and he's usually pretty accurate at picking who will most likely be the next chef to pack their knives. It's a good read, especially if you are as borderline-obsessive about TC as I am. ;)