MasterChef, Season Four

Lidia Bastianich:
Howard?

Howard:
Okay. [presents his dish] (interview) Walking up, I'm not 100% confident in the dish that I'm bringing up. The plating isn't that great but hopefully the flavors come together.

Lidia:
So what is it exactly this stuff?

Howard:
Bell pepper jalapeno braised chicken and then it's spiced with a little cumin.

Lidia:
Cumin is a spice that is not used in pasta making or stuffing. (tastes) What I have here is a mouthful of peppers.

Howard:
Okay.

Lidia:
It's not harmonious with a pasta dish like this. Pasta classics work and they are appreciated time after time. Otherwise, they wouldn't be called classics.

Howard:
Of course.

Lidia:
Get a good a good connection of the basics, don't just fly off on a wagon. Okay?

Joe:
I don't understand, she's been nice to you but the whole thing with you is you have this very cavalier attitude. You don't know what you're cooking, what dish you're making with ten minutes left and you come up here and get misty eyed with us like "Oh, poor me again. I got screwed up." I'm getting tired of it because if you were smart, you would duplicate a plate. The fact that you are not even thinking of playing this game properly is really annoying. I'm going to taste this.

Howard:
You want fifteen of the same dishes up here?

Joe:
If you're here putting your spin on everything you make because you want to show us how cutesy and intelligent and crafty you are? Well that's going to get you to a one way ticket back to wherever you came from and then you can show your friends and the six people who told you you were good how cutesy and smart you are when you're home cooking at dinner parties while the rest of this group goes on and competes to become the next masterchef. So, I want pasta cooked properly because you know what? (tastes) The only thing worse than a cook who can't boil is a narcissist in full denial. Thank you for nothing.