Marguerite de Valois was known as Margot during her lifetime, at least per The Rival Queens, a book I listened to recently about Catherine and Marguerite. What's strange is that the show's writers used a lot of Marguerite's history for Claude.

And I guess I sort of buried the lede on the cold open: apparently this city is supposed to be New Pittsburgh? That’s a bit of a stunner, considering there’s literally nothing about this city that would suggest that area of America.

What cracked me up about Izard's contractual obligation to promote a sponsor was that she didn't even say "Reynolds Wrap." She said aluminum foil, but I guess it was implied that it was Reynolds because Padma drowsily read it off the teleprompter a second before.

What cracked me up about Izard's contractual obligation to promote a sponsor was that she didn't even say "Reynolds Wrap." She said aluminum foil, but I guess it was implied that it was Reynolds because Padma drowsily read it off the teleprompter a second before.

I wanted to like the gazpacho, because I don't mind John and I like the idea of gazpacho. And chorizo. But yeah, there was a slick of grease that did not look like artfully placed "chorizo oil." He was complaining about getting the ingredient proportions wrong. So I think the frozen fish comments were a way to deflect…

I wanted to like the gazpacho, because I don't mind John and I like the idea of gazpacho. And chorizo. But yeah, there was a slick of grease that did not look like artfully placed "chorizo oil." He was complaining about getting the ingredient proportions wrong. So I think the frozen fish comments were a way to deflect…

Even though I know most fish is frozen before it gets to me (and am happy about that), there was a part of me that thought "oh no, frozen fish! Just like that guy last season and the frozen shrimp for which he was thrown under the bus."

Even though I know most fish is frozen before it gets to me (and am happy about that), there was a part of me that thought "oh no, frozen fish! Just like that guy last season and the frozen shrimp for which he was thrown under the bus."

Actually, sometimes in branding, it's a good thing when your brand becomes synonymous with the generic. Like in the south where every soda—even Sprite—is still "Coke."

Actually, sometimes in branding, it's a good thing when your brand becomes synonymous with the generic. Like in the south where every soda—even Sprite—is still "Coke."

What got me about the names (in addition to the theme-ing)  was that he decided against naming them "Cinnamon and Cayenne" because they sounded like stripper names (and they do), but Saffron still sounds a bit stripper-y to me. Also, I just realized that not only are both sets of names herbs/spices but also…

What got me about the names (in addition to the theme-ing)  was that he decided against naming them "Cinnamon and Cayenne" because they sounded like stripper names (and they do), but Saffron still sounds a bit stripper-y to me. Also, I just realized that not only are both sets of names herbs/spices but also…

Hah! That reminded me of something Anthony Bourdain said to Ted Allen during his roast a while back:

Hah! That reminded me of something Anthony Bourdain said to Ted Allen during his roast a while back:

"You're here to be initiated into the Scrot Squad too? Watch your back; I didn't get this nickname for nothing. PYP."

"You're here to be initiated into the Scrot Squad too? Watch your back; I didn't get this nickname for nothing. PYP."