Cast: · Marcel Vigneron · Jarrid Masse · Devon Espinosa · Robyn Wilson Grade: B-

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Episode 2 of Marcel's Quantum Kitchen follows much the same formula as the previous episode. Marcel, Jarrid, Devon and Robyn get hired to prepare a meal for a storybook engagement party. As in the first episode the clients are sweet people. But instead of the perhaps over-relaxed event planner Chester, Marcel and company are dealing with Summer, a tyrranical, zero-compromise control freak. Shows like these make me glad my limited cooking acumen will never put me in that type of situation.

The menu for the engagement party features a nearly three foot long gellatin noodle flavored with red wine, a veil of solidified wine with truffles to be draped as a sauce over surf and turf, and a hearts of palm salad that celebrates "form mimicking" by pairing the vegetable with watermelon cubes modified to look and taste like tuna through the use of a machine called a "gastro-vac." For the edible engagement ring dessert, Marcel brings in Sally Camacho, a pastry chef from Wolfgang Puck's kitchen. I was impressed that Marcel was willing to bring in outside help. Too often these celebrity chefs seem possessed of runaway egos.

Speaking of runaway egos, Summer the control freak gets knocked down a peg when Marcel ignores her edicts during the event, utilizing his own service plates and changes the menu slightly on the fly. You can see the smoke coming out of Summer's ears as she realizes she's just as much along for the ride as the clients are. I wonder if the folks who hire event planners for these over-the-top parties realize just how borderline evil these people can be? There's no reason to treat people like fertilizer on your shoe on a hot day. Everyone understands that there's no second chances in the event industry. Of course, the modified surf and turf on Marcel's stock plates was the biggest hit of the event.

Marcel's Quantum Kitchen should be interesting to those already predisposed to reality-style cooking shows. Two episodes in I find myself wishing this program was on Discovery instead of Syfy. It's much heavier on the kitchen and a bit light on the quantum for my taste. I'd rather know more about the science and the practical applications of these crazy kitchen contraptions Marcel and company utilize than the forced drama of high society event planning. So far these events smack of MTV's My Super Sweet 16 when what I want to know is how to use the "gastro-vac" to make a better barbecued burger for a summer cookout with not-so-well-heeled friends. Despite this, I was well amused by Marcel's disregard for Summer's arrogance. Well played, chef!

Marcel's Quantum Kitchen airs Tuesdays at 10pm ET on Syfy.