All Top Chef

Top Chef Masters Season Five Competitors Announced!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:51:00 +0000

There will be a Top Chef Masters season 5 and the competitors have been announced:

David Burke (David Burke Townhouse, NYC)
Douglas Keane (formerly of Cyrus, Healdsburg, CA)
Sue Zemanick (Gautreau's, New Orleans)
Richard Sandoval (Richard Sandoval Restaurants)
Bryan Voltaggio (Volt, Frederick, MD)
Franklin Becker (Abe & Arthur's, NYC)
Lynn Crawford (Ruby Watchco, Toronto, Canada)
Odette Fada (formerly of San Domenico, NYC)
Neal Fraser (formerly of Grace, Los Angeles)
Jennifer Jasinski (Bistro Vendôme, Denver, CO)
Jenn Louis (Lincoln Restaurant, Portland, OR)
Herbert Wilson (Sushi Samba, Las Vegas)
Sang Yoon (Father's Office, Los Angeles)

Bryan Voltaggio! Hmm...might actually have to watch this season!

Posted on AllTopChef.com

Top Chef New Orleans!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:51:00 +0000

Bravo has confirmed that season 11 of Top Chef will be filmed in New Orleans! So...another season of sweaty, humid torture for the cheftestants.

Will you be watching?

Posted on AllTopChef.com

US News Talks to Top Chefs About Healthy Eating

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:29:00 +0000

Posted on AllTopChef.com

Top Chef Pig Roast

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:39:00 +0000

Several former Top Cheftestants are participating in an event for Share Our Strength No Kid Hungry. Nyesha Arrington's Pig Roast will be held on April 28th, 2013, at Wilshire Restaurant, 2454 Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica, CA from 1-4pm.

Guest chefs will include Ilan Hall, CJ Jacobsen, Alex Reznik, Marcel Vigneron, and Brooke Williamson from Top Chef and Danielle Keene from Top Chef Just Desserts.

Tickets are $55 and can be purchased here.

Posted on AllTopChef.com

Padma Lakshmi Talk Show

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:12:00 +0000

This was in the mailbox this morning. I'm assuming Padma is on Anderson Cooper's show tomorrow.

" Come be part of the audience for a “Talk Show” with a Top Chef star Padma Lakshmi on Friday, March 15th. Please email us tickets@andersoncooper.com. In your email please include you full name, phone number, and number of tickets desired. Please write “Top Chef” in the subject line.

"The show tapes in New York, and you must be 18 or older to attend."

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Recap Roundup - Top Chef Seattle Finale Part Two

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:00:00 +0000

A Just Recompense on like the Super Bowl, but not: "Now we find out: each round will be voted immediately, and the first chef to win three rounds will win Top Chef. Sort of like the Super Bowl. For each round, first chef to win three votes wins the round. Which opens up all sorts of possibilities for manipulating the results to stretch things out and add suspense. It also cuts down on the discussion of the food, which Tom acknowledges in his blog. Sure they’d want to cut down on the descriptions of the food, since we’re viewers who can’t taste it and thus rely on the judges’ comments; they wouldn’t want to make it too easy for us. TC, Viewer Challenge Edition."

Minxeats on sous: "Each of the finalists has three hand-picked sous chefs waiting for them. Brooke has chosen Team California--CJ, Stefan, Kuniko--for whatever reason. Maybe to save Bravo airfare? Kristen, on the other hand, has chosen the sharpest knives in the box, namely the last three contestants to be eliminated from the competition--Mustache, Sheldon, and Lizzie."

Grub Street actually amused me a little this week: "Kristen and Brooke are both sweating while cooking their red snappler, a kind of fish. Brooke is pairing it with a 'pork cheek.' Between that and her pig-ear salad, I think Brooke would be a good person to know if you’re stranded on a desert island where the only thing to eat is a bag of pigs’ heads. Me, I would look at a bag of pigs’ heads and say, 'Nothing to eat here,' but Brooke would be like, 'I can make 30 entrees out of this one head, you idiot,' and I’d say, 'Well, excuse me for not knowing how to make a meal out of a dumb pig’s head,' and she’d be like, 'What’s wrong with knowing how to cook a pig’s cheek?' and I’d be like, 'Actually, I think it’s cool that you know all that stuff about food — in fact, I watched you on Top Chef,' and she’d say, 'I figured as much because don’t you remember how we were both on the Top Chef Cruise, which sunk, which is why we’re on this desert island in the first place?'"

Grantland says what we've all been thinking: "How else to explain the near-disastrous decision-making on display? Just a week after I praised the veteran food competition for always considering contestants 'solely on the strength of their cooking,' the producers chucked their winning format in the garbage like so many burnt pig ears. In its place we were served something both unwanted and unexpected: an overheated, painfully dulled version of Iron Chef. Instead of excitement, it was hard not to feel sorry for Kristen Kish and Brooke Williamson, the two totally deserving, totally shellshocked finalists, as they were pitted against each other in a garish kumite that treated both their talents and the audience's comprehension the way a Vitamix treats an overripe tomato. Instead of cooking the 'meal of their lives,' the two gifted chefs were forced to cook as if their lives depended on it, racing breathlessly to push out 68 plates (!) of each course, and then stand, sweating like salted eggplants, while it was judged on a nuance-free up and down vote, separated by time and context from what came before or after. It was loud and it was dumb. Kristen won, but we all lost."

Eater on baby mama? " I'm not sure how Brooke and Kristen worked out the sous chefs, but Stefan is on Brooke's team. He calls to Kristen. 'I chose light blue.' 'For what?' 'The baby's bedroom!' 'Shut up.' She seems genuinely uncomfortable with that joke. Maybe you took it too far, Stefan? I know I did. Sometimes, what people hate even more than being objectified is joke-objectified. What if she does want a baby with you, Stefan? Now your joke is mean. But who doesn't want a baby with you."

Mary Alice from Charm City Cakes for the Baltimore Sun on formatting: "The entire episode was done in Iron Chef style 'live' from a Kitchen Stadium-esque set with a hooting and hollering audience. This episode was also edited in a frenetic, choppy way that left me edgy and confused. The challenges and dishes were not clearly introduced, so much so that I was pretty sure at one point that I had missed the first 30 minutes of the show."

Posted on AllTopChef.com

All Top Chef Interview with Kristen Kish

noreply@blogger.com (LauraK) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Top Chef Seattle Champion, Kristen Kish, talks about her experience on the show.

A highlight:

ATC: I felt like last night's episode went by very quickly. Did you watch?

KK: Yes. I felt like there were a lot of details that were not shown on the program, like how we chose our sous chefs and how we developed our recipes...all of the work that comes before the cooking - but it is only an hour show...

ATC: Yes, that is one of my questions, were ALL of the season 10 chefs brought back for you to choose from?

KK: No, I think there were maybe eight or ten... after the last challenge at Craft, we chose our sous chefs.

ATC: Playground style?

KK: We flipped a coin and I chose Lizzie and Sheldon and later we found out we could choose one more, and that's when I picked Josh.

ATC: Were you surprised to learn that you had to cook for 150 people?

KK: Not completely. We had to send in a food order ahead of time, so we had an idea...

Click here for the full interview.

Thank you Kristen!

Posted on AllTopChef.com

All Top Chef Interview with Brooke Williamson

noreply@blogger.com (LauraK) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:30:00 +0000

Top Chef Seattle finalist, Brooke Williamson talks about her experience on the show.

A highlight:

ATC: Do you think it was harder to fight your way through all of the challenges, or to fight back in Last Chance Kitchen?

BW: That's a good questions. They are both hard. Last Chance Kitchen is more predictable. You know it is 30 minutes. You know Tom is your judge and you know you have to beat one chef. It's do or die.

Click here for the full interview.

Thank you Chef Brooke.

Posted on AllTopChef.com

Chef Kristen Kish is Top Chef!

noreply@blogger.com (Neal P) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 13:30:00 +0000

After being crowned Top Chef, Chef Kish thanked Tom Colicchio for Last Chance Kitchen, and there's little wonder why. In the past, top contenders have been sent home for being the leaders in Restaurant Wars. This time, however, Kristen was able to fight her way back into the finale and claim the Top Chef win. Chef Kish was deemed a favorite to take the top prize after only a couple of episodes, and her determination to win never faltered. To battle back after her controversial elimination was quite a feat and proves that Chef Kish is truly Top Chef.

Congratulations Chef Kish on a hard fought win!

Posted on AllTopChef.com

Reactions to Top Chef Seattle Finale Part Two

noreply@blogger.com (Neal P) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 13:15:00 +0000

It looked like Top Chef became Iron Chef when the two finalists, Brooke and Kristen, went head-to-head in a flashy kitchen studio with a live audience. The cheftestants were competing to win the best three courses out of a possible five in order to be crowned Top Chef.

For the first course, Kristen served chicken liver mousse while Brooke went with a crispy pig ear and three-minute egg. The judges gave Kristen the win. The second course was a scallop battle and this time Brooke's hard-seared scallop won out over Kristen's citrus cured mollusk.

With the score tied, Brooke tried to show that she could cook chicken on the bone with vadouvan chicken wings. Kristen's bone marrow and celery root puree won the round however. Course number four was a red snapper battle. Brooke paired her snapper with pork cheek while Kristen went with a simpler preparation using leeks and uni. Kristen's clean, straight-forward approach gave her the third win and the title of Top Chef.

What did you think of last night's finale? Leave your comments below.

Posted on AllTopChef.com

Recap Roundup - Top Chef Seattle Finale Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:00:00 +0000

A Just Recompense on Project Runway: "Some will disagree, as Top Chef has stolen the concept of 'home visits' from Project Runway (which probably means the Elves merely transplanted their own idea). Problem is: what makes the PR home visits work is Tim Gunn. Top Chef has no Tim Gunn (remember one of the first things Tom said back in Season 1: 'I’m not a mentor, I’m a judge'). What they do have are two finalists with lovely families, and I suppose the producers just couldn’t resist the opportunity to show that off. Not to mention get a trip to Hawaii."

Minxeats on cranky: "Soon enough time is up and Tom is in the kitchen to expedite. And he's a real cranky bossypants in that position. He makes the chefs as nervous as if this were the first time they had ever worked the line, and both Sheldon and Kristen DO work the line at their current jobs. In between fits of crank, Tom tastes all of the dishes."

Eater on welcome back: "I have never been as nervous watching Top Chef as I was last night, while Sheldon and Brooke waited to see who'd come through the double doors. Maybe it's my innate sense of fairness, maybe it's because I've developed this strong emotional attachment to Chef Kish, maybe I realize that the $125,000 prize money could be part of our dowery, but I would have flipped out at this show had Kristen not rolled through. I would have walked away and left Eater without its final two recaps. And God forbid a blog doesn't post about a TV show; the whole system would shut down. But Kristen did not disappoint. She's back, and Brooke, Sheldon, and Kristen make for one of the best final threes I can recall."

Grub Street on where's the product placement? "The three chefs marvel that they’re cooking in craft’s kitchen, but it looks like every other kitchen to me: I see ovens, sinks, and shiny counters. Interestingly, I don’t see any Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Healthy Choice Meals, or Reynolds Wrap. Are we sure this place is legit?"

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All Top Chef Interview with Sheldon Simeon

noreply@blogger.com (LauraK) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Chef Sheldon Simeon talks to ATC about his experience on the show.

A highlight:

ATC: It looks like you have become a celebrity in Hawaii. How does that feel?

SS: Everyone has been so nice. It is definitely weird to be recognized in the street and to be posing for photographs. But I was the same way. I mean I have been a fan of the show and I was giddy whenever I saw any of the chefs. I enjoy meeting new people and it has really been fun.

ATC: Were you surprised to see Kristen as the winner of Last Chance Kitchen?

SS: No. Not at all. Everyone knew that she was a frontrunner. It was a surprise when she was eliminated. I had a feeling she would be back.

Click here for the full interview.

Click here to learn more about Star Noodle.

Click here to vote for Fan Favorite.

Thank you Chef Sheldon!

Posted on AllTopChef.com

ATC Love to Chef Sheldon Simeon

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:30:00 +0000

After a long season in which Sheldon's talent grew more and more apparent with each passing episode, it was a bit of a letdown to see him change his own personal culinary gears and produce a rather lackluster dinner. Not that it wasn't delicious, but there was a bit too much "new Sheldon" and not enough "old Sheldon" in his meal, particularly in his quail with pine nut sauce. The raw fennel in his dessert didn't help things, either.

Sheldon's dream is to have his own restaurant some day, and judging by the mini-celebrity he's seemed to achieved in his native Hawaii, that dream will probably be coming true in the near future.

Great work this season, Chef! We know we'll be hearing more about you in the years to come.

Posted on AllTopChef.com

Reactions to Top Chef Seattle Finale Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:15:00 +0000

Sheldon and Brooke parted ways in Alaska only to be reunited six and a half months later in Los Angeles for the Top Chef Seattle finale. They head to Tom Colicchio's Craft and find out who they'll be competing against - the winner of Last Chance Kitchen. Not surprisingly, it's Kristen, who beat the pants off the last several auf'd cheftestants, as we see in a rather long-winded montage segment.

The challenge the final three face is to cook a three course meal during service at Craft. They are each responsible for an app, an entree, and a dessert. Brooke starts out slow, changing her mind about her courses every few minutes. Sheldon seems pretty confident in his first two courses. He promises to show a bit of "new Sheldon" because he believes he should demonstrate his growth through the competition. Kristen realizes she over-thinks things and vows to keep it simple, stupid.

In the end, Brooke had issues during service but her three courses were probably the strongest. Kristen's meal had its problems, but ultimately was good enough to get her a spot in the finale. And the new Sheldon wasn't as appreciated as much as the old Sheldon. His quail dish was tasty and well cooked, but didn't show off the flavors he'd made himself famous for over the past several weeks. And his dismissal means that Top Chef will finally get a second female winner.

What did you think about this episode? Please leave a comment.

Posted on AllTopChef.com

Recap Roundup - Top Chef Seattle Episode 15

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:00:00 +0000

A Just Recompense on transport, Top Chef-style: "Continuing the theme of weird transportation (the Elves wanted to go with Planes, Trains & Automobiles, but it was already taken, so we got 'Cruise Ships, Helicopters, and Dogsleds' instead. And if that doesn’t have quite the same ring, well, that’s television; it isn’t like they had the $30 mil budget of the movie), they travel by dogsled to an Iditarod training camp. Brooke isn’t afraid of dogsleds. Either that, or the Xanax is still in effect."

Minxeats on scumbag behavior: "Roy [Choi], a Food & Wine best new chef, rose to fame with his fleet of Kogi Korean BBQ Food trucks. He tells the chefs that before he got into cooking full time, he was a real 'scumbag.' But one day, while being a scumbag, doing scumbag things like hanging out on the couch, watching Emeril Live! he happened to catch an episode in which Emeril cooks short ribs. It was a lightbulb moment, and right after that, Choi looked into culinary schools."

Mary Alice of Charm City Cakes for the Baltimore Sun recaps the episode, but you'll have to click the link and see for yourself because the Sun wants to charge me for reading the article.

Grub Street on looking back: "But! Before that happens, the shit really hits the fan for Josh: His wife calls to inform him — via speakerphone, for the sake of the cameras — that her water broke and she's about to have their baby. Josh is moderately broken up. His kid will always know that dad missed the birth of his child because he was on a reality cooking competition. But chin up, kid: Going through life knowing that your dad chose Top Chef over your birth won't be half as embarrassing as knowing your dad thought an ironic waxed mustache was a smart look in 2013."

Eater on doggies: "The chefs disembark from the helicopter and are surrounded by so many dogs. Oh my God I love pups. Are they cooking for the dogs? I would very much like to see a Quickfire judged by 100 barking dogs. I think Josh would have a good chance of winning. Or do the chefs have to use the dogs as a main ingredient? I do not support kennel-to-table cooking, no matter how local it may be in Alaska."

Posted on AllTopChef.com

All Top Chef Interview with Joshua Valentine

noreply@blogger.com (LauraK) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Top Chef Seattle contestant, Josh Valentine talks about his experience on the show.

A highlight:

ATC: Tell us about FT33.

JV: Right now I am the pastry chef. We have been open for about 5 months. We were just named the "Best New Restaurant of 2012" in Dallas.

ATC: What does "FT33" mean?

JV: It's kind of a restaurant term - "Fire Table 33." We are an open-kitchen restaurant. Thirty-three is kind of the chef's table. It is elevated and the diners can see into the kitchen and watch as everything is plated.

ATC: What is the most popular pastry item on the menu?

JV: The menu changes regularly because we are very seasonal. Right now we have a peanut butter panna cotta dessert - that one is very popular. Everyone likes chocolate and peanut butter.

Probably one of the more interesting desserts right now is the Olive Oil Financier with Juniper Ganache and Apple Celery Sorbet and Compressed Celery with Gin.

ATC: Yum.

Click here for the full interview.

Click here to learn more about Josh's restaurant, FT33 in Dallas.

Thank you Chef Josh!

Posted on AllTopChef.com

ATC Love to Chef Joshua Valentine

noreply@blogger.com (Neal P) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:45:00 +0000

It feels odd saying goodbye to a Valentine on Valentine's Day, but sadly we must bid farewell to Chef Joshua Valentine. When asked to make a dish that reflected the moment he knew he wanted to become a chef, Chef Valentine remembered reading an article about foie gras when he was 16 years old. He prepared foie gras three ways, but one of those preparations, a torchon, proved to be his downfall. He overreached, trying to make a dish that would normally takes days to prepare in only two and a half hours.

While it was sad to see him go so close to the finale, at least he could get home to his wife and newborn daughter Georgia.

Posted on AllTopChef.com

Congratulations Chef Brooke Williamson!

noreply@blogger.com (Neal P) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:30:00 +0000

Well, this is getting rather redundant! Chef Williamson has won again! Not only did she win the Quickfire Challenge, but she also won the Elimination Challenge. Using her mother as the inspiration for why she wanted to become a chef, she made braised chicken and quail. Equally homey and complex, Chef Williamson illustrated both the roots of her culinary interest and the level of expertise she has developed along the way.

Heading into the finale, she has certainly shown that she has what it takes to win. Only Sheldon and the winner of Last Chance Kitchen stand in her way.

Posted on AllTopChef.com

Reactions to Top Chef Seattle Episode 15

noreply@blogger.com (Neal P) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:15:00 +0000

With only three cheftestants left, the episode had to be padded somehow. The final three were driven to the Eagle Crest ski area, flown by helicopter into the mountains, and then put on dog sleds to finally reach a dog sledding camp. Padma and Tom were already there and told the chefs that they had 30 minutes to make a dish for the dog sled athletes using whatever was in the camp. Brooke and Sheldon opt for halibut while Josh falls back on his favorite: breakfast. It came down to the two halibut dishes, but Brooke pulled out the win because of her panzanella salad.

After returning to sea level, the chefs were treated to a lunch prepared by Emeril and hot LA chef, Roy Choi. During the lunch, everyone talked about the moment they knew they wanted to become chefs. This led to the Elimination Challenge: make a dish that reflects this pivotal moment. They had two and a half hours to prep and cook for the judges, along with the Governor and First Lady of Alaska at the Governor's mansion. With Sam Choi as his inspiration, Sheldon cooked snapper. Josh used foie gras as inspiration and prepared it three ways. Brooke used her mother's cooking as inspiration and made braised chicken and quail.

Brooke's dish took the win, but Sheldon's broth was too salty and Josh's torchon did not live up to expectations. It was a close call, but Josh was sent home to be with his wife and newborn daughter.

What did you think of last night's episode? Leave your comments below.

Posted on AllTopChef.com

Recap Roundup - Top Chef Seattle Episode 14

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:00:00 +0000

A Just Recompense on the bonus prize: "To no one’s surprise, Brooke wins. Seems the locals all agreed, as well. “I’m dying to go to Costa Rica,” she says. I don’t know if that’s because a producer is poking her with a sharp stick to get her to be enthusiastic about this product-placement prize, or if she’s always wanted to learn more about Fair Trade coffee – or if she’s just cold."

Minxeats on missing old friends: "This week the cheftestants - Mustache, Sheldon, Brooke, and Lizzie - start the show off by lamenting the loss of dear, sweet, kind, thumb-like Stefan. They miss his good heart, or something like that. Surely he paid them to compliment him after he left."

Eater on culinary destinations: "The chefs are at Tracy's King Crab Shack, 'Juneau's #1 culinary destination.' They are also literally steps from where their cruise ship docked, which is a funny place for a city's most famous restaurant to be. It's as if people land in Juneau to grab something from Tracy's and then immediately leave to eat it, like if the Burger King in the Port Authority was New York's #1 culinary destination, which it is if you are addicted to huffing."

Mary Alice from Charm City Cakes for the Baltimore Sun on babies, but not Josh's: "Sheldon is up next, he’s prepared a green tea & chive sourdough with smoked salmon and pea soup. His dish has some problems. Sean Brock is disappointed how Sheldon actually served the salmon — ripping it up with tongs like it was pulled pork. 'It is almost disrespectful.' he said. Hugh thinks the soup reminded him more of baby food. 'But a good baby, a healthy baby, a well flavored baby.' and suddenly we’re all thinking of soup that is made from babies. Thanks, Hugh."

Foodie Gossip on home sweet home: "The foursome retreat to the Jorgenson House, a lovely bed and breakfast in Juneau. Imagine a cozy country home complete with fireplace and old timey furniture. They do the obligatory “walk around and talk about how nice things are” scene when in a moment hard to describe with words, Sheldon jumps out from a curtain and scares the bejesus out of Brooke. She was genuinely scared, like literally curled up in a ball with tears coming out. Ah...priceless."

Grub Street still doesn't bother to do research or spell check: "Sheldon is smoking pine needles to flavor his asparagus. What kind of example is Sheldon setting? He’s essentially using a forest fire as an ingredient. This is the moment when Smokey the Bear throws a brick at his TV. Sheldon makes a miso out of the crab innards. Brooke goes crab-crazy, turning out crab butter with crab, and topping it off with crab salad and more crab. Josh decides to poach crab legs and make soucatosh(?), which pleases Sean Brock, a southern gentleman and suocautash(?) enthusiast who apparently hopped the wrong boxcar and wound up in Alaska."

Posted on AllTopChef.com

ATC Love to Chef Lizzie Binder

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:45:00 +0000

Chef Lizzie hung in there for fourteen weeks, usually earning compliments on her dishes. This week, she got to cook fish, a protein that should be in her wheelhouse, especially since her late father taught her how to catch and clean her own. She chose a simple dish, citrus and beet glazed salmon served on home-made sourdough rolls. While her rolls were the best bread of the evening, the fish didn't have enough seasoning to stand out, and for that, she was sent home.

Good luck, Lizzie, in your career. We've enjoyed watching you and maybe we'll see you later in the competition, if you win LCK or are saved by the viewers.

Posted on AllTopChef.com

Congratulations, Chef Brooke Williamson!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:30:00 +0000

Tom Colicchio wondered about Brooke's decision to poach her salmon to order in the Elimination Challenge this week, and his comments to that effect made her rethink her decision. It was too late to change things at that point in the game, but it didn't matter - her original idea was a great success. The judges loved her salmon and her broth, and the way the bread soaked it up.

Congrats, Chef Brooke, on your second consecutive Elimination Challenge win, and enjoy the trip to Costa Rica!

Posted on AllTopChef.com

Reactions to Top Chef Seattle Episode 14

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:15:00 +0000

This week, the chefs competed in lovely Juneau, Alaska, using fresh Alaskan seafood. First, they celebrated crab by using it in the Quickfire Challenge. Sheldon impressed guest judge Sean Brock with his miso soup and pine-smoked asparagus with crab, and got a nifty $5,000 prize to take home.

For the Elimination Challenge, the chefs had to use freshly-caught salmon and 31-year-old sourdough starter to feed 200 diners at a picnic-like event called the Gold Creek Salmon Bake. Rather than bake their salmon, three of the four cheftestants made soup, and Lizzie cooked her fish on the grill.

Brooke's dish of poached salmon with broth hit all the right notes with the judges, and they gave her the win and a trip to Costa Rica. The other three dishes had both high and low points, but they decided that Lizzie's salmon didn't have enough flavor to compete with her near-perfect sourdough roll. She had lots of experience with fishing as a child, but it wasn't enough to keep her in the competition.

What did you think about this episode? Please leave a comment.

Posted on AllTopChef.com

TC 11: Casting Call

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:25:00 +0000

Are you ready for your own Top Chef coat? NBC just announced nationwide casting call starting on February 11^th.

AUSTIN
Monday, February 11, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Uchiko
http://uchiaustin.com/uchiko

BROOKLYN
Wednesday, February 20, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Talde
http://taldebrooklyn.com

LAS VEGAS
Wednesday, February 20, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
STK in The Cosmopolitan
http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/taste/restaurant-collection/stk.aspx

CHICAGO
Sunday, February 24, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Girl & The Goat
http://www.girlandthegoat.com/

MIAMI
Monday, February 25, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Michy’s
http://michysmiami.com/

LOS ANGELES
Friday, March 1, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
The Foundry on Melrose
http://www.thefoundryonmelrose.com

For additional casting information and to download an application, visit www.BravoTV.com/casting.

Posted on AllTopChef.com

Recap Roundup - Top Chef Seattle Episode 13

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Minxeatson ill-advised: "Brooke doesn't like boats. She doesn't explain exactly why. She says she has to get over it though because she fears passing her phobia on to her kid. But isn't that what parents are for? To make their kids neurotic? She indulges in a series of umbrella drinks with her compadres and keeps a box of Dramamine handy, just in case drinking on a boat is a bad idea. Ahem."

Eater on the non-foodie member of the lettuce family: "Sheldon is bummed because iceberg is so boring but I would counter that maybe Sheldon is boring and he should shut up. Iceberg lettuce is great. It's what gives Taco Bell soft tacos crunch and stops them from being entirely smooth, frictionless diarrhea igniters."

HitFix on Qsine: "The theme of the evening is wacky, it seems. They eat sushi lollipops and food in drawers. The drawer thing is not working for Stefan, as he has OCD and wants to move everything around. I'm just wondering if the food is any good, honestly. Putting sushi on a stick does not in any way make it better."

Grub Street on Curtis: "Okay, anyway, they walk into the ship’s kitchen (called 'the galley') where they see ... CURTIS STONE! Curtis Stone is one of my favorite people to look at and think about in the context of cooking shows. Needless to say, he looks like an Adonis, although I’m not crazy about his new short haircut — I miss the wind-swept chaos that used to define his personal grooming. Maybe the producers asked him to cut it because of its resemblance to deadly crashing waves? (Lizzie has no complaints and gushes over Curtis’s appearance.)"

Allie is Wired on Quickfire eats: "Padma and Curtis are enjoying some booze on deck. Stefan serves up his offering first. It goes over well. Sheldon gets a 'very nice' from Padma before Lizzie enters with her bacon infused creation. Josh also shows up with a bacon heavy bite. Curtis notes that Josh 'walks like a chef.' Not sure what that means. Brooke offers up a mouthful of scallop nibbly thing."

Entertainment Weekly on proteins: "Because Sheldon won the Quickfire, he'd get first pick at his proteins, and none of the other chefs could choose them. The other chefs joked that Sheldon should choose canned tuna and Spam and other undesirables. But instead of reaching for the emu meat and live sea cucumber, he went for the most standard proteins available: beef tenderloin and lobster."

A Just Recompense on surf and surf? "Brooke takes frog legs and mussels. This raises an interesting question: are amphibians surf, or turf? They’re usually treated like chicken. They breathe air. I call them turf. But she’s not sure. It’s different, at least. She’s stressed because her dish takes seven steps to plate. But she gets the Mussels and Frog Legs with Celery Root and Fennel Puree, Papadums, and Shallot Chutney done. Curtis is impressed with the inventiveness. Tom likes the flavors; frogs aren’t usually that earthy, but she made them earthy. The only problem is the greasy papadums."

Posted on AllTopChef.com