Top Chef

Who better to cover the finale of Top Chef All-Stars than former cheftestant (and contender from this season!) Fabio Viviani? Fabio, take it away!Here we go. We're getting close to knowing who the Top Chef will be. I mean, these people are all Top Chefs in my book already, and honestly I believe that everyone but me was truly at a certain point thinking that they were actually going to win.

Now, let's get to the juice: three last standing! Richard is worried already, Mike is on a roll, and the Black Hammer is doing some voodoo in order to bring the kiss of death on the neck of the other two chefs! You guys know how much I love Antonia. We are friends, so please stop giving me crap about the fact that I always side with the boys, 'cause no one make the ladies happy like I already try to do. I'm just having fun with her.

The rest of Fabio's humorous recap is after the jump.

For the conch episode of Top Chef All-Stars, we have Finnish favorite, chef Stefan Richter, sharing his thoughts.

What's up everybody?! Lots has happened since I blogged last time. I have been to Finland, my homeland, and I opened a steakhouse in a beautiful cotton factory on a river in Tampere. You can see pictures on my Facebook or follow me on Twitter, if you like. Finland was fun, exiting, and a little emotional. My mom used to work across my new restaurant, 45 years ago as a chef at the Grand Hotel Tammer in Tampere.

Back to Top Chef: I haven't watched it since my Paisano Fabio got kicked off and I'm not really in the loop. So Carla is gone, Marcel is gone, Jamie my little love is gone, and who else is worth mentioning? This season it is pretty boring in my eyes, not because I'm not on, because most of it looks so calculated and preorganized and made up. And Sesame Street, really? What's next week? Hannah Montana or Justin Bieber? Maybe the Mickey Mouse Club on Masters? BRAVO you want some challenges? Hire me, I'll make them up for you.

Keep reading for the rest of Stefan's recap.

Our favorite food truck chef is back! Owner of 3-Sum Eats and past Top Chef competitor Ryan Scott is here to share his thoughts on last night's Bahamas episode of Top Chef All-Stars. Take it away Chef Scott!Hey guys, you know, I must say, it does feel somewhat surreal watching friends of yours on a show that you were once on. That surreal feeling deepens especially considering these are close friends — people I have cooked with and have nothing but the utmost respect for. For instance, last weekend I was out in Charleston, SC, doing a cooking competition with Carla Hall and then three days later she's on the TV staring back at me as I kick back on the couch with my girlfriend. These are some of my favorite people in the world here, and some serious chefs too.

It can get straight up emotional to watch. There's a whole lot more than just a cooking competition on the line right now — there's integrity, reputation, jobs, families, mortgages. Not to get all sappy on you here folks, but a lot can be won or lost on this show. I don't know y'all (just picked up the y'all in South Carolina, thinkin' about bring it back to the Bay Area) sorry that I'm not as funny right now as I have been in the past, but this stuff is real.

To see more of Scott's thoughtful recap, keep reading.

There's no one who could provide a more entertaining perspective on the all-star season of Top Chef than a former contestant. That's why we've asked Top Chef New York contender (and All-Star!) Fabio Viviani to watch the show and share his thoughts. Fabio, take it away!Let me start by saying that it's a pleasure to share this fun recap with YumSugar, you guys are been very kind to me and not only I like your site very much but I also love you to pieces!

As soon as the episode start I already witness something that pissed me off: Richard telling everybody how much the departure of Dale Talde make him sad is the only departure that make him very sad! Richie, WTF? I thought we had something. I thought that since I dropped Stefan now you were my lover, and instead of telling everyone how much you miss me all I hear is that you will only miss Dale? Fine, Professor. Forget about that I was your real love on the show, forget that we were roommate for almost five weeks while Dale was sleeping with "Angela" and "The Black Italian" Tre . . . forget about the fact that I made you win Restaurant War . . . forget about the fact that I carried you throughout the Italian challenge . . . forget about the fact that I got kicked off cause someone that knows how to make great Boo-Ger didn't helped too much, forget about that I was the one that prepped the food for you and sent you to the Barbados, let's forget all this, go with Dale and be happy with him. BTW, he has a girlfriend. Hope you like to share.

To find out what he thought of the episode's outcome, keep reading.

• How to grow an edible garden. — Serious Eats
• A photographic look at the best of South Beach. — Metromix New York
• Inside a Top Chef casting call. — The Feast
• Today is the last day to vote for the People's Best New Chef. — Eatocracy
• A review of Arby's new Angus three cheese and bacon sandwich. — SlashFood
• Chef Ludo Lefebvre has scored himself a television show. — Eater
• Jimmy Fallon goes inside David Chang's kitchen. — Fork in the Road
• Mario Batali names New York's most fashionable foodies. — Grub Street NY

Last night's Top Chef All-Stars took things down South, and the butter and the drama were a-flying! The queen of butter herself, Paula Deen, guest judged and presented the cheftestants with the quickfire challenge: deep fry something, y'all! And Paula being Paula, she meant business: "I've deep fried mac and cheese, lasagna, chunks of butter," she told them. "No calamari sprinkled on top of a salad!"

Some of the chefs totally got the concept of Southern cooking, and some clearly didn't (how many times did Dale tell us he cooks Chinese food, not Southern?). Antonia made me nervous with her decision to do a fried shrimp salad (didn't you listen to Paula, Antonia?), but the end result was a decidedly un-salad-like combination of crispy fried shrimp and deep-fried avocado. Unfortunately, she totally spaced and only plated one dish, which prompted my favorite line of the night from Paula: "I could come over there, put you over my knee, and whip your cute little ass!"

Meanwhile, Mike and Richard were working on some chef drama of their own. Mike's fun and creative idea to fry up chicken oysters and serve them in oyster shells was apparently "inspired" by an idea in Richard's notebook. Richard was peeved, Mike was unapologetic, and it only got worse when Mike won the quickfire challenge for his dish! The house was totally abuzz with Mike's disregard for chef law, and Mike reacted by playing the jerk card for the rest of the episode.

More about this episode and the elimination challenge after the break!

Here to recap last night's Top Chef All-Stars is the always awesome TC Chicago cheftestant Jen Biesty. Take it away Jen!

Blooowing UP and hitting The Buitoni Target is where it's AT!

What is more popular than cookies and Cookie Monster? Well, my niece will argue it is Elmo — and we got both last night on Top Chef All-Stars for none other than a COOKIE Challenge.

Dale is so ready to dis on Mike Isabella for being a chubby. Yo Dale, I love ya, but you too have been eating some dozen or so cookies by the looks of you!

OK cute challenge: too cute.

To find out what Jen thought of the elimination, keep reading.

The always entertaining Stefan Richter is back! Here are his thoughts on this week's Top Chef All-Stars. Take it away chef!

Hello Everybody: This will be short and sweet. Before I start blogging I have to say I love Tabatha Salon Takeovers; she makes me laugh a lot and she hates to be called sweetheart. So do I.

Three-day trip to Napa? Really? That's something new. Fondue. I make fondue in my restaurants sometimes. Dale funny guy, PHOONDUE, love it, he has gone from child to grown up. Ohhh pobresito: Angelo making things that are too complicated (that's something new). Blais, I know you hitting on my man, but great idea, I like it. I will put that on my menu next week. Goat cheese, barf hate it, can't stand goat cheese. Carla screwed up, it's very funky looking. Antonia is ratting on Mike Isabella. It is down to the wire. They all look tired and over it.

Keep reading what Stefan has to say after the jump.