Masaharu Morimoto

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.

• Gail Simmons opens up about her role as hostess of Top Chef: Just Desserts. — Feast
• Tips for making homemade sausage. — Huffington Post Food
• Everything you need to know about Morimoto's new Napa restaurant. — Inside Scoop
• Be like Thomas Keller and make your own cured lemons. — Food Wishes
• How to refuse dessert politely. — Chow
• On a hot night, serve chilled cucumber soup for dinner. — The Epi-Log
• Anthony Bourdain is hosting a food writing contest. — Eater
• Catching up with the Food Network's Adam Gertler. — Serious Eats
• Find out how President Obama prefers his pizza slices. — Grub Street CHI

Masaharu Morimoto's cooking demo in Aspen was exactly that: a demonstration. To be more specific, it was a mind-blowing demonstration of how stupefyingly skilled he is in the kitchen.

The Iron Chef began by making a fried fish cake noodle soup, first puréeing white fish with egg whites, potato starch, and soy, then piping the tacky, moist mousse into simmering fish broth to form udon-like noodles, which were finished with a flash-fry in vegetable oil.

But the real show began when Morimoto pulled out his mad Japanese knife techniques to create the most stunning sashimi platter that I've ever seen. Read more about it after the jump.

• A first look at Anthony Bourdain's soon-to-be-released book, Medium Raw. — Grub Street NY
• Announcing the winner of the Food52 and Cook's Illustrated recipe-off. — Slate
• How to date a chef without getting fat. — iVillage
• An all-encompassing guide to paprika. — Serious Eats
• Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto is launching a Summer booze cruise in New York City. — Eater NY
• Rick Bayless's menu for the recent state dinner at the White House sounds amazing. — Huffington Post Food
• Learn how to make pad Thai at home. — Chow
• Entertaining pros provide their advice for the perfect party invitations. — The Epi-Log
• Find out why the liqueur Curaçao tastes like oranges, but is blue in color.— The Atlantic

Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto's got a new project in the works. Yesterday the hospitality company Delaware North Cos announced a partnership with the sushi master, with plans to launch Skewers, a new fast-casual airport restaurant chain.

Although no sushi will be on the menu, the concept will offer travelers easily portable meals like soups and salads, as well as a variety of skewered meats and vegetables.

Known as yakitori in Japan, skewers are an incredibly popular street food and Morimoto hopes to introduce the world to his interpretation of it. "Yakitori is the next big wave, I think," Morimoto said, adding confidently, "It will be very popular."

While the rollout dates and details concerning the locations have not been released, I think the idea sounds interesting. I've yet to experience yakitori and am curious to see how Morimoto translates it to the masses. How about you? Have you had yakitori? Will Morimoto's latest endeavor be a success?

Days before the season finale of The Next Food Network Star — and hot off the heels of another captivating Top Chef Masters round — we've learned more about another foodie reality TV show. After the first successful iteration of The Next Iron Chef in 2007 (alums Michael Symon, Chris Cosentino, and Aaron Sanchez have all become Food Network personalities), the show is returning for a second season on Oct. 4.

This season will purportedly "take the contestants from Los Angeles to Japan to New York to compete in the food fight of their professional lives." Alton Brown hosts once again, with the competitors facing the wrath of three judges: returning panelist and restaurateur Donatella Arpaia, Vogue food writer Jeffrey Steingarten, and sustainable advisor (and Slow Food Nation director) Anya Fernald.

Who will be next to join the likes of Bobby Flay, Cat Cora, Mario Batali, Michael Symon, and Masaharu Morimoto (who just confirmed plans to open his first West Coast restaurant)? I've got my speculations — and I'd love to hear yours below. Find out who the 10 contenders are.