Top Chef All Stars

The best of the best of the nation's food world glitterati are in New York this weekend for the industry's Oscars, the James Beard Awards. Although the main ceremony doesn't take place until later this evening, the events kicked off on Friday with the announcement of the book, broadcast, and journalism awards.

A huge congratulations is in order for our friends at the San Francisco Chronicle; they took home the prize for best food section of a general interest publication. To check out the full list of winners, which includes Alton Brown and Top Chef: All-Stars, keep reading.

Top Chef All-Stars champ Richard Blais was the guest of honor earlier this week at an event in NYC hosted by the National Pork Board called, "Pork: Be Inspired." He concocted a few pork-based recipes for the assembled reporters, including a delicious ham and herb schnitzel with a 6-minute egg — check out that recipe below.

He narrated the process of making the dishes, adding some of his trademark quips like, "Is it weird if I say there is something romantic about a piece of meat basted in its own juices?" Richard also emphasized that he wishes people would just get over their fear of burning pork when they're cooking. I managed to snag a minute with Richard after the demo, and he chatted about how he celebrated with his wife after his big win (a low key dinner at the Big Apple's Blue Ribbon), further sharing about his favorite Spring picnic dish, joining the Top Chef tour, and what's next. He said:

• On his favorite dish for a picnic: Right now for spring, I just did something with asparagus
  so whether it's asparagus or artichokes and mayonnaise and some lemon and some toast. Some olive oil. It sounds like simple stuff, but that's what I like to eat in the Spring and Summer."
• On joining the Top Chef tour: "I'm doing some of the tour dates yeah, I'm not sure what cities I'll end up in. It'll be my fourth year on the tour, and if you get a chance, whatever city you're in to come out and see it, it's a lot of fun. This year we're adding a competitive element to it where the contestants are going to be competing again in front of the tour audiences.
• On what's next for him: "I'm opening a few restaurants in the Southeast, but as a native New Yorker and someone who loves big cities I would love to get a project going in major A-List city. But nothing to report just yet."

To see Richard's recipe for ham and herb schnitzel with a 6-minute egg, just read more

Bravo had a big night with Top Chef last evening. The reunion show of All-Stars was packed with fun videos, hysterical moments, and even a showdown with Tom and Elia! Then, afterward was the season premiere of the revamped Masters, which the majority of you were planning on watching.

It was pretty exciting: the cheftestants were surprised with Restaurant Wars in the first episode! The quickfire reminded me of Chopped, but I really enjoyed the elimination. I also loved getting to know these chefs — especially the handsome George Mendes who was just named Best New Chef by Food & Wine.

Did you catch them? What did you think of the reunion? And the food on Masters? Let's get a discussion going in the comments!

Photo courtesy of Bravo

Who better to cover the last episode of Top Chef All-Stars than former cheftestant (and contender from this season!) Fabio Viviani? Chef, take it away!

It's over!! I mean almost. The finale is here in the sunny Bahamas, I'd rather today to go water-skiing than get picked and help my two brothers (hey, at the end they ARE from a different mother), but I'll do my fair share and talk them into NOT picking me, but I promise that if I will I'll give heart and soul. Richard is worry.

Mike want to beat Richie and start some serious physiological warfare, Mike is hilarious and Richard is so worry that he can't even talk back to him.

I laughed my butt off when Mike said, "I hope you lose" in his face and Richard instead of go for the throat and answer "you know Mike? F*ck you, you foul mouth piece of sh*t you can kiss my ass I will win this and then I'll rub it in your face" type of thing, he all calm and worry said, "I hope you lose too." AAWWW Richie! That is the sweetest mean things I ever heard! You such a good guy!!!

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

We've got the hilarious Fabio Viviani's recap of the Top Chef All-Stars season finale coming up later today, but now, I want to get your opinion of the show. I found it highly entertaining, and although I assumed Richard Blais was going to win, I couldn't help but root for Mike, the underdog.

The food looked amazing (especially Richard's oyster and Mike's pepperoni sauce!) and it was fun to see the cheftestants come together and work under Richard and Mike. I was bummed that my favorite, Jen Carroll, didn't get kitchen time, but it was nice that Jamie Lauren stepped up to the challenge of helping Mike. Did you watch? What did you think of the outcome?

Photo courtesy of Bravo

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.