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Top Chef Vegas: Episode 12

partysugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:12:49 -0800

It was down to five cheftestants on last night's episode of Top Chef. The final Las Vegas challenge - the next two shows take place in Napa, California - highlighted the Bocuse d'Or, the world's most prestigious classical cooking competition. A plethora of big name chefs including Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud, guest judged. Ready to discuss? Keep reading.

Top Chef 5.14: Season Finale Part 2

partysugar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:30:14 -0800

It's over! The final episode of Top Chef 5 aired last night and a new cheftestant was named Top Chef. It was an exciting end to the competition. One chef stepped up to the plate, another failed to shine, and the third cracked under the pressure. To see what I thought of the outcome - warning: the winner is announced, so if you don't want to know who is Top Chef, don't click through! If you did watch, read more.

What do you think of the rivalry between Hosea and Stefan?
Is the make-whatever you want challenge too easy or too hard?
Were you disappointed or happy to see the previous contestants as the sous chefs? I was disappointed! I liked it when they had professional chefs as sous chefs.
How did the old contestants look? I remembered Casey being prettier.
Going into the finale, do you think the chefs had an idea of what they would make as their final meal?
Does anyone know the best way to cook alligator? Please enlighten us below!
What on earth happened to Carla? Did Casey inadvertently sabotage her?
When you have a three-course meal do you want one of the courses to be dessert?
Do you think it's fair the winner is selected based on this one meal and not the entire season?
Only 8% of you thought Hosea should win, so how did you feel when Padma named him Top Chef?

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Top Chef Recap 5.9: Restaurant Wars

partysugar — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 03:00:13 -0800

One of the most important episodes - restaurant wars - came and went last night on Top Chef. Did you watch? To discuss the episode (warning spoilers ahead), read more.

Do you know who Stephan Starr is?
Whose quickfire dish looked the best?
What did you think of Radhika and Leah being the restaurant chefs/owner?
In terms of relationships, did Leah and Hosea totally screw up? How would you feel as one of their significant others?
Should a chef be expected to be good in the front of the house?
Can you believe Jamie did scallops again?
Did Bravo know the freezer didn't work?
Does Leah have an attitude problem?
Who would you have sent home: Leah or Radhika?
Carla's "sending the love theory": thoughts?

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Ariane: "Leah Should Have Went Home"

partysugar — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 11:45:45 -0800

Over the past couple of weeks I grew to love Ariane on Top Chef, so when Padma asked her to "pack her knives and go," I was disappointed. The restaurant owner and mother got off to a rocky start in the first couple of episodes, but she hit her stride and took home several wins. I spoke with Ariane this morning and found out what she thought of the experience and what she's up to now, read more.

On going home: I worked hard and rose to the challenge. Maybe I relied too much on my teammates. I felt like Leah should have went home. I can say that now because I watched the show.

When it came to the lamb, I wanted to do it a certain way. I wanted to grill it. But they wanted to do all this stuff to it and I believed my teammates. It's hard when you are in a challenge. The time, the moment, the pressure, being the third wheel. I had such a good run. It was such a high. I had so many wins.

On Toby Young saying she can't cook: I was a little surprised by that. He's a little angry Englishman. Hearing what Padma said, on the other hand, was really really great. Maybe if Gail had been there it would have been different. Gail's tough, but she's not as verbal as Toby.

On working with Hosea and Leah: It was tough, being the third wheel. When there's three people on a team and two of them are in a relationship it's hard. One would say yes and the other would say yes. I had no say in any matter.

On watching herself: It was really tough to watch the first two episodes. I couldn't sleep. It was more sad than difficult. I wasn't ready to leave, but I have the love and support of my family. I stay true to myself. You really saw who I am. In the beginning it was hard because you get caught up. Your mind plays tricks on you. Time flies during the challenges; it's really like having an out of body experience. I just kept telling my family, "watch what happens!"

On who should win: I'm rooting for Jamie. I'm rooting for Carla. Those are my girls.

On what's next: We're extremely busy. I own a restaurant with my husband and we are looking to expand. It's here in Montclair. Maybe I'll write a cookbook. I have two daughters - one's 11 and the other is 13 - so I'm pretty busy.

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Top Chef Recap 5.7: Focus Group

partysugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:30:30 -0800

After a two week break, Top Chef was back last night with an exciting new episode. We were introduced to Gail Simmons' replacement judge, Toby Young, a vicious British foodie. We watched the chef's get creative in the kitchen and critical at the dining table. If you're anxious to discuss all the delicious details (warning: spoilers ahead!), read more.

What exactly did the Diet Dr. Pepper have to do with the quickfire challenge? Was it a requirement to use the soda in the sugar-free dessert?
Don't you just love Fabio? He's hilariously Italian: The guy actually thinks the reason guest judge Jean-Christophe Novelli didn't like his dessert is because the Frenchman is still bitter about France's loss to Italy in the World Cup!
Whose dessert was the most mouth-watering? I wanted to try Leah's strawberry balsamic crepes!
Do you agree with Radhika: does Stefan create stress in the kitchen?
Was it a good idea or bad idea for Jamie to make scallops again?
Did group B have an advantage because they cooked knowing Toby Young, and that they would be judged by their fellow competitors?
Is Toby Young saying it how it is or just plain rude?
Will the chefs cook differently now that they know what it's like to be a judge?
Why didn't Fabio's undercooked lamb get mentioned at judges' table?
Did they send home the right two cheftestants?

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Top Chef 5.5: Gail's Bridal Shower

partysugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:30:18 -0800

Last night on Top Chef, the contestants catered Gail's bridal shower. Food and Wine's Editor in Chief Dana Cowin was the guest judge. To discuss the episode, read more.

Cute or creepy: Stefan being in love with Jamie?
What did you think of the ingredient identification challenge?
Wasn't it interesting how they all mentioned salt as the first ingredient?
Which theme was the easiest?
Can you name any blue foods?
Whose dish would you want at your bridal shower?
While watching the episode, can you tell who will win and lose?
Were you surprised by Ariane's win?

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Top Chef 5.3 - Foo Fighters Thanksgiving Recap

partysugar — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:15:34 -0800

This week on a Thanksgiving episode of Top Chef, the Foo Fighters made a special appearance and award-winning chef and cancer survivor, Grant Achatz, was the guest judge. To discuss the episode (warning: spoilers ahead), read more.

Grant Achatz: kind of a hottie?
Watching the start of the quickfire, did you want the Top Chef cookbook? I did!
Do you like white asparagus?
Were you surprised that Leah selected the most confident chefs?
Do you consider Ariane a cougar?
Can you imagine cooking Thanksgiving dinner in a microwave?
Hosea made a fruit cobbler and referred to it as not his "most proud dessert." Would you serve a mediocre dessert to the judges?
What dish did you want to eat at Thanksgiving? I want to try Fabio's pumpkin tiramisu.
Was it weird how the elimination challenge had no winner?
Between Jeff, Richard, and Danny, who deserved to go home?

To learn how to dress like Padma, check out our new site, CelebStyle.

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Jill: "Tom and Padma Are Famous For Being Critical"

partysugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:00:04 -0800

Yesterday I spoke to Jill Snyder, the latest cheftestant to pack her knives and leave Top Chef. Jill's a chef in Baltimore, MD, where she enjoys making desserts and crab cakes. She wishes she would have defended her dish better, but claims that with the cameras staring at her, she choked up. To see what Jill has to say about ostrich eggs and the judges, read more.

On the ostrich egg: I've used eggs before and I thought using an ostrich egg would be the same. I thought it would make me more original. I have yet to experiment with them. I wanted to wait until this came out, but now I think I will cook with them. It's a creative dish and I think people will like it. I tasted it and didn't think it tasted like dog food. It was egg, asparagus, mushrooms, and cheese with a rice crust. It would be really hard to make those flavors taste bad, but I guess it's a TV show.

On getting kicked off: It felt horribly disappointing. I didn't really get to show a good representation of my cooking, but it's just a show. I've cooked for many more people than the judges. I thought Ariane was getting kicked off, she didn't really cook anything. I know a lot of people ate that dish. I was surprised, I mean Padma spit it out. I guess it's all in the judges' opinion. They thought who could go further in the competition. I guess maybe I should have been a little more dramatic, throw somebody under the bus or something. It was really hard to think of what to say when the cameras are on you.

On Tom and Padma: Tom and Padma are there to judge things. Whatever their opinion is, that's what is going to go. It's kind of intimidating being in front of people who are famous for being critical.

On deciding not to do dessert: Originally I did want to do dessert and a lot of people wanted to do dessert. I guess I should have stood my ground and done the dessert. Since I botched the hot dog challenge, I thought an entree would better show off my cooking skills. I really wish I had done a dessert because I thought all of those desserts were really bad.

On the hot dog quickfire: They asked for a gourmet hot dog and we had a certain amount of time. I thought I could do dim sum. A little bite-sized hot dog. I thought they would appreciate it. I wasn't picturing sausages in some bun because I don't see that as gourmet. I was thinking, how can you make a hot dog gourmet? I put the Asian twist on it. I know how to make sausage. I've made it plenty of times before, but I was worried the judges weren't going to take a sausage instead of a hot dog.

On the Feedbag's open love letter to her: What? I didn't even know. Wow, of course that's really flattering. Well he's probably disappointed in me now that I lost. I didn't even know, I will have to check it out.

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Top Chef Quiz: The Season Premiere

partysugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:15:05 -0800

Season 5 of Top Chef is off to an exciting start! While we already discussed the gory details, I want to see how well you were paying attention. With 17 chefs it was hard for me to distinguish one from the other! Did you have the same problem? Find out now when you take my quiz.

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Take the quiz

Top Chef 5.1 - Melting Pot Recap

partysugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:00:48 -0800

The fifth season of the hit show Top Chef got off to an exciting start. One of the cheftestants was eliminated before the competition officially started and another cut his finger while peeling apples. Jean-Georges guest judged the New York City neighborhood-centric challenge. To discuss the show in more detail - warning there are spoilers - read more.

Didn't it look really hot in the park?
Don't you love the addition of Europeans?
Can you peel an apple with a knife?
What did you think of the neighborhood challenge?
Who do you think will be this season's hottie? Fabio? Jeff? Stefan?
Do the locals have an advantage?
Dear Patrick: why did you choose an ingredient you've never cooked with before?
Did the editing seem a little leading? I knew the second they introduced Lauren that she was getting booted . . .
During the judge's table Tom said, "We don't learn to cook from a book?" But didn't Tom learn how to cook from a book?
Will more quickfires be eliminations?
Finally, what did you think of the episode? Who is your favorite? Do you think Stefan will end up winning?

Wondering what Padma was wearing? Find out on CelebStyle!

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