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Let's Dish: Top Chef 4.10 - Light n' Healthy

YumSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 03:01:33 -0700

This week's Top Chef took another turn towards the catering when the cheftestants had to cook for the folks at the Chicago Policy Academy. In the end we traded in last week's wedding wars for lunchbox wars. We also got a nice dose of against the grain drama. Did you watch? What did you think? Check out my thoughts and tell me yours when you read more.

Once the episode started I got three emails from pals declaring their love for guest judge Sam Talbot. Are you on the same page as them?
Did you like the salad challenge? I thought Antonia's poached egg salad was total food porn. Even Sam said it was sexy!
I groaned a bit when I found out the elimination challenge was another catering-type challenge.
Do you think Spike spent more time trying to mess with his opponents than he did planning his meal?
You know, I couldn't help but think of former cheftestant Ryan Scott. He headed up Myth Cafe, which was known for their great boxed lunches. Too bad he didn't make it this far.
Okay the big drama came from Lisa's camp. Do you think someone really sabotaged her rice?
I thought it was interesting that Stephanie and Dale were the best in this challenge. They're both from the Chicago area and I wondered if that helped them at all.
Do you think Dale deserved to win? Who had your vote?
It was tense at judge's panel. Do you think it was bad of Lisa to call out the fact that Andrew didn't follow the rules to a T?
And finally, who are you rooting for now? Got any votes for the top four?

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Photos courtesy of Bravo

Let's Dish: Top Chef 4.10 - Light n' Healthy

YumSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:48:30 -0700

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The Live Action Top Chef Cook-Off Results Are In!

YumSugar — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 06:58:31 -0700

Yesterday, to kick off New York's Restaurant Week, Bravo TV hosted a cook-off pitting season 2 crowd-favorite Sam Talbot against season 2 winner Ilan Hall. I was really hoping that Sam would show everyone that the wrong winner was chosen, but as it turns out, Ilan won the cook-off with a softshell crab dish. His winning dish, which beat out a quail entrée from Sam, will be tentatively added to some of the top restaurants' menu during restaurant week.

Also present at the event were Top Chef judges Tom Colicchio, Padma Lakshmi and the cast of Season 3 (which starts tonight!).

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Source: TV Cocktail

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Food & Wine Magazine Celebrates The Best New Chefs

YumSugar — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 06:58:48 -0700

Yesterday I mentioned how Food & Wine magazine announced their Best New Chefs of 2007, well turns out that when you announce this kind of a list, you throw a big party to celebrate it too. Last night in Manhattan at 7 World Trade Center, past Best New Chefs, along with Top Chef winners Harold Dieterle and Ilan Hall (and I'm guessing Sam Talbot too, based on the fact that he looks like he's ready for the kitchen in this photo), prepared dishes for the new winners. The 2007 Best New Chefs will be featured in the July issue of Food & Wine.

To check out more pictures of the new best chefs, your favorite former Top Chef contestants (including Miguel, Dave "I'm not Your Bitch Bitch" and Andrea), the party atmosphere and the Food & Wine Staff (yep, Gail is there too),
read more

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Why Open a Restaurant When There's Bling to Be Had?

YumSugar — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 07:59:12 -0800

Okay, now what's wrong with this picture from the South Beach Wine and Food Festival party? Go on take a good look.
Here we have Top Chef winner Ilan Hall, Gail Simmons, Sam Talbot and Tom Colicchio hanging out at the Food & Wine magazine after party. Have you figured it out? I'll give you a hint it has to do with attire. No it's not that Sam is looking under-dressed (although you have to admit that he is), it's that Ilan looks like he's spending his Top Chef winnings on fancy suits and bling!

In fact the folks over at snack spotted Ilan getting on to the plane for Miami and have put together their breakdown of Ilan's attire choices, including a $12,000 diamond encrusted watch.

Moncler black vest: $375
Pink shoe laces for white Nikes: $4
Louis Vuitton duffel bag: $1,100
Louis Vuitton white belt with candy-colored logo:$350
Patek Philippe Aquanaut Luce watch in pure white (with diamonds): $11,950

To check out more pictures of our favorite Top Chef crew partying the night away, read more

In other Ilan news, looks like I missed Ilan's swoonworthy Orzo in one of the latest issues of Life & Style magazine. I absolutely love orzo, but the comments the folks have left definitely aren't too kind.

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