Top Chef

By Rain This week "Surivor: Gabon" was a clip show, and the only new thing we learned about Sugar was that prior to the show, she had a septum nose ring. Thrilling. So let's move on to "Top Chef," and Jamie Lauren, a chef at Absinthe in San Francisco.

By Patsy Kreitman Last week’s Top Chef threw some curveballs at the competitors.  In the Quickfire Challenge, they were initially given a page number in the Top Chef The Cookbook with a recipe that they would have to put their own spin on from previous seasons.  After about 15 minutes of prep work, they were to...

By Richard The commenters remembered to play "How Stoned Is Padma?" this time, and our average scores (on a scale of 1 to 5) came in as follows: During the quickfire challenge — 2.5. During the elimination challenge — 4.2. Our conclusion? Unlike a slice of bread, Padma is more likely to be toasted in the eve...

By tips@stereogum.com Thanksgiving can be nerve wracking for even the most skilled culinary experts. Even after you've successfuly de-boned a chicken and stuffed it inside a de-boned duck and stuffed that in a de-boned turkey, you still have to hang out with ...

By Christine_Navratil 10AM - 1230PM ET/PT Battle Of The Bods - FOX Reality 12PM -111PM ET/PT Top Chef - Bravo TV For more Reality TV news visit Sir Links A Lot: Reality Television. Also, come join us on the new Reality TV Magazine message boards and talk about your favorite show!

 CA - Top Chef: The contestants meet up with the band Foo Fighters on a tour stop in upstate New York (10 pm Bravo). Estate of Panic: Seven strangers search for ...

By Lesley Balla Former contestant and current culinary advisor to the show, Lee Ann Wong has some advice for former and future cheftestants. "Top Chef is a stepping-stone and an opportunity to find out the blood and guts of yourself as a cook, and also who you are as a person. The ones who listen to what the jud...

 - Overall, the show put up the best first-season numbers for a Bravo series since the game-changing Queer Eye, the network said. • Top Chef remained Bravo's ...

Speculating about a new chef at the White House has become - as one culinary insider puts it - fantasy football for foodies. Celebrity chefs, in my book, are not chefs. They're entertainers," he said. "All these people on TV? Forget it."

By B-Side The aspiring chefs of Top Chef were at it again last night, and this time, they had the daunting task of cooking in Tom Colicchio's very own restaurant, Craft. Needless to say, there was plenty of choking, and not... Padma: "I'm sorry, we'll just be another minute. My good friend Gail Simmons wen...

By littlebigmouth We're at week number 2 for Top Chef, the fancy-pantsiest show on television now that Project Runway's off for the season, and man, what the hell happened? Remember last week when Tom was praising the new cheftestants and telling everyone how excited he was about the upcoming season? Yeah...

By Maryann James I want to know where they got the ingredients for this quickfire -- and what scheming crew member bought already-made hot dogs to tempt the slacking contestants. You, madam, good thinking! But Tom is not impressed. At all. He says the cheftestants served up "clunky regional American," brin...

By DA Southern With all of the chefs situated in their groups, Chef Tom Colicchio was in to tell the chefs that the restaurant was actually his in New York that they would be cooking in and to make matters worse, the New York “crowd” that the chefs were cooking for were New York chefs who tried out for the show...

By anna I am scared of the ostrich egg one of the other contestants is messing with. Very scared. overheard at the next table: "Padma is the best Indian person who is a celebrity in America." Thoughts, mutineers? Tom Colicchio drops the BOMB on 'em: "you've set American cuisine back 20 years". Eeeep.

By jeremyblachman Someone just left a comment asking if I had any thoughts on this season of Top Chef so far.  Well, I'm looking forward to tonight's episode... thought last week's was solid, although I'd read an advance review that called it one of the most emotional episodes of TV all year and I'm not sure I'd go t...

By Karl Klockars DL: I completely agree. I don’t think they used enough Chicago chefs. Even though I have a lot of respect for and I really like Rocco DiSpirito, but to open Chicago with Rocco DiSpirito seemed like…there’s so many amazing chefs here, why couldn’t we really get more of an identity with the city...

By Christopher Bird Early reflections on this season of Top Chef: the stunt extra elimination on the first episode was unwelcome and an overly precious, self-impressed twist. Radhika is really cute. Carla appears to be this season's freak. The starstruck reactions of the chefs to being in New York were hilari...

We've been remiss in noting that "Top Chef: New York" cheftestant Melissa is a Marylander, in addition to Jill Snyder of Red Maple fame. (Read Baltimore Sun dining critic Elizabeth Large's review of Red Maple -- and her Dining @ Large blog post about Melissa.)

By Lesley Balla 4) Elimination Challenge: The 16 chefs pick knives with different NY neighborhoods on them, and instead of working as a team, they have to go head-to-head cooking a dish inspired by their neighborhoods. Alex and Eugene (Hawaiian in Las Vegas) do Indian; Stefan and insecure Ariane do Midd...

By B-Side Padma: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away! Although, my good friend Gail Simmons says the rule also applies to cupcakes, bless her heart." Chefs, I'd like you to meet our guest judge Jean Georges as well as our very own Gail Simmons, who, I should note, has been officially outfitted by TJ Ma...

By Patsy Kreitman As soon as they arrived and met Tom Colicchio and Padma Lakshmi, they were faced with the Quickfire Challenge.  Not only was this challenge for immunity, but the first competitor would be sent home.  What did they have to do?  Well, the first round was all about peeling 15 apples with a kni...

By Richard Welcome, reality-TV junk-food junkies! Our commenter live blogs for Project Runway were such a blast, Gawker let us re-plate the whole concept for new season of Top Chef (in New York!), which kicks off at 10 Eastern tonight. So turn on Bravo, grab the alcoholic beverage of your choice and l...

By anna Radhika, a 28-year old Execuitve Chef (at the Between Boutique Café & Lounge) from Chicago, loves the show as much as I do: Known to friends as “Rad”, Desai is the first Indian-American chef to compete on the show. She’s a hardcore fan of “TC”: “I’ve seen every episode at least three time...

The celebrity pool of New York will also be tapped, with Martha Stewart, Rocco DiSpirito and Natasha Richardson among those popping up as the season goes on. Once more the judges, led by Tom Colicchio, are tart or helpful and all of the food looks delicious.

By Joanna(no@email.com) Top Chef: New York premiers tomorrow night, and Top Chef: The Game is in stores today. We've been playing around with this new computer game in anticipation of the new season. Read on for our first im Top Chef: New York premiers tomorrow night, and Top Chef: The Game is in stores today. We've bee...

Mrs. Tate, who works as an administrator at MR&E, an engineering company, was notified in September that she was one of three winners. Part of her prize was receiving a gourmet dinner prepared by the Bravo network's Top Chef "Cheftestant," Dale Levitski of Chicago, who participated i...

By Andy Dehnart Oh, and some cooking. Top Chef: The Tour [Bravo] Bravo's "Top Chef: The Tour" Embarks on 20-City Promotional Tour... [Bravo press release] gt;>read the latest news about Top Chef 4 gt;>find more reality TV news and gossip at reality blurred

By monkeybear W: What this show needs a Christian from Project Runway. That kid had talent and personality. Plus, he had hair that would shame these Top Chef contestants’ meek little faux hawks. So I have to give Top Chef a 15 for personality and hair. Pretty mediocre, Top Chef. If I was rating food — a la Zagat — I...

By Jason the TVaholic Tonight, ABC has NBA Finals action and a Jimmy Kimmel Live special. Food Network Challenge (Food Network): Repeat. Chefs compete in a “Luau Beach BBQ” challenge. Plays again later. Iron Chef America (Food Network): New. Chef Marcus Samuelsson challenges Iron Chef Bobby Flay. Plays again lat...

By Cate O'Malley There are some places you don’t think of finding one of the winners from Bravo’s Top Chef … and that’s in the pages of Esquire magazine.  But if it’s in their coveted list of the Best Sandwiches in America, well, that’s a pretty good place to be.  Just ask Harold Dieterle, season one winner of To...

By Stuart Reb Donald Bravo TV is now casting for Top Chef Five. In a casting call released on April 18, the Bravo Network announced an open call for both professional and home culinarians to compete in next season’s Top Chef. In addition to filling out an online application, contestants are also encouraged to a...

Ryan zeroed in on his desire to be a chef at the early age of nine when the "toys" at the top of his Christmas list included kitchen utensils, a wok and a food dehydrator. Growing up in the Central Valley of California he developed a passion for the culinary arts that has led to a very successful c...

By Sarah Caron When I decided to blog about Top Chef this season, it was because I have been enthralled with past seasons. But little did I know that Bravo was going to turn my favorite food competition into a catty free-for-all. I am having a very hard time connecting with the Top Chef stars this season. There...

By Tempo For more "Top Chef: Chicago" video clips, check out the second half of this item. Meet Dale Talde, a contestant on Bravo’s ‘Top Chef 4’ Meet Stephanie Izard, contestant on Bravo’s ‘Top Chef 4’ Meet Valerie Bolon, contestant on Bravo’s ‘Top Chef 4’

By flipit(flipit75@gmail.com) Dale is next with his "Surprise Dish" (best title ever). CJ put the seared scallop under a bed of sweet corn and over grapes that were chopped in half. Dude. We get it. You have one nut. It's ok. If Spencer Pratt was a Guest Judge, he would spread an internet rumor that Foo Foo's dish has beef curtains.

Former Top Chef contestant Josie Smith-Malave who was featured in the season 2 Bravo TV show and is openly gay, was ...

By Joe Reality Bravo's culinary and ratings hit "Top Chef 3 Miami" will culminate its 14-episode run with a live finale as the remaining chef'testants' – along with the viewers at home – learn who will win the coveted title of "Top Chef." The strongest contenders remain, having chopped, broiled and saut...

By Jane McGivney Lowest of the Quickfire: Apparently, the chefs are cooking for some sort of dinner club. Which involves a hilarious set-up of Padma, Tom, Ted Allen (WHERE IS GAIL SIMMONS?!) sitting at a dinner table with the dinner club who are all adorned in weird sashes and medals. Huh?

By fdavila@seattletimes.com Until the third episode of the reality-competition show "Top Chef," Tacoma native Lia Bardeen, 28, was arguably best known as the mild-mannered...

By TMZ Staff Filed under: Break-UpsTMZ.com: "Top Chef" host Padma Lakshmi and "Satanic Verses" author Salman Rushdie are getting divorced. Holy shiite!A rep for Rushdie released a statement saying, "Salman Rushdie has agreed to divorce his wife, Padma Lakshmi, because of her desire to end... Read mor...

Rumours that Salman Rushdies marriage to model and Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi is in trouble gathered storm after she was spotted partying with another man.

By Andy Dale Levitski, the 34-year-old gay chef from Chicago who is currently competing in Top Chef: Miami, gives an interview to the Chicago Tribune in which he talks about Chicago cuisine and if sexuality has any bearing on culinary ...

What Padma Lakshmi finds 'frustrating' about Salman Rushdie  FL - Apr 2, 2007 Lakshmi's reasons for putting an end to the relationship with the Booker Prize winner seemed to be to focus on her big Bravo hit, Top Chef. ...

By Jon Oakland's B Restaurant (or just "B," apparently), promised to be such a place. Since the establishment's doors opened across its refurbished 120-year-old mosaic tile floor in 2005, reviewers have unanimously noted the New American-style restaurant's inventiveness, use of fresh lo...

By flipit(flipit75@mac.com) Sam takes the time out of his busy day to remind us Marcel could prepare a piece of rat crap and it would look pretty, but would it taste good? I was just wondering the same thing about pretty, bland Sam. He's doing snapper. Elia is doing snapper too, so Sam had better find a twist to make him stand o...

 MA - Just ask Marcel Vigneron, a contestant on the second season of Bravo's Top Chef, who was left with an inch-long scar over his left eye after a recent ...

By flipit(flipit75@mac.com) Since Sam won the Quickfire, he gets first dibs on course order. To sweeten the deal, whichever proteins he uses can't be used again through the entire meal. The editing gets weird here. It makes it look like Sam is within earshot of Marcel's lobster soup brainstorm with Elia right before he an...

By TV with MeeVee Don't have the culinary skills to make it on Top Chef? Not enough of a traveler to make it through the Amazing Race? Only going to make it as a reject on American Idol? Ready to get your fifteen minutes of fame on the mother of all reality TV shows?

Social Hollywood: The Social is a fancy pants spot is where the contestants cook a six course meal for Jennifer Coolidge, beloved actress from Best in Show and American Pie. Restaurant Depot: The contestants shop here in preparation for the holiday party at the WB lot.

A long, long time ago, when I was a wee young Kiddie Flipit, I would refuse most days to go out and play with the neighborhood kids. I wasn't an outcast, really. I was just very, very lazy. Those kids ran around and jumped and yelled. No, thank you. I would watch them from the living room window like th...