Tag Archives: top chef

Reality Updates: Top Chef Engaged, a VP Dancer, and Idol Gets a Record Deal

Sam Talbot, a Bravo’s “Top Chef” finalist, has announced his engagement. Sam and his Columbian girlfriend Paola Guerro became engaged this past weekend. They met in Brazil on Talbot’s 30th birthday. As of right now, there is no set wedding date. Guerra is a model and t-shirt designer who Talbot says is “amazing” and “stunning.” Sam is not so bad himself, providing eye candy for the ladies in season 2. Sam is currently the executive chef of Surf Lodge in Montauk, NY. That is in the Hamptons for those not in the know. Could there be a presidential tone to … Continue reading →

This Week in Television – June 12, 2007

Top Chef Returns I will be the first to admit that I love most reality shows. Whether it is something mainstream like “American Idol” or something a little more off beat like “Little People Big World,” I just love watching reality shows. One of my favorites returns to the air tomorrow night – “Top Chef.” Unlike other reality shows, I never watch the clock on this one. It seems as soon as it starts, it is time for it to end – too soon! This year the chefs are in Miami, so I wonder if we can look forward to … Continue reading →

Top Chef Finale

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Last night the final contestants for Top Chef, Tiffani and Harold, finally got to do what they’d been waiting for: show their skill in creating a multi-course meal of their choosing. Both did very well and impressed an all-star panel of judges. There were a few missteps, but you could see that Lorraine Bracco wanted to lick her plate clean on several occasions. I was so hungry by the end of the episode I went upstairs to see what was in the pantry, and was so disappointed not to find any Kobe beef or artichoke risotto. I had to settle … Continue reading →

Top Chef Finale Part 1: Las Vegas

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Top Chef Finale Part 1: Las Vegas Dave got sent home this week, leaving Harold and Tiffani to duke it out for the title of Top Chef. The only thing that was surprising about it was that this time, he didn’t deserve to go home. Dave’s been the underdog up until the finale, where he performed, in this blogger’s humble opinion, much better than Tiffani, but was sent packing anyway. His mistake was not following the directions on one of the challenges. There were three challenges, each a “room service” order to be made in 30 minutes. One for some … Continue reading →

Top Chef Reunion Episode

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On last night’s episode of Top Chef, Stephen Aspirino came out the clear winner. Yes, he’s already been booted from the show and is not going to Las Vegas to compete for the title of Top Chef. His win had nothing to do with food. It was about eating some humble pie and taking responsibility for his arrogant attitude in previous episodes. Probably the most grievous of Stephen’s offenses was when he lit into Candace for wanting to use cookie cutters to cut shapes out of fruit when the chefs were preparing a meal for children. He called her inexperienced … Continue reading →

Top Chef Episode 9: The Final Three

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The final three chefs who will compete in Las Vegas for the prize of Top Chef were chosen this week, and it was a real surprise that Dave is going with Tiffani and Harold instead of Lee Anne. Lee Anne has been a top player throughout the season, winning many of the challenges and receiving high praise from everyone. So it was jaw-dropping that weepy, out-of-sorts Dave got a spot in the top three, while Lee Anne and her knives were sent packing. Although Dave did poorly in the quick fire challenge of taking a common junk food and making … Continue reading →

Top Chef Episode 8: Betty Crocker Rocks

Lesson learned in this week’s Top Chef episode: Even top chefs use cake mix. The contestants this week were told they had to cater a wedding for 100 people, including the cake – and the wedding was 16 hours away. They also had to shop at an all-night grocery store in one hour and settle for ingredients on hand like sub-par salmon. The whole task was completely unfair, but the chefs did the best they could, especially considering they had to pull an all-nighter. The one dish there were no complaints about? The cake (except that one guest found an … Continue reading →

Top Chef Episode 7: Service with a Smile

This week’s Top Chef episode challenged the contenders to create a restaurant space, an original menu, and feed up to twenty people who would judge their dining experience, all in twenty-four hours. The show wasn’t the most entertaining yet – the typical players did their thing, with Stephen’s “educating” the diners to boredom while their tummies grumbled, Miguel making silly mistakes, Dave looking like he was ready to burst into tears any moment and Lee Anne and Tiffani ordering everyone around. Harold was his usual, under-the-radar, but hard working self. The teams, Dave, Harold and Tiffani on one and Stephen, … Continue reading →

Top Chef Episode 6: Under Pressure

Ted Allen from Bravo’s Queer Eye was the guest judge on last night’s episode of Top Chef. The contestants were obviously excited to meet him and to cook for him and his friends at a dinner party at restaurant Frisson. The chefs were also excited to finally get a chance to cook something of their choosing and really shine. They each chose a course of a multi-course meal and went to work purchasing ingredients. When all the planning and purchasing was done, the producers pulled a nasty trick to see how the chefs would do under pressure. They randomly reassigned … Continue reading →

Top Chef Episode 5: Street Food

Stephen was his usual cocky self again this week, and probably wondering what he had signed up for when this week’s challenge was once again anything but a four-star dining experience. But first, the quick fire challenge was almost a disaster. The chefs were given five minutes to identify, blindfolded, twenty esoteric ethnic ingredients such as tamarind, ghee and Japanese potato. The humiliated contestants all blew it. Andrea won with only four correct guesses. To soothe their bruised egos, they held a junk food “Snack Master Challenge” back at their living quarters where Miguel took the crown by correctly identifying … Continue reading →