“Today is a ‘Top Chef: Kentucky’ showdown,” said Tom Colicchio at the start of this week’s “Last Chance Kitchen.” Eric Adjepong and Nini Nguyen went head-to-head for a chance at redemption, and coincidentally both All-Stars previously competed on the show just last year during season 16. “Only familiar faces right now in ‘Last Chance Kitchen,’ but you have no choice but to fight,” said Nguyen. Watch what happened above.
See‘Top Chef’ recap: The All-Stars cook up their dream restaurant concepts in ‘Pitch Perfect’
Nguyen was eliminated from the main competition last week in “Get Your Phil” and survived a grueling triple threat match in “Lck” against Lisa Fernandes and Karen Akunowicz to keep her hopes alive. Adjepong was eliminated this week in “Pitch Perfect,” when his idea for a Middle Passage restaurant inspired by the trans-Atlantic slave trade disappointed the judges with its poorly executed meals. Because Adjepong failed...
See‘Top Chef’ recap: The All-Stars cook up their dream restaurant concepts in ‘Pitch Perfect’
Nguyen was eliminated from the main competition last week in “Get Your Phil” and survived a grueling triple threat match in “Lck” against Lisa Fernandes and Karen Akunowicz to keep her hopes alive. Adjepong was eliminated this week in “Pitch Perfect,” when his idea for a Middle Passage restaurant inspired by the trans-Atlantic slave trade disappointed the judges with its poorly executed meals. Because Adjepong failed...
- 5/2/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
On last week’s episode of “Top Chef,” best friends Nini Nguyen and Karen Akunowicz both were eliminated after their shared sour-and-umami dish failed to fully please the judges’ palates. Mere minutes afterwards they both went up against Lisa Fernandes in “Last Chance Kitchen.” Karen had Tom’s favorite dish, so she was allowed to rejoin the game, while Nini is still in “Lck” limbo and alas, Lisa will have to join the peanut gallery of “Lck” losers. So what happened this week? Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the seventh episode of Season 17, “Pitch Perfect.”
Sign Up for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
10:02 p.m. “It’s so quiet,” says Melissa King. “I miss Nini.” Stephanie Cmar is upset that her fellow culinary crime fighters aka Padma’s Angels, Nini and Karen, are duking it out in “Last Chance Kitchen.” She thinks she might be the last angel standing.
Sign Up for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
10:02 p.m. “It’s so quiet,” says Melissa King. “I miss Nini.” Stephanie Cmar is upset that her fellow culinary crime fighters aka Padma’s Angels, Nini and Karen, are duking it out in “Last Chance Kitchen.” She thinks she might be the last angel standing.
- 5/1/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
“You’ve got to be kidding me. I don’t know that I have any gas left in my tank. I’m pretty tired, I’m pretty over it. So I guess we’ll just have to see,” said Karen Akunowicz after “Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi announced that she’d fight for her culinary life in “Last Chance Kitchen” immediately after she was double-eliminated with best friend Nini Nguyen. And it turned out to be a grueling marathon for the cheftestants, so much so that it was split into two parts. Watch part one above, and scroll down for the conclusion.
See‘Top Chef’ recap: All-Stars duos must cook in harmony to ‘Get Your Phil’ at the La Philharmonic
Because this week’s “Top Chef” episode, “Get Your Phil,” ended in a double elimination, there were three ousted chefs competing in “Lck” instead of just two. In the first round,...
See‘Top Chef’ recap: All-Stars duos must cook in harmony to ‘Get Your Phil’ at the La Philharmonic
Because this week’s “Top Chef” episode, “Get Your Phil,” ended in a double elimination, there were three ousted chefs competing in “Lck” instead of just two. In the first round,...
- 4/24/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
On last week’s episode of “Top Chef,” Season 6 and 8 competitor Jennifer Carroll failed to tickle the taste buds of the judges with her Sunny Lemon Ginger Love sauce. She then lost in “Last Chance Kitchen” for underestimating the time that her beef sauce needed to thicken while Lisa Fernandes gets to move on in the after-show. This week, the remaining 10 chefs will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the sixth episode of the season, “Get Your Phil.”
Sign Up for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
10:02 p.m. It’s rise and shine time in the roomy house in the scenic Hollywood Hills. Nini Nguyen and Brian Malarkey share a love of crystals, apparently. She explains, “It’s ‘Top Chef.’ Everyone at some point will have negative energy. And when they do I hold on to my crystal and I say,...
Sign Up for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
10:02 p.m. It’s rise and shine time in the roomy house in the scenic Hollywood Hills. Nini Nguyen and Brian Malarkey share a love of crystals, apparently. She explains, “It’s ‘Top Chef.’ Everyone at some point will have negative energy. And when they do I hold on to my crystal and I say,...
- 4/24/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Five chefs have already packed their knives and gone home from “Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.,” and tonight there will be a sixth contestant on the chopping block … and a seventh. In last week’s preview for tonight’s show (watch it below) it was revealed that this will be a double elimination challenge. So which two will get the axe? Check out our official odds here, and place your bets in our predictions center before tonight’s show. And look back at everyone who has been eliminated so far here, where you can also see how they’ve done in “Last Chance Kitchen.”
See‘Top Chef’ 17 spoilers: Who had to pack their knives and go on ‘All Stars L.A.’?
This will be a team challenge in which the 10 remaining culinary combatants will pair off in order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, so of course...
See‘Top Chef’ 17 spoilers: Who had to pack their knives and go on ‘All Stars L.A.’?
This will be a team challenge in which the 10 remaining culinary combatants will pair off in order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, so of course...
- 4/23/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
On nearly every TV reality competition show, there is one contestant who is a bit of an annoyance and not exactly a team player. On the current All-Star season of “Top Chef” that includes finalists, fan favorites and front-runners from past seasons who never won, there is an air of professionalism and camaraderie shared among the players — save for one.
Season 3 fourth-place finisher Brian Malarkey. The San Diego resident has done well for himself, opening 15 restaurants across the country. He also is a celebrity chef, one who appears on “Today” and “Good Morning America” regularly and is in demand as a judge on a variety of Food Network shows.
However, since the Season 17 premiere of “Top Chef” when Brian pushed aside Joe Sasto — who was supposed to be the captain of their three-person team with Lee Anne Wong — and started calling the shots when it came to the menu for an elimination challenge,...
Season 3 fourth-place finisher Brian Malarkey. The San Diego resident has done well for himself, opening 15 restaurants across the country. He also is a celebrity chef, one who appears on “Today” and “Good Morning America” regularly and is in demand as a judge on a variety of Food Network shows.
However, since the Season 17 premiere of “Top Chef” when Brian pushed aside Joe Sasto — who was supposed to be the captain of their three-person team with Lee Anne Wong — and started calling the shots when it came to the menu for an elimination challenge,...
- 4/23/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
“I’m definitely playing hard to win this time around. I’m from Philly, so I’m like the Rocky of ‘Top Chef.’ Rocky keeps coming back, he keeps fighting. I get knocked down and I just keep coming back in,” said Jennifer Carroll upon entering “Last Chance Kitchen.” The judges didn’t like the texture of her signature ginger sauce in the episode “Bring Your Loved One to Work,” so she was eliminated from the competition. But was she able to redeem herself in a sauce battle against last week’s “Last Chance” winner Lisa Fernandes? Watch above.
See‘Top Chef’ recap: 11 All-Stars are hungry to ‘Bring Your Loved One to Work’
Since this week’s “Last Chance Kitchen” was all about perfecting sauces, there was a twist in how their dishes would be prepared: Tom Colicchio himself would be cooking the protein for the challenge, and there was no time on the clock.
See‘Top Chef’ recap: 11 All-Stars are hungry to ‘Bring Your Loved One to Work’
Since this week’s “Last Chance Kitchen” was all about perfecting sauces, there was a twist in how their dishes would be prepared: Tom Colicchio himself would be cooking the protein for the challenge, and there was no time on the clock.
- 4/18/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
In last week’s episode of ‘Top Chef,’ season 4 finalist Lisa Fernandes’s undercooked Brussels sprouts caused her to hear these words for the first time from host Padma Lakshmi’s lips: “Please pack your knives and go.” Luckily, she redeemed herself after she topped Joe Sasto during “Last Chance Kitchen.” This week the Los Angeles edition of Bravo’s reality show has the 11 chefs left in the game cooking with the help of their loved ones. Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the fifth episode of the season, “Bring Your Loved One to Work.”
Sign Up for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
10:02 p.m. Back in the chefs’ digs, Bryan Voltaggio says, “We should have clearly communicated better” to his red teammates about their six-course vegetarian meal. “At the end of the day, you are going to be judged by the plate you place...
Sign Up for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
10:02 p.m. Back in the chefs’ digs, Bryan Voltaggio says, “We should have clearly communicated better” to his red teammates about their six-course vegetarian meal. “At the end of the day, you are going to be judged by the plate you place...
- 4/17/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Episode four of “Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.,” “You’re So Fresh,” ended in a bit of a tussle between Brian Malarkey and Lee Anne Wong over who was to blame for a lack of seasoning on Wong’s plate. Luckily for both of them the judges liked Lisa Fernandes‘s dish even less and eliminated her instead, but we think Malarkey may be on his way out next.
As of this writing Malarkey gets leading odds of 16/5 of being eliminated from the show in episode five. That’s based on the combined predictions of “Top Chef” fans we’ve polled every week for their forecasts here in our predictions center. He does have a history of being hit-and-miss on the cooking show. When he previously competed in season three he had more bottom dishes than top dishes before being eliminated in fourth place.
See‘Top Chef’ Season 17: All-Stars Ranked Worst To Best
However,...
As of this writing Malarkey gets leading odds of 16/5 of being eliminated from the show in episode five. That’s based on the combined predictions of “Top Chef” fans we’ve polled every week for their forecasts here in our predictions center. He does have a history of being hit-and-miss on the cooking show. When he previously competed in season three he had more bottom dishes than top dishes before being eliminated in fourth place.
See‘Top Chef’ Season 17: All-Stars Ranked Worst To Best
However,...
- 4/16/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Did Brian Malarkey truly live up to his name last week on the All-Star season of “Top Chef”? First, for a vegetarian challenge he decided to streamline his usual overloaded creation by basically serving mozzarella and tomatoes with a vinaigrette. All I know is, if I can make a dish served on the show, it is no winner. Disappointed head judge Tom Colicchio thought the dish was too simple, adding that, “It’s ubiquitous. We’ve seen it.” Even though Brian’s offering was the red team’s first course, it was already clear he was in danger of being on the bottom three.
But his own dish might have been the least of his sins Brian later seemed to throw a teammate under the bus. Because it was a team challenge, many of the chefs helped their cohorts when it came to plating their six-course menu. That was the...
But his own dish might have been the least of his sins Brian later seemed to throw a teammate under the bus. Because it was a team challenge, many of the chefs helped their cohorts when it came to plating their six-course menu. That was the...
- 4/13/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Fans of the reality cooking show “Top Chef” know when a new episode is over, they can go to the Bravo site and watch the web-only “Last Chance Kitchen,” where eliminated contestants can try to battle back into the competition by defeating other dismissed players each week.
But now they have added another component of the “Top Chef” experience with an after-show aperitif, if you will, served by head judge Tom Colicchio. A five-time recipient of the James Beard Foundation Award who has been on the show since it began in 2006, he usually delivers the most spot-on criticisms as well as sincere compliments while sampling the dishes that are put in front of him. This no-nonsense guy and his taste buds are almost always right. But while we often get to see Tom eating, we rarely if ever see this culinary superstar behind a stove.
See‘Top Chef’ season 17 has...
But now they have added another component of the “Top Chef” experience with an after-show aperitif, if you will, served by head judge Tom Colicchio. A five-time recipient of the James Beard Foundation Award who has been on the show since it began in 2006, he usually delivers the most spot-on criticisms as well as sincere compliments while sampling the dishes that are put in front of him. This no-nonsense guy and his taste buds are almost always right. But while we often get to see Tom eating, we rarely if ever see this culinary superstar behind a stove.
See‘Top Chef’ season 17 has...
- 4/11/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
“I’ve never heard ‘Pack your knives and go’ before. I feel very disappointed in myself. I did not put my life and my restaurant on hold to get eliminated. I came here to win,” says Lisa Fernandes, who was eliminated from “Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.” in the episode “You’re So Fresh” but had a chance to redeem herself against Joe Sasto in “Last Chance Kitchen.” Watch what happened above.
See‘Top Chef’ recap: The 12 All-Stars go vegetarian while living up to the motto ‘You’re So Fresh’
Fernandes was done in by the deep fryer when she tried to make a vegetarian dish for the judges and ended up with Brussels sprouts that were undercooked and dried out. So host Tom Colicchio gives her another chance in a “Fry or Die” challenge in which the deep fryer is the only cooking element they’re able to use. That’s just fine for Fernandes,...
See‘Top Chef’ recap: The 12 All-Stars go vegetarian while living up to the motto ‘You’re So Fresh’
Fernandes was done in by the deep fryer when she tried to make a vegetarian dish for the judges and ended up with Brussels sprouts that were undercooked and dried out. So host Tom Colicchio gives her another chance in a “Fry or Die” challenge in which the deep fryer is the only cooking element they’re able to use. That’s just fine for Fernandes,...
- 4/11/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Three male cheftestants have been eliminated from “Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.” so far — Joe Sasto, Angelo Sosa and Jamie Lynch — but it looks like a woman will be on the chopping block in week four when the competitors have to make vegetarian dishes for the judges. That’s according to our racetrack odds, which are based on the combined forecasts of “Top Chef” fans who have placed their bets here in our predictions center.
As of this writing Lisa Fernandes gets leading odds of 37/10 of being eliminated. She previously competed on the show in season four, when she was a runner-up but landed at the bottom seven times in a row before the finale. She’s been doing alright in season 17, though, advancing safely through all three elimination challenges so far.
See‘Top Chef’ Season 17: All-Stars Ranked Worst To Best
Maybe we should be more worried for Stephanie Cmar,...
As of this writing Lisa Fernandes gets leading odds of 37/10 of being eliminated. She previously competed on the show in season four, when she was a runner-up but landed at the bottom seven times in a row before the finale. She’s been doing alright in season 17, though, advancing safely through all three elimination challenges so far.
See‘Top Chef’ Season 17: All-Stars Ranked Worst To Best
Maybe we should be more worried for Stephanie Cmar,...
- 4/10/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
On last week’s Season 17 episode of “Top Chef,” Jamie Lynch was the All-Star eliminated for not having enough time to pour his jus over his seared chicken breast, leaving his plate inspired by baroque paintings rather tasteless. He had a chance to earn redemption in “Last Chance Kitchen,” but Joe Sasto bested him in another poultry challenge. This week, the Los Angeles edition of Bravo’s reality show has the 12 remaining chefs making dishes inspired by the animated film “Trolls World Tour” and participating in a vegetarian six-course meal Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the fourth episode of the season, “You’re So Fresh” (all times Et/Pt).
Sign Up for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
10:02 p.m. We start off in the cheftestants’ scenic digs in the Hollywood Hills. Nini Nguyen, the youngest chef this season, notes there is an interesting energy...
Sign Up for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
10:02 p.m. We start off in the cheftestants’ scenic digs in the Hollywood Hills. Nini Nguyen, the youngest chef this season, notes there is an interesting energy...
- 4/10/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
On the second episode of the All-Star edition of “Top Chef,” three All-Stars committed culinary sins of varying degrees that landed them on the bottom of the 14 remaining contestants.
For a challenge in honor of the late Los Angeles food critic Jonathan Gold, Stephanie Cmar made what host Padma Lakshmi called an “Indian taco,” which she claimed “didn’t taste like anything” and later said the dish was missing “tart flavors.” Guest judge Ruth Reichl offers that the addition of chutney would’ve “woken it up.” Eric Adjepong, who missed out on buying the last duck after Lisa Fernandes grabbed it at Whole Foods, instead paired his scallops with forlorn-looking and soggy red cabbage. Judge Gail Simmons said Eric’s plate wasn’t cohesive.
See‘Top Chef’ preview: Laughter and fine art are on the menu along with ‘a Michelin star dish’ [Watch Video]
Meanwhile, Angelo Sosa couldn’t find annatto seed to make his Thai curry,...
For a challenge in honor of the late Los Angeles food critic Jonathan Gold, Stephanie Cmar made what host Padma Lakshmi called an “Indian taco,” which she claimed “didn’t taste like anything” and later said the dish was missing “tart flavors.” Guest judge Ruth Reichl offers that the addition of chutney would’ve “woken it up.” Eric Adjepong, who missed out on buying the last duck after Lisa Fernandes grabbed it at Whole Foods, instead paired his scallops with forlorn-looking and soggy red cabbage. Judge Gail Simmons said Eric’s plate wasn’t cohesive.
See‘Top Chef’ preview: Laughter and fine art are on the menu along with ‘a Michelin star dish’ [Watch Video]
Meanwhile, Angelo Sosa couldn’t find annatto seed to make his Thai curry,...
- 4/1/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Last week on the premiere of the 17th season of “Top Chef,” Joe Sasto was sent packing for his soggy open-fire flatbread. However, he will get a chance to get back into the game by competing with the next eliminated player in the web-only show “Last Chance Kitchen.”
This week, the Los Angeles-based edition of the Bravo reality series is inspired by beloved Los Angeles Times food critic Jonathan Gold, who died in 2018. The first food critic to ever win a Pulitzer was fond of small traditional immigrant eateries. Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the second episode of the season, “The Jonathan Gold Standard.”
Sign Up for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
10:01 p.m. Host Padma Lakshmi tells the chefs, who are still on the same beach from the previous episode, that there will be no quickfire challenge this week. Why you ask? “You...
This week, the Los Angeles-based edition of the Bravo reality series is inspired by beloved Los Angeles Times food critic Jonathan Gold, who died in 2018. The first food critic to ever win a Pulitzer was fond of small traditional immigrant eateries. Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the second episode of the season, “The Jonathan Gold Standard.”
Sign Up for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
10:01 p.m. Host Padma Lakshmi tells the chefs, who are still on the same beach from the previous episode, that there will be no quickfire challenge this week. Why you ask? “You...
- 3/27/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
“Top Chef” is back for its 17th season, but unlike most years of the show which feature a brand new roster of chefs, this “All-Stars L.A.” season reintroduces 15 past contestants who just missed out on winning their seasons of the cooking competition. So which of them are you rooting for the most? Scroll down to vote in our poll at the bottom of this post.
See‘Top Chef’ returns to Bravo on March 19 — check out the 15 chefs competing in an All-Stars season [Gallery]
This is actually the fourth season appearing on the show for Jennifer Carroll. She first competed in season six, where she was eliminated in fourth place in the penultimate episode of the season. She returned for the show’s first all-star edition in season eight, but she was the second chef to go that time around. And in season 15 she showed up in “Last Chance Kitchen” where...
See‘Top Chef’ returns to Bravo on March 19 — check out the 15 chefs competing in an All-Stars season [Gallery]
This is actually the fourth season appearing on the show for Jennifer Carroll. She first competed in season six, where she was eliminated in fourth place in the penultimate episode of the season. She returned for the show’s first all-star edition in season eight, but she was the second chef to go that time around. And in season 15 she showed up in “Last Chance Kitchen” where...
- 3/20/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Guess what’s cooking? A new season of “Top Chef,” that’s what. Sadly, our reality right now is that restaurants and bars are closing down because of our health crisis. But the Bravo reality show is here to serve you with a 17th season filled with All Stars that takes place in the City of Angels. The producers picked a good time to hand out their largest winning jackpot ever in the history of the show — $250,000. These finalists, fan-favorites and front-runners definitely want to win these hunger games this time around on a supersized season opener. Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the season premiere episode, “It’s Like They Never Left.”
10:01 p.m. In the premiere episode’s first moments, we get to hear Season 6’s Bryan Voltaggio saying, “Up until now I’ve always been the runner-up. Now it’s time to be the winner.
10:01 p.m. In the premiere episode’s first moments, we get to hear Season 6’s Bryan Voltaggio saying, “Up until now I’ve always been the runner-up. Now it’s time to be the winner.
- 3/20/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Top Chef is back! Bravo's beloved culinary competition finally returns for season 17 on Thursday, March 19 and not only is the show returning to Los Angeles, but it's also bringing back a bunch of familiar faces in the process. For the first time since season eight, the show will be devoting itself to an all-stars format, with all 15 former contestants returning in the hopes of pulling off what they fell just short of in prior seasons. In the mix are Eric Adjepong (season 16), Karen Akunowicz (season 13), Jennfier Carroll, Stephanie Cmar (seasons 10 and 11), Lisa Fernandes (season 4), Kevin Gillespie (season 6), Gregory Gourdet (season 12), Melissa King (season 12), Jamie Lynch (season...
- 3/19/2020
- E! Online
In today’s TV news roundup, IFC has renewed “Year of the Rabbit” and Netflix released a trailer for “Altered Carbon” Season 2.
Casting
Nathalie Emmanuel has been cast in Quibi‘s upcoming series “Die Hart” with Kevin Hart and John Travolta. In it, Emmanuel plays a “tough-minded student” of Hart’s character. Hart plays a fictionalized character of himself who gets his wish of no longer wanting to be the comedic sidekick when a famous director offers him to his dream of being a leading man action star. However, Hart must first train at the world’s greatest action star school where he is pushed to his limits by the action school coach (Travolta). Production for this series is set to begin this February.
Bravo‘s “Top Chef” announced its Season 17 all-star chefs are Eric Adjepong, Karen Akunowicz, Jennifer Carroll, Stephanie Cmar, Lisa Fernandes, Kevin Gillespie, Gregory Gourdet, Melissa King,...
Casting
Nathalie Emmanuel has been cast in Quibi‘s upcoming series “Die Hart” with Kevin Hart and John Travolta. In it, Emmanuel plays a “tough-minded student” of Hart’s character. Hart plays a fictionalized character of himself who gets his wish of no longer wanting to be the comedic sidekick when a famous director offers him to his dream of being a leading man action star. However, Hart must first train at the world’s greatest action star school where he is pushed to his limits by the action school coach (Travolta). Production for this series is set to begin this February.
Bravo‘s “Top Chef” announced its Season 17 all-star chefs are Eric Adjepong, Karen Akunowicz, Jennifer Carroll, Stephanie Cmar, Lisa Fernandes, Kevin Gillespie, Gregory Gourdet, Melissa King,...
- 2/11/2020
- by Klaritza Rico
- Variety Film + TV
Those who have been starving for some hot cooking competition action, your wish has been granted. Bravo’s ‘Top Chef” returns for a 17th season on March 19 with a supersized premiere that airs at 10 p.m. Et next year. If that doesn’t whet your whistle, maybe the thought of 15 finalists, front runners and fan favorite cheftestants plucked from seasons past will.
This All-Star edition, which will take place in Los Angeles, will once again feature host Padma Lakshmi, head judge Tom Colicchio and judge Gail Simmons, who sat out last season after having a baby. Here is the line-up of familiar culinary faces:
• Eric Adjepong (Season 16: Kentucky)
• Karen Akunowicz (Season 13: California)
• Jennifer Carroll
• Stephanie Cmar (Season 11: New Orleans)
• Lisa Fernandes (Season 4: Chicago)
• Kevin Gillespie (Season 6: Las Vegas)
• Gregory Gourdet (Season 12: Boston)
• Melissa King (Season 12: Boston)
• Jamie Lynch (Season 14: Charleston)
• Brian Malarkey...
This All-Star edition, which will take place in Los Angeles, will once again feature host Padma Lakshmi, head judge Tom Colicchio and judge Gail Simmons, who sat out last season after having a baby. Here is the line-up of familiar culinary faces:
• Eric Adjepong (Season 16: Kentucky)
• Karen Akunowicz (Season 13: California)
• Jennifer Carroll
• Stephanie Cmar (Season 11: New Orleans)
• Lisa Fernandes (Season 4: Chicago)
• Kevin Gillespie (Season 6: Las Vegas)
• Gregory Gourdet (Season 12: Boston)
• Melissa King (Season 12: Boston)
• Jamie Lynch (Season 14: Charleston)
• Brian Malarkey...
- 12/16/2019
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
“Top Chef” season 15 ended on March 8, 2018 with host Padma Lakshmi revealing the winner chosen by two renowned chefs — Tom Colicchio and Graham Elliot — and award-winning food writer Gail Simmons. To be showcased on this Emmy-winning show for months on end has boosted the profile of all previous 14 winners of “Top Chef.”
We wanted to know what happened to these 14 folks in the years since they took the title. We did some digging and discovered that some of them are running their own restaurants while others work for established locations or freelance.
In the photo gallery above and the text below, we recap each of the first 14 seasons of “Top Chef,” noting the locations, the judges and other finalists. And we update the resumes of all of the winning chefs.
See ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ winners: Where are they now, who is your favorite from seasons 1 to 16? [Poll]
Season 1: Harold Dieterle
Location:...
We wanted to know what happened to these 14 folks in the years since they took the title. We did some digging and discovered that some of them are running their own restaurants while others work for established locations or freelance.
In the photo gallery above and the text below, we recap each of the first 14 seasons of “Top Chef,” noting the locations, the judges and other finalists. And we update the resumes of all of the winning chefs.
See ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ winners: Where are they now, who is your favorite from seasons 1 to 16? [Poll]
Season 1: Harold Dieterle
Location:...
- 3/8/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Reunion shows are usually the juiciest of reality show episodes and lucky for us, Bravo is airing one for Top Chef tonight at 10 p.m., weeks before the season six finale. The all-star reunion dinner, hosted by season 5 fan favorite Fabio, brings together the cheftestants we came to know and love (or loathe) over the years. At the dinner table tonight? Season one's Tiffani and Harold (winner), season two's Marcel and Ilan (winner), season three’s Dale, Casey and Hung (winner), season four’s Richard Blais and Lisa Fernandes and season five’s Carla Hall and Stefan Richter. Yay Carla!
- 11/4/2009
- by Archana Ram
- EW.com - PopWatch
It's hard to believe at times that we're nearly almost done with the sixth season of Bravo's addictive culinary competition series Top Chef. What better time then to take a look back than just before we anoint another new Top Chef to join the ranks of the blessed few? Tomorrow night, Bravo will take a break from the current competition for the Top Chef Reunion Dinner, which will offer audiences a chance to see cast members from previous seasons of Top Chef come together for an evening of conversation, competition, and confrontation. And, yes, those three things play an equal weight in the unfolding of the evening, which is hosted by Top Chef: New York competitor Fabio Viviani at Social Hollywood. Joining Fabio for the reunion are such noteworthy former competitors as Harold Dieterle, Tiffany Faison, Marcel Vigneron, Ilan Hall, Dale Levitski, Casey Thompson, Hung Huynh, Richard Blais, Lisa Fernandes,...
- 11/3/2009
- by Jace
- Televisionary
Get ready to unpack your knives and stay for a while. Top Chef is back, baby. The sixth season of the popular reality cooking competition premieres tonight. This season, 17 chefs compete to see if luck will be a lady for them in Las Vegas. Please, TV gods, find a way for the producers to get show host Padma Lakshmi in a showgirl outfit.
As in past seasons, the show features two out lesbian/bi chefs among the 17 competitors. They are:
Preeti Mistry, a 33-year-old Executive Chef for the Bon Appetit Management Company at Google just south of San Francisco and Ashley Merriman, a 32-year-old chef at Branzino in Seattle.
Preeti Mistry (left) and Ashley Merriman
I'm glad to see they're dutifully helping to fulfill the show's faux hawk and tattoo quotas.
From their Bravo bio videos, Preeti started off in film before moving to London with her partner of 13 years...
As in past seasons, the show features two out lesbian/bi chefs among the 17 competitors. They are:
Preeti Mistry, a 33-year-old Executive Chef for the Bon Appetit Management Company at Google just south of San Francisco and Ashley Merriman, a 32-year-old chef at Branzino in Seattle.
Preeti Mistry (left) and Ashley Merriman
I'm glad to see they're dutifully helping to fulfill the show's faux hawk and tattoo quotas.
From their Bravo bio videos, Preeti started off in film before moving to London with her partner of 13 years...
- 8/19/2009
- by dorothy snarker
- AfterEllen.com
Bravo has confirmed to us that there are two out lesbian/bi chefs among the 17 competitors on the sixth season of their popular cooking reality series, Top Chef: Las Vegas, premiering Wednesday, August 26th at 9 p.m. Et/Pt.
First is Preeti Mistry, a 33-year-old Executive Chef for the Bon Appetit Management Company at Google just south of San Francisco.
Preeti's official Top Chef bio reads:
Born in London and raised in the Us, Preeti’s Indian culture, extensive international travel, classic French culinary training and access to the best local California ingredients inspire her cooking. She enjoys building intense flavors, and truly shines when working with sauces, soups and vinaigrettes. Preeti’s commitment to seasonality, and her relationship with small local farmers are at the core of her cuisine. If she were a food, she says, “I would be a green zebra tomato – extremely distinctive from all the others,...
First is Preeti Mistry, a 33-year-old Executive Chef for the Bon Appetit Management Company at Google just south of San Francisco.
Preeti's official Top Chef bio reads:
Born in London and raised in the Us, Preeti’s Indian culture, extensive international travel, classic French culinary training and access to the best local California ingredients inspire her cooking. She enjoys building intense flavors, and truly shines when working with sauces, soups and vinaigrettes. Preeti’s commitment to seasonality, and her relationship with small local farmers are at the core of her cuisine. If she were a food, she says, “I would be a green zebra tomato – extremely distinctive from all the others,...
- 7/20/2009
- by sarahwarn
- AfterEllen.com
Last year in our annual overview of the Year in Television, Malinda Lo wrote, “Though there is still plenty of room for improvement — particularly on broadcast TV — the low points of 2007 do not contradict the fact that lesbian/bi representation on TV this past year has increased and improved significantly.”
Clearly, a lot can change in a year.
Though 2008 comes to a close with word of possible new queer female characters on the horizon in the coming year, the prospects for lesbians and bisexual women on television over the last twelve months have been somewhat grim.
This has been particularly true for lesbians, whose numbers on scripted network television have now dwindled to zero.
While portrayals of lesbian characters on Grey’s Anatomy and Cashmere Mafia (both on ABC) showed initial promise, it wasn’t long before their storylines turned sour and came to a screeching halt, due to either...
Clearly, a lot can change in a year.
Though 2008 comes to a close with word of possible new queer female characters on the horizon in the coming year, the prospects for lesbians and bisexual women on television over the last twelve months have been somewhat grim.
This has been particularly true for lesbians, whose numbers on scripted network television have now dwindled to zero.
While portrayals of lesbian characters on Grey’s Anatomy and Cashmere Mafia (both on ABC) showed initial promise, it wasn’t long before their storylines turned sour and came to a screeching halt, due to either...
- 12/17/2008
- by afterellenstaff
- AfterEllen.com
Throughout Top Chef's fourth season, Stephanie Izard quietly established herself as a leading contender for the prize through refined cooking, strong leadership, an ability to adapt to a wide range of challenges, and an easygoing personality that's rare in a reality competition show. In the season-four finale, which premièred June 11 on Bravo, she beat the two remaining finalists, Richard Blais and Lisa Fernandes, to become the series' first female winner. Previously, she was the executive chef and owner of the now-shuttered Chicago restaurant Scylla, which specialized in seafood with a Mediterranean bent. She's currently scouting the city for a new restaurant space. The morning after the Top Chef finale aired, Izard spoke to The A.V. Club about her culinary and social strategies, the difficulty with desserts, and the differences between onscreen and offscreen at Top Chef. The A.V. Club: How did you come to get involved...
- 6/13/2008
- by Scott Tobias
- avclub.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.