CHOW » Top Chef

Every Story Needs a Villain

The CHOW Editorial Team — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:30:54 +0000

Every Story Needs a Villain

Top Chef Chicago bids farewell to its resident sourpuss

Lisa Fernandes made it much further than anyone thought she would. Did her unsympathetic disposition make her a savvy reality competitor? Or did her personality ultimately hurt her? Lisa thinks her apparent negativity was the result of reality-TV editing. (Note: Due to spotty cell phone reception, parts of the interview are scratchy.)

Listen now: Download Lisa's podcast

to this podcast using iTunes

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

An Unforgiving Ending

The CHOW Editorial Team — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:24:46 +0000

An Unforgiving Ending

Writer's block quashes the Top Chef meal of a lifetime

Richard Blais looked like he had it all wrapped up. He'd been the master of surprise, wowing the judges all season long with his inventive cuisine and gadget-heavy technique. But in the end, even with the help of Stone Barns chef Dan Barber, Richard reveals he was unable to wrap his mind around a concrete menu that would lead him to Top Chef–dom. (Note: Due to poor cell phone reception, parts of the interview are scratchy.)

Listen now: Download Richard's podcast

to this podcast using iTunes

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

Peas Pack Your Knives and Go

The CHOW Editorial Team — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:18:52 +0000

Peas Pack Your Knives and Go

Al dente legumes trip up the latest Top Chef hopeful

Antonia Lofaso seemed a surefire candidate for the final three, so everyone was surprised when she was sent packing. Was it the undercooked peas? And did she really snub Gail Simmons? The break in production of the show before the finale may have ultimately proved to be the downfall of Antonia, who took the time to open a new restaurant, Foxtail in Los Angeles. With her mind elsewhere, she lost her mojo and let Lisa pass her by.

Listen now: Download Antonia's podcast

to this podcast using iTunes

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

Those Inflammatory Scallops

The CHOW Editorial Team — Thu, 29 May 2008 20:51:01 +0000

Those Inflammatory Scallops

Soggy seafood dooms a Top Chef contender

Spike Mendelsohn didn't need help on how to cook a steak; he won the Quickfire Challenge handily with his mad butchering skills. But his winner's advantage was quickly squandered when he chose frozen scallops. (Were they planted in Rick Tramonto's kitchen? Bravo doesn't want us to have that conversation.) Other discussions that Bravo does allow on the table: the variety of Spike's hat collection; Lisa's work at Spike's restaurant, Mai House; and Spike's post–Top Chef life.

Listen now: Download Spike's podcast

to this podcast using iTunes

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

It’s War

The CHOW Editorial Team — Thu, 22 May 2008 19:26:43 +0000

It's War

Not just Top Chef restaurant wars, but personality wars too

With Dale Talde booted, the Top Chef kitchen is looking downright roomy. In last night's "Restaurant Wars" episode, the dream team from "Wedding Wars" reunited, leaving the nightmare team (or "short-bus all-stars," according to Dale) of Dale, Lisa, and Spike to their own struggle. What does Dale have to say? A lot. About Lisa, mostly. But what he really wants to do is make movies. Will there be a role for Lisa?

Listen now: Download Dale's podcast

to this podcast using iTunes

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

Botched Lunch

The CHOW Editorial Team — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:21:23 +0000

Botched Lunch

One Top Chef goes against the grain

Andrew D'Ambrosi, described by Ted Allen as "quite Shakespearean," breaks some rules and packs his knives. In a conversation with Jane Goldman, Andrew tosses off some witty one-liners and explains the perils of peaking too soon (he was the winner on Episode 2). About Lisa's betrayal? Eh. In the end, Andrew is more diplomatic than we expect him to be.

Listen now: Download Andrew's podcast

to this podcast using iTunes

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

Marital Problems

The CHOW Editorial Team — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:26:11 +0000

Marital Problems

Catering a wedding proves too much responsibility for one Top Chef

Nikki Cascone gets put on the nongolden team in a wedding-catering challenge, and she's dinged for not stepping up and taking responsibility. Meanwhile, Dale shows his petulant side, again. And Lisa pouts, again. Nikki talks to Meredith Arthur about her love of the adrenaline rush in the kitchen and her tyrannical tendencies—which didn't show through on Top Chef. Plus, her previous experience as a reality TV star on Dog Days.

Listen now: Download Nikki's podcast

to this podcast using iTunes

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

Padma Breaks Up the Band

The CHOW Editorial Team — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:06:12 +0000

Padma Breaks Up the Band

Musical talent does not a Top Chef make

Mark Simmons, the didgeridoo-playin', sweet-curry-fixin' Kiwi, calls out Padma Lakshmi as Yoko Ono in his exit interview on Bravotv.com, but we were too distracted by his CHOW T-shirt to really understand the comparison. (Who is John in this equation? Who is Ringo?) He talks with Shawn Rose about the difficulties of using a state-of-the-art microwave oven, being criticized as a messy chef, and his return to the kitchen at New York's Public. Plus: who he thinks will win.

Listen now: Download Mark's podcast

to this podcast using iTunes

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

Improvisation, Sexual Innuendo, and Croutons

The CHOW Editorial Team — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:28:31 +0000

Improvisation, Sexual Innuendo, and Croutons

A ménage à trois turns off the judges

Jennifer Biesty and her phallic asparagus get booted while the judges give Lisa and Antonia's excessive improvisation (in which Polish sausage becomes chorizo) a pass at the judges' table. Is arrogance rewarded? Yes. Did Bravo overload on the sexual deviance jokes? Yes. And do most people want Lisa to go? Yes.

Listen now: Download Jennifer's podcast

to this podcast using iTunes

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

Metrosexuals Don’t Tailgate

The CHOW Editorial Team — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:39:57 +0000

Metrosexuals Don't Tailgate

Beer and sports bring the pretty boy down

Ryan Scott explains how classy his mom is. His great sin, in episode 6? According to him, it's that he went too big with his bread salad with marinated chicken, poached pear, and brandy cocoa. According to Gail Simmons, "none of it actually tasted good."

Listen now: Download Ryan's podcast

to this podcast using iTunes

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

Kiss Her Goodbye

The CHOW Editorial Team — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:17:25 +0000

Kiss Her Goodbye

Are two women allowed to show affection on Top Chef?

Jennifer stood by her woman Zoi on episode 5 of Top Chef Chicago, clearly upset that Zoi was packing her knives as a result of underseasoned mushrooms—while Richard, and his scaly, mushy salmon, was saved. But our big question: Why don't Zoi and Jen really kiss? (The third voice that enters the podcast is the Bravo publicist, Emily.)

Listen now: Download Zoi's podcast

to this podcast using iTunes

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

Good Morning, Swiss Chard

The CHOW Editorial Team — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:20:18 +0000

Good Morning, Swiss Chard

One chef is deemed too meek for the Top Chef kitchen

Manuel Trevino, a.k.a. Memo, explains how resources are divvied out in the Top Chef kitchen: Parsley is at a premium. Plus, he weighs in on the high-end Mexican food controversy. In the elimination challenge, which requires that the chefs cook up dishes themed to a film, he's paired with Spike, who has never heard of Like Water for Chocolate—and goes instead for Good Morning, Vietnam. But Swiss chard doesn't strike the judges as a particularly good pairing with Vietnamese spring rolls, and the Chilean sea bass is deemed cheap: Manuel takes the fall.

Listen now: Download Manuel's podcast

to this podcast using iTunes

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

Rick Bayless Can Go “Screw Himself”

The CHOW Editorial Team — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:48:24 +0000

Rick Bayless Can Go "Screw Himself"

Dissing high-end Mexican food gets one chef the boot

In the latest episode of Top Chef, Erik Hopfinger has to serve high-end Mexican cooking to Rick Bayless, the king of high-end Mexican cooking. And Erik just isn't on board. Padma helpfully declares that Chicago is "a city made up of neighborhoods." In one of those neighborhoods, there is a block party, where Erik's soggy corn dogs (chefs: Lose the sog) are a bust, but as he explains to Meredith Arthur, he's happy to be set free and has some thoughts about what Andrew's on. Chowhounds have thoughts of their own.

Listen now: Download Erik's podcast

to this podcast using iTunes

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

No Hometown Advantage

The CHOW Editorial Team — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:25:29 +0000

No Hometown Advantage

Top Chef Chicago eats one of its own

Chicago chef Valerie Bolon sogs up her blini and is sent packing. The beginning of the show depicts Valerie and her friend Stephanie working out together: Did Stephanie's crunches prepare her better than Valerie's stretches? Would Antonia have chosen Valerie if she had sweated it out a little harder? Or perhaps if any of them knew the difference between a Bellini and blini? And the question everyone wants answered: How much of a total spaz is Andrew, really?

Listen now: Download Valerie's podcast

to this podcast using iTunes

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

On to Chicago

The CHOW Editorial Team — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:39:36 +0000

On to Chicago

A new raft of Top Chef contestants enters the kitchen

Nimma is the first to go from season 4, but anyone coming to CHOW to look for her exit interview won't find it: She didn't want to talk to us about her salty shrimp scampi. We're improvising with a flashback to two previous seasons so that you can relive the triumphs of Hung and Ilan. We're looking forward to more manly takes on soufflé (nachos?), some emotional friction (can Jennifer and Zoi, the couple, be competitive and supportive?), and lots of swearing and posturing from Andrew. Come back next week!

Hung: Download Hung's podcast

Ilan: Download Ilan's podcast

to this podcast using iTunes

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

Top Chef Season 3 Round Table

The CHOW Editorial Team — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:53:07 +0000

Listen now: Download The Round Table podcast

We gathered five media experts who were soaked in Top Chef juice for this entire season: Josh Ozersky of Grub Street, Charlus and Miss XaXa of Amuse-Biatch, Stephanie V. W. Lucianovic a.k.a. Keckler of Television Without Pity, and our own Meredith Arthur, who conducted most of the interviews for CHOW.

They discuss whether this was the best season ever, the merits of skill versus passion, and if Top Chef bears any resemblance to My Fair Lady. Plus: Wouldn’t the show be better with some hot sex? And if so, who would have hooked up?

Listen to all of this season’s Top Chef podcasts:
Hung Huynh
Dale Levitski
Casey Thompson
Brian Malarkey
Sara Mair
CJ Jacobsen
Howie Kleinberg
Tre Wilcox
Sara Nguyen
Joey Paulino
Lia Bardeen
Camille Becerra
Micah Edelstein
Sandee Birdsong
Clay Bowen

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

Hung Wins Top Chef

The CHOW Editorial Team — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 23:32:33 +0000

Listen now: Download Hung's podcast

Hung Huynh has been crowned the third Top Chef, joining the ranks of Harold “Perilla” Dieterle and Ilan Hall. In his victory podcast, we learn that he’s “kind of a smart guy”; an “exciting character on the show”; and always “in total control.”

We don’t begrudge the man his medal: He’s got heart, and if you’re not convinced, he’ll insist on it some more. As Hung says, “Soul is not something that flies around and lands in your food.” No, that’s bacteria. Or fruit flies.

Watch out, Wolfgang: Hung is watching, and learning.

Listen to all of this season’s Top Chef podcasts:
Season 3 Round Table
Dale Levitski
Casey Thompson
Brian Malarkey
Sara Mair
CJ Jacobsen
Howie Kleinberg
Tre Wilcox
Sara Nguyen
Joey Paulino
Lia Bardeen
Camille Becerra
Micah Edelstein
Sandee Birdsong
Clay Bowen

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

Over Hill, Over Dale

The CHOW Editorial Team — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 23:19:30 +0000

Listen now: Download Dale's podcast

Dale Levitski gets the Top Chef silver medal, meaning that Ilan Hall remains the only Top Chef with a mohawk.

But Dale wins the prize for biggest heart (not you, Hung). He explains how he lost his job, lost his boyfriend, and had his world fall apart—then Top Chef saved his life. So even though Dale claims he’s a chef, not a celebrity or a TV star, he certainly fits the profile of a reality-television redemption story.

Listen to all of this season’s Top Chef podcasts:
Season 3 Round Table
Hung Huynh
Casey Thompson
Brian Malarkey
Sara Mair
CJ Jacobsen
Howie Kleinberg
Tre Wilcox
Sara Nguyen
Joey Paulino
Lia Bardeen
Camille Becerra
Micah Edelstein
Sandee Birdsong
Clay Bowen

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

Casey, Drop the Roe

The CHOW Editorial Team — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 22:29:57 +0000

Listen now: Download Casey's podcast

Casey Thompson was the audience favorite throughout season three of Top Chef. Maybe it was the Jennifer Aniston hair. Or maybe it was her talent, and her friendly attitude, and her team-playing ways. We’re not the only ones who feel like perhaps Hung stole the title of Top Chef.

But, in the end, Casey just used too much roe. And lost. It’s only a TV show, and we move on.

Listen to all of this season’s Top Chef podcasts:
Season 3 Round Table
Hung Huynh
Dale Levitski
Brian Malarkey
Sara Mair
CJ Jacobsen
Howie Kleinberg
Tre Wilcox
Sara Nguyen
Joey Paulino
Lia Bardeen
Camille Becerra
Micah Edelstein
Sandee Birdsong
Clay Bowen

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments

Padma Loves Brian’s Shanks

The CHOW Editorial Team — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:45:00 +0000

Listen now: Download Brian's podcast

Brian Malarkey packed his knives and took them back to San Diego last night, after mistakenly offering Chef Eric Ripert a choice of blue cheese (Chef Ripert does not like to choose). So while Padma was loving those shanks, Chef Ripert had the final say.

Brian knocks them down one by one: his biggest disappointment? Anthony Bourdain. Hung? As bad as they make him out to be. And he explains his confusing claim that trout is not seafood.

Listen to all of this season’s Top Chef podcasts:
Season 3 Round Table
Hung Huynh
Dale Levitski
Casey Thompson
Sara Mair
CJ Jacobsen
Howie Kleinberg
Tre Wilcox
Sara Nguyen
Joey Paulino
Lia Bardeen
Camille Becerra
Micah Edelstein
Sandee Birdsong
Clay Bowen

See More Stories Like This

Share on Facebook | Tweet this | StumbleIt | See the comments