TopChef - Articles and Posts from Slashfood

Posts with tag TopChef

'Top Chef Vegas' - Fear and Loathing on the Strip

Posted Nov 12th 2009 11:00AM by Michael Thomas Hastings
Filed under: Television/Film

Nigella bites.
And gnaws.
Photo: Bravo.

Jen, quit hating on yourself! Robin, what weird technique are you attempting now? Eli, get a clue! Was it just us, or was last night's "Top Chef" one of the most unexpectedly emotional, perversely suspenseful, scream-at-the-screen entertaining episodes in weeks?

By all indications, it shouldn't have been a standout night. Were there big surprises? No. Did the show's editors play up the usual themes -- "I miss my kids/significant other," "people misunderstand me as a chef," "this show will make or break what little reputation I have"? Of course. Are all the chefs who remain all equally deserving of the "Top Chef" title? Not at all.

Still, the show had a weird cumulative power, in large part because we've gotten to the point where we've invested a lot of time and faith into this motley crew. They may be burnt out by the sweltering Vegas sun and the even-more-searing comments of the judges, but we're not ready to see them throw in their aprons. So when Jen grumbled "I'm ready to go" before she was even called to the loser's circle, we wanted to stage a self-esteem intervention, stat.

Continue reading 'Top Chef Vegas' - Fear and Loathing on the Strip

'Top Chef All Stars Dinner' - A Trip Down Memory Lame

Posted Nov 5th 2009 11:00AM by Michael Thomas Hastings
Filed under: Television/Film

Marcel and his villainous beard. Photo: Bravo

Have we really gotten so far into the current season of "Top Chef" that Bravo feels the need to start dragging out the suspense -- namely, when will Robin be eliminated -- with an arbitrary, 11-chef reunion special? In retrospect, we should have known that that Very Special Natalie Portman episode was preparing us for an agonizing, two-week hibernation. Wake us when it's sweeps week.

In actuality, "Top Chef All Stars" was less a "where are they now" gift to loyal fans than it was a five-season clip compilation for non-fans, reminding them that the current Vegas edition, entertaining as it is, can't hold a candle to the pissy dysfunction -- or bad hairstyles -- of seasons past.

Presided over by Season Five's grade-A diva Fabio, the evening mostly succeeded in being a mellow, low-tension meeting of 11 "fan favorite" cheftestants. And don't think they got a free trip to Los Angeles without having to cook, either, although at least this time they were granted a luxurious $500 budget at Whole Foods. Still, drama and revelations were in short supply, while the most prominent theme of the evening was -- newsflash -- Marcel is still a dick. (Although he and Ilan seem to be legitimately chummy nowadays.)

The Season Two pipsqueak with the loud mouth and Robert Pattinson-on-steroids hair dominated this so-called reunion, both in present tense and in lovingly edited montages. You want a replay of Marcel talking over the judges during his critique? You got it. Care to revisit the unsuccessful attempt by his housemates to pin him down and shave off his downy brown locks? We don't, if only because it didn't produce the desired result: Marcel crying like a bald-headed baby.

Continue reading 'Top Chef All Stars Dinner' - A Trip Down Memory Lame

'Top Chef Las Vegas' Finale to Be Filmed in Napa

Posted Nov 2nd 2009 1:45PM by Slashfood Editor
Filed under: Television/Film, Food News

Photo: Frazer Harrison,
Getty Images

If you were betting on Vegas for the season finale of "Top Chef Las Vegas," you've lost.

The finale of the show will be filmed in Napa, Bravo officials said Monday.

Be sure to check out Slashfood's latest recap of the series here.

Editor's Picks - Best of the Rest

Posted Oct 30th 2009 6:00PM by Lisa Schweitzer
Filed under: Food News

Veggie pizza. Photo: mccun934, Flickr.

A few of the best stories spied elsewhere on the Web this week:

Much to the dismay of the meat industry, the Baltimore Public School System has instituted Meatless Mondays on the lunch line in an effort to reduce students' intake of cholesterol and saturated fats.

See which chefs are running the New York City Marathon this Sunday and what they'll be dining on afterwards.

Building on the success of "Top Chef," Bravo plans to launch "Top Chef: Just Desserts," a competitive show for pastry chefs. They have yet to release the planned panel of judges or the host.

Jelly Belly announced a new line of beverages called Jelly Belly Gourmet Soda to be sold in 4-packs in popular jelly-bean flavors Sour Cherry, Lemon Drop, Crushed Pineapple and Blueberry.

Still looking for Halloween costume inspiration? Check out this slideshow of celeb chefs and dress accordingly -- will you choose tattooed arms or the traditional chef's coat?

The Numerous Noshes of YumSugar

Posted Oct 29th 2009 1:00PM by Jose Ralat Maldonado
Filed under: Candy, YumSugar

Bloody Brain Shooters. Photo: YumSugar.

Each Thursday, we round up a selection of scrumptious links from our friends over at YumSugar. Here's what they've got cooking this week:

Serve up fright-night bites, like Vampire Nut Mix, for a last-minute fete.

Once that Jack O' Lantern has served its purpose, turn it into Chicken Pumpkin Stew.

Remember Nestle's Chunky? A slideshow of vintage candy will refresh your memory.

Vote bottoms up or thumbs down on Halloween spirits, including eyeball highball and bloody brain shooters.

Dip into football with shrimp and potato chips.

Do you think "Top Chef" has overcooked itself with the renewal of "Top Chef Masters"?

Anthony Bourdain enters Toon Town with the animated Web series, "Anthony Bourdain's Alternate Universe".

'Top Chef Vegas' - Small Portions, Dirty Jokes and Natalie Portman

Posted Oct 29th 2009 11:00AM by Michael Thomas Hastings
Filed under: Television/Film

Top Chef Vegas Tom Colicchio Natalie Portman

Confused, Natalie? Photo: Bravo.

At this point in the usual "Top Chef" season trajectory, you might expect a certain focus and discipline that naturally comes with narrowing the playing field down to seven ambitious young chefs, each working at the top of his or her game. This year, however, is another story.

Maybe it's that the talented and reliable Jen is off her game, or that the universally derided Robin is still around or that the twerpy Eli can actually put together an interesting plate of food for once. In any event, Wednesday night's episode felt like a detour into a "Top Chef" bizarro-world, where up is down, left is right and nobody knows anything anymore. Well, almost anything: Robin still sucks, Michael V. is still a cocky jerk and Kevin is still the model of modest brilliance.

Rattling off the random highlights of the episode sounds as scattered as Robin's cooking philosophy: Dirty jokes! Vegetarianism! Natalie Portman! No Toby Young! A Quickfire challenge that revealed itself to be a desperate marketing ploy! Make that two marketing ploys! In fact, Portman's description of one dish neatly summed up the entire episode: "It makes me smile and laugh -- and I'm confused!"

Continue reading 'Top Chef Vegas' - Small Portions, Dirty Jokes and Natalie Portman

Seasonal Cooking, 'Save the Deli' and Stefan Richter - The Los Angeles Times in 60 Seconds

Posted Oct 26th 2009 12:00PM by Alexa Weibel
Filed under: Food News, Fall

Sticky-sweet monkey bread. Photo: jamailac, Flickr.

Despite New York's deli domination -- and the alarm of passionate "Seinfeld" enthusiasts -- "Save the Deli" author David Sax believes Los Angeles to be the true deli capital of the U.S.
"Top Chef" finalist Stephan Richter opens the "smart and cheeky" Stefan's at L.A. Farm restaurant in Santa Monica.
Seasonal cooking recommends the "mysterious, elusive and alluring" fruit that is chocolate persimmon, as well as Claremont cucumbers and locally grown New Mexican chiles.
The Times marvels at the jarringly whimsical shape -- and "powerfully aromatic" flavor -- of the "Buddha's hand" fruit, and praises ragu as "fall food as its best: slow cooking that develops deep, harmonic flavors."
Imbibers get an excuse to get dead drunk at the Newport Beach Zombie Pub Crawl.
A vino visit with a "beautiful," "luscious and velvety" 2007 La Massa Toscana.
The dated but ever-delicious monkey bread has a variation for every occasion, from caramelized brown-sugar with walnuts to olive oil and thyme.
A pictoral "taste of fall" at the Santa Monica Farmers' Market.
Recipes: Curried Chickpeas, Neapolitan-Style Ragu, Cinnamon Walnut Monkey Bread.

Editor's Picks - Best of the Rest

Posted Oct 23rd 2009 5:00PM by Lisa Schweitzer
Filed under: Food News

Sausage pizza.
Photo: bobby stokes, Flickr.

A few of the best stories spied elsewhere on the Web this week:

Bravo announces that "Top Chef Masters'" will be renewed for a second season, this time with the addition of Food & Wine's Gail Simmons to the judges' table.

Chicago pizza lover Craig Scharoff takes a bet to eat only sausage pizza for one month and, with a little over a week left, Scharoff has actually lost a few pounds, owing to the fact that he no longer eats his kids' leftovers.

We know you'll be lining up for the Heston Blumenthal-endorsed SousVide Supreme, the first to market sous vide machine for the ambitious home cook who can't live without the tender texture and flavor the cooking method yields.

In surprising and annoying study news, researchers found that in addition to red wine, prolonged contact with white wine erodes tooth enamel -- making teeth more sensitive to cold, hot and sweet food, as well as staining. Even more surprising is that brushing teeth after drinking white wine worsens the damage.

The new edition of classic cooking tome "Larousse Gastronomique" arrives in stores with a thud, weighing in at eight pounds and 1,206 pages, with updates from avant-garde chefs such as Ferran Adria and Thomas Keller along with recipes for traditional French dishes like crepes suzettes.

'Top Chef - The Quickfire Cookbook' - Cookbook Spotlight

Posted Oct 23rd 2009 2:00PM by Kat Kinsman
Filed under: Cookbook Spotlight

Photo: Amazon

'Top Chef - The Quickfire Cookbook'
by Emily Miller with foreword by Padma Lakshmi
Chronicle Books -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

It's Padma's world. The rest of us just cook in it -- just mostly without a gigantic LED countdown clock, a dozen cleaver-wielding competitors jockeying for prep space and a mandate to make haute nibbles from the contents of a 7-Eleven's snack aisle. But if that's what cremes your brulee and you haven't the tats, 'tude and temerity to audition for competitive reality TV, you can live vicariously through this book.

Or you can just go online and save the $29.95.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Continue reading 'Top Chef - The Quickfire Cookbook' - Cookbook Spotlight

'Top Chef Vegas' - Peace Out, Already!

Posted Oct 22nd 2009 11:00AM by Michael Thomas Hastings
Filed under: Television/Film

Why so serious, Bryan Voltaggio?
Photo: Bravo.

If you're like us, you've been waiting all season for the ultimate knock-down, drag-out Voltaggio brothers showdown on "Top Chef Vegas." Ah, the boys next door we love to hate, with their cutting comments, their undermining of each other's abilities, their constant bickering. ... We're not sure what dinner was like in their house growing up, but no doubt it involved lots of flinging of peas and acting out, followed by long, unbearable silences.

You can even see it in their food: Robotic big-bro Bryan and his classically flavored, cooked-to-perfection entrees; sneering bad-boy/skate-punk Michael and his crazy textures, flamboyant technique and exotic flavor profiles. It may be a few episodes too early to say it, but last night -- on the occasion of "Top Chef"'s customary restaurant wars challenge -- we finally saw the their sibling hatred in full effect.

Continue reading 'Top Chef Vegas' - Peace Out, Already!

'Top Chef Vegas' - Who's Your Mommy?

Posted Oct 15th 2009 11:00AM by Michael Thomas Hastings
Filed under: Television/Film

Robin, the despised? Photo: Bravo.

Since the very beginning of "Top Chef Vegas" -- when she sheepishly chose immunity over a prize in a quickfire challenge -- the spazzy, chatty 40-something firebrand with the Kool-Aid hair has been courting the hatred of just about every mammal on the show, including the dead ones she's overcooked in the kitchen.

Even the cameramen seem to be joining in the slander. Each week, her pancake makeup looks a little worse, her puttering around the house more aimless, her early morning pilates routine more ridiculous. If you're looking for someone to teach you the doggy paddle on your front lawn, Robin's your girl.

Call it ageist, call it sexist, call it discrimination against the uniquely untalented, but certainly the bile and vitriol directed her way are disproportionate to her overall annoyance factor -- or are they? This week, the show's editors played up the Eli-vs.-Robin smackdown, wherein the elder stateswoman of "Top Chef" had the gall to suggest a nice serving platter for the Weeble-like Eli's scallops.

"You're not my mom," the snotty 25-year-old shouted, just after reminding us that he still lives with his mom and dad -- and is quite happy with the arrangement, thank you.

Continue reading 'Top Chef Vegas' - Who's Your Mommy?

L.L. Bean, Brooklyn and Bells - The New York Times in 60 Seconds

Posted Oct 7th 2009 12:00PM by Monika Bartyzel
Filed under: In Sixty Seconds

Fried chicken.
Photo: thebittenword.com, Flickr

Fried chicken goes international, from Creole to Korean kitchens.
L.L. Bean heiress Linda L. Bean gets ready to mass market Maine lobsters and end Canadian lobster dependence.
A look at "Top Chef" hostess Padma Lakshmi's Sunday routine.
Jewish delis are suffering from waning popularity, and those that are left struggle to keep the meaty magic alive.
The end of Gourmet magazine after almost 70 years, and those mourning its demise.
The dangers of E. Coli and pre-ground beef, and the story of Stephanie Smith.
When cooking becomes boring, A Good Appetite suggests playing "cupboard roulette."
The Minimalist makes a crustless, Pan-Baked Lemon-Almond Tart.
Joining old Italian pros as they chop, stew and jar plum tomatoes in prime autumn tradition.
Cooking with Dexter finally learns the artificial flavor of the fast food beneath the golden arches.
Rogacki is "a temple devoted" to Berlin deli fare, in West Berlin, Germany.
Restaurant: After 10 years, Brooklyn's Saul has only gotten better, Queens' Engeline is a rare slice of Filipino fare and the Lower East Side's Ten Bells mixes wine and charcuterie.
Food Stuff finds R.W. Apple Jr.'s new book, SoHo crepes and Saratoga chips.
New York's openings and closings and food calendar.

'Top Chef' Renewed

Posted Oct 5th 2009 6:30PM by Kat Kinsman
Filed under: Television/Film

Photo: Frazer Harrison,
Getty Images

Got the chops, fire, fauxhawk and facial jewelry to be a "Top Chef" contender? Pack your knives and go on over to a casting locale near you, 'cause the hit show is firing up for its seventh season on Bravo. The renewal was announced earlier today, and in addition to taped submissions, in-person auditions will take place coast to coast from Oct. 18 to Nov. 15.

The host city has yet to be named, but Slashfood is banking on at least one "make a snack for pregnant Padma" Quickfire challenge.

See a list of open casting call locations and dates after the jump.

Continue reading 'Top Chef' Renewed

Editor's Picks - Best of the Rest

Posted Oct 2nd 2009 5:00PM by Lisa Schweitzer
Filed under: Food News

Doughnuts. Photo: jwannie, flickr.

A few of the best stories spied elsewhere on the Web this week:

The world's largest candy store is set to open in Dubai, complete with mall-roaming mascot.

With more upscale restaurants open for breakfast, doughnuts are popping on many of their menus.

Celebrity chefs, including Guy Fieri, Paula Deen and Anthony Bourdain, hit the road like rock stars on tour.

A Sydney restaurant has been fined for topless food handlers, just one of many food safety infractions on New South Wales Government's Name and Shame Web site.

Slashfoodie Pervaiz Shallwani interviews Julia Child's editor Judith Jones about her new book "The Pleasures of Cooking for One."

"Top Chef" finalist and ladies' man Fabio Viviani gets his own Bravo reality show.

Mario Batali will not have to give up his precious orange Crocs -- the company has been saved from going out of business.

Padma Lakshmi Confirms Pregnancy

Posted Oct 1st 2009 3:30PM by Kat Kinsman
Filed under: Television/Film

Photo: Frazer Harrison,
Getty Images

A "Top Chef" host has a little something in the oven -- and it's not a Quickfire dish.

Reps for Padma Lakshmi confirmed to Usmagazine.com that the former model, burger spokeswoman and Emmy winner is pregnant with her first child after a multi-year struggle with endometriosis.

The 39-year-old co-founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America earlier this year in an attempt to raise awareness about the condition in which uterine lining accumulates in other parts of the body, sometimes leading to chronic pain and infertility.

Lakshmi's three-year marriage to novelist Salman Rushdie ended in divorce in 2007 and the identity of the father has not been publicly revealed.

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'Top Chef Vegas' - Fear and Loathing on the Strip

'Top Chef All Stars Dinner' - A Trip Down Memory Lame

'Top Chef Las Vegas' Finale to Be Filmed in Napa

Editor's Picks - Best of the Rest

The Numerous Noshes of YumSugar

'Top Chef Vegas' - Small Portions, Dirty Jokes and Natalie Portman

Seasonal Cooking, 'Save the Deli' and Stefan Richter - The Los Angeles Times in 60 Seconds

Editor's Picks - Best of the Rest

'Top Chef - The Quickfire Cookbook' - Cookbook Spotlight

'Top Chef Vegas' - Peace Out, Already!

'Top Chef Vegas' - Who's Your Mommy?

L.L. Bean, Brooklyn and Bells - The New York Times in 60 Seconds

'Top Chef' Renewed

Editor's Picks - Best of the Rest

Padma Lakshmi Confirms Pregnancy

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