"top chef all-stars" news and stories

Nothing like a little two-faced, back-stabbing resentment to introduce us to the "Top Chef" home stretch, the period of time near the end of the season when people get a little goofy, a little nervy -- a little "angst"-ridden, to quote Antonia.

This was also the episode where we learned about something we could only infer before this week: That yes, there is something called "Chef Law," and if you break it, there is hell to pay.

We discovered this heretofore unspoken rule in the Quickfire challenge, wherein our testy crew was ordered to deep fry their hearts out for the queen of cholesterol, Paula Deen (looking resplendent in her up-done helmet hair, which, she pointed out, looks a little more like Richard's porcupine 'do when she wakes up in the mornings).

When Antonia's delicately battered shrimp and avocado (brilliant!) lost on the technicality of her not plating up two dishes, the prize went to Jersey Mike -- who, without shame, stole a deep-fried chicken oyster dish from Richard's playbook. As in, he literally copied the recipe from Richard's notes. When Antonia told Carla and Tiffany the news, they were aghast. This, we learned, was just something chefs do not do. The code was broken. Would Mike be made to pay?

Here's this week's installment of Slashfood's exclusive exit interviews with the latest "Top Chef All-Stars" contestant to get the boot. In an effort to prevent spoilers, we've included the text after the jump.

Here's this week's installment of Slashfood's exclusive exit interviews with the latest "Top Chef All-Stars" contestant to get the boot. In an effort to prevent spoilers, we've included the text after the jump.

Two weeks without a "Top Chef" fix. Bravo, how could you do this to us? First they left us hanging, wondering what the chefs all thought of the despicable Marcel's inevitable implosion/elimination. Then they teased us with previews of an old-school Italian challenge, complete with imposing dudes from legendary New York restaurant Rao's in shiny, double-breasted suits -- along with the Goodfellas/Sopranos grande dame Lorraine Bracco.

With three Italian-Americans left in the competition -- Mike, Antonia and of course, Fabio -- we couldn't wait to see each try to one-up the other. (The potential for a overconfidence crash-and-burn was high.)

Spoiler alert: Winner and loser are revealed after the jump.