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Top Chef is an American reality competition show that airs on the cable television network Bravo, in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges. They are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the food and wine industry with one or more contestants eliminated in each episode. The show is produced by Magical Elves Productions, the same company that created Project Runway.
Four spinoffs extending the Top Chef brand are planned: Bravo has ordered Top Chef Junior, featuring contestants in their early teens;[3] a second spinoff began airing in June 2009 and is called Top Chef: Masters, featuring "some of the brightest stars in the world of food, award-winning, widely-renowned chefs," according to Bravo's press release.[4] A third spinoff, Top Chef: Just Desserts has been ordered.[5] And a fourth spinoff, Top Chef Canada, is being produced by Food Network Canada for airing in 2011.[6]
Each episode of Top Chef, save for the finale, has had two challenges.
In the Quickfire Challenge, each chef is asked to cook a dish with certain requirements (for example, using specific ingredients or to inspire a certain taste) or participate in a culinary-related challenge (for example, a mise en place relay or a taste test). They are usually given an hour or less to complete these tasks. A guest judge selects one or more chefs as the best in the challenge. Early in the season the winning chef(s) are granted immunity from the following Elimination Challenge. As the number of contestants dwindle no one receives immunity and instead the winner gets another "reward" (such as being team captain for a team challenge).
In the Elimination Challenge, the chefs have to prepare one or more dishes to meet the challenge requirements. Many of these are individual challenges and may require several courses, although some instances require teams to complete the challenge. Teams may be selected by the remaining contestants among themselves, but more often are selected by the random process of "drawing knives" from a butcher's block, with the team identification revealed on the blade of the knife. The chefs may have from a few hours to a few days to complete this challenge. Ingredients for Elimination Challenges are generally limited to what is present in the "Top Chef" pantry and what the chefs purchase at a food store, with a possibly limited budget. However, certain challenges may provide specific ingredients or limit the type or number of ingredients that can be used, while others require non-traditional methods of obtaining ingredients (such as asking people door-to-door). After shopping, the contestants will cook for four judges, usually including at least one guest judge. In most cases, the contestants cook for the four judges and a group of guests or customers (for example, the cowboys in Colorado). The judges and the guests sample the food and rate the individuals or teams.
After the Elimination Challenge ends, the chefs are taken to Judges' Table, where the four judges consider the guests' comments and deliberate on the best and worst dishes. The top individuals or teams are called in, and may be asked questions of their meals before they are notified of their placement. One individual is named the winner of the challenge and may be awarded an additional prize by the guest judge. Then, the bottom individuals or teams are brought to the judges, and similar discussion of their courses is played out. From this group, one chef or team is determined to be the worst, and then the host asks one chef to "pack [their] knives and go." This is usually followed by a knife packing sequence for the eliminated chef, and a clip of his or her exit video, to close out the episode. According to the credits, some elimination decisions (e.g., Cliff Crooks's disqualification in Season 2) are made in consultation with the show's producers.
The show continues in this format for 10–13 episodes, until the Finale.
Midway through each season, the contestants participate in a "Restaurant Wars" (or similarly named) Elimination Challenge. They are split into two teams, created by the winner of the previous Quickfire Challenge, or by "drawing knives". In these teams, the chefs must transform an empty space into a restaurant within a set time limit and budget, selecting and creating the name, theme, decor, and menu. According to Dale Levitski, a Season Three finalist, this is one of the contestants' most anticipated challenges. Season Four had not only "Restaurant Wars", but also "Wedding Wars".
In the final challenge, the two (or three) remaining chefs prepare a multiple course dinner with the help of other chefs. These other chefs could be previously eliminated chefs or celebrity chefs (for example, Rocco DiSpirito). The winning chef is selected based on several factors including food quality, their ability to lead their selected chefs, and general performance during the show. There is no Quickfire Challenge in this episode.
There have been 61 guest judges so far on all 5 seasons. Of these, 20 have won the Food and Wine Best New Chef award, including Head Judge Tom Colicchio. Of these 61 guests, 12 have appeared multiple times. Anthony Bourdain and Rocco DiSpirito* lead with 5 appearances, Hubert Keller* and Eric Ripert have 4 (Ripert appeared a fifth time on the Top Chef Holiday Special, see below), Michelle Bernstein and Wylie Dufresne* have 3, and the rest tie with two: Daniel Boulud*, Dan Barber*, Ming Tsai, Scott Conant*, Mike Yakura and Ted Allen (Allen later became a permanent judge in Seasons 3 and 4). Of these 12, 6 were winners of Food and Wine Best New Chef. Actresses Natasha Richardson and Natalie Portman also appeared as judges.
(*--Denotes a Food and Wine Best New Chef Winner.)
Sears had been a series sponsor since Season One, along with Calphalon and Toyota.[7]Top Chef began using GE appliances in Season Three. Other sponsors have included Kingsford Charcoal, Wild Oats, Bertolli, Cold Stone Creamery, Kraft Foods, Nestlé, Quaker Oats, Baileys Irish Cream, T.G.I. Friday's, Red Robin, Continental Airlines, Breville, and Bombay Sapphire.
Top Chef (season 1) was filmed in San Francisco, California. The host was Katie Lee Joel and the judges were Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons, along with several guest judges throughout the season. Harold Dieterle and Tiffani Faison competed in the final showdown in Las Vegas, with Harold emerging as the first Top Chef.
Top Chef (season 2) was filmed in Los Angeles, California. Padma Lakshmi took over for Katie Lee Joel as host. There were several guest judges throughout the season, as in the first season. At the finale in Waikoloa Village, Hawaii, Ilan Hall battled Marcel Vigneron for the title of Top Chef with Ilan winning. For the first time, a "Fan Favorite" was named based on online and phone voting. Sam Talbot, who finished in third place, was voted the Fan Favorite.
Top Chef (season 3) was filmed in Miami, Florida — the first season to take place outside of California. Padma Lakshmi returned as host, while the judging panel remained the same; celebrity guest judges joined the panel in each episode. In the end, Hung Huynh beat out Dale Levitski and Casey Thompson in the show's first ever final three finale; the finale took place in Aspen, Colorado. Casey Thompson, the season's runner-up, was voted Fan Favorite.
Top Chef (season 4) was filmed in Chicago, Illinois. Padma Lakshmi returned as host with Tom Colicchio retuning as head judge. Gail Simmons and Ted Allen alternated in the third permanent judging position with celebrity guest judges also appearing in each episode. At the finale in Puerto Rico, Stephanie Izard became the show's first female Top Chef, beating out Lisa Fernandes and Richard Blais. Stephanie was also voted Fan Favorite.
Top Chef (season 5) was filmed in New York City. The judges remained the same as in season 4, except with Toby Young filling in for Gail Simmons for half the season. Celebrity guest judges appeared in every episode. Hosea Rosenberg became the Top Chef, beating Stefan Richter and Carla Hall in the finale in New Orleans. The Fan Favorite was Fabio Viviani, who took fourth place for the season.
Top Chef (season 6) was filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada. The judges remained the same as in Season 5. The finale took place in Napa, California. Kevin Gillespie and brothers Bryan Voltaggio and Michael Voltaggio were finalists, with Michael winning the title of Top Chef. Kevin, who finished third overall in the competition, was voted Fan Favorite, with Bryan receiving the next highest number of votes for the title.
On October 5, 2009 Bravo TV announced a seventh season of Top Chef.[8] Shooting began in early April, 2010, in Washington, DC[9][10]
The season will include 17 contestants, as in prior seasons. Eric Ripert will replace Toby Young on Top Chef's judging panel.
Season 7 premiered Wednesday, June 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo.
On June 6, 2007, as part of the buildup for Season 3, Bravo aired a special charity episode called "4 Star All Star," which awarded $20,000 to the charity of the winning team's choice. The show brought together Season 1 contestants Stephen, Harold, Dave, and Tiffani, and pitted them against Season 2 contestants Ilan, Elia, Marcel, and Sam. The show format was kept the same, with a Quickfire Challenge to start, followed by an Elimination Challenge. The show was filmed in Miami Beach at the kitchen and hotel used for Season 3. Padma Lakshmi hosted.
The December 24, 2007 special brought selected chefs from all three seasons back with a prize of $20,000 for the winner. Padma Lakshmi presided as host, with regulars Ted Allen, Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons among the judges. The following Chefs participated: Tiffani Faison and Stephen (Season 1); Josie, Marcel Vigneron, and Betty (Season 2); CJ, Tre, and Sandee (Season 3). It was shot in Chicago, Illinois.
On November 4, 2009, Fabio Viviani from season five has invited contestants from his season and those in the past for what is supposed to be a convivial gathering of chefs cooking, eating and talking. Chefs who attended were: Harold and Tiffani from season one; Ilan and Marcel from season two; Casey, Dale and Hung from season three; Richard and Lisa from season four and Carla, Fabio and Stefan from season five.
Top Chef University is a comprehensive online culinary school comprised of 12 courses and over 220 in-depth video-lessons. The program at www.topchefuniversity.com takes you through a structured program from the basics (knife skills, kitchen set-up, ingredients) through to advanced culinary techniques (sous vide, molecular gastronomy). Instructors at Top Chef University are some of the show's most successful and popular former chef'testants. Enrollment costs 199.95 for an annual membership and 24.95 for a monthly membership.
Top Chef Junior is a tentatively-titled upcoming American reality competition show that will air on the cable television network Bravo. It is expected that teenage chefs will compete against each other in weekly challenges. Following the Top Chef format, they will be judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the culinary world, with Bravo stating that one or more contestants will be eliminated each week. The show is produced by Magical Elves Productions, the same company that created and produces Top Chef.[11][12][13]
Bravo has ordered eight episodes; currently no air date has been set,[14].
Top Chef Masters is an American reality competition show that airs on the cable television network Bravo. In the series, 24 world-renowned chefs compete against each other in weekly challenges—a contrast from Top Chef, which features chefs that have been called relative "culinary amateurs".[15]
Food journalist Kelly Choi hosts the show, and restaurant critic Gael Greene, culinary expert and Saveur Editor-in-Chief James Oseland and food critic Jay Rayner serve as judges.[16][17]
The first season began airing on June 10, 2009 with contestants including Rick Bayless, John Besh, Michael Chiarello, Wylie Dufresne, and Hubert Keller.[18]
On October 22, 2009, it was announced that a second season of Top Chef Masters has been ordered by Bravo.[19] It began airing on April 7, 2010.
On October 26, 2009 Bravo TV announced that it has picked up a season of Top Chef: Just Desserts[20]. Casting info is to follow soon. An airdate has not been set yet. The Bravo weblog website states:
Gail Simmons will be the host of this series.
Contestants for the show, airing in September 2010 have been announced. The chefs represent a number of cities, including Dallas, Atlanta and Boston. Like many other cooking shows, the contestant pool is New York heavy.[21]
On April 21, 2010 Food Network Canada announced that they had come to an agreement with NBC Universal to produce a Canadian version of the program called Top Chef Canada which will be airing in spring 2011.[6]
No host for the series has been announced, but the head judge role held by Tom Colicchio on the original version will be filled by Mark McEwan, chef/owner of several restaurants in Toronto and host of the Food Network Canada program The Heat with Mark McEwan.[22]
Top Chef: The Game is a computer game released by Brighter Minds for the PC. It challenges players to create the best dish from items in a virtual pantry. Games magazine gave the game an unfavorable review, calling it a "quick cash-in... for an undiscriminating audience."[23]
In efforts to make certain dishes available to viewers who watch Top Chef but don't have time to try preparing those dishes themselves, Schwan's Home Service started offering Top Chef—branded frozen meals in late 2009.[24]
In June 2009, news broke that Top Chef is working with Food & Wine magazine on a Top Chef print magazine.[25]
On March 20, 2008, Chronicle Books released Top Chef: The Cookbook, with an introduction by Tom Colicchio.
On September 30, 2009, Chronicle Books released Top Chef: The Quickfire Cookbook, with an introduction by Padma Lakshmi.
On July 14, 2010, Chronicle Books released Top Chef: The Technique Cookbook, also known as How To Cook Like A Top Chef, with an introduction by Rick Bayless.
Season 5 has been released on DVD in Region 1 by A&E Home Video.[2] A Season 6 DVD set has been announced for release August 24, 2010.[citation needed] Season 4 DVD Set has been released exclusively at Target stores.
Top Chef was nominated at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Cinematography for Reality Programming and Outstanding Reality-Competition Program for its second season.[28]Top Chef won the award for Outstanding Editing in a Reality Series at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards. Top Chef won the award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards, defeating The Amazing Race which has won the award since the category's inception in 2003.
Time magazine's James Poniewozik named it one of the Top 10 Returning Series of 2007, ranking it at #10.[29]
Top Chef Premieres Ratings
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