Top Chef New York City Style Part 1
With the premier on December 1st, I thought this was a perfect time to revisit one of my favorite Foodie shows of all time, Top Chef. Season Eight: Top Chef All-Stars has returned to New York City. New York, the “culinary capital of the United States,” has always been an integral part of the show. Many contestants and guest judges have tried their best to succeed in New York City or have come from NYC to make a guest appearance. Season Five was the last season to be filmed here. Over the next several weeks I will be posting a season by season overview of New York’s involvement in the show with a recap of the week’s episode. Today I start with the hosts & judges of Top Chef All Stars.
Host
Padma Lakshmi: I met Padma at a Rangers game which gives me reason to believe that she is a New York resident but I could not find any documentation proving it.
Judges:
Anthony Bourdain:
- Born in New York City and current resident
- He studied at Vassar College and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America
- Linked to heading kitchens at New York City’s Supper Club, One Fifth Avenue, and Sullivan’s
- Currently the executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles
Gail Simmons:
- Currently resides in NYC
- Trained in the kitchens of legendary Le Cirque and Vong restaurant
- Contributed to Chef Daniel Boulud: Cooking in New York City cookbook
Tom Colicchio
- Colicchio cooked at prominent New York restaurants such as The Quilted Giraffe, Gotham Bar & Grill, Rakel, and Mondrian prior to opening his own flagship NYC multiple star restaurants
- In July of 1994, Colicchio, along with partner Danny Meyer, opened Gramercy Tavern
- Craft, one block south of Gramercy Tavern was opened one year later in 1995 (one of my top five NYC Restaurants)
- Later on he opened the sandwich chain, ‘wichcraft (14 New York City locations)
- Tom opened Colicchio & Sons in New York in January 2010
- Most recently he opened Riverpark in October 2010
Top Chef All Stars cast for the New York City eigth Season
Episode One Recap:
New York Spot: Russian Tea Room Kitchen
Quickfire Challenge: chefs from each season work as one team to make one dish representing their host city. All members of the winning team, Chicago Season 4, received immunity.
Favorites:
- Season 3: Pork Tenderloin with Avocado Lime Puree
- Season 4: Chicago style hot dog Pork & Black Pepper Sausage with Mustard Ice cream (winner)
- Season 6: Las Vegas Bucatini with Lobster Carbonara
Bottom:
- Season 1: San Francisco made a Cioppino Gazpacho with Sourdough
- Season 2: LA Shrimp tacos with Guac & Apple Wrapper
- Season 5: NY Trio of Apple
- Season 7: DC Crab cake Essence with Rock Fish
Main Challenge: “Turn the dish that sent you home a Success”. GENIUS.
Top Three:
- Spike: frozen scallops
- Jamie: Eric Ripert’s fish dish
- Angelo: Ramen dish (winner)
Bottom Three:
- Fabio: Crawfish & Crab Pasta
- Stephen: Lobster, oyster, crab appetizers
- Elia: steamed fish dish
Dishes I most wanted to eat (and not just because they were the winners):
- Chicago team’s Homemade Sausage with Mustard Ice cream
- Angelo’s Ramen with Sweet Glazed Pork Belly & Watermelon
Packed Knives: Elia
--DBlock
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