Does anyone know what is going on with the new season? I saw the promo & it was supposed to start next week, I think. It showed up on my Tivo, I set it as a Season Pass, and now the show is not there anymore.

Must have been a goof! We probably won't see another show until summer. Although I wouldn't mind if we had one sooner.

Really? I need to put that in right away!

I figured out what happened. When the show was 1st downloaded to Tivo, it was called Top Chef: New York. But later, it was changed to just Top Chef, so Tivo was not recognizing my Season Pass.

I am kind of glad they got rid of two people right away. That makes it easier to remember some of the rest.

The Finnish/German guy probably will go far or win it all if he doesn't piss too many people off.

I guess the culinary world is too small for some of these people to not know each other.

Boo hoo....I missed the first 2 episodes....usually Canada doesn't air the show at the same time as the US......last edition you guys were already 3/4 into the season before it started in Canada...but now I get to talk to all of you about the show now after it happens......but I caught the show last night....it was a good episode.....not sure who I like yet.....Fabio is a stand out so far.....as is Eugene......Ariane has potential if she'd stop her whining.....she reminds me of the Italian contestant from Chicago.....Nicki.......she wasn't too bad.......

Anyone watching this season??

I am, and I thought I read that a few others were too. Don't have any strong favorites yet though.

The Italian guy is a hoot.....I laughed when they let him speak to the bridal shower guests.....I don't think they cared what they served when they heard his accent....

And Stefan is an arrogant a$$....so glad Hosea won that quickfire........

Loved the quickfire challenge...that was cool....

The taste test reminded me a little of Hells Kitchen, just no blindfold. I don't care though was a great quick fire.

I'm always awed that people can actually pick out ingredients when tasting a recipe. I'm just lucky to recognize it as either meat, vegetable or other.: spoiled or not spoiled.

I'm also amazed at how fast they can pull together a dish. It takes me all day to cook one thing. Well, I can boil water quickly.....

What did you think about using the show for the bridal shower? I had some reservations about that. Bad food and your guests get sick or they never speak to you again. Also would that be sort of a conflict of interest. You don't have to pay catering fees when its part of the program.

I liked the show where the participants were judged by people rejected by the show. Now that was a very hard audience! I think that anyone who got good reviews from that group really, really is a fantastic cook.

It looks like Gail had a good time at her shower so most likely worth it. However I like the not so formal kind where you sit at home, and show all the nighties you got to everyone else.

So as long as Gail loved it thats all the matters.

...even if it's watched??

It was nice how so many of them pitched in to help when the fridge door got left open and food spoiled. Also knew what Tom was going to say at the end, could tell it was coming.

I should have seen that coming, but I did not.

It seems that the cooking this time around is less spectacular than usual. Not much is catching my eye as something that I would be awed at to order in a restaurant. I rather liked Tom's words at the end that none of them were really showing Top Chef potential. It was also nice to skip an elimination this time with the mishap of the refrigerator being beyond their control. I've always wondered what would happen in such a scenario.

I was hoping they were going to have a non-elimination given this was a "holiday" challenge.....it wouldn't have seemed right to boot someone.......

Bah HUMBUG! Boot 'em and get on with the show!

Nice bedside manner.....

Good episode......not surprised by the bottom 3......or the boots...they had to go.......

I'm glad they sent the two home they did. I thought they may have had 4 in the bottom though, since they were sending two home. I did like the way they did the challenge though. I think they should have more blind tastings. Sometimes I think the judges can't help themselves but be harder on those people they don't click with. It's just human nature I think to give those you like a second chance, even if they don't always deserve it.

Nice bedside manner..... [/quote]

I have absolutely no Holiday spirit! its just so much nicer to be Scrooge than to deal with all the stress of shopping, cooking, smiling, gifts, relatives, buying cards, smiling, wrapping presents, smiling, holiday gift giving at work, thank you cards and smiling. My face feels so tired at the end of the season.

But back to Top Chef, the eliminations were past due but I could have cheerfully said good bye to all of them. I think I am going to love the new judge. So cruel!

OK.....this was a bogus episode.....sorry...but Ariane did not deserve to go home.......maybe the lamb wasn't the best....but she was the only one who did work.....Leah or Radhika should have been sent home....at least Ariane has won some challenges, which Padma quickly pointed out and tried to stick up for her only to have the arrogant British judge give her a smack down.....but good for Padma to stick up for her.......and why do one minute they criticize chefs for doing nothing and send them home but other times when someone makes an effort they keep the lazy a$$es.....and the preview next week tells you they should have sent Leah home......sorry...end of rant....

I was just on the Top Chef website reading the blogs and judging from the overwhelming reponse in support of Ariane......clearly the majority of viewers disagreed with her elimination.......

After winning challenges I was so surprised to see Ariane go home...it is a coincedence that her partners are having a relationship...hmmmm...they were the ones who screwed up....this was unfair...

I was a bit surprised myself but heard the judges say they judge on the present not taking the past into consideration. Now that I think isn't quite fair. A mediocre chef gets by because he's never the worse in a single challenge? That also explains Tye?/Tre? elimination last season. A good, good chef who messed up once and was gone. I'm watching Stephan to see if the streak holds that the first one who wins a challenge is the over all winner. That fried green tomato dish was so simple, I am surprised the judges gave it praise; its rather typical to make in the south.

Has anyone tried any of the recipes from the Top Chef program found on the website? I've read a few of them but haven't made one yet.

I don't like the new judge at all. The judges that they have already I beleive are fair and unlike AI's Paula and Randy....they offer critique across the board.
This British Guy is just obnoxious and I don't understand where he is coming from...the other judges at least give you some frame of reference when they are critiquing anything.

This is the first season I have not had any favorites...at this point I don't care who wins so I dont' care who goes home.

ITA. I was really mad they sent Ariane home!

I guess Top Chef fans let Tom know how they displeased they were about Ariane's boot...

Top Chef head honcho Tom Colicchio may be considered the "bad guy" when it comes time to axe one of the cheftestants during judge's table, but for now this restaurateur could be called a hero.

The reality-show judge saved fellow foodie Joan Nathan from choking to death during the "Art. Food. Hope." benefit in Washington, D.C. on Monday, according to the Internet Food Association. While being cornered by some bitter Top Chef fans who where less than thrilled about last week's elimination of Ariane, Colicchio heard a cry for help from another famed chef, Alice Waters, and immediately ran over to perform the Heimlich maneuver saving Nathan who had a chunk of chicken lodged in her wind pipe.

It's great he saved that person's life....

That is very cool! He seems like a pretty nice guy to me, from what you see on the show. I think he tries to be fair but firm. I can't say the same about the new judge. He just seems like he's trying to be a jerk for the sake of being a jerk.

I didn't like Ariane leaving last week, and wish that Radhika hadn't left this week. Stuff like this is what kept Lisa in the running until final 3 last season, and kept more deserving chefs from the opportunity.

I kinda understand why they sent Radhika home; however if I was served raw fish at a restaurant (that wasn't supposed to be raw,) it wouldn't matter how good the front service was...I probably wouldn't go back to that restaurant.

I will say that I'm glad they kept Carla. She annoys me like crazy, but she cracks me up with her facial expressions......even if she can't really cook, she has some great eye-pops!

Thats probably the main reason they kept Carla because she had more personality than Radhika. I'm sure she is a nice person, but you have to admit her interviews were a bit dull.

I missed the show but read the blog.......doesn't sound like I missed anything exciting except for the porno scene.......I would love to see how their significant others outside the show reacted to that slurping mess.......

As annoying as he is....Stefan is a good cook......and I like the Italian guy.......Carla is funny.......

As much as I liked Ariane, I can see why she is gone. Her food was very up and down.

Radhika totally deserved the boot. She is not Top Chef material. She had some moments, but she totally blew the opportunity to show them she could head a restaurant of her own, which is, after all, what they are supposed to be competing for. This week, it was her restaurant, and she didn't lead, didn't cook anything, didn't control the product, and didn't do her job well as front of House. Not surprisd she is gone.

Im loving Carla and her crazy facial expressions too! Did anyone watch this week's super bowl themed episode?

Yes! It was fun and I so enjoyed seeing Andrew and Spike again. Two of my favorite chefs from seasons past. Carla was a hoot this week! "How Cool is That!" I loved hearing her say that and yes those expressions are marvelous. She must be so much fun in person. I wonder who she took with her to the Super Bowl.

It was also nice to see Stephan make a bad move this week. I am interested in seeing if the history of the show holds true about the winner of the first immunity winning Top Chef. Although I wouldn't mind Hosea winning. But what the heck were he and the female chef thinking when they kissed on camera?????????? Didn't they think about it being shown on TV? Geez, people think!!!!!! Wonder if his girlfriend is still his girlfriend.

Love Carla and her sense of humor. She is someone I would like to hang out with. She's such a doll. Go Carla!!

How Leah is still there I'll never understand.......if they were basing the decision on this episode alone (like they say they do).....then her quitting the Quickfire and then screwing up at the elimination shouldbe enough to get booted.....but I guess they have to keep her and Hosea together until the end......

Leah is going to be this season's Lisa. Jaime should have stayed....she has been consistent throughout the show. I just don't agree with the judges only considering the task at hand for elimination.

It looks like the producers made Tom ask a question that didn't seem like it was coming from him, and I'm guessing that Leah is only here for more drama & I think Jamie got gypped. Jamie was so much more likable too, its a shame.

I'm bummed that they booted Jamie. I thought she had a decent chance at beating Stephan. Looks pretty predictable now, unless Carla's comment about people underestimating her was prophesy. Leah should have been the one booted. She gave up and she screwed up the cooking again -- one portion too done, one too raw. Jamie's only crime was allowing the broth to reduce too much, resulting in oversalted celery. She knew it, but there was no time to fix it. Knowing what you did wrong and how to fix it (Jamie) is better than not knowing what went wrong and giving up (Leah). In her restaurant, Jamie wouldn't have served the mistake. She would have redone it.

I hate that Leah is still there, but I love that Carla is still there. She was so funny when Ripert was examining her sardines. They were both holding back a laugh and she says, “You don't have to say, we all know what it is.” I love you, Carla! Thank God you're still around. Now I'm going to have to pull for a Carla win, although it isn't very likely.

I was really surprised that they booted Jaime instead of Leah. It seemed Jaime knew her mistake but couldn't rectify it in time to serve. Whereas Leah wasn't as knowledgeable of what wasn't right with the food.

I too am happy with Carla still there; I wouldn't have picked her initially to still be in the running at the beginning but she is such fun to watch. I wonder about Stefan, he seems to make very few mistakes but this time around I agree the dish he picked was very simple. I wonder if he is really Top Chef quality. Ego wise he definitely would win...

I also don't think Stefan deserved that win. They all said Carla's dish was almost perfect, and she knew about the sauce even though they called it something totally different on the menu. I doubt the others would have gotten that. Really, Stefan picks his own dish, it's the most simple one, and they give him the win.

I can't stand Leah and was very sorry to see Jamie go, though I had the feeling they would send her home. The crap between Leah and Hosea is "drama" and all the shows seem to like that. I'm not sure why, especially for this show that is supposed to be about cooking (for real).

It appeared as though Stefan had the most flawed dish tonight(final 5), but there is no way they could send Stefan and put Leah in the final 4. Stefan has dominated the season so he absolutely has to be in the finale.

Carla was so cool again tonight--GREEN EGGS AND HAM! Oh and her pantomime of the tortoise in a race. I am amazed at her background, modeling and then culinary school. I can't see her sense of humor lasting in modeling. Lovely to have her in the final four but I don't think she can win it. In a lovely world she would be the winner but I think Stephan will probably go the distance. Too bad, I prefer Fabio over him.

I like all four of the finalists...no villians in the bunch. I am interested to see next week in New Orleans...I have no idea who will win.

I'm so glad Leah got sent packing. I like all of the final 4, but Stephan is my least liked. He is a great chef, I just don't like his arrogance. But most of the great chefs do have an arrogance about them. I love Fabio....his and Carla's confessionals have made this season hilarious.

I do think this is Stephan's competition to lose, but Carla could be a dark horse...she started out slow, but has been top 3 in the last several episodes. Hosea may have an outside chance, but he has been bottom 3 for the last several episodes, so........good luck to them all.

I would love to see Carla win, though I don't think she will. She really has just become more and more likable as the show went on. I agree with everything you said about her Phoenix. And I agree with you Nikki about the confessionals. Fabio can be pretty funny when he gets going, so I like to see when he gets worked up.

Personality wise I would like to see Carla or Fabio win, and even though I don't like Stephen much I have to admit he has been pretty steady the whole show so he probably deserves the win the most.

I like Carla & Fabio as well....the fact he won that challenge with a broken finger was amazing.....

I'm pulling for a Carla win, although it isn't likely. Love Carla!

Carla has really come on strong in recent weeks. It looks like she may have prevented Jeff from winning and going to the finale. I'm not surprised Fabio got the axe. I like him and he did some good dishes, but he also finished near the bottom in a lot of quickfire challenges. Stefan has had a couple bad challenges here near the end, but overall he whooped Fabio.

Carla has been that under estimated cook up until the last few weeks. I am hoping she will win. Stephan I really think should have gone home tonight. Each challenge stands on its own and his food didn't seem to be as rich in flavors as the others. Plus on a personal level I really dislike that attitude he has of assuming he will win. But he did win the first quick fire challenge. I would have liked to see Jeff continue. You are right Carla prevented him from winning; too bad he had to win to go forward.
I loved that Carla stayed very true to herself and made a non alcohol drink. At first I thought the judges would frown on that but it seems flavor over comes the lack of alcohol. So nice to see them praise her drink.

Go Carla! Go Carla! I love love love Carla. Apparently, I am not alone. Hootie Hoo!

I am rooting for Carla to win too.......Too bad Fabio got sent packing.....and I am really glad Leah didn't make it back.........out of all the rejects...they pick her to return?? This show is losing me as a viewer with it's antics........I am still pissed Ariane was sent packing over Leah.....if they were going to bring anyone back it should have been her.......Stefan's attitude should have sent him home last night.....

Go Carla! Go Carla! The guys STILL aren't taking her seriously, and don't see her as competition. That's it Carla. Turtle on past those fools. Hootie hoo!

Now Monkey, if Carla wins admit you will be quite happy with the outcome. Plus she has such a fantastic full face smile.

As much as I want Carla to win it all, I really had my fingers crossed last night that they would give the win to Jeff. I SOOO wanted both Fabio and Stephan to get the boot. But oh well, I'll still take the Carla win last night and keep cheering her on for the final win! Oh how awesome it would be!

Side note on Stephan and his comment / attitude. I really was hoping Tom would go off on him last night. I didn't like him before but I really am disliking him a lot now.

I think I said I was rooting for her.....

I hope she does win.......Hosea has no chance and Stefan's attitude/arrogance will hurt him......if Carla can keep it simple she has it locked up....

Carla's most difficult challenge for the finale is not the menu or her cooking ability. Her biggest obstacle is assuming the leadership role on her team and picking the right people. You know they're going to be picking from the ousted cheftestants for their teams. She needs to pick carefully and then make sure they understand exactly what they need to do. I would pick Jamie as my first pick, then take the most disciplined of whoever is left.

Now that I had not thought about. It could be her major weakness; she cooks well on her own but can she motivate and stay on top of the cooks who are helping her? Stephan may excel in that area. Rats!

Even if she does not win, Carla will now have fans eager to taste her cooking and meet her. I expect we will see her back(if she so desires) again on future shows as she has to be very popular with the viewers. Just like Andrew and Spike were back in that one challenge this season. I really, really liked the two of them.

Stephan will pick Fabio, sure as anything. Hosea shouldn't pick Leah, but he probably will. I think Carla will pick Jamie first, unless Stephan surprises us and beats her to Jamie. That means Jeff, Rahdika and Ariane will have to go somewhere. Stephan will probably pick Jeff second, if he gets the chance, or Hosea will pick Jeff instead of Leah (smart move if he does). If Carla gets her first choice (Jamie) she could go either Rahdika or Ariane with her second choice. I don't see Carla picking a man for her team, and with two men opposing her, I don't think she'll have to. This should be interesting. It doesn't matter that Jamie likes to take control. She's good at it and Carla can benefit from Jamie's leadership.

Oh poop! Carla's lack of total confidence in her own food cost her the Top Chef title. Did you see where she was the pick of the viewers by 66%. Stephan was last with Hosea middle. Hosea wins. OK, better than Stephan but my opinion of him went up just for his comforting of Carla while they were waiting for the judges decision. I bet Carla wins the viewers choice next week.

Oh well it was still a good season.

GRRRRI avoided this site like the plague because you usually get Top Chef weeks ahead of us. And this time it was the same.GRRRR.

Sorry I missed talking about it. I really liked Carla at the end. Didn't like her at first but she really grew on me. Sorry she blew it,I wanted her to win.
Hosea is OK but never wowed me. Stefan may be arrogant but seems like a great cook. I also liked the way he comforted Carla and I also admired the way he handled his loss.

Trixie.....Canada aired it at the same time.....the finale was on last night.....I watched it.......it was on Food Network Canada....

Too bad Carla listened to Casey...she should have just stuck with her menu.......she would have won....I think the judges wanted to give it to her.....

I think if the judges would have given thoughts on who would win before the food was served, they would have said Carla. I really wanted her to win, but she did shoot herself in the foot. She should have just had faith in herself and her cooking and did it her own way.

Stefan really did surprise me when he went to comfort Carla at judges table. Then when he was wiping her tears away in the sweet. I can't say that I like him more, I still think he's an arrogant SOB but I guess he does have a nice side. He took his loosing very well, that was also nice to see.

A man with a great ego aka confidence doesn't usually take losing as evidence of his lack of greatness. He is quite positive he is still the best.

I have to say I was disappointed that Carla did not win, and its a shame how things turned out. At least she was honest about her mistake instead of blaming someone else or making up a false excuse.

I really can't stand Hosea anymore than Stefan, I guess the whole Leah thing still really burns me. However he did produce the best solid meal of the evening.

Look forward to seeing the reunion show next week, and I don't give a rats butt about if Hosea or Leah are together!!! Next question.

I was rooting for Carla, but I was ok with a Hosea or Stefan win. I don't know what the heck Carla was thinking. Stefan dominated much of the season, but his final three challenge perormances were not particularly good. On the other hand, Hosea did well in the Emiril Lagasse challenge and had another pretty good final meal.

I was very disappointed that Hosea won. What a whiner. He had a competition with Stefan that existed only in his own mind. I really wanted Carla to win, but think Stefan was probably the best chef. Stefan was cocky about his cooking, but I thought he was a nice guy. It was sweet how he went to Carla & told her not to cry. It seemed like he really cared about her feelings.

You know what is strange. During one of her interviews, Jamie said that she is good friends with Stefan. She also liked Ariane. I think Stefan comes across as very arrogant, but apparently the people like him.

I'm so sad my girl, Carla, didn't win, but I thought she would have a hard time being the leader, and that's exactly what happened.

I think this may actually help her as a chef and as a person. She has to trust her own instincts not go with someone else's.

Stefan did seem hard to work with when it came to being on his team in a challenge. But, they all want what they want, and he just stuck to his guns more than the others. But, when the chefs were just hanging out, Stefan also seemed like he was fun & joking around with every body.

I was disapointed with this season. I really wanted Carla to win. She was so entertaining in her confessionals...and seemed like she had the skills to be the Top Chef....doggone it. I didn't like either Stephan or Hosea....and the romance side story gave me the blechs. I thought Fabio was fabulous though.

Viewer's Choice......



















































Fabio!

Ok, he's not a bad pick but I still wanted Carla. The reunion show was OK but Hosea and Leah have both broken up with their respective partners. You really have to watch what you do on these shows.

On a funnier note, it showed what the contestants would do while waiting for the judges decisions: creative uses of glad wrap and drinking was shown. Perhaps glad wrap should use some of them in their commercials.

I was kind of hoping Carla would win the viewers choice too, but I can see how many men & women would be into Fabio's charm.

Did they talk about the uproar over the early departure of Ariane?? I missed the first half of the show....

Also, Fabio was a good choice for fan fave......his accent won over a lot of people......even if the food was....monkey a$$ on a plate....

I enjoyed the reunion show a lot. Of course I could have done without the Leah/Hosea crap but I guess some people wanted to see it/know about it.

The chefmance between Fabio and Stefan was so funny!

I don't remember anything being said about Ariane. Also the Asian guy seemed to be left out of the entire night and he just sat there looking pissed.

Fabio was nice but I really, really was rooting for Carla. The saddest thing is that I know she would have won had she held true to "her food". Some people have a good sense of their food but can't cook. Carla could cook but just didn't have that belief in herself. sigh.....

But on a brighter note, she has gotten so much exposure and has learned to always remain true to her culinary vision that she will be a success in any restaurant she opens or works at.