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Top Chef (season 2)
Encyclopedia
Top Chef: Los Angeles is the second season of American reality television series Top Chef
and was filmed first in Los Angeles, California
, and concluded in Waikoloa Village, Hawaii. The season premiered on Bravo on October 18, 2006 and ended on January 31, 2007. Padma Lakshmi
took over as host, with Tom Colicchio
and Gail Simmons
returning as judges. Filming began in Westwood, near UCLA in Los Angeles
, on August 10, 2006. The number of contestants expanded from 12 to 15. The winning recipe from each week's episode is featured on Bravo's Top Chef website and prepared by Season 1 contestant Lee Anne Wong
in a web video called The Wong Way to Cook. Bravo cited negative viewer reaction to the reunion episode of season one
as the reason why no reunion episode was filmed for season two.
Credit order: Josie, Otto, Sam, Elia, Frank, Emily, Cliff, Betty, Marcel, Michael, Mia, Marisa, Carlos, Ilan, Suyai.
: Otto bowed out voluntarily before Lakshmi eliminated anyone, deciding that his misconduct over the unpaid lychees contributed the most to his team's loss.
: After allegations of cheating, the judges decided not to eliminate anyone.
: Josie and Marisa were both eliminated, who worked as a team in this challenge.
: There were 5 winners in the Quickfire Challenge. These winners did not compete in the Elimination Challenge.
: Mia quit voluntarily before Lakshmi eliminated anyone, fearing Elia would be eliminated.
: Starting with this episode, Quickfire Challenge wins no longer confers immunity
from losing the Elimination Challenge.
: There was no winning team in the Elimination Challenge. The bottom 3 was based on each chef's individual performance.
: Cliff was disqualified for aggressive physical contact with Marcel.
: Since Cliff was disqualified no one else was eliminated going into the finale, however Marcel and Elia had the weaker two of the four dishes in the challenge.
Team Black (Betty, Frank, Marcel)
Team Red (Marisa, Mia, Mike)
Team White (Elia, Ilan, Josie)
Team Orange (Carlos, Cliff, Sam)
Black Team (Cliff, Elia, Mia, Mike)
Orange Team (Betty, Ilan, Marcel, Sam)
Top Chef
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...
and was filmed first in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, and concluded in Waikoloa Village, Hawaii. The season premiered on Bravo on October 18, 2006 and ended on January 31, 2007. Padma Lakshmi
Padma Lakshmi
Padma Parvati Lakshmi also Padma, Lady Rushdie is an American cookbook author, actress, model and television host. She has been the host of the US reality television program Top Chef since season two in 2006, for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for...
took over as host, with Tom Colicchio
Tom Colicchio
Thomas Patrick "Tom" Colicchio is an American celebrity chef. He co-founded the Gramercy Tavern in New York City, and formerly served as a co-owner and as the executive chef. He is also the founder of Craft and Colicchio & Sons restaurants...
and Gail Simmons
Gail Simmons
Gail Simmons is a trained culinary expert, food writer and television personality, and is the Special Projects Director with Food & Wine magazine...
returning as judges. Filming began in Westwood, near UCLA in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, on August 10, 2006. The number of contestants expanded from 12 to 15. The winning recipe from each week's episode is featured on Bravo's Top Chef website and prepared by Season 1 contestant Lee Anne Wong
Lee Anne Wong
Lee Anne Wong is an American chef and was one of the last four contestants on the first season of Bravo's reality show, Top Chef. She was the culinary producer for the next four seasons of Top Chef, where her duties included sourcing and styling the ingredients for the various challenges, as well...
in a web video called The Wong Way to Cook. Bravo cited negative viewer reaction to the reunion episode of season one
Top Chef (season 1)
Top Chef: San Francisco is the first season of American reality television series Top Chef and was based first in San Francisco, California, filmed at Paulding & Company, A Creative Kitchen, in Emeryville, and concluded in Las Vegas, Nevada. The season premiered on Bravo on March 8, 2006 and ended...
as the reason why no reunion episode was filmed for season two.
Judges
- Tom ColicchioTom ColicchioThomas Patrick "Tom" Colicchio is an American celebrity chef. He co-founded the Gramercy Tavern in New York City, and formerly served as a co-owner and as the executive chef. He is also the founder of Craft and Colicchio & Sons restaurants...
(Head JudgeLeaderA leader is one who influences or leads others.Leader may also refer to:- Newspapers :* Leading article, a piece of writing intended to promote an opinion, also called an editorial* The Leader , published 1909–1967...
) - Padma LakshmiPadma LakshmiPadma Parvati Lakshmi also Padma, Lady Rushdie is an American cookbook author, actress, model and television host. She has been the host of the US reality television program Top Chef since season two in 2006, for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for...
(HostPresenterA presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
) - Gail SimmonsGail SimmonsGail Simmons is a trained culinary expert, food writer and television personality, and is the Special Projects Director with Food & Wine magazine...
(JudgeJudgeA judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
)
Guest judges
- Harold DieterleHarold DieterleHarold Dieterle III is an American chef, best known as the winner of the first season of the Bravo television network's reality television series Top Chef. His signature dish is spicy duck meatballs....
(Ep. 1 Quickfire and Elimination) - Hiroshi Shima (Ep. 2 Quickfire)
- Ming TsaiMing TsaiMing Tsai is a Chinese-American fusion cuisine chef, restaurateur, and Emmy Award-winning television personality.Tsai currently hosts Ming's Quest, a cooking show featured on the Fine Living Network, and Simply Ming on American Public Television...
(Ep. 2 Elimination) - Stephen Bugarelli (Ep. 3 Elimination)
- Suzanne GoinSuzanne GoinSuzanne Goin is a chef and restaurateur from Los Angeles, California. As a restaurateur, she runs four restaurants in the Los Angeles area: The A.O.C., Lucques, and Tavern, which she runs with partner Caroline Styne, and The Hungry Cat, where she shares duties with her husband, David Lentz...
(Ep. 4 Quickfire and Elimination) - Michelle BernsteinMichelle BernsteinMichelle Bernstein is a James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef from Miami, Florida, known for her Latin-style flavors of cooking.-Biography:...
(Ep. 5 Quickfire and Elimination, Ep. 13 Elimination) - Anthony BourdainAnthony BourdainAnthony Michael "Tony" Bourdain is an American chef, author and television personality. He is well known for his 2000 book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, and is the host of Travel Channel's culinary and cultural adventure program Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.A...
(Ep. 6 Elimination) - Raphael Lunetta (Ep. 7 Quickfire and Elimination)
- Kristen Woodward (Ep. 8 Quickfire)
- Lee Hefter (Ep. 8 Elimination)
- Ted AllenTed AllenTed Allen is an American writer and television personality. He was the food and wine connoisseur on the American Bravo network's Emmy-winning television program Queer Eye. He now is the host of the prime-time series on Food Network Chopped, a culinary competition in which four chefs per episode...
(Ep. 8 Elimination, Ep. 9 Quickfire and Elimination) - Roberto Ivan (Ep. 9 Elimination)
- Mike Yakura (Ep. 10 Quickfire and Elimination)
- Eric RipertEric RipertEric Ripert is a chef, author and television personality specializing in modern French cuisine and renowned for his work with seafood. His flagship restaurant, Le Bernardin, located in New York City, is routinely ranked among the best restaurants in the world by Restaurant magazine's and S...
(Ep. 11 Quickfire and Elimination) - Alan WongAlan WongAlan Wong is a chef and restaurateur known as one of 12 cofounders of Hawaii Regional Cuisine. They came together to form an organization to create a new American regional cuisine, highlighting Hawaii's locally grown ingredients and diverse ethnic styles...
(Ep. 12 Elimination) - Scott ConantScott ConantScott Conant is an American chef, restaurateur, food personality, and cookbook author.-Personal history:Conant was born in Waterbury, Connecticut. Scott is of Italian descent on his mother's side. He began cooking at a young age, taking cooking classes at the local community college at age 11...
(Ep. 13) - Wylie DufresneWylie DufresneWylie Dufresne is the chef and owner of wd~50 restaurant in Manhattan. Dufresne is a leading American proponent of molecular gastronomy, the movement to incorporate science and new techniques in the preparation and presentation of food.-Early life:...
(Ep. 13) - Hubert KellerHubert KellerHubert Keller is a noted French chef, who is known for his signature restaurants, Fleur de Lys in San Francisco and Las Vegas.- Biography :Keller was born in Alsace, France, and graduated from the École Hoteliere in Strasbourg...
(Ep. 13) - Roy YamaguchiRoy Yamaguchi-Biography:Yamaguchi was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan but now lives in the U.S. State of Hawaii.After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, he spent time in Los Angeles in apprenticeships at L'Escoffier and L'Ermitage under the late master chef Jean Bertanou....
(Ep. 13)
Contestants
15 chefs competed in Season 2. Names and hometowns below are from the Bravo website. Ages listed are at the time of the Top Chef: Los Angeles taping in August, 2006. In the order eliminated:- Suyai Steinhauer, 29 — Resides in: New York City, New York
- Otto Borsich, 46 — Resides in: Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
- Emily Sprissler, 30 — Resides in: Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
- Marisa Churchill, 28 — Resides in: San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
- Josie Smith-Malave, 31 — Resides in: Brooklyn, New York
- Carlos Fernandez, 36 — Resides in: Fort Lauderdale, FloridaFort Lauderdale, FloridaFort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
- Frank Terzoli, 39 — San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
- Mia Gaines-Alt, 32 — Oakdale, CaliforniaOakdale, CaliforniaOakdale is a city in Stanislaus County, California, United States. It is part of the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city was founded in 1871 when the Stockton & Visalia Railroad met the Copperopolis Railroad...
- Betty Fraser, 44 — Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
- Michael Midgley, 28 — Stockton, CaliforniaStockton, CaliforniaStockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
- Cliff Crooks, 28 — West Caldwell, New JerseyWest Caldwell, New JerseyWest Caldwell is an township located in the West Essex area in northwestern Essex County, New Jersey. It is located approximately west of Manhattan and six miles northwest of Newark...
- Elia Aboumrad, 23 — Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
- Sam TalbotSam TalbotSam Talbot is a Sicilian-American chef from Charlotte, North Carolina, best known as a semi-finalist on Season 2 of Bravo's Top Chef, eventually placing third. Talbot returned to Top Chef for the episode "Four Star All Stars" with Elia Aboumrad, Marcel Vigneron, and Ilan Hall...
, 28 — New York, New York -- Fan Favorite - Marcel VigneronMarcel VigneronMarcel Vigneron is an American chef best known as the runner-up of the second season of Top Chef, placing behind Ilan Hall...
, 26 — Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
-- Runner-up - Ilan HallIlan HallIlan D. Hall is an American chef, best known as the winner of the second season of the Bravo television network's reality series Top Chef.Hall is a native of Great Neck, New York...
, 24 — New York City, New York -- Winner
Credit order: Josie, Otto, Sam, Elia, Frank, Emily, Cliff, Betty, Marcel, Michael, Mia, Marisa, Carlos, Ilan, Suyai.
Contestant Progress
| Contestant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 12 | Finale | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quickfire Winner |
Sam | Cliff | Cliff | Carlos | Sam | Cliff Frank Ilan Mia Sam |
Marcel | Cliff | Michael | Marcel Sam |
Sam | None | None |
| Ilan | WIN | IN (-) | IN | IN (+) | WIN | IN | IN | HIGH | LOW | IN (-) | HIGH | LOW | WINNER |
| Marcel | LOW | IN (-) | IN | HIGH | IN | HIGH | IN | HIGH | LOW | IN (-) | LOW | WIN | |
| Sam | IN | HIGH | HIGH | LOW | HIGH | IN | LOW | WIN | HIGH | LOW | HIGH | OUT | |
| Elia | HIGH | IN (-) | IN | IN (+) | LOW | WIN | WIN | LOW | HIGH | IN (-) | LOW | OUT | |
| Cliff | IN | IN (-) | HIGH | LOW | HIGH | IN | LOW | LOW | IN | LOW | DQ | ||
| Michael | IN | IN (+) | LOW | LOW | HIGH | LOW | IN | LOW | WIN | OUT | |||
| Betty | HIGH | WIN | WIN | HIGH | LOW | LOW | HIGH | HIGH | OUT | ||||
| Mia | HIGH | HIGH | IN | LOW | LOW | IN | HIGH | QUIT | |||||
| Frank | IN | LOW | LOW | WIN | IN | IN | OUT | ||||||
| Carlos | LOW | HIGH | IN | LOW | LOW | OUT | |||||||
| Josie | IN | HIGH | IN | IN (+) | OUT | ||||||||
| Marisa | IN | LOW | IN | LOW | OUT | ||||||||
| Emily | IN | HIGH | OUT | ||||||||||
| Otto | LOW | QUIT | |||||||||||
| Suyai | OUT | ||||||||||||
: Otto bowed out voluntarily before Lakshmi eliminated anyone, deciding that his misconduct over the unpaid lychees contributed the most to his team's loss.
: After allegations of cheating, the judges decided not to eliminate anyone.
: Josie and Marisa were both eliminated, who worked as a team in this challenge.
: There were 5 winners in the Quickfire Challenge. These winners did not compete in the Elimination Challenge.
: Mia quit voluntarily before Lakshmi eliminated anyone, fearing Elia would be eliminated.
: Starting with this episode, Quickfire Challenge wins no longer confers immunity
Immunity (reality television)
Immunity in reality television is a concept that is widely used in weekly elimination-type reality television shows by which a contestant participating in such a show may not be "kicked off" or eliminated from competition in a particular time period...
from losing the Elimination Challenge.
: There was no winning team in the Elimination Challenge. The bottom 3 was based on each chef's individual performance.
: Cliff was disqualified for aggressive physical contact with Marcel.
: Since Cliff was disqualified no one else was eliminated going into the finale, however Marcel and Elia had the weaker two of the four dishes in the challenge.
- (WINNER) The chef won the season and was crowned Top Chef.
- (RUNNER-UP) The chef was a runner-up for the season.
- (WIN) The chef won that episode's Elimination Challenge.
- (HIGH) The chef was selected as one of the top entries in the Elimination Challenge, but did not win.
- (LOW) The chef was selected as one of the bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge, but was not eliminated.
- (OUT) The chef lost that week's Elimination Challenge and was out of the competition.
- (IN) The chef neither won nor lost that week's Elimination Challenge. They also were not up to be eliminated.
- [IN (+)] The chef won a pair or team challenge but was not chosen as one of the judges' favorites.
- [IN (-)] The chef lost a pair or team challenge but was not selected as one of the judges' least favorites.
- (QUIT) The chef voluntarily left the show.
- (DQ) The chef was disqualified and was asked to leave the show.
Episodes
Each episode includes two challenges. The Quickfire Challenge is a short, simple challenge with a varying reward each week. The Elimination Challenge is a more complex challenge that determines who goes home. One or more guest judges join the show each week to evaluate both the Quickfire and Elimination challenges. Each week's elimination is announced in a segment called "Judges' Table."Episode 1: Into the Fire
- Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must create a flambéFlambéFlambé is a cooking procedure in which alcohol is added to a hot pan to create a burst of flames. The word means flamed in French ....
dish in a limited amount of time. The winner gets immunity from elimination. - Top 3- Betty, Emily, Sam
- Bottom 3- Carlos, Elia, Suyai
- WINNER: Sam (EspressoEspressoEspresso is a concentrated beverage brewed by forcing a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure through finely ground coffee. Espresso is widely known throughout the world....
ShrimpShrimpShrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
flambéed with SambucaSambucaSambuca is an Italian anise-flavoured, usually colourless, liqueur. Its most common variety is often referred to as white sambuca to differentiate it from other varieties that are deep blue in colour or bright red ....
, Roasted HazelnutHazelnutA hazelnut is the nut of the hazel and is also known as a cob nut or filbert nut according to species. A cob is roughly spherical to oval, about 15–25 mm long and 10–15 mm in diameter, with an outer fibrous husk surrounding a smooth shell. A filbert is more elongated, being about twice...
and PeanutPeanutThe peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
Paste)
- WINNER: Sam (Espresso
- Elimination Challenge: The chefs are required to prepare a dish using all the ingredients in a closed crate to be served to the other Top Chef contestants.
- WINNER: Ilan (Baked Escargot in the shell)
- ELIMINATED: Suyai (Braised PotatoPotatoThe potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
es and ArtichokeArtichoke-Plants:* Globe artichoke, a partially edible perennial thistle originating in southern Europe around the Mediterranean* Jerusalem artichoke, a species of sunflower with an edible tuber...
s, Garlic Escargot with Cheese Sauce)
- Guest Judge: Harold DieterleHarold DieterleHarold Dieterle III is an American chef, best known as the winner of the first season of the Bravo television network's reality television series Top Chef. His signature dish is spicy duck meatballs....
- Original Airdate: October 18, 2006
Episode 2: Eastern Promise
- Quickfire Challenge: Each chef must create a sushiSushiis a Japanese food consisting of cooked vinegared rice combined with other ingredients . Neta and forms of sushi presentation vary, but the ingredient which all sushi have in common is shari...
dish in a limited amount of time. The winner gets immunity from elimination.- WINNER: Cliff
- Elimination Challenge: All of the contestants split into Team VietnamVietnamVietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and Team KoreaKoreaKorea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
to prepare two dishes using the flavors of the team's country to serve at a charity fundraiser.- WINNING TEAM: Team Vietnam (Sam, Betty, Mia, Carlos, Josie, Michael and Emily)
- WINNER: Betty
- QUIT: Otto
- Guest Judges: Hiroshi Shima, Ming TsaiMing TsaiMing Tsai is a Chinese-American fusion cuisine chef, restaurateur, and Emmy Award-winning television personality.Tsai currently hosts Ming's Quest, a cooking show featured on the Fine Living Network, and Simply Ming on American Public Television...
- First aired October 25, 2006
- Elimination Challenge Prize: The winner receives a limited-edition KyoceraKyocerais a multinational manufacturer based in Kyoto, Japan. It was founded as in 1959 by Kazuo Inamori and renamed in 1982. The company has diversified its founding technology in ceramic materials through internal development as well as strategic mergers and acquisitions...
KT-300-HIP Kyotop 8.25" ceramic sashimiSashimiSashimi is a Japanese delicacy. It consists of very fresh raw meat, most commonly fish, sliced into thin pieces.-Origin:The word sashimi means "pierced body", i.e...
knife. - Otto voluntarily withdrew from the show. As Team Korea loaded up their SUV with groceries, Marisa heard Otto say that he thought that the store cashier neglected to ring up a case of lycheeLycheeThe lychee is the sole member of the genus Litchi in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae. It is a tropical and subtropical fruit tree native to Southern China and Southeast Asia, and now cultivated in many parts of the world...
s. She later revealed this to Colicchio, who made Otto take them back to the store. Otto returned to complete the Elimination Challenge, but announced he was withdrawing from the competition during the "Judges' Table" segment.
Episode 3: Food for the People
- Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must create an original ice cream flavor and serve it at the Redondo BeachRedondo Beach, CaliforniaRedondo Beach is one of the three Beach Cities located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 66,748 at the 2010 census, up from 63,261 at the 2000 census. The city is located in the South Bay region of the greater Los Angeles area.Redondo Beach was originally part of...
Seaside Lagoon. The winner gets immunity from elimination.- WINNER: Cliff
- Elimination Challenge: The chefs have to make a dish updating a "childhood classic" that will be served to the firemenFirefighterFirefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
of South PasadenaPasadena, CaliforniaPasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
.- WINNER: Betty
- ELIMINATED: Emily
- Guest Judge: Stephen Bugarelli
- Original Airdate: November 1, 2006
- Elimination Challenge Prize: The winning entrée will be featured nationwide on the menu of T.G.I. Friday'sT.G.I. Friday'sT.G.I. Friday's is an American restaurant chain focusing on casual dining. The company is a unit of the Carlson Companies. Its name is taken from the expression TGIF...
. (Note: Betty's winning dish has been placed on TGI Friday's menu but renamed "Tuscan Portobello Melt.") - During this quickfire challenge, Betty suffered a dry iceDry iceDry ice, sometimes referred to as "Cardice" or as "card ice" , is the solid form of carbon dioxide. It is used primarily as a cooling agent. Its advantages include lower temperature than that of water ice and not leaving any residue...
burn that required medical attention.
Episode 4: Less is More
- Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must create an amuse boucheAmuse boucheAn amuse-bouche or amuse-gueule is a single, bite-sized hors d’œuvre. Amuse-bouches are different from appetizers in that they are not ordered from a menu by patrons, but, when served, are done so according to the chef's selection alone...
dish using $10 of ingredients from a vending machineVending machineA vending machine is a machine which dispenses items such as snacks, beverages, alcohol, cigarettes, lottery tickets, consumer products and even gold and gems to customers automatically, after the customer inserts currency or credit into the machine....
. The winner gets immunity from elimination. - Top 3- Carlos, Frank, Ilan
- Bottom 2- Michael, Mia
- WINNER: Carlos (Sunflower Seed and Carrot Loaf with Cilantro, Sesame Seed and Squirt)
- Elimination Challenge: The 12 chefs are divided into four teams and are required to create a meal that does not exceed 500 Calories (2,092,000 J) to serve at a camp for diabetic and overweightOverweightOverweight is generally defined as having more body fat than is optimally healthy. Being overweight is a common condition, especially where food supplies are plentiful and lifestyles are sedentary...
children.
Team Black (Betty, Frank, Marcel)
- Sausage & Cheese Pizza
- Fresh Fruit Skewers
- Crispy Chocolate Cookie with Banana and Peanut Butter Drizzle
- Berry Lemonade
Team Red (Marisa, Mia, Mike)
- BBQ Chicken Skewers with Cole Slaw
- Grilled Vegetables
- Old Fashioned Fudge Cake
Team White (Elia, Ilan, Josie)
- Chicken Parmesan
- Vegetable Lasagna
- Berryrific Cheesecake
Team Orange (Carlos, Cliff, Sam)
- Turkey Meatballs
- Zucchini, Tomato Sauce and Roasted Corn
- Fruit Smoothie with Graham Cracker Crumbles
- WINNING TEAM: Team Black
- WINNER: Frank
- ELIMINATED: None
- Guest Judge: Suzanne GoinSuzanne GoinSuzanne Goin is a chef and restaurateur from Los Angeles, California. As a restaurateur, she runs four restaurants in the Los Angeles area: The A.O.C., Lucques, and Tavern, which she runs with partner Caroline Styne, and The Hungry Cat, where she shares duties with her husband, David Lentz...
- Original Airdate: November 8, 2006
- Elimination Challenge Prize: A cookbookCookbookA cookbook is a kitchen reference that typically contains a collection of recipes. Modern versions may also include colorful illustrations and advice on purchasing quality ingredients or making substitutions...
written by Goin and an opportunity to collaborate on one of Goin's famed Sunday supper menus for her Lucques restaurant. - At the judges' table, the losing teams made allegations regarding the "bending" or "breaking" of the rules in the elimination challenge by a member or members of the winning team. Sam stated that he saw people excessively squirting bottles of olive oil, but refused to say names. Mia stated that Betty had used sugar instead of SplendaSplendaSplenda is the commercial name and registered trade mark of a sucralose-based artificial sweetener derived from sugar, owned by the British company Tate & Lyle. Sucralose was discovered by Tate & Lyle and researchers at Queen Elizabeth College, University of London, in 1976...
; a claim that Betty herself later confirmed, explaining that she thought she had not violated the rules because her team would still be under the 500 Calories (2,092,000 J) limit. However, the other contestants understood that the rules required that once the calorie calculations had been completed by the nutritionists, the recipes could not be further modified. As a result, Colicchio stated that all the contestants would remain "on probation" and no one was eliminated in this episode.
Episode 5: Social Service
- Quickfire Challenge: Each chef must create a dish using offalOffalOffal , also called, especially in the United States, variety meats or organ meats, refers to the internal organs and entrails of a butchered animal. The word does not refer to a particular list of edible organs, which varies by culture and region, but includes most internal organs other than...
, the leftover parts of animals. - Top 3- Cliff, Ilan, Sam
- Bottom 2- Elia, Josie
- WINNER: Sam (Sweetbreads and Scallion Beignets, Chinese Five Spice and Sweet Soy Broth)
- Elimination Challenge: Working in teams of two, the chefs have to create a six-courseFull course dinnerA full course dinner is a dinner consisting of multiple dishes, or courses. In its simplest form, it can consist of three or four courses, such as soup, salad, meat and dessert.-Form:...
lunch for Jennifer CoolidgeJennifer CoolidgeJennifer Coolidge is an American actress best known for playing "Stifler's mom," the older woman in the film American Pie ; Hilary Duff's stepmother in A Cinderella Story ; Paulette, the manicurist in Legally Blonde and its sequel; the voice of Aunt Fanny in the animated feature Robots ; for her...
and 60 of her guests using only the ingredients that already available in the kitchen.- 1st Course: Marcel and Frank (Duo of Salmon, Tartare and Mousse with Red and Gold Beets)
- 2nd Course: Cliff and Sam (Seared Diver Scallops and Seared Foie Gras with a Fig GastriqueGastriqueGastrique is caramelized sugar, deglazed with vinegar, used as a flavoring for sauces.To this a little fond may be added. It is used to flavor sauces such as tomato sauce, savory fruit sauces, and other sweet and sour sauces such as the classic orange sauce for duck à l'orange.Nowadays, the term ...
) - 3rd Course: Ilan and Michael (Lobster, Shrimp and Mushroom PaellaPaellaPaella is a Valencian rice dish that originated in its modern form in the mid-19th century near lake Albufera, a lagoon in Valencia, on the east coast of Spain. Many non-Spaniards view paella as Spain's national dish, but most Spaniards consider it to be a regional Valencian dish...
, Fried Softshell Crab) - 4th Course: Betty and Mia (Pan-Seared Duck with Puff Pastry, Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans)
- 5th Course: Josie and Marisa ("The Awakening Trio": Prickly Pear and Coconut Soup, Fennel and Apple Salad, Sautéed Pineapple Salad)
- 6th Course: Elia and Carlos (A Trio of Desserts: Chilled Pomegranate and Orange Juice with Basil, PhylloPhylloPhyllo, filo, or fillo dough is paper-thin sheets of unleavened flour dough used for making pastries in Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisine.-History:An early, thick form of phyllo appears to be of Central Asian Turkic origin...
and Marscapone Napoleon, Apple or Pineapple Sorbet with Pistachio) - WINNER: Ilan
- ELIMINATED: Marisa and Josie
- Guest Judge: Michelle BernsteinMichelle BernsteinMichelle Bernstein is a James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef from Miami, Florida, known for her Latin-style flavors of cooking.-Biography:...
- Original Airdate: November 15, 2006
- Elimination Challenge Prize: An opportunity to work with Bernstein at the Sagamore Hotel in Miami on the Food Network South Beach Wine and Food FestivalFood Network South Beach Wine and Food FestivalThe Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival is an annual wine and spirits events showcasing many of the world's top chefs, spirits producers, and culinary personalities. The event is hosted by Florida International University's School of Hospitality and Tourism Management...
. - During deliberation, the judges could not determine whether Marisa or Josie was more responsible for the outcome of their dish. Because both claimed equal responsibility, the judges sent both of them home.
Episode 6: Thanksgiving
- Quickfire Challenge: The remaining chefs must create a dish using three different cannedCanningCanning is a method of preserving food in which the food contents are processed and sealed in an airtight container. Canning provides a typical shelf life ranging from one to five years, although under specific circumstances a freeze-dried canned product, such as canned, dried lentils, can last as...
foods in 15 minutes. The winners of the quickfire challenge get to skip the elimination challenge altogether and receive immunity. - WINNERS:
- Sam (Garbanzo and Beet Salad, Crunchy Anchovies with Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette)
- Mia ("15 Minute Salad": Garbanzo Beans, Green Beans, Artichoke Hearts and Mint)
- Ilan (Spinach and Cannellini Bean Salad, Roasted Potatoes and Vienna Sausages)
- Cliff (Potato Salad, Anchovies and Mandarin Oranges)
- Frank (Fruit and Coconut Salad with Blueberry Yogurt Cream)
- Elimination Challenge: The five chefs who did not win the Quickfire Challenge must work together to make a cutting edge Thanksgiving dinnerThanksgiving dinnerThe centerpiece of contemporary Thanksgiving in the United States and Canada is a large meal, generally centered around a large roasted turkey. The majority of the dishes in the...
for the judges and other Top Chef contestants, using the kitchens in the loft.- Amuse Bouche: Turkey and Egg Toast Canapé (Michael)
- First Course: Salad with ChipotleChipotleA chipotle , or chilpotle, which comes from the Nahuatl word chilpoktli meaning "smoked chili pepper" is a smoke-dried jalapeño that tends to be brown and shriveled. It is a chili used primarily in Mexican and Mexican-inspired cuisines, such as Mexican-American and Tex-Mex.Varieties of jalapeño...
Peppers, Queso Fresco, Pumpkin Seeds, Butternut Squash Dressing (Carlos) - Second Course: Portobello and Button Mushroom Creme Soup with Walnuts (Elia)
- Third Course: Turkey RouladeRouladeThe word roulade originates from the French word "rouler" meaning "to roll". Typically, a roulade is a European dish consisting of a slice of meat rolled around a filling, such as cheese, vegetables, or other meats. A roulade, like a braised dish, is often browned then covered with wine or stock...
with Stuffing and Cranberry Gelee (Marcel) - Fourth Course: Twice Baked Potato with Shrimp, Parsnip Mashed Potatoes and Corn with Parmesan (Michael)
- Fifth Course: Chai Pumpkin Creme BruleeCrème brûléeCrème brûlée , also known as burnt cream, crema catalana, or Trinity cream is a dessert consisting of a rich custard base topped with a contrasting layer of hard caramel...
, Chocolate Hazelnut Creme Brulee and a Shot of Coffee (Betty) - Sixth Course: Cheese Plate: Applewood CheddarApplewood cheeseApplewood, or Applewood smoked cheddar, is a round, white smoke-flavoured Cheddar cheese that is manufactured by Norseland Limited in Somerset, England. Smoked cheese, including cheddar is produced in other countries such as Canada and the United States.-Character:Applewood smoked cheddar is a...
, GoudaGoudaGouda is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. Gouda, which was granted city rights in 1272, is famous for its Gouda cheese, smoking pipes, and 15th-century city hall....
, Port Salut, Parmesan and BrieBrieBrie is a historic region of France most famous for its dairy products, especially Brie cheese. It was once divided into two sections ruled by different feudal lords: the western Brie française, corresponding roughly to the modern department of Seine-et-Marne in the Île-de-France region; the...
(Michael)- WINNER: Elia
- ELIMINATED: Carlos
- Guest Judge: Anthony BourdainAnthony BourdainAnthony Michael "Tony" Bourdain is an American chef, author and television personality. He is well known for his 2000 book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, and is the host of Travel Channel's culinary and cultural adventure program Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.A...
- Original Airdate: November 22, 2006
Episode 7: The Raw and the Cooked
- Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must create an entréeEntréeAn entrée is a dish served before the main course, or between two principal courses of a meal.The disappearance in the early 20th century of a large communal main course such as a roast as a standard part of the meal in the English-speaking world has led to the term being used to describe the main...
using fresh ingredients from the Redondo Beach Farmers' Market without cooking of any kind. The winner gets immunity from elimination.- WINNER: Marcel (Watermelon and Tomato Trio: Watermelon SteakWatermelon steakWatermelon steak is a grilled piece of watermelon. Some who have tried it compare its texture to that of seared meat, while others claim it is unique in its taste and texture...
, Tomato CarpaccioCarpaccioCarpaccio is a dish of raw meat or fish , thinly sliced or pounded thin and served as an appetizer.- History :...
, Nasturtiums and Opal Basil)
- WINNER: Marcel (Watermelon and Tomato Trio: Watermelon Steak
- Elimination Challenge: The chefs are told by Padma that they must prepare breakfast for athletes. The cooking environment and available tools are unknown to the contestants until their arrival at the challenge. In the challenge, the chefs must cook for surfers at dawnDawnDawn is the time that marks the beginning of the twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the presence of weak sunlight, while the sun itself is still below the horizon...
on the beach using only a fire pitFire pitFire pits have been in existence for a very long time and despite many technological advancements since the advent of man's use of fire, they have remained a popular item because of their versatility. A fire pit can physically vary from a pit dug into the ground to an elaborate gas burning...
and basic kitchen tools.- WINNER: Elia ("Organic Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner": Waffle with Ham, Cheese and Fried Eggs)
- ELIMINATED: Frank (Zucchini and Salmon Scramble, CannoliCannoliCannoli are Sicilian pastry desserts. The singular is cannolo , meaning "little tube", with the etymology stemming from the Latin "canna", or reed. Cannoli originated in Sicily and are an essential part of Sicilian cuisine...
Cream with Strawberries and Holland Waffle)
- Guest Judge: Raphael Lunetta
- Original Airdate: December 6, 2006
Episode 8: Holiday Spirit
- Quickfire Challenge: The chefs are required to make a Bailey's Irish Cream mix drink and an accompanying dish. The winner gets immunity from elimination.
- WINNER: Cliff (Original Bailey's, Rum, Vodka and Vanilla Bean Accompanied by Grilled Sliced Beef, Creme FraicheCrème fraîcheCrème fraîche is a soured cream containing about 28% butterfat and with a pH of around 4.5. It is soured with bacterial culture, but is less sour than sour cream. It has a comparatively high viscosity and a higher fat content....
Fondue, Nutmeg and Dark Chocolate)
- WINNER: Cliff (Original Bailey's, Rum, Vodka and Vanilla Bean Accompanied by Grilled Sliced Beef, Creme Fraiche
- Elimination Challenge: Working in two teams of four, the chefs must caterCateringCatering is the business of providing foodservice at a remote site or a site such as a hotel, public house , or other location.-Mobile catering:A mobile caterer serves food directly from a vehicle or cart that is designed for the purpose...
the Los AngelesLos Angeles (magazine)Los Angeles magazine is a monthly regional magazine of national stature. Published by Emmis Communications and produced monthly since the spring of 1961, LA Magazine is a combination of award-winning feature writing, investigative reporting, service journalism, and design, the definitive resource...
magazine holiday party at the Warner Bros.Warner Bros.Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
movie lot.
Black Team (Cliff, Elia, Mia, Mike)
- "Surf & Turf Canape": Lobster Medallion with Filet MignonFilet mignonFilet mignon is a steak cut of beef taken from the smaller end of the tenderloin, or psoas major of the beef carcass, usually a steer or heifer...
and Herb Salad - Seared Scallops with Belgian EndiveEndiveEndive , Cichorium endivia, is a leaf vegetable belonging to the daisy family. Endive can be cooked or used raw in salads.-Background:Endive is also a common name for some types of chicory...
and Ginger-Grapefruit MarmaladeMarmaladeMarmalade is a fruit preserve made from the juice and peel of citrus fruits, boiled with sugar and water. The benchmark citrus fruit for marmalade production in Britain is the "Seville orange" from Spain, Citrus aurantium var... - Smoked Salmon with Avocado Mousse
- Strawberries with Rosemary Mascarpone and PancettaPancettaPancetta is Italian bacon, typically salt cured and seasoned with such spices as nutmeg, fennel, peppercorns, dried ground hot peppers and garlic, then dried for at least three months. Associated with Italy, pancetta varies by region. It is also produced broadly in Spain.-Styles:Pancetta can be...
BrunoiseBrunoiseBrunoise is a culinary knife cut in which the food item is first julienned and then turned a quarter turn and diced again, producing cubes of a side length of about 3 mm or less on each side or 1/6 inch cubes. In France, a "brunoise" cut is smaller, 1 to 2 mm on each side. Common items to be...
Orange Team (Betty, Ilan, Marcel, Sam)
- Cinnamon Croissant Bread Pudding with Two Chocolates and Almond Cream
- Pickled Mussels with Apple Molasses MignonetteMignonette sauceMignonette sauce is a condiment usually made with minced shallots, cracked pepper, and vinegar. It is traditionally served with raw oysters. The name "mignonette" originally referred to a bundle of peppercorns, cloves, and spices used to flavor dishes, but now simply means cracked pepper. Though...
- Sesame Shrimp Skewers
- Vegetable TerrineTerrine (food)A terrine is a French forcemeat loaf similar to a pâté, made with more coarsely chopped ingredients. Terrines are usually served cold or at room temperature.- See also :* Terrine , the cooking vessel* Pâté* Galantine* Mousseline...
- ConfitConfitConfit is a generic term for various kinds of food that have been immersed in a substance for both flavor and preservation. Sealed and stored in a cool place, confit can last for several months...
of Pork Shoulder with Tomato Marmalade - ChorizoChorizoChorizo is a term encompassing several types of pork sausages originating from the Iberian Peninsula.In English, it is usually pronounced , , or , but sometimes ....
and Egg TostadaTostadaTostada is a Spanish word which literally means "toasted". It is used in Latin America to name several different traditional local dishes which have in common the fact they are toasted or use a toasted ingredient as the main base of their preparation. There is a gender difference between "tostada"... - Beef Tenderloin with Blue Cheese
- Calamari with Dip
- Crab Cake with Spicy Fire Roasted Corn and PasillaPasillaPasilla refers to more than one variety of chile in the species Capsicum annuum. A true pasilla is the dried form of the long and narrow chilaca pepper. However, in the United States producers and grocers often incorrectly use 'pasilla' to describe the poblano, a different, wider variety of pepper...
Relish - Cauliflower a la Plancha Croquetas
- Mushroom Tart
- Salmon Mousse
- WINNING TEAM: Orange Team
- WINNER: Sam
- QUIT: Mia
- Guest Judges: Kristin Woodward, Lee Hefter
- Original Airdate: December 13, 2006
- Elimination Challenge prize: A 20-piece set of Global knivesGlobal (cutlery)Global is a brand of cutlery products made by Yoshikin of Japan. Their selection of knives are known for their distinctive one piece, molybdenum/vanadium stainless steel design, even it is made of two parts.- History :Global was founded by Yuzo Watanabe in Japan in 1983.Over the past decade the...
. - Mia voluntarily withdrew from the competition during the judges' table segment, believing that she was saving Elia from elimination. Her decision at the judges' table was preceded by a monologue by Mia who expressed her anger and frustration with Cliff's attitude toward her.
- Teaser advertisements for this episode showed a cameoCameo appearanceA cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
of Season 1Top Chef (season 1)Top Chef: San Francisco is the first season of American reality television series Top Chef and was based first in San Francisco, California, filmed at Paulding & Company, A Creative Kitchen, in Emeryville, and concluded in Las Vegas, Nevada. The season premiered on Bravo on March 8, 2006 and ended...
contestant Stephen Asprinio, but he is not shown in the aired episode. The video clip with Asprinio was included as bonus material on the Top Chef website. - Actor Nate TorrenceNate TorrenceNathan Andrew "Nate" Torrence is an American comedic actor known for his numerous roles in television advertisements.- Childhood and education:...
had a cameo in this episode. He is one of the many party guests who go to Team Black's table.
Episode 9: Seven
- Quickfire Challenge: Each chef draws a knife that shows a different color. The chefs must then create a dish based on the colorColorColor or colour is the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans to the categories called red, green, blue and others. Color derives from the spectrum of light interacting in the eye with the spectral sensitivities of the light receptors...
drawn from the knife blockKitchen knifeA kitchen knife is any knife that is intended to be used in food preparation. While much of this work can be accomplished with a few general-purpose knives – notably a large chef's knife, a tough cleaver, and a small paring knife – there are also many specialized knives that are designed for...
.- Top: Cliff, Michael, Sam
- Bottom: Betty, Ilan, Marcel
- WINNER: Michael (Orange: Sushi Rice with Salmon and Carrot Chips)
- From this point on, immunity is no longer awarded to the winner of a Quickfire Challenge.
- WINNER: Michael (Orange: Sushi Rice with Salmon and Carrot Chips)
- Elimination Challenge: The chefs must prepare a seven-course meal, with each course representing one of the Seven Deadly SinsSeven deadly sinsThe 7 Deadly Sins, also known as the Capital Vices or Cardinal Sins, is a classification of objectionable vices that have been used since early Christian times to educate and instruct followers concerning fallen humanity's tendency to sin...
. The sins were drawn from the knife block, but Michael, as the Quickfire winner, was given the opportunity to swap his sin, LustLustLust is an emotional force that is directly associated with the thinking or fantasizing about one's desire, usually in a sexual way.-Etymology:The word lust is phonetically similar to the ancient Roman lustrum, which literally meant "purification"...
, for Marcel's EnvyEnvyEnvy is best defined as a resentful emotion that "occurs when a person lacks another's superior quality, achievement, or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it."...
. Debi MazarDebi MazarDeborah "Debi" Mazar is an American actress, perhaps best known for her Jersey Girl-type roles; as sharp-tongued women in independent films; and for her recurring role as press agent Shauna Roberts on the HBO series Entourage.-Early life:...
makes a guest appearance, and her favorite chef in LA Roberto Ivan, from Piccolo in Venice, appears as the guest judge.- Sam: Wrath — Spicy Shrimp Ceviche with Chili Pepper Popcorn
- Betty: Sloth — A Trio of Vegetable Soups: Carrot and Fennel, Red Pepper and Beet, White Onion
- Michael: Envy — Trout and Salmon with Lemon-Thyme Beurre blancBeurre blancBeurre blanc —literally translated from French as "white butter"— is a hot emulsified butter sauce made with a reduction of vinegar and/or white wine and grey shallots into which cold, whole butter is blended off the heat to prevent separation. The small amounts of lecithin and other emulsifiers...
, Asparagus and Mushrooms - Cliff: Greed — BouillabaisseBouillabaisseBouillabaisse is a seafood soup made with various kinds of cooked fish and shellfish and vegetables, flavored with a variety of herbs and spices such as garlic, orange peel, basil, bay leaf, fennel and saffron. Bouillabaisse is a traditional Provençal fish stew originating from the port city of...
with Clams, Oysters and Scallops in a Thai Curry Broth - Elia: Pride — Roasted Chicken with Vegetables
- Marcel: Lust — Cherry Tart with Cherry Gelee and Cherry Foam, Whipped Cream and Chocolate
- Ilan: Gluttony — Rich Decadent Chocolate Cake with Fried Funnel Cake
- WINNER: Michael
- ELIMINATED: Betty
- Guest Judge: Roberto Ivan
- Original Airdate: January 3, 2007
- The episode's initial airing ran for an hour and fifteen minutes, rather than the usual hour. The extended version showed Marcel sharply telling Betty to hold service on his dish after she announced she was going to begin service. Prior to Marcel's comment to Betty, an off-screen voice can be heard saying that they were not ready yet and an off-screen contestant can also be heard confirming that they were holding service. The other contestants refused to assist Marcel with service until he apologized to Betty, which he did. The condensed version of this episode cut out the other contestants refusing to help Marcel, but still showed him snapping at Betty and his subsequent apology.
Episode 10: Unhappy Customers
- Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must create a snack using three Kraft FoodsKraft FoodsKraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
products: mayonnaiseMayonnaiseMayonnaise, , often abbreviated as mayo, is a sauce. It is a stable emulsion of oil, egg yolk and either vinegar or lemon juice, with many options for embellishment with other herbs and spices. Lecithin in the egg yolk is the emulsifier. Mayonnaise varies in color but is often white, cream, or pale...
, barbecue sauceBarbecue sauceBarbecue sauce is a flavoring sauce or condiment ranging from watery to very thick consistency. As the name implies, it was created as an accompaniment to barbecued foods. While it can be applied to any food, it usually tops meat after cooking or during barbecuing, grilling, or baking...
or Italian dressingItalian dressingItalian dressing is a vinaigrette-type salad dressing in United States and Canadian cuisine, consisting of water, vinegar or lemon juice, vegetable oil, chopped bell peppers, usually sugar or corn syrup, and a various herbs and spices including oregano, garlic, fennel, dill and salt. Onion and...
.- WINNERS: Sam (Southern Kraft Sandwich with TempuraTempura], is a Japanese dish of seafood or vegetables that have been battered and deep fried.-Batter:A light batter is made of cold water and soft wheat flour . Eggs, baking soda or baking powder, starch, oil, and/or spices may also be added...
Shrimp, Pickled Peaches and BBQ AioliAioliAioli ) is a traditional sauce made of garlic, olive oil, and egg. There are many variations, such as the addition of mustard or, in Catalonia, pears. It is usually served at room temperature. The name aioli comes from Provençal alh 'garlic' is a traditional sauce made of garlic, olive oil,...
) and Marcel (Lamb Kebab with Curried Kraft Mayo, Endives and Tomatoes)
- WINNERS: Sam (Southern Kraft Sandwich with Tempura
- Elimination Challenge: Divided into two teams, the contestants must devise a concept, interior designInterior designInterior design describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an effective setting for the range of human activities are to take place there. An interior designer is someone who conducts such projects...
and menuMenuIn a restaurant, a menu is a presentation of food and beverage offerings. A menu may be a la carte – which guests use to choose from a list of options – or table d'hôte, in which case a pre-established sequence of courses is served....
for a raw restaurant space. Sam and Marcel, as the Quickfire winners, chose their teams. This elimination challenge is similar to Restaurant Wars of Season One. - Lalalina (Italian Family Style): Sam, Mike, Ilan
- Course 1: Fried Meatball on CrostiniCrostiniCrostini is an Italian appetizer consisting of small slices of grilled or toasted bread and toppings. The toppings may include a variety of different cheeses, meats, and vegetables, or may be presented more simply with a brush of olive oil and herbs or a sauce...
with Parsley Pesto - Course 2: Linguini with Walnut Parsley Pesto and Roasted Mushrooms
- Course 3: Roasted Pork Loin, Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Creamy PolentaPolentaPolenta is a dish made from boiled cornmeal. The word "polenta" is borrowed from Italian.-Description:Polenta is made with ground yellow or white cornmeal , which can be ground coarsely or finely depending on the region and the texture desired.As it is known today, polenta derives from earlier...
- Course 4: Watermelon "GnocchiGnocchiGnocchi are various thick, soft dumplings. They may be made from semolina, ordinary wheat flour, flour and egg, flour, egg, and cheese, potato, bread crumbs, or similar ingredients. The smaller forms are called gnocchetti....
" with CabralesCabralesCabrales is a municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias, northwestern Spain. It is situated between the Sierra de Cuera and the Picos de Europa, and is a region famous for its Cabrales cheese....
and AsiagoAsiagoAsiago is the name of both a minor township and the surrounding plateau region in the Province of Vicenza in the Veneto region of Northeastern Italy...
Cream
- Course 1: Fried Meatball on Crostini
- M.E.C. (Upscale Diner): Marcel, Elia, Cliff
- Course 1: Barbecue Coffee Chicken Wing
- Course 2: Tempura Vegetables and Mozzarella with Cornichon Aioli
- Course 3: "The Best Burger Ever" with House Made Chips
- Course 4: Oreo Lemon Pie
- WINNER: None (Marcel's dish was selected as the featured dish on Bravo's Web site)
- ELIMINATED: Michael
- Guest Judge: Mike Yakura
- Original Airdate: January 10, 2007
Episode 11: Sense and Sensuality
- Quickfire Challenge: The chefs have to prepare a dish using NestléNestléNestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
chocolatierChocolatierA chocolatier is someone who makes confectionery from chocolate. Chocolatiers are distinct from chocolate makers, who create chocolate from cacao beans and other ingredients.Professional chocolatiers study topics including the following:...
products.- WINNER: Sam (Shrimp and Banana with Chocolate ChipotleChipotleA chipotle , or chilpotle, which comes from the Nahuatl word chilpoktli meaning "smoked chili pepper" is a smoke-dried jalapeño that tends to be brown and shriveled. It is a chili used primarily in Mexican and Mexican-inspired cuisines, such as Mexican-American and Tex-Mex.Varieties of jalapeño...
, Black Bean and Cilantro Pesto Sauces)
- WINNER: Sam (Shrimp and Banana with Chocolate Chipotle
- Elimination Challenge: The chefs must work together to create a romanticRomantic loveRomance is the pleasurable feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love.In the context of romantic love relationships, romance usually implies an expression of one's love, or one's deep emotional desires to connect with another person....
5-course menu for celebratory couplesIntimate relationshipAn intimate relationship is a particularly close interpersonal relationship that involves physical or emotional intimacy. Physical intimacy is characterized by romantic or passionate love and attachment, or sexual activity. The term is also sometimes used euphemistically for a sexual...
in Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CaliforniaSanta Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
. Sam, as the Quickfire Challenge winner, was allowed to choose which course he wanted to execute and which proteinsProtein in nutritionProteins are polymer chains made of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds. Proteins and carbohydrates contain 4 kcal per gram as opposed to lipids which contain 9 kcal per gram....
he was going to use. The remaining contestants were not allowed to use the same proteins that Sam chose. Sam elected to cook the first course and use lobsterLobsterClawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
and scallops as his proteins.- Course 1 (Sam): Seared Scallops with Lobster Plum Sauce and Beets
- Course 2 (Ilan): Fideos with Clams and Saffron
- Course 3 (Marcel): Salmon with CeleriacCeleriacCeleriac is also known as celery root, turnip-rooted celery or knob celery. It is a kind of celery, grown as a root vegetable primarily for its large and bulbous hypocotyl rather than for its stem and leaves. The swollen hypocotyl is typically used when it is about 10–12 cm in...
and Beets - Course 4 (Cliff): Sirloin with Lentil Puree
- Course 5 (Elia): "The Kiss": Chocolate Mousse with a Chocolate Heart served on a Pastry Heart
- WINNER: None (Ilan's dish was selected as the featured dish on Bravo's Web site)
- ELIMINATED: None
- DISQUALIFIED: Cliff
- Hazing Incident: After the Elimination Challenge, but before the Judges' Table segment, Cliff, Elia, Ilan and Sam got drunk and decided to forcibly shave Marcel's head. Cliff approached a sleeping Marcel and wrestled him to the ground. Marcel freed himself from Cliff's hold and slept in a bathroom. Ilan videotaped the incident with a video camera borrowed from production and can be heard in the recording encouraging the other contestants to use the clippers on Marcel. The next day, Cliff was disqualified from the competition, as the show's rules expressly forbid contestants to touch one another in an aggressive manner. However, it is mentioned that during the judges' deliberation that Cliff's dish is the weakest of all five, and that he likely would have been eliminated at the Judges' Table anyway. Tom Colicchio said in his blog post for the episode that he was willing to send home all of the contestants involved except for Marcel, holding them all accountable either for their actions that escalated the situation, or their decision not to speak up for Marcel while he was calling for help. But the producers stepped in, not wanting to end the season on a sour note - without a final competition and with what would've been an anticlimactic ending giving the title of Top Chef to Marcel by default.
- Guest Judge: Eric RipertEric RipertEric Ripert is a chef, author and television personality specializing in modern French cuisine and renowned for his work with seafood. His flagship restaurant, Le Bernardin, located in New York City, is routinely ranked among the best restaurants in the world by Restaurant magazine's and S...
- Original Airdate: January 17, 2007
Episode 12: Hawaii Finale, Part 1
- Elimination Challenge: Each chef must make two dishes based on classic Hawaiian dishesCuisine of HawaiiModern Hawaiian cuisine is a fusion of many cuisines brought by multiethnic immigrants to the Hawaiian Islands, particularly of American, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Polynesian and Portuguese origins, including plant and animal food sources imported from around the world for agricultural...
with a twist. Each chef must combine their signature style with traditional Hawaiian flavors and cuisine.- FINAL TWO: Marcel (Hamachi Poke with Pineapple PoiPoi (food)Poi is a Hawaiian word for the primary Polynesian staple food made from the corm of the taro plant . Poi is produced by mashing the cooked corm until it is a highly viscous fluid...
; Salmon Lomi Lomi with Tomato Foam, Scallion Oil, Chili Water and Lotus Root Chip) and Ilan (Morcilla and Squid Laulau; Saffron HaupiaHaupiaHaupia is a traditional coconut milk-based Hawaiian dessert often found at luaus and other local gatherings in Hawaii. Since World War II, it has become popular as a topping for white cake, especially at weddings...
FritaFritaFrita is a Cuban dish with a seasoned ground beef patty on Cuban bread topped with shoestring potatoes, lettuce, onions, and a spiced ketchup sauce. A similar dish on Cuban bread is called pan con bistec topped with the shoestring potatoes...
) - ELIMINATED: Sam (Opakapaka Poke with Sea Beans; Mascarpone Mousse with Hawaiian Salted Coconut Milk and Citrus TuileTuileA tuile is a thin, crisp sweet or savory cookie or wafer made of dough or cheese. Originally from France, 'tuile' means tile in French, and is named after the shape of French roof tiles it is supposed to resemble...
) and Elia (Snapper Steamed in Ti Leaves; AhiYellowfin tunaThe yellowfin tuna is a species of tuna found in pelagic waters of tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide.Yellowfin is often marketed as ahi, from its Hawaiian name ahi although the name ahi in Hawaiian also refers to the closely related bigeye tuna. The species name, albacares can lead to...
Poke with Olives, Capers and Lemon Confit)
- FINAL TWO: Marcel (Hamachi Poke with Pineapple Poi
- Guest Judge: Alan WongAlan WongAlan Wong is a chef and restaurateur known as one of 12 cofounders of Hawaii Regional Cuisine. They came together to form an organization to create a new American regional cuisine, highlighting Hawaii's locally grown ingredients and diverse ethnic styles...
- Original Airdate: January 24, 2007
- During this episode, it was revealed that Sam was voted Fan Favorite.
- The Hawaii episodes were filmed in December 2006, several months after filming concluded in Los Angeles.
- Attack on Marcel: Before this episode aired, news emerged that Marcel was attacked and permanently scarred in a Las Vegas nightclub by an unhappy viewer. The female assailant walked up to him at the bar, verified his identity as the Top Chef contestant, and struck him with a bottle. The result was thirty stitches and a "one inch scar over his left eye."
Episode 13: Hawaii Finale, Part 2
- Final Challenge: The chefs must prepare a five-course meal to be served to the usual judges' panel and five additional guest judges at one of two restaurants in the Hilton Waikoloa Village. Ilan cooked at Donatoni's Restaurant while Marcel cooked at Imari Restaurant.
- The judges compared Ilan's dishes to Marcel's, as follows:
- 1st course: PinchoPinchoA pincho or pintxo is the name of certain snacks typically eaten in bars, traditional in northern Spain and especially popular in the Basque country. They are usually eaten in bars or taverns as a small snack while hanging out with friends or relatives; thus, they have a strong socializing...
of Pan Con Tomate with AngulasEelEels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators...
, Osetra Caviar and Tomatillos (Ilan) vs. Sea UrchinSea urchinSea urchins or urchins are small, spiny, globular animals which, with their close kin, such as sand dollars, constitute the class Echinoidea of the echinoderm phylum. They inhabit all oceans. Their shell, or "test", is round and spiny, typically from across. Common colors include black and dull...
and Meyer LemonMeyer lemonCitrus × meyeri, the Meyer lemon, is a citrus fruit native to China thought to be a cross between a true lemon and either a mandarin or common orange. It was introduced to the United States in 1908 as S.P.I...
Gelee with Fennel Cream, Caviar and KalamataKalamata (olive)The Kalamata olive is a large, black olive with a smooth, meaty texture named after the city of Kalamata in the southern Peloponnese, Greece. Often used as a table olive, they are usually preserved in wine vinegar or olive oil. Kalamata olives enjoy PDO status....
Oil (Marcel) - 2nd course: Macadamia Nut GazpachoGazpachoGazpacho is a cold Spanish/Portuguese tomato-based raw vegetable soup, originating in the southern region of Andalucía. Gazpacho is widely consumed throughout Spain, neighboring Portugal and parts of Latin America...
with Pan Roasted MoiThreadfinThreadfins are silvery grey perciform marine fish of the family Polynemidae. Found in tropical to subtropical waters throughout the world, the threadfin family contains nine genera and 33 species...
(Ilan) vs. Cucumber and Radish Salad with Citrus YuzuYuzuThe yuzu is a citrus fruit and plant originating in East Asia. It is believed to be a hybrid of sour mandarin and Ichang papeda...
Vinaigrette (Marcel) - 3rd course: Seared SquabSquab (food)In culinary terminology, squab is a young domestic pigeon or its meat. The meat is widely described as tasting like dark chicken. The term is probably of Scandinavian origin; the Swedish word skvabb means "loose, fat flesh". It formerly applied to all dove and pigeon species, such as the Wood...
with Foie Gras, Shrimp, Braised Leeks and Lobster Sauce (Ilan) vs. Heart of palmHeart of palmHeart of palm, also called palm heart, palmito, burglar's thigh, chonta, palm cabbage or swamp cabbage, is a vegetable harvested from the inner core and growing bud of certain palm trees Heart of palm, also called palm heart, palmito, burglar's thigh, chonta, palm cabbage or swamp cabbage, is a...
and Maitake MushroomsGrifola frondosaGrifola frondosa is a polypore mushroom that grows in clusters at the base of trees, particularly oaks. The mushroom is commonly known among English speakers as Hen-of-the-Woods, Ram's Head and Sheep's Head...
with Kaffir LimeKaffir limeThe kaffir lime, Citrus × hystrix, Rutaceae), is also known as combava, kieffer lime, limau purut, jeruk purut or makrut lime,...
Sauce and Sea Beans (Marcel) - 4th course: Braised and Grilled Beef Short Rib with Mushrooms and RomescoRomescoRomesco is a sauce originating in Tarragona that is typically made from almonds, pine nuts, and/or hazelnuts, roasted garlic, olive oil and nyora peppers, a smaller, sweet, dried variety of red bell pepper. Other common ingredients include roasted tomatoes, red wine vinegar and onion...
Sauce (Ilan) vs. North Short Strip Loin with Garlic Puree Crispy TaroTaroTaro is a common name for the corms and tubers of several plants in the family Araceae . Of these, Colocasia esculenta is the most widely cultivated, and is the subject of this article. More specifically, this article describes the 'dasheen' form of taro; another variety is called eddoe.Taro is...
Ball and Micro Greens (Marcel) - 5th course: TangeloTangeloThe tangelo , Citrus × tangelo, is also widely known as the honeybell. Tangelo is a citrus fruit that is a hybrid of a tangerine and either a pomelo or a grapefruit. The fruits are the size of an adult fist and have a tangerine taste, but are very juicy, to the point of not providing much flesh...
Soup with Hawaiian Fruit, Surinam CherrySurinam CherryThe Surinam Cherry, Brazilian Cherry, or Cayenne Cherry is a plant in the family Myrtaceae, native to tropical America. Known as Pitanga throughout Brazil or Ñangapirí in surrounding countries, it is a large shrub or small tree with a conical form, growing slowly to 8 meters in height...
Sorbet and Bay Leaf Fritter (Ilan) vs. Blini with Kona coffeeKona coffeeKona coffee is the market name for coffee cultivated on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa in the North and South Kona Districts of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is one of the most expensive coffees in the world. Only coffee from the Kona Districts can be described as "Kona"...
Caviar and Hawaiian Chocolate Mousse (Marcel)
- 1st course: Pincho
- TOP CHEF: Ilan
- RUNNER-UP: Marcel
- Guest Judge: Hubert KellerHubert KellerHubert Keller is a noted French chef, who is known for his signature restaurants, Fleur de Lys in San Francisco and Las Vegas.- Biography :Keller was born in Alsace, France, and graduated from the École Hoteliere in Strasbourg...
, Michelle Bernstein, Scott Conant, Wylie DufresneWylie DufresneWylie Dufresne is the chef and owner of wd~50 restaurant in Manhattan. Dufresne is a leading American proponent of molecular gastronomy, the movement to incorporate science and new techniques in the preparation and presentation of food.-Early life:...
, Roy YamaguchiRoy Yamaguchi-Biography:Yamaguchi was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan but now lives in the U.S. State of Hawaii.After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, he spent time in Los Angeles in apprenticeships at L'Escoffier and L'Ermitage under the late master chef Jean Bertanou.... - Original Airdate: January 31, 2007
- Previously eliminated contestants Sam, Elia, Michael, Betty, Mia, and Frank were asked to return as potential sous chefs for Ilan & Marcel. Each returnee was asked which finalists they would prefer to work with. Elia, Michael and Betty chose Ilan. Sam, Mia and Frank chose Marcel. Ilan and Marcel were then allowed to choose two chefs. Marcel chose Sam and Michael and Ilan chose Elia and Betty.
- At Judges' Table, Hubert Keller represented the collective panel of guest judges.
- During the episode, viewers chose Ilan to win over Marcel in a SMSSMSSMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
poll.
Contestant and judge sites
- Otto Borsich and Josie Smith-Malave The Art InstitutesThe Art Institutes-Fraud lawsuit:In August 2011 Education Management Corporation was investigated and sued by the United States Department of Justice and four states for illegal recruitment practices and fraudulent receipt of $11 billion in federal and state financial aid money....
promotional site - Marisa Churchill official web site
- Tom Colicchio - Craft Restaurant official web site
- Cliff Crooks - Saluté Restaurant official web site
- Carlos Fernandez official blog
- Carlos Fernandez - Hi-Life Café official web site
- Betty Fraser - Grub Restaurant official web site
- Betty Fraser - As You Like It catering official web site
- Padma Lakshmi official web site
- Josie Smith-Malave official web site
- Suyai Steinhauer - New York Fork personal chef official web site
- Roberto Ivan - Piccolo official web site