Top Chef
Ep. |
Title |
Air/Pub'l |
Grade |
Author |
11-17 Weecap |
The Last LuauFinale - Nina and Nicholas each take over a restaurant to prepare four-course menus in the final competition for the title of Top Chef. |
02.05.2014 02.06.2014 |
B+ |
Carla Sparks |
11-16 Weecap |
Spam-a-LotMaui Wowie - The top three chefs arrive in Hawaii and are soon joined by the winner of Last Chance Kitchen for a Spam challenge and a "canoe crop" challenge to determine the final two. |
01.29.2014 01.30.2014 |
B+ |
Carla Sparks |
11-15 Weecap |
What's Old is New Orleans AgainLeaving New Orleans - After a two-part QuickFire, the final four chefs prepare dishes inspired by the flavors and experiences of New Orleans. |
01.22.2014 01.23.2014 |
C+ |
Carla Sparks |
11-14 Weecap |
Career FarePo’ Boy Smackdown - After getting served by the king of food trucks, the chefs are asked to prepare dishes that represent a turning point in their culinary journeys. |
01.15.2014 01.16.2014 |
Carla Sparks |
|
11-13 Weecap |
Revolutionary CuisineOui Si a Challenge - The chefs are split into two teams and asked to prepare French and Spanish courses for a discerning group of judges. One chef's success in the QuickFire puts his team in a precarious position for the Elimination Challenge. |
01.08.2014 01.09.2014 |
B+ |
Carla Sparks |
11-12 Weecap |
One Fish, Two FishMississippi Mud Bags - The chefs craft crawfish dishes, and then prepare a dish for the Louisiana Seafood Council that features local seafood. |
01.01.2014 01.02.2014 |
C |
Carla Sparks |
11-11 Weecap |
Pass/Fail/PureeGiving It the College Try - The eight remaining chefs make drumsticks for Questlove, and then head to a college cafeteria to serve 500 incoming freshmen using only what is available at the cafeteria. |
12.18.2013 12.19.2013 |
C |
Carla Sparks |
11-10 Weecap |
Home is Where the Stove IsLike Mama Made - The chefs prepare coffee-based items, then dishes inspired by their favorite meals at home, which makes them very tired and emotional. |
12.11.2013 12.12.2013 |
B |
Carla Sparks |
11-9 Weecap |
Double the Points, None of the PerksRestaurant Wars - The chefs of the New Orleans season take on Restaurant Wars and while one team seems to have the better chefs, the race isn't even close. |
12.04.2013 12.05.2013 |
B+ |
Carla Sparks |
11-8 Weecap |
Porks and KnivesPiggin’ Out - After making hot sauces, the chefs butcher an entire hog, using every piece except the soul. |
11.20.2013 11.21.2013 |
C |
Carla Sparks |
11-7 Weecap |
Potluck of the DrawJazz Hands - In a loosely jazz-themed episode, the chefs are asked to join forces in three cooking "combos" and create potluck-style menus. |
11.13.2013 11.14.2013 |
C+ |
Carla Sparks |
11-6 Weecap |
More Farm Than GoodCampfires, Cream Cheese and Countryside - The chefs retire to the country to cook with cream cheese and farm-fresh ingredients at John Besh's restaurant, La Provence. |
11.06.2013 11.07.2013 |
C- |
Carla Sparks |
11-5 Weecap |
All Hallow’s CheeseLea Michele’s Halloween Bash - The chefs cook for Lea Michele’s off-season vegetarian costume party and their dishes are judged almost strictly on cheese content. |
10.30.2013 10.31.2013 |
B |
Carla Sparks |
11-4 Weecap |
Pho King TravisCaptain Vietnam - The contestants are tasked to create Vietnamese menus, which is a dream come true for one chef, who considers himself an expert. |
10.23.2013 10.24.2013 |
B |
Carla Sparks |
11-3 Weecap |
Commander in ChefCommander’s Palace - In a double elimination episode, the chefs are challenged to take on food trends, then re-create famous dishes at the Commander's Palace. |
10.16.2013 10.17.2013 |
D |
Carla Sparks |
11-2 Weecap |
The Good, The Bad, The CevicheRebuilding New Orleans - The chefs break into teams to serve Habitat for Humanity volunteers from food trucks. It is still too soon to make a joke about a hurricane of ceviches. |
10.09.2013 10.10.2013 |
C |
Carla Sparks |
11-1 Weecap |
Eat You Later, AlligatorSoiree in the Swamp - The new season of Top Chef starts out in New Orleans and for the first time, as the elimination challenge takes place in a swamp, we are glad we can’t smell the show. |
10.02.2013 10.03.2013 |
B- |
Carla Sparks |
10-17 Recap |
Iron Top ChefSeason 10 Finale, Part 2 - In a really disjointed, bizarre finale, the final two have to cook in front of a live audience like they're on Iron Chef or something. |
02.27.2013 03.05.2013 |
C |
Kim |
10-16 Recap |
Craft WorkSeason 10 Finale, Part 1 - Kristen's back and the final three compete on Tom Colicchio's home turf. |
02.20.2013 02.26.2013 |
B |
Kim |
10-15 Recap |
Mush!Glacial Gourmand - The cheftestants use multiple modes of transportation to get around Alaska before cooking for the governor (who isn't Sarah Palin anymore, remember?) |
02.13.2013 02.19.2013 |
B |
Kim |
10-14 Recap |
Don't Be CrabbyKings of Alaska - Now in Alaska, the cheftestants have to cook crab, salmon, and sourdough. |
02.06.2013 02.11.2013 |
B- |
Kim |
10-13 Recaplet |
Anchors AwayChefs at Sea - The cheftestants head out on a cruise to Alaska and learn a little something about shipboard cooking. |
01.30.2013 01.31.2013 |
B |
Kim |
10-12 Recap |
The Josie ShowWolfgang Clucks - Tom serves dinner to a gaggle of famous chefs, and the cheftestants have to prepare fried chicken. |
01.23.2013 01.29.2013 |
B |
Kim |
10-11 Recap |
Josie, BabySeason 10 Restaurant Wars - You know the idea. Who will screw up service? Who will be a control freak? Why is Josie made out of garbage? |
01.16.2013 01.22.2013 |
B |
Kim |
10-10 Recap |
Thai German? Really?Battle Before the War - They're messing with Restaurant Wars, you guys! |
01.09.2013 01.14.2013 |
C |
Kim |
10-9 Recap |
Healthy ChoicesPast Suppers - The cheftestants have to cook dishes based on memorable moments from past seasons, but make them healthier. |
01.02.2013 01.07.2013 |
B |
Kim |
10-8 Recap |
Going in CirclesJalapeno Business - The cheftestants go to the derby and cook dishes inspired by derby names. |
12.26.2012 01.02.2013 |
B |
Kim |
10-7 Recap |
Thank You Berry MuchFoiled Again - Josie has completed her transition into the female Guy Fieri and Stefan and John go head-to-head. |
12.19.2012 12.26.2012 |
B |
Kim |
10-6 Recap |
Pork and RecreationEven the Famous Come Home - The cheftestants cook at a welcome home party for Chris Pratt and Anna Faris. |
12.12.2012 12.18.2012 |
B |
Kim |
10-5 Recap |
Cheese Curds for Life!Pike Place Pickle - The cheftestants use artisanal ingredients, poorly. |
12.05.2012 12.11.2012 |
B |
Kim |
10-4 Recap |
Parfaits and Calf Liver'50s Food Flashback - The cheftestants take over a family restaurant and revive the original menu from 1950. |
11.28.2012 12.04.2012 |
B |
Kim |
10-3 Recap |
Talking TurkeyTom vs. Emeril: Turkeypocalypse - The cheftestants divide into teams to cook a turkey dinner with Tom and Emeril. |
11.21.2012 11.27.2012 |
B |
Kim |
10-2 Recap |
Veterans' DayA Shock at the Space Needle - The cheftestants get a surprise when some veterans return to compete. |
11.14.2012 11.19.2012 |
A+ |
Kim |
10-1 Recap |
Trim Your BangsThe Ultimate Chef Test - The chefs are broken into small groups and tested by one of the judges to determine if they even get to be on the show this season. |
11.07.2012 11.12.2012 |
B |
Kim |
9-18 Recap |
Stuff and GigglesReunion - You'd be hard-pressed to know that Paul won this thing, since the whole reunion focuses on Chris Hollywood and the ladies. |
03.07.2012 03.13.2012 |
C |
Kim |
9-17 Recap |
Finally! It's OverSeason 9 Finale - Paul and Sarah cook their little hearts out and it's still pretty boring. |
02.29.2012 03.06.2012 |
B- |
Kim |
9-16 Recap |
You're Hot and You're ColdFire and Ice - The final three becomes the final two, finally. |
02.22.2012 02.28.2012 |
C |
Kim |
9-15 Recap |
Frozen FoodCulinary Games - The cheftestants have to compete in Olympic style events while freezing their fingers off, because that's the best way to determine who's the best chef. |
02.15.2012 02.21.2012 |
B |
Kim |
9-14 Recap |
Tears of JoyMentors - Beverly returns, and then Sarah wins immunity and doesn't have to cook this week. Those who are competing have to cook a meal for his or her culinary mentor, plus there is a lot of crying, mostly from Paul. |
02.08.2012 02.14.2012 |
B- |
Kim |
9-13 Recap |
I Know You Are, But What Am I?Bike, Borrow, and Steal - The cheftestants have to compete in a pointless Amazing Race-type challenge and I wish they would just let them cook some food. |
02.01.2012 02.07.2012 |
C |
Kim |
9-12 Recap |
A Game of ChickenBlock Party - The cheftestants get paired up to cook the same dish for a block party, with three ending up on top and three ending up on the bottom. |
01.25.2012 01.31.2012 |
B |
Kim |
9-11 Recap |
Snow White, Blood RedFit for an Evil Queen - A challenge based on an upcoming product-placed movie somehow ends up inspiring the best food of the season. |
01.18.2012 01.19.2012 |
A |
Kim |
9-10 Recap |
The War of RestaurantsSeason 9 Restaurant Wars - It's men versus women when the cheftestants have to open fake restaurants. |
01.11.2012 01.17.2012 |
B |
Kim |
9-9 Recap |
Salt LickTexas BBQ Wars - The cheftestants have to cook BBQ for three hundred people in scorching hot weather. |
01.04.2012 01.09.2012 |
C+ |
Kim |
9-8 Recap |
Mom's Home CookingTribute Dinner - The cheftestants have to cook a dish inspired by the person who taught them to cook. Some take that waaaay too literally. |
12.21.2011 12.28.2011 |
B |
Kim |
9-7 Recap |
Ugly GameGame On - The cheftestants have to determine the bottom three in the challenge, and it gets ugly. |
12.14.2011 12.20.2011 |
B |
Kim |
9-6 Recap |
Who Shot JR?Higher Steaks - The chefs work as a team to cook a really boring menu for a bunch of ranchers. |
12.07.2011 12.13.2011 |
B |
Kim |
9-5 Recap |
ProgressDon't Be Tardy for the Dinner Party - The cheftestants head to Big D, where they have to cook for a progressive dinner party. |
11.30.2011 12.06.2011 |
B |
Kim |
9-4 Recap |
Totally ChiliRed Hot Chili Cook Off - The cheftestants work in teams to create chili fit for a Texas cowboy, they hope. |
11.23.2011 11.29.2011 |
B |
Kim |
9-3 Recap |
Corn or Flour?Quinceanera - For their first challenge, the cheftestants split into two teams. And you know teams never work out well. |
11.16.2011 11.22.2011 |
B |
Kim |
9-2 Recap |
On the BubbleThe Heat Is On - The final group and the bubble group compete in the play-in bracket until all sixteen chef's coats are awarded. |
11.09.2011 11.15.2011 |
B |
Kim |
9-1 Recap |
Pigs and RabbitsEverything's Bigger in Texas - Twenty-nine potential cheftestants are brought in and have to compete for sixteen slots on the show. |
11.02.2011 11.07.2011 |
B+ |
Kim |
8-17 Recap |
Hootie Hoo!Reunion Special - There are the usual amusing montages and an uncomfortable discussion between Tom and Elia, but Carla saves the day with her awesomeness. |
04.06.2011 04.12.2011 |
B- |
Kim |
8-16 Recap |
King of KingsSeason 8 Finale - Kind of a blah finale as there are no real glitches and everyone's food is good -- so very little drama -- but in the end, a winner is crowned. |
03.30.2011 04.05.2011 |
B- |
Kim |
8-15 Recap |
Twists and TurnsLast Supper - The cheftestants do a silly Quickfire and then have to prepare the Last Dinner choice of a culinary icon. And of course, there are twists along the way. |
03.23.2011 03.28.2011 |
B |
Kim |
8-14 Recap |
Pros and ConchIsland Fever - The cheftestants have to dive for their dinner, literally. |
03.16.2011 03.22.2011 |
B+ |
Kim |
8-13 Recap |
Grease Fire Is The WordFit For A King - The final five head to the Bahamas, where they accidentally start a fire and get to meet a king. |
03.09.2011 03.14.2011 |
B+ |
Kim |
8-12 Recap |
Family HistoryGive Me Your Huddled Masses - The cheftestants have to cook a dish based on their ancestries for their family members, so that means everyone is going to cry. |
03.02.2011 03.08.2011 |
A |
Kim |
8-11 Recap |
Gone FishingFor the Gulf - The cheftestants cook Gulf Coast seafood -- some well, some not so well. |
02.23.2011 03.01.2011 |
B |
Kim |
8-10 Recap |
T is for TargetLock Down - The cheftestants have to cook a dish for Target employees while locked in the store overnight, and they can only use items found in Target, all the way down to knives. |
02.16.2011 02.22.2011 |
B |
Kim |
8-9 Recap |
Fallon DownFeeding Fallon - The cheftestants cook some of Jimmy Fallon's favorite dishes for his birthday dinner. |
02.09.2011 02.15.2011 |
A |
Kim |
8-8 Recap |
Mobbed UpAn Offer They Can't Refuse - The cheftestants have to cook Italian food for the owner of Rao's. Finally, a challenge where someone besides Angelo and Dale have an advantage! |
02.02.2011 02.08.2011 |
B+ |
Kim |
8-7 Recap |
Etched in My MindRestaurant Wars: One Night Only - The cheftestants divvy up into two teams and open a restaurant for one night only. It's Restaurant Wars! |
01.19.2011 01.25.2011 |
B+ |
Kim |
8-6 Recap |
Gone Fishin'We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat - The cheftestants get to go fishing, and then have to cook what they caught, working in teams of three. |
01.12.2011 01.18.2011 |
A- |
Kim |
8-5 Recap |
Chinatown BreakdownDim Sum Lose Sum - The cheftestants have to serve dim sum during lunch rush in Chinatown, and cranking out large amounts of food quickly nearly sinks the group. |
01.05.2011 01.11.2011 |
B |
Kim |
8-4 Recap |
Game, Set, MatchAdvantage Chef - The cheftestants have to serve head-to-head against their competition. Spike comes up with a brilliant strategy for his team. Well, maybe just a strategy. Well, maybe not even that. |
12.22.2010 12.28.2010 |
B |
Kim |
8-3 Recap |
Food With Jazz HandsNew York's Finest - The cheftestants have to make dishes that would fit the menus of four of New York's top restaurants, and you might be surprised by who ends up on the top and on the bottom. |
12.15.2010 12.21.2010 |
A |
Kim |
8-2 Recap |
What Just Happened?Night At the Museum - Lack of sleep and an absent teammate lead to a really bizarre and uncomfortable Judges' Table. |
12.08.2010 12.14.2010 |
B |
Kim |
8-1 Recap |
Best of the BestHistory Never Repeats - Eighteen cheftestants return, many of them finalists from their seasons, to do battle in New York to be the best of the best. |
12.01.2010 12.07.2010 |
A |
Kim |
7-15 Recap |
…And It Feels So GoodReunion - All of the cheftestants reunite to discuss who is more cocky and what exactly went down with the pea puree. |
09.22.2010 09.28.2010 |
A |
Kim |
7-14 Recap |
Singapore SlingSeason 7 Finale Part 2 - The three finalists set out to cook the meal of a lifetime, assisted by former winners as sous chefs. Except Angelo, who's too sick to even get out of bed until the final day. |
09.15.2010 09.16.2010 |
B+ |
Kim |
7-13 Recap |
One Night in SingaporeSeason 7 Finale Part 1 - The cheftestants travel to Singapore and have to cook Asian food. You'd think Angelo would have an advantage with that, but the playing field is pretty level, and it's anyone's game. |
09.08.2010 09.13.2010 |
A- |
Kim |
7-12 Recap |
More Than Dippin' DotsGastro-nauts - The cheftestants have to cook space food, and this late in the competition, it truly is anyone's game. No, for real. |
09.01.2010 09.07.2010 |
A |
Kim |
7-11 Recap |
Buy Me Some Peanuts and…Tuna Tartare?Making Concessions - Would you buy raw fish from a baseball park concession stand? Amanda would like you to. |
08.25.2010 08.30.2010 |
A |
Kim |
7-10 Recap |
Brilliant DisguiseCovert Cuisine - Mystery surrounds the challenges this week, as the Quickfire features mystery ingredients and the Elimination takes place at the CIA. |
08.18.2010 08.24.2010 |
B |
Kim |
7-9 Recap |
EVOO vs. 2121Season 7 Restaurant Wars - It's the episode everyone waits for all season: Restaurant Wars. And it gets pretty explosive at Judges' Table. |
08.11.2010 08.12.2010 |
A |
Kim |
7-8 Recap |
It's A Small World, After AllForeign Affairs - The cheftestants have to create a dish based on a foreign country. Some get countries like France or Italy, but Stephen draws Brazil and is clueless -- more than usual. |
08.04.2010 08.09.2010 |
B |
Kim |
7-7 Recap |
The Theft of the Pea PuréePower Lunch - The cheftestants get into politics when they have to cook a power lunch. But the big question is, did Alex steal Ed's pea purée? |
07.28.2010 08.03.2010 |
A- |
Kim |
7-6 Recap |
Cold ComfortCold War - The chefs have to feed each other cold dishes, and Tamesha learns the hard way that this is Top Chef, not Top Scallop. |
07.21.2010 07.27.2010 |
A+ |
LuluBates |
7-5 Recap |
Old MacDonaldFarm Policy - The cheftestants head down to the farm to cook some local ingredients in the great outdoors. |
07.14.2010 07.20.2010 |
B |
Kim |
7-4 Recap |
Three Courses, No WaitingRoom Service - The cheftestants cook breakfast, lunch and dinner for a product-placed hotel in a slightly ill-conceived challenge that nearly eliminates some of the most talented. |
07.07.2010 07.13.2010 |
C+ |
Kim |
7-3 Recap |
The Patriotic PicnicCapitol Grill - The chefs embarrass America with their lack of grill skills. |
06.30.2010 07.06.2010 |
A+ |
LuluBates |
7-2 Recap |
This Pudding is BananasOutside the Lunch Box - The cheftestants divide into teams and, working with a tight budget, try to cook nutritional lunches for schoolkids. |
06.23.2010 06.29.2010 |
A- |
Kim |
7-1 Recap |
This Land is My LandHouse of Chef-presentatives - The seventeen cheftestants report for duty in our nation's capital, where they have to cook a dish inspired by their hometowns. |
06.16.2010 06.22.2010 |
B |
Kim |
6-16 Recap |
Not Much HappensWatch What Happens Reunion S6 - All of the chefs return for a lot of clip packages and some apologies. |
12.16.2009 12.22.2009 |
B |
Kim |
6-15 Recap |
High VoltageSeason 6 Finale Part 2 - The three finalists create one more meal in the hopes of becoming the sixth Top Chef. |
12.09.2009 12.15.2009 |
A |
Kim |
6-14 Recap |
It's Up to The Egg At This PointSeason 6 Finale Part 1 - The cheftestants return to cook in Napa Valley and try to muscle their way into the finals. |
12.02.2009 12.08.2009 |
A |
Kim |
6-13 Recap |
Final FourCulinary Olympics - The cheftestants have to mimic a legendary culinary competition by cooking a protein and two fancy garnishes for an all-star panel of judges. |
11.18.2009 11.24.2009 |
B+ |
Kim |
6-12 Recap |
Walking on Broken Stained GlassStrip Around the World - Cheftestants have to each visit a casino on the Vegas Strip and then create a dish inspired by it. |
11.11.2009 11.17.2009 |
A- |
Kim |
6-11 Recap |
Re-HashTop Chef All Stars Dinner - Cheftestants from all five seasons return to cook and eat a meal together, and rehash their beefs with one another. |
11.04.2009 11.10.2009 |
B |
Kim |
6-10 Recap |
Vegetables and Off-Color JokesMeat Natalie - The cheftestants first have to cook faux-TV dinners and then must cook a meal in a steakhouse for Natalie Portman, vegetarian. |
10.28.2009 11.03.2009 |
B+ |
Kim |
6-9 Recap |
ReVoltingSeason 6 Restaurant Wars - The Brothers Volt continue to dominate as they team up to open their fake restaurant with the help of Robin and Eli. Meanwhile, former chart toppers Jen and Kevin are in big, big trouble. |
10.21.2009 10.27.2009 |
A |
Kim |
6-8 Recap |
Pork or Cat Food?Pigs and Pinot - The cheftestants prepare a dish for Charlie Palmer's charity event that pairs some part of the pig with a pinot noir, with varying degrees of success. |
10.14.2009 10.20.2009 |
B |
Kim |
6-7 Recap |
Salty GnocchiDinner Party - The cheftestants pair up once again (maybe a sign that there are too many remaining contestants?) to cook a meal in the kitchen at their residence. |
10.07.2009 10.13.2009 |
B |
Kim |
6-6 Recap |
Magic and MisdirectionPenn & Teller - Like Penn and Teller deconstruct magic, the cheftestants have to deconstruct a classic dish while they try not to kill an increasingly annoying Robin. |
09.23.2009 09.29.2009 |
B |
Kim |
6-5 Recap |
Home on the RangeCamping - The cheftestants head into the desert to cook high-end food in rustic conditions on a ranch. Except some of them forget to actually cook their food. |
09.16.2009 09.22.2009 |
B |
Kim |
6-4 Recap |
Latin and French Don't MixVivre Las Vegas - This Frenchified episode sees two chefs going home, one after a snail-filled Quickfire, and one after the traditional Elimination Challenge. |
09.09.2009 09.15.2009 |
A |
Kim |
6-3 Recap |
Wild Blue YonderThunderbirds - The cheftestants have to cook a buffet dinner for 300 airmen at Nellis Air Force Base. |
09.02.2009 09.08.2009 |
B |
Kim |
6-2 Recap |
Hit Me With Your Best ShotBachelor/Ette Party - The cheftestants have to whip up some fine cuisine for some drunken guys and girls who really only care about imbibing a lot of shots poolside. |
08.26.2009 09.02.2009 |
B+ |
Angel Cohn |
6-1 Recap |
My Vice Is Watching Reality TelevisionSin City Vice - A new crop of cheftestants arrives in Las Vegas where they immediately start to differentiate themselves through their experience and accolades -- not a lot of recent culinary school grads in this group! Wolfgang Puck serves as celebrity judge and manages to crack Colicchio up throughout, and the food looks pretty amazing. |
08.19.2009 08.24.2009 |
A |
Kim |
5-15 Recap |
Watch Nothing HappenWatch What Happens Reunion S5 - What happens? Seriously, nothing much. Lack of drama during the season makes for a boring reunion. |
03.04.2009 03.10.2009 |
C- |
Kim |
5-14 Recap |
Ho NoSeason 5 Finale Part 2 - The newest Top Chef winner is crowned and it's the only person we didn't want to win. |
02.25.2009 03.03.2009 |
B- |
Kim |
5-13 Recap |
The Good Times, They RollSeason 5 Finale Part 1 - The final four head to New Orleans, where they are joined by one of the previously-eliminated cheftestants, and all five cook a catered meal for a New Orleans party. |
02.18.2009 02.24.2009 |
B+ |
Kim |
5-12 Recap |
Eat Like You Were DyingThe Last Supper - What would you want for your last meal? The cheftestants have to prepare the choices of some of the biggest names in the culinary world and impress them and the judges to make it to the finals. |
02.11.2009 02.17.2009 |
A |
Kim |
5-11 Recap |
Gone FishingLe Bernardin - The cheftestants have to try to recreate a dish by food God Eric Ripert -- to be judged by Eric Ripert. |
02.04.2009 02.10.2009 |
B |
Kim |
5-10 Recap |
Keep It Simple, StupidSuperbowl Chef Showdown - Former cheftestants return to compete against the current crop, and the winners and losers will surprise you. |
01.28.2009 02.03.2009 |
A- |
Kim |
5-9 Recap |
Sunset Lounge? Isn't That a Don Henley Song?Season 5 Restaurant Wars - Radhika and Leah get the chance to open their own restaurants for a night, and both screw it up pretty majorly. |
01.21.2009 01.27.2009 |
B |
Kim |
5-8 Recap |
Old McPadmaDown on the Farm - The cheftestants head to the country to create a farm-to-table meal in a team setting. |
01.14.2009 01.20.2009 |
B+ |
Kim |
5-7 Recap |
Let the Bons Mots Roll!Focus Group - The cheftestants get more freedom in their cooking this week, but they also meet the new guest judge, Toby Young. |
01.07.2009 01.13.2009 |
B |
Kim |
5-6 Recap |
Cooking the CarolsTwelve Days of Christmas - The cheftestants have to cater for a charity event with two hundred fifty guests. And then a refrigerator mishap gets them all working together in the spirit of the holidays. |
12.17.2008 12.22.2008 |
B+ |
Kim |
5-5 Recap |
A Few Extra MushroomsGail's Bridal Shower - The cheftestants team up (always a bad time) to cater Gail’s bridal shower. Now with wedding themes! |
12.10.2008 12.16.2008 |
B |
Kim |
5-4 Recap |
Uncooked Egg and Spicy ShrimpToday Show - The cheftestants present a dish as if they were on a live television segment, and some of them don’t seem to understand the concept of a timer. |
12.03.2008 12.09.2008 |
B |
Kim |
5-3 Recap |
The Fighters of FooFoo Fighters Thanksgiving - The cheftestants travel to Rochester, where they work in teams to create a Thanksgiving dinner for the Foo Fighters. |
11.26.2008 12.02.2008 |
B+ |
Kim |
5-2 Recap |
Ostrich Egg Isn’t EnoughShow Your Craft - The cheftestants serve disgruntled rejected cheftestants at Tom Colicchio’s restaurant, Craft, and overall fail miserably at creating New American cuisine. |
11.19.2008 11.24.2008 |
B |
Kim |
5-1 Recap |
The Big AppleMelting Pot - New York, baby! The cheftestants have to peel, dice, and cook apples in the Quickfire, and then they have to cook regional neighborhood cuisine for the Elimination. Gays! Lesbians! Foam! Weird facial hair! We're back. |
11.12.2008 11.18.2008 |
B+ |
Kim |
4-15 Recap |
Watch What Happens: Nothing.Watch What Happens Reunion S4 - This week's challenge: Stomach a big bowl of lukewarm leftovers, under-seasoned chatter and sour Andy Cohen. |
06.18.2008 06.24.2008 |
D |
Chuck |
4-14 Recap |
Top ChefanieSeason 4 Finale - Yoda-wearing, unflappable Chicago native Stephanie Izard becomes the first female Top Chef, while Lisa shocks everyone by outperforming Richard. And by not being a total bitch. |
06.11.2008 06.17.2008 |
C+ |
Chuck |
4-13 Recap |
Pig OutPuerto Rico - The four remaining cheftestants cook some piggy ingredients for a fancy party. |
06.04.2008 06.09.2008 |
B+ |
Kim |
4-12 Recap |
Beat This MeatHigh Steaks - Sure, Spike can butcher a big rack but a chef needs more than good hands, and he's a hack when it comes to making smart choices. Fortunately, the judges make one and toss his hat out of the ring. |
05.28.2008 06.03.2008 |
A- |
Chuck |
4-11 Recap |
Mai Buddha SucksSeason 4 Restaurant Wars - After a stint on egg duty, Team Warehouse Kitchen wins the Restaurant Wars over-easy, and Dale gets fried. |
05.21.2008 05.27.2008 |
C+ |
Chuck |
4-10 Recap |
It's A Sabotage!Serve and Protect - After trying to seduce mighty fine Sam Talbot with their sexy salads, the crew has to make healthy and substantial boxed lunches for Chicago cops. Spike uses his advantage to thwart the competition, but only cheats himself in the end. A phantom burner turner undermines Lisa, and she returns the favor by calling out Andrew for his whole-grain fakery. |
05.14.2008 05.20.2008 |
B- |
Chuck |
4-9 Recap |
Wedding HellsWedding Wars - It's Top Caterer meets Survivor as the remaining eight cheftestants pull an all-nighter to cater a wedding. Nikki finally gets the boot for parlaying her expertise in Italian food into a refusal to lead her team and, well, crappy Italian food. |
05.07.2008 05.13.2008 |
B |
Chuck |
4-8 Recap |
Family Dinners with Funny Uncle BenCommon Threads - Antonia totally cheats and uses her experience as a single parent to win both a quickfire and an elimination challenge about stretching a buck and feeding a family. How dare she? |
04.30.2008 05.06.2008 |
B |
LuluBates |
4-7 Recap |
Flop SweatImprov - After a Second City improv troupe delivers a colorful and emotional Elimination challenge, Jen does it for Zoi with an unintentionally comedic dish of phallic asparagus and gets sent home for erectile dysfunction. |
04.23.2008 05.01.2008 |
B+ |
Chuck |
4-6 Recap |
Stupid DispleasuresTailgating - Ryan hits the road for his inarticulate -- but very wordy -- approach to tailgating fare, serving bread salad and poached pears (yes, you read that right) to hungry football fans. |
04.16.2008 04.21.2008 |
B- |
Chuck |
4-5 Recap |
The ElementsThe Elements - Which probably wasn't what Team Earth had in mind, but Zoi would rather talk about how she loves to use seasonings than just shut up and use them. |
04.09.2008 04.15.2008 |
B- |
Chuck |
4-4 Recap |
Film FoodFilm Food - The cheftestants divide into teams along gender lines and imagine dishes based on their favorite films for a movie-themed dinner party. |
04.02.2008 04.07.2008 |
B |
Chuck |
4-3 Recap |
Block PartyBlock Party - OK, we get it. If you're transporting food to serve later, choose your menu items carefully. Can we move on, please? |
03.26.2008 04.02.2008 |
C |
Chuck |
4-2 Recap |
Zoo FoodZoo Food - After grazing at a farmer's market for the Quickfire, a high concept Elimination turns the cheftestants into animals and goes to the birds. Blame-resistant Valerie gets axed for some bad-idea blinis. |
03.19.2008 03.24.2008 |
D |
Chuck |
4-1 Recap |
Salt For Your Wounds?Anything You Can Cook I Can Cook Better - In which that most elemental of seasonings proves to be the undoing of our first reject, twice in a row. |
03.11.2008 03.17.2008 |
C- |
Chuck |
3-16 Recap |
It Came Upon A Sniff And SneerTop Chef Holiday Special - The only chestnuts roasting in this episode are CJ's! ...Okay, not really, but any chance to make a nut joke, right? The ghosts of cheftestants past arrive in Chicago to duke it out for twenty grand, and Tiffani is the one screeching, "God bless me and only me!" (Bonus: Ripert dresses up as Santa Claus.) |
12.05.2007 12.12.2007 |
B- |
Keckler |
3-15 Recap |
Relive The Boredom All Over AgainSeason 3 Reunion - As if this season didn't drag on for enough eons, we have now have a reunion to remind us of everything we just saw. It's the Alzheimer's Special! |
10.09.2007 10.15.2007 |
D- |
Keckler |
3-14 Recap |
The Huynh Of A LifetimeSeason 3 Finale, Part II - Hung -- the guy who "grew up eating," the self-proclaimed Certified Professional Asshole, the documented lover of monkey metaphors -- wins Top Chef. |
10.02.2007 10.06.2007 |
A |
Keckler |
3-13 Recap |
Rocky Mountain HighSeason 3 Finale, Part I - Trout and elk get the better of the Brians and their cowboy hat. |
09.25.2007 09.30.2007 |
B- |
Keckler |
3-12 Recap |
Sara's Told To Cheese OffManhattan Project - After chafing herself raw across two dishes, Sara the Jamaican cheesemaker is sent home. To make cheese, presumably. |
09.18.2007 09.23.2007 |
C+ |
Keckler |
3-11 Recap |
Chopping BroccoliniSnacks On A Plane - Breakfast in bed with Padma leads to the cheftestants cooking for the mile-high club (except they're on the ground and not having sex), and CJ is sent home for serving blackened broccolini. |
09.11.2007 09.18.2007 |
B- |
Keckler |
3-10 Recap |
Hung's 300 Years WarChef Overboard - Hung trips out during the Quickfire and makes an edible diorama using Fruit Loops, but after catering a booze cruise for a new fashion designer, Howie's muddy flavors and grey presentation gets him sent home. |
09.04.2007 09.09.2007 |
A+ |
Keckler |
3-9 Recap |
Draining The TreSecond Helping - After the second installment of "Restaurant Wars," The Garage changes their name to "Quatre" and wins. Sadly, Tre is sent home after executive cheffing his team to a loss. |
08.21.2007 08.27.2007 |
D+ |
Keckler |
3-8 Recap |
Restaurant StalemateSeason 3 Restaurant Wars - After making burgers in an Immunity-less Quickfire, the remaining cheftestants do the fake restaurant thing, and no one gets sent home. |
08.14.2007 08.20.2007 |
A |
Keckler |
3-7 Recap |
Cold Stone Chillin'Guilty Pleasures - While working to feed drunk clubbers, Howie proves that he still doesn't know how to spell "team," but it's Sara N. who goes home. |
08.07.2007 08.13.2007 |
B |
Keckler |
3-8 Recap |
Rocco's Got a Brand New Bag: Taste-Testing Bertolli's Skillet Meals for TwoRocco's Got A Brand New Bag: Taste-Testing Bertolli's Skillet Meals For Two - Two coasts, two brands, and two fairly opinionated mouths. Whose Lean Cuisine will reign supreme? |
08.07.2007 08.08.2007 |
Keckler |
|
3-6 Recap |
OMG, IQF! WTF?Freezer Burn - Man, after this episode, tri-color fusilli will be as popular as an actuary at a conference on the Riemann Hypothesis. Coming out on top of the frozen dinners challenge, Tre and CJ are off to Italy, while poor Joey From New York is back to New York. |
07.31.2007 08.07.2007 |
D+ |
Keckler |
3-5 Recap |
Shit HappensTop Chef 3: Watch What Happens - With Andy Cohen playing the hostess with the mostest, we delve back into the ugly glory of past and present seasons. Mostly, season two, though. |
07.24.2007 07.29.2007 |
D- |
Keckler |
3-5 Recap |
'Cuz She's Lia-ving On A Jet PlaneLatin Lunch - Hung strings himself up in a frozen pie crust Quickfire, but due to losing a Latin-loving lunch, it's Lia who packs up her troubles in her old kit bag. |
07.17.2007 07.22.2007 |
A |
Keckler |
3-4 Recap |
Eating On The DoleCooking By Numbers - It's the first team challenge of the season, during which powdered gelatin rears its ugly head again, and Camille is sent calmly on her placid way. |
07.10.2007 07.16.2007 |
C |
Keckler |
3-3 Recap |
God Save The Hot DishFamily Favorites - In an effort to tempt Elks away from high-cholesterol foods, the cheftestants are forced to remake such cafeteria classics as stuffed cabbage rolls, fish sticks, and tuna casserole. |
06.26.2007 07.02.2007 |
B |
Keckler |
3-2 Recap |
Bye, Bye BirdsongSunny Delights - Sandee is sent packing, Howie and Joey From New York engage in a Battle of the Bulges, and Hung is turning out to be a pretty sweet guy. |
06.19.2007 06.25.2007 |
B |
Keckler |
3-1 Recap |
Tastes Like ChickenFirst Impressions - The season begins anew with fifteen cheftestants competing for all the junk that goes along with being Top Chef. Before we even get to know him, Clay from Mississippi is sent home. |
06.12.2007 06.17.2007 |
A+ |
Keckler |
3-1 Recap |
A Very Special Episode of Top Chef4-Star All Star - The best of Season One (minus Lee Anne) faces off against the dubious best of Season Two, all in the name of charity. |
06.05.2007 06.10.2007 |
A |
Keckler |
2-13 Recap |
So Long, And Thanks For All The FishSeason 2 Finale, Part II - Marcel misplaces his fish, and loses. Ted Ilan makes pinworms on toast, and wins. |
01.30.2007 02.01.2007 |
B |
Keckler |
2-12 Recap |
The Poke's On YouSeason 2 Finale, Part I - Chef Alan Wong officiates this first half of the Hawaii finale, which throws Sam and Elia back to the sea and keeps Marcel and Ted Ilan for the second half. |
01.23.2007 01.29.2007 |
B- |
Keckler |
2-11 Recap |
Scalps and ScallopsSense And Sensuality - Elia and Ted Ilan shave their heads. Cliff tries to shave Marcel's head but gets sent home for being a brute instead. The food was not even an issue. |
01.16.2007 01.22.2007 |
Keckler |
|
2-10 Recap |
Foaming at the MouthUnhappy Customers - Marcel raps and before being sent home, Mike references Charlotte's Web. Will wonders never cease? |
01.09.2007 01.15.2007 |
C+ |
Keckler |
2-9 Recap |
Hate the Sin, Love the DinnerSeven - The hating of Marcel reaches a boiling point, and Sam loses it, while Ilan becomes an unhinged bully. But it's petty Betty who cooks up sloppy soup and goes home. |
01.02.2007 01.08.2007 |
B- |
Miss Alli |
2-8 Recap |
Mia the MartyrHoliday Spirit - Mia throws herself on her paring knife to keep Elia in the competition. |
12.12.2006 12.18.2006 |
A |
Keckler |
2-7 Recap |
Surfin' So SorryThe Raw And The Cooked - Breaking fast for some hungry surfers has Elia riding high and Frank dead in the water. |
12.05.2006 12.10.2006 |
B- |
Keckler |
2-6 Recap |
What the Turducken?!Thanksgiving - It's time for a midsummer night's Thanksgiving, and Carlos' salad-eating days are over. |
11.21.2006 11.27.2006 |
A |
Keckler |
2-5 Recap |
Ain't it Offal, Mabel?Social Service - After playing around with pancreas, organ meat, and Social Hollywood's leftovers, Josie and Marisa are sacrificed on the altar of pig's blood. |
11.14.2006 11.19.2006 |
C |
Keckler |
2-4 Recap |
Cheaters Seem to ProsperLess Is More - With a vending machine Quickfire and a sticky children-based Elimination, it's almost as if we never left season one! No one is sent home, but Betty should have been. |
11.07.2006 11.10.2006 |
C+ |
Keckler |
2-3 Recap |
TGI Top ChefFood For The People - After she reads him the quiet riot act, Marcel turns Blazing Eyes on Betty and tries to freak her out during the Sell Bravo's Soul to TGI Friday's Elimination Challenge. Also, Padmadala hikes up her shorts a little more and shows her world to us. But first, Marcel grosses LA kids out with his Cobb Salad ice cream. |
10.31.2006 11.04.2006 |
B |
Keckler |
2-2 Recap |
LycheegateEastern Promise - Sushi, Ming Tsai, team challenges, and "shoplifted" lychees. Marisa unwittingly challenges Tiffani to a bitchface-off, and Otto is sent home. |
10.24.2006 10.28.2006 |
A+ |
Keckler |
2-1 Recap |
Food, Fire, and Frog LegsInto The Fire - Marcel has ridiculous hair, Suyai is sent home, and we all learn how to flambe |
10.17.2006 10.23.2006 |
C+ |
Keckler |
1-11 Recap |
Leggo My EgoVegas Finale, Part II - Harold wins, and Tiffani LOSES! |
05.23.2006 10.16.2006 |
A+ |
Keckler |
1-10 Recap |
A Minor ExclusionVegas Finale, Part I - The toques come off in Vegas as Harold, Tiffani, and Dave put it all on the lineâ¦for room service! They cook for high rollers, poker players, and acrobats, and Dave, by virtue of forgetting a dish, is sent home. Amazingly, he doesn't even cry. |
05.16.2006 10.10.2006 |
A |
Keckler |
1-10 Recap |
Scenes From A Top Chef ReunionSeason 1 Reunion - The cheftestants gather to drink, cry, apologize, fart, and rhyme. |
05.09.2006 10.08.2006 |
A |
Keckler |
1-9 Recap |
Truffle PigsNapa's Finest - Using expensive wine and expensive fungal growths, the cheftestants prepare dishes for the chefs of Napa Valley. |
05.01.2006 10.04.2006 |
B+ |
Keckler |
1-8 Recap |
The Cake Mix ControversyWedding Bell Blues - Stephen is decanted and found to be corked. |
04.24.2006 09.25.2006 |
B |
Keckler |
1-7 Recap |
I'm Not Your Bitch, BitchSeason 1 Restaurant Wars - After the cheftestants team up for dueling restaurant "concepts," Dave gets off his famous quote, and Miguel is sent home. |
04.18.2006 09.19.2006 |
B |
Keckler |
1-6 Recap |
Snake EyesGuess Who's Coming To Dinner? - Ted Allen shows up for dinner and tasks the cheftestants with a dinner party in celebration of him. Andrea and her colon are sent home. Again. |
04.11.2006 09.06.2006 |
B |
Keckler |
1-5 Recap |
Jicama Dickama DockBlind Confusion - The cheftestants sell street food in the Mission, but when Lisa forgets some seriously important jicama, she is sent home. |
04.04.2006 08.20.2006 |
B- |
Keckler |
1-4 Recap |
Nuke it Up A NotchFood On The Fly - Nine TV dinners go into the microwave and one chef gets fried. |
03.28.2006 08.13.2006 |
A |
Keckler |
1-3 Recap |
Gone Fishhookin'Nasty Delights - Dividing into two teams, the cheftestants come up with a way to make children eat and enjoy monkfish. |
03.21.2006 08.02.2006 |
B- |
Keckler |
1-2 Recap |
Bye Bye, TurdieFood Of Love - Stephen's fruity pretentiousness gets him immunity in the Quickfire, Miguel wins the sexy desserts Elimination Challenge, and Andrea gets flushed. |
03.14.2006 07.30.2006 |
C- |
Keckler |
1-1 Recap |
Who Deserves To Be Here?Who Deserves To Be Here - Ken sticks his long, dirty finger in Hubert Keller's sauce and even in San Francisco, that's not a good thing. |
03.07.2006 07.12.2006 |
C- |
Keckler |
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