The show has produced two spin-offs: Top Chef: Masters, featuring established, award-winning chefs, and Top Chef: Just Desserts, featuring pastry chefs. Two more spin-offs are planned: Top Chef Junior, featuring contestants in their early teens, and Top Chef Canada, produced by Food Network Canada.
Read More: Top Chef Masters
Show format
Basic format
Each episode of Top Chef, save for the finale, has had two challenges.
In the Quickfire Challenge, each chef is asked to cook a dish with certain requirements (for example, using specific ingredients or to inspire a certain taste) or participate in a culinary-related challenge (for example, a mise en place relay or a taste test). They are usually given an hour or less to complete these tasks. A guest judge selects one or more chefs as the best in the challenge. Early in the season the winning chef(s) are granted immunity from the following Elimination Challenge. As the number of contestants dwindle no one receives immunity and instead the winner gets another "reward" (such as being team captain for a team challenge).
In the Elimination Challenge, the chefs have to prepare one or more dishes to meet the challenge requirements. Many of these are individual challenges and may require several courses, although some instances require teams to complete the challenge. Teams may be selected by the remaining contestants among themselves, but more often are selected by the random process of "drawing knives" from a butcher's block, with the team identification revealed on the blade of the knife. The chefs may have from a few hours to a few days to complete this challenge. Ingredients for Elimination Challenges are generally limited to what is present in the "Top Chef" pantry and what the chefs purchase at a food store, with a possibly limited budget. However, certain challenges may provide specific ingredients or limit the type or number of ingredients that can be used, while others require non-traditional methods of obtaining ingredients (such as asking people door-to-door). After shopping, the contestants will cook for four judges, usually including at least one guest judge. In most cases, the contestants cook for the four judges and a group of guests or customers (for example, the cowboys in Colorado). The judges and the guests sample the food and rate the individuals or teams.
After the Elimination Challenge ends, the chefs are taken to Judges' Table, where the four judges consider the guests' comments and deliberate on the best and worst dishes. The top individuals or teams are called in, and may be asked questions of their meals before they are notified of their placement. One individual is named the winner of the challenge and may be awarded an additional prize by the guest judge. Then, the bottom individuals or teams are brought to the judges, and similar discussion of their courses is played out. From this group, one chef or team is determined to be the worst, and then the host asks one chef to "pack [their] knives and go." This is usually followed by a knife packing sequence for the eliminated chef, and a clip of his or her exit video, to close out the episode. According to the credits, some elimination decisions (e.g., Cliff Crooks's disqualification in Season 2) are made in consultation with the show's producers.
The show continues in this format for 10–13 episodes, until the Finale.
Special formats
Midway through each season, the contestants participate in a "Restaurant Wars" (or similarly named) Elimination Challenge. They are split into two teams, created by the winner of the previous Quickfire Challenge, or by "drawing knives". In these teams, the chefs must transform an empty space into a restaurant within a set time limit and budget, selecting and creating the name, theme, decor, and menu. According to Dale Levitski, a Season Three finalist, this is one of the contestants' most anticipated challenges. Season Four had not only "Restaurant Wars", but also "Wedding Wars".
In the final challenge, the two (or three) remaining chefs prepare a multiple course dinner with the help of other chefs. These other chefs could be previously eliminated chefs or celebrity chefs (for example, Rocco DiSpirito). The winning chef is selected based on several factors including food quality, their ability to lead their selected chefs, and general performance during the show. There is no Quickfire Challenge in this episode.
Guest judges
There have been 61 guest judges so far on all 5 seasons. Of these, 20 have won the Food and Wine Best New Chef award, including Head Judge Tom Colicchio. Of these 61 guests, 12 have appeared multiple times. Anthony Bourdain and Rocco DiSpirito* lead with 5 appearances, Hubert Keller* and Eric Ripert have 4 (Ripert appeared a fifth time on the Top Chef Holiday Special, see below), Michelle Bernstein and Wylie Dufresne* have 3, and the rest tie with two: Daniel Boulud*, Dan Barber*, Ming Tsai, Scott Conant*, Mike Yakura and Ted Allen (Allen later became a permanent judge in Seasons 3 and 4). Of these 12, 6 were winners of Food and Wine Best New Chef. Actresses Natasha Richardson and Natalie Portman also appeared as judges.
(*--Denotes a Food and Wine Best New Chef Winner.)
Prizes and sponsors
Editorial feature in Food & Wine Magazine
Appearance at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado
$125,000 prize money ($100,000 was awarded in Seasons One through Five, underwritten by Glad beginning with Season Two. Starting with Season Six, the prize money was increased to the current amount.)
Suite of Sears Kenmore kitchen appliances (Seasons One and Two)
Culinary tour of the French Alps (furnished by Evian; Seasons Three and Four)
$100,000 in merchandise provided by Macy's (Season Six)
Sears had been a series sponsor since Season One, along with Calphalon and Toyota. Top Chef began using GE appliances in Season Three. Other sponsors have included Kingsford Charcoal, Wild Oats, Bertolli, Cold Stone Creamery, Kraft Foods, Nestlé, Quaker Oats, Baileys Irish Cream, T.G.I. Friday's, Red Robin, Continental Airlines, Breville, and Bombay Sapphire.
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Seasons
Top Chef (season 1)
First aired March 8 – May 24, 2006
Top Chef (season 1) was filmed in San Francisco, California. The host was Katie Lee Joel and the judges were Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons, along with several guest judges throughout the season. Harold Dieterle and Tiffani Faison competed in the final showdown in Las Vegas, with Harold emerging as the first Top Chef.
Top Chef (season 2)
First aired October 18, 2006 – January 31, 2007
Top Chef (season 2) was filmed in Los Angeles, California. Padma Lakshmi took over for Katie Lee Joel as host. There were several guest judges throughout the season, as in the first season. At the finale in Waikoloa Village, Hawaii, Ilan Hall battled Marcel Vigneron for the title of Top Chef with Ilan winning. For the first time, a "Fan Favorite" was named based on online and phone voting. Sam Talbot, who finished in third place, was voted the Fan Favorite.
Top Chef (season 3)
First aired June 13 – October 13, 2007
Top Chef (season 3) was filmed in Miami, Florida — the first season to take place outside of California. Padma Lakshmi returned as host, while the judging panel remained the same; celebrity guest judges joined the panel in each episode. In the end, Hung Huynh beat out Dale Levitski and Casey Thompson in the show's first ever final three finale; the finale took place in Aspen, Colorado. Casey Thompson, the season's runner-up, was voted Fan Favorite.
Top Chef (season 4)
First aired March 12 – June 11, 2008
Top Chef (season 4) was filmed in Chicago, Illinois. Padma Lakshmi returned as host with Tom Colicchio returning as head judge. Gail Simmons and Ted Allen alternated in the third permanent judging position with celebrity guest judges also appearing in each episode. At the finale in Puerto Rico, Stephanie Izard became the show's first female Top Chef, beating out Lisa Fernandes and Richard Blais. Stephanie was also voted Fan Favorite.
Top Chef (season 5)
First aired November 12, 2008 – March 4, 2009
Top Chef (season 5) was filmed in New York City. The judges remained the same as in season 4, except with Toby Young filling in for Gail Simmons for half the season. Celebrity guest judges appeared in every episode. Hosea Rosenberg became the Top Chef, beating Stefan Richter and Carla Hall in the finale in New Orleans. The Fan Favorite was Fabio Viviani, who took fourth place for the season.
Top Chef (season 6)
First aired August 19 – December 16, 2009
Top Chef (season 6) was filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada. The judges remained the same as in Season 5. The finale took place in Napa, California. Kevin Gillespie and brothers Bryan Voltaggio and Michael Voltaggio were finalists, with Michael winning the title of Top Chef. Kevin, who finished third overall in the competition, was voted Fan Favorite, with Bryan receiving the next highest number of votes for the title.
Top Chef (season 7)
First aired June 16 - September 15, 2010
Shooting for Top Chef (season 7) began in early April, 2010, in Washington, DC The season included 17 contestants with Eric Ripert replacing Toby Young the judging panel. Kevin Sbraga won the competition, with Ed Cotton and Angelo Sosa runners up. The finale took place in Singapore, the first time Top Chef has traveled outside North America.
Season 8
In September 2010, rumors began circulating that season 8 of Top Chef will be an all-star season. The rumors were based on reports that the show was filming in Manhattan and that past contestants were seen in the area.
Special episodes
4 Star All Star (Season One vs. Season Two)
On June 6, 2007, as part of the buildup for Season 3, Bravo aired a special charity episode called "4 Star All Star," which awarded $20,000 to the charity of the winning team's choice. The show brought together Season 1 contestants Stephen, Harold, Dave, and Tiffani, and pitted them against Season 2 contestants Ilan, Elia, Marcel, and Sam. The show format was kept the same, with a Quickfire Challenge to start, followed by an Elimination Challenge. The show was filmed in Miami Beach at the kitchen and hotel used for Season 3. Padma Lakshmi hosted.
Quickfire Challenge: Create a two-egg breakfast dish in 10 minutes, using only one hand. Prize: An extra $100 for the overall winner's team to spend on groceries for the Elimination Challenge.
SEASON 1 TEAM WINNER: Stephen.
SEASON 2 TEAM WINNER: Marcel.
OVERALL WINNER: Season 1
Elimination Challenge: Prepare a four-course meal for the Season 3 contestants consisting of scallops, lobster, duck, and Kobe beef. Teams were given 30 minutes of shopping time, with Season 1 able to spend $300 and Season 2 able to spend $200. Teams were given two hours of cooking time. Courses were served head to head, with the team that wins the most courses winning the challenge.
SCALLOPS: Dave made cold smoked scallops & triple olive tapenade with lemon vinaigrette. Elia made a scallop duo with citrus marmalade and endive salad. Elia won.
LOBSTER: Stephen made lobster poached in beurre blanc with cauliflower crème anglaise. Marcel made a lobster duo with vanilla gelée and lobster foam. Stephen won.
DUCK: Harold made spicy duck meatballs with minted gnocchi. Ilan made almond stuffed duck breast with wild rice, white asparagus & raw egg yolk. Harold won.
KOBE BEEF: Tiffani made Kobe beef two ways served with creamy polenta. Sam made seared Kobe beef with mushroom confit & onion relish. Tiffani won.
OVERALL WINNER: Season 1, with three wins.
Judges: Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, and Ted Allen.
Stephen, as winner of the Season 1 team in the Quickfire, became team captain for the Elimination and got to choose his team's charity. He chose Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Marcel, as winner of the Season 2 team in the Quickfire, became team captain for his team. He chose Share Our Strength for his charity.
Prior to the Quickfire Challenge, Season 1 contestant Lee Anne Wong was introduced as having been hired as a food consultant for Top Chef. This also explained Lee Anne's absence from the competition, as she was the fourth-place contestant in the first season of the show.
Top Chef Holiday Special
The December 24, 2007 special brought selected chefs from all three seasons back with a prize of $20,000 for the winner. Padma Lakshmi presided as host, with regulars Ted Allen, Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons among the judges. The following Chefs participated: Tiffani Faison and Stephen (Season 1); Josie, Marcel Vigneron, and Betty (Season 2); CJ, Tre, and Sandee (Season 3). It was shot in Chicago, Illinois.
Quickfire Challenge: Chefs drew knives to determine the order in which they would choose gifts—ingredients—from under the tree. Upon their turn, the chef could either choose to 'steal' an already opened gift of another chef, or take a new gift from under the tree.
Winner: CJ (Roasted walnuts sauteéd with apples & shrimp)
Guest Judge: Eric Ripert
Prize: One free pass to the next round during the Elimination Challenge. (The pass could not be used to advance to the final round.)
Elimination Challenge: Create a three-course meal for a party of nine. After each course, two chefs will be eliminated.
Course 1: Stephen and Sandee eliminated.
Course 2: Josie and Betty eliminated.
Course 3: Marcel and CJ eliminated.
Surprise Challenge: After the three courses, Tiffani and Tre were given a surprise challenge to create an additional dish, utilizing anything left in the kitchen, in 30 minutes.
WINNER: Tiffani
Winning Menu:
First Course: Bacon-Wrapped Apples with Brussels Sprout Salad & Apple Chicken Jus
Second Course: Roasted Duck Breast on Spaetzle with Wine & Orange Jus
Third Course: Salted Butterscotch Pudding with Whipped Cream
Surprise Course: Braised Veal on Puff Pastry with Truffle Butter.
Guest Judges: Eric Ripert, Elizabeth Falkner, Norman van Aken, Alan Wong, Alfred Portale
Top Chef Reunion Dinner
On November 4, 2009, Fabio Viviani from season five has invited contestants from his season and those in the past for what is supposed to be a convivial gathering of chefs cooking, eating and talking. Chefs who attended were: Harold and Tiffani from season one; Ilan and Marcel from season two; Casey, Dale and Hung from season three; Richard and Lisa from season four and Carla, Fabio and Stefan from season five.
Spin-offs
Top Chef University
Top Chef University is a comprehensive online culinary school involving 12 courses and over 220 in-depth video-lessons. The program at www.topchefuniversity.com takes you through a structured program from the basics (knife skills, kitchen set-up, ingredients) through to advanced culinary techniques (sous vide, molecular gastronomy). Instructors at Top Chef University are some of the show's most successful and popular former chef'testants. Enrollment costs 199.95 for an annual membership and 24.95 for a monthly membership.
Top Chef Junior
Top Chef Junior is a tentatively-titled upcoming American reality competition show that will air on the cable television network Bravo. It is expected that teenage chefs will compete against each other in weekly challenges. Following the Top Chef format, they will be judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the culinary world, with Bravo stating that one or more contestants will be eliminated each week. The show is produced by Magical Elves Productions, the same company that created and produces Top Chef.
Bravo has ordered eight episodes; currently no air date has been set,
Top Chef Masters
Top Chef Masters features established, award-winning chefs—a contrast from Top Chef, which features chefs that have been called relative "culinary amateurs". Food journalist Kelly Choi hosts the show, and restaurant critic Gael Greene, culinary expert and Saveur Editor-in-Chief James Oseland and food critic Jay Rayner serve as judges.
The show debuted in 2009 with contestants including Rick Bayless, John Besh, Michael Chiarello, Wylie Dufresne, and Hubert Keller. As of 2010, two seasons have been produced and aired.
Top Chef: Just Desserts
Top Chef: Just Desserts is a spin-off featuring pastry chefs. The show is hosted by Top Chef judge Gail Simmons. The head judge is Johnny Iuzzini award-winning pastry chef at Jean-Georges. Hubert Keller, owner of world-renowned restaurant Fleur de Lys and Top Chef Masters finalist, and Dannielle Kyrillos, "an entertaining expert and Editor-at-Large of DailyCandy" are regularly featured judges.
The show debuted on Bravo on September 15, 2010, after the seventh season finale of Top Chef.
Top Chef Canada
On April 21, 2010 Food Network Canada announced that they had come to an agreement with NBC Universal to produce a Canadian version of the program called Top Chef Canada which will be airing in spring 2011.
No host for the series has been announced, but the head judge role held by Tom Colicchio on the original version will be filled by Mark McEwan, chef/owner of several restaurants in Toronto and host of the Food Network Canada program The Heat with Mark McEwan.
Top Chef: The Game
Top Chef: The Game is a computer game released by Brighter Minds for the PC. It challenges players to create the best dish from items in a virtual pantry. Games magazine gave the game an unfavorable review, calling it a "quick cash-in... for an undiscriminating audience."
Top Chef: TV Dinners
In efforts to make certain dishes available to viewers who watch Top Chef but don't have time to try preparing those dishes themselves, Schwan's Home Service started offering Top Chef—branded frozen meals in late 2009.
Top Chef: The Magazine
In June 2009, news broke that Top Chef is working with Food & Wine magazine on a Top Chef print magazine.
Top Chef: The Cookbook (series)
Top Chef: The Cookbook
On March 20, 2008, Chronicle Books released Top Chef: The Cookbook, with a foreward by Tom Colicchio.
Top Chef: The Quickfire Cookbook
On September 30, 2009, Chronicle Books released Top Chef: The Quickfire Cookbook, with a foreward by Padma Lakshmi.
How To Cook Like A Top Chef
On July 14, 2010, Chronicle Books released How To Cook Like A Top Chef, with a foreward by Rick Bayless.
International adaptations
Greece - Greek broadcaster ANT1 has announced its own version of Top Chef to be aired in the 2010-2011 television season.
France - French adaptation of Top Chef was broadcast on M6 (TV channel) in 2010. Season 2 is scheduled for 2011.
The Netherlands - A Dutch version of Top Chef has aired since January 2009. The competitors are amateur chefs, to the professional chefs in the original American version. After a celebrity series called Topchef VIPS, the second regular season will be broadcast in the fall of 2010. At the same time the first season of the similar British format MasterChef will air on NET5.
DVD release
Season 5 was released on DVD in Region 1 by A&E Home Video on October 20, 2009. A Season 6 DVD set has been announced for release August 24, 2010. Season 4 DVD Set has been released exclusively at Target stores.
Reception and Awards
Awards
Top Chef was nominated at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Cinematography for Reality Programming and Outstanding Reality-Competition Program for its second season.Top Chef won the award for Outstanding Editing in a Reality Series at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards. Top Chef won the award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards, defeating The Amazing Race which has won the award since the category's inception in 2003.
Time magazine's James Poniewozik named it one of the Top 10 Returning Series of 2007, ranking it at #10.
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(source:wikipedia)
Don't forget the wine.
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