Josie Smith-Malave says...

During a recent phone conversation, Chef Josie had a few things to say about the show, the chefs, the "prank", her life after Top Chef, and much much more. It was a pleasure to speak with Chef Josie and we felt it best to let her speak. Remember to insert her wonderful laugh in, while you read this. Enjoy!



"People are seeing us at our best and our worst. We are out of our element. Yes, we are in a kitchen but we don't have our equipment, our crew.

We are in the contest and we have our chefs mentality. We are use to working as a team, not against each other.

I've read something saying "do the chefs want to win"? Yes, of course we do.

I know the episode where I was kicked off, it shows me saying "I didn't realize how good the middle could feel". What they didn't show was me saying " I hate being in the middle!"

I spent three episodes saying "what was I doing wrong"?

We are real chefs. Real people, with real lives.

When they said people cheated during the Camp Glucose episode except for my team, Elia, Ilan and myself, we should have been given the win, right?

I don't hate Marcel.

The video was edited.

Marcel has a peculiar personality. He is young and so is Ilan.

I highly recommend to do the show if anyone is interested in doing it.

I called Cliff and was like " What the hell?"

I don't think there are any hard feelings. I hang with Sam a lot. We will be somewhere and people will come up to me and be like "Josie?" I go "yeah its me and this is Sam".

I share Marcel's love of Molecular Gastronomy but not to the extent he does. I like food and don't want to mess with it. I feel that way of cooking is too limited.

I am a cook. I go down with the ship.

I want to cook good food and make money. That's what an owner wants to hear. When its your money, you can do it your way.



I am doing a cruise in May. WWW.olivia.com. Elizabeth Faulkner will be there, Pamela S. Busch and Amanda DeMann too. We are traveling from Venice Italy to Greece and back. Cruise runs from May 29-June8. Check out the website for booking information.

I was also on Sirius OutQ with Larry Flick and with Derek and Romaine (sorryy all, both shows have already aired)

PBS did a mini biography on me called "In The Life". Its about gay pride but much more.



I am a chef, a woman all the rest is bonus.

I am opening a place with George Masraff., formally from Tavern on the Green. We should open February 15. www.islandcafebar.com

I have a line of condiments coming out soon from Global Soul Condiments.

My website is very basic right now but should be ready soon. www. josiesmithmalave.com

I was eating a croissant and in a meeting, planning a menu with George, so it was a pretty serious meeting. This lady comes up and was like "Are you that girl from Top Chef?" I was like "yes". This happens sometimes, and she said " Oh I just loved your character." That happens. People think we are actors. We are 15 chefs. I told her I wasn't playing a character, that it was who I am. She was like "you know what I mean". We are not playing, this is our lives.

I got a call from a friend who asked if I had seen that weeks National Enquirer.
I was like "uh, no, I don't read that magazine" and she was "like you are in it!"
No Way! So I go and check it out and it was a centerfold story about Who is/who isn't gay in Hollywood. Neil Patrick Harris was in it and a bunch more.

I love the blog. So glad you guys provide a place for fans and the chefs to express themselves, unedited. You guys are honest."