Chef Harold – The 1st Top Chef

Yes ladies and gentlemen, tonight either Marcel or Ilan will become the Top Chef for season 2.

However, this is not like the Miss America pageant. Chef Harold is not going to take a final walk through the Pro Kenmore kitchen. He is not going to turn his apron over to the next Top Chef.

Harold is the 1st Top Chef and tonight another will join him. Before we learn who that will be, take a few moments and enjoy our tribute to Chef Harold and the chefs of season 1. Be sure your speakers are on for the music.

Chef Harold, we love you. We thank you for sharing your experiences and life with your fans. We appreciate all your support of this little kitchen and we wish you all the best.

Enjoy everyone.

And The Winners Are

The winners of our 3 Top Chef Contests are:

Contest / Raffle #1 for Top Chef Aprons:

Rob S. from Maryland

and

Gabrielle L. from Idaho

Contest #2: Fellow Readers Favorite Top Chef Poem / Haikus/ Ballad

1st place: winner of a grill set and Top Chef Apron

"Elimination Ode" - Marie M-G.

2nd place: winner of a Top Chef Apron

"The Ballad of the Bully Gang" - Lia K.

3rd place: winner of a Top Chef Apron

"And The Winner is" - Domina Z.

Contest/Raffle # 3 - Set of Season 1 and Season 2 Top Chef T-shirts

The winner is

Amy H. from Washington State

A very special thanks to Chef Dave

for selecting the winners in both contest 1 and 3.

Chef Dave is in the process of moving to New York and is leaving California this evening. With all the new adventures, that lay ahead for him, he still took the time to review the list of entries ( and there were a lot of them) and select the winners.

Thank you so much Chef Dave. We wish you all the best with your new restaurant Lola Is Soul.
Continue to drop by the kitchen and keep us updated on all that is happening. We love you Chef Dave.

Thank you Chef Carlos for donating the "It's not crap on a plate" t-shirt. We love you too Chef Carlos. We invite you and Chuck to continue to drop by the kitchen and keep us updated on the Hi-Life Cafe.

Thank you to Bravo for selecting our little kitchen, ( that's right folks, they contacted us) and for the aprons and grill set.

But most of all, a big THANK YOU to all of you who stop by each day to see what is cooking, here in the kitchen. It has been a hell of a ride and we have had a ball with you. We will continue to keep the kitchen running between now and Season 3. Check back for updates from the different chefs.

We have also begun to blog Bravo's new show Top Design... which will begin tonight following Top Chef. We look forward to all of you following us over to Top Design Blogger.

Enjoy both shows tonight!!!

Tonight Is The Night

Chef Ilan and Chef Marcel.

One will be the next Top Chef.

Chefs Betty, Mike, Frank, Mia, Elia and Sam return to serve as sous chefs.

Reason 12 Why Our Chef Biatch Wouldn't Make It On Top Chef

Chef Biatch forgot about the competition

and was inconsolable as Sam was kicked off Top Chef.

"Not Sammmmmmy, NOOOOOO!!!!!

Last Chance To Vote

Remember the follow 5 entries are from fellow readers. They need your votes.


# 1. "A Collection of Top Chef 2 Haikus"

Tattooed biker judged
Mixed drinks and appetizers
Penicillin shot?

Seven deadly sins.
Cliff cries “that’s f---ing awesome!”
Weakest dish ever.

Anorexic twit
Sits next to Colicchio.
Popcorn is the best?

Frank went to the beach
Screwed up a crust for a quiche
No one likes quiche, Frank.

Mama Mia quits
Saw the writing on the wall
Back to selling rock!

I sometimes wonder
Why his toothbrush was in there.
Mushroom fantasy.

Bada bing Betty
Soup two hundred fifty ways.
“That’s not crème brulee.”

Michael, so laid back.
Cheeto on a Snickers bar.
Screw today’s Quickfire.

Otto didn’t know
If the lychees had been free.
Thrown under the bus.

# 2 "And The Winner is..... "

Let's review, shall we, this macabre circus brought to us badly, by freakish offspring of Barnum and Bailey. Bravo!!

Sam, I am, is about 5 years too old to pull off the "I'm so sexy, I don't need a comb" do. And about 25 years too old for "I'm going to hold my breath till I turn blue". Passive-Aggressive schemer as Top-Chef? That's a bad dreamer. Sam, I am, is out, I say out, due to his demeanor. My advice to Sam, I am, is soap, shave and shampoo. Repeat as needed.

You can get anything you want at Elia's Restaurant, all kidding aside. If you don't mind waiting for her 19th nervous breakdown to subside. Perhaps I'm a bitch to the core and too crass but when you say "I Quit", I say, "That's it" and slam the door on your ass. Good-bye! Adios, Muchacha.

Ilan can cook, and that's nice. For example,Faux- Spanish Rice.And Ilan can bake a Faux-Spanish Cake. Ilan and talent? He has oodles. He shows us that with Faux- Spanish Noodles. He shows his range, and great elan, by making us some Faux-Spanish Flan. I kind of like him with the new bald dome. What was that he said about someone else being too REPETITIVE by using Foam? What was that he said about someone else being too REPETIIVE by using Foam?

Which leaves us with, the Marcelled One. Our mischevious culinary Napoleon. The battle of Waterloo, my friends, was won on the playing fields of Eton. Marcel's plates look good but food is for eating. Too often, we heard bad comments on that from the Judge's seating.

So, 4 are left...and push.....has.....come...to....shove....

The winner should be:

NONE OF THE ABOVE

# 3 "The Ballad Of The "Bully-Gang"
Yesterday in old Las Vegas
Mr. Vigneron was 'bused.
Now they got the "gang" that did it
On a charge Marcel was used.
Some folks say they just was playin',
Others say they made him pay,
'Cause they all agreed the guy just wasn't all that damn soignee.

(chorus)
Oh, you can't clip your castmate down in old Las Vegas
Not even if it's meant to be in fun.
No, you can't chop your top chef down in old Las Vegas
You know someone'll pack their knives 'n run.

Well, they got him on the sofa
Where he'd gone to take a nap.
They'd been drinkin'; wasn't thinkin
When they thought to shear his cap.
Now, Cliff, he played the muscle man,
And Sam was set to shear.
Ilan was there to film it all,
With Elia there to cheer.

(chorus)
Oh, you can't shear your bunkmate down in old Las Vegas
Not even if you're tired of his cuisine.
No, you can't buzz old 'Foamy' down in old Las Vegas
You know it's almost sure to cause a scene.

Well, Cliff, he tried to hold him down,
Ilan was camera-ready.
Sam was laughin' up a storm.
Their nerves were moonshine-steady.
But in the end, the little guy,
he up and ran away,
Surely pissed, but "shorn-ly" missed--guess "Foam" don't play 'dat way!

(chorus)
Oh, you can't clip your castmate down in old Las Vegas
And then blame all the damage on moonshine.
No, you can't call him "Chop Chef" down in old Las Vegas
You know the judges won't approve the whine.

Well, they didn't get to shave Marcel.
They kinda chickened out.
But never one to be outdone,
Ilan just had to shout,
"Let's shave our own, since Foamy, he's done run away and hid!"
He said "Elia, cut it out!" and that's exactly what she did.

(chorus)
Oh, you can't shave your a$$es down in old Las Vegas
And then expect to not hear "Let's evict 'em!"
No, you can't save your a$$es down in old Las Vegas
You know the boards'll scream "don't blame the victim!"

So, now they want the"Bully-Gang."
Well, them that's left, they say.
Since Cliff was axed, and asked to pack his bags that fateful day.
The others roam, without their foam, a "pack" that some comdemn.
Like musketeers, they've heard the jeers of "Foul Ad Hominem!"

"Hang 'em high!" the boards'll say.
"They can't treat poor Marcel that way!"
But he'll be back, and we'll all watch
him say "I'm not your b!tch, beeyotch!"

Yes, we can moan, and we'll still fight, but we'll be back next
Wednesday night.
Just lock your doors, 'cause threats don't faze 'er.
Here comes Elia with a brand new razor!!!

# 4 "Elimination Ode"
Froglegs? Cornflakes? Escargot?
Sorry, Suyai, you had to go.

The "Pho. Pho? PHO." tasted great
But Otto was a victim of Lycheegate.

Bada Bing Soup made them shout
But Emiliy's fire got put out.

Camp Glucose's kids were really cool.
Do you think Betty broke the rules?

Josie and Marisa blew the "Social" scene
When they went out, it was as a team.

Carlos, sweet Carlos, of HiLife Cafe
Seems that Thanksgiving is just not your day.

The chefs had a great time out on the beach
A quiche for Frank was just out of reach.

Good hearted Mia made a fuss
And finally threw HERSELF under the bus.

Betty's soups were lazy and slooooow
But she quickly had to goooooo.

Mike pulled off a double win
But an errant olive pit did him in.

A horrible headlock took out Cleef
And Marcel kept his hair by the skin of his teeth.

And now there are four
That's all that are left
Soon Padma will say
"Congratulations, Top Chef!"

# 5 "Haiku for Otto"

Wants to feed the world
Serves Jesus a veggie meal
Otto is the one



Click Here to Vote

Voting will close at 10pm (PST)

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."

Sunday Roast

Prepared by Chef Biatch

It ain't gay if its amongst friends.

Bravo finally remembers their target demographic.

Back off bitch, he`s mine.

Aww, ain't he a cutie!

And he just loves the toy Frankie gave him.

Um, is it me or does this seem a

stupid way to test your burners?

Welcome to another exciting episode of Top Cocaine.

Hey Tom, THEY don't do any cooking. Up here big boy!

"You meeen I shaved my heeeed and

sqeeeeeled for nuhzeeeeing?"

Bitch getting all gangsta on us.

"No saffron in the finale,pinkie promise."

"Chef Biatch still loves me?

I cant believe how lucky I am."

Chef Back Burner Chats With Andy.

Chef Back Burner invited Andy Cohen, Bravo's Senior Vice President of Production and Programming to drop by the kitchen.

Chef Back Burner - Hi Andy, we were hoping that as we near the end of this unpredictable second season of TOP CHEF you would be so kind as to take some time to answer questions that have been on our and our reader's minds.


So I'll just jump right in... Having worked for CBS and TRIO, how does working for BRAVO compare?
Andy- It doesn't compare. CBS was news and TRIO was more laid back and eclectic. It has been a completely exciting ride getting to work on some of my favorite shows.

CBB- They seem open to creativity, but many of the shows are turning from the Arts more towards Entertainment. How do you feel about that?
Andy- I think that Bravo peels the layers off the creative process in a way that no other cable channel does, and I think that our shows represent what's out there in the culture at large. We are an expression of arts and culture in an accessible way that people connect with.

CBB-Personalities this season seem volatile, have there been situations with the contestants where production needed to step in to stop something before it started?
Andy- We haven't been in a position where we have had to step into a situation and stop it from happening. As soon as we found out what happened in last week's episode (which the chefs shot themselves with a camera they'd asked for) we took matters into our hands and eliminated Cliff for his actions.

CBB-I thought actors where hard to deal with but it looks like you've had your hands full. List these in order of easy to hard....fashion designers, chefs, hairstylists, interior designers. Why?
Andy- All creative people have very colorful personalities and are different to deal with - but we love them for their unique sensibilities and personalities, and that's what makes them fun to work with.

CBB-How involved are you in the choosing of contestants for shows?
Andy- We have fantastic casting directors who whittle down the choices to about 40 people. At that point, bravo gets involved and decides which 30 or so to fly to LA and meet with. Then we pick the rest with the producers.

CBB-When you have two potential contestants who are equal in skill and personality, what is it about them that makes that final decision for you?
Andy- If they are equal, it becomes about the mix and how they will fit into the larger group of suggestions.

CBB-Are you often on site during shooting? And if you are, when you enter a room are people happy to see you or do they fear your presence, like "Uh-oh, Andy's here. Something must be wrong."?
Andy- Yes I am in and out. When I am onset I try to stay away from the contestants but will invariably wind up getting in a shot or telling someone something that I shouldn’t or pissing off Shauna, Dan or Jane. But everyone puts up with me very kindly, to my face.

CBB-Who gets the leftovers?
Andy- I think by the time they're ready to be eaten they've been sitting out for too long.

CBB-Speaking of leftovers, what was your favorite episode?
Andy- The color quickfire and Debi Mazur's seven deadly sins.

CBB-Did you have a favorite chef or chefs this season?
Andy- They are all fantastic.

CBB-Having worked in the events side of the entertainment world I know it’s a time consuming business. Do you ever get the time to relax in front an episode of Top Chef? When you do what gourmet snacks do you like to chomp on? And your drink of choice?
Andy- It's fun watching an episode with others who are into the show, but if I am alone I start stressing about work stuff. I love dark chocolate - I am a complete addict. My drink of choice is either a mandarin with club soda or a whiskey and ginger ale.

CBB -So, do you enjoy cooking/baking? If so, what would you say was your signature dish?
Andy- I suck at cooking. To be fair, I have not applied myself. I need cooking lessons.

CBB-Realizing that you are a very busy person, do you get a chance to read some of the blogs about the show or the Bravo Boards at all?
Andy -I read some of the blogs, all of the postings on my blog, and occasionally look at the bravo boards. I am excited about "watch what happens" because it gives us an opportunity to interact with fans of the show live right after the episode ends. We're live this week with tom c. And an eliminated chef.

CBB-How much does audience feedback and ratings affect the production of the following season?
Andy- We try to go with what we know.

CBB - Now to Ted Allen. As we saw through comments on our blog, the episodes that featured Ted Allen as a judge really drew people in. Posts like..."The only bright spot has been Ted Allen having been on a few times this year." and "He [Ted Allen] is all class and an excellent, eminently qualified judge. Plus, he understands how to articulate his thoughts so that we mere mortals can understand." have littered our blog, so much so that we were inspired to take up a petition to have him as a mentor...although we'll take him any way we can get him judge, host, friend, etc. Is this something you are/would consider since he has been the choice "stand-in" this season?
Andy -We love Ted and would love to work with him again. I wrote a blog about why I don't think we need a mentor, and I can't imagine that happening.

CBB-Finally, you know how the season end, any surprises or ground breaking recipes we should look forward to and you can share?
Andy- Not that I will share now!

CBB- You can check out our petition at www.petitionspot.com/petitions/tcmentor/ Again, thank you so much for you time. We truly appreciate it. Oh and before I go, we just wanted to let you know we are also covering Top Design. So please, if you get a chance, stop by over the course of season one and let us know what you think.
Andy- Great! You are going to love the show!!! Let us know what you think and be sure to watch "Watch What Happens" live at 11 on Wednesdays on Bravotv.com!

Yo, Bravo... We Are Getting Your Mail.

EMAIL:
Hey fellow TC fans, a few of you have been emailing us with your thoughts regarding Top Chef and think that we are Bravo. Though we have helped you move those along to Bravo, we are not Bravo.

We are three Top Chef fans, just like you. Feel free to send your emails directly to Bravo and continue to feel free to chat with us.

CONTEST:

Don't forget, your fellow TC fan readers have written Poems/Ballad/ Haikus and they need you, their fellow readers to vote. Click on the link to the right to access their work and to vote.

PREVIEWS ARE SERVED:

We are busy still pouring through tape but in the meantime... the previews for next week are up. Oh wait till you see who is coming back to help. It is going to be a hoot.

To watch Bravo preview, click HERE

To watch Yahoo preview, click HERE

Tonight on MTV...

by Chef Back Burner

At 10 pm...CRIBS.
This episode we check out the homes of the 4 remaining contestants from Bravo’s TOP CHEF.

We drop by Marcel’s in Las Vegas with his two hetero life partners Gary and Kenny. They take the opportunity to show you their bachelor pad kitchen and their Mr. Science chemistry sets.

On our way out of town we stop in at Elia’s Tuscan style apartment where she shares her success from her other life’s passion...swimming. 2 seconds from the Olympics and she chokes...just as long as it wasn’t on her food.

Then we’ll head to New York City to the tiny loft of Ilan. There he share’s his big dog, his big bed, and his big hat...can a BIG man really exist in a small package?...

Our last stop...Sam’s place. We know all the ladies would like to see where this tall drink of water stores his knives.

At 10:20 pm...MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEEN.

Hawaiian chef, Alan Wong, celebrates his birthday in style...”I want it to be the best birthday on the island. I want everyone to know that I’m the coolest chef around.” Chef Wong picked a most isolated area in the beautiful Hawaiian islands and looked for the best view. “Everyone is going to fly here on a helicopter. I want them all to see how cool I am.”

He invited famous chefs and Hawaiians. “I wanted anyone whose anyone to be there. Like I was really disappointed when I found out Billy Joel wasn’t going to sing....I ran to the bathroom in tears screaming ‘My party’s ruined. Everyone’s going to laugh.’ But then my sous chef explained who this Salman Rushdie guy was and I though ‘Ok...that’s cool.’”

They had traditional Hawaiian food with...gross what is that stuff....anyway...His final words about his party...”Totally cool. Like, let’s have another one tomorrow night, ‘kay?”

At 10:40 pm...THE INFERNO.

Tonight, the heat is on when the cheftestants have to cook a traditional Luau foods while fire twirlers juggle near theirs stations.

Some one might get there ego charred if they aren’t careful. With no rules the kitchen can turn into a cage match...and personalities are going to clash.

“If they aren’t nice to me...I’ll whip out my other chemicals and blow the *bleep* up!”

“I just might have to get all Molotov Cocktail on their *bleep*.

‘I theenk the guys are really trusteeng me now. We’ve bonded. They want me to help them get Marcel....I’m een!”

“I think I’m all good. Done enough to stay here...and I’m in a secret alliance with Ilan. As long as we only do okay we should make it to the final.”

Un-oh...you never know who to trust and who to roast...in the Inferno.

And Then There Were Two

Ilan and Marcel.

One will be the next Top Chef!

Thanks Sam and Elia

Wishing you both, all the best!!!!

Listen to Sam and Elia on Chow.com

Chef Sam... Fan Favorite

Congratulations to Chef Sam

In case you missed it. Sam was told he won the Fan Favorite, during the " Watch What Happens" post show. He was told he would be talking with the winner and did not realize it was him until Andy presented him with the check. Click HERE to view his win.

Thanks for the recent photo Sam.

Back before October 18th,

this is how we first met the final four.

Ah, what little we knew then.

Tonight they cook in Hawaii

and two will be eliminated.

Who will be asked to pack their knives and go?

Don't forget that tonights episode is SUPERSIZED!!!

Followed by Bravo's "Watch What Happens" . You will be able to talk live with Chef Tom.

Reason 11 Why Our Chef Biatch Wouldn't Make It On Top Chef

Chef Biatch was surprised by the judges

reaction at her use of chocolate.

Maybe saying "Eat Me" was too much, no?

Time To Vote... Contest #2 - Poetry

We now have 5 creative and witty poems/haikus/ballad entered in contest #2 for you, the readers, to vote on.

The prizes are:
1st place - a Grill set and Top Chef apron

2nd and 3rd place will also each win a Top Chef apron.

OK Readers! We are going to let you pick the winners. You will have the opportunity to vote for the one you like best. This poll will be open from today until the 30th. On the 31st we will post the winning results here on the blog.

Step 1: Click HERE to read each of the entries.

Step 2: Click HERE to Vote.

Good Luck Everyone!!!!