The Chefs Check In With Us - Chef Carlos

Hey BTC,
Aren't you sweet checking in on me. All is well. This is the busiest season we have had here at the Hi-Life cafe. After Passover and Easter it may drop a bit. Just in time for me to keep my eye on TC 3.

However, this month there are three mags doing two page stories and one newspaper yea!!! This should make for a good summer.


City Link is the newspaper. The mags are Aventura, Gold Coast, Boca Raton. Last month was CitySmart and next month is Las Olas. By the way, love your new spring look!
Best Always,
Carlos
Hi-Life Cafe
954.563.1395



To read the article about Chef Carlos in CitySmart, Click HERE. Click on the City Eats tab at the top. Use the page turning icons in the upper corners to turn the pages. The article is on page 114. Use the magnifying class in the lower corner to enlarge the page.

The Chefs Check In With Us - Chef Marisa

Hey BTC,

So sorry I've been out of touch. Just keeping super busy. I'm about to host the Battle of the Chefs here in SF. It will be a 3 month event from May to July and will put some of the city's biggest chefs up against one another.

As for this upcoming month I will be hosting a food & fitness retreat at the Mayacamas Ranch in Napa. I will be hosting the event with a rock star of an athlete....Olympic swimmer Allison Wagner.

As if that wasn't exciting enough, I've been consulting on the dessert menus at several restaurants. Which ones?? Well...the latest is Island's! Josie's new restaurant in Queens. Next month Josie and I will be back in action together in the kitchen. This time we expect much better results than what we got on Top Chef! ;-)

Hope you are doing well and please say hi to all the fans.

Chef Marisa

From Our Comment Area

Fashion Curmudgeon said... Whaaa? If Top Chef is coming back in late summer, then is Project Runway 4 delayed until afterward? Or did they film around the spring fashion week rather than the fall one? So confusing. And here we are down to the last few episodes of Top Design but they're not hyping what comes next. This could be ominous. If Project Runway should be delayed, what do we get until Top Chef starts? Please God let it be Top Chef reruns.

Hope this information helps Fashion Curmudgeon and everyone.

Top Chef begins filming this Spring. Project Runway has started auditions but not filming yet so it will follow Top Chef. To keep up to date on everything PR, visit our BFF over at Blogging Project Runway.

As we understand things today, the next show on Bravo is Shear Genius and yes everyone, we will be blogging this one. We will let you know when the site is up and running.

We have been blogging Top Design over at Top Design Blogger but have not forgotten you faithful TC fans and will continue to bring you TC news and tidbits.

Top Chef 3 - In The News

A Top Chef leak in " The Grub", New York Restaurant.

Click HERE to learn more!

Thanks Domina

Is Padma Leaving?!?!?!

Click HERE to learn more!

Who's The Man?

by Chef Back Burner

I had this boyfriend once who lived in another state and we had the same pattern every time he would come for a visit. We would argue and in general treat each other badly, so much so that when it came time for him to leave I would be kinda glad to see him go (Gee, I wonder why we didn’t work out?). Anyway, time would pass and we would go about our daily lives and generally not miss each other until one of us had the urge to call the other. Then we would remember things we had in common and make plans to get together. And those moments of anticipation and then initially seeing each other were so great it was like a drug. That is how I felt this Wednesday when Tom Colicchio walked into the “white room” on Top Design.

Last season, I think it was well known that I had my issues with Top Chef. And while a majority of those were with choices the producer’s made, one choice has been consistently good through both of the past seasons: Tom Colicchio. This is a man in days of TV past who would not be famous. He doesn’t fit into the “manly” mold. He’s stocky, bald, and his nose is slightly crooked. But he can cook and in that environment he has a presence that could make any of the Bonds shiver. When he was sitting next to the Snooty trifecta, he made their air of authority seem like a false fog. He was a reminder of true judging; weighing the choices the designers made with respect and actually listening to the answers they gave to the questions asked. He wanted Goil to convince him that his ideas were legitimate, as opposed to the other “experts” who seem mainly disinterested in anything the designers have to say and act as though they would really rather be getting a pedicure...yes, all of them.

As the others lounged in chairs and crouched to look as though they are judging the table choices...but really they want to rest their weary legs, he picked up the flatware and linens, felt them and their quality. You really believed that this is something he does and he was treating their design as if they mattered, more than just borrowed stuff that was going to go back to the showroom when the episode ended. This is what makes a good judge, therefore making a good show. And I had forgotten this...because I had been so bored on Wednesday nights that I had become placated.

So, here’s to Season 3. Looking forward to Tom’s easy smile and tough exterior...and not to leave Gail out, here’s to a woman looking like and dressing like a real woman. A woman with authority that doesn’t equal conceit and eye’s that can meet yours with ease and interest...not searing disgust. Bring it on Bravo, let’s drop this need to one up ourselves and stick with what works.

Top Chef 3 This Summer!

Chef Tom was the guest judge on Bravo Top Design last night. Chef Back Burner will have more to say about this in a later post.

Each week the guest judge writes a blog about their apprearance on Top Design. In looking for Chef Tom's blog today, we discovered the following right from Bravo.

Top Chef 3 will return to Bravo later this summer.

Just months to go TC fans. This is right from Bravo. Click HERE to read it all. YEA!!!!!!!

Harold's New Place Is Getting Closer To Opening

Chef Harold is scheduled to open Perilla soon.

Click Here and Here to read more.

Thanks Kathy

Chef Ilan Chats

Chef Ilan chats with our favorite Restaurant Guys.

Click HERE to listen.

You can also catch their interview with Chef Harold, which was recorded a year ago on June 2nd.

Click HERE to listen.

Changes Coming Here

With Spring just a few days away, the three of us have been looking around this little kitchen and decided to do a little spring cleaning and color changing before Season 3. We will remain Blogging Top Chef but you will see the colors on the blog change and a new banner at the top, in the next few weeks. We just wanted to warn all of you. Stay tune and check out the new look.

Also remember, this Wednesday night, Chef Tom is the guest judge on Bravo Top Design. The remaining 5 designers have to design a chef's private dining room. What will Chef Tom want? Or better yet... what will he not like? We will let you know what we think.


We have been blogging Top Design over on Top Design blogger. There will be many comments over there as well. Enjoy the show.

Episode 7:
"Chef's Choice"
Special Guest Judge: Tom Colicchio
Air Date: March 21 @ 10 PM ET/PT

We can not wait!!!

Big Bravo News

This just in from " The Dish" on Bravo.com. Bravo has purchased the website, Televisionwithoutpitty.com. TWOP is a hugh website that recaps several television shows and has message boards per show. To learn more, Click HERE and HERE

.

From The Mail Box. Top Chef News

From one of our readers regarding the Charleston Food and Wine Festival :

"Tom Colicchio and Sam Talbot were at the Charleston Food and Wine Festival this past weekend, taking part in several events including a cookoff against Tyler Florence and Scott Pikey (Regional Chef from the Inn at Palmetto Bluff). My sister and I are Sam Talbot fans and got an opportunity to tell both Sam and Tom that we had felt that Sam should have been the winner. Both obviously hear that a lot. Sam joked that he ought to have “should’ve won” tattooed on his arm. At a cookbook signing after the competition, Tom Collichio said that the filming for Top Chef 3 would begin in April (for a summer airing) and that Sam would be a part of the show in some form. I guessed as a guest judge, but Mr. Colicchio would not elaborate. I should also note that Sam was even more handsome in person, very tall with a friendly and humble demeanor. Next to Tyler Florence’s HUGE personality, he seemed practically shy during the competition."

For more pictures, click HERE.

Thanks Nicole!!




Ted Allen won't be heading up Top Chef soon...he's been a busy boy with his OWN show to be shown on PBS!
Check out the blog: Cookiesinheaven Post: PBS Wine Reality Show filmed "locally"

Thanks Jillian!!!




Keep sharing Top Chef News and we will be happy to post it.

Oh Chef Tom

Fellow Top Chef fans. If you are also watching Bravo's new show Top Design, or if you have not tuned into Top Design but would love to see Chef Tom, mark your calendars for March 21st.

Why!?!?!? The competition gets cookin' in the seventh episode of "Top Design" when the remaining contestants face:

"Top Chef" Head Judge Tom Colicchio

That's right TC and TD fans. Chef Tom is going to be the guest judge. Better yet, this will be the hardest design challenge yet, to design a chef's private dining room. No, this is not a spoiler because Bravo has already announced this information.

We will remind you when the date gets closer but be ready, set your TiVo, for the following:

Episode 7:

"Chef's Choice"

Special Guest Judge: Tom Colicchio

Air Date: March 21 @ 10 PM ET/PT

Oh how we love Chef Tom. We know what kind of judge he can be.

We can not wait!!!

Mark Your Calendar For This Wednesday

Ask Padma a question on this weeks

live online show this Wednesday!

This Wednesday, March 7 at 11pm eastern, Padma is a guest on Bravo TV's live online video show "Watch What Happens" with host Andy Cohen. The show can be seen only on Bravo's website. Visit the website HERE to email or text your questions for the upcoming show!

If you are not able to watch the show live, you can watch the recorded videos later.

This is your chance to talk with Padma.

Tidbits In The News

TOP CHEF 3 -

" Cooking in Miami"

the Miami Herald-

Click HERE

Yes, season 3 starts filming this month!!!!!

Did you know that Chef Tom's younger brother is a High School Basketball coach. Click HERE to read more.


"Top Chef to Call Charleston Home" - Click HERE
Thanks Melaine for the link


"Tents were full; fest-goers weren't" The BB&T Charleston Food + Wine Festival - click HERE


"Food TV It's not Julia Child anymore" The Seattle Times. Click HERE

Have Top Chef news? Feel free to email us and we will share with everyone.

More CHOW

Click HERE to Listen to "CHOW’s Top Chef interviewers Joyce Slaton and Meredith Arthur talk to CHOW food editor Regan Burns and Television Without Pity recapper Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic about the winners, the losers, and Padma’s short shorts. Dirt is dished and controversies examined."

We love the CHOW!!!