Cooking with Chef Sam Talbot

We here at BTC LOVE when we can help fellow fans get into Top Chef events. We love it even more when you come back and share the experience with the rest of us. A big hug to our Guest Blog Chef Trish. We enjoy her in the chat room each Wednesday night... now we get to share a dream come true for her. She got to see Chef Sam in action.
Thanks Trish for sharing this with us!

After a very random encounter back in June, I finally achieved one of my goals as a Top Chef fan/blogger - I got to meet Sam Talbot!

Sam was the guest chef at this week's Top Chef cooking class, held at the Culinary Institute of America's NYC location at Astor Place. The classes are part of a series of events that are being hosted by CIA and Bravo. Recent guest chefs have included Season 3's Casey Thompson and Season 2's Marcel Vigneron.

Since I attended Casey's event on July 7, finding the place was a breeze. Gettting in, however, was not! A capacity crowd had enrolled in the class to get cooking tips (and eye candy!) from Sam. I wasn't listed on CIA's list, but Stephan Hengst (CIA's Senior Communications Manager) assured me that I was welcomed! Moments later, Sarah Conrad from Bravo came over to greet me! All was right with the world! Thanks to both for their hospitality and help in getting me everything I needed!

Sam entered the "kitchen" as his enthusiastic pupils waited, sipping Prosecco and thumbing through complimentary copies of "Top Chef - the Cookbook". He was very charming and started the evening by presenting a special drink for the crowd - a minty mix of Veev (a new liquor featuring the acai berry), club soda, mints and sugar - strong but refreshing on a steamy evening in NYC. Sam provided everyone in the crowd with a "veev" bead bracelet, which made the fans happy that their wrists could resemble those of Sam!

Click HERE to learn what Sam prepared, Sam tidbits and for more pictures!

Top Chef Season 5- Look Out New York

It took 4 seasons but we knew it was just a matter of time before this great show rolled into the Big Apple.

We have been hearing the rumors for weeks , but now news is breaking.
"Top Chef" Season Five Contestants to Heat It Up at New York's Benjamin Hotel. Click HERE to learn more.
Bravo is announcing that The fifth season of "Top Chef," is set to start later this year. We will keep you posted.

ALSO FROM BRAVO!!!

in season 3, we sent a petition to Bravo asking them to do a challenge among the guest chefs. Remember?!?! Many of you signed it. We are not saying that the petition did this but... Bravo is taking it one step further.

From the Bravo press release of July 20th.
"Top Chef: Masters," a spin-off of the Emmy-nominated "Top Chef" produced by Magical Elves also in development, featuring world-renowned chefs competing against each other in a series of weekly challenges. The announcements were made by Frances Berwick, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Bravo Media. Click HERE to read more.

Thanks Kathy for sharing this.

Also, we posted a few weeks back that Bravo is also producing a Top Chef Junior version with children. We will keep you posted.

We love when you share articles with us to post... so keep them coming.

Top Chef News

The Baltimore Sun has "All eyes on foodie Ted Allen" Click HERE

also
Southern Town Star has "10 questions with food guru Ted Allen" Click HERE to read. We love the Ted!!!


From the Baltimore Sun- 'Top Chef': A trip to Spike's Good Stuff Eatery in D.C. Click HERE to read.


News Day.com has Chef Richard on video with "'Popcornsicles' with 'Top Chef's' Richard Blais". Click HERE to view.

Grub street is serving, "Hung Huynh Is Among U.S. Bocuse d’Or Semifinal". Click HERE to read.
Thanks Andrew for sharing

Also Grub steet is serving, Tom Colicchio Intends to Cook in New Restaurant. Click HERE

Our beloved Chef Harold is sharing his signature dish "'Top' dinner with chef Dietrele's spicy duck meatballs" Click HERE to learn more

Washington Post article "The Reliable Source" Tuesday, July 15 -

HEY, ISN'T THAT . . . ? · "Top Chef" winner Stephanie Izard walking down 15th Street yesterday afternoon with top-four finalist Antonia Lofaso, both casually dressed (i.e., no toques), seemed friendly, didn't mind a fan calling them "Hey, Top Chef!" instead of by their names. Both were in town for last night's opening party of fellow contestant Spike Mendelsohn's Good Stuff Eatery on Capitol Hill. (Finalist Lisa Fernandes was also expected.)
Thanks Renee

Top Chef Tour In St. Louis

TheHoInMO crawled out from under the rock she has been hiding under to be our field reporter at the Top Chef Tour when it made a stop in St. Louis, Missouri.

Josie Smith-Malave & Dale Talde LOVE BTC!

The Ho loves Josie...
and Dale loves the Ho's boobies!
Click here to see more pictures and read TheHoInMO's review.

Hellllllllllo New York!

We're still looking for volunteers from the NYC area for 8/23.
It'll be worth your time, we promise.
There will be food and music involved.
The band will be announced next week....and it's a good one.
If your still not sure, maybe this will help you make up your mind.

From Our Mailbox...

Dear Blogging Top Chef Writers,
I am writing on behalf of Russell Simmons Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation. Their ninth annual Art for Life event is taking place in East Hampton on July 19th and charitybuzz.com is hosting an online auction to help raise awareness and money for this amazing charity. We are truly excited to be able to offer a special Padma Lakshmi experience for the auction. I was wondering if you lend support and promote Ms. Lakshmi's generous donation on Blogging Top Chef:
Includes: a private cooking lesson for two people with Padma Lakshmi in the Fall of 2008 in the winner's NYC home. Availability based on Ms. Lakshmi's schedule and must be redeemed by the end of 2008.
The direct link to the auction page can be found on the charitybuzz website at: https://auction01.charitybuzz.com/secure/viewItemDetail.do?auction_item_id=75199&lotsindex=0&show=10&order=default
We would greatly appreciate if you could help publicize our online auction by posting information and linking your readers to the charitybuzz.com bidding page (link above) from your Blogging Top Chef – Chewing It Up and Spitting It Out!
Proceeds from the auction will help The Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation. Founded in 1995 by brothers Russell, Danny and Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation is dedicated to providing disadvantaged urban youth with significant exposure and access to the arts, as well as providing exhibition opportunities to under-represented artists and artists of color.
I look forward to hearing from you!

Maya Wertheim

Good luck to all of the bidders!

Hey NY TC Fans-Ya Busy?

We need a few volunteers from the NYC area for 8/23 and 8/24.

Reply fast because only a few will get the job.

You'll get the details at a later date.

Curious yet?

Hello TC Fans!

As you all know, TC has hit the road and we have been lucky enough to secure a few press passes. We want to know what question YOU want asked. We've all read the zillion and one interviews from the chefs and we cant help but feel something is missing. So, tell us what to ask the chefs and help us fill in the blanks! Leave the questions you want answered in the comment section and we will do our best to get your questions answered.

Thanks Loryn

A Night At The CIA With Casey Thompson!

Our favorite field reporter dishes on her adventures in the culinary world...

Tonight was the first in a series of Top Chef demonstration classes at the Culinary Institute of America's New York City location. I was very fortunate to attend tonight's session, which featured Season 3 finalist Casey Thompson!

Click here to read the rest of Trish's review and see the pictures!

Win a Free Dinner from Top Chef's Top Bitch

After Top Chef runner-up Lisa Fernandes is done boiling over she simmers down. Now she's ready to cool her searing reputation by cooking you a free dinner. Lisa won't be biting anyone's head off, because this time five lucky Time Out New York readers will be doing all the biting.
Enter to win at:
http://www.timeout.com/newyork/static_content/surveys/?surveyid=1071

Special thanks to Lindsay Kaplan of Time Out New York for this information!

From Our Mailbox

From our star field reporter and fellow chat room TC fan Trish

" SAW SAM TALBOT!

Last week I went into New York City to cover the Shear Genius event in Times Square for Blogging Shear Genius. It was an amazing event and you can go to the site to read my detailed review!

After the event I traveled downtown to Union Square to meet my boyfriend Keith for lunch. We ate at Tom Collichio's sandwich chain, 'wichcraft! I had the chicken salad and it was awesome. Keith had (and is a fan of) the meatloaf! We ate and then I walked Keith back to his office, but on the way he needed to stop at Duane Reade (a drugstore chain up here in the Northeast) to pick something up. While Keith was online at the register, I saw two guys walk in and then walk downstairs.

When they came back up, I whispered to Keith, "Is that Sam???" And sure enough it was Season 2's Sam Talbot (Sam was also a guest judge on Season 4). Keith yelled out his name and he turned around and waved! He was half-way out of the store and we could tell he wasn't looking for a scene, so we just let him go on his way (although I did have the camera!)
Thanks Trisha for sharing with us!

Click HERE to read, "Former 'Top Chef' Contender Unpacks His Knives in D.C."
Thanks Klishr

Interview with Chef Spike regarding his new DC restaurant. Click HERE to view.
Thanks Catherine

Richard Interview

Our blogging friends over on Minxeats are sharing their interview with Chef Richard. Click HERE to read!

Thanks Kathy for sharing with us!

Ted Allen and a circle of friends

"Top Chef" star Ted Allen mixes it up with prize winner John Wiley (third from left) of Milton, FL and friends before hosting a special dinner event at the HowardHawkes Estate as part of Allter's "My Circle Reunion" in Palm Springs CA. ( Photo courtesy of Alltel Wireless)

Alltel Wireless sends John Wiley of Milton, Fla. on the ultimate "My Circle Reunion" getaway

Wiley and his "Circle of Friends" enjoy a luxury vacation in Palm Springs, Calif.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – In a time when high gas prices and airline add-ons are causing families to question their summer vacation plans, John Wiley of Milton, Fla. enjoyed the ultimate luxury vacation experience, courtesy of Alltel Wireless. As the grand prize winner in Alltel's "My Circle Reunion," a sweepstakes designed specifically to reward "My Circle" customers, Wiley and his Circle of ten friends traveled to Palm Springs, Calif. for four days of fun in the sun.

In celebration of the two-year anniversary of its revolutionary "My Circle" calling plan – which provides customers unlimited calling to any number on any network for free – Alltel gave Wiley the opportunity to reconnect with his "Circle of Friends" at his choice of the country's top vacation destinations: Key West, Fla., Las Vegas, Nev. or Palm Springs.

"I thought it was a prank when Alltel called to tell me I won, so I only called back just to play along with the joke," said Wiley. "Being a 'My Circle' customer has been a great experience, especially the superior level of customer service I always receive, and thanks to Alltel my family and I now have endless stories share about our time together during our reunion in Palm Springs!"

While in Palm Springs, Wiley and his Circle relaxed in luxury at the Howard Hawks Estate, former residence of the famous Hollywood director Howard Hawks. The group also enjoyed a day at spa day, a four-wheel tour through the desert, wine tasting and the weekend's culminating event, a dinner party hosted by culinary genius and "Top Chef" judge Ted Allen.

"Awarding John Wiley the 'My Circle Reunion' getaway is a perfect illustration of our dedication to our customers. We created a special experience that made him and his Circle feel truly appreciated," said Lucie Pathmann, director of marketing communications at Alltel Wireless. "John has been a customer as long as we've provided wireless service in northern Florida and we're so happy to be able to thank him for his continued commitment."

Thanks Pete for sharing this with all of us!