,Top Chef Finale Recap The time has come – the Top Chef Finale.  It’s the South Side Chicago Showdown between Adrienne Cheatham and Joe Flamm.  Will it be the Cheftestant who didn’t win a challenge all season (until the finals), or the one who fought his way back from Last Chance Kitchen?  Tom Colicchio gave them some advice before the finals: “Cook like your life depends on it.”  No pressure. No Quickfire The best part of this Finale was that there were no gimmicks.  In the past, even the final two Chefs have had restrictions on their dishes, but this year was different.  After camping in the woods, the Olympics, Rocky…

Top Chef Season 15 Episode 13 Recap: A Little Place Called Aspen Top Chef  wasn’t lying when they said they were going to use the beauty and terrain of Colorado.  I have to say, this season has by far the most beautiful scenery and some of the most difficult cooking scenarios I have ever seen.  The outdoor cooking in this penultimate episode was beautiful and appropriate.  With Chef Carrie toast last week (punning it up, Top Chef style), the three remaining Cheftestants Adrienne, Joe and Joe had to deal with the elements of Aspen, Colorado.  This fishing and grilling extravaganza was so much fun to watch.  I can’t believe there is…

TOP CHEF SEASON 15 EPISODE 12 RECAP – SUNDAY SUPPER We are still reeling from saying Goodbye to Chef Chris last week, but the show must go on. We are down to the Final Four. The hardest part is we are Really Into all the remaining Cheftestants. QUICKFIRE Bryan & Michael Voltaggio are back as Quickfire judges. The Chefs are tasked to create a dish with Rocky Mountain Oysters Prepared Two Ways. We gotta say, these Oysters are HUGE. Watching the Chefs work with these giant balls was not my favorite Top Chef moment. Joe Flamm nailed it when he told the Voltaggio brothers they lucked out there weren’t 15 chef…

TOP CHEF SEASON 15 EPISODE 11 RECAP – COOKING HIGH When Colorado was announced as the pick for the 15th Season of Top Chef, many people speculated that there would be a marijuana-themed challenge. It was funny to see that referenced in true Top Chef fashion – a pun.  Before tonight’s Final Four (or final five, depending on how you look at it) episode aired, we posted on Instagram that it would be bittersweet, and it was.  We weren’t the only ones who thought so.  With a cast this likable and talented, it didn’t matter how gorgeous the setting or delicious the food, it was going to be disappointing to…

Top Chef Season 15 Episode 10 Recap – Red Rum and Then Some “And then there were five.” Risotto.  Risotto has been the kiss of death for so many over the 15 seasons of Top Chef.  Fresh off the double elimination heartbreak of two favorites last week, the remaining five began this episode looking back and examining their triumphs and their failures.  Just like every single Top Chef contestant, these chefs have had hits and misses, but it’s what they learn from their dishes throughout the season that make them successful.  Overthinking and losing their sense of self is what sends them home. Prelude Mustache Joe has had several ups…

Top Chef Season 15 Episode 9 Recap – Bronco Brouhaha It is Super Bowl week and Top Chef is into it.  This was a BRUTAL episode.  Fresh off the drama of last week’s challenging Restaurant Wars, the Cheftestants walk into a Sudden Death Quickfire.  We keep saying it, but we are Really Into all of the Chefs, so it made it very difficult to watch two go home.  All we can hope for at this point is to agree with the judge’s decisions. Before last night’s episode, I looked back at the winners of the challenges.  Did you know that all 8 Elimination Challenges have been won by 7 Cheftestants? …

TOP CHEF SEASON 15 EPISODE 8 RECAP If you didn’t already know, this week is the most anticipated episode in a season of Top Chef – Restaurant Wars.   I think most viewers like it better than the finale.  Two teams not only have to get along with each other, but they also have to conceive an entire restaurant from start to finish.  This includes the name, the food, the decor, who is in charge, who runs the front of the house – everything.  I have to say, this was the absolute smoothest Restaurant Wars I have ever seen.  No fighting, no chaos, no absolute disasters, just a few small issues…

TOP CHEF SEASON 15 EPISODE 7 RECAP Whew!  Anyone else exhausted after watching this Top Chef Olympic Challenge?  This episode was intense.  We started with some very good news, and ended with the most drama we have seen all season.  There was a lot of emotion, a lot of guest judges, and a Top Chef Kitchen Stadium.  Let’s dig in. Congratulations! Bruce has his baby & the gang stays up late into the night with him to celebrate!  This guy is really growing on me.  It was great to see the tears of joy for Bruce’s new baby, and even better to see how much all of the other chefs supported…

Top Chef Season 15 Episode 6 This season of has been much more than I expected.  I have to say, I think this is my favorite cast.  They are respectful, talented and just damn likable!  Even the ones I hate I love. Which is why last night, and every night going forward, I cringe when someone has to pack their knives and go.  There truly isn’t anyone I am ready to see go home, and last night we lost two favorites.  Good news was that the Quickfire was a fun challenge and brought back Top Chef alum and perennial favorite Richard Blais.  The elimination challenge was unique and featured an…

Top Chef Season 15 Episode 5 Recap All I have to say is brrrrrrrrr.  This was the coldest challenge ever!  It was almost painful to watch them cook and camp in Estes Park.  I have camped in the cold before and it was pretty miserable, but there certainly wasn’t ANY snow. While this episode gave me the chills, it also gave me the warm fuzzies.  Lee Anne is back! Claudette fought her way in as well.  The challenge was brand new, but it still included some classic Top Chef lines and wisdom.  Let’s get to what is really the one of the most atypical episodes of Top Chef so far.…