The Chefs/Cheftestants of Top Chef

[dleighg]

It was filming when the Queen died (they showed London being shut down so they had to change the format of one of the challenges). That was in early September.

Edited August 9, 2023 by dleighg

[Salacious Kitty]

9 hours ago, dleighg said:

It was filming when the Queen died (they showed London being shut down so they had to change the format of one of the challenges). That was in early September.

Yeah, that's what I remembered, just not the exact timing other than sometime in September. 

[Bastet]

19 hours ago, HyeChaps said:

Wasn't Top Chef very soon after she gave birth?

Her baby was 9 months old at the time she left for London (and she was still breastfeeding, so Sara pumped and shipped milk home).  Here's an in-depth essay about that experience.

[jcbrown]

4 hours ago, Bastet said:

Her baby was 9 months old at the time she left for London (and she was still breastfeeding, so Sara pumped and shipped milk home).  Here's an in-depth essay about that experience.

That's a good piece--thank you for sharing it.

[tvchick]

A historic inn and its restaurant, helmed by Lee Anne Wong from the early seasons of Top Chef, were lost in the Maui wildfires.  She's been working with World Central Kitchen to feed those affected and is urging those who want to contribute to donate to Maui United Way.

https://wapo.st/3Ow0lJe

(article is gifted, I think)

[Vermicious Knid]

Las Vegas being the Ninth Island, many of the Hawaiian restaurants and stores are collecting donations for Maui. 

Retro by Voltaggio is hosting 80s Prom Nights. I would not pay $150 for this menu:

• Deviled Eggs
• Mini Pepperoni Rolls
• Sole Meuniere
• Beef Pot Roast
• Shells & Cheese
• Green Bean Casserole

[dleighg]

I am a big V-brothers fan, but that menu is ridiculous.

[Salacious Kitty]

8 hours ago, dleighg said:

I am a big V-brothers fan, but that menu is ridiculous.

I remember an article about the place. They chef up old favorites. Still not worth the price. 

[dleighg]

15 minutes ago, Salacious Kitty said:

I remember an article about the place. They chef up old favorites. Still not worth the price

But you get (one) glass of "punch" too!!!!

[Bastet]

15 hours ago, Vermicious Knid said:

I would not pay $150 for this menu:

I wouldn't pay $15 for it, as I don't like deviled eggs, pot roast, or green bean casserole.  I'd eat the pasta or pepperoni rolls if served to me, but wouldn't ever order either of them.  The only thing on that list I like is sole meuniere.

I remember looking at their full menu when this restaurant was announced, and very little of it appealed to me.

[marybennet]

I read that Sheldon Simeon and Lee Ann Wong are organizing volunteers preparing meals for first responders and others at University of Hawaii, Maui College.  Good for them, especially at a time when their families and homes and businesses may be in rough shape. 
 

https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2023/08/10/uh-maui-college-food-preparation-hub-amidst-wildfire-tragedy/

[jcbrown]

On 8/12/2023 at 4:53 PM, tvchick said:

A historic inn and its restaurant, helmed by Lee Anne Wong from the early seasons of Top Chef, were lost in the Maui wildfires.  She's been working with World Central Kitchen to feed those affected and is urging those who want to contribute to donate to Maui United Way.

https://wapo.st/3Ow0lJe

(article is gifted, I think)

I knew the Pioneer Inn had been lost but I had no idea Lee Anne was the chef there. We have been to Lahaina as part of our Maui trips nearly every year for more than two decades. I'm sorry I didn't know that was where Lee Anne was cooking.

[HyeChaps]

www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/-top-chef-star-still-feeding-lahaina-community-after-losing-restaurant-191142981649 

Edited August 20, 2023 by HyeChaps

[Bastet]

32 minutes ago, HyeChaps said:

www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/-top-chef-star-still-feeding-lahaina-community-after-losing-restaurant-191142981649 

Having been to Lahaina, the images of destruction have been on my mind a lot lately, but now seeing someone I "know" really got to me -- when Lee Anne said, voice breaking, "We lost a whole town", I choked up.

Here's a longer piece, from Good Morning America:

 

[HyeChaps]

Last night I saw a 2022 episode of Beat Bobby Flay in which Avashar won!

[buttersister]

I watched Stephanie Izard and Shota go head to head on some Guy Fieri grocery game show. Forgive me, but I like them both enough to watch even Guy (muted). Shota went down. Again. Nate Appleman was there, too. I can record and ff as long as Steph is in it. Eaten at all of her Chicago places. A fan.

Also a WCK contributor, so here we come, Sheldon and Lee Anne. Good people.

[Ellee]

Dave Martin (believe S1) was on the Battle of the Decades, Rise and Shine episode. Don’t know if he won or not. 

[caitmcg]

A good article about Kwame Onwuachi in the New Yorker, that goes deep into his background, career (I had no idea he'd briefly abandoned cooking for a try at acting after his well-known setbacks), and current very successful endeavors.

[JTMacc99]

On 8/13/2023 at 5:16 AM, dleighg said:

I am a big V-brothers fan, but that menu is ridiculous.

Catching up on Top Chef stuff, so I'm a day late and a dollar short here, but I would imagine that if Michael Voltaggio is involved, Green Bean Casserole and Pot Roast are likely to be "Green Bean Casserole" and "Pot Roast" in name only.

It's not really his style to serve anything remotely close to what you would find in the standard Betty Crocker cookbook from 1983.

 

[buttersister]

FWIW, here’s a Michael and Bryan recipe for Green Bean Casserole. 

Not Betty Crocker.

[DEL901]

Shota is on Bobby’s Triple Threat this week.  

Edited October 26, 2023 by DEL901

[Salacious Kitty]

Just now, DEL901 said:

Shota is on Bobby’s Triple Threat this week.  

He was actually on a couple of weeks ago. This week was a young chef named Rashida who I'd never heard of. 

[FormerMod-a1]

FYI - We have a thread for Bobby's Triple Threat.

[DEL901]

3 hours ago, Salacious Kitty said:

He was actually on a couple of weeks ago. This week was a young chef named Rashida who I'd never heard of. 

Not where I live.  

[Salacious Kitty]

6 minutes ago, DEL901 said:

Not where I live.  

There's plenty of Shota discussion in the Triple Threat forum. 😀

Edited October 27, 2023 by Salacious Kitty

[MerBearHou]

Buddha Lo and his wife Rebekah Pedler welcomed twin baby girls, Tatiana and Alina.  The babies are so cute and healthy! 

[RealityCheck]

How TV Host Carla Hall Stays Authentic On-Camera (Audio Only)

In this interview, Carla talks about leaving her first career as an accountant to explore modeling and then cooking.  Then she discusses her pivot to TV, her commitment to being herself on screen, and her latest project Chasing Flavor, which is now available to stream on Max.

[Yeah No]

20 hours ago, RealityCheck said:

How TV Host Carla Hall Stays Authentic On-Camera (Audio Only)

In this interview, Carla talks about leaving her first career as an accountant to explore modeling and then cooking.  Then she discusses her pivot to TV, her commitment to being herself on screen, and her latest project Chasing Flavor, which is now available to stream on Max.

I haven't listened to the interview but I knew about Carla having left accounting and I still can't wrap my mind around her ever having been an accountant.  I worked with accountants for many years and she is nothing like any accountant I ever met.  All I have to say is "no wonder" and "thank goodness" she wisely made the career switch.

[buttersister]

If you need another reason to watch the Washington DC episode of Somebody Feed Phil, 
say hello when Kwame Onwuachi meets up for a meal.

[NotChristine]

Tiffani, Shota, and Joe Sasto are part of a new Food Network show

https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/shows/best-bite-in-town-noah-cappe

[jefflebowski]

Have you all seen My Shitty Little Kitchen? She had it on IG but made a new season on YouTube:

 

[tv echo]

Marcel Vigneron is on Food Network's new show, 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing, which premiered last night.

Edited April 15 by tv echo

[nitrofishblue]

I watched the first episode last night. 24 in 24 sure is a mixed bag. I barely remember some of the chefs competing. I somewhat remember Declan Horgan but not what show he competed on. Does anyone recall? Looks like some unknown chef could take it since some big names went out the very first shift.

[Mellowyellow]

The delightful Eric Adjepong hosts Wildcard Kitchen which is very entertaining.

He’s such a great host and Food Network seems to know this. I find it fascinating because he’s not a loud character at all but has really carved out a good TV career for himself.

He’s dashing, witty and entertaining. Yeah I’m a huge fan😂 

I remember being salty when they eliminated him half way through a finale (loved Kelsey and Sarah too but that was uncalled for as he had his entire menu ready) so I’m thrilled he seems to be doing so well post Top Chef.

 

[mlp]

7 hours ago, nitrofishblue said:

I somewhat remember Declan Horgan but not what show he competed on. Does anyone recall?

Declan was a finalist on Hell's Kitchen several seasons ago.   As I recall, he came in 3rd.  He was also on that feud show hosted by Darnell Ferguson.  I can't remember the name of the show right now.

[nitrofishblue]

On 4/15/2024 at 5:29 PM, mlp said:

Declan was a finalist on Hell's Kitchen several seasons ago.   As I recall, he came in 3rd.  He was also on that feud show hosted by Darnell Ferguson.  I can't remember the name of the show right now.

Thanks for the info. I love to watch thw cooking shows. I can remember I had seen him but could not recall which show. Certainly not missing him AGAIN!!!

[tv echo]

Top Chef's Dan Jacobs Opens Up About His Rare Disease: 'It Was the Best of the Worst Possibilities' (Exclusive)
By Kate Hogan  Published on April 17, 2024
https://people.com/top-chef-dan-jacobs-talks-about-his-kennedys-disease-exclusive-8634935 

[tv echo]

Alba Huerta and ‘Top Chef’ Pitmaster Michelle Wallace Team Up At Julep’s Annual Kentucky Derby Party
by Kayla Stewart  Apr 22, 2024
https://houston.eater.com/2024/4/22/24137434/alba-huerta-julep-michelle-wallace-top-chef-saint-arnold-intel