Top Chef Chicago

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 3/12/08 at 11:03pm

Welcome to Chicago!

We are off to a great start. Great Chefs in a Great City!

[blueroses]

Posted: 3/12/08 at 11:06pm

I can't wait, brdlwyr! But I am watching High School Reunion now (on TV Land)...I enjoy Top Chef and am looking forward to watching it later. I'm very excited for the new season.

Have any New Yorkers been to Harold's restaurant yet?

[Liverpool]

Posted: 3/12/08 at 11:18pm

Was it just me or was it obvious who was going home THE WHOLE EPISODE?

[pab]

Posted: 3/12/08 at 11:23pm

Not a New Yorker but I visited Harold's Restaurant (Perilla) in October. We had a great meal and was able to say hello to Harold. I also ran into Sam, on that same trip, when we ate at The Spotted Pig.

Updated On: 3/12/08 at 11:23 PM

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 3/12/08 at 11:32pm

LP, I agree. That person did not fit in.

I loved the Pizzeria Uno start to the show. I visited that restaurant during my first visit to Chicago in the 80's

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/12/08 at 11:38pm

Did the "anti social" one get the boot?

[nitsua]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 7:45am

Yes! Minus the food, she had such a bad attitude. She'll be forgotten.

And what was that chicken picatta thing? I may be spelling it wrong, but I can make it. Mine is delicious and looks nothing like that.

[jessica0414]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:16am

LOVE Top Chef, and I'm SO PSYCHED that it's in Chicago!!! I thought it was a pretty good first episode. Plus you can never go wrong if Anthony Bourdain, a.k.a. a total bamf, is on.

[peach]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:38am

The person that went home had ZERO personality. Every time the person spoke I was rolling my eyes like "get on with it already!" What a drone. Plus the meal looked lame. I think they made the right choice.

Is Bourdain a regular judge this year? If so, AWESOME (I am a big fan of his). When they said Rocco was the "guest judge" it led me to believe perhaps Bourdain is taking over the former Ted Allen spot? Not sure. Would love to see more of him. Updated On: 3/13/08 at 10:38 AM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 11:30am

I am so happy Top Chef is back. One of the contestants was expressing such happiness about meeting someone as established as Rocco. I know little about the cooking world, but what has Rocco really done besides star on a restaurant reality show that flopped? I mean isnt he more of a "food celebrity" than someone known for his culinary skills. I mean he got heat for his cookbook being based on a lie (he promised like 10 minute meals or something) and plugs Bertoli products. Has he ever really contributed? If so, can someone enlighten me? His brow lift looks very obvious.

[pab]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 11:35am

Rocco Dispirito Bio

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 12:04pm

I like top chef too! However, I'm disappointed in the general appreciation for pizza which includes everything edible on top of it!. I'm a pizza lover and I maintain that a good pizza excels in the basic ingredients-crust, sauce, cheese. I can't imagine eating most of those pizzas the contestants made. And the judges liked some of them! Oh well, rant over.

I'm glad that woman went home.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 12:23pm

according to bravo's site Gail and Ted are still judges, so its possible that the 2 of them just weren't available for the first ep. But everytime Anthony guest judges i love it. He is VISCIOUS.

[xoangel2789xo]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 12:55pm

I knew I forgot to watch something last night..

[nitsua]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 4:12pm

I love Tony. I've got a few of his books and he's hilarious. I love No Reservations, too.

[peach]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 4:15pm

Yeah - Bourdain can be viscious, I love it. If anyone likes Bourdain and hasn't yet read his book "Kitchen Confidential," I highly recommend it. It's about 300 pages of utter Bourdain-ness. It's great, especially if you've ever worked in a restaurant!
Updated On: 3/13/08 at 04:15 PM

[nitsua]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 4:17pm

I have that and A Chef's Tour.

[peach]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 4:20pm

I haven't read A Chef's Tour yet. I will have to check that one out. No Reservations is awesome. That guy will eat anything.

Regarding the Top chef contestants -- too early to tell who contenders will be. One of the crab ckae guys seems like he is always itching to pick an argument.

[nitsua]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 4:25pm

Andrew is definitely this year's Marcel. I can't stand him.

The guy that said he was cooking since he was 11 (Henceforth known as "11-year-old") is going to let his ego get in the way.

Spike needs to take some meds. He's way too out there.

I'm curious about the lesbians. Were they cast for drama, or they two of the best chef's in San Francisco? It's hard to believe.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 5:03pm

I wondered if the producers knew that they were a couple - very likely. I am sure there will be plenty o drama!

[bbabe24]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 5:07pm

Love the new show. Ted Allen will most likely be back, since he lived in Chicago a few years ago. I could do without Gail. I hope they have Charlie Trotter on.

They should definitely keep Anthony Bourdain. He's like the Simon Cowell of Top Chef. He speaks his mind and gets it right.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 5:17pm

Yep, you could tell that Nimma was going to be going home. Mainly just because of the comments that they said about her food.

And why is it that Top Chef always has such good looking guys on the show!

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 5:20pm

I think Charlie Trotter is a rumored guest, as is Art Smith, who used to be Oprah's personal chef.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 5:23pm

Rick Bayless would be a likely guest. Trotter should make an appearance.

[mc1227]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 5:29pm

Yep, I hate Andrew already!!!