Top Chefs at the Green Living Expo

(Brentwood, NY) The Green Living Expo is returning to Suffolk Community College next month with some very special guests. Stars of Bravo’s hit TV series TOP CHEF will be amongst this Fall’s featured lecturers.

This collection of “Cheftestants” are coming together to speak about the importance of cooking naturally and to share their views on Organic, farm to table cooking and “green” culinary trends with you. CS4 Entertainment and Nikki Cascone, Season 4 Contestant, executive chef and owner of NYC’s 24 Prince restaurant will moderate this all-star panel which will include: Season 1 Finalist Lee Anne Wong as well as cast mate Andrea Beaman, Season 3 fan favorite Josie Smith-Malave, Season 4 Winner Stephanie Izard and Season 5’s Ariane Duarte and Leah Cohen. This collaboration of chefs each bring a strong individual view of how going green relates to the Food industry with their unique experiences.

"Myself, along with these other incredible chefs, are looking so forward to sharing the message of local, organic kitchens and the positive effect these choices have had on both our restaurants and personal lives,” said Chef Nikki Cascone.

The Panel of Top Chefs will be appearing at the Expo on Sunday November 22nd at 1PM in the Expo Hall. There will be a meet and greet with the chefs immediately following the lecture.

The Green Living Expo will take place on Saturday November 21st and Sunday November 22nd 2009 at Suffolk Community College’s Brentwood Campus. The Campus is located at 1001 Crooked Hill Road in Brentwood, NY.

This Fall’s Green Living Expo theme is a “Holiday Harvest.” Their will be a special concentration on Green Holiday gifts, an expanded children’s pavilion including special appearances by the Long Island Rough Riders and the Kids Kloset, a travelling consigment shop where you can buy and sell children’s clothing and items. There will also be continuous cooking demos, informative lectures, free raffles and over 100 vendors.

TC News & Information 9.22.09

Season 3's Tre Wilcox has taken the position of Executive Chef at Loft 610 in Plano, Texas.

Season 5's Leah Cohen will be leaving Centro Vinoteca to explore opportunities in Europe and Asia.

Here's Creative Loafing's episode 5 podcast.

Want to know more about the cheftestants' camping trip to Sandy Valley Ranch? Check out what went on behind-the-scenes here.

Richard Blais, Mike Isabella, and Bryan Voltaggio are among the chefs who will be doing cooking demos at the Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show, November 7th and 8th, in Washington DC. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

TC News & Information 9.14.09

Here's an interview with TC 5's Leah Cohen, "one of the most popular Top Chef contestants ever." :::raises eyebrow:::

For you C.J. Jacobsen fans: here are a couple of photos of him doing a cooking demo at the farmer's market in Tacoma, WA.

Here are excerpts from the day-after conference call with this week's eliminees Hector Santiago and Jesse Sandlin.

Check out this week's Creative Loafing Top Chef podcast here.

TC4's Ryan Scott did a cooking demo for...a beauty school. Details here.

Finally, Las Vegas Weekly lays odds for episode five here.

TC News & Information

On tonight's episode of Top Chef Masters, Chef Michael Cimarusti will be playing for the charity the Grameen Foundation. Its mission is to enable the poor, especially the poorest, to create a world without poverty. With as little as $50 or $100, a poor woman can start a very small business and begin her family’s journey out of devastating poverty. Grameen Foundation is a leader in the fight against poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Arab World and the Americas, where building strong local institutions that reach even more people in the poorest communities is a cornerstone of their work.

To learn why Chef Cimarusti supports this organization,watch the video below.



And in other news...

Three former Top Cheftestants will be involved in an "Iron Chef-style" competition, the Grand Garlic Showdown, at the Gilroy Garlic Festival this weekend. Season 5's Jamie Lauren and Season 4's Ryan Scott will be doing battle, while Season 5's Fabio Viviani will be hosting. Read more about it here.

Television Without Pity has some amusing suggestions for Padma Lakshmi's upcoming NBC series.

When Reality Worlds Collide: TC4's Nikki Cascone is getting married, and Project Runway winner Christian Siriano is designing her dress. Read her wedding blog here.

Here's an interview with TCM Critic Jay Rayner about...what else? criticism.

Don't forget to visit Bravotv.com and read the blogs! Here, season 1 champ Harold Dieterle gives his thoughts on the most recent episode of Top Chef Masters.

Here's an interview with TC 4s Richard Blais.

And finally...a rundown of last week's Eater panel discussion with Leah Cohen, Harold Dieterle, and Lee Ann Wong on life after Top Chef.

TC News & Information

Here's a short interview with recent TC Masters winner Anita Lo.

Here's an audio clip of TCM critic James Oseland on what makes Top Chef Masters different from other cooking shows.

How about an article on TCM's Rick Moonen?

Check out this week's edition of Creative Loafing's TCM Podcast.

Season 4's Spike Mendelsohn continues his quest for the perfect pizza.

Join Eater and 92YTribeca on 7/16 for a Life After Top Chef event with Harold Dieterle and Leah Cohen.

TC News & Information

Carla Hall and Ariane Duarte presented the Best Pastry Chef award at last week's Rammy Awards.

Carla is doing a live chat this week on the ChefTalk Cooking Forum. Join in here.

Season 5's Leah Cohen whipped up a yummy summer meal for The Early Show Saturday Edition.

TC Masters competitor Nils Noren weighs in on molecular gastronomy.

Here's an interview with Top Chef Masters host Kelly Choi.

Photo credit: Kyle Gustafson/Kate Nerenberg

TC News & Information

Tom Colicchio is on the cover of Guitar Aficionado magazine.

Top Cheftestants are everywhere! New Orleans' famed Hotel Monteleone, temporary home to season 5 finalists, recently held an Anniversary Cocktail contest. Hosea Rosenberg, Jeff McInnis, Leah Cohen, and Jamie Lauren were on hand to judge.

Today on Blog Talk Radio: Carla Hall. 1pm ET.

Gail Simmons gives advice for the ultimate wedding here.

Hmm...this raises a good question.

Top Chef Masters cheftestant Rick Bayless and Season 4 winner Stephanie Izard offered culinary tips at the National Restaurant Association's show in Chicago.

Season 5's Fabio Viviani, Carla Hall, and Jeff McInnis have teamed up with Marble Slab Creamery to create Celebrity Sundaes.

TC News & Information

Not only did Season 5's Leah Cohen participate in a cook-off with Lisa Fernandes this past weekend, she also battled Kurt Gutenbrunner of Wallsé in a lamb battle during NY's Taste of Tribeca. Gail Simmons was one of the judges.

Naughty judges on the upcoming season of Top Chef, currently filming in Las Vegas, may be giving away too much information on their Twitter feeds. So far, that includes chef Tyler Florence and Penn Jillette....

Photo: Alexis Korman

And the Winner is....

Top Chef 5 cheftestant Leah Cohen won the battle this weekend against season 4 cheftestant Lisa Fernandes. Read all about it here.

Want a recipe for one of season 4 cheftestant Spike Mendelsohn's Good Stuff Eatery burgers? How about his Onion Pearls? Find 'em both here.

Battle of the Favorites?

This weekend is the 2009 Greater New York Wine & Food Festival at the Doubletree Hotel in Tarrytown, at which one can see the Bravo Top Chef Cook-Off Live between Scarsdale native Leah Cohen (Season 5) and Lisa Fernandes (Season 4).  

If anyone goes to this, we'd love to hear the results!