Reactions to Top Chef All-Stars Reunion

Last night we had a double whammy of Top Chef - first the Season 8 reunion, then the premiere of Top Chef Masters 3. Let's start with the reunion, shall we?

One one side of the room, we have Andy Cohen, Padma, Tom, and Gail. And waaaaay on the other side of the room, we have the recheftestants. Why do they sit so far apart? How can they hear each other without shouting? I never could understand why they make the chefs stand so far away. Do they stink?

First we start with a montage of the winner, Richard Blais, who is still a bit stunned. He says that his wife is the only thing he's won up until that point. Awwww!  But then he tells us that the thing he remembers most from that evening is being in Padma's arms. Hmmm....

Andy calls him on his promise to give Mike some money, and Richard said that investing in Graffiato was a possibility. Mike says that it doesn't matter because they're friends forever now. Gag!

I'm not going to get into everything here, just some highlights:

A fan question to Gail as to whom she would date out of Fabio, Angelo, and Spike gets the answer Spike, because they have a "Canadian connection." Padma decides to go all lesbian and chooses Casey or Elia, or to "motorboat" Antonia.

Speaking of Antonia, we are treated to a montage of her exploits as the Black Hammer, getting cooking partners eliminated from both of her seasons, including Tiffany, Tiffani, Jamie, and Jen.

There's a montage of sour Jamie, who claims that she didn't watch the season because it was "too painful." ::::cue tiny violins:::: and one of "smoove talker" Fabio (who does have a girlfriend, in addition to a turtle, ladies!).

Another montage features Marcel going on a rant, but done up as a crappy Housewives-style auto-tuned "rap" song. Then there's a segment on the hot-n-heavy bromances between Blais and Fabio, and Mike and Angelo. Lots of kissing and nipple pinching going on there.

Finally, we have Elia ranting about how Tom Colicchio shouldn't be hawking Diet Coke or selling corn-fed beef in his Vegas steakhouse. I think she shot herself in the foot with her whining and probably lost a lot of respect, particularly from Tom.

So...in a nutshell (walnuts!) there it is. What did you think?



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Top Chef All-Stars Reunion Show Previews

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Recap Roundup - Top Chef All-Stars Finale

Minxeats on Mike needing to win: "Mike says he has to win because he quit his job and missed his honeymoon. I have no idea what either of them have to do with winning or losing: he quit his job at Zaytinya in late 2010 to open his restaurant Graffiato, and he got married in August of 2009, long after Top Chef Las Vegas finished taping, and well before the All-Stars season was even a twinkle in Andy Cohen's eye."

Jordan Baker on Tom's kitchen visit: "Tom thru! It’s kind of the meanest Tom thru ever – he basically goes to each restaurant and tries to psych them out by reminding Mike he hasn’t been in the finale before and Richard that he blew up during his."

Grub Street on Mike's traits: "Richard rightly pointed out that Mike's strength and weakness are the same: confidence and swagger. Also, snarky jerk faces. But to be fair, he did seem to really pull out the leadership skills with almost no dickishness, unlike he has throughout his two seasons."

Fork in the Road on restaurant hopping: "Then all of the judges swap restaurants, and for a brief, horrible second it looks like we'll be treated to all of this interminable sweating and analysis all over again, but fortunately we get an extended montage instead, with Richard rushing to fix his lumpy foie ice cream.">

Monkeys as Critics on Mike: "Mike tells Richard that if Richard wins he’ll feel like bleep. Gee, that’s a nice sentiment. Just when I was thinking, well, Mike’s not all bad he has to go and convince me that, well, actually, he is."

My Monkey Could Do That on the winning: "But there is only one winner, and that winner is Richard! WOO! Everyone comes to mob him, but some people come to comfort Mike. Whatever! Mike lost! He’s so happy. Mike says 'I feel like I beat him, but I didn’t get the prize.' Shut up Mike. Richard calls his wife in confessional, and she can’t believe it, and it’s so cute."

David Dust on Carla: "if Carla Hall doesn't get her own show, then the people in charge of The Teevee need a swift kick in the Hootie Hoos. I would watch the hell outta anything she was on - especially if the show also included Carla's adorable husband."

Max the Girl on stealth techniques: "The best part of Blais’s group is Spike, totally creeping in the background, serving as spy. 'Spike is very crafty,' says Blais. (In fact, Spike couldn’t be less crafty if he were wearing a sign around his neck that read: 'Number One Spy.')"

Check out the Creative Loafing Top Chef 8 Finale Extravaganza Podcast (now with video)!

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Bravo Exit Interviews - Mike Isabella and Richard Blais

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ATC Love to Chef Mike Isabella

Although Chef Isabella did not win Top Chef All-Stars, he came very, very close. The dishes he prepared as part of his dream restaurant were all lauded by the judges, particularly his pork shoulder with pepperoni sauce which particularly impressed Gail Simmons.

It was easy to see that Chef Isabella worked very hard to get as far as he did in the competition, particularly in the time between the end of the regular season and the finale, when he honed his skills and learned new techniques. Kudos to him for that - he really wanted this win.


Chef Isabella, we're looking forward to the opening of your new restaurant, Graffiato, and wish you much success in the future.

This post is only for positive things about Chef Isabella and his food. If you have anything negative to say, please do so here.

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Congratulations, Chef Richard Blais - You are TOP CHEF!

A hearty congratulations goes out to our newest Top Chef, Richard Blais!

Richard started to doubt himself late in the season, claiming to hate everything he cooked. But he pulled it together for the very last challenge, and with his team of sous chefs, opened the "restaurant of his dreams." The judges were especially impressed with his first two dishes, and his amuse.


This win was a long time in coming and well deserved. Again, congrats to Chef Blais. We're excited to see what new and exciting things come out of his kitchen, and eagerly await news on any upcoming restaurants.

This post is only for positive comments about Chef Blais and his dishes. If you have anything negative to say, please do so here.

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Reactions to the Top Chef All Stars Finale

In this fourth round of the season 8 finale, Chefs Richard Blais and Mike Isabelle duked it out for the title of Top Chef.

The final challenge - to create the "restaurant of their dreams" with the help of three sous chefs who were their former competition, chosen by blind taste test. Richard lucks out and chooses Antonia, Spike, and Angelo, while Mike gets Jamie, Carla, and Tiffani.

Mike chooses to call his place "Restaurant Iz" and insists that his sous chefs prepare only his dishes, while Blais, in "Tongue in Cheek," allows his sous to play to their own strengths.

There are two lots of judges, including Hubert Keller, Alfred Portale, Lidia Bastianich, Art Smith, Top Chef Masters' new host Curtis Stone, and Bill Terlato who of course contributed the wine for the battle. Half the chefs ate at one restaurant, then switched when they completed the four courses offered there.

The battle was very, very close, with both chefs garnering praise from the judges; however, one chef edged out his competition by a nose.

Congratulations, Richard Blais!

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One Last Battle Before Tonights Finale

Richard Blais and Mike Isabella duked it out in battle vegetable lasagna this morning on the Today show:

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Top Chef All-Stars FINALE Previews

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And the Winner Will Be....?

poll by twiigs.com

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Recap Roundup - Top Chef All-Stars Finale Part 3

Monkeys as Critics on potentially bad choices: "Mike gets first pick. He picks the canned goods competition for Antonia, because it’s the toughest and most disgusting. So much for chivalry. Antonia picks hot dogs for Richard. Richard picks the one pot challenge for Mike. Richard thinks this will be challenging, and Antonia thinks he’s stupid. Mike will get to cook with any ingredient he wants in the kitchen, as long as he only uses one pot. Does Richard not realize Mike can wash out the pot and reuse it?"

Jordan Baker on Tom in the kitchen: "Tom thru! You know, one of the things that’s sadly lacking in recent seasons is the Tom thru on a regular basis. They need to bring that back – I miss hearing what he has to say. In this case, he says that Mike picked the easiest dish for himself. THANK YOU, Tom, for acknowledging in one compact phrase that this is a radically uneven challenge and that Mike is full of shit when claiming he has one of the harder challenges."

Minxeats on Japanese food: "And finally, Morimoto tells Antonia about the deceptively simple lunch of miso soup, pickles, and sashimi that his mom prepared for him when he came home from playing baseball. Mom, apparently suffering from OCD, used to pick through the rice to make sure all the grains were the same size before she cooked them. No pressure, Antonia."

My Monkey Could Do That on bullshit: "Back in the hotel Antonia gives Mike crap for screwing her twice over in both challenges. He tries to accuse her of wanting it easy, but she claims to be happy to have Morimoto. If she pulls it off, it’ll be awesome. That’s true. Then Mike tries to tell her she has the easy one, and he and Richard have the challenges. Antonia calls him on his bullshit and says if that was so, then why didn’t he take Morimoto? He says because he knew Michelle would be the biggest challenge."

Reality TV Calendar on Mike: "Had Mike had any confidence in his own abilities, he would have chosen Morimoto for himself – or, if he really wanted to win at any cost, he could have chosen Morimoto for Blais; thus assuring the “cousins” would move into the finale together. Since Mike has made his disdain for female chefs no secret, he unsurprisingly said he wanted to be sure to go against Blais in the finale."

Max the Girl on pre-Elimination Challenge jitters: "The hotel room now resembles One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Antonia is prone to random jags of laughter. Richard is the poster child for nerve-related acid reflux. And Mike is pacing uncontrollably. They really are like some sort of social experiment gone awry."

A Just Recompense on making good decisions: "Antonia gets hamachi from the cooler, which is always nice for raw preparation. She tastes it and it tastes awful, it’s about to go rancid. She uses tuna instead, though she knows it’s less flavorful. Good move, Antonia, because rancid hamachi is the flavorful you don’t want."

Carol Blymire on the judges: "The judges and dinner guests arrive: Padma, Tom and Gail, the three chefs and Melanie Dunea, author and photographer of 'My Last Supper,' which came out, like, four years ago. What’s next week, guys? Cooking from 'Liberace Cooks'? Way to be timely."

David Dust on season 8 in general: "Come to think of it, this entire season should have been called Top Chef: Meatloaf - a little bit of good meat and a whole bunch of filler."

Don't forget about Creative Loafing's always entertaining Top Chef podcast!

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Top Recipe - Top Chef All Stars Finale Part 3

Check out Top Chef Master Rick Moonen making Richard Blais' winning goulash recipe here.

Find a printable version of the recipe here.

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Bravo Exit Interview - Antonia LoFaso

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Congratulations, Chef Richard Blais

Chef Richard Blais has been psyching himself out for much of the second half of this All-Stars season, but ultimately he has accomplished something no other cheftestant has: to make it so far in the competition, he'll never have to hear Padma tell him to pack his knives and go.

Blais' dish for Wolfgang Puck's last supper was roundly praised by the judges, pulling off a very difficult strudel and impressing Chef Puck with the flavors of his goulash.



Chef Blais, it's great to see you make it to the finale yet again. Can  you win this time? Fingers crossed!

This post is only for positive comments about Chef Blais and his dishes. If you have anything negative to say, please do so here.

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ATC Love to Chef Antonia LoFaso

Chef Antonia LoFaso came thisclose to being in the finale in both her seasons of Top Chef. This time around, it almost looked like she was going to make it, but Cousin Mike beat her by a nose.

Chef LoFaso was a strong competitor all season; even when she was on the bottom in early team challenges, her dishes were praised. She is a great chef and we're very disappointed to see her leave at this point in the game.


Chef Antonia, we at All Top Chef wish you much luck in your future endeavors.

This post is only for positive comments about Chef LoFaso and her dishes. If you have anything negative to say, please do so here.

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Bravo Exit Interview - Tiffany Derry

Top Chef All Stars Finale Part 2 Previews

Only FOUR All-Stars are left standing and it’s a fight to the finish to claim the coveted title of "Top Chef," but it won’t be an easy road to the Finale as the cheftestants have to face the high stakes in the Bahamas. First roadblock? What happens when the cheftestants must physically fish for local Bahamian protein? And for the elimination round, the cheftestants must pair up to deliver a winning meal. When the pairs end up as girls vs. guys, it becomes one last battle-of-the-sexes before the Finale. Who will make it to the last three standing? Find out tonight 3/16 @ 10/9c on BRAVO’s Top Chef All-Stars.

Recap Roundup - Top Chef All-Stars Finale Part 1

Grub Street on haters gotta hate: "Hosea was happy to be there because he saw this as an opportunity to prove to "all the haters" that he did deserve to win. Considering it looked like he only beat Carla because her burners kept turning off, we're going to keep on hatin'. Sorry, Hosea!"

Max the Girl on Mike's competition in the Quickfire: "There’s no doubt that Mike has the biggest challenge, because he’s going against Goofus, the greatest chef in the history of Top Chef—just ask him. Goofus is sporting some sort of dorktastic Stephen Baldwin-meets-Justin-Bieber hairdo, but that doesn’t make him any less intimidating. Dude has skillz."

Fork in the Road on police escorts: "Later, a big SUV and police escort show up, and Mike gets a haunted look in his eyes. "Every time I get a police escort I'm on my way to jail," he says. This time, they're on their way to a restaurant where they're greeted by some local people dressed in bright plumage. 'I don't know if I should be happy or scared,' Tiffany says, but then Mike starts dancing so we choose the latter."

Cliffieland on the weekly psych-out: "But as the men with the fire-retardant do their work, back in the dining room there's another Blaise causing a different kind of meltdown. With this unexpected time to kill, Antonia is stressing again that her concept is too highbrow for the audience. And Richard, wishing to get into her head and do some psychological warfare, encourages her to go with her heart."

Carol Blymire on "royalty:" "For the Elimination Challenge, the cheftestants are told they'll be cooking for Bahamian royalty, and they kind of overreact like this is a really cool thing while I am trying not to yell at the TV that there's really not any royalty, per se, in the Bahamas, and that it's not like Prince Harry is going to come riding up the beach on his polo pony to eat their food."

Minxeats on fire in the hole!: "The chefs are more concerned with their food than their lives, but somehow none of them think to put their meat and produce away in the refrigerators and instead leave everything exposed on the countertops while they evacuate the premises. Meanwhile, the fire department arrives and spews foam on everything in sight, a la Marcel, and contaminates all and sundry."

Monkeys as Critics on the fake-out scene: "Richard likes to compare nuts to music. He says peanuts are rock & roll, walnuts are British rock, almonds are classical, hazelnuts are hippie nuts and pistachios are pop. He and Carla agree that brazil nuts suck."

A Just Recompense on being off: "Something is off here. Tom describes the dishes at the table – why not the chefs? It’s like this was filmed at another time and they faked eating or something. Something’s fishy. Speaking of fishy – in her Bravo blog, Gail claims they didn’t understand the King of Junkanoo wasn’t real royalty either, they never realized it was a regular guy until they sat down with him. And these are people who’ve traveled the world? What’s wrong with them? That’s pretty stupid."

My Monkey Could Do That on psych-outs: "Richard tells the judges he hates everything he does. Sigh. His seasoning was right on, but Tom wishes there was maybe one more flavor. Eric didn’t like the turnip and thought it was too soft. Richard promises to work on his 'vegetable cookery' if he makes it through this round. Today the winner is Mike. Sigh. He of course brags that beating Richard will screw with his head. Everything screws with Richard’s head. That’s not an achievement."

Buddy TV on the elimination dishes: "Carla gets called out for too-sweet apple chips, undercooked pork. Antonia has to explain her change in menu and her lack of pride. The judges don't like the shrimp and the pork, thinking the dish was odd. Tiffany's simplicity is a problem for the judges. The judges praise Mike for his dish, with only a little a little criticism for dry meat. Tom thinks Richard needed only one more ingredient, but otherwise they like it."

David Dust didn't do a recap this week, but he has some interesting "random" thoughts.

Don't forget to check out Creative Loafing's Top Chef Podcast!

Top Recipe - Top Chef All Stars Finale Part 1

Watch Chef Rick Moonen prepare Mike Isabella's winning chicken dish here.

The printable recipe can be found here.

Bravo Exit Interview - Carla Hall