TC News and Information 3.8.11: Timing Is Everything Edition

The All-Stars Reunion Show was taped in NYC Friday, and much interwebular speculation has ensued over what the seating chart might reveal as to who the winner is. I'm inclined to agree with Eater, which offers a photo and compares the seating chart to reunions of seasons past. Photos that appear to have been shot during a break in taping were shared by Tom, Padma, Casey, and Marcel, and probably others, so methinks there's nothing too spoilerific going on here. But feel free to take a gander and make up your own mind.

While they were in town, auf'd All-Star Angelo Sosa had the gang over to his soon-to-open restaurant, Social Eatz, and received some plugs from his co-stars.

Meanwhile, another contingent of Top Cheftestants gathered for the Charleston BB&T Food + Wine Festival. Tiffany Derry had been scheduled to emcee a cook-off among six TC'ers, but she, Carla Hall, and Casey Thompson had to cancel when the All-Stars reunion taping was scheduled for the same day (as we passed along back in Feb). Marissa Churchill, Brian Malarkey, Ryan Scott, Ariane Duarte, and Kevin Gillespie were in attendance, and Season 1's Dave Martin took first place in the Giddy Goat Cheese cook-off. Food pics and commentary from the Charleston City Paper here (guess who wore a hat). And replacement emcee Kenny Gilbert's blogs about the event here.

Stephanie Izard, who will be cooking head-to-head with both Richard Blais and Antonia Lofaso in this week's installment of the All-Stars finale, will also be opening The Little Goat, a mere footsteps away from her Girl & The Goat in the fall. Time Out Chicago reports it will be a "diner/bar/bakery." She tells Eater Chicago it will feature such fare as "an awesome club sandwich with homemade bacon and our own roasted turkey, tasty malt milkshakes ... we'll poach our own tuna for a tuna melt . . . We're not doing a foie gras burger, but we will obviously have a goat burger. It'll be like old school diner favorites without making them all gastro foofy."

In other expansion news, Spike Mendelsohn tells Feast he plans to franchise his Good Stuff Eatery in this video interview from SOBE. And his sister and spokesperson says he plans to launch a deli-style Kosher food truck in April according to this item.

As for this week's All-Stars episode, there's been a lot of speculation that because five contestants were allowed to move forward last week, a double elimination is in store this week. I'm not so sure. As we reported previously, TV Guide mentioned in its Feb. 9 article that a four-part All-Stars finale is in store (yep, the same piece with the photo of Padma in a bikini). We know there's a reunion episode and that the All-Stars Season will be wrapped up before Top Chef Masters premieres April 6 - at 11:00/10:00c per the TCM facebook page. Which means it's likely that either the reunion show or the last installment of the finale is slated for the usual 10:00/9:00c timeslot on April 6. I've read variously that the finale and the reveal of Fan Favorite will be March 30, although these are usually on two separate dates. I, for one, would be happy to have Fan Fave announced during the reunion show rather than on Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens. So, kids, what do you think? Are they messing with our heads on the schedule? Have they just not figured it out yet? Or is there a crazier plan afoot?

Video du Jour - Top Chef on Tour

Top Chef on tour

Check out Chefs Ash Fulk and Ariane Duarte on the Top Chef Tour! Read about their visit to Grand Rapids here.

TC News & Information 1.21.2010

Bryan Voltaggio is scheduled to appear at the 22nd Annual Chocolates Galore & More! event, scheduled for February 19, 2010. Click here for more info.

Season 5 Fan Favorite Fabio Viviani will be appearing at the Taste trade show in Myrtle Beach, May 14-16. More info can be found here.

Season 5's Ariane Duarte discusses Top Chef and offers a recipe in this article.

Carla Hall, also from season 5, will be judging iVillage's "Clean Your Plate" recipe contest. Read more about it here.

Padma Lakshmi made AskMen.com's "Top 99 Most Desirable Women" list. Check out her competition (including the Food Network's Giada DiLaurentiis - but don't you think Gail Simmons should be ont he list?) here.

And...potential news for fans of season 1 hottie Sam Talbot - he and his wife are splitting.

Vegetarian Holiday Fare from Ariane Duarte

In addition to the turkey recipe that was posted earlier today, season 5's Ariane Duarte offers up three dishes that should please vegetarian diners on Thanksgiving.

“Vegetarians have come so far from just being served steamed broccoli,” Ms. Duarte said. “The abundance of seasonal vegetables and grains from our local farms is incredible. Vegetables now are really the star of the show.”

Find the recipes for Butternut Squash Raviolo with Gorgonzola and Walnut Cream, Cauliflower Purée, and Apple Chutney with Cranberries here.

A Top Chef Thanksgiving: Recipe du Jour

And now for the main course!

Top Chef Season 5 cheftestant Ariane Duarte's Orange Braised Turkey Breast with Mushroom and Caramelized Shallot (main)


INGREDIENTS

TURKEY
1 Butterball turkey breast on bone

BRINE
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup salt
1 tablespoon sugar
8 sprigs of thyme
2 tablespoons orange zest
1 tablespoon whole peppercorns

TURKEY STOCK FOR GRAVY
Breast bone
2 carrots wash and chop 1 inch pieces
3 celery stalks, wash and chop 1 inch pieces
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon white peppercorn
2 quarts Swanson low sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup Wondra flour

MUSHROOMS
1 pound baby portobellos, sliced
3 shallots, cleaned and sliced
3 tablespoons butter

DIRECTIONS

TURKEY AND BRINE
Remove breast meat from bone. Save bones.

Heat water, orange juice, salt, and sugar and let salt dissolve in a pot. Add thyme, orange zest, and peppercorns. Let steep and cool. Pour over turkey breast, let sit for 1-4 hours.

TURKEY STOCK FOR GRAVY
Chop up breast bone, preferably with a cleaver. Put in stock pot and add all ingredients. Let simmer for one hour. Strain into pot, let boil, and whisk in flour. Let cook for 15-30 minutes more on medium heat.

MUSHROOMS
Melt butter almost brown. Add shallots and mushrooms, raise heat and let brown. Season with salt and pepper. Add to thicken gravy.

TURKEY
For boneless turkey breast about 5 pounds sear the breast in a hot pan both sides then roast in 375 oven for about 45 minutes. Internal temperature should be about 160 then let rest for 15 minutes before slicing.

© 2009 ARIANE DUARTE

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 10.7.09

The Ahwahnee, in scenic Yosemite Valley, CA, announced the lineup for its 25th annual Chefs' Holidays event series. The event will bring together 29 prominent American chefs and culinary professionals in a wintertime celebration that includes a series of eight sessions from January 10 to February 4, 2010. Participating will be Top Cheftestants Ariane Duarte, Carla Hall, and Ryan Scott, and Top Chef Masters competitors Elizabeth Falkner and Christopher Lee. For more information, click here.

But first comes Taste of Atlanta, on the 10th and 11th of October, where you'll find Carla Hall and Richard Blais. Click here for details.

If any of our readers attends any of the events we list here on All Top Chef, we'd love if you could provide a field report!

Grubstreet is just plain wrong.

Stefan Richter needs a "hot female bartender." Presumably to tend bar.

Ariane's Take, Season 6 Episode 3

Top Chef Season 5 competitor Ariane Duarte has graciously offered her views on Top Chef Las Vegas. Here's her "live" blog post:

2 girls gone. Competition is tough. Some of the boys are Cocky!! MIKE I.
The quick fire food looks yummy! Hope it tastes as good. But we all know how that goes.

Fierce fight number one with Preeti and Ashley. Preeti you remember which pot of water you put on?

And Padma, of course you would find the tiny piece of pistachio shell in the shelled pistachios. Don't feel to bad about it Eli. She does that at least once. So hopefully it wont happen again.

YAY Jenn!! You go girl!! I think she really has this. So you might as well stop whining now Mike I.

God Bless America. Tough challenge!! Lets see how they do.

WOW! No burners. Only Cans. Reminds me of Season 5 Thanksgiving challenge. But I think Season 5 had it a little tougher. At least they have kettles and stock pots. And hot boxes. Damn!! This will show how good some of them really are and how they can handle the pressure.

Jenn does not back down. You are tough girl!! We Salute You!

Oh Kevin, you are so well spoken. I love that about you. And great potato salad! Gotta get that recipe.

And that pork belly MikeV, my mouth is watering.

Judges table.
Happy for MikeV. That pork did look delish.
Oh no! MikeI that is a double whammy for you. Bummer.
Oh Boy. Preeti and Laurine. Tough Tough Tough. Don't you love it when the judges want you to chose who goes home?

Bye Bye Preeti. You stood by your dish and your partner.
Mike I you better bring your game on next challenge

Ariane's Take, Season 6 Episode 1

Top Chef Season 5 competitor Ariane Duarte has graciously offered her views on Top Chef Las Vegas. Here's her first "live" blog post:

This is a talented bunch. Not the best looking, but they look ready to compete! I like the twist with the brothers.

Prizes already!? And look at where they live. I think Season 5 got ripped off with their living quarters. WTF?? Is that a pool with a slide and a hammock? LOL!!

Whats up with Preeti not knowing how to shuck a clam?? Robin got Las Vegs lucky picking the golden chip and getting immunity right off the bat. (I hope Lauren isnt watching.)

The elimination challenge has some serious cooking going on. I dont know who I am actually rooting for yet. I like Kevin. And Jennifer seems tough and talented.

I feel the pain of the first four on the bottom. Lord knows I know!!!!

Oh Jen, you should have unpacked:(

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

It's official! Bravo has confirmed that Top Chef 6 was filmed in Las Vegas. Yeah, we knew that already. :) They celebrated the end of filming with a wrap party at the Wynn which included guests such as Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud, Gavin Kaysen, and TCM competitor Rick Moonen. So...wrap party already? Still no word on contestants or when the show will air.

The 2nd Annual Food & Wine Festival at National Harbor is set for this weekend in Washington D.C. Spike Mendelsohn, Ariane Duarte, and Carla Hall will be on hand for cooking demos and judging duties.

Hosea Rosenberg, Jeff McInnis, and Jamie Lauren were among the winners at the 2009 Fleur de Lys Culinary Awards.

Carla Hall shares her love of mushrooms.

Top Chefs in Columbus

Cliff O'Neill

Columbus, OH

Top Chef: The Tour came to Columbus, Ohio, today. Featured on the program were Top Chef: Chicago (Season Four) winner Stephanie Izzard and Top Chef: New York (Season Five) finalist Ariane Duarte.

On this steamy late Spring day, the pair put on a cooking demonstration for the crowd in front of the city’s historic North Market. Afterwards, they took questions from the audience which ranged from the culinary (“How do you make a nice glaze?”) to the salacious (“Are Hosea and Leah still dating?”).

Asked by a young, aspiring chef what to do to pursue a culinary career, the two agreed that one should work in food in many different capacities, from front-of-house to bussing tables. Stephanie even told of her amusing early experiences working at Olive Garden and having trouble with the pronunciation of “pasta e fagioli” (pasta fa-ZHOOL).

In fact, it seemed like Ariane had to prod the audience to ask about the more gossipy aspects of her reality TV experience. Once asked, she reported what her erstwhile lovebird co-contestants (Season Five winner Hosea Rosenburg and finalist Leah Cohen) have said already: They remain friends and would be closer if they had the slightest desire to live in each other’s towns. (Rosenburg resides in Boulder, CO, while Cohen is married to life in New York City.)

Stephanie volunteered that during her season there was a clause in all the cheftestants’ contracts barring them from “touching” each other. By the next season, Ariane added, that clause was gone.

That was, said Ariane, an indication that the producers were going for more of a “Real World meets Top Chef” vibe going forward.

To laughter, Stephanie added that she didn’t care about the clause, since she didn’t want to touch anyone anyway.

About the manifold Top Chef blogs, the two reported that they were advised by loved ones to not read them, since they can be quite nasty.

(This, of course, made this blogger wince as he thought back to the snarky comments he’s made on his own TC blog. Still, after some reflection, he approached anyway, knowing he was rooting for each of them in their respective seasons.)

Afterwards, the two politely posed for pictures with fans and signed photos and Top Chef merchandise. Ariane reported that her New Jersey restaurant is still booked three weeks out, while an equally affable Stephanie chatted with fans.

Advised of this new blog, the ladies suggested they’d check it out, with Stephanie signing this blogger’s Top Chef Cookbook, “Keep nice blogging!”