Top Chef Video Monday: Moto Style

Dim Sum Moto Style, with Top Chef Season 9's Richie Farina. You just never know what those Moto Boys will be up to next. Check it!

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Top Chefs in the News

The Chicago Tribune has a nice article on the Chicago chefs who participated in Top Chef Texas (Heather Terhune, Sarah Grueneberg, Richie Farina, Chris Jones, Chuy Valencia, and Beverly Kim.)

Photo credit: Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune

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Top Chef Video Sunday with the Moto Boys

See what Top Chef Texas contestants Chris Jones and Richie Farina whip up in their own kitchen at Moto for a 16-course winter dinner here.

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First Look at Bryan Voltaggio’s New Lunchbox, New Top Chef Texas Judge Revealed, and Richie Farina Does Molecular Chicken Noodle Soup

Here's an opening day report, with great photos, from blogger Ryan at GrubGrade about Bryan Voltaggio's new Lunchbox, where the sandwiches are an affordable $5, the apples are free, and to-go orders come in a disposable lunchbox.

Curious about what brother Michael Voltaggio is doing at his West Coast lunch spot, ink.spot? LA Weekly and The Amateur Gourmet weigh in with more great pics, happy with what they taste but both noting that the affordably priced ($4-$6) sandwiches are so small you should probably order two.

In other affordable, lunch-type news, Chicagoist reports that Top Chef: Texas contestant Sarah Grueneberg is the latest "Guest Chef for Charity" (Stephanie Izard was an earlier participant) at Chicago's Falafill, where proceeds go to Greater Chicago Food Depository. Sarah's spin on falafel includes basil pesto, green beans, crispy potatoes, celery, and pickled red onion.

Craving some soup to go with your lunch? Check out Richie Farina's recipe for a molecularly inspired Chicken Noodle Soup, er, Chicken Soup Noodle, from Endless Simmer, who, instead of doing interviews with each week's auf'd Top Chef: Texas contestant promises to ask them for a recipe.

And here's news about another judge for Top Chef: Texas, scheduled to appear on the Jan. 4 episode. I'm excited! For you spoiler-averse purists, click through the link above at your own risk.

And in case you missed it on the ATC facebook page, part-time TC Texas judge and former TC Masters contender Hugh Acheson is pledging to to groom his "Hughnibrow" for a great cause, Wholesome Wave.

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All Top Chef Mail Box Monday

Here's a great interview with the Moto boys, who cooked at the James Beard House last week.

Curious about Top Chef Masters Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger's new sitcom? Read more here.

Looking for a Christmas gift for yourself or another Top Chef friend? Check out this piece about judge Hugh Acheson's new cookbook, about how to start out Canadian and end up in the South.

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All Top Chef Interview with Richie Farina

Top Chef Texas contestant Richie Farina talks about his experience on the Bravo show.

Richie and Chris Jones are both working at Moto in Chicago.

One notable dish is the "Cuban Cigar," a Cuban sandwich that looks like a cigar and arrives at the table served in an ashtray complete with edible "ash."

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Bravo Exit Interview - Richie Farina

Until Bravo gets rid of the annoying auto-play video feature, we'll only be posting links to their videos here. Sorry, folks.

http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/season-9/videos/chili-cook-offed

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ATC Love to Chef Richie Farina

This week's challenge was particularly tough. Not only was it a team challenge, in which Richie's Black Team came in last, but also the three members of that team had to create another dish with the remnants of their losing chili in order to stay in the game. Hard to do after staying up all night the day before. Unfortunately, Richie's repurposed chili dish was the judges' least favorite and he was sent home.

We hoped to see him and fellow Moto chef Chris Jones compete together for several weeks at least. Their camaraderie and obvious affection for each other was quite touching.

This post is only for positive comments about Chef Farina. If you have anything negative to say, please do so on our Reactions post.

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Congratulations, Green Team!

Congrats to the Green Team of Chuy, Edward, Beverly, Paul, Richie, Chris J., Heather, and Grayson! They prepared a successful selection of elegant Mexican dishes for young Blanca Flores' quinceanera celebration and earned another week of competition on Top Chef Texas.

This post is only for positive comments about the chefs on the Green Team . If you have anything negative to say, please do so on our Reactions post.

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Meet the Chefs - Richie Farina

HOMETOWN: Riverview, FL
RESIDES: Chicago, IL
AGE: 28
PROFESSION: Sous Chef, Moto Restaurant, Chicago
CULINARY EDUCATION: B.A. Culinary Arts

Richie is a sous chef at one of the most forward-thinking restaurants in the country, Moto in Chicago. Born in Staten Island, NY, he grew up in Florida in a large Italian family, so food has always played a big part in his life. Before going to Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island, Richie began his culinary career flipping pizzas. While in school, he won the National Collegiate Ice Carving Championship three years in a row. He then went on to work in Boston for a few years honing his craft, before ending up in the Windy City. He inspires to create dishes never seen before and to make an experience instead of just food.

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