We’re almost halfway through “Top Chef: World All-Stars,” so we’re getting a better and better idea of how the competition is shaping up. Some chefs have been all over the map, and some were eliminated suddenly after earlier rock-star culinary performances — pour one out for Begoña Rodrigo — but there are four who have never once landed at the bottom in an Elimination Challenge. Will one of them be the eventual winner?
The first lucky chef is Charbel Hayek. The “Top Chef Middle East and North Africa” alum actually won the very first challenge of the season, “London Calling.” He has been safe in every challenge since, and he aced the team battles in “Spurred Lines” and “Top Chef is No Picnic.”
See‘Top Chef’ spoilers: Who was eliminated in season 20 of Bravo cooking competition?
Nicole Gomes from “Top Chef Canada,” Sara Bradley from “Top Chef: Kentucky,” and Victoire Gouloubi...
The first lucky chef is Charbel Hayek. The “Top Chef Middle East and North Africa” alum actually won the very first challenge of the season, “London Calling.” He has been safe in every challenge since, and he aced the team battles in “Spurred Lines” and “Top Chef is No Picnic.”
See‘Top Chef’ spoilers: Who was eliminated in season 20 of Bravo cooking competition?
Nicole Gomes from “Top Chef Canada,” Sara Bradley from “Top Chef: Kentucky,” and Victoire Gouloubi...
- 4/19/2023
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Charlize Theron is lining up another star-studded benefit for her Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project.
I can exclusively report that her guest list for the 2022 Block Party on June 11 will include Theron’s “Snow White and the Huntsman” co-star Kristen Stewart, Cara Delevingne, Patty Jenkins, Seth MacFarlane, Mary McCormack, David Oyelowo, June Diane Raphael, Paul Sheer, Lauren Conrad, Sofia Boutella, Jordana Brewster, Alycia Pascual-Pena and Lilly Singh.
The festivities, taking place on the Universal backlot, will include a screening of “Jurassic World Dominion” following a Q&a with the film’s director Colin Trevorrow and stars Bryce Dallas Howard, DeWanda Wise, Jeff Goldblum and Mamoudou Athie and writer Emily Carmichael.
“Jurassic” producers Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy are also expected to attend as is Universal boss Donna Langley.
Wyclef Jean is set to perform during the after party.
“I’m so grateful that we’re able to bring this event...
I can exclusively report that her guest list for the 2022 Block Party on June 11 will include Theron’s “Snow White and the Huntsman” co-star Kristen Stewart, Cara Delevingne, Patty Jenkins, Seth MacFarlane, Mary McCormack, David Oyelowo, June Diane Raphael, Paul Sheer, Lauren Conrad, Sofia Boutella, Jordana Brewster, Alycia Pascual-Pena and Lilly Singh.
The festivities, taking place on the Universal backlot, will include a screening of “Jurassic World Dominion” following a Q&a with the film’s director Colin Trevorrow and stars Bryce Dallas Howard, DeWanda Wise, Jeff Goldblum and Mamoudou Athie and writer Emily Carmichael.
“Jurassic” producers Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy are also expected to attend as is Universal boss Donna Langley.
Wyclef Jean is set to perform during the after party.
“I’m so grateful that we’re able to bring this event...
- 6/8/2022
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
While the glamorous fashion on the 2022 Met Gala red carpet was a feast for the eyes, the dinner party inside feast for the bellies, thanks in part to Melissa King. The Top Chef season 17 winner, who curated the first course in the evening's menu, exclusively shared with E! News what it was like to create an unforgettable culinary experience that paid homage to the gala's theme, "In America: An Anthology of Fashion" and also catered to a variety of tastes on a star-studded guest list that included Blake Lively, Kylie Jenner and Sarah Jessica Parker. The dish that King landed on? A "bright and refreshing" hamachi crudo in a citrus broth, drizzled...
- 5/3/2022
- E! Online
Top Chef Amateurs is headed to Bravo. The cable channel has announced a premiere date for the new competition series which focuses on talented home cooks. They'll be paired with previous Top Chef finalists like Eric Adjepong, Richard Blais, Jennifer Carroll, Shirley Chung, Stephanie Cmar, Tiffany Derry, Joe Flamm, Gregory Gourdet, Melissa King, Kwame Onwuachi, Dale Talde, and Isaac Toups.
Read More…...
Read More…...
- 5/24/2021
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Exclusive: WME has signed Melissa King, the winner of the most recent Top Chef: All Stars Los Angeles. We’re hearing the plan is to develop TV and film and book projects for the chef and level 1 sommelier, and the agency will rep her in all areas.
King piloted Michelin-starred kitchens in San Francisco before Top Chef, where she the most challenges ever during her season and was named Fan Favorite.
During the Covid-19 shutdown, she has been hosting popular virtual cooking classes and corporate demos, and also created, packaged, and branded her own small-batch, Asian inspired sauces.
King also regularly works with nonprofits and participates in panels and speaking engagements that support social justice causes, women’s empowerment, sustainability and food education.
King piloted Michelin-starred kitchens in San Francisco before Top Chef, where she the most challenges ever during her season and was named Fan Favorite.
During the Covid-19 shutdown, she has been hosting popular virtual cooking classes and corporate demos, and also created, packaged, and branded her own small-batch, Asian inspired sauces.
King also regularly works with nonprofits and participates in panels and speaking engagements that support social justice causes, women’s empowerment, sustainability and food education.
- 7/16/2020
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
When the Emmys decided to add a category for reality competition shows back in 2003, they could have just dubbed it the “Amazing Race” Award. CBS’s sprint around the world managed to win the category seven times in a row. But the streak for the physically challenging globe-hopping entry finally hit a roadblock in the form of Bravo’s reality cooking contest “Top Chef,” which had lost its first three nominations but finally claimed the trophy for its sixth season in 2010. Watch the flashback video above from 10 years ago when the show collected its prize on the air.
The cooking contest co-hosted by Tom Colicchio and Padma Lakshmi has been nominated every year since then, but hasn’t achieved another win for best reality competition.
See‘Top Chef’ host Tom Colicchio on the key to winning: ‘When you can cook using your personality it seems to give someone an edge...
The cooking contest co-hosted by Tom Colicchio and Padma Lakshmi has been nominated every year since then, but hasn’t achieved another win for best reality competition.
See‘Top Chef’ host Tom Colicchio on the key to winning: ‘When you can cook using your personality it seems to give someone an edge...
- 7/14/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Second chances don’t happen often, but when Melissa King got hers, she made the most of it. Melissa was initially introduced to the world as a cast member on season 12 of Top Chef, but she was eliminated towards the end of the season. She was invited back for season 17, and this time she was able to come out on top. The Los Angeles based chef is now in an elite chef of culinary masters who have been dubbed the Top Chef, and the possibilities are now endless for her career. Melissa’s creative culinary skills and warm personality have
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Melissa King...
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Melissa King...
- 6/25/2020
- by Camille Moore
- TVovermind.com
Padma Lakshmi has played host to more than a few good meals as she fronts Bravo’s “Top Chef,” and executive produces and hosts Hulu’s “Taste the Nation.” But right now, she is mourning the loss of director Joel Schumacher. The prolific filmmaker passed away on Monday, and Lakshmi says she’ll remember him for his sense of style and wit — and being her favorite dinner guest.
“I used to say, ‘You know, if you weren’t gay, we’d be married.’ He’d be like, ‘Oh, please, I’m too young for you,’” she recalls on “Variety Live!” “He was my favorite dinner guest. I’d had him over [at] my house for dinner all the time because he’s such a good raconteur.”
Back in February before quarantining, Lakshmi had the chance to show him rough cuts of “Taste the Nation.”
“He gave me tips about editing and...
“I used to say, ‘You know, if you weren’t gay, we’d be married.’ He’d be like, ‘Oh, please, I’m too young for you,’” she recalls on “Variety Live!” “He was my favorite dinner guest. I’d had him over [at] my house for dinner all the time because he’s such a good raconteur.”
Back in February before quarantining, Lakshmi had the chance to show him rough cuts of “Taste the Nation.”
“He gave me tips about editing and...
- 6/25/2020
- by Audrey Cleo Yap
- Variety Film + TV
It might have seemed that the judges who got to enjoy the dishes served during the finale of Bravo’s “Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.” had a tough choice to make in picking the ultimate winner. But, apparently, the right choice was fairly obvious. “Yeah, it really wasn’t as difficult as it looked,” admits a smiling Tom Colicchio, the head judge and co-host of the reality cooking show that just wrapped its 17th season with a conclusion in Italy that came down to three finalists — Melissa King, Bryan Voltaggio and Stephanie Cmar — putting their hearts and souls into their four-course meals. But King, who won an unprecedented 10 total challenges this season — on top of being voted Fan Favorite — clearly deserved the crown. Watch our exclusive video interview with Colicchio above.
See‘Top Chef’ finale recap: ‘Finito!’ was an epic Italian showdown for the last 3 All-Stars, so who won the title?...
See‘Top Chef’ finale recap: ‘Finito!’ was an epic Italian showdown for the last 3 All-Stars, so who won the title?...
- 6/24/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna and Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Melissa King, who was just crowned the Season 17 winner of “Top Chef,” says that participating on the Bravo reality cooking show twice has sharpened her skills as a chef: “We do find so much community among each other, and we learn and exchange information and teach each other new things constantly, even at home in the cast house.” That make the show “like a chef’s summer camp and you get this experience where you are surrounded by so much talent. Why not absorb from each other?”
She hadn’t gotten her $250,000 grand prize yet when we recorded our interview, but she also won another $10,000 for winning the viewer-voted Fan Favorite prize, which she’s donating to various causes. But even though she participated on the show and, of course, knew how it ended, she still “watched every Thursday” while it was airing. “I was on a lot of Zoom...
She hadn’t gotten her $250,000 grand prize yet when we recorded our interview, but she also won another $10,000 for winning the viewer-voted Fan Favorite prize, which she’s donating to various causes. But even though she participated on the show and, of course, knew how it ended, she still “watched every Thursday” while it was airing. “I was on a lot of Zoom...
- 6/23/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna and Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Last week on “Top Chef,” the four remaining All-Stars – Stephanie Cmar, Kevin Gillespie, Melissa King and Bryan Voltaggio – had to prepare two courses that showcased the city of Parma’s edible specialties, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and Prosciutto di Parma ham. Bryan got a harsh critique from one chef, who groused that his dishes lacked soul, but in the end Kevin was eliminated for his poorly cooked pork and overly salty brodo. That left three chefs going into the show’s supersized finale, so who took the $250,000 prize and the title of Top Chef? Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the 14th and last episode of Season 17, “Finito!”
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10:02 p.m. Bryan says, “I have unfinished business. I’ve been so close to this title twice now. I want to win this time.” But “this has been a lot harder than I expected to be.
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10:02 p.m. Bryan says, “I have unfinished business. I’ve been so close to this title twice now. I want to win this time.” But “this has been a lot harder than I expected to be.
- 6/19/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Top Chef All Stars: L.A. has named the best of the best! Tonight's season 17 finale of Top Chef saw finalists Melissa King, Stephanie Cmar and Bryan Voltaggio face off in an epic Italian showdown. The contestants were challenged to cook the ultimate progressive four-course meal of their lives for judges Tom Colicchio, Padma Lakshmi, Gail Simmons and a bevy of other culinary superstars. Ultimately, the winner was... Melissa, who won the most challenges this season of any contestant in Top Chef history! Melissa's combination of Italian and Chinese flavors proved a winning marriage in the finale, earning her $250,000. Scroll through the gallery below to relive the season's...
- 6/19/2020
- E! Online
“Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.” ends tonight, June 18, after 14 weeks of grueling culinary competition with three chefs vying for the title and the $250,000 grand prize that goes along with it. So who has the advantage: Stephanie Cmar, Melissa King or Bryan Voltaggio? Fans of the show have been placing their bets here in our predictions center every week, and those predictions are combined to calculate our official racetrack odds. You can make your predictions too.
As of this writing King is the chef to beat with even odds. She has been the front-runner for much of the season, according to our users, and it’s easy to see why. She won three quickfire challenges and six elimination challenges including the last three challenges in a row. That makes her by far the winningest chef in the competition. However, it only takes one bad day to cost you the victory. Her former...
As of this writing King is the chef to beat with even odds. She has been the front-runner for much of the season, according to our users, and it’s easy to see why. She won three quickfire challenges and six elimination challenges including the last three challenges in a row. That makes her by far the winningest chef in the competition. However, it only takes one bad day to cost you the victory. Her former...
- 6/18/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
I’ll admit, after the first half of “Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.,” if you had told me that Stephanie Cmar would make the final three, I might not have believed you. She struggled early on in the season, and there were a few weeks when it seemed like she was hanging on by a thread. But you can never say never on this show. Cmar eventually found her groove and even exceeded her own expectations. Now that she’s among the final three, she’s so close to the title she can taste it.
Things started off well enough for Cmar. She was on the winning team in the very first elimination challenge along with Gregory Gourdet and Jamie Lynch, both of whom she has outlasted. But over the next six weeks she was at the bottom four times, so things weren’t looking too good for her future on the show.
Things started off well enough for Cmar. She was on the winning team in the very first elimination challenge along with Gregory Gourdet and Jamie Lynch, both of whom she has outlasted. But over the next six weeks she was at the bottom four times, so things weren’t looking too good for her future on the show.
- 6/18/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Bryan Voltaggio came into “Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.” with one of the strongest track records of any of the contestants. He was a runner-up in season six of the cooking competition series, and then he was the runner-up again when he competed on the spinoff “Top Chef Masters” in season five. But he has been hit-and-miss this year, and in “Parma,” the penultimate episode of the season, he got some of his harshest critiques. Will that hurt his confidence, or can he recover for a come-from-behind victory?
SEELet’s dish! Which ‘Top Chef’ Season 17 elimination challenge most tickled your TV taste buds? [Poll]
The “Parma” challenge was to create two dishes showcasing Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and prosciutto di Parma. He landed in the bottom two with Kevin Gillespie, but even though Gillespie was the one who had to pack his knives and go, Voltaggio didn’t come out of the final judgment unscathed.
SEELet’s dish! Which ‘Top Chef’ Season 17 elimination challenge most tickled your TV taste buds? [Poll]
The “Parma” challenge was to create two dishes showcasing Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and prosciutto di Parma. He landed in the bottom two with Kevin Gillespie, but even though Gillespie was the one who had to pack his knives and go, Voltaggio didn’t come out of the final judgment unscathed.
- 6/18/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Let’s dish! Which ‘Top Chef’ Season 17 elimination challenge most tickled your TV taste buds? [Poll]
What’s cooking? The Season 17 finale of “Top Chef,” that’s what. The finale arrives this Thursday, June 18, on Bravo as the three competing chefs left standing — Melissa King, Stephanie Cmar and Bryan Voltaggio — each prepare a four-course meal. They will be joined by eliminated chefs Lee Anne Wong, Brian Malarkey and Kevin Gillespie, who will each be paired with one of the three finalists as helpers as the season concludes in Italy –hence the episode title “Finito!”
But since these chefs were all All-Stars who participated on previous seasons but never won, the show seemed to demand more from this crop of 15 contestants. Many of the sometimes brutal elimination challenges that took place in Los Angeles were tied to notable landmarks, award-winning local chefs, scenic locales and popular eateries.
See‘Top Chef’ secret revealed: All-Star Gregory Gourdet’s back woes were far worst than what fans saw during ‘Lucca...
But since these chefs were all All-Stars who participated on previous seasons but never won, the show seemed to demand more from this crop of 15 contestants. Many of the sometimes brutal elimination challenges that took place in Los Angeles were tied to notable landmarks, award-winning local chefs, scenic locales and popular eateries.
See‘Top Chef’ secret revealed: All-Star Gregory Gourdet’s back woes were far worst than what fans saw during ‘Lucca...
- 6/17/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
It’s a bit of a surprise that on next week’s penultimate episode of the 17th season of “Top Chef” Gregory Gourdet, who was just eliminated in “Lucca,” wasn’t recruited to be one of the so-called “reinforcements” to assist the final three All-Stars Melissa King, Stephanie Cmar and Bryan Voltaggio with their finale cooking challenge in Italy. Instead, Brian Malarkey — who was eliminated after the final challenge in Los Angeles — showed up as Stephanie’s helper in a preview for the June 18 finale, and Lee Anne Wong is lending Melissa a hand.
Now the truth can be told. When Gregory woke up in his hotel bed on the chefs’ first day in Tuscany, he revealed that the competition took a toll on his back. He observed that the show “takes a lot out of you, and I’m really hoping my back doesn’t bother me through these finals.
Now the truth can be told. When Gregory woke up in his hotel bed on the chefs’ first day in Tuscany, he revealed that the competition took a toll on his back. He observed that the show “takes a lot out of you, and I’m really hoping my back doesn’t bother me through these finals.
- 6/12/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Last week on “Top Chef,” the five remaining contestants headed to Tuscany where they went on a hunt for the pricey delicacy known as white truffles. Kevin Gillespie and Stephanie Cmar tussled a bit with their truffle dishes, but Gregory Gourdet’s boar stew overwhelmed the star ingredient and he got the boot. Melissa King, meanwhile, stuck to her strong suit by flavoring a rice-based Asian congee with her Italian truffles and won the elimination challenge while Bryan Voltaggio came in a close second with his braised ragu. So what happened this week with only four chefs remaining? Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the 13th and penultimate episode of Season 17, “Parma.”
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10:02 p.m. We’re back at the Palazzo Pfanner in Lucca as the judges congratulate the chefs still standing. Padma Lakshmi says that before a winner can be chosen,...
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10:02 p.m. We’re back at the Palazzo Pfanner in Lucca as the judges congratulate the chefs still standing. Padma Lakshmi says that before a winner can be chosen,...
- 6/12/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Bryan Voltaggio came into “Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.” as one of the most experienced competitors. He has competed on the show twice before, and finished in second place both times. Now it looks like he’s a dark horse to finally win, but based on the combined predictions of fans who have placed their bets here in our predictions center every week, it looks like he might be doomed to second place yet again.
As of this writing Melissa King is the front-runner to win. She previously competed in season 12 in Boston, where she finished fourth. But she currently gets leading odds of 5/2 this season because she has finally risen back to the top of the weekly challenges after experiencing a lengthy rough patch. After winning three of the first seven elimination challenges she was thrown off her game during “Restaurant Wars,” which was her first of three consecutive weeks at the bottom.
As of this writing Melissa King is the front-runner to win. She previously competed in season 12 in Boston, where she finished fourth. But she currently gets leading odds of 5/2 this season because she has finally risen back to the top of the weekly challenges after experiencing a lengthy rough patch. After winning three of the first seven elimination challenges she was thrown off her game during “Restaurant Wars,” which was her first of three consecutive weeks at the bottom.
- 6/11/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
All-Star Melissa King breezed through the first half of “Top Chef” Season 17, winning three elimination challenges. But she hit a speed bump during Restaurant Wars as a member of Kevin Gillespie‘s team. He was overly ambitious in presenting 12 dishes to the judges, and the quality of his food suffered.
See‘Top Chef’ recap: The final 5 All-Stars headed to Tuscany and learned that truffles aren’t to be trifled with in ‘Lucca’
She confided that the loss rattled her, and it showed as Melissa racked up two more low scores in a row. But her confidence was somewhat restored after winning two quickfires in a row and then claiming two straight victories in the “Michael’s Santa Monica” and the “Lucca” elimination challenges — going on to win five total, more than any other contestant this season.
Of those who answered our poll about which of the four remaining All-Stars most...
See‘Top Chef’ recap: The final 5 All-Stars headed to Tuscany and learned that truffles aren’t to be trifled with in ‘Lucca’
She confided that the loss rattled her, and it showed as Melissa racked up two more low scores in a row. But her confidence was somewhat restored after winning two quickfires in a row and then claiming two straight victories in the “Michael’s Santa Monica” and the “Lucca” elimination challenges — going on to win five total, more than any other contestant this season.
Of those who answered our poll about which of the four remaining All-Stars most...
- 6/10/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
The original “Star Trek” had “The Trouble with Tribbles.” “Top Chef” Season 17 could have called its June 4 episode “The Trouble with Truffles.” Most of the five remaining All-Star competitors struggled somewhat during an elimination challenge that required a dish where the pricey woodland delicacy should have been the star. That the required element was white truffles rather than black was part of the problem since adding other heavy flavor elements in this case overwhelmed their taste.
Here’s the list of sins committed during the challenge, from the least to the worst:
— Melissa King: This San Francisco chef has wisely used her knowledge of traditional Asian dishes and cleverly repurposes them to incorporate what a challenge requires. She had a clear game plan, that she would bridge Asian and Italian while honoring the truffle. She made a Chinese rice porridge called congee and added a quail egg and a few other elements.
Here’s the list of sins committed during the challenge, from the least to the worst:
— Melissa King: This San Francisco chef has wisely used her knowledge of traditional Asian dishes and cleverly repurposes them to incorporate what a challenge requires. She had a clear game plan, that she would bridge Asian and Italian while honoring the truffle. She made a Chinese rice porridge called congee and added a quail egg and a few other elements.
- 6/8/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Last week on “Top Chef,” Kevin Gillespie returned to the competition after his “Last Chance Kitchen” victory while Brian Malarkey was eliminated for his duo dish update of a classic entrée from the past that was served at Michael’s Santa Monica. Alas, his components weren’t quite in tune with one another, so he missed out on heading to Italy and participating in a three-episode finale as “Top Chef” goes to Europe for the first time. Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the 12th episode of Season 17, “Lucca.”
10:02 p.m. A heartfelt message is delivered by head judge Tom Colicchio about how the show filmed in Italy last fall and adds, “I got to say it was just an amazing experience. The people were so warm and open. Obviously, our hearts go out to the devastation because of Covid.” The chef adds he is looking forward to...
10:02 p.m. A heartfelt message is delivered by head judge Tom Colicchio about how the show filmed in Italy last fall and adds, “I got to say it was just an amazing experience. The people were so warm and open. Obviously, our hearts go out to the devastation because of Covid.” The chef adds he is looking forward to...
- 6/5/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
There are only five contestants left on “Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.” as the show heads to Italy for its final episodes. One of those contestants is Stephanie Cmar, who has been an underdog all season but has survived — and even thrived — even after struggling in the earlier weeks of the competition. But the fans we’ve surveyed every week here in our predictions center think she’s the likeliest of the remaining chefs to get chopped. Could she beat the odds yet again?
As of this writing Cmar gets leading 57/20 odds of packing her knives and going. And indeed her season has been very hit-and-miss. She started on the winning team in the season premiere episode, but then she landed at the bottom in four of the next six challenges. It seemed like she could only hold off the judges’ wrath for so long, but then came a dramatic upswing.
As of this writing Cmar gets leading 57/20 odds of packing her knives and going. And indeed her season has been very hit-and-miss. She started on the winning team in the season premiere episode, but then she landed at the bottom in four of the next six challenges. It seemed like she could only hold off the judges’ wrath for so long, but then came a dramatic upswing.
- 6/4/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
With three more episodes, five remaining competitors and one more chef who will have to pack their knives and go this week, Season 17 of Bravo’s reality staple “Top Chef” has gotten a lot of bang out of its All-Star lineup of former finalists, front-runners and fan favorites assembled in Los Angeles. There have been revered culinary greats as judges such as Nancy Silverton, Jonathan Waxman, Ruth Reichl and Michael McCarty, visits to such local landmarks as the Getty Center, the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the L.A. Coliseum. And given the locale, such stars as Kelly Clarkson, Ali Wong, Danny Trejo and Jon Favreau stopped by as well.
This week, however,”Top Chef” bids farewell to Tinseltown and ventures to Europe for the first time ever for a three-part finale set in Italy. According to the previews, the chefs head to the city of Lucca in Tuscany where...
This week, however,”Top Chef” bids farewell to Tinseltown and ventures to Europe for the first time ever for a three-part finale set in Italy. According to the previews, the chefs head to the city of Lucca in Tuscany where...
- 6/3/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Last week the “Top Chef” All-Stars got their Olympic Games on by cooking a six-course Kaiseki meal and Karen Akunowicz was eliminated for the second time. She faced off with Kevin Gillespie in “Last Chance Kitchen” and lost. Kevin then had to beat two out of three still-remaining chefs to stage a comeback, and he managed to do that, too. Brian Malarkey’s reaction to the fierce competitor coming back? “Good god!” Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the 11th episode of Season 17.
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10:02 p.m. A culinary legend is seated next to host Padma Lakshmi in the kitchen. It’s Jonathan Waxman. As Padma tells us, “He is considered a pioneer of California cuisine and a James Beard Award winner. He’s also my friend, which I think is his greatest accomplishment.” They clink wine glasses and drink champagne.
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10:02 p.m. A culinary legend is seated next to host Padma Lakshmi in the kitchen. It’s Jonathan Waxman. As Padma tells us, “He is considered a pioneer of California cuisine and a James Beard Award winner. He’s also my friend, which I think is his greatest accomplishment.” They clink wine glasses and drink champagne.
- 5/29/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Does Brian Malarkey amuse you with his antics and ingredient overload in his dishes? Did you fall for Gregory Gourdet‘s epic efforts during Restaurant Wars? Did Melissa King‘s dishes make you want to lick your TV screen? Are you hoping that Bryan Voltaggio can join his brother Michael Voltaggio among the ranks of ‘Top Chef” winners? Or are you pulling for underdog Stephanie Cmar after her triumphant victory during the Kaiseki challenge last week?
Alas, only one person can reign as Top Chef in this highly competitive All-Star Season 17 and win a prize package that includes $250,000. However, you might still want to vote for one of them to win the title of “Top Chef” Fan Favorite this season. The chef who earns the most votes and earns the title will walk away with a $10,000 prize.
See ‘Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen’ finale: Who (if anyone) fought their way back into the competition?...
Alas, only one person can reign as Top Chef in this highly competitive All-Star Season 17 and win a prize package that includes $250,000. However, you might still want to vote for one of them to win the title of “Top Chef” Fan Favorite this season. The chef who earns the most votes and earns the title will walk away with a $10,000 prize.
See ‘Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen’ finale: Who (if anyone) fought their way back into the competition?...
- 5/28/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
‘Top Chef’ 17 preview: The 6 remaining All-Stars try to impress a California cuisine pioneer [Watch]
The six remaining “Top Chef” All-Stars still in the competition — Stephanie Cmar, Melissa King, Gregory Gourdet, Bryan Voltaggio, Brian Malarkey and comeback kid Kevin Gillespie, who triumphed in “Last Chance Kitchen” — are one episode away from heading to Italy for the Season 17 three-part finale.
See ‘Top Chef’ recap: Which of the 6 All-Stars earned a gold medal in ‘Colossal Coliseum Kaiseki’?
On this week’s episode, Jonathan Waxman, who was once dubbed “an elder statesman of the new California cooking” and previously competed in “Top Chef Masters” in 2010, is a guest judge. Brian is the first to shake his hand in a crowded kitchen at Waxman’s former restaurant Michael’s Santa Monica and says, “A walk back in time, my friend.” Jonathan says, “Forty years ago, but it seemed so much bigger back then. Every time I walk back, it’s small.”
He asks Brian what he is making, and he answers,...
See ‘Top Chef’ recap: Which of the 6 All-Stars earned a gold medal in ‘Colossal Coliseum Kaiseki’?
On this week’s episode, Jonathan Waxman, who was once dubbed “an elder statesman of the new California cooking” and previously competed in “Top Chef Masters” in 2010, is a guest judge. Brian is the first to shake his hand in a crowded kitchen at Waxman’s former restaurant Michael’s Santa Monica and says, “A walk back in time, my friend.” Jonathan says, “Forty years ago, but it seemed so much bigger back then. Every time I walk back, it’s small.”
He asks Brian what he is making, and he answers,...
- 5/27/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Last week “Top Chef” went to summer camp where 200 hungry moms brunched and munched while Bryan Voltaggio won his first elimination challenge of the season. Alas, Lee Anne Wong was done in by not checking the setting of the oven, causing her clafoutis to be steamed instead of baked. After the show she faced Kevin Gillespie in “Last Chance Kitchen” and lost in a battle involving eggs cooked three ways. What happened this week when the six remaining All-Stars headed to a coliseum to make a traditional Japanese Kaiseki meal in honor of the Tokyo Olympics, which have now been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic? Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the 10th episode of Season 17.
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10:02 p.m. After being on a hot streak with three wins and no low scores, Melissa King has landed on...
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10:02 p.m. After being on a hot streak with three wins and no low scores, Melissa King has landed on...
- 5/22/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
In last week’s episode of “Top Chef,” Kevin Gillespie had to wave the white flag after losing Restaurant Wars to Gregory Gourdet. But he won redemption after facing off against Nini Nguyen in the post-show “Last Chance Kitchen” with his trout dish. Host Tom Colicchio told Kevin that he has “one more battle before finals begin.” What happened this week as the remaining chefs headed into the mountains to serve brunch for 200 moms? Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the ninth episode of Season 17.
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10:02 p.m. Chefs Karen Akunowicz and Melissa King are bummed after their team leader Kevin failed at achieving his dream restaurant. Bryan Voltaggio says, “He’s a friend of mine and it’s tough to see him go.” He says in a confessional that, for him personally, “It was a big loss to see Kevin go home.
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10:02 p.m. Chefs Karen Akunowicz and Melissa King are bummed after their team leader Kevin failed at achieving his dream restaurant. Bryan Voltaggio says, “He’s a friend of mine and it’s tough to see him go.” He says in a confessional that, for him personally, “It was a big loss to see Kevin go home.
- 5/15/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Kevin Gillespie led his team to ruin during “Restaurant Wars” last week on “Top Chef.” Despite having won three elimination challenges and three quickfire challenges before that, he had to pack his knives and go. Hew still has a chance to return to the main competition if he can survive the remaining weeks of “Last Chance Kitchen,” but with him on the outs for now, his “Restaurant Wars” teammate Bryan Voltaggio is enjoying a boost in our winner odds, which are based on the combined predictions of “Top Chef” fans who place their bets every week here in our predictions center.
Actually, our top two cheftestants were both on the losing team with Gillespie. Melissa King holds on to the top spot with leading odds of 10/3 as of this writing. Clearly fans aren’t holding the team’s loss against her. And they’re not holding it against Voltaggio either:...
Actually, our top two cheftestants were both on the losing team with Gillespie. Melissa King holds on to the top spot with leading odds of 10/3 as of this writing. Clearly fans aren’t holding the team’s loss against her. And they’re not holding it against Voltaggio either:...
- 5/14/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
In last week’s episode of “Top Chef,” the judges rewarded restaurant pitches by All-Stars Kevin Gillespie and Gregory Gourdet in a prelude to this week’s “Restaurant Wars.” Meanwhile, eliminated chef Eric Adjepong tried to fight his way back into the competition on “Last Chance Kitchen,” but Nini Nguyen managed to retain her status in by cooking an Italian fish dish that was Tom Colicchio’s favorite. What happened this week during the show’s most-feared challenge? Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the eighth episode of Season 17.
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10:02 p.m. The eight remaining chefs celebrate Kevin and Gregory’s victory in their Hollywood Hills home away from home. Gregory shares that Restaurant Wars was “an absolute disaster” the last time he competed on the show. His Season 12 team had a really broad theme and was all over the place.
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10:02 p.m. The eight remaining chefs celebrate Kevin and Gregory’s victory in their Hollywood Hills home away from home. Gregory shares that Restaurant Wars was “an absolute disaster” the last time he competed on the show. His Season 12 team had a really broad theme and was all over the place.
- 5/8/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Going into Restaurant Wars tonight on “Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.,” the two contestants to beat for the season 17 title are still Melissa King and Gregory Gourdet. But what about Kevin Gillespie, who has kept up with them challenge for challenge? Actually, he has outdone them challenge for challenge. In the first seven episodes of the Bravo competition series, he has won six times, more than any other chef.
King, Gourdet and Gillespie are so far the only chefs to win elimination challenges — they’ve each won three, with King and Gillespie sharing the honor in “Get Your Phil” and then Gourdet and Gillespie winning jointly in “Pitch Perfect.” But if you also count the quickfire challenges, Gillespie laps the field: he has won three of those preliminary challenges, more than anyone else. In fact, there has only been one episode out of seven where he hasn’t won one challenge or the other.
King, Gourdet and Gillespie are so far the only chefs to win elimination challenges — they’ve each won three, with King and Gillespie sharing the honor in “Get Your Phil” and then Gourdet and Gillespie winning jointly in “Pitch Perfect.” But if you also count the quickfire challenges, Gillespie laps the field: he has won three of those preliminary challenges, more than anyone else. In fact, there has only been one episode out of seven where he hasn’t won one challenge or the other.
- 5/7/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
At the end of last week’s “Top Chef: All-Stars” episode, which was a prelude to this week’s Restaurant Wars, Kevin Gillespie and Gregory Gourdet‘s concepts for their eateries — the family-style Southern Country Captain and the Haitian-themed Kann — were picked to be used by the two teams of chefs. As we can see from the preview for Thursday’s consequential show (watch it below), Gregory has Lee Anne Wong, Stephanie Cmar and Brian Malarkey onboard his team while Kevin is joined by Bryan Voltaggio, Melissa King and Karen Akunowicz as his cohorts.
We hear head judge Tom Colicchio say as he is seated at a table, presumably at Kann, “There’s not a lot of people eating right now. Empty, empty.” Then we see Karen spill a glass of red wine on a full table at Country Captain. She admits in a confessional, “The judges are going to...
We hear head judge Tom Colicchio say as he is seated at a table, presumably at Kann, “There’s not a lot of people eating right now. Empty, empty.” Then we see Karen spill a glass of red wine on a full table at Country Captain. She admits in a confessional, “The judges are going to...
- 5/4/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
On last week’s episode of “Top Chef,” best friends Nini Nguyen and Karen Akunowicz both were eliminated after their shared sour-and-umami dish failed to fully please the judges’ palates. Mere minutes afterwards they both went up against Lisa Fernandes in “Last Chance Kitchen.” Karen had Tom’s favorite dish, so she was allowed to rejoin the game, while Nini is still in “Lck” limbo and alas, Lisa will have to join the peanut gallery of “Lck” losers. So what happened this week? Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the seventh episode of Season 17, “Pitch Perfect.”
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10:02 p.m. “It’s so quiet,” says Melissa King. “I miss Nini.” Stephanie Cmar is upset that her fellow culinary crime fighters aka Padma’s Angels, Nini and Karen, are duking it out in “Last Chance Kitchen.” She thinks she might be the last angel standing.
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10:02 p.m. “It’s so quiet,” says Melissa King. “I miss Nini.” Stephanie Cmar is upset that her fellow culinary crime fighters aka Padma’s Angels, Nini and Karen, are duking it out in “Last Chance Kitchen.” She thinks she might be the last angel standing.
- 5/1/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
One Brian has stood out on “Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.” as Malarkey’s super-sized personality and hit-and-miss results in the kitchen have gotten him a lot of attention — some of it even good. But what about Bryan Voltaggio? He came into the season as one of the front-runners, according to the combined predictions of fans we’ve surveyed here in our predictions center. But he’s not off to a great start in cooking challenges. Will his luck turn around?
The first three episodes of the season went pretty well for Voltaggio. He won the first quickfire challenge along with his teammates Joe Sasto, Jamie Lynch, Kevin Gillespie and Melissa King. And he had one of the top dishes in both “The Jonathan Gold Standard” and “Strokes of Genius.” But then he hit a rough patch.
See‘Top Chef’ 17 spoilers: Who had to pack their knives and go on ‘All Stars L.
The first three episodes of the season went pretty well for Voltaggio. He won the first quickfire challenge along with his teammates Joe Sasto, Jamie Lynch, Kevin Gillespie and Melissa King. And he had one of the top dishes in both “The Jonathan Gold Standard” and “Strokes of Genius.” But then he hit a rough patch.
See‘Top Chef’ 17 spoilers: Who had to pack their knives and go on ‘All Stars L.
- 4/30/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Given that the latest crop of contestants competing on “Top Chef’s” 17th season are returning players who never won the Bravo reality cooking show, most treat one another as peers and often pitch in when one of the players needs a helping hand.
But there is a returnee who is better at running his mouth and reveling in camera time than actually making fine-dining food. That would be Season 3 fourth-place finisher Brian Malarkey. The San Diego resident has opened restaurants across the country and pops up on TV with some regularity, either on early morning shows or as a judge on Food Network series. But based on the food he has put out this season, Brian’s cooking leaves much to be desired.
See‘Top Chef’ recap: All-Stars duos must cook in harmony to ‘Get Your Phil’ at the La Philharmonic
Among his sins so far, he pushed aside...
But there is a returnee who is better at running his mouth and reveling in camera time than actually making fine-dining food. That would be Season 3 fourth-place finisher Brian Malarkey. The San Diego resident has opened restaurants across the country and pops up on TV with some regularity, either on early morning shows or as a judge on Food Network series. But based on the food he has put out this season, Brian’s cooking leaves much to be desired.
See‘Top Chef’ recap: All-Stars duos must cook in harmony to ‘Get Your Phil’ at the La Philharmonic
Among his sins so far, he pushed aside...
- 4/29/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
On last week’s episode of “Top Chef,” Season 6 and 8 competitor Jennifer Carroll failed to tickle the taste buds of the judges with her Sunny Lemon Ginger Love sauce. She then lost in “Last Chance Kitchen” for underestimating the time that her beef sauce needed to thicken while Lisa Fernandes gets to move on in the after-show. This week, the remaining 10 chefs will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the sixth episode of the season, “Get Your Phil.”
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10:02 p.m. It’s rise and shine time in the roomy house in the scenic Hollywood Hills. Nini Nguyen and Brian Malarkey share a love of crystals, apparently. She explains, “It’s ‘Top Chef.’ Everyone at some point will have negative energy. And when they do I hold on to my crystal and I say,...
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10:02 p.m. It’s rise and shine time in the roomy house in the scenic Hollywood Hills. Nini Nguyen and Brian Malarkey share a love of crystals, apparently. She explains, “It’s ‘Top Chef.’ Everyone at some point will have negative energy. And when they do I hold on to my crystal and I say,...
- 4/24/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
In last week’s episode of ‘Top Chef,’ season 4 finalist Lisa Fernandes’s undercooked Brussels sprouts caused her to hear these words for the first time from host Padma Lakshmi’s lips: “Please pack your knives and go.” Luckily, she redeemed herself after she topped Joe Sasto during “Last Chance Kitchen.” This week the Los Angeles edition of Bravo’s reality show has the 11 chefs left in the game cooking with the help of their loved ones. Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the fifth episode of the season, “Bring Your Loved One to Work.”
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10:02 p.m. Back in the chefs’ digs, Bryan Voltaggio says, “We should have clearly communicated better” to his red teammates about their six-course vegetarian meal. “At the end of the day, you are going to be judged by the plate you place...
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10:02 p.m. Back in the chefs’ digs, Bryan Voltaggio says, “We should have clearly communicated better” to his red teammates about their six-course vegetarian meal. “At the end of the day, you are going to be judged by the plate you place...
- 4/17/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Melissa King won the last two elimination challenges on “Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.,” emerging victorious in “Strokes of Genius” and “You’re So Fresh.” As host and judge Tom Colicchio noted, that means she has already won half the challenges. So is she the chef to beat? More and more of the fans we’ve surveyed in our predictions center think so. Check out our odds here, and place your own bets this week and every week before Thursday night’s show.
Going into week three King was down in fifth place with 44/1 odds based on the combined predictions of fans. But after winning “Strokes” with a soup that the judges thought was Michelin-star quality she rose to second place with 9/2 odds. Now after winning “Fresh” with another outstanding soup dish she still ranks second, but her odds have improved to 18/5 as of this writing.
See‘Top Chef’ Season 17:...
Going into week three King was down in fifth place with 44/1 odds based on the combined predictions of fans. But after winning “Strokes” with a soup that the judges thought was Michelin-star quality she rose to second place with 9/2 odds. Now after winning “Fresh” with another outstanding soup dish she still ranks second, but her odds have improved to 18/5 as of this writing.
See‘Top Chef’ Season 17:...
- 4/16/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
On last week’s Season 17 episode of “Top Chef,” Jamie Lynch was the All-Star eliminated for not having enough time to pour his jus over his seared chicken breast, leaving his plate inspired by baroque paintings rather tasteless. He had a chance to earn redemption in “Last Chance Kitchen,” but Joe Sasto bested him in another poultry challenge. This week, the Los Angeles edition of Bravo’s reality show has the 12 remaining chefs making dishes inspired by the animated film “Trolls World Tour” and participating in a vegetarian six-course meal Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the fourth episode of the season, “You’re So Fresh” (all times Et/Pt).
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10:02 p.m. We start off in the cheftestants’ scenic digs in the Hollywood Hills. Nini Nguyen, the youngest chef this season, notes there is an interesting energy...
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10:02 p.m. We start off in the cheftestants’ scenic digs in the Hollywood Hills. Nini Nguyen, the youngest chef this season, notes there is an interesting energy...
- 4/10/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Don’t you love it when reality show celebrities pop up on another TV talent contest? If so, you will want to see what happens when “American Idol” winner and coach for “The Voice” Kelly Clarkson puts in an appearance in the “Top Chef” kitchen and mingles with the 12 remaining All-Star contestants this season. She is currently promoting her animated film “Trolls World Tour,” which is going straight to video-on-demand on April 10 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
In the preview clip above, host Padma Lakshmi introduces Clarkson as a guest judge for the main challenge round. The chefs are delighted about the news. “I’m Kelly Clarkson, nice to meet you,” although clearly everyone already knows there is musical greatness in their midst. As a thrilled Karen Akunowicz says, “She’s amazing!” However, there is less enthusiasm in the room when Padma reveals that their menus for the challenge must be vegetarian.
In the preview clip above, host Padma Lakshmi introduces Clarkson as a guest judge for the main challenge round. The chefs are delighted about the news. “I’m Kelly Clarkson, nice to meet you,” although clearly everyone already knows there is musical greatness in their midst. As a thrilled Karen Akunowicz says, “She’s amazing!” However, there is less enthusiasm in the room when Padma reveals that their menus for the challenge must be vegetarian.
- 4/9/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Last week on the premiere of the 17th season of “Top Chef,” Joe Sasto was sent packing for his soggy open-fire flatbread. However, he will get a chance to get back into the game by competing with the next eliminated player in the web-only show “Last Chance Kitchen.”
This week, the Los Angeles-based edition of the Bravo reality series is inspired by beloved Los Angeles Times food critic Jonathan Gold, who died in 2018. The first food critic to ever win a Pulitzer was fond of small traditional immigrant eateries. Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the second episode of the season, “The Jonathan Gold Standard.”
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10:01 p.m. Host Padma Lakshmi tells the chefs, who are still on the same beach from the previous episode, that there will be no quickfire challenge this week. Why you ask? “You...
This week, the Los Angeles-based edition of the Bravo reality series is inspired by beloved Los Angeles Times food critic Jonathan Gold, who died in 2018. The first food critic to ever win a Pulitzer was fond of small traditional immigrant eateries. Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the second episode of the season, “The Jonathan Gold Standard.”
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10:01 p.m. Host Padma Lakshmi tells the chefs, who are still on the same beach from the previous episode, that there will be no quickfire challenge this week. Why you ask? “You...
- 3/27/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Chef and restaurateur Brian Malarkey, who was a finalist on season 3 of “Top Chef,” apparently thrives on chaos, according to a preview clip of this week’s episode of the elimination challenge. The 14 remaining chefs madly rush into L.A.’s Union Station with just an hour before guests arrive. We witness season 12’s Melissa King taking care of some last-minute chopping chores for her beef tartare.
She notes that Brian is also making beef tartare and admits that she isn’t sure what he is putting on there. “I do know the guy is kind of Add, he has a lot going on in his head.” We witness Brian taken out fermented egg yolks from a container. “Everything’s coming together,” he says. “Chop up a few things, some herbs. I’m going to be ready right on time.”
See ‘Top Chef’ 17: A super-sized 70% say that Lee Anne Wong...
She notes that Brian is also making beef tartare and admits that she isn’t sure what he is putting on there. “I do know the guy is kind of Add, he has a lot going on in his head.” We witness Brian taken out fermented egg yolks from a container. “Everything’s coming together,” he says. “Chop up a few things, some herbs. I’m going to be ready right on time.”
See ‘Top Chef’ 17: A super-sized 70% say that Lee Anne Wong...
- 3/26/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Guess what’s cooking? A new season of “Top Chef,” that’s what. Sadly, our reality right now is that restaurants and bars are closing down because of our health crisis. But the Bravo reality show is here to serve you with a 17th season filled with All Stars that takes place in the City of Angels. The producers picked a good time to hand out their largest winning jackpot ever in the history of the show — $250,000. These finalists, fan-favorites and front-runners definitely want to win these hunger games this time around on a supersized season opener. Read on for our minute-by-minute takes on the season premiere episode, “It’s Like They Never Left.”
10:01 p.m. In the premiere episode’s first moments, we get to hear Season 6’s Bryan Voltaggio saying, “Up until now I’ve always been the runner-up. Now it’s time to be the winner.
10:01 p.m. In the premiere episode’s first moments, we get to hear Season 6’s Bryan Voltaggio saying, “Up until now I’ve always been the runner-up. Now it’s time to be the winner.
- 3/20/2020
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Top Chef is back! Bravo's beloved culinary competition finally returns for season 17 on Thursday, March 19 and not only is the show returning to Los Angeles, but it's also bringing back a bunch of familiar faces in the process. For the first time since season eight, the show will be devoting itself to an all-stars format, with all 15 former contestants returning in the hopes of pulling off what they fell just short of in prior seasons. In the mix are Eric Adjepong (season 16), Karen Akunowicz (season 13), Jennfier Carroll, Stephanie Cmar (seasons 10 and 11), Lisa Fernandes (season 4), Kevin Gillespie (season 6), Gregory Gourdet (season 12), Melissa King (season 12), Jamie Lynch (season...
- 3/19/2020
- E! Online
In today’s TV news roundup, IFC has renewed “Year of the Rabbit” and Netflix released a trailer for “Altered Carbon” Season 2.
Casting
Nathalie Emmanuel has been cast in Quibi‘s upcoming series “Die Hart” with Kevin Hart and John Travolta. In it, Emmanuel plays a “tough-minded student” of Hart’s character. Hart plays a fictionalized character of himself who gets his wish of no longer wanting to be the comedic sidekick when a famous director offers him to his dream of being a leading man action star. However, Hart must first train at the world’s greatest action star school where he is pushed to his limits by the action school coach (Travolta). Production for this series is set to begin this February.
Bravo‘s “Top Chef” announced its Season 17 all-star chefs are Eric Adjepong, Karen Akunowicz, Jennifer Carroll, Stephanie Cmar, Lisa Fernandes, Kevin Gillespie, Gregory Gourdet, Melissa King,...
Casting
Nathalie Emmanuel has been cast in Quibi‘s upcoming series “Die Hart” with Kevin Hart and John Travolta. In it, Emmanuel plays a “tough-minded student” of Hart’s character. Hart plays a fictionalized character of himself who gets his wish of no longer wanting to be the comedic sidekick when a famous director offers him to his dream of being a leading man action star. However, Hart must first train at the world’s greatest action star school where he is pushed to his limits by the action school coach (Travolta). Production for this series is set to begin this February.
Bravo‘s “Top Chef” announced its Season 17 all-star chefs are Eric Adjepong, Karen Akunowicz, Jennifer Carroll, Stephanie Cmar, Lisa Fernandes, Kevin Gillespie, Gregory Gourdet, Melissa King,...
- 2/11/2020
- by Klaritza Rico
- Variety Film + TV
The new trailer for Top Chef All Stars L.A. has us salivating! Bravo just released a first look at the new season of their award-winning cooking competition series and we couldn't be happier to see all the familiar faces ready to compete at another chance to win the title of Top Chef. The all stars season brings back past contestants Jamie Lynch (season 14), Melissa King (season 12), Kevin Gillespie (season 6), Angelo Sosa (season 7 and the All Stars season 8), Nini Nguyen (season 16), Eric Adjepong (season 16), Jennifer Caroll, Bryan Voltaggio (season 6), Stepanie Cmar (season 11), Lee Anne Wong...
- 2/11/2020
- E! Online
Those who have been starving for some hot cooking competition action, your wish has been granted. Bravo’s ‘Top Chef” returns for a 17th season on March 19 with a supersized premiere that airs at 10 p.m. Et next year. If that doesn’t whet your whistle, maybe the thought of 15 finalists, front runners and fan favorite cheftestants plucked from seasons past will.
This All-Star edition, which will take place in Los Angeles, will once again feature host Padma Lakshmi, head judge Tom Colicchio and judge Gail Simmons, who sat out last season after having a baby. Here is the line-up of familiar culinary faces:
• Eric Adjepong (Season 16: Kentucky)
• Karen Akunowicz (Season 13: California)
• Jennifer Carroll
• Stephanie Cmar (Season 11: New Orleans)
• Lisa Fernandes (Season 4: Chicago)
• Kevin Gillespie (Season 6: Las Vegas)
• Gregory Gourdet (Season 12: Boston)
• Melissa King (Season 12: Boston)
• Jamie Lynch (Season 14: Charleston)
• Brian Malarkey...
This All-Star edition, which will take place in Los Angeles, will once again feature host Padma Lakshmi, head judge Tom Colicchio and judge Gail Simmons, who sat out last season after having a baby. Here is the line-up of familiar culinary faces:
• Eric Adjepong (Season 16: Kentucky)
• Karen Akunowicz (Season 13: California)
• Jennifer Carroll
• Stephanie Cmar (Season 11: New Orleans)
• Lisa Fernandes (Season 4: Chicago)
• Kevin Gillespie (Season 6: Las Vegas)
• Gregory Gourdet (Season 12: Boston)
• Melissa King (Season 12: Boston)
• Jamie Lynch (Season 14: Charleston)
• Brian Malarkey...
- 12/16/2019
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
In one seriously awkward misstep, Miss Universe Canada crowned the wrong winner this past weekend after a scoring mistake - and this isn't the first time the Miss Universe organization has found itself immersed in controversy. Earlier this year, Miss Delaware Teen USA Melissa King resigned after a pornographic movie surfaced that allegedly features Melissa just months after she turned 18. And last year, the Miss Universe Canada pageant was in hot water for disqualifying transgender beauty queen Jenna Talackova for not being born a woman. After a huge backlash from Jenna's supporters, the Miss Universe organization reversed its decision. The beauty pageant world has been riddled with scandals, missteps, and fallen-from-grace pageant royalty, as the somewhat sexualized nature of the competition seems at odds with the strict rules (you can be penalized for playing beer pong, for goodness sake). So click on to learn some of the scandalous and sexy...
- 5/29/2013
- by Tara Block
- Popsugar.com
Not exactly a crowning moment for Melissa King. The former Miss Delaware Teen USA, who resigned in February after a sex tape surfaced that appeared to feature her (though she denied being the girl in it), pleaded guilty today to underage alcohol possession. A judge sentenced King to a year of unsupervised probation for the misdemeanor alcohol charge, while a theft charge stemming from an accusation that she stole money from a cash box on a municipal bus in Ocean City, Md., was dropped due to lack of evidence. According to USA Today, King's attorney said that her boyfriend immediately paid the $100 fine and $45 in court costs so that she could start her freshman year of college with a "clean...
- 4/22/2013
- E! Online
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