Top Chef

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Wednesday 10:00 PM on Bravo
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Show Summary

  • Returning Series

How do you top an all-star season? You go big. You not only go big, you go Top Chef big. You take the competition to the biggest contiguous state, you assemble the biggest group of contestant-hopefuls, and you design bigger and better challenges.

Top Chef: Texas is here, and season nine promises things never before seen. First, the largest group of chefs ever assembled—29 in all—will be winnowed to just 16 contestants during the first two nights. Challenges will range across Texas in three of its most illustrious cities: Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. And a brand new second-chance web series will offer eliminated chefs the opportunity to return to the competition.

Padma Lakshmi continues as host, along with returning head judge Tom Colicchio and judge Gail Simmons. Emeril Lagasse and Hugh Acheson join this season's production as new regular judges. This season's Top Chef title includes a feature in Food & Wine magazine, the opportunity for the winner to showcase his or her skills at the Food & Wine c in Aspen, Colorado, and $125,000 to help turn the winner's culinary dreams into reality (back to normal from last season's $200,000). Top Chef is produced by Magical Elves Productions. Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz serve as executive producers of the series.

Broadcast History:
Seasons 8-9 – Wednesday, 10:00 pm E/P (9:00 pm CT)
Season 7, Episodes 10-14 – Wednesday, 10:00 pm E/P (9:00 pm CT)
Season 7, Episodes 1-9 – Wednesday, 9:00 pm E/P (8:00 pm CT)
Seasons 1-6 – Wednesday, 10:00 pm E/P (9:00 pm CT)

Awards:
2011 Emmy Awards
• Nominated – Outstanding Reality Competition Program 2010 Emmy Awards
• Winner – Outstanding Reality Competition Program

2009 Emmy Awards
• Nominated – Outstanding Reality Competition Program, Outstanding Reality Hosts (Padma and Tom)

2008 Emmy Awards
• Nominated – Outstanding Reality Competition Program

2008 James Beard Awards
• Winner – Television Food Special ("Top Chef Holiday Special")
• Nominated – Television Food Show, National and Local (Season Three)

2007 Emmy Awards
• Nominated – Outstanding Reality Competition Program, Outstanding Cinematography for Reality Programming

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8.6
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Latest Episode

Full Episode Guide
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Season 9, Episode 14

Mentors

Aired 2/8/12

A blindfolded stroll through the pantry for the Quickfire is only the beginning. The Elimination begins with the restoration of a former competitor; then ...

Upcoming Episode

Finale (1)

Airs 2/15/12

Episode Guide

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S 9 :  Ep 14 Aired 2/8/12
S 9 :  Ep 13 Aired 2/1/12
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S 9 :  Ep 12 Aired 1/25/12
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S 9 :  Ep 11 Aired 1/18/12
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S 9 :  Ep 10 Aired 1/11/12

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Fan Reviews (50)

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  • Enjoy the Food Network? Always thought you could be the best cook in the world. Then Top Chef is for you. This reality competition takes Chef's from all different backgrounds and see who comes out as Top Chef.moreless

    8.8
    "Great"
    By gggroupie, Sep 09, 2010 Report Abuse
    Top Chef began after the huge success seen by its predecessor Project Runway. It took a real life skill that could not be hidden by camera edits because the contestants had to produce a finished product. Top Chef is a great program for all food lovers. You can see the most amazing dishes created in a matter of minutes or hours depending the challenge.

    The premise is simple. The show starts off with a Quickfire challenge, which I consider the preamble to the show. The Quickfire is designed to see what the Chef's can do in a small amount of time using only their background and prior knowledge. They have no planning and almost always make it right down to the buzzer. Typically the bottom three and top three chef's are showcased. The bottom three are aware of what they did wrong and will have to "bring it" in the Elimination Challenge later in the episode. Typically the Winner of the Quickfire receives immunity in the Elimination Challenge competition, which can be great if the elimination challenge is not team based.

    Then the show continues with the Elimination Challenge, which allows for more prep and planning on a budget of course, with limited access to the stocked kitchen. Sometimes the Chef's are so stumped they are even planning in the supermarket as they find items and go from there. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't. As I mentioned above the Elimination Challenge could be individual based or team based, but typically it is team based. So when a member of your team has immunity it just means that everyone else has to step up so your team does not fall behind. Some of the Chef's get lost and think oh, one of our team members has immunity so that means we won't be on the chopping block. Wrong!!

    During the first season it was everyman/woman for his/herself and when they formed teams it was a nightmare. As the series has grown more contestants are realizing it is helpful if you can get along with your teammates. It not only helps you not get eliminated, but you turn out a better product for the guests to enjoy.

    The judging only takes place at the event the Chef's are creating dishes for. Tom Coliccho is the "Chef" judge and he stops in the kitchen to see how the contestants are progressing. One season a Chef forgot an ingredient and Chef Tom saw that ingredient being prepped and commented at Judges' table about why did that ingredient disappear. The ingredient could have made the dish better and was subsequently sent packing. So his presence could be helpful or hurtful depending on which way you see it.

    There is always a guest judge and recently they have brought in Anthony Bourdain and Ted Allen to spicen the mix up. This show is just great entertainment and always enjoyable. Sometimes a little to predictable, but every now and then there is a suprise. Bon Appetit!moreless

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    0 2

  • I love this show, and another great new season is about to begin

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By frontman19, Jun 17, 2010 Report Abuse
    This show is a food lovers show for sure, the chefs are all passionate, they are all competitive, they all can cook, there is no drama created by the host, it's just who can cook the better food, and I love it. The challenges are all creative and fun, the quickfire's are exciting, especially the races, like the mis-en-plas relay, always fun. This show never gets old and I definitely see it having a really good run, sometimes the drama can overtake the cooking (like Leah and Josea in season 5) but otherwise I see no flaws in this show and I look forward to another great season.moreless

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    1 0

  • Show for all those who like good food!

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By Maryland55, Jun 07, 2010 Report Abuse
    Well, I can't be totally objective here because I'm in love with good wining and dining. Thus, my obsession with it found its ground. LOL
    I really like it and I've learned a lot, by only seeing a season or two. Will catch up on all the rest for sure.
    This is a competitive show, it has its dynamic, good food, excellent chefs, interesting tasks, and lets you in on a few tips from chefs who work in great restaurants, have their own ways but still manage to emphasize on the nationality of each dish.
    Will continue to watch and will recommend it to all those who like being in their kitchens, chopping, cooking, frying etc.
    Good one!!!moreless

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  • You can learn from this show!

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By piscesryche, Feb 16, 2009 Report Abuse
    I love this show. I have been watching it since the 2nd season and have since caught up and have seen all of them. You can learn recipes from this show, learn about what is new, in style as well as old traditional recipes and see a lot of really interesting people that have raw talent.
    This show also is entertaining. Has some drama but that is good because I am interested in the cooking!
    I have since used some recipes from the show and have my favorite chefs. Both Dales, Howie and my newest favorite, Carla. I would love to see where some of the old contestants are cooking now. I highly recommend this show to people who love to cook. You don't need to know a lot to watch it.moreless

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    0 0

  • This is not the real world,this show needs to focus on the cooking & the deserving chef's not the love story between 2 people who should not even be there anymore. Stop sending the good people home.moreless

    7.0
    "Good"
    By babylou04, Feb 06, 2009 Report Abuse
    I really do love this show I've watched it every season but on this season so far Im not impressed. I pretty much always agree with the judge's choices on who to send home. However when Ariane was sent home I couldn't believe it,their were 2 other people on the bottom that deserved to home wayyyy ahead of her,shes an amazing chef and should have been on the show a lot longer than she was. Also this week I did not agree with the decision to send Jamie home. I thought for sure she would make it in the top 2 along with Stephan,she's is one of the best chef's there and should have stayed on the show longer instead she went home so the show can play up the stupid love story of 2 chef's who no one cares about. I think the only reason Leah has not gone home yet and two other deserving chef's have gone home is because the producers want to play up this romance bs between Hosea and Leah and I personally do not care. I dont watch this show for the drama and I think if the show continues to go on this way,they will lose a lot of viewers,including myself. At this point it would not surprise me if the remaining 2 chef's are Leah & Hosea just so they can go up against each other. This show needs to focus on the good chef's & not the ones who hussie their way through the show aka Leah!moreless

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    1 0
 

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