'Top Chef' Blog 
Pack your knives
Restaurant Wars claims its latest victim
In like a lion, out like a lamb
Tonight’s post got a little delayed by dinner at Mado—fitting, as it’s sort of Chicago’s version of Blue Hill at Stone Barns, without the on-site farm—so here’s our super-speedy “Top Chef” recap, in 150 words or fewer:
1. We like Fabio’s “recycle” shirt.
2. We really, really...
Back in the kitchen
The other day, we choose seven ingredients at random from our cupboards and made an amuse bouche in 15 minutes. Then we diced eight potatoes in a relay race around the kitchen island. And then we preserved everything in the fridge in GladWare. Yes, we were displaying all the symptoms of severe "Top Chef" withdrawal. Thank goodness the holiday br...
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Oh, “Top Chef.” Just when we’re wondering if this is the season you’ll jump the shark, you bring us back down to earth with a heart-warming Christmas story. (Of course, from the sound of his stew room lecture, it sounds like Tom’s starting to think this might be the season “Top Chef” jumps the shark too....
Always a bridesmaid ...
Tonight we set out to test our theory that Radhika is getting seriously shorted on screen time. And what better way to do it than by pitting her against the camera’s best friend, Fabio? Here’s how they fared in the head-to-head.Quickfire setup: Roughly even on the knife draw. Good reaction shot of Fabio. Good shot of Radhika’s ...
Free Radhika!
Tonight’s episode could be remembered as the Week of the Easiest Quickfire Ever. (Anyone who can define “breakfast” and “amuse bouche” wins!) But we will always remember it as the Week of the Disappearing Contestant. And it wasn’t just any contestant—it was our hometown gal, Radhika.Every now and then, w...
6 questions for Stephanie Izard
Jill lays an egg
In honor of eggs large and small, a dozen things about tonight’s episode of "Top Chef":Radhika: Chicago, represent! The hot dog-kebab mashup is a hit. Even better, it’s immunity.The egg aisle at Whole Foods: What is this? A whole aisle dedicated to eggs? Why do we not have one of these in Chicago?Carla: This woman could spontane...
Sexy sells
Last week's show pulled in the highest number of viewers yet for a "Top Chef" premiere, and RedEye's Show Patrol has a theory as to why. Hint: He's big, bald and knows his way around a kitchen.