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Top Chef: Masters - Episode 1 Recap

Posted on 06/10/2009 by Gina and General News

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Top Chef: Masters

 

by Gina Scarpa

 

Top Chef is back… sort of.  This isn’t the Top Chef that you’re used to.  24 of the best chefs in the country have left their jobs behind to compete in one hell of a cooking competition.  The chefs this season will competing for $100,000 to be donated to their favorite charity, from March of Dimes to The Cam Neely Foundation.  Padma is sitting this one out and Top Chef: Masters will be hosted instead by Kelly Choi.   Food critic Gael Greene, journalist/writer Jay Rayner, and Top Chef regular Gail Simmons will make up the panel of judges.

 

Tonight’s episode gets started in the Top Chef kitchen with contestants Michael Schlow, Hubert Keller, Christopher Lee, and Tim Love.  These guys are at the top of their game and their resumes are nothing short of impressive.  In true Top Chef fashion, they’re immediately hit with a Quickfire Challenge.  Michael is less than thrilled to hear that it will be a dessert challenge.  The competitors will have to make the tastiest dessert that they can for a group of hungry little Girl Scouts in just 60 minutes.

 

I’m sure an hour goes by for these chefs in the blink of an eye and, before they know it, it’s time to serve up those tasty treats.  Michael prepares cake and peanut butter and chocolate candies, which don‘t go over too well with the girls.  Tim makes strawberries three ways and let me tell you.  These girls are tough critics!  So far, nothing is impressing them.  Hubert serves chocolate mousse with whipped cream and fruit.  Finally, a dish that these scouts can get behind.  Christopher , the last to go, sends out French toast with bananas, orange sauce, and maple syrup fluff.  Perhaps the dish is a bit too sophisticated for the girls because they don’t seem to know what to do with it.  Hubert is the clear winner here and takes this challenge with ease.

 

In tonight’s elimination challenge, the chefs are headed back to college.  They’ll have to create a three course meal, using only a toaster oven, microwave, and hot plate for the judges as well as a group of students.  Michael doesn’t even own a microwave.  Who the heck doesn’t own a microwave?! 

 

In the kitchen, Tim makes an unfortunate discovery.  He thought he put his produce in the cooler, but it was actually the freezer.  Not only is his produce no longer fresh but defrosted produce just doesn’t carry the same flavor and color that he was hoping for.  Still, he vows to make the best of it.  It’s pretty funny to see these chefs attempting to prepare meals in a college dorm room.  Was anyone else grossed out by Hubert preparing pasta in a dirty dorm bathroom?  Moving on… here are their menus:

 

Michael: Salmon crudo, cabbage soup with bacon, and pork a la apicus
Hubert: Fresh Scottish salmon, carrot and pea soup with cinnamon, and macaroni & cheese with prawns
Christopher: Red snapper ceviche, creamy risotto, and pan roasted pork chops
Tim: Scallop carpaccio, squash and corn pozole, and skirt steak with braised kale

 

The dishes are served to the judges and students with everyone’s first course going over very well. With the exception of Christopher’s risotto being a bit too soft for the panel’s taste, the second course goes off without a hitch, earning the chefs rave reviews.  During the third course, the diners are not too thrilled with Tim’s steak or Michael’s pork but Christopher‘s and Hubert‘s dishes exceed their expectations.

 

It must be near impossible for the judges to decide who, among these four chefs, is the best.   During their deliberation, the panel can’t help but be impressed with the quality of the dishes despite their limitations in the dorm room.  With a final score of 20 ½ stars, Hubert Keller is named this week’s winner and walks away with $10,000 for his charity, Make A Wish Foundation.  He also moves on to the Champion’s Circle and will compete again in the finals in a few weeks.

 


Top Chef: Masters airs Wednesday nights at 10pm ET on Bravo.

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

 

For more Top Chef Masters Visit Sirlinksalot.net


  


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