by Gina Scarpa

 

This summer, Bravo has unveiled a new version of their popular reality show, Top Chef.  In Top Chef: Masters, 24 of the country’s most respected and successful chefs come together to compete and win money for their favorite charity.  This week, on the premiere episode, Hubert Keller won $10,000 for his charity, The Make A Wish Foundation, and moved on to Champion's Circle.  Next week, Wylie Dufresne, Suzanne Tracht, Graham Elliot Bowles, and Elizabeth Falkner will be competing.  Today, the four chefs from next week’s episode participated in a conference call about what made them sign up for a cooking competition and what it was like to be on the other side of the judges’ table.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Wylie, you've been a judge on two different seasons of Top Chef?  What was it like to be a contestant?
A. Wylie: I guess I got what I deserved!  It was good fun, good group to be with.  It certainly gave me perspective.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Suzanne, all of the chefs this season are at the top of their game and respected in the food industry.  Were you intimidated by any of your fellow chefs on Top Chef: Masters?
A. Suzanne: I didn't feel intimidated by anyone.  It was a great pleasure to get to know everybody and do what we do all day anyway.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Graham, did you have any reservations about going on the show?
A. Graham: No, I don't think so.  I was definitely nervous going into the competition, not knowing who I was going to be facing.  I was very surprised at how well everything was orchestrated.  It was a lot of fun, like Wylie said.

 

Q.  Gina, RealityWanted: Who was the toughest judge to impress?
A. Wylie: I think we probably all have different opinions on that.  I can't give away too much about who judged us so that's a little difficult because we were judged by other people beyond the three critics.  I imagine being judged by Girl Scouts, as on last night's episode, was tough. 

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Did you need any convincing to come on board for Top Chef: Masters or were you all for it from the beginning?
A. Suzanne: I've been a competitor on Iron Chef on Food Network and a judge on Top Chef before.  I'm always like, "Yeah, bring it on!"  I love this kind of stuff.

 

Read on for more answers from the chefs of Top Chef: Masters...

 

Q. You and Suzanne are just a few of the women competing on Top Chef: Masters.  Why do you think that is?
A. Elizabeth: I think that there's a lot of women in the industry but it still can be more of a male dominated industry.  I think that's just because it's pretty physical work.  In the case of the Top Chef: Masters, I think you've gotta really like the culinary side and the competition at the same time.

 

Q. Did you do any preparation before heading in to compete for Top Chef: Masters?
A. Graham: I practiced a lot of past scenarios and definitely dreaded anything that had anything to do with pastries.

 

Q. Now that you've been on both sides of the judges table on Top Chef, do you regret anything that you may have said when you were a judge?
A. Wylie: I'd like to think that I was certainly fair and I think that, for the most part, without giving away anything, that I was fairly judged in return.  I would like to think that I was a fair judge and I wasn't too critical.  I have some perspective on what can be accomplished given the time restraints.

 

Q. What's the most enjoyable part about being on Top Chef?
A. Wylie: Crushing the opponent!  Just joking... I love them all dearly.

 

Q. What advice do you have for future Top Chef contestants?
A. Wylie: I don't know that I can offer much advice in terms of getting on the show because I'm not that familiar with the process.  Once you get on the show, my advice would be to move extremely quickly at all times.

 

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

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

 

For more Top Chef Masters Visit Sirlinksalot.net