by Gina Scarpa

 

The minute word got out that Top Chef: All Stars was coming, I was excited and now, it's finally here! In tonight's season premiere, we're reintroduced to the best of the best and for the most part, Top Chef did a great job selecting their cast. Just sayin' I wouldn't have minded seeing Bryan Voltaggio fight for glory.

 

The cast is:

 

• Tiffani and Stephen from season 1
• Marcel and Elia from season 2
• Tre, Dale, and Casey from season 3
• Spike, Richard, Dale, and Antonia from season 4
• Fabio, Jamie, and Carla from season 5
• Michael I. and Jennifer from season 6
• Angelo and Tiffany from season 7

 

After a brief reunion, some pleasant and some not (cough Fabio and Marcel cough), the chefs head to the kitchen for the first challenge of the season - and it's a good one! They are split into teams, based on their respective seasons, and must create a dish that represents the city that their season took place in. We've got New York apple dishes, a Chicago hot dog, Los Angeles shrimp tacos, Vegas pasta (it's a mob thing), a San Fran gazpacho, and a Miami pork tenderloin.

 

I figured Angelo and Tiff had it in the bag but shows how much I know. The winning team is Chicago. Well, not that surprising considering Richard Blais is on their team. His mustard foamy ice cream creation really put them over the top. Otherwise, it was just a hot dog...

 

As if the Quickfire wasn't great enough, their Elimination challenge is even better. Better for me, that is. For them, it draws deep breaths, sweat at the brow, and an upset stomach. These chefs have to recreate the dish that sent them home during their season. Awe. Some. Hey man, if you wanna be here, you need to prove why you ARE an all star and being able to save face and redeem yourself is one way to do it.

 

Most people lucked out because the dish that got them sent home gave them something to work with like fish or pork. For Mike, it would be a challenge given that his main ingredient was leeks in a vegetarian dish. Equally facing a tough situation was Stephen, who didn't even cook a dish on the episode where he was sent home. He was too busy being a wine expert at the front of the house in a restaurant challenge.

 

In a Top Chef twist, chefs will cook in two groups and when one group is serving, the other will be tasting their dishes and commenting - all while the other team watches. Elia wisely decides to sit in the other room and not listen to the harsh things said about her dish but the others huddle around a small television set to listen in. Judge Anthony Bourdain was particularly harsh on Fabio's dish, saying it looked like the insides of an animal. Bet he wishes he sat with Elia.

 

At Judges' Table, Richard, Angelo, Spike, and Jamie are the favorites... and I'm a little bummed to see Jamie there since I think her ego needs to be checked a bit. Angelo and his pork belly take home the first Elimination win of the season. Duh.

 

Fabio, Elia, and Stephen land in the bottom. Stephen definitely deserves to go as his cooking is not at the level of the others but in a shocking moment, the judges to shatter Elia and sent her home first. Absolutely ridiculous.

 

Top Chef: All Stars airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on Bravo.

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa

 

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