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Top Chef New York Season 5

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marigold:
An interesting article:

Princeton grad's on 'Top Chef'

Now "Top Chef" fans here have two reasons to watch the fifth season that premieres next month.

Radhika Desai, 28, a 1998 Princeton High School graduate, will compete on "Top Chef: New York" against Lauren Starling Hope, 24, of West Chester Township, and 15 other contestants.

Desai's friends contacted The Enquirer Wednesday, when a story announced that Hope, a 2002 Lakota West High School graduate, would be the first local contestant in five seasons of the top-rated cable food series.

Bravo lists Desai's hometown as Chicago, at her request, says Victoria Brody, Bravo publicist.

However, Desai says on her video at BravoTV.com: "I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1980 ... and went to high school in Cincinnati at Princeton High School, and then I went to the Ohio State University."

She is executive chef at Between Boutique Café & Lounge in Chicago. Her family lives in Springdale.

"Top Chef: New York" premieres Nov. 12 (10 p.m., Bravo).

Link: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081009/ENT/810090314/1025/rss05

marigold:
An interesting article wow some lucky person who wins this:

Private Cooking Lesson with "Top Chef" Host Padma Lakshmi!



Description

Includes: a private cooking lesson for two people with Padma Lakshmi in the winner's NYC home.

Padma Lakshmi, already known internationally as an actress and award-winning writer, is also the host of the top-rated TV series "Top Chef" on Bravo. "Top Chef", in which she is a judge as well as host, pits 15 talented contestants against one another over three tense months. Each week, Padma will tell one of them to "pack your knives and go."

Originally known as the first internationally successful Indian supermodel, Padma Lakshmi is also an accomplished writer and the author of Easy Exotic for Miramax Books for which she won the International Versailles Event for best cookbook by a first time writer. She has contributed to such magazines as American Vogue, Gourmet and Harper's Bazaar.

Here is an amazing opportunity to learn basic cooking techniques, as well as how to plan and prepare a meal with supermodel and TV star Padma Lakshmi!

Donated by: Padma Lakshmi

Terms: Includes: a private cooking lesson for two people with Padma Lakshmi in the Fall of 2008 in the winner's NYC home. Availability based on Ms. Lakshmi's schedule and must be redeemed by the end of 2008.

Link: https://auction01.charitybuzz.com/secure/viewItemDetail.do?auction_item_id=75199&lotsindex=0&show=10&order=default

marigold:
An interesting article:

No Name Change for TOM, Colicchio Rocks Out With Dave Grohl

Nearly 60 representatives from New York's top kitchens were on hand last night at Cipriani Wall Street for an Autism Speaks benefit auction spearheaded by Brasserie's executive chef, Franklin Becker. In a room full of chefs, we found Craft's Tom Colicchio hosting the event all by his lonesome (his scheduled co-host, Brian Williams, had to cancel to cover the Senate vote on the bailout plan). The chef, contrary to reports, has no plans to change the name of his new venture, TOM: Tuesday Night. “I was joking. And the New York Times took it and ran with it, he said. "People are making such a big deal about it." Colicchio also protested criticism of TOM’s $150 baseline. “For an eight-course menu, it's comparable to everyone else around town. I don't think it's outrageous."

Since Bravo released Top Chef details yesterday, Colicchio no longer had to keep mum about special guest judges the Foo Fighters. “The challenge itself is hilarious,” Colicchio said, but was demure about the details. He was happy to dish about Dave Grohl, though. "The funny thing with Dave was that right before we go out to do our entrance, he's like, 'I'm so excited. This is my favorite TV show. I can't wait!' The Foo Fighters, after the Grammys, actually spent the night at Craft in Los Angeles. So, I knew that. They're really into food. Some of the things he said … it was hysterical. I would just look at him and be like, 'What did you just say?' He would be like, 'the sear on the meat could have been a little better, you know, I think you needed a little more seasoning.'"

Link: http://nymag.com/daily/food/2008/10/no_name_change_for_tom_colicch.html

marigold:
 :jumpy: An interesting article and a great video preview:

‘Top Chef: New York’ Preview: ‘We’re in for a Good Ride’

We’ve just finished a screener of the season premiere of Top Chef: New York, and we’re still tingling from Tom Colicchio’s icy blue stare and the whiff of an overly contrived cooking challenge. As we noted before, faux-hawks are out and facial hair is in, but we’re also pleased to report that none of this season’s seventeen cheftestants appear to be aspiring molecular gastronomists. They seem like a pretty amiable set (no Lisa-and-Dale-like enemies yet), but the premiere lays the groundwork for future conflict between Daniel (a hairier version of season three’s Joey) and European snob-chef Stefan, as well as the sometimes-subtitled Fabio. On the friendlier end of the things, the group’s three gay members (Richard, Patrick, and Jamie) band together to form “Team Rainbow.”

Padma Lakshmi and Gail Simmons are, of course, back at Judge's Table, but instead of Ted Allen, we get “outspoken food critic” Toby Young, author of How to Lose Friends and Alienate People. Though he doesn’t make an appearance in the premiere, he looks to channel Simon Cowell with lines like “It tasted a bit like cat food” and “Did you sweat into it? Why is it so salty?”

We don’t want to give too much away, but the first episode includes a Quickfire Challenge on Governors Island and an Elimination Challenge dealing with (surprise!) the various cuisines of New York’s neighborhoods. There are too many lamb chops, some bloody apples, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten! But the important thing is that we sense a renewed emphasis on the cooking, and if the cheftestants continue with the level of cooking on display in the first challenge, as Tom says, “We’re in for a good ride.”

Link to the article and video preview: http://nymag.com/daily/food/2008/10/top_chef_new_york_preview_were.html

apskip:
The above preview was excellent. We were introduced to about half of the cast. It is clear that teams get to their Governor's Island part of the first episode on a private ferry. Padma Lakshmi is looking fabulous. Based on what I know about culinary backgrounds, the only chef of the ones presented who is likely to go far is Jamie, an Executive chef for a San Francisco retaurant.

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