Top Chef Masters

Top Chef on Bravo is one of my favorites. It took me awhile to warm up to Top Chef Masters. I watched the first episode, the one with Tim Love, and did not start watching again til it was down to 6.

Tim Love is the only one of the Master Chefs who's food I have tasted. At both his Lonesome Dove Western Bistro and his Love Shack. Both in the Fort Worth Stockyards.

Tim Love was one of three eliminated in his episode, with, I think, Hubert Keller being the one to advance to the finals.

Watching these Top Chef Masters do Quickfire Challenges is quite entertaining. They are using the best Quickfire Challenges from seasons past of Top Chef. Like the cook eggs with one hand tied behind your back challenge.

The first of the Final 6 to get sent home was Suzanne Tracht. She is know for retro American dishes.

The second of the Final 6 to get eliminated was Art Smith. He's the chef who helps Oprah Winfrey put on weight. He really bombed on this week's vegan dessert. But, I thought it was going to be Anita Lo who got sent home. She was very tired and the vegan eggplant dish she concocted also looked very tired.

I like how all the chefs are supportive of each other. There is absolutely none of that Top Chef staple of bickering drama.

I wish Padma was the host. I've not warmed up to the Top Chef Masters host. Her name is Kelly Choi. I only like one of the three judges, that being Gael Greene. Though I'm a bit appalled that, apparently, in her memoirs she details an affair she had with Elvis. Then there's a UK judge named Jay Rayner who is mildly annoying and an American, or maybe Canadian, judge named James Oseland, who I find really annoying. Not a TV friendly face.

Now that Art Smith has left the building, the 4 Masters remaining are Rick Bayless, he being a very tightly wound perfectionist who makes very good Mexican food. Then there's Anita Lo, her speciality is Asian flavors. I like Anita. Actually I've liked all the Top Chef Masters. Then there's Michael Chiarello, his forte is Italian cuisine. And then there is Hubert Keller, originally from France, now firmly planted in America where he is both a French chef and a burger master.

The prize on Top Chef Masters is winning money for your charity. It all seems very noble.