Adam Dell Father Of Padma Lakshmi's Baby

At the finale of the latest season of Top Chef, that being Top Chef: Las Vegas, it was apparent, as soon as Padma Lakshmi stepped off a Napa Valley train, that she was well along in making a baby.

The news of Padma's incoming baby had been widely circulated, but not confirmed, for me, til I saw her baby hump on my TV screen.

There was a lot of speculation as to who Padma's Baby Daddy might be. I even read speculation, somewhere, that the Baby Daddy was Padma's co-host, Tom Colicchio.

Well, apparently it is not Tom.

The reported Padma Baby Daddy is the younger brother of Texan, Michael Dell, you know, the computer making billionaire. Dell has a 40 year old younger brother named Adam.

Adam Dell is also a tech savvy guy, but not a billionaire. He is a venture capitalist, who when he is not venturing capital, teaches at Columbia Business School.

Apparently Adam and Padma have been quite friendly for a couple years.

Padma has known for years that she has endometriosis, a condition that makes it difficult to become pregnant. Her doctor is reported to have said her pregnancy is"nothing short of a miracle."

I couldn't help but be curious to see what the father of Padma's baby looks like, thinking that depending on the mate, this could be one good-looking kid.

Well, that's Adam Dell. What you think? I'm thinking this guy is a better match for Padma than her ex-husband, Salman Rushdie.

Wednesday TV: Top Chef Reunion, CSI NY, Nip/Tuck, So You Think You Can Dance

Tonight there are a few good shows scattered across the TV spectrum. We are in sort of a TV doldrums period due to it being the Christmas season, which makes for a lot of Christmas specials, if that's your thing. Like tonight, on CBS at 8/7c, you can watch and hear Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. When I first read that I thought to myself that I did not realize Mormons did Christmas. Then I remembered the part of the Mormon story that has Jesus coming to America after he was finished in the Middle East.

Also on tonight...

Top Chef: Las Vegas
9/8c Bravo
The motley crew of chefs you see in the photo above gets together again for a reunion hosted by Bravo's host for these type shows, Andy Cohen. Padma Lakshmi, Gale Simmons, Toby Young and Tom Colicchio will also be there. The Top Chef reunion shows are usually very entertaining. We'll also learn who fan favorite is. I'm guessing Kevin.

CSI: NY
10/9c CBS
A Christmas themed CSI:NY with a murder, of course. This time it is the murder of a former drug addict who had his life back on track. Kim Kardashian guest stars. And the dead guy is played by Train singer Pat Monahan in his first attempt at acting.

So You Think You Can Dance
8/7c Fox
We are now in the 4th month of this show. I've not watched a whole lot of it. But, tonight is the finale of Season 6. Adam Lambert will be singing. Which is a bit of a surprise after his American Music Awards debacle.

Nip/Tuck
10/9c FX
Tonight is the season finale with this episode's plastic surgery being the removal of fat from an obese death row inmate so that his execution can be carried out.

Top Chef Las Vegas: Michael Voltaggio's Top Chef

I didn't get around to watching the finale of Top Chef til today. I was fairly certain the younger Voltaggio brother won because I saw "Michael Voltaggio" as a top Google search string this morning, with no mention of brother Bryan or Kevin.

All in all, it was a satisfying conclusion, unlike the last season of Top Chef with the bizarre end having Hosea being named Top Chef.

There was no Quickfire Challenge. Early on we saw all the chefs who had been set packing their knives, arrive. Then one by one the three remaining picked a knife. The knife had the name of one of the chefs. Kevin had the bad luck to get Preeti Mistry and slightly better luck getting Ash. Bryan had the good luck to draw Jennifer and Ashley. Michael got Eli and a chef I've already forgotten, I think it may have been Jesse, who is now a blonde.

Kevin was a bit unsettled by how little use Preeti was to him. He was way off his usual game. In the end he got sent packing first.

I forgot to mention, Kevin and Bryan and Michael's moms showed up. Seeing them with their mom made Bryan and Michael seem more human. When the chefs arrived at the kitchen, Tom Colicchio informed then they had to prepare a 4th course, one inspired by their moms.

The moms got to sit in with the judges for the first course, that being the ones they inspired. That was all sort of charming. Particularly when the boys walked out to see their moms sitting there.

In the end, at Judges' Table, each of the 3 drew some criticism and some praise. Kevin seemed to take the worst beating, so it was not too big a shock when he was told he was not Top Chef. I sort of thought he was doomed when he added bacon to his dessert. That did not sound good to me.

As they waited their fate the brothers stood as if they were waiting for a firing squad to pull the trigger. Eventually Padma told Michael he was Top Chef. The brothers hugged for a long time. Then mom came out, hugged Michael for a long time. Michael was in tears. This made Michael the most likable he's been. Michael then said something like "See Padma, you got what you wanted from me. Emotion." Michael actually displayed a pretty funny sense of humor on many occasions. In the end, when each was asked why they should be Top Chef, Michael said, "Because I don't want Bryan to win." Everyone cracked up. Including Bryan.

Anyway, this was the best Reality TV conclusion that I've seen in quite some time.

Top Chef Las Vegas: Kevin Wins Culinary Olympics

Kevin Gillespie won the final Elimination Challenge and $30K on this week's Top Chef. I think he won more challenges than any other chef. I like Kevin. Seems like a real nice guy who can cook well. But, please, lose that awful beard. Or wear a beard net.

Jennifer got her confidence back by winning the Quickfire. A chef I'd never heard of had them making a dish I'd never heard of, something to do with a protein in a protein in a protein.

Then for the Elimination Challenge the 5 remaining chefs had to cook in a competition modeled after another thing I'd never heard of, the Bocuse d'Or. Apparently the Olympics of the culinary world.

The chefs were very exciting and knew all about the Food Olympics and the chefs who would be judging them. All apparently very famous. I am apparently very ignorant about the culinary world.

Jennifer got an extra half hour to cook due to winning the Quickfire. She helped Bryan out when he got a bit overwhelmed by the complexity of what he was putting on his platter. Bryan came off more likable this episode. Laughing, acting funny and wearing a baseball cap backwards. And answering Kevin's questions about how to cook lamb.

The judges had problems with everyone's food platter. But the least problems with Kevin's, even though they seemed to think what he cooked was too easy and safe. The other chefs had issues like lamb being undercooked, or, in Michael Voltaggio's case, a fish bone left in his salmon, which apparently would get you the instant boot at the Food Olympics.

It seemed like they were disliking what Michael did the most, but it was Eli who was sent home for badly cooked fatty lamb.

But, even though the judges and famous chefs were highly critical, they also heaped praise on the 5 for managing to do what they did in such a short time. It was all very positive and Eli took it real well. In the end, even Eli turned likable.

Michael V., not so much. It keeps burning Michael that Kevin keeps winning for cooking simple things that Michael says he cooks on his day off.

The previews for the finale on a train going through the California wine country looked interesting. It appears everyone had some time off, because everyone has different hair. Tom is still bald, but Padma's has long bangs, Jennifer all curly, the Voltaggio's appeared to be a new color and Kevin looked less shaggy, but still with that awful beard. I want to get a look at his wife.

Top Chef Las Vegas: Insufferable Isabella Told To Pack His Knives And Go

It was good TV to get the insufferably smug Mike Isabella of my Top Chef TV screen. If my memory serves me correctly, each week Isabella would brag that he had whatever challenge in the bag due to his superior cooking skills. But I don't remember him delivering anything that was well received.

For his exit week Isabella was sure he would be on top because the Elimination Challenge was to create a vegetarian dish for Natalie Portman in Tom Colicchio's Craftsteak restaurant in the MGM Grand. Of course, the cheftestants thought they would be cooking a protein and were thrown a loop with the arrival of vegetarian Portman.

But not Isabella. He said he cooks vegetarian all the time in his restaurant. But somehow he did not know that when you cook vegetarian you combine certain grains and beans to make a complete protein. Instead, he thought it was immensely clever to slice leeks to make them look like scallops. He actually referenced, to the judges, the faux scallops as his dish's protein.

This episode started with the drawing of knives for the Quickfire Challenge. The knives had classic TV shows on them. The challenge was to make an upscale, update of a TV dinner, somehow reflecting that show. I really did not get how they were supposed to do that, but Kevin came up with a meatball TV dinner that won the challenge.

Kevin also won the Elimination Challenge, to the total upset of poor loser Michael Voltaggio, who felt his complicated dish, that included a banana infused polenta, should have won over Kevin's simple kale dish that Voltaggio claimed was something you learned your first day in culinary school. Or something like that.

Those Voltaggio brothers are a real intense piece of work. But there are moments when I find them amusing.

Poor nervous Jennifer really suffered this round. She ended up in the bottom again. She was so nervous and shaking so bad she spilled sauce on the judges. I like Jennifer. Both she and Kevin have grown on me. Especially Kevin. It comes through rather clear that Kevin is a nice guy. And a very good chef. I was surprised to hear him reference his wife. I want to see the wife.

It was particularly satisfying to see Robin survive Isabella. Mike was sure that he was safe as long as Robin was also on the chopping block. But it was clear from Tom Colicchio's blog that everything about Isabella's dish was bad and that Isabella stood by his untasty food. While Robin understood what was wrong with hers and Colicchio said that, unlike Isabella's, Robin's problem was not that it tasted bad, it just was not a cohesive dish that combined flavors into something you wanted to eat.

Anyway, good to see Mike Isabella go. Now if Robin survives Eli that will also be amusing.

Almost forgot. The repartee that followed Padma's remark about, I think it was a garlic flower, being like a "little prick in your mouth" was pretty funny. I don't think that repartee would have survived the censors on network TV.

Top Chef Las Vegas: Restaurant Wars--Laurine Packs Her Knives & Goes

Laurine Wickett was the main fatality of this week's Top Chef Restaurant Wars. Laurine was the front of the house for her restaurant, Mission. She did not do very well at that job. Nor at what she cooked. Her entire restaurant did not do well with the cooking.

In the Quickfire Challenge knives were drawn. Six blank. Two not blank. The not blank knives were drawn by Michael Voltaggio and Jennifer Carroll. They took turns picking a team. Michael chose his brother, Bryan, Eli and ended up with Robin. Jennifer picked Kevin, the other Michael and Laurine.

Jennifer's team won the Quickfire and $10,000. Padma then told them they could let the 10K ride and if they won Restaurant Wars they'd each get 10K. They let it ride.

The cooking took place at Mandalay Bay. Jennifer's team got to pick what restaurant they wanted. They chose an upscale one, leaving Michael's team with a downscale one. Michael's team decided REVolt was a clever name. The revolting food connotation did not cross their minds. The name came from (Ro)bin E)li (Volt)aggio. VoltRE would have worked better.

Both kitchens were very intense. Michael ran his kitchen very efficiently. Michael and Bryan did some heavy duty bickering this episode. Michael also had a bad run-in with Robin over her pear dessert.

The Mission team decided not to make dessert, due to the Restaurant Wars dessert curse. REVolt decided to flaunt the curse and do two desserts. In the end, REVolt made pretty much nothing but good decisions.

Michael gets a lot of face time. He's gradually seeming to have a likable personality. Brother Bryan is way too intense. The judges' pretty much raved about the REVolt food, including the desserts. I don't think they liked anything at the Mission restaurant.

In the end, Michael won Restaurant Wars. Padma gave him the 10K that Jennifer's team had let ride. Michael asked Padma if he could split the money with his team. It's your money Padma told him. Back in the Stew Room, Robin effusively thanked Michael while Bryan told Michael he could keep Bryan's share. More bickering.

I have an annoying brother, so I know what that's like. I can't imagine being stuck in the heat of a kitchen with him.

Top Chef Las Vegas: Ashley Merriman Packs Her Knives & Goes

Kevin won this week's Quickfire Challenge on Top Chef. It was a high stakes Quickfire, which in Las Vegas means you get money if you win. In this case you could choose between money or immunity from elimination. Kevin chose the money. Good choice due to his and Jennifer's team win in the Elimination Challenge.

Well, actually it was Jennifer who won. Again. It was one of those draw knives to get teamed up challenges. The chefs drew ingredients out of a group of famous chef's paper bags and then had to figure out what to make of their choices.

And then the chefs got thrown a big curve. They had to do all their cooking in the kitchen in their sleeping quarters. According to Tom Colicchio it was thought, "it would be fun to see what the chefs could do in a regular kitchen, serving up their food family style," to the chefs who's bags gave them their ingredients, and to the other regular judges.

Michael V., he the brother of Bryan V. was teamed with Ash. They had a mishap over a loss of power which ruined their dish. Sending a distraught Michael V. to the Judges' Least Favorite Walk of Shame for the first time for his gooey egg yolk, un-crispy pancetta wrapped around overcooked halibut.

But, Ashley and Eli's oversalted gnocchi and undercooked prawns were even worse. It was Eli who ruined the gnocchi, with Ashley ruining the prawns. But gnocchi was Ashley's idea and the judges did not think serving a hot dumpling on a hot day was a good plan.

Meanwhile Michael V.'s brother Bryan had one of the winning dishes. He was teamed with Laurine. In the end it was Jennifer and Kevin's BBQ Kobe beef that won, mostly due to Jennifer's tomato/ginger broth. Hence the win by Jennifer.

Next week it looks like we might get some drama with the brothers.

Top Chef Las Vegas: A Re-Run Without Warning

On the Bravo Top Chef website it clearly says there is a new episode every Wednesday at 10/9 Central.

So, I went to watch this week's recorded episode to find a two week old Top Chef, the one where Mattin Noblia, the French guy, with the restaurant in San Francisco called Iluna Basque, was told to pack his knives and leave, after giving ranch hands and Tom Colicchio and Tim Love raw fish out in the hot Nevada desert.

Why the re-run this week?

I have no idea.

Top Chef Las Vegas: Ron Duprat Packs His Knives

Lovable former Haitian boat person, Ron Duprat, was told to pack his knives and go, on this week's Top Chef Las Vegas.

Prior to the Quickfire Challenge we heard a lot of the chefs complaining about Robin not deserving to be there. That and her non-stop talking drove them nuts. So, of course, Robin won the Quickfire and Immunity from elimination.

For the Quickfire they had to cook something that represented the devil side and the angel side of their personality. The older brother's dessert was one of the least favorites. That was amusing. Earlier we'd heard him bragging about winning Elimination Challenges, but no Quickfire wins. Of course, Bryan's brother, Michael, was one of the favorites. Robin won with something sweet and something healthy and something to do with her being a cancer survivor.

Then Penn & Teller showed up, did a magic act, then deconstructed the magic act. I could not follow either the initial act or its deconstruction.

For the Elimination Challenge the chefs drew knives that had well known dishes written on them, like Meat Lasagna, Fish & Chips, Reuben Sandwich, Roast beef, that type stuff. They were told they had to deconstruct the dish and present the flavor profile in a new way.

Ron drew Paella. I think that's how it's spelled. It is some sort of Latin fish dish. I think. Ron did not understand the deconstruction concept.

In the end the judges did not like Ron's, Laurine's or Ash's deconstructions.

They liked Ashley's. That is 2 weeks in a row Ashley has been on top. They also like Michael Voltaggio's, Kevin's and Jennifer's lasagna reconstruction. It was amusing that they liked Jennifer's because she seemed to have a lot of trouble with this one and seemed to have no confidence in what she had deconstructed.

In the end, guest judge, a really likable one named Michelle Bernstein, picked Kevin as the winner. Kevin got a lot of cool cookware, in addition to winning.

Ron was very charming in the end, thanking everyone profusely and saying how much he enjoyed the experience and that he was living the American dream.

Top Chef Las Vegas: Mattin Packs His Knives And Goes, Ashley Does Well

That is Tim Love. He was this week's guest judge on Top Chef Las Vegas. Tim Love owns the Lonesome Dove Western Bistro in my neighborhood of Fort Worth, Texas.

For the Quickfire Challenge tonight, the viewers got to pick the ingredient. They had snake, cactus and I forget what else to choose from. The viewers chose cactus.

The chefs had a lot of cactus to choose from and 40 minutes to make a cactus dish. Most had never worked with cactus before. When they were done Tim Love picked one of the brothers, I think Bryan, as being one of the worst. He picked Michael Isabella as his favorite. He also liked Mattin's, which was funny, because Mattin made a big deal out of the fact that he'd never even touched a cactus before and had no idea how to cook one.

It was a High Stakes Quickfire, so Michael I. won $15,000, but no immunity from elimination.

The Elimination Challenge was not pretty. The chefs were told they'd be cooking outdoors for some ranch hands. That is about all they knew. They went to Whole Foods, spent a couple 100 bucks, then got brought to a ranch out in the Nevada desert where they learned just how primitive the cooking conditions were.

Four open fire pits, a small covered preparation area, a small chuckwagon type pantry. Their housing was in teepees. Their restroom facility an outhouse.

There seemed to be an editing effort to make Ashley Merriman more likable this episode. We saw her call her brother, a twin, to find out how his new baby was doing. She cried at the news. She told us cooking and living in primitive conditions, with an outhouse, was no big deal to her, that she'd grown up poor, raised by a single mom.

Previously, I really did not like Ashley at all. After this episode, I did. Like her, I mean.

I don't know how it was decided who was paired with whom in the teepees. But the brothers shared a teepee. It looked very uncomfortable to me. The teepees were small.

Next morning, after 10, the cooking began. Then the ranch hands and Padma and crew showed up. Then the eating began. As is always the case, some of it was liked, by judges and ranch hands, other stuff not so much.

I don't remember if it was Mattin's raw cod or Robin's rancid shrimp that Tom Colicchio had to get up and spit out.

Tim Love was funny making his comments about the various dishes. I don't recollect, right now, what he said that was funny, but I found him amusing.

In the end, back at Judges' Table, they liked the 2 brothers Voltaggio, Ashley & Laurine, the best. Ashley was very happy to be at the top for a change. Tim Love picked the older brother, Bryan as the best. Later, in a confessional, Bryan bragged about winning each tme he is up against his brother. And then let out the weirdest, sort of chilling, odd little laugh. I had to replay it 3 times.

For the worst, Ashley was told to send in Mattin Noblia, Robin Leventhal and Ron Duprat. From what we'd already heard we knew they did not dislike Ron's coconut mistake as much as the mistakes of Mattin and Robin. In the end, it was Mattin who got sent home. It is the kiss of death when you say you do not think your dish had a problem. Apparently Mattin's fish was raw and he thought it was good to go. Robin knew her shrimp was not a good thing.

All in all, a very fun episode of Top Chef. Though, I'm not happy to see Mattin go. I found the little Frenchie amusing.

Top Chef Las Vegas: Kevin Gillespie And His Big Beard, Tattoos & Piercings

I've been intending to comment on something since the start of the new season of Top Chef, but I kept forgetting about it. Til now.

Chef Kevin Gillespie and his absurdly big beard. I do not understand why such a thing is not a big cooking no-no. Are hairnets not standard issue in most kitchens? But a big, nasty looking beard is okay?

Reading the various TV forums, like Survivor Sucks, I have seen I am not alone in my aversion to this beard.

After about a month of not shaving the mess on my face starts driving me nuts. I can not imagine have as much shrubbery as Kevin has and not being bugged by it in a hot kitchen.

It is just disturbing. You know at some point in time something has fallen out of that beard into something he is cooking and someone has eaten it. Or a follicle ends up in soup. Or worse.

This seems to be the best group of chefs Top Chef has ever found. And also the most tattooed, most pierced and most bearded. The first Chef told to pack her knives and go, Jennifer, had one of the more disturbing body mutilations I've ever seen, that being her hugely stretched out ear lobes.

And then we had Jesse with those totally strange lip piercings. How does one convince oneself that piercing ones lips is a good plan? Particularly for a person who cooks for a living? Does Jesse think those studs sticking out of her lips make her more attractive?

Why would the younger of the brothers, Michael Voltaglio, have one of his arms totally painted up? He seems like such a sensible guy. Only a few don't have ridiculous tattoos, one of those being his brother Bryan. Bryan seems much too serious to have a tattoo. Then again, it won't shock me if we see him without a shirt on to find he's been totally Michael Scoffielded with tattooed recipes on his back and chest.

I don't think I've seen a tattoo on the good Jennifer chef. Or on the Frenchie, Mattin. And we've seen Mattin running around with his clothes off, with no markings apparent to me. I guess he could have "MOM" tattooed on his butt. I think we've pretty much seen all of Mattin, except for his butt, so that'd be the only place he could be hiding a tattoo, which I don't mind at all, because it highly unlikely I will ever see it.

Top Chef Las Vegas: Jesse & Hector Pack Their Knives And Go

A double elimination this week on Top Chef. Jesse Sandlin and Hector Santiago were told to pack their knives and go.

This week in Vegas it was all French. Starting with a snail Quickfire Challenge. French superstar chef, Daniel Boulud was the guest judge.

The chefs had something like 40 minutes to whip up a stunning escargot dish for Boulud. Many of the chefs confessed to having never cooked snails.

The chefs were also told that the winner would get something special and the loser would be going home. Boulud picked Jennifer Carroll's, Kevin Gillespie's and, I think, Michael Isabella's snail as the best, then picking Kevin's snails as the best of the best.

The worst were Robin Leventhal, Jesse Sandlin and Ashley Merriman. I already told you it was Jesse who was sent packing. Before that happened the three had a 20 minute cook-off, preparing an amuse bouche. I have no idea if that is how that is spelled. But it's when you prepare one little tasty thing. Jesse's amused Tom and Daniel's palates the least.

I had grown to like Jesse. She needs to lose the lip piercings. I do not care for Ashley. She looks more like a man than some of the men. I know, horrible thing to say, but it's what I was thinking.

For the Elimination Challenge Kevin was told he would not be cooking, because he would be dining with the judges, along with some very famous French chefs. All the chefs seemed quite gaga over the idea they'd be cooking for these famous chefs, with the most famous being the "Chef of the Century," Joel Robuchon. He speaks little English, and so a translator was provided.

For the challenge the chefs drew knives that had either a French protein or sauce on it. They then paired up according to what sauce went well with what protein.

The famous French chefs were quite impressed with the Top Chef's efforts. In addition to the aforementioned Boulud and Robuchon, there were Hubert Keller, Laurent Tourondel and Jean Joho.

The favorites were the Jennifer Carrol/Michael Voltaggio team along with the Michael Isabella/Bryan Voltaggio team. In the end it was Bryan who impressed the judges the most, so it was win #2 for him. Last week didn't the other brother win? And wasn't he teamed with the other Michael who was teamed with his brother this week?

It was amusing that the funny Frenchman, Mattin Noblia, failed so miserably at French cooking. He was paired with the aforementioned Ashley. The other pair in the bottom were Robin and the aforementioned Hector, who I already told you was the one told to pack his knives and leave.

The Top Chefs are really impressing the judges this season. Everything seems amped up to me. Vegas does that to you. I wonder why they did not go to the Paris casino. Or up the Eiffel Tower?

Top Chef Las Vegas: Eve Packs Her Knives & Leaves

This week's second episode of Top Chef Las Vegas saw Eve Aronoff going home. Eve seemed a bit overwhelmed during her short stay on the show. Eve owns a restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan called Eve. The choice of restaurant name may be an indicator of Eve's creativity in other areas, like maybe cooking. Eve also has had a cookbook published titled Eve: Contemporary Cuisine, Methode Traditionelle.

The Quickfire Challenge this week continued with the Vegas theme. A craps table was rolled into the kitchen. The chefs took turns rolling the dice, the number that came up was the number of ingredients they had to use to prepare a dish. One of the brothers, the younger one, Mike Voltaggio, won the Quickfire, Immunity and $15,000.

For the Elimination Challenge it was the boys against the girls, cooking for a bachelor/bachelorette party. The boys cooked for the bachelorette, and the girls, well, you don't need that spelled out for you.

The future bride and groom brought in trays of shots of three different drinks, like a tequila shot, a sweet one called Golden Delicious. I forget the third.

When the eating began the judges were clearly liking the boy's stuff best, picking both brothers, Hector and last week's winner, Kevin, as the top 4. Though it did not sound like a good thing, older brother, Bryan, won with his Guacamole Macaroon. The judges raved about it, both on the show and in their blogs.

Eve, Preeti, Jesse and Ashley were the worst of the worst. Ashley whined way too much about not wanting to participate in any wedding ritual, due to she being unable to legally marry someone of her own sex. A rude person in Survivor Sucks suggested that Ashley could easily get around this problem by simply saying she was a man and marry the woman of her choice.

I'd like Jesse if she'd lose the lip piercings. The brother rivalry plot line may grow tired, too. It seems as if there are way more really good cooks this time around than we've seen before.

Top Chef: Jennifer Zavala Packs Her Knives And Leaves

Good first episode of the new season of Bravo's Top Chef. The Chef'testants appear to be an interesting mix, including 2 brothers, last name Voltaggio, first names Bryan and Michael.

It is hard to remember names and not get confused in the early episodes of Top Chef when there are just way too many chefs running around.

I've never seen so many tattoos on a reality show before, let alone a cooking reality show. I am not a fan of tattoos. Or piercings. Or doing odd things to ones ears. The chef who got sent home had enormous earrings, at least that's what I thought they were, til near the end when I realized her ears had been stretched by, I guess, a metal ring, that I mistook for an earring. Why do people do these things to themselves?

I found chef Jesse Sandlin actually rather likable. She seems like she may do well. She has tattoos and piercings through her lip area. I would think this would interfere with ones tasting and cooking. But, apparently not.

The Quickfire Challenge was the Top Chef staple where the chefs are divided into 4 teams and then have to shuck clams, break down lobsters, cut up beef and one other thing I'm forgetting. To divide up the teams a herd of Vegas Showgirls sashayed in. I was distracted. I forget how they helped divide the teams. Suffice to say colored chips were drawn in 4 colors and one gold chip. The gold chip ended up with an older lady chef, maybe the name was Robin. For her gold chip she won immunity. And maybe money. I really need to take notes.

One of the Quickfire Challenge chefs doomed her team due to her inability to open a clam. I think her name is Preeti. Then there was a cook off deal using the food they'd just prepared. After an awful lot of motion, Jennifer Carroll was declared the winner. I think she won $15,000. I remember she kissed Tom Collochio, who seemed a tad surprised. I don't believe she won immunity. Isn't that usually part of winning the Quickfire?

Jennifer Carroll appears to be a very competent cooker. And a bit of a looker. Top Chef is a little weak in the looker department this time. One or two I was not quite certain which gender category they went in. A name like Ashley can go either way.

For the elimination round the chefs stayed with the same teams with each member creating a dish based on their own signature vices. The judges, including the extremely amusing Wolfgang Puck, then picked the best and worst of each team's dishes.


The worst seemed to be the worst by quite a margin. Jen Zavala, she with the big ears, made a chile relleno. Even I can make a good chile relleno. And I'm not chef. She stuffed her relleno with some strange gooey protein. Her relleno just looked nasty on the plate, unlike any relleno I've ever seen.

Kevin Gillespie's fish dish ended up being the judge's favorite. And so he won. They liked whatever it was that Jennifer Carroll cooked too. I thought it was she who was going to win. They also like the Haitian boat person, Ron Duprat's, seafood concoction. Michael Isabella was the other who won in his group. I don't remember what his vice was or what he cooked. He seemed a tad cocky, but I liked him okay.

The brother team seem likable and competent. Most all the chefs seem to be real good this time. Except for the relleno girl who was sent home. She appeared to be a single mom who had hoped to win Top Chef and send her son to Yale. I hope that works out for her.

Previews made it appear that a lot of drama and shouting will ensue through the rest of the season.

Top Chef: Las Vegas Starts Tonight

On the Bravo TV Top Chef and Top Chef Masters websites both say they will be on tonight, Wednesday, August 19 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

I believe there are 2 episodes of Top Chef Masters remaining, with season 1 winner of Top Chef, Harold Dieterle, being a judge on the last 2 episodes.

Top Chef taking place in Las Vegas should be interesting. All the regulars are back, including my favorite host, Padma Lakshmi. Along with head judge Tom Colicchio, who is my favorite head judge.

Food & Wine magazine's Gail Simmons is back judging.

Also back is that annoying little bald British guy, Toby Young. It seems fitting that Toby Young is the author of a book titled Lose Friends and Alienate People.

The line up of celebrity chefs and other type celebrities has more names that I recognize than the "stars" on the upcoming new season of Dancing with the Stars. We'll be seeing my neighbor, Tim Love, Penn & Teller, Wolfgang Puck, Daniel Boulud, Hubert Tuller, Michelle Bernstein, Natalie Portman, Jerome Bocuse, Paul Bartolotta, Laurent Tourondel and Nigella Lawson.

We start with 17 chef'testants tonight. Looking at the cast bios and photos it looks to be an interesting group. I am sure a lot of good drama and great food is about to be cooked up.

I hope my DVR can figure out when to record Top Chef and Top Chef Masters.