Top Chef (season 1) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Top Chef: San Francisco is the first season of American reality television series Top Chef
Top Chef
Top Chef is an American reality competition show that airs on the cable television network Bravo, in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges. They are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the food and wine industry with one or more contestants...

and was based first in San Francisco, California

San Francisco, California

San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...

, filmed at Paulding & Company, A Creative Kitchen, in Emeryville, and concluded in Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...

. The season premiered on Bravo on March 8, 2006 and ended on May 24, 2006. Season 1 of Top Chef
Top Chef
Top Chef is an American reality competition show that airs on the cable television network Bravo, in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges. They are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the food and wine industry with one or more contestants...

was taped in October and November 2005 in San Francisco, California

San Francisco, California

. Twelve contestants from around the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

lived together in a house for approximately 21 days competing in a series of challenges. The weekly series was hosted by Katie Lee Joel

Katie Lee Joel

Katie Lee is a television food critic and chef.-Biography:Lee is from Milton, West Virginia. She is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a Bachelor's degree in English and Journalism. While there she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta...

with regular judges chef Tom Colicchio

Tom Colicchio

Thomas Patrick "Tom" Colicchio is an American celebrity chef. He co-founded the Gramercy Tavern in New York City, and formerly served as a co-owner and as the executive chef. He is also the founder of Craft and Colicchio & Sons restaurants...

and Gail Simmons

Gail Simmons

Gail Simmons is a trained culinary expert, food writer and television personality, and is the Special Projects Director with Food & Wine magazine...

of Food & Wine Magazine
Food & Wine Magazine
Food & Wine is a monthly magazine published by American Express Publishing. It was founded in 1978 by Ariane and Michael Batterberry. It features recipes, cooking tips, travel information, restaurant reviews, chefs, wine pairings and seasonal/holiday content and has been credited by The New York...

. The winning recipe from each week's episode is featured on Bravo's Top Chef website.

Judges

Tom Colicchio
Tom Colicchio
Thomas Patrick "Tom" Colicchio is an American celebrity chef. He co-founded the Gramercy Tavern in New York City, and formerly served as a co-owner and as the executive chef. He is also the founder of Craft and Colicchio & Sons restaurants...

(Head Judge
Leader
A leader is one who influences or leads others.Leader may also refer to:- Newspapers :* Leading article, a piece of writing intended to promote an opinion, also called an editorial* The Leader , published 1909–1967...

)
Katie Lee Joel
Katie Lee Joel
Katie Lee is a television food critic and chef.-Biography:Lee is from Milton, West Virginia. She is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a Bachelor's degree in English and Journalism. While there she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta...

(Host
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...

)
Gail Simmons
Gail Simmons
Gail Simmons is a trained culinary expert, food writer and television personality, and is the Special Projects Director with Food & Wine magazine...

(Judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...

)

Guest judges

Hubert Keller
Hubert Keller
Hubert Keller is a noted French chef, who is known for his signature restaurants, Fleur de Lys in San Francisco and Las Vegas.- Biography :Keller was born in Alsace, France, and graduated from the École Hoteliere in Strasbourg...

(Ep. 1 Quickfire and Elimination, Ep. 11 Elimination)
Paige White (Ep. 1 Elimination)
Elizabeth Falkner (Ep. 2 Quickfire and Elimination)
Laurent Manrique
Laurent Manrique
Laurent Manrique was the Corporate Executive Chef of Aqua, an upscale seafood restaurant in San Francisco, which earned 2 Michelin stars in 2006, the first time Michelin came to the San Francisco Bay Area, and again in 2007 and 2008. He also oversees Cafe de la Presse, located on the corner of...

(Ep. 3 Quickfire and Elimination)
Jefferson Hill (Ep. 4 Quickfire and Elimination
Mike Yakura (Ep. 5 Quickfire and Elimination)
Ted Allen
Ted Allen
Ted Allen is an American writer and television personality. He was the food and wine connoisseur on the American Bravo network's Emmy-winning television program Queer Eye. He now is the host of the prime-time series on Food Network Chopped, a culinary competition in which four chefs per episode...

(Ep. 6 Quickfire and Elimination)
Jeffrey Chodorow
Jeffrey Chodorow
Jeffrey Chodorow is an American restaurateur and financier.-Early career:Jeffrey Chodorow's father died when he was young and he was raised by his mother, a manicurist. He attended Wharton and has a law degree from University of Pennsylvania.In the 1970s, Chodorow developed shopping centers in...

(Ep. 7 Quickfire and Elimination)
Marcy Blum
Marcy Blum
Marcy Blum is an American "eventiste" who is the owner of the acclaimed event planning company Marcy Blum Associates based in New York City. Marcy is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America and began her career in the restaurant business, later creating a segue into the then developing...

(Ep. 8 Quickfire and Elimination)
Greg Cole (Ep. 9 Elimination)
Lissa Doumani (Ep. 9 Elimination)
Philippe Jeanty (Ep. 9 Elimination)
Douglas Keane (Ep. 9 Elimination)
Keith Luce (Ep. 9 Elimination)
James McDevitt (Ep. 9 Elimination)
Cindy Pawlcyn (Ep. 9 Elimination)
Victor Scargle (Ep. 9 Elimination)
Hiro Sone (Ep. 9 Elimination)
John Shafer (Ep. 9 Elimination)
Lee Anne Wong
Lee Anne Wong
Lee Anne Wong is an American chef and was one of the last four contestants on the first season of Bravo's reality show, Top Chef. She was the culinary producer for the next four seasons of Top Chef, where her duties included sourcing and styling the ingredients for the various challenges, as well...

(Ep. 11 Quickfire and Elimination)
Miguel Morales (Ep. 11 Quickfire and Elimination)
Stephen Asprinio (Ep. 11 Quickfire and Elimination)
Performers from Cirque Du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...

's Kà
Ka
-Language:* Ka * Ka * Georgian language, ISO 639-1 code ka* A glyph in the Brahmic family of scripts-Media and entertainment:* Ka * Kà, a Cirque du Soleil show* Mister Mosquito, a video game, known in Japan as Ka...

(Ep. 11 Quickfire and Elimination)
Lorraine Bracco
Lorraine Bracco
Lorraine Bracco is an American actress. She is best known for her TV roles as Dr. Jennifer Melfi on HBO series, The Sopranos, and Angela Rizzoli on the TNT series, Rizzoli & Isles...

(Ep. 12)

Contestants=

12 chefs competed in Season 1. Names and hometowns below are from the Bravo website. Ages listed are at the time of the Top Chef: San Francisco taping in October-November, 2005. In the order eliminated:

Ken Lee, 31 — Resides in: Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
Cynthia Sestito, 52 — Resides in: East Hampton, New York
East Hampton (town), New York
The Town of East Hampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, at the eastern end of the South Shore of Long Island. It is the easternmost town in the state of New York...
Brian Hill
Brian Hill (chef)
Brian Hill is an American chef who gained notoriety as a contestant on the first season of the television show Top Chef.Since then he has been one of the six regular chefs in the Food Network reality show Private Chefs of Beverly Hills...

, 37 — Resides in: Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
Candice Kumai, 23 — Resides in: Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
Lisa Parks, 45 — Resides in: Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
Andrea Beaman, 38 — Resides in: New York City, New York
Miguel Morales, 27 — Resides in: New York City, New York
Stephen Asprinio, 24 — Resides in: Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
Lee Anne Wong
Lee Anne Wong
Lee Anne Wong is an American chef and was one of the last four contestants on the first season of Bravo's reality show, Top Chef. She was the culinary producer for the next four seasons of Top Chef, where her duties included sourcing and styling the ingredients for the various challenges, as well...

, 28 — Resides in: New York City, New York
Dave Martin
Dave Martin (chef)
Dave Martin is an American chef from Long Beach, California who was a finalist in Top Chef . While on Top Chef, Martin won three elimination challenges and made it to the final three. On Bravo's Top Chef, he was noted for his intense layering of flavors and vivid descriptions of his dishes...

, 40 — Resides in: Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
Tiffani Faison
Tiffani Faison
Tiffani Faison is an American chef and was one of two finalists on the first season of Bravo's reality show, Top Chef. She finished second place to Harold Dieterle....

, 28 — Resides in: Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...

-- Runner-up
Harold Dieterle
Harold Dieterle
Harold Dieterle III is an American chef, best known as the winner of the first season of the Bravo television network's reality television series Top Chef. His signature dish is spicy duck meatballs....

, 28 — Resides in: New York City, New York -- Winner

Credit order: Ken, Miguel, Andrea, Dave, Cynthia, Stephen, Lisa, Candice, Tiffani, Brian, Lee Anne, Harold

Contestant Progress

Contestant	1	2	3	4		6			9		Finale
Quickfire Winner	Lee Anne	Stephen	Tiffani	Lee Anne	Andrea	Stephen	Harold	Lee Anne	Harold	None	None
Harold	WIN	IN	LOW	HIGH	LOW	IN	HIGH	IN	HIGH	HIGH	WINNER
Tiffani	HIGH	IN	LOW	WIN	WIN	HIGH	HIGH	IN	LOW	LOW
Dave	IN	LOW	LOW	IN	WIN	LOW	WIN	IN	WIN	OUT
	IN	IN	LOW	IN	HIGH	WIN	LOW	IN	OUT
Stephen	HIGH	HIGH	WIN	LOW	HIGH	HIGH	LOW	OUT
Miguel	IN	WIN	WIN	IN	LOW	LOW	OUT
Andrea	LOW	OUT	WIN	HIGH	LOW	OUT
Lisa	IN	LOW	WIN	LOW	OUT
Candice	LOW	IN	WIN	OUT
Brian	IN	HIGH	OUT
Cynthia	IN	LOW	QUIT
Ken	OUT

: Andrea was brought back in Episode 3, after being eliminated once, when Cynthia chose to leave because her father was ill.

: Chefs worked in teams of two with two winners and one eliminated.

: From this point on, immunity

Immunity (reality television)

Immunity in reality television is a concept that is widely used in weekly elimination-type reality television shows by which a contestant participating in such a show may not be "kicked off" or eliminated from competition in a particular time period...

is no longer awarded to the winner of a Quickfire Challenge.

: The judges felt nobody had distinguished themselves in the Elimination Challenge, so no winner was named.

: Episode 10 was a reunion episode with no challenges.

(WINNER) The chef won the season and was crowned Top Chef.

(RUNNER-UP) The chef was a runner-up for the season.

(WIN) The chef won that episode's Elimination Challenge.

(HIGH) The chef was selected as one of the top entries in the Elimination Challenge, but did not win.

(LOW) The chef was selected as one of the bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge, but was not eliminated.

(OUT) The chef lost that week's Elimination Challenge and was out of the competition.

(IN) The chef neither won nor lost that week's Elimination Challenge. They also were not up to be eliminated.

(QUIT) The chef withdrew from the show.

Episodes

Each episode included two challenges. The Quickfire Challenge was a short, simple challenge with a varying reward each week. The Elimination Challenge was a more complex challenge that determined who was sent home. One or more guest judges joined the show each week to evaluate both the Quickfire and Elimination challenges. Each week's elimination was announced in a segment called "Judges' Table."

Episode 1: Who Deserves To Be Here

Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must survive working the line at chef Hubert Keller
Hubert Keller
Hubert Keller is a noted French chef, who is known for his signature restaurants, Fleur de Lys in San Francisco and Las Vegas.- Biography :Keller was born in Alsace, France, and graduated from the École Hoteliere in Strasbourg...

's Fleur de Lys
Fleur de Lys (restaurant)
Fleur de Lys in San Francisco, California, along with its sister restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada, are two of the premier French restaurants in the United States.- History and description :...

restaurant for 30 minutes. The winner gets immunity from elimination.
- Chefs that survived 30 minutes: Tiffani, Dave, and Lee Anne
- WINNER: Lee Anne
Elimination Challenge: The chefs must prepare a signature dish to be served to the other Top Chef contestants.
- WINNER: Harold (Steamed Thai Pink Snapper
  Lutjanidae
  Snappers are a family of perciform fish, mainly marine but with some members inhabiting estuaries, feeding in freshwater. Some are important food fish. One of the best known is the red snapper....
  
  with Brussel Sprout Leaves and Chanterelle
  Chanterelle
  Cantharellus cibarius, commonly known as the chanterelle, golden chanterelle or girolle, is a fungus. It is probably the best known species of the genus Cantharellus, if not the entire family of Cantharellaceae. It is orange or yellow, meaty and funnel-shaped...
  
  Mushrooms)
- ELIMINATED: Ken (Pan Seared Alaskan Halibut
  Halibut
  Halibut is a flatfish, genus Hippoglossus, from the family of the right-eye flounders . Other flatfish are also called halibut. The name is derived from haly and butt , for its popularity on Catholic holy days...
  
  w/ Soy Bean Green Onion Parsnip Puree and Heirloom tomato
  Heirloom tomato
  An heirloom tomato is an open-pollinated heirloom cultivar of tomato. Heirloom tomatoes have become increasingly popular and more readily available in recent years...
  
  Compote)
Reason for Elimination: During the Quickfire, Ken antagonized the judges, particularly Keller. Keller asked Ken to taste the sauce he was preparing but instead of using a spoon, Ken dipped his finger in the sauce. Keller kicked him out of the kitchen but once the challenge was over, Ken continued bickering with Keller and Colicchio, firmly maintaining that tasting the sauce by dipping one's fingers in it was a normal and practical method. The judges and his fellow contestants viewed him as too cocky, especially when his Elimination Challenge dish failed to live up to his tough talk.
Guest Judge: Hubert Keller
Original Airdate: March 8, 2006

Episode 2: Food of Love

Quickfire Challenge: The chefs choose from a large selection of fruit to prepare a plate for presentation. The winner gets immunity from elimination.
- WINNER: Stephen
Elimination Challenge: The chefs have to make a sexy dessert for a fetish party at Mr. S, a sex boutique in San Francisco - co-hosted by Paige White.
- WINNER: Miguel ("The Total Orgasm": Pastry Puffs, Tapioca
  Tapioca
  Tapioca is a starch extracted Manihot esculenta. This species, native to the Amazon, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and most of the West Indies, is now cultivated worldwide and has many names, including cassava, manioc, aipim,...
  
  Pillows, and Hot Chocolate Shot)
- ELIMINATED: Andrea ("Creamy Balls and Crunchy Nuts": Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls w/ Chocolate Almond Flowers and Almonds)
Guest Judge: Elizabeth Falkner
Original Airdate: March 15, 2006

Episode 3: Nasty Delights

Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must prepare octopus in one hour. The winner gets immunity from elimination.
- WINNER: Tiffani (Tomato Succo w/ Octopus Frit and Red Wine Braised Angel Hair Pasta w/ Cold Octopus)
Elimination Challenge: Working in two teams, the chefs must prepare monkfish
Monkfish
Monkfish is the English name of a number of types of fish in the northwest Atlantic, most notably the species of the anglerfish genus Lophius and the angelshark genus Squatina...

for a group of children who will rate the food.
- Red Team: Andrea, Candace, Lisa, Miguel, & Stephen
  - Deep Fried "Monkey Dogs"
  - Fresh Fruit Kabobs with Dipping Yogurt
  - Potato Chips
- Blue Team: Brian, Dave, Harold, Lee Anne, & Tiffani
  - Baked Cereal-Coated Monkfish Nuggets
  - Cheesy Tater Tots
    Tater Tots
    Tater Tots, a registered trademark for a commercial form of hash browns made by Ore-Ida, are a side-dish made from deep-fried, grated taters. Tater Tots are widely recognized by their crispness, cylindrical shape and small size....
  - Glazed Baby Carrots w/ Maple Syrup
  - Strawberry Applesauce
- WINNING TEAM: Red Team (no single person was chosen as winner)
- ELIMINATED: Brian
- QUIT: Cynthia
Replacement: Cynthia Sestito chose to leave the show during this episode to be with her sick father. Andrea was then brought back to keep the two sides balanced for the team elimination challenge.
Guest Judge: Laurent Manrique
Laurent Manrique
Laurent Manrique was the Corporate Executive Chef of Aqua, an upscale seafood restaurant in San Francisco, which earned 2 Michelin stars in 2006, the first time Michelin came to the San Francisco Bay Area, and again in 2007 and 2008. He also oversees Cafe de la Presse, located on the corner of...
Original Airdate: March 22, 2006
As shown on Bravo Top Moments, Candice and Stephen fight over buying cookie cutters.

Episode 4: Food on the Fly

Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must create a dish in 30 minutes using $20 worth of ingredients from a gas station store. The winner gets immunity from elimination.
- WINNER: Lee Anne (Funyun Battered Oscar Meyer Spiedie
  Spiedie
  The spiedie is a dish local to Greater Binghamton in the Southern Tier of New York State, and somewhat more broadly known and enjoyed throughout Central New York state. Spiedie consists of cubes of chicken, pork, lamb, veal, venison or beef...
  
  )
Elimination Challenge: Each chef must create a gourmet entree that can be reheated in a microwave. They must then serve their dishes to a group of Junior League
Junior League
The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. is a non-profit organization of 292 Junior Leagues in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and the United States. Junior Leagues are educational and charitable women's organizations aimed at improving their communities through volunteerism and...

women who will rate the meals.
- WINNER: Tiffani (Miso and Mirin
  Mirin
  is an essential condiment used in Japanese cuisine, consisting of 40%–50% sugar. It is a kind of rice wine similar to sake, but with a lower alcohol content—14% instead of 20%. There are three general types. The first is hon mirin , which contains alcohol. The second is shio mirin, which contains...
  
  Glazed Seabass)
- ELIMINATED: Candice (Shrimp and Spinach Quiche)
Guest Judge: Jefferson Hill
Original Airdate: March 29, 2006

Episode 5: Blind Confusion

Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must identify a variety of ingredients by taste while blindfolded for five minutes. The winner gets immunity from elimination.
- WINNER: Andrea
Elimination Challenge: Working in teams of two, the chefs must create a dish fusing
Fusion cuisine
Fusion cuisine combines elements of various culinary traditions while not being categorized per any one particular cuisine style, and can pertain to innovations in many contemporary restaurant cuisines since the 1970s.-Categories and types:...

Latin American cuisine with one other ethnic cuisine. Dave and Tiffani had Moroccan, Andrea and Miguel had Indian, Lee Anne and Stephen had Chinese, and Harold and Lisa had Japanese. They then had to distribute the dish from a cart in the Mission District of San Francisco.
- WINNERS: Dave and Tiffani (Moroccan Cuba
  Cuba
  The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
  
  no Pork Sandwich)
- ELIMINATED: Lisa (Japanese Seared Tuna Avocado Salad}
Guest Judge: Mike Yakura
Original Airdate: April 5, 2006
Following the Quickfire Challenge, the contestants held an impromptu junk food
Junk food
Junk food is an informal term applied to some foods that are perceived to have little or no nutritional value ; to products with nutritional value, but which also have ingredients considered unhealthy when regularly eaten; or to those considered unhealthy to consume at all...

blindfold taste test to make light of the fact that most did not score highly in the challenge. Miguel won.

Episode 6: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

Quickfire Challenge: Each chef must create an appetizer in 20 minutes using $3 worth of ingredients, priced by the ounce.
- WINNER: Stephen (Poached Baby Manila Clams
  Venerupis philippinarum
  Venerupis philippinarum is an edible species of saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Veneridae, the Venus clams.The common names of the species include "Japanese littleneck", "Manila clam", "steamer clam", "Filipino Venus", "Japanese cockle", and "Japanese carpet...
  
  over Grilled Sea Beans)
Elimination Challenge: The chefs have to create a seven-course dinner party for Ted Allen
Ted Allen
Ted Allen is an American writer and television personality. He was the food and wine connoisseur on the American Bravo network's Emmy-winning television program Queer Eye. He now is the host of the prime-time series on Food Network Chopped, a culinary competition in which four chefs per episode...

. Each chef got to choose the course he or she wanted, but then the producers changed everything: A random knife-block draw forced each chef to work on another chef's recipe.
- WINNER: Lee Anne (Tiffani's Duck Breast with Fig Stuffed Gnocchi
  Gnocchi
  Gnocchi are various thick, soft dumplings. They may be made from semolina, ordinary wheat flour, flour and egg, flour, egg, and cheese, potato, bread crumbs, or similar ingredients. The smaller forms are called gnocchetti....
  
  )
- ELIMINATED: Andrea (Miguel's Smoked Scallops and Caviar on a Latke)
Guest Judge: Ted Allen
Ted Allen
Ted Allen is an American writer and television personality. He was the food and wine connoisseur on the American Bravo network's Emmy-winning television program Queer Eye. He now is the host of the prime-time series on Food Network Chopped, a culinary competition in which four chefs per episode...
Original Airdate: April 12, 2006

Episode 7: Restaurant Wars

Quickfire Challenge: Each chef are asked to make a sandwich in 30 minutes using any of the available ingredients. The winning sandwich will be put on the menu at the San Francisco location of Tom Colicchio's 'Wichcraft restaurant.
- WINNER: Harold (Mortadella
  Mortadella
  Mortadella is a large Italian sausage or cold cut made of finely hashed or ground, heat-cured pork sausage, which incorporates at least 15% small cubes of pork fat . Mortadella is a staple product of Bologna, Italy...
  
  Dandelion Sandwich on Grilled Sourdough with Trumpet Royales
  Pleurotus eryngii
  Pleurotus eryngii is an edible mushroom native to Mediterranean regions of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, but also grown in parts of Asia.In Italian it is called cardoncello; in Chinese, it is called xìng bào gū Pleurotus eryngii (also known as king trumpet mushroom, French horn...
  
  and a Black Olive Aioli
  Aioli
  Aioli ) is a traditional sauce made of garlic, olive oil, and egg. There are many variations, such as the addition of mustard or, in Catalonia, pears. It is usually served at room temperature. The name aioli comes from Provençal alh 'garlic' is a traditional sauce made of garlic, olive oil,...
  
  )
  - From this point on, immunity is no longer awarded to the winner of a Quickfire Challenge.
Elimination Challenge: Working in two teams of three, the chefs must transform raw restaurant spaces, including the decor and the menu. Twenty-four hours later, diners arrive, choose which restaurant to dine in, and rate their experience.
Sabor: Lee Anne, Miguel, Stephen
- Tapas
  Tapas
  Tapas are a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks, in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold or warm ....
  
  Trio
- Red Snapper on Paella
  Paella
  Paella is a Valencian rice dish that originated in its modern form in the mid-19th century near lake Albufera, a lagoon in Valencia, on the east coast of Spain. Many non-Spaniards view paella as Spain's national dish, but most Spaniards consider it to be a regional Valencian dish...
  
  Cake
- Olive Oil Ice Cream
American Workshop: Dave, Harold, Tiffani
- Tuna Tartare
  Tartare
  Tartare is a preparation of finely chopped raw meat or fish optionally with seasonings and sauces.Examples include:* Steak tartare* Venison tartare* Salmon tartare* Tuna tartareCommonly a tartare is served as a spread for toast...
- Roasted Chicken w/ Fall Vegetables
- Fruit Crisp
WINNING TEAM: American Workshop
- WINNER: Dave
- ELIMINATED: Miguel
Guest Judge: Jeffrey Chodorow
Jeffrey Chodorow
Jeffrey Chodorow is an American restaurateur and financier.-Early career:Jeffrey Chodorow's father died when he was young and he was raised by his mother, a manicurist. He attended Wharton and has a law degree from University of Pennsylvania.In the 1970s, Chodorow developed shopping centers in...
Original Airdate: April 19, 2006
In this episode, Dave famously said to Tiffani "I'm not your bitch, bitch", after she constantly nagged him. It became the most quoted line of the season.
Before the teams get to work on their restaurant concepts, Chodorow reveals that the winner of the Elimination Challenge will accompany him to the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...

.

Episode 8: Wedding Bell Blues

Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must design a wedding reception menu in 90 minutes and pitch it to the wedding couple. The winning team's menu will be used for the wedding reception.
- WINNER: Lee Anne
Elimination Challenge: Working as a team, the chefs are required to cater a wedding reception for 100 guests using the menu chosen in the Quickfire challenge. The reception starts in 16 hours.

WEDDING MENU

- Canapé
  Canapé
  A canapé is a small, prepared and usually decorative food, held in the fingers and often eaten in one bite.- Details :...
  
  : Crispy Prawn Toast and Crab Meat on Pita Toast
- Amuse-bouche: Lobster Hamuraki, Glazed Oysters, Yazu Marinated Roe
  Roe
  Roe or hard roe is the fully ripe internal egg masses in the ovaries, or the released external egg masses of fish and certain marine animals, such as shrimp, scallop and sea urchins...
  
  , and Crab Soup Dumplings
- First Course: Seared Salmon on Thai Green Papaya Salad w/ Lime & Chili Vinagrette
- Second Course: "The Lover's Nest" - Seafood and Fresh Vegetables, Potato Taro Root Basket, Mango, & Coconut
- Third Course: Peking Style Beef, Crispy Scallion Pancakes, and Cucumber Salad
- Dessert: Passion Fruit and Ginger Scented Cake w/ White Chocolate Butter Cream along with an assortment of Chocolate Truffles
  - WINNER: None
  - ELIMINATED: Stephen
Guest Judge: Marcy Blum
Marcy Blum
Marcy Blum is an American "eventiste" who is the owner of the acclaimed event planning company Marcy Blum Associates based in New York City. Marcy is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America and began her career in the restaurant business, later creating a segue into the then developing...
Original Airdate: April 26, 2006

Episode 9: Napa's Finest

Quickfire Challenge: The chefs are asked to recreate a classic junk food
Junk food
Junk food is an informal term applied to some foods that are perceived to have little or no nutritional value ; to products with nutritional value, but which also have ingredients considered unhealthy when regularly eaten; or to those considered unhealthy to consume at all...

element into a gourmet dish in 45 minutes. The winner's performance counts in the overall assessment of the week's challenges, and also receives a bottle of Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...

. http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/Episodes/Episode_9/Blogs/gail2.shtml
- WINNER: Harold (Popcorn Cakes with an Ecuadorian Ceviche
  Ceviche
  Ceviche is a seafood dish popular in the coastal regions of the Americas, especially Central and South America. The dish is typically made from fresh raw fish marinated in citrus juices such as lemon or lime and spiced with chilli peppers. Additional seasonings such as onion, salt,...
  
  of Shrimp, Calamari and Clementine
  Clementine
  A clementine is a variety of mandarin orange , so named in 1902. The exterior is a deep orange colour with a smooth, glossy appearance. Clementines can be separated into seven to fourteen segments. They tend to be very easy to peel, like a tangerine, but are almost always seedless...
  
  s with Lime Juice)
Elimination Challenge: All of the remaining chefs travel to Napa Valley's COPIA
COPIA
COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts was a cultural museum and education center dedicated to the discovery, understanding, and celebration of wine, food and the arts in American culture. COPIA was located in the Napa Valley in the town of Napa, California...

to prepare a dish incorporating expensive black Périgord truffles to be served with 2001 Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Each chef's dish will be served to a group of top professional chefs from Northern California who are the guest judges.
- WINNER: Dave (Truffle and Cognac Cream Macaroni and Cheese, Filet of Beef, Collard Greens and Radicchio
  Radicchio
  Radicchio is a leaf chicory , sometimes known as Italian chicory and is a perennial. It is grown as a leaf vegetable which usually has white-veined red leaves. It has a bitter and spicy taste, which mellows when it is grilled or roasted.- History :Humans have been using radicchio since ancient times...
  
  )
- ELIMINATED: Lee Anne (Pistachio Crusted Lamb Loin, Butternut Squash and Black Truffle Risotto with Red Wine Sauce)
Guest Judges: Greg Cole, Lissa Doumani, Philippe Jeanty, Douglas Keane, Keith Luce, James McDevitt, Cindy Pawlcyn, Victor Scargle, Hiro Sone, John Shafer
Original Airdate: May 3, 2006

Episode 10: Reunion

All twelve chefs are reunited with Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons and Katie Lee Joel in a discussion and behind-the-scenes review of their experiences on Top Chef. Though it was shown before the finale, the reunion was actually taped in late April 2006, after the finale took place. It is unknown how many of the chefs other than the winner, Harold, finalists Tiffani and Dave, and participants Miguel, Stephen and Lee Anne, knew the results of the finale at the time of the reunion taping.
Original Airdate: May 10, 2006

Episode 11: Las Vegas Finale, Part 1

The three finalists, Dave, Harold and Tiffani, meet at the MGM Grand
MGM Grand Las Vegas
The MGM Grand Las Vegas is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The MGM Grand is the third largest hotel in the world and largest hotel resort complex in the United States in front of The Venetian. The MGM Grand was the largest hotel in the world when it opened in...

where they compete in a series of three Quickfire Challenges to determine which two chefs will remain to compete in a final challenge for the grand prize of Top Chef.
Quickfire/Elimination Challenges: For each challenge, the chefs must prepare hotel room service meals in 30 minutes for different customers: first a room of high roller
High roller
A high roller, also referred to as a whale in the casino industry, is a gambler who wagers large amounts of money. High rollers often receive lavish "perks" from casinos to lure them onto the gambling floors, such as free private jet transfers, limousine use and use of the casinos' best suites...

s, including former competitors Lee Anne, Miguel and Stephen; then a table of poker players including Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth is an American professional poker player. He is best known for holding a record 11 World Series of Poker bracelets, for winning the Main Event of the 1989 World Series of Poker and for his temperamental, "poker brat" personality...

; and, finally, performers from Cirque du Soleil
Kà (Cirque du Soleil)
Kà is a show by Cirque du Soleil at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Created and directed by Robert Lepage, the show and the theater cost $220 million to develop....

. Each group of patrons were to decide who was their favorite. Harold won with the "high rollers" and Cirque du Soleil performers, Dave won with the poker players, and Tiffani won none.
- FINAL TWO: Harold and Tiffani
- ELIMINATED: Dave
Guest Judge: Hubert Keller
Hubert Keller
Hubert Keller is a noted French chef, who is known for his signature restaurants, Fleur de Lys in San Francisco and Las Vegas.- Biography :Keller was born in Alsace, France, and graduated from the École Hoteliere in Strasbourg...
Original Airdate: May 17, 2006
Although his Kobe beef
Kobe beef
refers to cuts of beef from the black Tajima-ushi breed of Wagyū cattle, raised according to strict tradition in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The meat is generally considered to be a delicacy, renowned for its flavour, tenderness, and fatty, well-marbled texture. Kobe beef can be prepared as steak,...

dish was the overall favorite among the performers, Dave was disqualified for the round because he misunderstood the challenge and only served two dishes instead of the required three.

Episode 12: Las Vegas Finale, Part 2

Final Challenge: The two finalists, Harold and Tiffani, each prepare a five course tasting meal to be served to a table of eight luminaries from the culinary world. Note: Tiffani chose to make two preparations of each course. Harold is assisted by former competitors Lee Anne and Miguel. Tiffani is assisted by former competitors Stephen and Dave. The final menus for each chef are:

Harold:

1st Course: Seared Diver Scallop with Blood Orange and Fennel
Fennel
Fennel is a plant species in the genus Foeniculum . It is a member of the family Apiaceae . It is a hardy, perennial, umbelliferous herb, with yellow flowers and feathery leaves...

Salad
2nd Course: Olive Oil Poached Bass
3rd Course: Pan Roasted Quail with Herb Spaetzle and Cherries and Foie Gras
Foie gras
Foie gras ; French for "fat liver") is a food product made of the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened. This fattening is typically achieved through gavage corn, according to French law, though outside of France it is occasionally produced using natural feeding...
4th Course: Duo of Beef with Kobe Beef and Braised Short Ribs
5th Course: Fig Tart with Cheeses

Tiffani:

1st Course: Seared Diver Scallop on Squid Ink and Scallop Crudo
Crudo
In Italian cuisine, crudo is a raw fish dish dressed with olive oil, sea salt, and citrus juice such as lemon juice and sometimes vinegar. The word literally means "raw" in Italian.-External links:*...

with Citrus
2nd Course: Artichoke Risotto with Porketta and Crispy Artichoke with Dipping Sauce
3rd Course: Steamed Bronzino
European seabass
The European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax, also known as Morone labrax, is a primarily ocean-going fish that sometimes enters brackish and fresh waters. It is also known as the sea dace...

with Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille is a traditional French Provençal stewed vegetable dish, originating in Nice. The full name of the dish is ratatouille niçoise.- Origin :...

and Crispy Bronzino
European seabass
The European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax, also known as Morone labrax, is a primarily ocean-going fish that sometimes enters brackish and fresh waters. It is also known as the sea dace...

with Black Olive Pappardelle
Pappardelle
Pappardelle are large, very broad fettuccine. The name derives from the verb “pappare", to gobble up. The fresh types are two to three centimetres wide and may have fluted edges. Dried egg pappardelle have straight sides. This traditional pasta, a cousin to the smaller tagliatelle, was...
4th Course: Saltimbocca
Saltimbocca
Saltimbocca is a dish made of veal lined or topped with prosciutto and sage; marinated in wine, oil or saltwater depending on the region or one's own taste...

with Primitivo Glace and Veal with Minted Peas and Spinach Crema
5th Course: Bread Pudding with Rum Cocktail and Vanilla Panna Cotta
Panna cotta
Panna cotta is an Italian dessert made by simmering together cream, milk and sugar, mixing this with gelatin, and letting it cool until set. It is generally from the Northern Italian region of Piemonte, although it is eaten all over Italy, where it is served with wild berries, caramel, chocolate...

with Amaretto
Amaretto
Amaretto is an Italian sweet almond-flavoured liqueur. It is made from a base of apricot or almond pits, sometimes both.-Etymology:The name is a diminutive of the Italian amaro, meaning "bitter," indicating the distinctive flavour lent by the mandorla amara--the bitter almond or the drupe kernel...

Cocktail
- TOP CHEF: Harold
- RUNNER-UP: Tiffani
- Guest Judge: Lorraine Bracco
  Lorraine Bracco
  Lorraine Bracco is an American actress. She is best known for her TV roles as Dr. Jennifer Melfi on HBO series, The Sopranos, and Angela Rizzoli on the TNT series, Rizzoli & Isles...
- Original Airdate: May 24, 2006

Contestant and judge sites

Tom Colicchio - Craft Restaurant official web site
Katie Lee Joel - Olive and Peach official web site (No longer being updated)
Stephen Asprinio official web site
Andrea Beaman official web site
Harold Dieterle - Perilla Restaurant official web site
Official Harold Dieterle Myspace
Candice Kumai official web site
Dave Martin official web site
Miguel Morales official web site
Official Miguel Morales Myspace
Official Cynthia Sestitio Myspace
Lee Anne Wong French Culinary Institute
French Culinary Institute
The French Culinary Institute , also known as The International Culinary Center has locations in SoHo, New York City and in the San Francisco Bay Area of California....

official web site
Candice Kumai's show on Lifetime Television Network, Cook Yourself Thin
Chef Brian's official web site

Review

Top Chef is Heating Up But Where's the Sizzle The Boston Globe - April 12, 2006

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