Holy Habanero!

Click here to read the story.


Thanks Kathy

Tom Colicchio just wants to have fun

Click here to read the story.

Just Because

I totally stole this picture of Richard Blais and baby Riley from his MySpace page. Check out more for yourself here.

Start Your Holiday Shopping Early!

We received this from Peter at Chronicle Books,






"Greetings from Chronicle Books!

I¹m the marketing manager for food & drink publishing for Chronicle Books, ­and we are fans of Blogging Top Chef here. :)

This week we're kicking off our hot Fall season's cookbook releases, as well as highlighting some recent bestsellers, by offering a 25% discount and free shipping on all of our Food & Drink titles on ChronicleBooks.com (of course including Top Chef: The Cookbook) for the week of Sep 23rd-­30th. (Anyone can get the discount by using this promo code at checkout: FOODDRINK08).

We're also offering up a prize pack to five lucky winners who enter our giveaway contest by commenting on our Blog:

http://www.chroniclebooks.com/blog/?p=1884



Pretty Pantry Gifts
Grill Every Day
Puff--plus some Dufour frozen puff pastry!
And a beautiful Chronicle Books tote bag, designed by Jason Munn


If you are open to sharing the news of this special offer or interested in hosting a co-sponsored giveaway during this promotion (i.e., specifically as it relates to Top Chef given the focus of your blog), feel free to post the offer link above, or we can send you some more information and review copies if you'd like to collaborate on some promotions in the future.

Thanks for your time, and very best wishes,


Peter"


Thanks Peter

Stephanie Izard Culinary Weekend Getaway

We received this from Daniel Hernandez,



"

Hi guys,

Hope you’re doing well.

I have an interesting culinary weekend getaway package where foodies can spend a weekend with Top Chef Season 4 winner, Stephanie Izard to run by you for your blog. The one weekend-only package at the Gran Meliá Puerto Rico consists of all accommodations, activities, most meals, private cooking demonstrations and a gala dinner with Stephanie and other local celebrity chefs.

The weekend is November 13-16 (4 days/3 nights) and costs $1,125.00 per person based on double occupancy in a Deluxe Junior Suite (garden view). The booking window expires on November 7, 2008. Reservations for this package can only be made by calling (787) 657-1040 or emailing: reservas@granmeliapr.com. Airfare is excluded.

Continuing is the weekend itinerary for your perusal. Let me know if you would be interested in running this package or if you have any other questions.

Thank you,

Daniel

Thursday, November 13

• Arrivals
• Welcome cocktail reception

Friday, November 14

Choice of one day tour:

• Historic Old San Juan
• Local farmer's market
• Bacardí distillery

• Coffee plantation

Evening

• Traditional Puerto Rican feast serving lechón asado (flame-roasted pork) and a variety of delicious Puerto Rican dishes

Saturday, November 15

Morning

• Live cooking demonstrations by renowned Puerto Rican celebrity chefs and Top Chef Season 4 winner, Stephanie Izard

Evening

• Cocktail reception
• Exclusive gala dinner with Puerto Rican chefs and Stephanie Izard

Sunday, November 16

Choice of one of the following activities:

• Spa treatment at YHI Spa
• One round of golf at the adjacent Trump International Golf Club Puerto Rico
• A horseback riding tour of the area

"

TMZ Reports

Where's the Beef? It's in the Alley

09-24-2008

A "Top Chef" wannabeen just opened a fancy burger joint in D.C. One little problem -- the meat's been spotted outside the bun, and the kitchen, for that matter.

Good Stuff, the restaurant just opened by Spike Mendelsohn from season four of the Bravo cook-off, got cited by the D.C. Department of Health for keeping its meat in an alleyway instead of in a fridge. A picture on WTOP showed food sitting in an alleyway on a day when it was 90 degrees out.

We talked to a Good Stuff staffer this morning who told us there's no meat to the allegations -- he says the picture was taken right after a delivery, and it was quickly taken inside. So that's where the Angus comes from.


Thanks K. Anne

Dinner With Sam Talbot

Got this a little late but there is still time,

"Sorry for the late notice, but I thought your readers would enjoy hearing about this cooking event in New York featuring Sam Talbot from Bravo's Top Chef Season 2.

Here are the details:
Celebrate the end of summer with this seafood inspired menu using seasonal local ingredients from our neighbors- the Union Square Green Market. This will be a 4-course meal paired with Wine and Champagne created by Top Chef's own Sam Talbot.

Sam Talbot Dinner and Wine Pairing
Wed 9/24 (7PM) @ Vintage Irving
118A E. 15th St. New York, NY

This is a 21+ event.
Cost: General Admission $150.00

Buy tickets here:
https://newyork.going.com/event.php?event_id=377795&type=ticketing&step=select"


so hurry up and buy your tickets! Feel free to send and pictures and/or reviews our way. We love to hear from fellow TC addicts!

Thanks Orli





We got a little more information from Marie,


"Top Chef finalist and
culinary expert Sam Talbot will kick off Vintage Irving¹s Celebrity Chef
Tasting Dinners on Wednesday, September 24th with an original four-course
tasting dinner with wine pairings. Talbot is the first of a number of
nationally acclaimed culinary figures that will be joining Vintage Irving¹s
executive chef Jason Bunin and the Vintage Irving team on a quarterly basis
to host unique and educational tasting events in the intimate setting of the
restaurant's private tasting room.

Vintage Irving¹s owner, Michael Sinensky, is implementing this exciting
culinary program to expose his patrons and the New York community to
one-time only events that they might otherwise not have the chance to
partake in. Vintage Irving is a newly opened restaurant elevating the New
York dining experience by presenting seasonal, local ingredients inflected
with the culinary styles, preparations and flavors from all over Europe and
the Mediterranean in a ³small-plate² manner, ideal for sharing, at an
affordable price. Staying in theme with the restaurant`s mission, the
Celebrity Chef Tasting Dinners program will further allow guests to expand
their cultural and culinary awareness in an informal, comfortable setting
with excellent wines, welcoming service and warm company, all part of the
Vintage Irving experience.

Sam Talbot will be cooking and presenting a four-course, seafood-inspired
meal using local produce sourced from the Union Square Green Market. Each
course will be paired with wine and champagne. Tickets, $150 per person, are
currently on sale and based on availability. Space for each event is
limited to 60 seats. Vintage Irving is located at 118A East 15th Street. To
purchase a ticket, please contact Vintage Irving at (212) 677-6300."


Thanks Marie

Todd English has an expensive wiener.

That`s just nuts!

click here


For $175 per person,I better see some hair pulling,at the very least.

click here


For up to $400 per person,there better be a happy ending. I mean dessert,pervs.

click here

Top Chef at the Grove in California

Chef CJ and Antonia will be at "The Grove" in California next Thursday, September 25th from 7-9 pm

For tickets and to RSVP by September 24th, contact (323) 769-6392 or lamagevents@yahoo.com

Top Chefs In The News

Sacbee has the following article, "'Top Chef' has winning style to spare". Learn what Chef Stephanie has been up to. Click HERE



From the Media Newswire, Chef Spike of TV's "TOP CHEF' Reality Show Appearing at Mid-Atlantic Food, Beverage and Lodging Expo". Click HERE


Season 2 winner Ilan Hall to open new place in downtown LA.




Click HERE to learn more.

Thanks Cookiesinheaven for the link

Top Chefs In The News and On The Move

Chef Richard from season 4 is on the move. Click HERE to read "Atlanta’s ‘Top Chef’ chef quits Home for more FLIP time"

Over on SF Gate, click HERE to read "My dinner with Hot Ryan from Top Chef!"

Top Chef Season 5

Calling all fellow TC Fans from the beautiful state of Colorado ( birth place of our own Sous Chef Humor). We are going to need your help in season 5.

The Rocky Mountain News is reporting that 2 of the season 5 chefs will be from Colorado. Click HERE to read more. If fellow Colorado TC fans have tidbits for us, email them to us.

Only months to go until season 5.

Highbrow BBQ Recap

Our thanks to fellow TC fan Adam for attending the Highbrow BBQ in New York and sharing his experience with us. Click HERE for his review and pictures of this wonderful event with Top Chef CJ from season 3