snack

tvsnack: top chef season 5

According to sources, the venue and production for the next season of Top Chef has been changing almost as frequently as Padma's wardrobe. It was New York City, then Toronto, and now back to Gotham. The unofficial word is filming will begin in July and run through August. For those looking to do some Top Chef stalking, I would go back to past seasons of Project Runway and note where those reality-contestants are kept in captivity. I'd also keep eyes open for the convoy of Toyotas that will likely be parked out front of numerous restaurants and likely the green market at some point. It's Top Chef filming in NYC! I expect the Big Apple blogosphere to bring it. Bonus points for the blogger who discover the location of the Top Chef kitchen. Game on. 

PS: There have been rumors that New Orleans might be a venue as well. Though I have no specific intell on that - season five finale in the Big Easy would be a good guess no?

   

tvsnack: top chef season five new york? maybe not

For many months word on the street said Top Chef Season Five would be filmed in New York City. This was of particular glee to Gotham's bloggers, always up for a challenge of cracking intel security. Recently there's been rumblings that New York City is maybe too expensive, or too difficult a venue, to the point that producers are looking north. Toronto has long been the New York stand-in for television and film production, so why not reality TV too? Top Chef Season Five may well turn out to be the first Canadian version.

tvsnack: top chef spoilers - early eliminations

I'm thrilled to see Chicagoland's media getting in the Top Chef game with stake outs and spoilers beyond the approved press release intel. Case in point: Time Out Chicago's excellent reconnaissance on the Top Chef house at 2637 North Paulina Street complete with photo documentation.

"But where’s Erik, Nimma, Nikki and Manuel? Oh yeah, they’re not in the picture. Because those suckers had already gotten kicked off."

tvsnack: top chef

Tonight is the premier of Top Chef Season 4 Chicago. I know I should be excited as it is my second city, and I'm sure my enthusiasm will grow episode by episode as will my affection and aversion for the new batch of cheftestants. But I almost wish we could just fast forward to Top Chef Season 5 New York City.

Previously: Top Chef the Cookbook

tvsnack: tony bourdain cooks! eric ripert cooks steak!

Tonight's episode of Tony Bourdain's No Reservations promises to be Tivo worthy. The nomadic chef takes time out from his global search for extreme and entertaining foods to return to the kitchen at Les Halles after eight years in "a behind-the-curtain look at the working of a restaurant and man who used to cook for a living." Just for kicks, he convinced fish king Eric Ripert to come along for the ride and work the grill station. Watch Tony work the line! See Eric cook meat! For those who can't wait until 10PM tonight to get the party started, go to the No Reservations video page to see Eric and Tony having a pre-recorded post-game drink. It was on YouTube a few weeks ago, but is "no longer available due to a copyright claim by the Travel Channel Media."

tvsnack: top chef chicago chef-testants and debut

Hot off the PR wire is the line up of contestants for Top Chef Chicago. Chitown gossip mongers will be pleased to know chef Stephanie Izard, who abruptly closed her restaurant Scylla last year, is indeed one of the contestants. Season four premiers on Wednesday March 12th. Full press release after the jump or click to the press release at NBC for beaucoup interactive information.

tvsnack: project runway choco challenge

Tonight season four of Project Runway starts. To Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, the Magical Elves, the Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Rich Bye, Desiree Gruber, Jane Cha, and all the folks who make the magic, an idea. While watching the edible fashions at the Chocolate Show last Thursday night, I thought it would make a delicious Project Runway challenge. Pair the designers with pastry chefs and have them make frocks with a minimum of 40 pounds of chocolate. I'm not sure if they could do it in the requisite two days, but I'm sure Manhattan's finest and sweetest chefs would love the challenge. Admittedly it's too late for season four, but perhaps season five. More chocolate fashion photos after the jump.   

tvsnack: top chef wardrobe

I know a few people tuned in to last night's episode of Top Chef. Did you notice Ted Allen was wearing a Spotted Pig t-shirt under his blazer? Nice shout out to chef April Bloomfield and le grand fromage Ken Friedman, and very appropriate for a late-night challenge. And who doesn't love The Pig? Get you own t-shirt here.   

tvsnack: top chef semi-finals aspen

The summer hiatus is over for the cast and crew of Top Chef. Even though you've been watching them sweat it down in Miami, they have in fact been on a break. Which explains why Tre Wilcox was recently in New York City. He spent a week trailing (industry-speak for a working visit to a kitchen) and eating in some of Gotham's top (three and four star) restaurants. His working vacation is perhaps one of the best uses of cheftestant celebrity we've seen so far.

This week everyone is gathering on the mountain top in Aspen to film this season's semi-final. An appropriate locale considering Aspen's the home of the Food & Wine Classic which is part of the big prize for the winner.

I wonder if the high altitude and depleted oxygen will have an affect on the competition? Not just the lightheadedness, but the cooler boiling water. To wit, under basic sea-level conditions water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. In the decreased pressure of 10,000 feet above sea-level it boils around 185 degrees. Much cooler, requiring longer cooking time for the same results. Likewise, adjustments need to be made for baking. A little tip, just in case anyone is reading.

partysnack: in the entourage

Last Thursday I was feeling a tad despondent. With everyone away in Aspen for the Food & Wine Classic, my dance card seemed a bit empty. Then I got a call from a friend, we'll call him D, who needed a plus-one for the premier  of Entourage season four. In ten minutes my Thursday went from "What should I do tonight?" to "What do I wear?" (I find it helpful to pick out your bling footwear first, then work from there.)

We started with a pre-premier warm-up at the Gramercy Park Hotel.  A glass of Champagne in the Rose Bar is always a good way to get the party started. We arrived at the Ziegfield Theater just in time to see the end of the red carpet, pick up some popcorn and take our seats. It was open seating by section, we were in the blue seats in the orchestra. Once we'd settled in I look around and saw Jeremy Piven a few seats to the left. And to his left, Mark Wahlberg. (Note: It is game over if you call him Marky or mention the Funky Bunch. An error someone else made and I could have made as well because I do rock Good Vibrations on my ipod. Feel it baby? ) We watched episodes one and two of the new mini-season. Fabulous.

We then decamped to Roseland, for my first premier after-party. It was a bit like a wedding, with a hot buffet, decorated tables, open bar and passed hors d'oeuvres. The Entourage boys are exactly the same in person as they are on the show. Save for Jeremy Piven, who was much more relaxed in a t-shirt and jeans, with a tan and a little stubble. Much more charming (nay TV premier-hot?) than Ari. They dutifully signed autographs and posed for pictures. I remarked to Kevin Dillon how nice he was diligently glad handing the throngs for 45 minutes. He agreed. When you encounter celebrities, there are two ways to play it. Either gush and ask to pose for the camera phone or be casual, chat and say hi because we're all just people at the same party. I opt for the latter.

I was told the next venue was Marquee for the after-after party. So D and I decided to head downtown for some sustenance first. We pulled up to the Waverly Inn, where John Cusack was having a bite outside. Inside, Mariah Carey was having a private fiesta in the back room, but we found a nice table in the front, ordered up some burgers, mac 'n cheese and a bottle of rosé.

The door at Marquee was a crazy scrum of people pressing to get in, but we waited patiently in the line of cars to pull up in front. (D likes to roll in black SUV with his driver Mr. K.) I hopped out of the car and asked the bouncer "Entourage in the red room?" to which he replied "Turtle told us you were coming." I love Thursdays in New York.