Out of the hundreds of meals Padma Lakshmi experienced during her 19-season run on “Top Chef,” one stands out as her favorite.
“There was a great episode with Charlize Theron in Texas [Season 9],” Lakshmi told TheWrap. “We gave the contestants this wonderful challenge, which was to pick a fairy tale and illustrate it in all its wonder, horror, beauty, joy and, of course, deliciousness on the plate. And it was really wonderful because it unleashed such a sense of imagination and creativity and all of our chefs and that’s really what you want to see.”
“I remember that Grayson gave us a black chicken and left the chicken foot on there and it looked so sinister. And it was delicious,” she recalled. “Paul Qui had a bloody handprint in the middle of his dish made of beet juice and all these delicate vegetables and flowers around. He showed that murder...
“There was a great episode with Charlize Theron in Texas [Season 9],” Lakshmi told TheWrap. “We gave the contestants this wonderful challenge, which was to pick a fairy tale and illustrate it in all its wonder, horror, beauty, joy and, of course, deliciousness on the plate. And it was really wonderful because it unleashed such a sense of imagination and creativity and all of our chefs and that’s really what you want to see.”
“I remember that Grayson gave us a black chicken and left the chicken foot on there and it looked so sinister. And it was delicious,” she recalled. “Paul Qui had a bloody handprint in the middle of his dish made of beet juice and all these delicate vegetables and flowers around. He showed that murder...
- 8/24/2023
- by Lawrence Yee
- The Wrap
As the 2019 Sundance Film Festival rolls into Park City, Utah, for its 34th iteration from January 24 to February 3, there’s a pitched battle among the 241 filmmakers to win one of the fest’s 12 coveted prizes. That’s the main event, but the fight to snag those elusive invites to the best parties popping up all over town is equally combative, which is why we’ve curated the top tickets/lists here — plus-ones included, of course.
Big-name actors expected to be making the rounds at Sundance this year range from Duane Johnson to Zac Efron, Jake Gyllenhaal and Adam Driver on the male side and Hilary Swank, Lupita Nyong’o, Naomi Watts, Rosamund Pike and Viola Davis representing the women, with founder Robert Redford circulating despite his reported retirement from acting.
Also in the shivering mix on Main Street: independent directors, producers, newbie actors, sponsors and the now ever-present “influencers,” armed with hashtags and selfie sticks.
Big-name actors expected to be making the rounds at Sundance this year range from Duane Johnson to Zac Efron, Jake Gyllenhaal and Adam Driver on the male side and Hilary Swank, Lupita Nyong’o, Naomi Watts, Rosamund Pike and Viola Davis representing the women, with founder Robert Redford circulating despite his reported retirement from acting.
Also in the shivering mix on Main Street: independent directors, producers, newbie actors, sponsors and the now ever-present “influencers,” armed with hashtags and selfie sticks.
- 1/24/2019
- by Jenny Peters
- The Wrap
“Top Chef” season 15 ended on March 8, 2018 with host Padma Lakshmi revealing the winner chosen by two renowned chefs — Tom Colicchio and Graham Elliot — and award-winning food writer Gail Simmons. To be showcased on this Emmy-winning show for months on end has boosted the profile of all previous 14 winners of “Top Chef.”
We wanted to know what happened to these 14 folks in the years since they took the title. We did some digging and discovered that some of them are running their own restaurants while others work for established locations or freelance.
In the photo gallery above and the text below, we recap each of the first 14 seasons of “Top Chef,” noting the locations, the judges and other finalists. And we update the resumes of all of the winning chefs.
See ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ winners: Where are they now, who is your favorite from seasons 1 to 16? [Poll]
Season 1: Harold Dieterle
Location:...
We wanted to know what happened to these 14 folks in the years since they took the title. We did some digging and discovered that some of them are running their own restaurants while others work for established locations or freelance.
In the photo gallery above and the text below, we recap each of the first 14 seasons of “Top Chef,” noting the locations, the judges and other finalists. And we update the resumes of all of the winning chefs.
See ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ winners: Where are they now, who is your favorite from seasons 1 to 16? [Poll]
Season 1: Harold Dieterle
Location:...
- 3/8/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Paul Qui has apparently found a recipe for disaster. At least, if the details surrounding his arrest over the weekend turn out to be accurate. Qui, the Season 9 winner of “Top Chef,” was arrested Saturday by the Austin Police Department for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, People reports. Citing an affidavit, People said that officers responded to a disturbance shortly before 8 a.m. local time in Austin, Texas, on Saturday to find Qui sporting “blood all over his face, arms, legs and clothing” and his girlfriend crying while holding her son. Also Read: Katt Williams Sued for Assault and Battery Over Alleged.
- 3/21/2016
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
"Top Chef" winner Paul Qui was arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, after she told cops he beat her up while high on a combination of coke, Xanax, weed and alcohol. Stephanie Rodriguez claims the season 9 winner dragged her out of bed in the wee hours of Saturday morning so she could join a party with a bunch of his friends. Rodriguez says one of Qui's pals then propositioned her for group sex which sent Qui into a rage.
- 3/21/2016
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Top Chef winner Paul Qui was arrested Saturday in Austin after his girlfriend accused him of assault, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by People. Officers responded to a disturbance at 7:46 a.m. Saturday at Qui's apartment after one of the chef's friends called police to report that the chef and his girlfriend were fighting and breaking things inside the apartment. According to the arrest affidavit, officers found Qui, 35, with "blood all over his face, arms, legs and clothing." They say they discovered his girlfriend crying and holding her young son. Qui's girlfriend told police the couple had been...
- 3/21/2016
- by Aaron Couch
- PEOPLE.com
Top Chef winner Paul Qui was arrested Saturday in Austin after his girlfriend accused him of assault, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by People.
Officers responded to a disturbance at 7:46 a.m. Saturday at Qui's apartment after one of the chef's friends called police to report that the chef and his girlfriend were fighting and breaking things inside the apartment.
According to the arrest affidavit, officers found Qui, 35, with "blood all over his face, arms, legs and clothing." They say they discovered his girlfriend crying and holding her young son. Qui's girlfriend told police the couple had been...
Officers responded to a disturbance at 7:46 a.m. Saturday at Qui's apartment after one of the chef's friends called police to report that the chef and his girlfriend were fighting and breaking things inside the apartment.
According to the arrest affidavit, officers found Qui, 35, with "blood all over his face, arms, legs and clothing." They say they discovered his girlfriend crying and holding her young son. Qui's girlfriend told police the couple had been...
- 3/21/2016
- by Aaron Couch
- People.com - TV Watch
Top Chef winner Paul Qui was arrested Saturday in Austin after his girlfriend accused him of assault, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by People. Officers responded to a disturbance at 7:46 a.m. Saturday at Qui's apartment after one of the chef's friends called police to report that the chef and his girlfriend were fighting and breaking things inside the apartment. According to the arrest affidavit, officers found Qui, 35, with "blood all over his face, arms, legs and clothing." They say they discovered his girlfriend crying and holding her young son. Qui's girlfriend told police the couple had been...
- 3/21/2016
- by Aaron Couch
- PEOPLE.com
Austin - It's appropriate that the backdrop of HitFix's interview with Jon Favreau was a kitchen in one of Austin's hotspots Qui, "Top Chef" star Paul Qui's new biz on the East Side. Favreau's new indie film "Chef" centers on character Carl Casper and his literal tastemaking for a brick-and-mortar restaurant; after a series of outbursts online against critics and the hot spot's owner, Chef Carl ends up launching a food truck, sending it through Miami, New Orleans, Austin and Los Angeles. With stops like those, it's no wonder the film wanders into blissful, unapologetic food pornography, and ties into "celebrity chef" cultures like Qui's. Favreau was on hand at South By Southwest, taking questions about grilled cheese, his turns on Marvel movies like "Iron Man" and "The Avengers" and getting back into independent and smaller films. "I like [working on] the big stuff," he told us. "The critics have been good to me.
- 3/12/2014
- by Katie Hasty
- Hitfix
The newest season of Top Chef Masters started last week, and Top Chef New Orleans, the show's 11th season is slated to run this fall. We've got Top Chef on the brain, and our thoughts traveled, as they always do, to hierarchy.
Let's be brutally honest -- some Top Chef winners were just better than others -- both in the dishes they made under intense pressure on-camera, and in their ability to just act like a human being toward the people around them. We know that emotional tenderness doesn't always belong in a restaurant kitchen, but there's a difference between acting like a tough competitor and acting like a garbage-y person. It should also be said that anyone who can manage to cook something edible under those conditions without setting the whole kitchen on fire out of either carelessness or rage has earned quite a bit of our respect. Even...
Let's be brutally honest -- some Top Chef winners were just better than others -- both in the dishes they made under intense pressure on-camera, and in their ability to just act like a human being toward the people around them. We know that emotional tenderness doesn't always belong in a restaurant kitchen, but there's a difference between acting like a tough competitor and acting like a garbage-y person. It should also be said that anyone who can manage to cook something edible under those conditions without setting the whole kitchen on fire out of either carelessness or rage has earned quite a bit of our respect. Even...
- 7/29/2013
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
Andy Cohen with Brandi Glanville of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Andy Cohen, the iconic gay TV personality who has made Bravo TV a mecca of reality deliciousness, had done something unprecedented. He has migrated his pop culture show Watch What Happens Live to Austin, TX – but only temporarily. He has decided to tape a whole week of shows during SXSW, the popular Interactive, Film and Television Festival. It is something that he is really excited about because they have never taken the show on the road.
“I came last year to [South By Southwest] and did a panel and fell in love with it,” said Cohen while taking a break from his hectic week of shooting schedule. “It felt very copacetic with what we do at Watch What Happens Live. Austin's tagline is 'Keep Austin Weird' and Watch What Happens Live is weird in terms of talk shows!”
His show isn't exactly the most conventional.
Andy Cohen, the iconic gay TV personality who has made Bravo TV a mecca of reality deliciousness, had done something unprecedented. He has migrated his pop culture show Watch What Happens Live to Austin, TX – but only temporarily. He has decided to tape a whole week of shows during SXSW, the popular Interactive, Film and Television Festival. It is something that he is really excited about because they have never taken the show on the road.
“I came last year to [South By Southwest] and did a panel and fell in love with it,” said Cohen while taking a break from his hectic week of shooting schedule. “It felt very copacetic with what we do at Watch What Happens Live. Austin's tagline is 'Keep Austin Weird' and Watch What Happens Live is weird in terms of talk shows!”
His show isn't exactly the most conventional.
- 3/13/2013
- by Dino-Ray
- The Backlot
I had issues with "Top Chef" last season -- a lot of issues -- and I wasn't exactly shy about sharing them.
In Texas (my home state, y'all), "Top Chef" turned into a campy, overly staged version of the show I'd loved for eight seasons and several spinoffs. There were too many themes, too many location changes and plenty of product placements to pay for the Texas-sized production budget. The quality of chefs was undeniable, and fellow Texan Paul Qui was the perfect winner, but getting to the finale was an uphill battle for me.
"Top Chef" Season 10 takes us to Seattle (premieres Wed., Nov. 7 at 10 p.m. Et on Bravo), and while I've only seen the premiere episode, I can say that it already feels like my old favorite reality competition show again. Host Padma Lakshmi returns as host, with judges Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, Hugh Acheson and Emeril Lagasse...
In Texas (my home state, y'all), "Top Chef" turned into a campy, overly staged version of the show I'd loved for eight seasons and several spinoffs. There were too many themes, too many location changes and plenty of product placements to pay for the Texas-sized production budget. The quality of chefs was undeniable, and fellow Texan Paul Qui was the perfect winner, but getting to the finale was an uphill battle for me.
"Top Chef" Season 10 takes us to Seattle (premieres Wed., Nov. 7 at 10 p.m. Et on Bravo), and while I've only seen the premiere episode, I can say that it already feels like my old favorite reality competition show again. Host Padma Lakshmi returns as host, with judges Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, Hugh Acheson and Emeril Lagasse...
- 11/7/2012
- by Maggie Furlong
- Aol TV.
Ever want to set sail with some of the best chef-testants from Bravo's "Top Chef"? We can't say the idea has ever occurred to us, but it sounds like fun.
"Top Chef: The Cruise" is scheduled for April 11-15 and they've just added a quartet of major names to the guest list: "Top Chef All Stars" winner Richard Blais, "Top Chef Just Desserts" season one winner Yigit Pura, "Top Chef: Texas" winner Paul Qui, and "Fan Favorite" winner Fabio Viviani. They'll join "Top Chef" hosts Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons, along with 11 more alums.
Among the highlights scheduled for the cruise: behind-the-scenes kitchen tours, the opportunity to participate in live Quickfire challenges, a Q&A session with the chef-lebrities and (what sounds like the standout to us) an evening dance party hosted by DJ and Top Chef Master Hubert Keller. Additional names include Jennifer Carroll and Spike Mendelsohn, who...
"Top Chef: The Cruise" is scheduled for April 11-15 and they've just added a quartet of major names to the guest list: "Top Chef All Stars" winner Richard Blais, "Top Chef Just Desserts" season one winner Yigit Pura, "Top Chef: Texas" winner Paul Qui, and "Fan Favorite" winner Fabio Viviani. They'll join "Top Chef" hosts Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons, along with 11 more alums.
Among the highlights scheduled for the cruise: behind-the-scenes kitchen tours, the opportunity to participate in live Quickfire challenges, a Q&A session with the chef-lebrities and (what sounds like the standout to us) an evening dance party hosted by DJ and Top Chef Master Hubert Keller. Additional names include Jennifer Carroll and Spike Mendelsohn, who...
- 9/13/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
A beautiful spring has sprung here in Austin, Texas. Bluebonnets are everywhere, it's not yet 100 degrees and, now that the city has recovered from South By Southwest, Austin will soon be celebrating the chance to prove itself in the culinary space with its first-ever Food & Wine Festival.
With chatter about "Austin cool" coming from many directions these days, the city will draw yet another national crowd from April 27 to 29 to eat, drink, learn and be merry with headliner chefs such as Masaharu Morimoto, Marcus Samuelsson, Michelle Bernstein, Gail Simmons and Tyson Cole, among many others, and music from Lucinda Williams and Mayor Hawthorne. In contrast to the Texas Hill Country fest of previous years, the Austin proper version will be centrally located, officially brought to town by Food & Wine magazine of Aspen fame, and expanded to include a line-up of local greats as well as international heavy hitters.
This year...
With chatter about "Austin cool" coming from many directions these days, the city will draw yet another national crowd from April 27 to 29 to eat, drink, learn and be merry with headliner chefs such as Masaharu Morimoto, Marcus Samuelsson, Michelle Bernstein, Gail Simmons and Tyson Cole, among many others, and music from Lucinda Williams and Mayor Hawthorne. In contrast to the Texas Hill Country fest of previous years, the Austin proper version will be centrally located, officially brought to town by Food & Wine magazine of Aspen fame, and expanded to include a line-up of local greats as well as international heavy hitters.
This year...
- 4/9/2012
- by Stephanie Keller
- Aol TV.
The worst season of Top Chef since that smug bully Illan Hall won concluded last night with a reunion, which started with a surprising revelation: After losing to Paul Qui, Sarah Grueneberg told chef and judge Emeril Lagasse to "fuck off." While reunions usually end with the revelation of the fan favorite, Andy Cohen obnoxiously deferred that to his obnoxious show, where it was revealed "Malibu" Chris Crary's obnoxious campaign to win had paid off.
- 3/8/2012
- by Andy Dehnart
- Reality Blurred
Who knows the Austin food scene better than Austinites? Hungry festgoing Austinites (and a few honorary locals). For SXSW 2012, Austin has been through some restaurant changes -- closures, moves, new venues. and more alternatives to brick-and-mortar restaurants. This guide will help you find your way. We'll start with some general tips, then venue-specific recommendations, followed by some other recommendations by Slackerwood contributors and filmmakers.
Four Star Dining, Two Step Dress. The best part about Austin is few restaurants employ a strict dress code. Which means it's okay to show up at Barley Swine in your jeans. Some upscale restaurants like Uchiko do have a "smart casual" dress code, so don't show up in shorts and flip flops, mmk?
Top Chef. Speaking of Uchiko, yes, Paul Qui is an Austinite (and from all accounts as nice as he is talented). No, you are not likely to be able to use your...
Four Star Dining, Two Step Dress. The best part about Austin is few restaurants employ a strict dress code. Which means it's okay to show up at Barley Swine in your jeans. Some upscale restaurants like Uchiko do have a "smart casual" dress code, so don't show up in shorts and flip flops, mmk?
Top Chef. Speaking of Uchiko, yes, Paul Qui is an Austinite (and from all accounts as nice as he is talented). No, you are not likely to be able to use your...
- 3/7/2012
- by Jenn Brown
- Slackerwood
In true Texas fashion, this season of Top Chef: Texas was bigger and bolder than ever. TheInsidier.com had a one-on-one with this seasons' big winner -- the soft-spoken Paul Qui. With a season chalk full of wild challenges, tough-talking personalities and high drama, Paul took his reserved personality and his talent in the kitchen all the way to the bank -- winning more money than any cheftestant on Bravo's hit show. Read on to see how Paul felt about staying strong to win big.
TheInsider.com: How does it feel to be Top Chef?
Paul Qui: Pretty surreal. I don’t think it’s fully sunk in to me yet even though I know it happened a few months ago. But I am glad that I got to win Top Chef: Texas.
Top Chef: Texas' Beverly: I Proved I Wasn't a Joke
TheInsider: How much did you end up winning in total...
TheInsider.com: How does it feel to be Top Chef?
Paul Qui: Pretty surreal. I don’t think it’s fully sunk in to me yet even though I know it happened a few months ago. But I am glad that I got to win Top Chef: Texas.
Top Chef: Texas' Beverly: I Proved I Wasn't a Joke
TheInsider: How much did you end up winning in total...
- 3/2/2012
- TheInsider.com
What was going through Paul Qui's head when Padma Lakshmi named him Top Chef? "I was honestly so tired that I think I missed it and I had a really delayed reaction," he tells TVGuide.com. "But then I realized she [said my name] and I was super excited." In addition to his big win over Sarah, the Austin-based chef set a record this season for most elimination challenges wins (eight) and won another $60,000 on top of his $125,000 grand prize. How does he plan on using the money? And why is he so calm, cool and collected? Find out below.
Top Chef's Lindsay: I didn't take enough risks
Congratulations! The judges kept reiterating that it was really close. Did it feel that way to you?
Paul: Thanks! Yeah. I didn't have any idea. I wanted to win, but it could've gone either way. You never know what's going to make or...
Top Chef's Lindsay: I didn't take enough risks
Congratulations! The judges kept reiterating that it was really close. Did it feel that way to you?
Paul: Thanks! Yeah. I didn't have any idea. I wanted to win, but it could've gone either way. You never know what's going to make or...
- 3/1/2012
- by Joyce Eng
- TVGuide - Breaking News
"Top Chef: Texas" finalists Paul Qui and Sarah Grueneberg stopped by the Bravo clubhouse and played "Plead The Fifth" on "Watch What Happens Live" (Weeknights, 11 p.m. Est on Bravo).
The questions were all "Top Chef"-related, and were asked by their fellow cheftestant -- and Sarah's nemesis -- Beverly Kim.
First up was Sarah. Beverly asked, "Can you say three nice things about me?" Of course she could! "Beautiful, strong, inspiring."
Next question was, which cheftestant would Sarah most want to hook up with? "I'm going to go for Ty-Lor," she laughed. To which Andy Cohen joked, "Okay, not on your team, but fine."
Ty-Lor the oft naked chef also featured in one of Paul's answers. "Who is the most unsanitary roommate in the 'Top Chef' house?"
Ty-Lor? Really? Cohen laughed as he pondered the concept of "the unsanitary gay."
Check out who was named "Top Chef...
The questions were all "Top Chef"-related, and were asked by their fellow cheftestant -- and Sarah's nemesis -- Beverly Kim.
First up was Sarah. Beverly asked, "Can you say three nice things about me?" Of course she could! "Beautiful, strong, inspiring."
Next question was, which cheftestant would Sarah most want to hook up with? "I'm going to go for Ty-Lor," she laughed. To which Andy Cohen joked, "Okay, not on your team, but fine."
Ty-Lor the oft naked chef also featured in one of Paul's answers. "Who is the most unsanitary roommate in the 'Top Chef' house?"
Ty-Lor? Really? Cohen laughed as he pondered the concept of "the unsanitary gay."
Check out who was named "Top Chef...
- 3/1/2012
- by Catherine Lawson
- Huffington Post
The Season Finale of "Top Chef: Texas" (Wed., 10 p.m. Est on Bravo) may have taken place in Vancouver, but it was an all-Texan battle, as Austin resident Paul Qui competed against Houston native Sarah Grueneberg.
Surrounded by their families and fellow cheftestants, the two finalists stood anxiously waiting to hear their fate at the final judges' table of the season.
Head judge Tom Colicchio told Sarah, "you took a lot of risks tonight, and it really paid off."
He then turned to early front-runner Paul: "All season long you've just brought it, and tonight was no different. You just really cooked your heart out.
Then it was time for Padma Lakshmi to announce the winner. Who would take home the $125,000 grand prize and the title of Top Chef?
The winner was ... Paul!
Then Padma said those words all the cheftestants long to hear: "You are Top Chef."
Afterward a...
Surrounded by their families and fellow cheftestants, the two finalists stood anxiously waiting to hear their fate at the final judges' table of the season.
Head judge Tom Colicchio told Sarah, "you took a lot of risks tonight, and it really paid off."
He then turned to early front-runner Paul: "All season long you've just brought it, and tonight was no different. You just really cooked your heart out.
Then it was time for Padma Lakshmi to announce the winner. Who would take home the $125,000 grand prize and the title of Top Chef?
The winner was ... Paul!
Then Padma said those words all the cheftestants long to hear: "You are Top Chef."
Afterward a...
- 3/1/2012
- by Catherine Lawson
- Huffington Post
"Top Chef: Texas" finalists Paul Qui and Sarah Grueneberg stopped by the Bravo clubhouse and played "Plead The Fifth" on "Watch What Happens Live" (Weeknights, 11 p.m. Est on Bravo).
The questions were all "Top Chef"-related, and were asked by their fellow cheftestant -- and Sarah's nemesis -- Beverly Kim.
First up was Sarah. Beverly asked, "Can you say three nice things about me?" Of course she could! "Beautiful, strong, inspiring."
Next question was, which cheftestant would Sarah most want to hook up with? "I'm going to go for Ty-Lor," she laughed. To which Andy Cohen joked, "Okay, not on your team, but fine."
Ty-Lor the oft naked chef also featured in one of Paul's answers. "Who is the most unsanitary roommate in the 'Top Chef' house?"
Ty-Lor? Really? Cohen laughed as he pondered the concept of "the unsanitary gay."
Check out who was named "Top Chef...
The questions were all "Top Chef"-related, and were asked by their fellow cheftestant -- and Sarah's nemesis -- Beverly Kim.
First up was Sarah. Beverly asked, "Can you say three nice things about me?" Of course she could! "Beautiful, strong, inspiring."
Next question was, which cheftestant would Sarah most want to hook up with? "I'm going to go for Ty-Lor," she laughed. To which Andy Cohen joked, "Okay, not on your team, but fine."
Ty-Lor the oft naked chef also featured in one of Paul's answers. "Who is the most unsanitary roommate in the 'Top Chef' house?"
Ty-Lor? Really? Cohen laughed as he pondered the concept of "the unsanitary gay."
Check out who was named "Top Chef...
- 3/1/2012
- by Catherine Lawson
- Aol TV.
It’s the Top Chef Texas Finale, entitled “Finale,” because it is actually, seriously the very last episode of Top Chef Season 9 – no more snowy nonsense, no more Last Chance Redemption Island Of Temptation The Benefactor All-Stars, it’s just Sarah Grueneberg and Paul Qui competing to see who is the better chef: Paul, or Paul and also Bravo made a giant mistake. Sarah kicks things off by declaring “This is the goal I’ve had this entire competition.” She is Locked In. That is also the goal of literally everyone who has ever gone on Top Chef or any competition show. No one’s ever been like, “My goal is to make some friends, cook other peoples’ food, then get eliminated in Week 3 cooking a risotto that represents Daniel Boone’s courage then release a sex tape.” Tom explains that for the final challenge, each chef will design...
- 3/1/2012
- by Dan Hopper
- BestWeekEver
The season finale of "Top Chef: Texas" (Wed., 10 p.m. Est on Bravo) may have taken place in Vancouver, but it was an all-Texan battle, as Austin resident Paul Qui competed against Houston native Sarah Grueneberg.
Surrounded by their families and fellow cheftestants, the two finalists stood anxiously waiting to hear their fate at the final judges' table of the season.
Head judge Tom Colicchio told Sarah, "you took a lot of risks tonight, and it really paid off."
He then turned to early front-runner Paul: "All season long you've just brought it, and tonight was no different. You just really cooked your heart out.
Then it was time for Padma Lakshmi to announce the winner. Who would take home the $125,000 grand prize and the title of Top Chef?
The winner was ... Paul!
Then Padma said those words all the cheftestants long to hear: "You are Top Chef."
Afterward a delighted Paul said,...
Surrounded by their families and fellow cheftestants, the two finalists stood anxiously waiting to hear their fate at the final judges' table of the season.
Head judge Tom Colicchio told Sarah, "you took a lot of risks tonight, and it really paid off."
He then turned to early front-runner Paul: "All season long you've just brought it, and tonight was no different. You just really cooked your heart out.
Then it was time for Padma Lakshmi to announce the winner. Who would take home the $125,000 grand prize and the title of Top Chef?
The winner was ... Paul!
Then Padma said those words all the cheftestants long to hear: "You are Top Chef."
Afterward a delighted Paul said,...
- 3/1/2012
- by Catherine Lawson
- Aol TV.
We finally know who won "Top Chef: Texas!" It was a long season, and we've probably gained weight just looking at the delicious food these chef'testants made. In the end, it came down to Paul Qui and Sarah Grueneberg. The finale took place in Vancouver (which is a bit odd) and these two knocked it out of the park..
Paul Qui had took over the Vancouver restaurant "Coast." He called it "Qi." He served:
1st course: Chawan mushi, edamame peashoots and spot prawns.
2nd course: Grilled sea bass with clam dashi, pickled radishes and mushrooms.
3rd course: Congee, scrambled eggs, uni, kale and smoked albacore.
4th course: Coconut ice cream, puffed rice, kumquats, mongosteen, thai chili foam and jasmin gelee.
Sarah Grueneberg took over "Black and Blue," calling it "Monte Verde." She served:
1st course: Squid ink tagliatelle, spot prawns and coconut.
2nd course: Rye-crusted steel head trout with fennel sauce,...
Paul Qui had took over the Vancouver restaurant "Coast." He called it "Qi." He served:
1st course: Chawan mushi, edamame peashoots and spot prawns.
2nd course: Grilled sea bass with clam dashi, pickled radishes and mushrooms.
3rd course: Congee, scrambled eggs, uni, kale and smoked albacore.
4th course: Coconut ice cream, puffed rice, kumquats, mongosteen, thai chili foam and jasmin gelee.
Sarah Grueneberg took over "Black and Blue," calling it "Monte Verde." She served:
1st course: Squid ink tagliatelle, spot prawns and coconut.
2nd course: Rye-crusted steel head trout with fennel sauce,...
- 3/1/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
It was last-supper time for Paul Qui and Sarah Grueneberg tonight on Top Chef: Texas. The season nine finalists were tasked with the usual challenge: cook the best four-course meal of their careers for a panel of particular palates—and, like last season, restaurants full of people. Paul and Sarah (and four sous chefs apiece) took over the kitchens of Vancouver restaurants Coast and Black & Blue, respectively, to get the job done. As tends to be the case, neither made huge mistakes...But only one was sitting particularly tall in the saddle by night's end. As Hugh Acheson said, any criticisms at this point were just the judges "splitting hairs," but the hairs had to be split in order to...
- 3/1/2012
- E! Online
The heat was on Wednesday night for the Top Chef: Texas finale as two contestants - Paul Qui and Sarah Grueneberg - battled it out in Vancouver to determine who would ultimately come out on top. The chefs were asked to prepare four courses of their choice for 100 diners and the panel of judges, with the help of some familiar faces. Paul enlisted Barbara Lynch, Ty-Lor Boring, Chris Crary and Keith Rhodes, while Sarah had the help of Nyesha Arrington, Tyler Stone, Heather Terhune and Grayson Shmitz in the kitchen. And if it were up to People.com readers,...
- 3/1/2012
- PEOPLE.com
After toiling away in snowy Vancouver in a series of physical challenges - even, at one point, shooting for their ingredients last week - three contestants were left standing at the beginning of Wednesday's Top Chef. Warning: Spoiler Alert Ahead: The trio - Linsday Autry, Paul Qui and Sarah Grueneberg - were vying for two spots in next week's finale, but first they had to compete in an Asian-inspired Quickfire. With Grueneberg taking an early lead, and scooping up $20,000 in prize money, she coasted into the elimination challenge, feeling confident about her abilities. For their final challenge, the chefs had...
- 2/23/2012
- PEOPLE.com
A weekly tradition was born when Top Chef first aired six years ago. Desperate for time away from the library, a small group of law students, all foodies, convened for dinner and debate in my tiny Austin apartment. We never anticipated that our ritual would continue years later in New York, where my friends practice law while I write about food and travel.
We were jubilant when Bravo announced its decision to feature Texas on season 9, and I assumed chefs would compete at the new Culinary Institute of America campus in San Antonio, where a Latin Cuisines Advisory Committee works to "elevate Latin American cuisines to their rightful place among great cuisines of the world." As I explained in Texas Monthly, CIA San Antonio is working to craft a Latin American cuisine certificate, followed by a master's program.
Although contestants have waged many of their battles on CIA's new turf,...
We were jubilant when Bravo announced its decision to feature Texas on season 9, and I assumed chefs would compete at the new Culinary Institute of America campus in San Antonio, where a Latin Cuisines Advisory Committee works to "elevate Latin American cuisines to their rightful place among great cuisines of the world." As I explained in Texas Monthly, CIA San Antonio is working to craft a Latin American cuisine certificate, followed by a master's program.
Although contestants have waged many of their battles on CIA's new turf,...
- 2/9/2012
- by Millie Kerr
- Aol TV.
The cheftestants on "Top Chef Texas" (Wed., 10 p.m. Est on Bravo) got a few surprises -- some nasty, some nice -- Wednesday night.
First, there was the return of Beverly Kim. As the winner of The Last Chance Kitchen competition she got to rejoin the fray in the fight for the final four spots, and her rivals were not happy to see her back. At all.
In the Elimination Challenge the gang of five cheftestants were tasked with creating a dish that would make their mentors proud. The best four dishes would send their creators through to the Final Four in British Columbia, with the least successful dish sending someone home.
As the winner of the Quickfire Challenge, Sarah Grueneberg had already judiciously chosen a guaranteed spot in the Final Four over taking away a Prius, so was not up for Elimination.
At judges' table, Paul Qui and Beverly were deemed safe,...
First, there was the return of Beverly Kim. As the winner of The Last Chance Kitchen competition she got to rejoin the fray in the fight for the final four spots, and her rivals were not happy to see her back. At all.
In the Elimination Challenge the gang of five cheftestants were tasked with creating a dish that would make their mentors proud. The best four dishes would send their creators through to the Final Four in British Columbia, with the least successful dish sending someone home.
As the winner of the Quickfire Challenge, Sarah Grueneberg had already judiciously chosen a guaranteed spot in the Final Four over taking away a Prius, so was not up for Elimination.
At judges' table, Paul Qui and Beverly were deemed safe,...
- 2/9/2012
- by Catherine Lawson
- Huffington Post
The cheftestants on "Top Chef Texas" (Wed., 10 p.m. Est on Bravo) got a few surprises -- some nasty, some nice -- on Wednesday night.
First, there was the return of Beverly Kim. As the winner of The Last Chance Kitchen competition, she got to rejoin the fray in the fight for the final four spots, and her rivals were not happy to see her back. At all.
In the Elimination Challenge the gang of five cheftestants were tasked with creating a dish that would make their mentors proud. The best four dishes would send their creators through to the Final Four in British Columbia, with the least successful dish sending someone home.
As the winner of the Quickfire Challenge, Sarah Grueneberg had already judiciously chosen a guaranteed spot in the Final Four over taking away a Prius, so she was not up for Elimination.
At judges' table, Paul Qui and Beverly were deemed safe,...
First, there was the return of Beverly Kim. As the winner of The Last Chance Kitchen competition, she got to rejoin the fray in the fight for the final four spots, and her rivals were not happy to see her back. At all.
In the Elimination Challenge the gang of five cheftestants were tasked with creating a dish that would make their mentors proud. The best four dishes would send their creators through to the Final Four in British Columbia, with the least successful dish sending someone home.
As the winner of the Quickfire Challenge, Sarah Grueneberg had already judiciously chosen a guaranteed spot in the Final Four over taking away a Prius, so she was not up for Elimination.
At judges' table, Paul Qui and Beverly were deemed safe,...
- 2/9/2012
- by Catherine Lawson
- Aol TV.
If you haven't had a chance to check out Top Chef this season, you seriously need to. Not because of the cheftestants' popularity -- to be honest, the personalities we're seeing this go around in Austin, while pleasant for the most part, are lacking any real flair. There are no Hungs or Carlas or Fabios to root for (and thankfully no real Marcels to hate either) so, minus a few pointless forays into girly cattiness, it's been a fairly drama-free season.
What makes this show's ninth season the best one I've ever seen has nothing to do with who's competing and everything to do with the clever use of recent guest stars Charlize Theron and Paul Reubens (in character as Pee Wee Herman). Am I seriously hinging "The Best Season Ever" on only two episodes? Yeah, I am -- why? Because they were That fucking good.
Crazy-good actress Theron appeared...
What makes this show's ninth season the best one I've ever seen has nothing to do with who's competing and everything to do with the clever use of recent guest stars Charlize Theron and Paul Reubens (in character as Pee Wee Herman). Am I seriously hinging "The Best Season Ever" on only two episodes? Yeah, I am -- why? Because they were That fucking good.
Crazy-good actress Theron appeared...
- 2/3/2012
- by Vanessa Becknell
- Aol TV.
Teddy Forance, Travis Wall, Nick Lazzarini (l-r) and Kyle Robinson will show us All The Right Moves.
I’ve always loved Travis Wall whether he’s dancing or choreographing on So You Think You Can Dance. What’s this about a new reality show and when will it be on? – Christian (via email)
The series, called All The Right Moves, will follow Wall and his lifelong friends Teddy Forance (dancer/choreographer with Cirque du Soleil), dancer Nick Lazzarini (who won the first Sytycd season) and Kyle Robinson (recently featured on Dancing With The Stars). At this point, it’s in the development stage for the Oxygen network, so time will tell if it gets ordered to series. I asked Wall, via email, how different it would be for him to have cameras following him in his own home and he replied, “It will be different for me for sure, and...
I’ve always loved Travis Wall whether he’s dancing or choreographing on So You Think You Can Dance. What’s this about a new reality show and when will it be on? – Christian (via email)
The series, called All The Right Moves, will follow Wall and his lifelong friends Teddy Forance (dancer/choreographer with Cirque du Soleil), dancer Nick Lazzarini (who won the first Sytycd season) and Kyle Robinson (recently featured on Dancing With The Stars). At this point, it’s in the development stage for the Oxygen network, so time will tell if it gets ordered to series. I asked Wall, via email, how different it would be for him to have cameras following him in his own home and he replied, “It will be different for me for sure, and...
- 12/5/2011
- by nyjimmy67
- The Backlot
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