Warning: the following column contains spoilers. If you read this column, you will find out the winner of the not-yet-filmed season of “Top Chef,” the fate of the “Lost” castaways, and the location of Mary Magdalene’s scapula.

Or … not.

Over the past four months, as I’ve blogged about the just-completed season of “Top Chef,” which featured three Atlantans among the contestants, I’ve learned quite a bit about the strange temporal reality of taped competitions on television.

Unlike live broadcasts of, say, football games or Oscar ceremonies, prerecorded contests dole out the thrills of victory and the agonies in a weird kind of time vacuum. Viewers know this, rely on this, take comfort in this. In this blasted 24 /7 news cycle, it’s their only break from real time.

I’ve done my best to play along the rules of this odd game, though now that “Top Chef” is over, I will come clean.

It was nearly a year ago when Magical Elves, the company that produces …

Continue reading Sunday Column: Spoiler! Spoiler! Don’t read this post! »

As expected, Atlanta’s Kevin Gillespie was voted “fan favorite” by the viewers of “Top Chef.”

The distinction was announced on Bravo TV’s reality-programming talk show, “Watch What Happens Live,” hosted by the soon-to-be-annoying Andy Cohen. It came with a $10,000 prize.

Cohen and guest Sarah Jessica Parker spoke to both Gillespie and runner-up Bryan Voltaggio via Skype when they made the announcement. Gillespie was at Woodfire Grill after finishing service on another sold-out evening.

“Somebody’s got to stand up for the pale-faced redheaded kids,” Gillespie joked after Parker opened the envelope revealing the winner.

Cohen asked Gillespie if his impending divorce in any way affected his performance during the finals. Ever the gentleman, Gillespie said that it made it a bit hard to concentrate but winner Michael Voltaggio had the better showing.

Gillespie’s total winnings on the show, despite not taking the title? A cool …

Continue reading No surprise — Kevin Gillespie voted fan favorite on “Top Chef” »

The “Top Chef” cast — both chefs and judges — sat down with moderator Andy Cohen for a reunion episode last night. They looked at clips and outtakes, answer questions from viewers and hashed out some issues that arose during the filming.

My favorite bits were:

• Kevin admitting that he would have rather cooked for a passel of French culinary luminaries — Joël Robuchon, Daniel Boulud — than sat down to dine with them, as he did in an early episode. “Sitting at that table was one of the most intimidating experiences of my life,” he said of the dinner at which everyone was speaking French. The scene was replayed with amusing “what Kevin was thinking” subtitles to the conversation.
• Tom remarking that this season’s A-list roster of guest judges (the aforementioned and Thomas Keller) indicates the “show has been embraced by our industry.”
• Michael sharing the childhood story about being sent to his room without watching “A.L.F.” because he was harassing Bryan.
• The Voltaggios’ …

Continue reading “Top Chef” Reunion: the cast looks back on the season »

Bravo

By now we all know who won:

1. A Feature in Food & Wine Magazine
2. $100,000 in perfume, undergarments, Zhu Zhu pets, pressure cookers and other assorted items from Macy’s
3. $125,000 in cash from the Glad Cosa Nostra of Products
4. A chance to hand out precious nibblies to women in fur-lined cowboy hats and torquoise pendants within sight lines of Cher’s house at the Aspen Food & Wine Classic.

Yes — sob! — that guy.

I know, I know. I’m here to recap, not to curse the stars, so let’s whip through this recap in a disgruntled hurry, shall we?

As the show opens, Kevin is sitting at the table in his luxurious resort and spa with a Voltaggio sandwich.

“I wonder what Jennifer’s doing?” he asks.

“Probably detoxing,” quips Michael.

The dudes talk, they button their jackets (”for the last time,” says Kev), they pack their knives and they report to a vineyard.

Padma the Banged (I am, of course, referring to her hair style) and Tom greet the finalists with meaningful looks. They are to …

Continue reading Top Chef Recap: It Ain’t Over ‘Til the Pregnant Lady Sings »

AJC Staff

Q: Were you disappointed with the judges’ call?

A: After watching the show, I’m less disappointed in many ways. I basically lost due to a difference of opinion about the pork belly and a technicality about the mushroom. Every ingredient had to be used, so there was no way of leaving that matsutake mushroom off.

Q: Have you ever cooked with matsutakes before?

A: No I haven’t. I assumed they would cook like a porcini, but when I tried them it was clear this is not what should have happened, and they were not tender.

Q: Was the mystery box a problem for you?

A: I was very vocal about it being too many things to put on a plate. I thought it was kind of clunky. It didn’t play to my strengths.

Q: It seemed that Preeti didn’t give you much help in preparing it.

A: I projected a lot of my anger and frustration onto Preeti, and she didn’t deserve it. For once in this entire competition I let my emotions get the better of me. I know you know what was going on in my personal …

Continue reading Q and A with Kevin Gillespie of “Top Chef” »

If I could afford what was on the left,

I’d raise a glass of it to the fellow on the right.

Kevin Gillespie is one three finalists vying for the title of “Top Chef” tonight at 10 p.m. on Bravo TV.

Come back after the show and we’ll update you on whether he won and we can share thoughts.

Thanks for a great showing on “Top Chef” this season, Kevin. We’re all rooting for you tonight. You’ve made your hometown proud.

Continue reading Here’s to Kevin Gillespie »

So long showgirls, hello syrah.

For the final two episodes of “Top Chef,” our dwindling crew has vacated Sin City for a land of greener pastures in which cows graze, ducks frolic and every roadside stand brims with Delicata squash and maitake mushrooms.

Buh-bye Las Vegas. Our four remaining culinary contenders cashed in their chips at the M Resort, stuck a “For Rent or Foreclosure” sign in front of the suburban McMansion, loaded up on Alexia chips at the Whole Foods and journeyed Westward, ho.

To….?

The Napa Valley! Home of fine, fine wines, a rainbow and really big welcome signs that say “NAPA.” The chefs stare out the windows of their transports and think out loud.

“It’s been a really long road to the finals,” goes Jen’s thought bubble. “You put like one grain of salt on too much, and you’re going home.”

“The Voltaggios,” Kevin thinks, “are hard to beat.”

Our final four meet at a tiny wine country train station, which is picturesque but creepily deserted as if it sits at the …

Continue reading “Top Chef” Recap, Episode 13: Crush Party Blues »

AJC Staff

Remember to tune into “Top Chef” tonight at 10 p.m. on Bravo to cheer on Atlantan Kevin Gillespie of Woodfire Grill, who has made it to the finals. Gillespie and the three other finalists have decamped from Las Vegas to the Napa Valley for the two shows that will bring this competition to an end.

Gillespie has also shared the news that he and his wife of six years, Callie, are moving their separate ways. You can read about it here.

You can find my recap of “Top Chef” tomorrow on this blog.

Until then…GO KEVIN!!!!!!!

Continue reading “Top Chef” Tonight »

Paul Bocuse (credit: Wikimedia)

If there’s one lesson to be learned from last night’s pen-penultimate episode of “Top Chef,” it’s that yummy always wins. The judges may ask you communicate the principles of Aristotelian tragedy with Fig Newtons and soy sauce, but as long as that piece of meat is cooked and salted properly, you get the first call to judges’ table.

So, as we begin our last day in the suburban McMansion, things are looking up for the remaining five. Jen has apparently discovered a product that combines the best qualities of Xanax and Tresemmé hair conditioner, and she is fine fettle. Kevin misses his wife but is glad he’s had hometown bud Eli for the ride. Eli, for his part, wants to win for his mentor Richard Blais (cue shot of teary, came-so-close Blais). Bryan admits the recession has taken a turn on his business and could really use some winnings.

Are we ready to do this thing? Chefs: start buttoning your coats.

In “Top Chef” kitchen, Padma awaits in the …

Continue reading “Top Chef” Recap: Episode 12, Ballotine Boy »

Dale Chihuly canopy at the Bellagio

As we return to “Top Chef” land after a special two-week palate-cleansing hiatus, we find our six remaining chefs showing signs of stress. At the McMansion, Robin roots through the drawer of Glad Flex bags with an untold purpose, possibly the intention to smash a piano into bits. Jen is sallow and wild haired. I mean really wild haired. She looks like she has just suffered a botched electroshock therapy session. Bryan pines for his wife and young son back home in Maryland. Everyone seems ready to get on with it.

Soon, the chefs find themselves in the bowels of the Venetian hotel, in a kind of kitchen catacomb. A phone rings, and a disembodied voice comes crackling through the line. Is it Charlie looking for his Angels? No, it’s Padma demanding food.

Cut to our hostess, who is upstairs splayed out in a guest room bed, and she’s not alone!

Padma is having a slumber party with erudite British food sensualist Nigella Lawson. These two …

Continue reading Top Chef Recap: Episode 11: “More Spamalot than Camelot” »