I’m still recovering from this week’s episode, so much drama and bitterness amongst the chef’testants. I just love it. The elimination challenge this week required the chefs to make a show piece based on the Lucent Dossier Experience–this felt a lot more like a poor man’s Food Network Challenge. But it did the trick and certainly created more drama in the stew room.
Keep reading to check out who walked, literally…
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Isn’t she just adorable? Sylvia Weinstock was the guest judge on this week’s episode of TC: Just Desserts, which meant wedding cakes — you read that right, Seth — wedding cakes, not engagement cakes. Yes, another week of crazy Seth and tears, but who went home?
Continue reading to find out.
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SF pastry chef Tim Nugent may have been asked to pack his knives stack his measuring cups and leave Top Chef: Just Desserts last week, but it was just in time for him to take ES on a tour of all his favorite local desserts. From the classics to the craziest, here are Tim Nugent’s favorite San Francisco treats.
“This is done the right way, the French way,” says Tim — just eggs, sugar, and super-rich chocolate from SF-based TCHO. “I get all that other stuff out of the way and just go right to the chocolate.” (Photo: Alex)
Crazy donuts, crazier ice cream and the one dish that strikes fear in the heart of all Top Chef-testants. Keep reading for more of Tim’s favs…
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What, you thought we’d let you get away without Top Chef: Just Desserts interviews? Don’t be silly. If you’ve not watched Just Desserts, stop what you are doing and set your DVR — this show is how we all remember Top Chef — a sprinkle of awesomeness and a dash of crazy. I like to think of it as Real Housewives of Top Chef.
So, without further ado, I bring you last night’s loser:
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– I’m a little surprised that blondee47‘s thoughts on Top Chef: Just Desserts didn’t stir up more controversy here at ES:
This show is a big gamble for these reasons:
…all I can say to Gail is that she had better not put one pound on because if it isn’t written in her contract then it should be (for her sake). All woman have a much higher tendency to gain weight quicker than her male counterparts.
… if she does unfortunately begin to gain weight this will, singlehandedly, be the beginning of the end for pastry chefs and bakers everywhere; not to mention her own self-esteem
…finally, depending on the pros and cons of Top Chef Desserts, it could very well be an added bonus to the Obama campaign for healthy eating and the cutting out of high gylcemix indexed foods of which Desserts rank the highest, fruit included or it can raise the awareness of portion control with every aspect of each challenge.Gail there is a lot riding on this for the average viewer and these are just my thoughts on it as a non-industry person but nevertheless a lover of food.
– Much less controversial are chilaquiles. But Don adds a new spin:
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As we bid farewell to season 7 of Top Chef this week, we welcome the latest franchise in the TC series, Top Chef: Just Desserts. We got to chat with host and judge Gail Simmons on what to expect from the show.
How did Top Chef prepare you for hosting your own show, Top Chef: Just Desserts?
I have to say my job as host is completely different on Just Desserts especially because — and I’m the first to admit it — my role on TC until now has been pretty easy. I’m not saying it hasn’t been exciting and challenging and interesting. But my job really until now has just been to sort of show up, eat, talk about it and leave. On Just Desserts, the hours are double the time, so now I’m in every single day shooting. And then also, being the host really forces you to make a different role because you are the person who needs to deliver the business, you’re the one who makes the plot go forward.
Can you tell us about the new judges?
Hubert Keller — is it not enough that he’s a total dreamboat? Not only did he start in the pastry kitchen but he actually grew up in a bakery. His family is from Alsace and his father was a baker, so he grew up above a bakery and watching bakers his whole life. It’s sort of bred in him, in his blood. Johnny Iuzzini is head judge, and I think without a doubt one of the greatest most talented young pastry chefs in this country right now. Johnny is a sort of wonder kid, he really is so talented and has such an amazing understanding of the processes of pastry, sugar, chocolate and butter. And he happens to be super attractive and stylish. And then there is Dannielle Kyrillos, who brings a totally fresh perspective through being the editor-at-large for DailyCandy. Dannille brings a brightness, a knowledge as a real diner, as a real person who’s passionate about pastry, who loves it.
In this week’s Top Chef we saw chefs who couldn’t bake or grill and geese shitting on the elimination challenge, literally! But most importantly, the producers pimped out Gail Simmons’ upcoming spin off show, Top Chef: Just Desserts, with pastry chef and Elvis impersonator Johnny Iuzzini as head judge.
After the jump check out what the losing chef’testant thought of his/her short time in DC.
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