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Special Features
- Exclusive cookbook
- Never-aired stew room footage
- Extended interviews
- Cooking demonstrations
- PC game demo
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Each episode consists of a quickfire challenge and an elimination challenge. The quickfire challenges test the chefs' culinary techniques and palates as well as their ability to think on their feet and create winning dishes with very little time and some particularly odd ingredients. The elimination challenges give the chefs more time but test their versatility and creativity, requiring them to cater to groups such as rock's Foo Fighters and other Top Chef contestants and highly regarded food legends; to cook in specific styles that may lead them far from their comfort zones; to employ highly exotic ingredients; to make do with severely limited kitchens; or to engage in the highly competitive restaurant wars at the very last moment, among other trials.
Just as entertaining as the food challenges are the unpredictable interactions between contestants, which range from unlikely friendships to romantic liaisons and ugly shouting matches. This fifth season gives rise to several burning questions: can a person get voted out for serving deviled eggs or s'mores in a cooking contest? Is making an ostrich egg omelet original enough to keep a contestant in the competition? Is the Top Chef competition all about food, or does service count, too--and if so, how much does it count? Is this purely a cutthroat competition between chefs, or is there room for compassion and maybe even a little holiday spirit? Bonus features include footage and interviews from inside the eliminated cast house, extended interviews with the top four chefs, some pretty amusing stew room footage, and cooking demonstrations of selected contestants' dishes on "The Wong Way to Cook." The DVD also comes with a cookbook insert that features five recipes from past Top Chef seasons. --Tami Horiuchi
Product Description
Product Description
The world-class culinary competition only gets hotter in TOP CHEF: NEW YORK - the No. 1 food show on cable - as 17 new cheftestants head to the Big Apple to test their skills and compete for culinary stardom.
Featuring some of the biggest names in food and entertainment, including Martha Stewart, Foo Fighters, Jean-Georges, and Rocco DiSpirito, the fifth season of this Emmy®-award winning series welcomes newbie Toby Young (How to Lose Friends and Alienate People) to the judges' table alongside host Padma Lakshmi, head judge and celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, and Gail Simmons. Each episode features two challenges for the chefs: a Quickfire test of basic abilities and an Elimination Challenge designed to test versatility and inventiveness as the chefs take on unique culinary trials, such as working with unusual and exotic foods or catering for a range of demanding clients.
In the most challenging season yet, the cheftestants battle to prove they have what it takes to be crowned the next Top Chef.
Special Features
- Exclusive Cookbook
- Never-Aired Stew Room Footage
- Extended Interviews
- Cooking Demonstrations
- PC Game Demo
DISC ONE: Melting Pot / Show Your Craft / Foo Fighters Thanksgiving / Today Show / Bonus
DISC TWO: Gail's Bridal Shower / 12 Days of Christmas / Focus Group / Down on the Farm / Bonus
DISC THREE: Restaurant Wars / Super Bowl Chef Showdown / Le Bernadin / The Last Supper / Bonus
DISC FOUR: Finale Part 1 / Finale Part 2 / Watch What Happens / Bonus
Customer Reviews
I would LOVE to know why it's taken so long and why they've released out of sequence.
I loved watching Team Euro's charm and attitude with talent provided by Fabio and Stefan, quirky but sophisticated Carla who combined New Age philosophies and classical training successfully, and pretty Jamie from San Francisco who had to fend off amorous male attention while creating competitive dishes - really guys, she's not interested... These were my personal favorites.
Thank you casting producers for giving us more of the serious and less of the ridiculous. These contestants were people we liked hanging out with after a hard day's work. We don't need pointless negativity which was Season 4's absolute downfall.
I was excited that New York City was the backdrop, but unfortunately, I think they used up some of NYC's exciting venues in Season 3 when the contestants cooked at Sirio Maccioni's Le Cirque and at the French Culinary Institute. Nonetheless, it must be said that Season 5 DID get into Eric Ripert's Le Bernardin. Impressive. Gorgeous man, gorgeous restaurant. I did ask myself why Ripert does Top Chef - he certainly doesn't need the exposure. But I didn't dwell too long on asking the question because this is what I wait for each season - the SERIOUS culinary challenges at the highest level. We did get to see Tom Colicchio's Craftsteak as well, but wow, Eric Ripert and Le Bernardin.
I have to admit, I was hoping that we could get into one of Daniel Boulud's restaurants as he has made several appearances on the show, but I don't think it was due to a lack of the producers trying. I wonder what that inside story is.
Judging the Judges
Padma is still her glamorous and elegant self, but I think I discovered her purpose other than being the "decorative judge." I think she is part of the deal in getting celebrity chefs to act as judges. I can see them saying, "OK, I'll do an episode of Top Chef if you seat me next to Padma at the dinner table." I'm only half-joking about this one.
I did notice far less enthusiasm from both Padma and Tom this season. They looked bored with their roles, looking at their watches, maybe thinking, "Is my contract over yet?" Tom especially has quite the attitude this season. I called him pleasant and congenial once upon a time, but that's gone. Is he trying to be disagreeable so that he can get out of his contract early? His unpopular end of the season decision might have been a strategy.
To Gail from Food&Wine - I imagine there may be brief moments of insecurity related to co-hosting the show with the beautiful Ms. Lakshmi, but please don't feel obligated to expose so much of your ample decolletage. You can look lovely and smart without doing that. We have heard you make intelligent comments and that has created a fan base for you.
To Toby Young - When you stopped trying so desperately hard to be witty and clever, you became likeable because your cleverness finally showed through. I am glad you fought against Tom's final decision this season - looks like it has made you quite popular.
No Spoilers - I promise. This season had quite a controversial ending. Suffice it to say from reading the blogs that the Top Chef of Season 5 is going to have to spend some of the prize money on body guards - people are not happy. I ALMOST feel sorry for the winner.
But it's all just an elaborate game - like many other things in life - and speculation is half the fun. Thanks for the entertaining season!
