Top Chef: Seattle is the tenth season of the American reality television seriesTop Chef. The season was announced on September 19, 2012, and premiered on November 7, 2012. The competition was initially filmed in Seattle, Washington before moving to Juneau, Alaska for three episodes, and then concluding in Los Angeles, California.[1]Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen, the web series introduced in the previous season which puts the eliminated contestants against each other in head-to-head challenges to battle for a chance to re-enter the main competition, also returned.[2] The winner continued to compete in the season finale.[3] In addition, viewers could vote each week for chefs eliminated from the Last Chance Kitchen to move on in the "Save a Chef" competition. The winner of the final vote was "saved", and earned a spot in the final round of the Last Chance Kitchen.[3] In the season finale, Kristen Kish was declared the winner over runner-up Brooke Williamson.[4] Sheldon Simeon was voted Fan Favorite.[5]
Contestants
The cast of Top Chef: Seattle initially consisted of 21 contestants.[2] After the qualifying challenges in the first episode, the pool of chefs was narrowed down to 15. Former Top Chef competitors Josie Smith-Malave (Top Chef: Los Angeles), Chris "CJ" Jacobson (Top Chef: Miami), and Stefan Richter (Top Chef: New York) joined the competition during the second episode.
^Note 1 : The chef(s) did not receive immunity for winning the Quickfire Challenge. ^Note 2 : Due to the qualifying rounds, the show did not use its traditional elimination format until the second episode. ^Note 3 : Former Top Chef contestants CJ, Josie, and Stefan entered the competition following the Quickfire Challenge. ^Note 4 : Due to the poor quality of the dishes served in the Elimination Challenge, no winner was declared. ^Note 5 : Kristen won Last Chance Kitchen and returned to the competition.
(WINNER) The chef won the season and was crowned Top Chef.
(RUNNER-UP) The chef was the runner-up for the season.
(WIN) The chef won the Elimination Challenge.
(HIGH) The chef was selected as one of the top entries in the Elimination Challenge, but did not win.
(IN) The chef was not selected as one of the top or bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge and was safe.
(LOW) The chef was selected as one of the bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge, but was not eliminated.
Qualifying Challenge: The 21 chefs were separated into four groups and sent to the restaurants of judges Tom Colicchio, Emeril Lagasse, Wolfgang Puck, and Hugh Acheson. The judges devised their own challenges to evaluate the potential contestants and selected which chefs would compete for the Top Chef title in Seattle.
Group 1 (Colicchio): Anthony, John, Jorel, Lizzie, Micah
Eliminated: Anthony, Jorel
Group 2 (Lagasse): Jeffrey, Josh, Kristen, Stephanie, Tina
Eliminated: Stephanie, Tina
Group 3 (Puck): Carla, Chrissy, Daniel, Eliza, Kuniko, Tyler
Eliminated: Daniel
Group 4 (Acheson): Bart, Brooke, Danyele, Gina, Sheldon
Eliminated: Gina
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2
"A Shock at the Space Needle"
November 14, 2012 (2012-11-14)
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs separated themselves into teams of three and had to create a dish that highlighted the local shellfish. The winning team drew knives to determine which individual would receive immunity. Past Top Chef contestants, Chris "CJ" Jacobson, Josie Smith-Malave, and Stefan Richter officially joined the competition following the challenge.
Orange Team: Carla, Chrissy, Lizzie
Yellow Team: Danyele, Eliza, Josh
Green Team: Kristen, Micah, Tyler
Blue Team: John, Kuniko, Sheldon
Gray Team: Bart, Brooke, Jeffrey
Winner: Blue Team (Geoduck Sashimi with Ponzu, Apple & Cucumber)
Elimination Challenge: Using the same teams from the Quickfire, the chefs traveled to the Space Needle to make a dish using regional ingredients.
Eliminated: Jeffrey (Pan Roasted Halibut with Mushrooms, English Peas, Wheat Beer & Herb Sabayon)
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"Tom vs. Emeril: Turkeypocalypse"
November 21, 2012 (2012-11-21)
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs were tasked with creating international dumplings, inspired by whatever country they took on a map; they had 5 minutes on an Amazon Kindle Fire to look up whatever they needed to know about their type of dumpling.
Elimination Challenge: The chefs worked in two teams, led by Tom Colicchio (Red) and Emeril Lagasse (Gray), to cook a Thanksgiving meal to benefit FareStart.
Red Team: Bart, Carla, CJ, Eliza, Josh, Lizzie, Micah, Stefan
Elimination Challenge: The same teams were kept for the Elimination Challenge. The chefs were asked to create a dish, by drawing knives, to feature an ingredient created by the vendors at Pike Place Market. The winners would have received $10,000; however, due to the poor quality of the meal, the reward was pulled off the table.
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs were asked to cook a holiday-themed sweet and savory dish that reminds them of their heritage using Truvia baking blend sugar. However, there was only one knife available for all the chefs; those who needed to use it were forced to either share it or improvise using other tools or methods.
Winner: Brooke (Apple Crostata with Cheddar Cheese, Candied Pine Nuts & Apple Salad)
Elimination Challenge: The chefs were tasked to cater a homecoming party for actors Anna Faris and Chris Pratt, along with their families and friends. The winner received a Toyota Prius c.
Winner: Brooke (Lamb-Stuffed Squid on Black Rice with Coconut Milk)
Eliminated: Eliza (Elk Ribeye with Elk Sausage Polenta, Spiced Carrots & Huckleberry Port Sauce)
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"Foiled Again"
December 19, 2012 (2012-12-19)
Quickfire Challenge: All ingredients in the Top Chef pantry were completely wrapped in Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil. The chefs had 30 minutes to make whatever they wanted, with the limitation that each chef must incorporate any ingredient he or she unwrapped. In addition, all pots, pans, and bowls were off-limits; only the aluminum foil could be used as a cooking vessel.
Winner: Kristen (Almond & Chocolate Sponge Cake)
Elimination Challenge: The chefs paired up and competed against each other to make dishes that featured berries from Remlinger's Farm. The winner of the Quickfire Challenge was allowed to cook by themselves. The dishes were served to 150 guests, who voted which contestant had the better dish in each head-to-head battle (below in italics). The winner received $10,000.
Winner: Kristen (Matcha Goat Milk Custard with Macerated Tayberries)
Eliminated: Danyele (Chicken Pine Nut Terrine with Blueberry Mostarda)
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"Jalapeño Business"
December 26, 2012 (2012-12-26)
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs were challenged to make either a hot or cold preparation of oysters that they had harvested themselves from local oyster beds in Bow, Washington. The winner received $5,000.
Winner: Micah (Crispy Fried Oysters with Arugula Salad, Hot Sauce & Lemon)
Elimination Challenge: In teams of two, the chefs had to cater an after-game party for a Seattle roller derby team, the Rat City Rollergirls. The dishes each team cooked were inspired by the name of one of the rollergirls.
Josie, Bart: Teriyaki Terror
John, Brooke: Kutta Rump
Lizzie, Micah: Jalapeño Business
Kristen, Stefan: Eddie Shredder
Josh, Sheldon: Tempura Tantrum
Winners: Brooke, John (Thai Beef with Lobster Jasmine Rice & Thai Slaw)
Eliminated: Bart (Steak Teriyaki with Forbidden Rice, Beet Blood & Green Papaya Salad)
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9
"Past Suppers"
January 2, 2013 (2013-01-02)
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs were tested on their knife skills. Beginning in three teams of three, the contestants had to sharpen dull knives enough to cut cleanly through paper. The two teams to finish the fastest advanced to the next round preparing 50 potatoes using the Tourné cutting method. The members of the winning team continued to the final round, competing against each other to break down the rack of two rabbits. A chef cutting themselves was treated as an automatic disqualification. The winner received a custom chef's knife from master bladesmith Bob Kramer, worth roughly $4,000, and immunity from elimination.
Winner: Micah
Elimination Challenge: Each chef cooked a dish inspired by a memorable moment from a previous season of Top Chef, but had to prepare a healthier version than the original. The winner received $15,000, and their dish would be used as inspiration for a new Top ChefHealthy Choice frozen entrée. In a surprise twist, the bottom two contestants competed head-to-head based on a memorable moment from this season: CJ's elimination in Episode 5.
Season 1: Josie - Dave saying to Tiffani "I'm not your bitch, bitch" after Restaurant Wars.
Season 2: Stefan - Marcel and Betty's fight during the TGI Fridays challenge.
Season 3: John - Howie referencing Anthony Bourdain's book at the judges' table after failing to plate part of his dish.
Season 4: Sheldon - The fight in the stew room with Spike, Antonia, Jennifer, Dale, and Lisa after Zoi's departure.
Season 5: Lizzie - Jamie making the same scallop dish from a previous episode and Fabio saying "It's Top Chef, not Top Scallop."
Season 6: Josh - The chefs cooking for 300 airmen at an Air Force base.
Season 7: Brooke - Alex winning a challenge for a dish with pea purée after Ed mysteriously lost his.
Season 8: Kristen - Carla's excitement over getting the chance to make chicken pot pie on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
Season 9: Micah - Beverly and Heather's fight at the judges' table.
Winner: Kristen (Poached Chicken Breast, Carrot Purée, with Garlic & Tofu Emulsion)
Eliminated: John (Umami Risotto with Chicken, Salmon Roe, Burdock Root & Carrot Emulsion; Lamb Burger with Fried Egg and Spicy Pickle, Tomato & Pomegranate Salad)
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10
"Battle Before the War"
January 9, 2013 (2013-01-09)
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs had 15 minutes to prepare a dish containing ginger. The winner received immunity from elimination.
Winner: Brooke (Ginger-Caramel Squid with Fresh Lime & Chili Powder)
Elimination Challenge: The chefs created a restaurant concept, and presented their concept via a representative dish at the Taste of Seattle Food Festival. The two winning chefs each received $10,000 and acted as executive chef for their teams during Restaurant Wars in the next episode. The two winners picked their teams from the other remaining contestants without knowing the results of the elimination, guaranteeing that one would be handicapped in the following challenge.
Winners: Kristen (Atelier Kwan - Onsen Egg with Camembert-Mustard Sauce & Buttered Radishes); Sheldon (Urbano - Sour Tamarind Soup with Pork Belly, Shrimp & Snapper)
Eliminated: Micah (Raw - Salmon, Snapper, Hamachi, Squid, Scallop & Mackerel with Raw Vegetables)
150
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"Restaurant Wars"
January 16, 2013 (2013-01-16)
Elimination Challenge: The chefs had 48 hours to create a restaurant pop-up based on the winning concepts from the prior episode: Urbano (modern Filipino) and Atelier Kwan (reinterpreted classical French). They set up both the dining area and the kitchen area, and executed a multi-course dinner service. One member from the losing team was eligible for elimination. The winner received a Toyota Avalon.
Dark Chocolate with Macadamia Nuts, Ginger & Peppermint Oil (Stefan)
Winner: Sheldon
Eliminated: Kristen
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"Wolfgang Clucks"
January 23, 2013 (2013-01-23)
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs had 30 minutes to create a dish to impress a sushi master. The winner received $5,000. From this point forward, the winners of the Quickfire no longer received immunity from elimination.
Winner: Stefan (Yellowtail with Grilled Shiitake & Raw Lobster with Seaweed and Unagi)
Elimination Challenge: The chefs had to make a fried chicken dish for a dinner party. The winner received a year's supply of Terlato wine.
Winner: Josh (Smoked Fried Chicken with Hot Sauce & Blue Cheese)
Eliminated: Josie (Chicken with Black Garlic, Cayenne, Thyme & Hot Sauce with Daikon Salad)
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"Chefs at Sea"
January 30, 2013 (2013-01-30)
Quickfire Challenge: The competition left Seattle and boarded a cruise ship en route to Juneau, Alaska. The chefs prepared 200 portions of a one-bite appetizer incorporating iceberg lettuce. The winner received an advantage in the following Elimination Challenge.
Elimination Challenge: The chefs prepared a creative reinterpretation of a surf and turf. The winner of the Quickfire Challenge was allowed to choose their two proteins first, which became off-limits to the rest of the competitors.
Winner: Brooke (Mussels & Frog Legs with Celery Root & Fennel Purée, Papadums & Shallot Chutney)
Eliminated: Stefan (Braised Pork Belly with Beer Sauce, Parsnip & Eel Ravioli)
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14
"Kings of Alaska"
February 6, 2013 (2013-02-06)
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs had 30 minutes to create a dish highlighting Alaskan crab. The winner received $5,000.
Elimination Challenge: The chefs had to make a dish using salmon and sourdough bread for the residents of Juneau. The winner received a trip for two to Costa Rica.
Eliminated: Lizzie (Citrus & Beet Glazed Salmon Slider with Poppyseed Bun & Pickles)
154
15
"Glacial Gourmand"
February 13, 2013 (2013-02-13)
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs prepared a meal for the athletes training for the Iditarod using only the supplies already available at their training camp.
Winner: Brooke (Pan-Roasted Halibut, Panzanella Salad with Red Currant & Beet Vinaigrette)
Elimination Challenge: The chefs cooked a dish inspired by their memory of the moment they decided to become a chef.
Eliminated: Josh (Foie Gras Three Ways: Torchon, Pan-Seared & Profiterole)
155
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"Finale Part 1"
February 20, 2013 (2013-02-20)
Elimination Challenge: After the competition moved to Los Angeles for the finale, the remaining chefs were given three hours to prepare an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert course to be served that night at Tom Colicchio's Craft restaurant. In addition, the chefs must run the kitchen during the dinner service, expedited by Colicchio himself, finishing and plating courses to order.
Eliminated: Sheldon (Sashimi Spot Prawns, Court Bouillon, Radish & Asian Herbs; Roasted Quail, Pine Nut Purée, Garam Masala & Tangerine; White Chocolate Mousse with Apple & Fennel)
156
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"Finale Part 2"
February 27, 2013 (2013-02-27)
Elimination Challenge: Cooking in an Iron Chef-style arena in front of the judges, their friends and families, and all nine previous Top Chef champions, the finalists each prepared up to five courses of a meal to be served to the judges and audience. Kristen was assisted by Josh, Lizzie, and Sheldon. Brooke was assisted by CJ, Kuniko, and Stefan. Each course would be critiqued head-to-head by the judges, who would immediately vote on a winner for the round. The first chef to win three rounds would be crowned "Top Chef".
Challenge: The chefs were given a chance to redeem themselves by creating a dish incorporating the same ingredients from the dishes that eliminated them.
Carla: Whole Squab with Baked Tomato & Morels
Chrissy: Canlis' Special Salad
Jeffrey: Pan-Roasted Halibut with Peas & Morels
Kuniko: Lemongrass Cream Potato Chowder
Winner: Kuniko
Eliminated: Carla, Chrissy, Jeffrey
2
"CJ and Tyler vs. Kuniko"
December 5, 2012 (2012-12-05)
Challenge: The chefs were tasked with making a dessert. Because CJ and Tyler were eliminated from the main competition as a team, the two contestants had to work together to create their dish.
Kuniko: Frozen Bananas with Fruit Compote & Lemon Curd
CJ, Tyler: Hay Ice Cream with Cherry Fritter, Cherries & Arugula
Winners: CJ, Tyler
Eliminated: Kuniko
Saved: Jeffrey
3
"Eliza vs. CJ vs. Tyler"
December 12, 2012 (2012-12-12)
Challenge: The chefs had to create a well-composed dish highlighting pickles and carrots.
Challenge: The chefs got to choose an ingredient, a cuisine, and a cooking technique that they had to incorporate into their dishes, as well as a time limit. They decided that they had to prepare a French-inspired snapper dish with a smoked element in 30 minutes.
CJ: Brown Butter Snapper with Creamed Morel, Smoked Mashed Potatoes & Ratatouille
