Wednesdays are BACK!

After LOST wrapped it's fifth season a few weeks ago, my Wednesday nights have been rather uneventful and really kind of empty. Until last night. I have to admit that I forgot that last night was the premiere of Bravo's new Top Chef spinoff series, Top Chef Masters. But I was pleasantly surprised to catch the second showing when it came around at 11pm. 

This time out, the judges become the judged as real "top chefs" from around the country compete in classic TC challenges. What's at stake each week? A spot in the finals and a chance to win $100,000 for the charity of the winner's choice. Over the first six weeks, we'll be introduced (or re-introduced) to four chefs an episode, culminating in a dramatic week seven finale in which the top-top-chefs battle it out. 

The main judges this time around are reputable food critics Gael Greene (New York Magazine), Jay Rayner (apparently big in the UK), James Oseland (noted food journalist and bigshot at Saveur magazine). I'm more up on my famous chefs than I am on my famous food journalists, but apparently these guys (especially Gael) are pretty big deals in the food writing world. I should probably take note. 

The premiere episode featured chef Christopher Lee (who I only know from those Swanson Broth commercials), chef Tim Love (the maverick Texan who takes shots in the kitchen with his honky-tonk staff), Hubert Keller (former TC guest judge and James Beard lifetime achievement award winner), and last but not least Michael Schlow (famed chef and restauranteur in the Boston area). 

Boy do I love to watch these guys sweat. I mean, they obviously had to do a lot of it working their way to where they are today, but there's still a delightful pleasure in watching them struggle through the same struggles as past TC contestants. Warning: spoilers ahead!

Exhibit one: dessert quickfire. For an audience of four twelve-year-old girl scouts. Try impressing that palate. Surprisingly, Tim Love's seemingly bland "strawberries three ways" did not win over the scouts, but Keller's "chocolate mousse, meringue swan, whip cream, and fruit & orange sabayon" received full marks! I guess the little ladies had good taste (and appreciation for cute chocolate mice)!

Next up was a three course dinner challenge - in which the chefs had to "go back to college" and only cook with a hot plate, a microwave, and a toaster oven. Oh, and they had to cook it all IN a tiny dorm room. Despite the odds, all the chefs came up with what looked like fantastic dishes. Cabbage soup... eh not sure if that would have hit the spot. But it was Hubert Keller's play on easy mac - with a creamy cheese sauce, prawns, mushrooms and herbs that brought the dorm down. 

In the end, Keller edged out Lee by a hair to advance to the finals. 

What matchup am I looking forward to next? I'd like to see Graham Elliot Bowles go up against Wylie Dufresne... and Rick Bayless go up against... anyone. Can't wait to see what's in store for next week!