Top Chef (season 7)

Top Chef: D.C.
Winner Kevin Sbraga
Original run June 16, 2010
– September 22, 2010
Filming dates
No. of episodes 15
No. of chefs 17
All-Stars Angelo Sosa,
Tiffany Derry
Previous Season 6 (Las Vegas)
Next Season 8 (All-Stars)

Top Chef: D.C. is the seventh season of American reality television series Top Chef and was filmed first in Washington, D.C. and concluded in Singapore.[1] The season premiered on Bravo on June 16, 2010 and ended on September 15, 2010.

Contents

Judges, guest judges and special appearances

Ripert is new to the show as a judge in Season 7. Colicchio, Lakshmi and Simmons returned from Season 6.[2]

Guest judges

Contestants

17 chefs competed in Season 7. Names, ages, hometowns, and cities of residence (at time of filming) are from the Bravo website.[3] In the order eliminated:

Contestant progress

Contestant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Quickfire
Winner(s)
Angelo Angelo
Tracey
Kenny Kenny
Tamesha
Ed Kelly Angelo Tiffany Amanda
Kelly
Kenny
Kevin
Tiffany Ed Angelo Ed None
Kevin HIGH IN LOW LOW HIGH WIN LOW HIGH LOW IN LOW IN IN WINNER
Ed IN LOW HIGH IN IN IN HIGH LOW WIN HIGH WIN IN WIN RUNNER-UP
Angelo WIN IN (-) HIGH IN IN IN IN IN HIGH LOW LOW WIN IN RUNNER-UP
Kelly IN WIN IN WIN HIGH SAFE LOW HIGH LOW HIGH LOW IN OUT
Tiffany IN HIGH IN IN IN HIGH HIGH WIN HIGH WIN HIGH OUT
Amanda IN LOW HIGH IN LOW IN IN IN LOW LOW OUT
Alex HIGH IN IN IN IN IN WIN LOW HIGH OUT
Kenny HIGH LOW IN LOW WIN LOW IN IN OUT
Stephen LOW IN (-) LOW IN LOW IN IN OUT
Andrea IN IN IN WIN HIGH IN OUT
Tamesha IN IN (-) IN IN IN OUT
Timothy LOW IN LOW IN OUT
Arnold IN HIGH WIN OUT
Lynne IN HIGH IN OUT
Tracey IN IN (-) OUT
Jacqueline LOW OUT
John OUT
     (WINNER) The chef won the season and was crowned Top Chef.
     (RUNNER-UP) The chef was a runner-up for the season.
     (WIN) The chef won that episode's Elimination Challenge.
     (HIGH) The chef was selected as one of the top entries in the Elimination Challenge, but did not win.
     (LOW) The chef was selected as one of the bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge, but was not eliminated.
     (OUT) The chef lost that week's Elimination Challenge and was out of the competition.
     (IN) The chef neither won nor lost that week's Elimination Challenge. They also were not up to be eliminated.
     [IN (+)] The chef won a pair or team challenge but was not chosen as one of the judges' favorites.
     [IN (-)] The chef lost a pair or team challenge but was not selected as one of the judges' least favorites.
     (SAFE) The chef won the Quickfire Challenge, which exempted them from participation in the Elimination Challenge.

Episodes

Each episode includes two challenges. The Quickfire Challenge is a short, simple challenge with a varying reward each week; in the initial episodes of the season, it usually guarantees the winner immunity from being sent home that week; however, in the latter stages, the Quickfire winner is given an advantage in the upcoming Elimination Challenge. It also has been made clear that Quickfire winners this season may receive other rewards, including cash prizes. The Elimination Challenge is a more complex challenge that determines who goes home. One or more judges join the show each week to evaluate both the Quickfire and Elimination challenges. Each week's elimination is announced in a segment called "Judges' Table."

Episode 1: House of Chef-presentatives

The final four chefs are given 30 minutes to make a dish with the ingredients from the first three rounds, plus items from the Top Chef pantry.

  • Top: Angelo, Kenny
  • Bottom: Kevin, Timothy
    • WINNER: Angelo (Roasted Chicken with Curried Onion Jam)
  • WINNER: Angelo (Arctic Char with Pickled Shallots, Chile Tapioca and Smoked Bacon Froth)
  • ELIMINATED: John (Maple Mousse Napoleon with Crisp Macadamia Nuts and Vanilla Sauce)

Episode 2: Outside the Lunch Box

  • WINNER: Kelly (Braised Pork Carnitas Tacos with Pickled Onions and Cilantro on Oat Tortillas)
  • ELIMINATED: Jacqueline (Banana Pudding with Skim Milk, Strawberries and Strawberry Sauce)

Episode 3: Capitol Grill

  • WINNER: Arnold (Sesame Lamb Meatball, Tabouli Salad and Gazpacho)
  • ELIMINATED: Tracey (Italian Sausage Slider, Tomato, Cucumber and Red Onion Salad)

Episode 4: Room Service

  • Breakfast Round (Safe): Amanda/Stephen; Tiffany/Timothy
  • Lunch Round (Safe): Alex/Ed; Angelo/Tamesha
  • Dinner Round (Safe): Andrea/Kelly; Kenny/Kevin
  • WINNERS: Andrea and Kelly (Braised Beef Short Rib, Polenta, Shiitake Mushrooms and Citrus Gremolata)
  • ELIMINATED: Arnold and Lynne (Pineapple Red Curry Mussels with Squid Ink Pasta and Focaccia)

Episode 5: Farm Policy

  • WINNER: Kenny (Hot and Sour Curried Eggplant with Peppers and Carrot Tops)
  • ELIMINATED: Timothy (Roasted Turnips and Asparagus with Honey)

Episode 6: Cold War

  • WINNER: Kelly (Emu Egg Omelet with Goat Cheese and Harissa Vinaigrette)
  • WINNER: Kevin (Tuna and Veal with Romaine Leaves, Pine Nuts and Mediterranean Condiments)
  • ELIMINATED: Tamesha (Scallops with Pickled Rhubarb, Cilantro, Basil and Long Pepper in Rhubarb Jus)

Episode 7: Power Lunch

  • WINNER: Angelo (Cucumber Cup with Spiced Shrimp and Cashew)
  • WINNER: Alex (Applewood Smoked Salmon with Black Forbidden Rice and English Pea Purée)
  • ELIMINATED: Andrea (Pan-Seared Swordfish with "Risotto-Style" Couscous, Asparagus and Vanilla-Mustard Beurre Blanc)

Episode 8: Foreign Affairs

  • WINNER: Tiffany (Beef Goulash with Poached Egg, Currants, Peppers and Yogurt)
  • WINNER: Tiffany (Mexico: Chicken Tamales with Queso Fresco and Tomatillo Sauce)
  • ELIMINATED: Stephen (Brazil: Flank Steak in Chimichurri Sauce with Black Peas and Rice)
  • Winner's Prize: $10,000

Episode 9: Restaurant Wars

EVOO: Alex, Angelo, Ed, Tiffany
  • 1st Course: Confit of Tomato Soup, Squash and Olive Crouton (Angelo) or Crudo of Black Bass and Yellowtail Snapper with Meyer Lemon-Caper Relish (Tiffany)
  • 2nd Course: Striped Bass, Stewed Spinach, Chorizo and Clams (Tiffany) or Slow-Baked Turbot, Eggplant Caviar and Black Olive Jus (Ed)
  • 3rd Course: Pan-Seared Lamb Chop, English Pea Pureé, Smoked Bacon and Parmesan Foam (Alex) or Seared Rib Eye Steak, Crushed Walnut Potatoes and Balsamic Fig Reduction (Angelo, Ed)
Twenty One 21: Amanda, Kelly, Kenny, Kevin
  • 1st Course: Chilled Sweet Corn Soup with Maryland Blue Crab Salad (Kelly) or Beet Salad with Warm Chorizo-Citrus Vinaigrette (Kenny)
  • 2nd Course: Oakwood Grilled Strip Steak with Roasted Sunchoke and Maitake Mushrooms (Amanda) or Pan-Roasted Halibut, Fennel Marmalade and Tomato-Fennel Emulsion (Kevin)
  • 3rd Course: Crispy Aged Goat Cheese and Strawberry-Rhubarb Relish (Kenny) or Dark Chocolate Ganache Tart and Blackberry-Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream (Kelly)
  • WINNING TEAM: EVOO
  • WINNER: Ed
  • ELIMINATED: Kenny of Twenty One 21
  • Winner's Prize: Trip to Terlato Vineyards in Napa

Episode 10: Covert Cuisine

  • WINNER: Tiffany (Fish Stew with Hominy, Fava Beans, Saffron and Black Garlic)
  • WINNER: Tiffany (Gyro: Roasted Leg of Lamb with Smoky Eggplant, Tomatoes and Pickled Onions)
  • ELIMINATED: Alex (Veal Parmigiana: Veal and Parmigiano Cheese Tortelloni with Tomato Sauce and Tempura Cheese)
  • Winner's Prize: Trip to Paris, France

Episode 11: Making Concessions

  • WINNER: Ed ("Hot Potato": Herb and Roasted Garlic Gnocchi, Spring Vegetables, and Mushroom Fricassee)
  • WINNER: Ed (Shrimp and Corn Risotto Fritters with Jalapeño Aioli)
  • ELIMINATED: Amanda (Yellowfish Tuna Tartare with Fennel, Meyer Lemon, and Fava Bean Purée)
  • Winner's Prize: Trip to Australia

Episode 12: Gastro-nauts

  • WINNER: Angelo (Sautéed Foie Gras with Black Salt and Fennel Salad)
  • WINNER: Angelo (Ginger-Lacquered Short Ribs and Horseradish Créme Fraîche)
  • ELIMINATED: Tiffany (Pan-Seared Alaskan Halibut with Coconut Curry, Snow Pea Shoots and Jasmine Rice)

Episode 13: Season Finale, Part I

  • WINNER: Ed (Stir-Fry Noodles with Black Pepper Sauce, Lobster and Gai Lan)
  • WINNER: Ed (Banana Fritter with Red Chili Paste; Sweet and Sour Pork with Crispy Rice and Potato Cakes, Gai Lan)
  • ELIMINATED: Kelly (Chilled Cucumber-Yogurt Soup, Bitter Melon Salad; Seared Prawns, Spicy Red Coconut Curry, Crispy Prawn Heads)

Episode 14: Season Finale, Part II

  • TOP CHEF: Kevin
  • RUNNERS-UP: Ed and Angelo

References

  1. ^ http://www.bravotv.com/blogs/the-dish/the-top-chef-dc-finale-location-is Bravotv.com Retrieved on August 26, 2010
  2. ^ Bravotv.com, Bravo: About Top Chef 7" Retrieved May 13, 2010
  3. ^ Bravotv.com, Bravo: Top Chef 7 Bios" Retrieved May 13, 2010

External links