Top Chef (season 1)

Top Chef: San Francisco
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	12
Broadcast
Original channel	Bravo
Original run	March 8, 2006 (2006-03-08) – May 24, 2006 (2006-05-24)
Additional information
Filming dates	October 2005 (2005-10) – November 2005 (2005-11)
No. of contestants	12
No. of tasks	11
Winner	Harold Dieterle
All-stars	Tiffani Faison, Stephen Asprinio

Top Chef: San Francisco is the first season of American reality television series Top Chef and was based first in San Francisco, California, filmed at Paulding & Company, A Creative Kitchen, in Emeryville, and concluded in Las Vegas, Nevada. The season premiered on Bravo on March 8, 2006 and ended on May 24, 2006. Season 1 of Top Chef was taped in October and November 2005 in San Francisco, California. Twelve contestants from around the United States lived together in a house for approximately 21 days competing in a series of challenges. The prize money awarded to the Top Chef was $100,000. The weekly series was hosted by Katie Lee Joel with regular judges chef Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons of Food & Wine Magazine. The winning recipe from each week's episode is featured on Bravo's Top Chef website.

Judges, guest judges and special appearances

Judges

• Tom Colicchio (Head Judge)
• Katie Lee Joel (Host)
• Gail Simmons (Judge)

Guest judges

• Hubert Keller (Ep. 1 Quickfire and Elimination, Ep. 11 Elimination)
• Paige White (Ep. 1 Elimination)
• Elizabeth Falkner (Ep. 2 Quickfire and Elimination)
• Laurent Manrique (Ep. 3 Quickfire and Elimination)
• Jefferson Hill (Ep. 4 Quickfire and Elimination
• Mike Yakura (Ep. 5 Quickfire and Elimination)
• Ted Allen (Ep. 6 Quickfire and Elimination)
• Jeffrey Chodorow (Ep. 7 Quickfire and Elimination)
• Marcy Blum (Ep. 8 Quickfire and Elimination)
• Greg Cole (Ep. 9 Elimination)
• Lissa Doumani (Ep. 9 Elimination)
• Philippe Jeanty (Ep. 9 Elimination)
• Douglas Keane (Ep. 9 Elimination)
• Keith Luce (Ep. 9 Elimination)
• James McDevitt (Ep. 9 Elimination)
• Cindy Pawlcyn (Ep. 9 Elimination)
• Victor Scargle (Ep. 9 Elimination)
• Hiro Sone (Ep. 9 Elimination)
• John Shafer (Ep. 9 Elimination)
• Lee Anne Wong (Ep. 11 Quickfire and Elimination)
• Miguel Morales (Ep. 11 Quickfire and Elimination)
• Stephen Asprinio (Ep. 11 Quickfire and Elimination)
• Performers from Cirque Du Soleil's Kà (Ep. 11 Quickfire and Elimination)
• Lorraine Bracco (Ep. 12)

Contestants

12 chefs competed in Season 1. Names and hometowns below are from the Bravo website. Ages listed are at the time of the Top Chef: San Francisco taping in October–November, 2005. In the order eliminated:

• Ken Lee, 31 — Resides in: Los Angeles, California
• Cynthia Sestito, 52 — Resides in: East Hampton, New York
• Brian Hill, 37 — Resides in: Los Angeles, California
• Candice Kumai, 23 — Resides in: Pasadena, California
• Lisa Parks, 45 — Resides in: Los Angeles, California
• Andrea Beaman, 38 — Resides in: New York City, New York
• Miguel Morales, 27 — Resides in: New York City, New York
• Stephen Asprinio, 24 — Resides in: Las Vegas, Nevada
• Lee Anne Wong, 28 — Resides in: New York City, New York
• Dave Martin, 40 — Resides in: Long Beach, California
• Tiffani Faison, 28 — Resides in: Las Vegas, Nevada -- Runner-up
• Harold Dieterle, 28 — Resides in: New York City, New York -- Winner

Credit order: Ken, Miguel, Andrea, Dave, Cynthia, Stephen, Lisa, Candice, Tiffani, Brian, Lee Anne, Harold

Contestant Progress

Contestant	1	2	3	4	52	6	73	84	9	115	Finale
Quickfire Winner	Lee Anne	Stephen	Tiffani	Lee Anne	Andrea	Stephen	Harold	Lee Anne	Harold	None	None
Harold	WIN	IN	LOW	HIGH	LOW	IN	HIGH	IN	HIGH	HIGH	WINNER
Tiffani	HIGH	IN	LOW	WIN	WIN	HIGH	HIGH	IN	LOW	LOW	RUNNER-UP
Dave	IN	LOW	LOW	IN	WIN	LOW	WIN	IN	WIN	OUT
Lee Anne	IN	IN	LOW	IN	HIGH	WIN	LOW	IN	OUT
Stephen	HIGH	HIGH	WIN	LOW	HIGH	HIGH	LOW	OUT
Miguel	IN	WIN	WIN	IN	LOW	LOW	OUT
Andrea	LOW	OUT1	WIN	HIGH	LOW	OUT
Lisa	IN	LOW	WIN	LOW	OUT
Candice	LOW	IN	WIN	OUT
Brian	IN	HIGH	OUT
Cynthia	IN	LOW	CON
Ken	OUT

^Note 1 : Andrea was brought back in Episode 3, after being eliminated once, when Cynthia chose to leave because her father was ill.
^Note 2 : Chefs worked in teams of two with two winners and one eliminated.
^Note 3 : From this point on, immunity is no longer awarded to the winner of a Quickfire Challenge.
^Note 4 : The judges felt nobody had distinguished themselves in the Elimination Challenge, so no winner was named.
^Note 5 : Episode 10 was a reunion episode with no challenges.

     (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.

     (CON) The chef conceded, and left the show.

Episodes

Each episode included two challenges. The Quickfire Challenge was a short, simple challenge with a varying reward each week. The Elimination Challenge was a more complex challenge that determined who was sent home. One or more guest judges joined the show each week to evaluate both the Quickfire and Elimination challenges. Each week's elimination was announced in a segment called "Judges' Table."

Episode 1: Who Deserves To Be Here

Name	Quickfire Dish	Elimination Dish
Stephen Asprinio	n/a	Threesome of Colorado Lamb (Braised Short Rib; Rack of Lamb Seared in Rock Salt, Mirin, Soy, & White Miso; & Soup of Lamb Sausage & Fava Beans)
Andrea Beaman	n/a	Shrimp & Broccoli Stirfry with Spicy Plum Sauce
Harold Dieterle	n/a	Steamed Pink Thai Snapper with Brussel Sprout Leaves, Rock Shrimp, Chanterelle Mushrooms & Fall Squash Sauce
Tiffani Faison	n/a	Fresh Orange & Sage Pasta Baked in Pumpkin with Fresh Parmesan Reggiano Cheese & Golden Raisins
Brian Hill	n/a	Chargrilled Jerk Breast of Chicken, Coconut Mashed Potato & Mango-Papaya Relish
Candice Kumai	n/a	Chicken Shitake Roulade with Creamy Wasabi Mashed Potatoes & Blanched Asparagus
Ken Lee	n/a	Pan-Seared Alaskan Halibut on a Soy-Bean Green Onion Parsnip Puree & Heirloom Tomato Compote
Dave Martin	n/a	Braised Lamb Enchiladas with a Triple-Chile Enchilada Sauce
Miguel Morales	n/a	Duo of Beef (Filet Mignon and Braised Short Ribs)
Lisa Parks	n/a	Chanterelle Risotto with Two-Pepper Shrimp & Thyme-Infused Oil
Cynthia Sestitio	n/a	Crazy Lamb with Rice
Lee Anne Wong	n/a	Smoked Sturgeon Salad with Saffron Fingerling Potato, Lemon Confit & Balsamic Reduction

• Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must survive working the line at chef Hubert Keller's Fleur de Lys restaurant for 30 minutes. The winner gets immunity from elimination.
  • Chefs that survived 30 minutes: Tiffani, Dave, and Lee Anne
  • WINNER: Lee Anne

• Elimination Challenge: The chefs must prepare a signature dish to be served to the other Top Chef contestants.
  • WINNER: Harold (Steamed Thai Pink Snapper with Brussel Sprout Leaves and Chanterelle Mushrooms)
  • ELIMINATED: Ken (Pan Seared Alaskan Halibut w/ Soy Bean Green Onion Parsnip Puree and Heirloom tomato Compote)
• Reason for Elimination: During the Quickfire, Ken antagonized the judges, particularly Keller. Keller asked Ken to taste the sauce he was preparing but instead of using a spoon, Ken dipped his finger in the sauce. Keller kicked him out of the kitchen but once the challenge was over, Ken continued bickering with Keller and Colicchio, firmly maintaining that tasting the sauce by dipping one's fingers in it was a normal and practical method all the while asking if Keller kept the sauce or threw it out. The judges and his fellow contestants viewed him as too cocky, especially when his Elimination Challenge dish failed to live up to his tough talk.
• Guest Judge: Hubert Keller
• Original Airdate: March 8, 2006

Episode 2: Food of Love

Name	Quickfire Dish	Elimination Dish
Stephen Asprinio	n/a	Bubbling Orgasm (Granny Smith Apple & Celery Gelee, Pomegranate Seeds & Edible Orchid Petals, & Brut Champagne)
Andrea Beaman	n/a	Creamy Balls & Crunchy Nuts (Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls, Chocolate Almond Flowers)
Harold Dieterle	n/a	Sticky Sex (Caramelized Banana Tart, Walnut Caramel & Frozen Buttermilk)
Tiffani Faison	n/a	Fortune Cookie Fantasy (Fortune Cookie Necklace with Chocolate Chaser)
Brian Hill	n/a	Strawberry Apple Crisp with Hazelnut Whipped Cream & Edgy Hazelnut Cookie
Candice Kumai	n/a	Candice's Panty Drawer (Lingerie Shaped Ganache Cakes)
Dave Martin	n/a	Tit for Tat (Strawberry Poundcake, Banana Cream Filling & Baby Bananas Foster)
Miguel Morales	n/a	The Total Orgasm (Pastry Puffs, Tapioca Pillows & Hot Chocolate Shot)
Lisa Parks	n/a	Naughty Nuts (Nutty Pecan Tarlet with Shaved Chocolate)
Cynthia Sestitio	n/a	Pistachio Almond Moroccan Tart & Strawberry Shortcake
Lee Anne Wong	n/a	Asian is Sexy (Banana Nut Spring Rolls with White Chocolate Wasabi Dipping Sauce)

• Quickfire Challenge: The chefs choose from a large selection of fruit to prepare a plate for presentation. The winner gets immunity from elimination.
  • WINNER: Stephen

• Elimination Challenge: The chefs have to make a sexy dessert for a fetish party at Mr. S, a sex boutique in San Francisco - co-hosted by Paige White.
  • WINNER: Miguel ("The Total Orgasm": Pastry Puffs, Tapioca Pillows, and Hot Chocolate Shot)
  • ELIMINATED: Andrea ("Creamy Balls and Crunchy Nuts": Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls w/ Chocolate Almond Flowers and Almonds)
• Guest Judge: Elizabeth Falkner
• Original Airdate: March 15, 2006

Episode 3: Nasty Delights

Name	Quickfire Dish	Elimination Dish
Stephen Asprinio	Octopus Tentacle Duet	Red Team (see menu below)
Harold Dieterle	Poached & Grilled Octopus with Lentils & Curry Oil	Blue Team (see menu below)
Tiffani Faison	Tomato Succo with Octopus Frit & Red Wine Braised Angel Hair Pasta with Cold Braised & Grilled Octopus	Blue Team
Brian Hill	Creamy Stew with Octopus Garnish	Blue Team
Candice Kumai	Spicy & Sweet Octopus Curry	Red Team
Dave Martin	Chinese Five-Spiced Flash-Grilled Octopus with Couscous	Blue Team
Miguel Morales	Red Wine & Citrus Braised Octopus	Red Team
Lisa Parks	Braised Octopus with Orange Juice, Thyme & Chive	Red Team
Cynthia Sestitio	Octopus with Tarragon-Whiskey Sauce	Red Team Menu: Replaced by previously eliminated Andrea
Lee Anne Wong	Citrus-Poached Octopus over Mediterranean Saffron Cake with Tomatoes	Blue Team

• Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must prepare octopus in one hour. The winner gets immunity from elimination.
  • Top: Tiffani, Lee Anne, Stephen, "Miguel"
  • Bottom: Cynthia, Dave
  • WINNER: Tiffani (Tomato Succo w/ Octopus Frit and Red Wine Braised Angel Hair Pasta w/ Cold Octopus)

• Elimination Challenge: Working in two teams, the chefs must prepare monkfish for a group of children who will rate the food.

• • Red Team: Andrea, Candace, Lisa, Miguel, & Stephen
    • Deep Fried "Monkey Dogs"
    • Fresh Fruit Kabobs with Dipping Yogurt
    • Potato Chips

• • Blue Team: Brian, Dave, Harold, Lee Anne, & Tiffani
    • Baked Cereal-Coated Monkfish Nuggets
    • Cheesy Tater Tots
    • Glazed Baby Carrots w/ Maple Syrup
    • Strawberry Applesauce

• • WINNING TEAM: Red Team (no single person was chosen as winner)
  • ELIMINATED: Brian
  • CONCEDED: Cynthia
• Replacement: Cynthia Sestito chose to leave the show during this episode to be with her sick father. Andrea was then brought back to keep the two sides balanced for the team elimination challenge.
• Guest Judge: Laurent Manrique
• Original Airdate: March 22, 2006
• As shown on Bravo Top Moments, Candice and Stephen fight over buying cookie cutters.

Episode 4: Food on the Fly

Name	Quickfire Dish	Elimination Dish
Stephen Asprinio	Gas Station Medley (Hot Coconut Water Infused with Paprika & Green Tea; Fine-Diced Charred Spam with Peanuts & Tarragon; Dehydrated Sweet Pea Crumbles; Vanilla Dumpling with Wilted Basil Leaf; Chili Mango Syrup	Banana Leaf-Wrapped Tamale
Andrea Beaman	Peanut Noodles with Aged Teriyaki Beef	Quinoa Pilaf (Shitake Mushroom, Leeks, Chicken & Turkey Sausage) with Sweet Potato Mash
Harold Dieterle	Green Eggs & Spam	Coconut Seafood Soup with Lobster & Shrimp & Pea-Shoot Biscuit
Tiffani Faison	Donut Bread Pudding with Blueberry Sauce	Miso & Mirin-Glazed Sea Bass
Candice Kumai	Spicy Tortilla Gas Station Gazpacho	Spinach & Shrimp Quiche with Whole Wheat Crust
Dave Martin	Morning After Trio (Beef & Bean Burrito; Tomato Soup; Cinnamon Roll)	Dual Sauced Lasagna with Colorful Veggie Medley
Miguel Morales	Trio Dessert (Pumpkin Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding; Coconut Water with Chocolate Foam; Listerine Palate Cleanser)	Asian-Infused Meatloaf with Edamame Mashed Potatoes & Stirfry
Lisa Parks	Scrambled Stack with Chili & Cheese	Two Cheese Gratin with Herbed Grilled Chicken Breast
Lee Anne Wong	Funion Battered Oscar Mayer Spiedini	Chicken & Vegetable Stir-fry in a Red Curry & Lemongrass Sauce with Coconut-Scented Jasmine Rice

• Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must create a dish in 30 minutes using $20 worth of ingredients from a gas station store. The winner gets immunity from elimination.
  • WINNER: Lee Anne (Funyun Battered Oscar Mayer Spiedie)

• Elimination Challenge: Each chef must create a gourmet entree that can be reheated in a microwave. They must then serve their dishes to a group of Junior League women who will rate the meals.
  • WINNER: Tiffani (Miso and Mirin Glazed Seabass)
  • ELIMINATED: Candice (Shrimp and Spinach Quiche)
• Guest Judge: Jefferson Hill
• Original Airdate: March 29, 2006

Episode 5: Blind Confusion

Name	Quickfire Dish	Elimination Dish
Stephen Asprinio	n/a	Char Sui Pork on Corn Sope with Avocado-Chile Cream & Pickled Asian Slaw
Andrea Beaman	n/a	Curried Chicken & Lentil Burrito with Mangos, Raisins, &Yellow Rice
Harold Dieterle	n/a	Japanese Seared Tuna Salad with Avocado, Sprouts, & Tamarind Vinaigrette
Tiffani Faison	n/a	Moroccan Braised Cubano Pork Sandwich
Dave Martin	n/a	Moroccan Braised Cubano Pork Sandwich
Miguel Morales	n/a	Curried Chicken & Lentil Burrito with Mangos, Raisins, & Yellow Rice
Lisa Parks	n/a	Japanese Seared Tuna Salad with Avocado, Sprouts, & Tamarind Vinaigrette
Lee Anne Wong	n/a	Char Sui Pork on Corn Sope with Avocado-Chile Cream & Pickled Asian Slaw

• Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must identify a variety of ingredients by taste while blindfolded for five minutes. The winner gets immunity from elimination.
  • WINNER: Andrea

• Elimination Challenge: Working in teams of two, the chefs must create a dish fusing Latin American cuisine with one other ethnic cuisine. Dave and Tiffani had Moroccan, Andrea and Miguel had Indian, Lee Anne and Stephen had Chinese, and Harold and Lisa had Japanese. They then had to distribute the dish from a cart in the Mission District of San Francisco.
  • WINNERS: Dave and Tiffani (Moroccan Cubano Pork Sandwich)
  • ELIMINATED: Lisa (Japanese Seared Tuna Avocado Salad)
• Guest Judge: Mike Yakura
• Original Airdate: April 5, 2006
• Following the Quickfire Challenge, the contestants held an impromptu junk food blindfold taste test to make light of the fact that most did not score highly in the challenge. Miguel won.

Episode 6: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

Name	Quickfire Dish	Elimination Dish
Stephen Asprinio	Poached Baby Manila Clams Over Grilled Sea Beans	Harold's Roasted Chanterelle Soup with Thyme-Infused Cream
Andrea Beaman	Carrot & Pear Salad with Honey-Mustard Dressing	Miguel's Smoked Salmon & Caviar on Latkes
Harold Dieterle	Bacon-Wrapped Trevisano with Gorgonzola Brulee & Balsamic Reduction	Stephen's Chocolate Dessert Trio (Milk Chocolate Soup Infused with Black Tea; White Chocolate Semifreddo; Warm Flourless Chocolate Cake)
Tiffani Faison	Oysters Three Way (Raw Oyster with Pomegranate Minette; Deep Fried Oyster; White Wine & Cream Poached Oyster)	Harold's Roasted Prime Beef with Swiss Chard & Fois Gras of Bruleed Onion Jams
Dave Martin	Cumin & Oregano Dry-Rub Chicken Skewers with Adobo Honey Butter	Andrea's Poached John Dory
Miguel Morales	Antipasti Plate with Reduced Sherry Vinegar	Lee Anne's Fourme D'Ambert Cheese & Crackers & Beet Salad
Lee Anne Wong	Deep Fried Oyster with Reduced Lemon Garlic Cream	Tiffani's Fig Stuffed Gnocchi with Duck Confit in a Leek Puree & Seared Duck Breast with a Fig & Balsamic Jam

• Quickfire Challenge: Each chef must create an appetizer in 20 minutes using $3 worth of ingredients, priced by the ounce.
  • WINNER: Stephen (Poached Baby Manila Clams over Grilled Sea Beans)

• Elimination Challenge: The chefs have to create a seven-course dinner party for Ted Allen. Each chef got to choose the course he or she wanted, but then the producers changed everything: A random knife-block draw forced each chef to work on another chef's recipe.
  • WINNER: Lee Anne (Tiffani's Duck Breast with Fig Stuffed Gnocchi)
  • ELIMINATED: Andrea (Miguel's Smoked Scallops and Caviar on a Latke)
• Guest Judge: Ted Allen
• Original Airdate: April 12, 2006

Episode 7: Restaurant Wars

Name	Quickfire Dish	Elimination Dish
Stephen Asprinio	Brunch Brioche Sandwich (Sunny-side Up Egg; Prosciutto, Manchego Cheese; Mango & Plantains with Shaved Fennel Salad with Lime, Olive Oil, Chilis and Parsley on Grilled Brioche)	Team Sabor (see menu below)
Harold Dieterle	Mortadella Dandelion Sandwich on Sourdough with Black-Olive Aioli	Team American Workshop (see menu below)
Tiffani Faison	Roasted Beef French Toast Toad-In-The-Hole (Roast Beef, Fontina Cheese, Rosemary Fennel Seed)	Team American Workshop
Dave Martin	Grape Ape (Grilled Sourdough, Arugula, Vinaigrette; Duxelle, Bacon, Roasted Red Pepper, Black Forrest Ham, Pecorino Toscano & Grape Jam)	Team American Workshop
Miguel Morales	Deconstructed Falafel Sandwich	Team Sabor
Lee Anne Wong	Salami & Fried Egg on Focaccia with Sunchokes	Team Sabor

• Quickfire Challenge: Each chef is asked to make a sandwich in 30 minutes using any of the available ingredients. The winning sandwich will be put on the menu at the San Francisco location of Tom Colicchio's 'Wichcraft restaurant.
  • WINNER: Harold (Mortadella Dandelion Sandwich on Grilled Sourdough with Trumpet Royales and a Black Olive Aioli)
    • From this point on, immunity is no longer awarded to the winner of a Quickfire Challenge.

• Elimination Challenge: Working in two teams of three, the chefs must transform raw restaurant spaces, including the decor and the menu. Twenty-four hours later, diners arrive, choose which restaurant to dine in, and rate their experience.

• Sabor: Lee Anne, Miguel, Stephen
  • Tapas Trio (White Gazpacho; Bocarones; Prosciutto Wrapped Stuffed Fig)
  • Pan-Seared Red Snapper on Breaded-Risotto Paella Cake
  • Olive Oil Ice Cream

• American Workshop: Dave, Harold, Tiffani
  • Tuna Tartare with Pita Chips
  • Roasted Chicken with Lemon, Rosemary, and Thyme w/ Roasted Root Vegetables (Celery Root, Cippolini Onions & Brussel Sprouts)
  • Fruit Crisp

• WINNING TEAM: American Workshop
  • WINNER: Dave
  • ELIMINATED: Miguel
• Guest Judge: Jeffrey Chodorow
• Original Airdate: April 19, 2006
• In this episode, Dave famously said to Tiffani "I'm not your bitch, bitch", after she constantly nagged him. It became the most quoted line of the season.
• Before the teams get to work on their restaurant concepts, Chodorow reveals that the winner of the Elimination Challenge will accompany him to the Cannes Film Festival.

Episode 8: Wedding Bell Blues

Name	Quickfire Dish	Elimination Dish
Stephen Asprinio	Tangerine Prawn Escabeche	n/a
Harold Dieterle	Poached Prawns Wrapped in Cabbage	n/a
Tiffani Faison	Thai-Braised Shrimp Spring Rolls	n/a
Dave Martin	Cold-Poached Prawn Bruschetta	n/a
Lee Anne Wong	Crispy Prawn Toasts	n/a

• Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must design a wedding reception menu in 90 minutes and pitch it to the wedding couple. The winning team's menu will be used for the wedding reception.
  • WINNER: Lee Anne

• Elimination Challenge: Working as a team, the chefs are required to cater a wedding reception for 100 guests using the menu chosen in the Quickfire challenge. The reception starts in 16 hours.

WEDDING MENU

• Canapé: Crispy Prawn Toast and Crab Meat on Pita Toast
• Amuse-bouche: Lobster Hamuraki, Glazed Oysters, Yazu Marinated Roe, and Crab Soup Dumplings
• First Course: Seared Salmon on Thai Green Papaya Salad w/ Lime & Chili Vinaigrette
• Second Course: "The Lover's Nest" - Seafood and Fresh Vegetables, Potato Taro Root Basket, Mango, & Coconut
• Third Course: Peking Style Beef, Crispy Scallion Pancakes, and Cucumber Salad
• Dessert: Passion Fruit and Ginger Scented Cake w/ White Chocolate Butter Cream along with an assortment of Chocolate Truffles
  • WINNER: None
  • ELIMINATED: Stephen
• Guest Judge: Marcy Blum
• Original Airdate: April 26, 2006

Episode 9: Napa's Finest

Name	Quickfire Dish	Elimination Dish
Harold Dieterle	Popcorn Cakes with Ecuadorian-Style Ceviche	Roasted Lamb Loin, Sunchoke-Creamed Spinach, Sauteed Chanterelles & Black Truffle Sauce
Tiffani Faison	Chorizo Duck Sausage Corndog with Camembert Cream Sauce	Rosemary & Thyme Seared Lamb Loin, Cauliflower Puree, Truffle & Fois Gras Stuffed Gnocchi with a Lamb Sauce
Dave Martin	Seafood Nachos with Fire Roasted Tomato Salsa and Avocado Crema	Black Truffle and Cognac Cream Macaroni and Cheese & Prime Filet of Beef with Collared Greens and Radicchio
Lee Anne Wong	Japanese Seafood Hotdog with Spicy Mustard and Lotus Chips	Pistachio & Truffle-Crusted Lamb Loin with Butternut Squash & Black Truffle Risotto, Braised Treviso & Mushrooms, and a Cherry-Red Wine Demiglaze

• Quickfire Challenge: The chefs are asked to recreate a classic junk food element into a gourmet dish in 45 minutes. The winner's performance counts in the overall assessment of the week's challenges, and also receives a bottle of Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon.
  • WINNER: Harold (Popcorn Cakes with an Ecuadorian Ceviche of Shrimp, Calamari and Clementines with Lime Juice)

• Elimination Challenge: All of the remaining chefs travel to Napa Valley's COPIA to prepare a dish incorporating expensive black Périgord truffles to be served with 2001 Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Each chef's dish will be served to a group of top professional chefs from Northern California who are the guest judges.
  • WINNER: Dave (Truffle and Cognac Cream Macaroni and Cheese, Filet of Beef, Collard Greens and Radicchio)
  • ELIMINATED: Lee Anne (Pistachio Crusted Lamb Loin, Butternut Squash and Black Truffle Risotto with Red Wine Sauce)
• Guest Judges: Greg Cole, Lissa Doumani, Philippe Jeanty, Douglas Keane, Keith Luce, James McDevitt, Cindy Pawlcyn, Victor Scargle, Hiro Sone, John Shafer
• Original Airdate: May 3, 2006

Episode 10: Reunion

• All twelve chefs are reunited with Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons and Katie Lee Joel in a discussion and behind-the-scenes review of their experiences on Top Chef. Though it was shown before the finale, the reunion was actually taped in late April 2006, after the finale took place. It is unknown how many of the chefs other than the winner, Harold, finalists Tiffani and Dave, and participants Miguel, Stephen and Lee Anne, knew the results of the finale at the time of the reunion taping.
• Original Airdate: May 10, 2006

Episode 11: Las Vegas Finale, Part 1

Name	Quickfire Dish-Cold & Hot Seafood Dishes for High Rollers	Quickfire Dish-4 Snacks for Poker Rooms	Quickfire Dish—Three Plates of High-Protein/Carb, Low Fat Food for Cirque du Soleil
Harold Dieterle	Red Snapper Crudo; Mussel and Smoked Paprika Soup	Beer Battered Onion Wings; Mini Pizzas; Mini Grilled Cheese; Honey Dijon Buffalo Wings	Seared Kobe Beef on a Toasted Bread, Tomato & Cucumber Salad; Roasted Chicken Breast with Gnocchi, Mushrooms & Baby Peas; Lobster Fettulini with Orange Tomatos and Lobster Brothe
Tiffani Faison	Campeche Carpaccio Crudo; Roasted Lobster & Fennel	Quince Paste & Goat Cheese Napoleon; Herbed Grissini with Prosciutto; Three Types of Potato Chips; Brie & Tomato Sandwich with Mustard	Blue Crab & Caviar Salad Tossed with Olive Oil, Blood Orange & Blueberries; Karabuto Pork Milanese with Morel Mushrooms; Kobe Rib Eye with Tomatoes and Balsamic Vinegar
Dave Martin	Thai-Style Crab & Prawns Stack with Court Bouillon; Cinnamon-Nutmeg Rubbed Opah with Hazelnut Oil	Egg Rolls with Asian Ginger Sauce; Fried Shrimp; Salami Panini with a Sun Dried Tomato Roll; Chocolate Dipped Strawberries	Spicy Penne with Kicked Up Marinara Sauce; Kobe Tenderloin with Balsamic, Fig & Grand Marnier Glaze

• The three finalists, Dave, Harold and Tiffani, meet at the MGM Grand where they compete in a series of three Quickfire Challenges to determine which two chefs will remain to compete in a final challenge for the grand prize of Top Chef.
• Quickfire/Elimination Challenges: For each challenge, the chefs must prepare hotel room service meals in 30 minutes for different customers: first a room of high rollers, including former competitors Lee Anne, Miguel and Stephen; then a table of poker players including Phil Hellmuth; and, finally, performers from Cirque du Soleil. Each group of patrons were to decide who was their favorite. Harold won with the "high rollers" and Cirque du Soleil performers, Dave won with the poker players, and Tiffani won none.
  • FINAL TWO: Harold and Tiffani
  • ELIMINATED: Dave
• Guest Judge: Hubert Keller
• Original Airdate: May 17, 2006
• Although his Kobe beef dish was the overall favorite among the performers, Dave was disqualified for the round because he misunderstood the challenge and only served two dishes instead of the required three.

Episode 12: Las Vegas Finale, Part 2

• Final Challenge: The two finalists, Harold and Tiffani, each prepare a five course tasting meal to be served to a table of eight luminaries from the culinary world. Note: Tiffani chose to make two preparations of each course. Harold is assisted by former competitors Lee Anne and Miguel. Tiffani is assisted by former competitors Stephen and Dave. The final menus for each chef are:

Harold:

• 1st Course: Seared Diver Scallop with Blood Orange and Fennel Salad
• 2nd Course: Olive Oil Poached Bass
• 3rd Course: Pan Roasted Quail with Herb Spaetzle and Cherries and Foie Gras
• 4th Course: Duo of Beef with Kobe Beef and Braised Short Ribs
• 5th Course: Fig Tart with Cheeses

Tiffani:

• 1st Course: Seared Diver Scallop on Squid Ink and Scallop Crudo with Citrus
• 2nd Course: Artichoke Risotto with Porketta and Crispy Artichoke with Dipping Sauce
• 3rd Course: Steamed Bronzino with Ratatouille and Crispy Bronzino with Black Olive Pappardelle
• 4th Course: Saltimbocca with Primitivo Glace and Veal with Minted Peas and Spinach Crema
• 5th Course: Bread Pudding with Rum Cocktail and Vanilla Panna Cotta with Amaretto Cocktail

• TOP CHEF: Harold
• RUNNER-UP: Tiffani

• Guest Judge: Lorraine Bracco
• Original Airdate: May 24, 2006

External links

Contestant and judge sites

• Tom Colicchio - Craft Restaurant official web site
• Katie Lee Joel - Olive and Peach official web site (No longer being updated)
• Stephen Asprinio official web site
• Andrea Beaman official web site
• Harold Dieterle - Perilla Restaurant official web site
• Official Harold Dieterle Myspace
• Candice Kumai official web site
• Dave Martin official web site
• Miguel Morales official web site
• Official Miguel Morales Myspace
• Official Cynthia Sestitio Myspace
• Lee Anne Wong French Culinary Institute official web site
• Candice Kumai's show on Lifetime Television Network, Cook Yourself Thin
• Chef Brian's official web site

Review

• Top Chef is Heating Up But Where's the Sizzle The Boston Globe - April 12, 2006

Top Chef Seasons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Winners Harold Dieterle Ilan Hall Hung Huynh Stephanie Izard Hosea Rosenberg Michael Voltaggio Kevin Sbraga Richard Blais Paul Qui Kristen Kish Nicholas Elmi Mei Lin Judges Current Tom Colicchio (head judge) Padma Lakshmi (host) Gail Simmons Hugh Acheson Richard Blais Former Katie Lee Joel (host) Ted Allen Toby Young Eric Ripert Anthony Bourdain Wolfgang Puck Emeril Lagasse Spin-offs Top Chef Junior Top Chef Masters 1 2 3 4 5 Top Chef: Just Desserts 1 2 Life After Top Chef International versions Top Chef Suomi Top Chef Canada 1 2 3 Top Chef Middle East Production Bravo