Top Chef (season 12)
| Top Chef: Boston | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Bravo |
| Original run |
October 15, 2014 – February 11, 2015 |
| Additional information | |
| Filming dates | May 2014 – June 2014 |
| No. of contestants | 16 |
| Winner | Mei Lin |
Top Chef: Boston is the twelfth season of the American reality television series Top Chef. The season was formally announced on August 20, 2014, and premiered on October 15, 2014.[1][2]
Top Chef: Chicago finalist and Top Chef: All-Stars winner Richard Blais debuts as a recurring judge, joining Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, Hugh Acheson, and host Padma Lakshmi on the judging panel.[1]
Last Chance Kitchen returned for its fourth season, beginning with a two-part redemption mid-season and continuing until the first part of the finale.[3]
Production
Filming for Season 12 took place from May–June 2014 in locations around Boston, Massachusetts.[2]
According to reports by Deadline Hollywood, members of Boston's local Teamsters Union allegedly harassed and intimidated Lakshmi and other Top Chef staff during the production's June film shoot at the Steel & Rye restaurant in Milton, Massachusetts.[4] The Teamsters Local 25, upset that Bravo hired non-union personnel to drive cast and crew around Milton, protested the filming, threatening staff using racist, sexist, and homophobic language, and slashing the tires of several crew-owned vehicles.[4] While the network insisted the incident was isolated, sources for The Boston Globe reported that the threats did prompt Bravo to change the locations of some tapings.[5] Teamsters Local 25 later released a statement denying the allegations.[6]
Contestants
16 chefs were selected to compete in Top Chef: Boston.[1]
| Name | Hometown | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Mei Lin | Dearborn, Michigan | 28 |
| Gregory Gourdet | Queens, New York | 39 |
| Doug Adams | Tyler, Texas | 29 |
| Melissa King | Los Angeles, California | 30 |
| George Pagonis | Washington, D.C. | N/A |
| Katsuji Tanabe | Mexico City, Mexico | 33 |
| Adam Harvey | New York, New York | 29 |
| Katie Weinner | Rosemount, Minnesota | 35 |
| Keriann Von Raesfeld | San Jose, California | 28 |
| Stacy Cogswell | Boston, Massachusetts | 33 |
| Aaron Grissom | Tacoma, Washington | 27 |
| James Rigato | Howell, Michigan | 29 |
| Rebecca LaMalfa | Chico, California | 32 |
| Ron Eyester | Long Island, New York | 40 |
| Joy Crump | Coatesville, Pennsylvania | 46 |
| Michael Patlazhan | Brooklyn, New York | 31 |
Contestant Progress
| Contestant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 114 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quickfire Winner(s) |
Aaron1 Adam1 Doug1 Keriann1 |
James1 | Gregory | Katsuji | Gregory | Katie | N/A | Gregory | George | Melissa1 | N/A | Mei1 | Doug1 | Gregory1 | N/A | |
| Mei | WIN | HIGH | IN | IN | IN | HIGH | HIGH | LOW | WIN | WIN | HIGH | HIGH | LOW | IN | WINNER | |
| Gregory | HIGH | WIN | WIN | WIN | WIN | LOW | LOW | HIGH | LOW | HIGH | IN | LOW | HIGH | WIN | RUNNER-UP | |
| Doug | HIGH | IN | IN | IN | WIN | HIGH | WIN | WIN | HIGH | OUT | WIN5 | OUT | ||||
| Melissa | IN | LOW | HIGH | IN | LOW | LOW | HIGH | LOW | HIGH | LOW | WIN | WIN | OUT | |||
| George | OUT2 | HIGH3 | IN | LOW | IN | OUT | ||||||||||
| Katsuji | LOW | HIGH | LOW | WIN | WIN | WIN | LOW | IN | OUT | |||||||
| Adam | IN | WIN | IN | IN | IN | IN | HIGH | OUT | ||||||||
| Katie | LOW | HIGH | HIGH | IN | WIN | IN | LOW | OUT2 | ||||||||
| Keriann | IN | LOW | LOW | IN | WIN | IN | OUT | |||||||||
| Stacy | IN | IN | IN | LOW | LOW | OUT | ||||||||||
| Aaron | IN | LOW | IN | WIN | OUT | |||||||||||
| James | IN | IN | IN | OUT | ||||||||||||
| Rebecca | IN | WIN | IN | OUT | ||||||||||||
| Ron | IN | LOW | OUT | |||||||||||||
| Joy | IN | OUT | ||||||||||||||
| Michael | OUT | |||||||||||||||
^Note 1 : The chef(s) did not receive immunity.
^Note 2 : The chef lost the Sudden Death Quickfire Challenge and was eliminated from the competition.
^Note 3 : George won the Sudden Death Quickfire Challenge against Katie and returned to the competition.
^Note 4 : There were no eliminations in Episode 11.
^Note 5 : Doug 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 a 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.
- (OUT) The chef lost the Elimination Challenge and was out of the competition.
Episodes
| No. | Title | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Sudden Death" | October 15, 2014 | 1.09[7] |
|
Sudden Death Quickfire Challenge: The chefs, separated into four teams, compete in a mise en place relay race.
Elimination Challenge: The chefs serve updated versions of their very first dishes. The dishes were as follows;
| |||
| 2 | "Boston's Bravest and Finest" | October 22, 2014 | 0.98[8] |
|
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs create surf and turf dishes in a challenge inspired by the phrase "one if by land, two if by sea," coined by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his 1860 poem "Paul Revere's Ride". While cooking, the chefs must pay close attention to two signal lanterns. If one lantern turns on, they must incorporate a "land ingredient"; if two lanterns turn on, they must use a "sea ingredient". Instead of immunity, the winner received $5,000. The dishes were as follows;
Elimination Challenge: The chefs, working in teams, serve dishes for the men and women of Boston's police and fire departments. Instead of shopping for their own ingredients, each group must cook using a different set of mystery ingredients available in the kitchen; each set of ingredients is first-come, first-served. The chefs draw knives to determine the teams and order of service.
| |||
| 3 | "The Curse of the Bambino" | October 29, 2014 | 1.05[9] |
|
Sudden Death Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must create a dish highlighting tea, in reference to the Boston Tea Party. The dishes were as follows;
Elimination Challenge: Using classic ballpark snacks, such as popcorn, peanuts, pretzels, and cotton candy, as inspiration for their cooking, the chefs serve fine dining dishes at Fenway Park. The dishes were as follows;
| |||
| 4 | "12 Chefs Walk Into a Bar..." | November 5, 2014 | 0.91[10] |
|
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs travel to Cheers Beacon Hill to create tasty bar snacks. The bar snacks were as follows;
Elimination Challenge: The chefs, working in teams of their choosing, must create a three-course Italian menu, including antipasto, pasta, and secondi. The team whose menu is ordered the most by the diners wins the challenge; all other teams are eligible for elimination. The dishes were as follows;
| |||
| 5 | "It's War" | November 12, 2014 | 0.90[11] |
|
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs face-off in head-to-head battles using Reynold kitchen products; each pair of competitors must create the same dish using the same cooking method. Among the winners of each match-up (below in bold), the contestant with the best overall dish receives $10,000.
Elimination Challenge: The winners of the Quickfire Challenge take on the losers in a "culinary war". Once again, the chefs compete in head-to-head matches, each named after critical battles from the American Revolutionary War. The winner of each match-up (below in bold) earns their team a point. The first team to score three points wins the challenge.
| |||
| 6 | "The First Thanksgiving" | November 19, 2014 | 0.95[12] |
|
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must create dishes highlighting cranberries. Prior to the challenge, the contestants traveled to a cranberry bog to harvest fresh cranberries. The first four chefs to fill their crates were able to select from a pantry of high-quality ingredients during the Quickfire, while the remaining contestants were forced to use low-quality ingredients. The dishes were as follows;
Elimination Challenge: The chefs serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal at the Plimoth Plantation, using only the ingredients and cookware that were available during the "First Thanksgiving". The dishes were as follows;
| |||
| 7 | "Restaurant Wars" | December 3, 2014 | 0.96[13] |
|
Elimination Challenge: The chefs, working in two teams, have 24 hours to create a pop-up restaurant.
| |||
| 8 | "Clean Up in Aisle 2!" | December 10, 2014 | 0.98[14] |
|
Sudden Death Quickfire Challenge: The chefs put their own spin on clam chowder. The dishes were as follows;
Elimination Challenge: The chefs cater a tasting event for 75 Top Chef fans and foodies. Instead of doing their own shopping, as per usual, the judges shop for the contestants' ingredients. The dishes were as follows;
| |||
| 9 | "Big Sausage" | December 17, 2014 | 0.98[15] |
|
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs prepare sausage dishes. The dishes were as follows;
Elimination Challenge: Each chef must create a dish inspired by a famous New England literary work, including the writings of Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe, Emily Dickinson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Dr. Seuss, and Henry David Thoreau. The dishes were as follows;
| |||
| 10 | "For Julia & Jacques" | January 7, 2015 | 1.02[16] |
|
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs create ramen dishes using only ingredients available from college students' dorm rooms. Instead of immunity, the winner receives $5,000. The dishes were as follows;
Elimination Challenge: The contestants test their skills in French cuisine by preparing dishes in tribute to Julia Child. The dishes were as follows;
| |||
| 11 | "Sous Your Daddy!" | January 14, 2015 | 1.09[17] |
|
Elimination Challenge: Each chef is responsible for creating two dishes, one appetizer and one entrée, utilizing local seafood. The chefs' family members join the challenge, serving as their sous chefs. The contestants are not allowed to touch the appetizers, leaving solely their loved ones responsible for executing those dishes. While the chefs are not in danger of elimination, as an added incentive, the winner is guaranteed entry into the finals. The dishes were as follows;
| |||
| 12 | "The Final Battle of Bean Town" | January 21, 2015 | 0.99[18] |
|
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs make dishes highlighting beans. Instead of immunity, the winner earns a trip to Napa, California. The dishes were as follows;
Elimination Challenge: The chefs must create innovative dishes that push their own culinary boundaries. The winner receives $10,000. The dishes were as follows;
| |||
| 13 | "Getting Prickly In Mexico" | January 28, 2015 | 1.11[19] |
|
Quickfire Challenge: After arriving in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, the chefs prepare dishes highlighting xoconostle. The winner is given first choice of sous chefs during the Elimination Challenge. The dishes were as follows;
Elimination Challenge: The chefs create dishes inspired by an artist's piece of work. The dishes were as follows;
| |||
| 14 | "Holy Escamoly!" | February 4, 2015 | 0.89[20] |
|
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs create sweet and savory dishes using Mexican chocolate. The winner is given first choice of sous chef during the Elimination Challenge. The dishes were as follows;
Elimination Challenge: The chefs must work together to prepare a six-course meal highlighting six different Mexican ingredients: avocado, escamoles, guava, huitlacoche, poblano, and queso fresco. Each contestant is responsible for two dishes. The dishes were as follows;
| |||
| 15 | "Mano a Mano" | February 11, 2015 | 0.96[21] |
|
Final Challenge: The finalists, with the assistance of two sous chefs of their choosing, must cook the best four-course meal of their lives.
| |||
Last Chance Kitchen
The Last Chance Kitchen is a web series featuring challenges in which the ousted chefs compete for a chance to re-enter the main competition. Each week, two or more chefs compete against each other in the Top Chef kitchen, with the results judged solely by Tom Colicchio. The winner(s) of each week moves on to face the next eliminated Top Chef contestant(s), while the loser is eliminated from the competition for good. The champion of the Last Chance Kitchen returns to compete in the season finale.
Contestant Progress
| Contestant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doug | WIN | WIN | WIN | |||||||||||||
| George | OUT | |||||||||||||||
| Adam | WIN | WIN | WIN | OUT | ||||||||||||
| Katsuji | WIN | OUT | ||||||||||||||
| Katie | WIN | OUT | ||||||||||||||
| Rebecca | WIN | OUT | ||||||||||||||
| Aaron | OUT | |||||||||||||||
| James | OUT | |||||||||||||||
| Joy | OUT | |||||||||||||||
| Keriann | OUT | |||||||||||||||
| Ron | OUT | |||||||||||||||
| Stacy | OUT | |||||||||||||||
- (WIN) The chef was crowned the winner of Last Chance Kitchen and returned to the main competition.
- (WIN) The chef won the challenge and continued in the competition.
- (OUT) The chef lost the challenge and was eliminated from the competition.
Episodes
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Redemption Royal" | December 10, 2014 |
|
Challenge: The chefs transform the dishes that sent them home into winning dishes.
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| 2 | "Dry and Slimy" | December 10, 2014 |
|
Challenge: The chefs create dishes using dry and slimy ingredients.
| ||
| 3 | "The Kitchen Sink" | December 17, 2014 |
|
Challenge: Each chef must create a cohesive dish using 20 or more ingredients.
| ||
| 4 | "Liverwurst Nightmare" | January 7, 2015 |
|
Challenge: Each chef must create a dish featuring liver.
| ||
| 5 | "Crudité Redux" | January 14, 2015 |
|
Challenge: The chefs prepare dishes using produce from crudité platters.
| ||
| 6 | "The Last Chance Kitchen Finals" | January 21, 2015 |
|
Challenge: The chefs create Mexican-inspired dishes featuring clams.
| ||
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Dish (August 20, 2014). "First Look at Top Chef Season 12!". Bravo. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Goldstein, Meredith (August 20, 2014). "‘Top Chef’ Boston season revealed". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ↑ "Top Chef Season 12 Cast Info". Bravo. August 20, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Robb, David (August 20, 2014). "‘Top Chef’ Host Padma Lakshmi And Crew Flambéed By Boston Teamsters". Deadline. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
- ↑ Shanahan, Mark; Goldstein, Meredith (August 21, 2014). "Source confirms ‘Top Chef’ harassment by local Teamsters". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
- ↑ Scalese, Roberto (August 21, 2014). "UPDATED: What the Hell Went on Between Boston’s Teamsters and the ‘Top Chef’ Crew?". Boston.com. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (October 16, 2014). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'American Horror Story' Wins Night, 'South Park', 'Teen Mom 2', Baseball, 'Impact Wrestling' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (October 23, 2014). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'American Horror Story' Tops Night + 'Key & Peele', 'Melissa & Joey' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (October 30, 2014). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'American Horror Story' Wins Night, 'South Park', 'Key & Peele', 'Ghost Hunters', 'Top Chef' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (November 6, 2014). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'American Horror Story: Freak Show' Tops Night + 'South Park', NBA Basketball, 'Key & Peele' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (November 13, 2014). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'American Horror Story' Wins Night, 'South Park', 'American Pickers', 'Key & Peele', 'Top Chef' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (November 20, 2014). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'American Horror Story' Tops Night + NBA Basketball, 'Duck Dynasty', 'South Park' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (December 4, 2014). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'American Horror Story' Tops Night + 'South Park', College Basketball, 'Duck Dynasty' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (December 11, 2014). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'American Horror Story' Wins Night,'South Park', 'Duck Dynasty', 'Melissa & Joey' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (December 18, 2014). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'American Horror Story' Tops Night + 'The Daily Show', 'The Colbert Report', 'Mob Wives' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (January 9, 2015). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'American Horror Story' Wins Night, 'Duck Dynasty', 'Wahlburgers', 'Mob Wives', 'Little Women LA' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (January 16, 2015). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'American Horror Story' Wins Night + 'The Game', 'Duck Dynasty', 'Workaholics' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (January 22, 2015). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'American Horror Story' Wins Night, 'Duck Dynasty', 'The Game', 'Broad City','Melissa & Joey' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (January 29, 2015). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'Duck Dynasty' Tops Night + 'The Game', 'Wahlburgers', 'Conan', 'The Americans' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (February 5, 2015). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'Duck Dynasty' Wins Night, 'Snooki & J Woww', 'Broad City', 'The Americans' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (February 12, 2015). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'Duck Dynasty' Tops Night + 'The Game', 'Wahlburgers' NBA Basketball & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
External links
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