Top Chef: Ciao, Fabio!

Grub Street's Michael Alan Connolley dished with Top Chef's Fabio Viviani, the latest chef-testant to be sent packing (though possible fan favorite) about his upcoming cookbook, culinary aspirations, how his mother is doing and what makes chef's such great lovers. Mama mia!

As for Episode 13 itself, I can't believe Carla got away with a non-alcoholic cocktail just because she doesn't drink. If it had been a pork roast competition would the judges have let Ms. Hootie Hoo substitute eggplant instead? I think not. Therefore, Jeff should have won and Stefan and Hosea been sent packing. Still it was great to see Gail Simmons again and Padma looked even more delicious than usual in her black Mardi Gras dress.

Lastly for a view from the judge's table, dig into Tom Colicchio's blog to read about how Jeff royally shucked himself with his oyster dish, what made Carla's cuisine reign supreme and how you can help rebuild New Orleans if you can't make it down to Bourbon Street to stimulate the local economy personally.

Top Chef - Leah's Last Supper & Who Doesn't <3 Padma?

Gawker's Joshua Stein dishes on Top Chef's "Last Supper" episode includes and as side dish a titillating Padma tribute video by Mike Byhoff. Mangia!

Top Chef's Xmas Episode Overcooked & Underdone!

And a partridge in a pear treeeee! Oh please. Despite a stately guest appearance/ book plug by Martha "Jersey Girl" Stewart, this week's Top Chef was hardly a taster's choice. And to think it took Padma, Tom and guest judges Natasha Richardson and Michelle Bernstein an extra fifteen minues of inane holiday-themed programming to elimante not one raw scallop (ew!) or deviled egg dishing cheftestant! Read Adam Platt's petulant post game commentary on Grub Street.

Top Chef Episode 5: Danny Boy, the LIE is Calling!

Spoiler alert: if you haven’t seen Top Chef’s episode 5 yet, read on at your own Perilla, so to speak. Last night foodie heartthrob, author (in the same way Paris Hilton is a recording artist) and salty tongued Padma Lakshmi, head judge and Craft Restaurants honcho Tom Colicchio and guest judge/bride to be Gail “I could eat a bowl of this and be happy” Simmons of Food & Wine Magazine sent chef-testant, Danny packing back to Babylon Carriage House, allegedly one of world famous Long Island, NY’s most popular restaurants and methinks future Kitchen Nightmares location.

Maybe things would have worked out differently for Danny, astonishingly a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, had he put more effort into his cooking and less on perfecting that bizarre reverse mustache. And what's up with sneaking mushrooms into other people’s salads? Adieu Danny and give my regards to the Long Island Expressway.

Oh by the way, Gail, Valerie Harper called and said you could keep the dresses you’ve been wearing this season.