Ketchup....er, Catch Up

Okay, so we're playing a bit of catch up here. The second installment of TOP CHEF CHICAGO will be playing tonight, and I just got word I can start blogging....which, of course, means I have to write about installment one really quickly so we can start with a full plate. Hee.

So anyway, the first episode introduced us to our local, which is Chicago. Now, I went to college nearby, so my memories of Chicago food is mostly deep dish pizza and comfort food. I'm sure there's more to it than that.

We're also introduced to our sixteen cheftestants, who will be competing for the title of Top Chef. Also around are our judges - Head Coach and Cal Ripken look-alike Tom Colicchio, Tom Allen (formerly of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) and Gail Simmons of Food and Wine magazine. And, of course, our lovely host, Padma Lakshmi (or, as she is affectionately known in our household, Pounda Lunchmeat).

Of the group, the following seem memorable - Ryan, who's been working since he was 11 and whose father actually fired people to let the kid cook, Nimma, the Muslim woman who doesn't want to socialize, the gay couple from San Fran, Zoi and Jennifer, and Richard, who has the same haircut as Zoi (or was in Jen?). The rest just seem to blend in like so much butter in a food processor.

So the first quickfire challenge is to make a signature deep dish. Guest judge Rocco DiSpirito separates the eight best from the eight worst, and members of these groups will be going head-to-head making classics in the elimination challenge. To be honest, none of the food seemed stand-out here, but with so many chefs doing so many different things, it really was hard to keep track. Bottom line - Nimma's scampi was salty, so she had to pack her knives and head home.

Whew.....okay, make sure you catch the second installment tonight. We'll talk over brunch tomorrow, eh?

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