kelly choi-related stories
Posted Oct 22nd 2009 2:02PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Programming, Top Chef
As far as I can tell, from comments on this site and other sites I've looked at,
Top Chef Masters wasn't loved by fans half as much as fans love the original
Top Chef. I think fans want two things from their food competition shows: more conflict and a sense that the contestant isn't necessarily a "master" at cooking (though being a chef is fine). For the most part, the chefs on the first season of
Masters were nice and professional, and I think that the fact that they're all great chefs already zapped some of the tension that usually comes with the judging segments of the show. Plus the chefs competed in sections, not usually all against each other.
Continue reading Top Chef Masters coming back for season two (with a new judge)
Posted Aug 18th 2009 3:01PM by John Scott Lewinski
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Interviews, Celebrities
Kelly Choi grew up in a family and a culture build around food -- an upbringing that made her a natural gourmand and foodie.
That led Choi to a career on local New York City TV as an expert on Manhattan restaurants and global cuisine. Her popularity in the Big Apple led Bravo to sign her up as the host of the ultimate exhibition of culinary competition,
Top Chef Masters.
The daughter of Korean grocers, Choi grew up in and around her parents' store. Choi's friends and family would gather to share, enjoy and discuss food. So, her gig as host brings her back home to her roots.
I spoke with Choi as
Top Chef Masters fans prepared for the series' season finale on August 19.
Continue reading Kelly Choi: Top Chef Masters bickering was "unnecessary"
Posted Aug 13th 2009 8:01AM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Watercooler Talk
Last night's episode of
Top Chef Masters upped the "reality show" factor on the show, as former
Top Chef contestants came back and controversy was injected. This was most evident in the confrontation Dale had with Michael Chiarello (KEY-a-rello). More controversy isn't necessarily a good thing when it comes to a cooking show (it's been good to see civility), but it certainly spiced things up.
I thought this was the finale, but it's not. The finale is actually going to be aired next Wednesday at 10:15 PM,
after the premiere of
Top Chef: Las Vegas. That's confusing.
Posted Jul 1st 2009 3:01PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Programming
Later this afternoon I'll have my What's On Tonight picks posted, but I did want to give
Top Chef Masters fans a heads up about tonight's episode: there isn't one.
For some reason, Bravo is replacing this week's episode of the cooking competition show with a special episode of
The Fashion Show. And this isn't one of those deals where one show is put in place of another show but that other show is rescheduled to another night during the week, maybe in the slot of the first show. No,
Top Chef Masters won't be seen at all this week (except for reruns of previous episodes, of course).
Fans will have to wait until next week for the next new episode. (And if you're wondering what's on tomorrow night at 10 in the regular time slot for
The Fashion Show, it's a repeat of tonight's episode.)
Oh well. I'm not watching
The Fashion Show so I guess I'll catch
The Philanthropist.
Posted Apr 8th 2009 3:39PM by Michael Pascua
Filed under: Programming, Early Looks
Bravo has announced the show
Top Chef Masters will begin Wednesday June 10th. The show is basically the celebrity version of
Top Chef, where "world-renowned" chefs will compete for $100,000. The money will be given to their favorite charity. The format hasn't changed: the quickfire and the elimination challenges remain, but there will be a five-star grading system implemented.
There are 24 chefs, but I will have to trust the producers with their use of the words "world-renowned" since I'm just an average guy. One of the few chefs I know is
Top Chef guest judge
Wylie Dufresne, who is well known for his work on molecular gastronomy. The contestants' bios are available on the
Bravo website.
Continue reading Top Chef Masters premieres this June
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