Eric Fergus McKinzie Erickson
@ Dupont Circle
Q:If your dog was a celebrity, who would it be?
A:"Lindsay Lohan. My dog is popular for no good reason. "
Express' Karmah Elmusa recaps the season finale of "Top Chef New York."
WELCOME TO THE FINAL installment of my blog
There's cheftestants of seasons past, there's a jazz musician, there's an alligator. There's perhaps the biggest shock in "Top Chef" history (Stefan being nice). All in all, the journey is a delight — sit back and enjoy.
Express' Karmah Elmusa breaks down Part 1 of the "Top Chef" finale.
THE END IS drawing near. On this week's "Top Chef," the final four, cast and crew fly south to New Orleans, did some cooking, and BAM! ... you have your top three. But first, like any good "Top Chef" finale Part 1, there are twists, turns, a subdued Emeril Lagasse and a second chance for Mr. Miami, aka Jeff. You think I've given it all away up front ... but there's so much more to know. Read on for the bittersweet details.
Continue Reading "Hail to the Chef: Swan Song of the South" »
Express Karmah Elmusa recaps culinary last wishes on "Top Chef."
LAST WEEK'S "TOP CHEF" was a debacle. Well, the challenges were top notch (writhing eel!), but sending Jamie home over Leah made me question the judges', uh, judgment. But this week's all-star lineup of guests and the most positive possible outcome for a top four cauterized the wound.
Say farewell to NYC, foodies, because after this episode its off to the Crescent City for the semi-finals. There's only time for one last supper.
Continue Reading "Hail to the Chef: The Last New York Supper" »
Express' Karmah Elmusa recaps an exercise in forgery on "Top Chef: New York."
THE AMBIGUOUS THEY SAY imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I, on the other hand, say ... only if you get it right. This week on "Top Chef," the final six are met with the daunting task of imitating dishes from a revered guest-judge's restaurant, skinning various weird sea creatures and dealing with the fact that Stefan is just better than everyone else, like it or not. Strap yourselves in — this wild ride ends with the biggest upset of the season thus far.
Express' Karmah Elmusa leads you fearlessly into the "Top Chef" fray.
DRUMSTICK ROLL (starting strong today, people), please. This week's episode of "Top Chef" was the one we've been waiting for, the big kahuna, the challenge to trump all challenges. Welcome to Restaurant Wars.
For those of you unfamiliar with this "Top Chef" institution, let me elaborate. The chefs have 24 hours to open a restaurant — everything from decor to a menu, leaving plenty of room for egregious error and panic (read: entertainment for us).
Without further ado, let the battle begin.
Express' Karmah Elmusa recaps fresh mouths and farm food.
THIS WEEK ON "Top Chef," the remaining nine are dragged kicking and screaming from the well-lit aisles of Whole Foods to the place where the grub lives before it ends up in orderly piles — the farm, baby.
They say cooking is all in the ingredients, and this week's episode reveals who can take the freshest of the fresh produce and protein and handily ruin it.
Also, I've identified a new bad guy. It's not Jamie, and it's not even Stefan (although he desperately needs his mouth washed out with soap. And so does Toby Young). Read on to find out why.
Express' Karmah Elmusa introduces you to the new judge on the block.
AFTER A TWO WEEK hiatus, I'm starting off Hail to the Chef with a non sequitur, a fascinating little tidbit for the foodies. We Americans have happily incorporated foods like sushi and kimchi into our diets, and it turns out we've given their respective nations of origin something, too: fast-food pizza, which has been in turn been taken to a whole new level of special. Watch this, and this, and then say ewww and forward them to your friends. You're welcome.
Now, on with the show. Gail Simmons disappeared this week (she's married now, you know; married women have bigger concerns than appearing on a popular national television show), and was replaced by grumpy British journalist (and bugger) Toby Young. He's also the author of "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People," which is ever so fitting since he's neither particularly funny nor clever. He's just sort of ... odd. A poor man's Gordon Ramsay, if you will. Read on for more on "Top Chef's" new judge.
Express' Karmah Elmusa wishes you a Merry Martha Stewart Christmas.
Last night's episode of "Top Chef" was so packed with bad food, Fabio quotes and celebrity guest judges that I hardly know where to start. What is that they say? Begin just after the dull beginning, where Ariane talks about how awesome she suddenly is and Gene frets that he's King of the Bottom Three. After that, the entertainment starts. Here's a little amuse-bouche to keep you reading.
Fabio and Stefan are sitting at the kitchen table. Stefan is carving a jack-o-watermelon. Fabio is eating chips and salsa for breakfast.
» Fabio: They call us the Yuuros [Euros].
» Stefan: They call us the dynamic duo.
» Fabio: What does that mean?
I'll consider your appetites whetted. Enjoy the show.
Continue Reading "Hail to the Chef: Martha, Martha, Martha" »
Express Karmah Elmusa details this week's high-profile bridal shower.
HERE COMES GAIL SIMMONS, all dressed in flowers and ready to judge. Oh, and also to get married. That's right — instead of the standard frantic wedding episode, this week the "Top Chef" candidates are cooking for Gail Simmons' bridal shower and 30-45 of her "closest girlfriends."
Well done, Gail — you forgot to get in petty catfights with 30-45 percent of your "closest girlfriends," making for a huge guest list. No matter — when you're a regular judge on "Top Chef," numbers make the challenge all that more interesting.
Keep reading for more on Gail's almost-big day, as well as the low down on the sauciest quickfire ever.
Continue Reading "Hail to the Chef: Here Comes Gail Simmons" »
Express' Karmah Elmusa recaps the cheftestants' efforts to cook in real time.
THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE and there are bad people. And then there's Kathy Lee Gifford — in a category of Awful all by herself. Which really has nothing to do with anything ... she and the rest of the "Today" show ladies appears on this week's "Top Chef" for about 5 seconds, but it's long enough to confirm that I hate her with the fire of a thousand suns. Had to get that out, and now I feel better. Without further ado, we're off to the kitchen races!
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