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JAFO

Both finalists in their respective seasons, Los Angeles Chef Brooke Williamson and Las Vegas Restaurant Consultant Shirley Chung were mere inches from victory, but the title slipped through their fingers. Now is their time for redemption. First, Shirley challenges Brooke to a "weird shellfish" showdown and then Brooke attacks Shirley's Achilles heel and asks her to make a vegan dessert. For the Duel that determines who goes on to the finale, the Chefs must step under the big top making dishes based on the circus to impress the judges and special guest P!nk. Neither Chef wants to go home empty handed again.

TOP CHEF DUELS

Episode 2 :

Brooke

vs.

Shirley

DRAW KNIVES

COME OUT CHOPPIN'

BRING ON THE FOOD !!

FIRST CHEF'S CHALLENGE

Chef Name: Brooke Williamson
Shirley's Challenge: Create a Dish Using Exotic Shellfish
Dish: Crispy Geoduck with Passion Fruit Vinaigrette with Radishes and Seaweed

Chef Name: Shirley Chung
Shirley's Challenge: Create a Dish Using Exotic Shellfish
Dish: Warm Geoduck Salad with Salty, Crunchy, Clambelly Crouton (Fennel)

WINNER - BROOKE

SECOND CHEF'S CHALLENGE

Chef Name: Brooke Williamson
Brooke's Challenge: Create a Vegan Dessert
Dish: Banana Hazelnut Chocolate Pudding with Hazelnut Praline Powder, Fresh Orange Segment, and Pistachio Brittle

Chef Name: Shirley Chung
Brooke's Challenge: Create a Vegan Dessert
Dish: Coconut Tapioca with a Green Tea and Passion fruit Jam

WINNER - BROOKE

THE DUEL

Chef Name: Brooke Williamson
Challenge: Ringside Dish -- Create a Dish to be Served Table Side
Dish: Fennel Gelee with Dungeness Crabs, Fava Beans and Poached Mussels with a Flaming Absinthe and Mussel Broth

Chef Name: Brooke Williamson
Challenge: Raise Your Glass Challenge -- Drink Pairing
Drink: Gin Based Cocktail with Blood Orange Bitters, a Plum and Black Pepper Granita and Absinthe Foam

Chef Name: Brooke Williamson
Challenge:Three Ring Circus -- Create a Three Element Entree
Dish: Surf, Turf, and Earth - Chicken Skin and Chicken Broth, Halibut Cheeks, Roasted Baby Artichoke and Roasted Morel Mushrooms, and Sea Beans

Chef Name: Brooke Williamson
Challenge: High Wire Act -- Create a Dessert Standing at Least Six Inches Tall
Dish:Chocolate Ganache and Beet Parfait with Rhubarb and Strawberry Compote and Chocolate and Almond Filo.

DUEL WINNER - SHIRLEY

Check back here on Thursday's after the new episodes ..

BRAVO Wednesday nights @ 10 pm

TOP CHEF DUELS

Bravo's TOP CHEF DUELS website

IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE KNOCKOUT VIDEO
YOU WILL HAVE TO GO TO THE BRAVO WEBSITE
THERE EMBED FEATURE FOR VIDEOS SUCKS !!

KNOCKOUT WINNER - BROOKE

JAFO

Looks like we have a **NEW** show by Bravo for Top Chef fans :

TOP CHEF DUELS

I'm actually pulling for this show because I feel the quality of cheftestants on the original show has been lacking "personality wise".

The premise is that it's a square off one on one .. mono a mono !!

Starting off badly though not having Padma or Tom as host and a judge.

Only saving grace is that Gail Simmons is on to off set Curtis Stone ..

who I consider the "foam" of today's celebrity chef's.

Everyone wants to try and use "foam" like Marcel ..

but little have had success.

Seem like a good mix of good vs. evil cheftestants from the past, as long as they get matched up correctly at first. The problem is the hosting and judging. Not a Hughnabrow fan at all .. and we will see a "watered down" nicey nice version of Wolfgang Puck for Bravo. Let's just hope we get some awesome guest judges like Tom, Padma, Anthony Bourdain, or celebrity judges with some personailty very soon.

Episode 1 :

RICHARD BLAIS

vs.

MARCEL VIGNERON

Two of the most notorious "mad scientists" in Top Chef history

face-off once again, Top Chef All Stars winner Richard Blais

and competitor celebrity chef Marcel Vigneron.

First, Marcel challenges Richard to make a dessert featuring

both a hot and cold component while Richard chooses

to challenge Marcel to make one of his specialties, a burger.

Then for their Duel that will decide who moves on to the finale, Richard and Marcel must concoct a three-course meal specifically designed to entice each of the judges' senses. Although Richard won the title when they competed against one another on Top Chef All Stars, never underestimate

the power of revenge!

DRAW KNIVES

COME OUT CHOPPIN'

BRING ON THE FOOD !!

FIRST CHEF'S CHALLENGE

Chef : Marcel Vigneron
Marcel's Challenge: Create a Dessert With a Hot and Cold Component
Dish: Coconut Ice Cream with a Microwave Cashew Cake

and Charred pineapple

Chef: Richard Blais
Marcel's Challenge: Create a Dessert With a Hot and Cold Component
Dish: Pineapple 2 Ways with Coconut Ice cream,

Coconut Rocks, and Peaches

WINNER - MARCEL

SECOND CHEF'S CHALLENGE

Chef: Marcel Vigneron
Richard's Challenge: Create a Burger and Side Dish
Dish: "The Dirty Girl" Burger with Egg, Brown Butter, and Avocado

Chef: Richard Blais
Richard's Challenge: Create a Burger and Side Dish
Dish: Half a burger with Kimchi Ketchup and Onion Rings

WINNER - RICHARD

THE DUEL

Chef: Richard Blais
Challenge: Create Visually Misleading Dish
Dish: Chicken Liver Mousse Served in a Cherry with Mustard Seeds

Chef: Marcel Vigneron
Challenge: Create an Aromatic Dish
Dish: Langosteen Aroma Seafood Stew with Lobster and Menthol

Chef: Richard Blais
Challenge: Create a Dish with Varying Textures
Dish: Black Forest Cake with Sorbet, a Chocolate Logs, and Pop Rocks

DUEL WINNER - RICHARD

Check back here on Thursday's after the new episodes ..

BRAVO Wednesday nights @ 10 pm

TOP CHEF DUELS

Bravo's TOP CHEF DUELS website

JAFO

The 10th anniversary season of Top Chef kicks off as 21 chefs from around the country enter the kitchens of our judges -- Tom Colicchio, Emeril Lagasse, Hugh Acheson, and the newest addition, Wolfgang Puck. Each judge tests their group of cheftestants in their own real-world challenge, and only the best will move on to Seattle to compete for the title of Top Chef.

Bring on the FOOD !!

ELIMINATION TIME

Shellfish and Chorizo Soup with Croutons and Garlic Mayonnaise

Challenge: Make Soup for Emeril Lagasse

Chef: Tina Bourbeau

Cauliflower Soup with Corn, Lobster, and Pea Tendril

Challenge: Make Soup for Emeril Lagasse

Chef: Stephanie Cmar

English Pea Broth, Lemon Peel, Apple, and Seared Scallop

Challenge: Make Soup for Emeril Lagasse

Chef: Kristen Kish

Chilled Watermelon and Tomato Gazpacho, Peppers, and Ceviche

Challenge: Make Soup for Emeril Lagasse

Chef: Jeffrey Jew

Roasted Corn and Coconut Soup with Mussels

Challenge: Make Soup for Emeril Lagasse

Chef: Joshua Valentine

"Torta" Omelet with Lobster, Bacon, Caramelized Onion, and Fennel