User reviews

I started watching this reality series with the second episode during the first season. I have loved it ever since. I really like the challenges. I have heard the complaint that it is not always about the cooking but being a top chef is about the cooking.. the challenges in my opinion are set up to evaluate how the chefs interact with each other, co-workers, underlings, and customers. I think the show is designed to challenge the chefs in ways that they are not accustomed to but yet, the effect is the same as things that happen every single day in the kitchen. THe challenges force the chefs to look deep within themselves. What I mean is that the challenges are set up to encourage out of the box thinking, what happens when half the staff is out with the flu, the delivery truck is 6 hours late, the market sent the wrong type of lettuce/squash/herb, the freezer went out, the house is overbooked by double, as someone got a date wrong on the books so 2 whole seating's are scheduled for the same time, when something gets burned etc. This show just puts what normally might happen over 6 months of problems squashes it into a couple of days, a group of people stuck together away from home, living together, working together,cooking together-from all walks of life, all kinds of cooking experience and education. Add it all together, stir it up and you get a great show

A cooking show that focuses on flash rather than the ingredients needed; it's all about privilege, product placement, busswords (organic) and an anti-science (gmo) approach to agriculture.

Top Chef is more of a "Housewives" show that centers around chefs and their egos than the food They prepare. It's a reality show that places far too much importance on tears, conflict, & petulant temper tantrums.

The best episodes & seasons are ones that feature Anthony Bourdain - because he was always unpretentious, honest, and genuinely cared about food.

It is very entertaining and gives me tips for dinner !! Howerver, I think the contestants in Season two ( except Elia, Sam and Marcel ) are really, really unpleasant ! Especially Betty ! She is really behaving ugly

Or cooking. It is ALL about product placement. Hey, let's step into the kenmore pro kitchen and gather all the calphalon equipment which is, of course, prominently displayed. This has the opposite affect on me. I would NEVER buy anything so unabashedly hawked.

And I don't understand why the so called hosts in season one and two are so monotone and awkward. Their delivery is incredibly lame and boring, no personality at all. They are a mess.

Add the insanely frenetic editing, which never focuses on anything for more than a millisecond, and it all adds up to nothing more than a shameful display of product placement.

Season 15 brings up Parma dressing herself in the most inappropriate clothing for a cooking show. Her dresses are so revealing that she might as well not be wearing anything at all. It is garishly inappropriate.

This show is just so much fun! You can root for your favorites and rag on the ones you don't like. I have found that my favorites change as the show moves on, but there are some I simply did not like, right from the start. The first few episodes were kind of "getting to know the players" episodes. Then I chose Elan as the most likely to win. He just seemed to be the most professional of the bunch. Now, mid-season, I have changed my favorite three or four times. Now I'm torn between Elan, Cliff, and Sam. Then again, I think Marcel has real pizazz! He also has real potential as a celebrity chef. But who knows where it will go. Each week, I await the next episode eagerly. And not just incidentally, they cook some pretty amazing stuff. I really can't wait till this comes out on DVD.

Not only do you get cooking inspiration and boost your knowledge, but it's an incredibly addicting show! From the crazy challenges to the top tier judges, there's never a full moment. I stan Tom & Padma!

Just streamed Top Chef starting from season 1. Great cooking show that shines when the contestants are given challenges (the clock, identify spices while blindfolded, short list of items to cook with, last chance kitchen), and less so when they are given handicaps/sabotages (the clock, restaurant wars, team cooking, shortage of ingredients, promised time off that's not), which can cause a better chef to be sent home. Did I mention THE CLOCK?

The judging seems to always be in integrity, with no favorites being played. That's hard to do season after season, and the judges deserve a rarely issued pat on the back, with Tom Colicchio being the leader there. Regarding the contestants, we do form a charge on them one way or another do we not? We pray for some to pack their knives, and others we urge on to the finals, and if they don't make it we are heartbroken.

But not all the players on Top Chef can be sent packing. I'm talking about the staff. Season 21 is a standout for one primary reason; the exit of Padma. I was done with the "Look at me, look at me, darn it look at ME!" motif of this woman by season 2. In every show Padma is distracting us from the contestants with her show-as-much-skin-as-possible attire. Even during her pregnancy. Is that what being a powerful woman is all about? And post-preggers, we were treated with a see-I-am-skinny-again midriff show off. The camera of course went along with the Padma Parade, because, hey, s-e-x sells. But the woman's genetics make her so naturally striking she could show up sans make up, wearing a burlap sack, and look great. But nooooo, the audience had to have its collective noses rubbed in Padma's cleevage episode after episode.

And inquiring minds want to know why was hostess Padma sat at the judges table with no discernable credentials?? It was an insult to the qualified judges who earned their seat. It was so funny watching her take cues from Tom and then expressing her opinion in agreement as if it was an original thought. And it was hilarious to see Tom's look of surprise at times when Padma led with an opinion, only to have him render the opposite view. Then came the self-promotion. Trading on her looks, again, Padma came out with a cookbook at some point, and... hold your breath... frozen rice meals. Frozen rice. Wow. Nice work if you can get it.

So why did Padma finally leave the show? My theory is that although she made a reported 50K per episode, I calculate that she spent 51K on wardrobe. You can only keep that up for so long.

By season 16 Padma finally started to tone it down, although still displaying her wares all too often. But we could finally start to see an attractive, smart, articulate lady who made a great spokesperson for the show. There is a reported quote from her in that timeframe that had me laughing though. After growing from a size 4 to a size 10, and tipping the scales at 146 pounds (with more and more layers of makeup attempting to counteract the weight gain), Padma is quoted as saying in response to a comment about her fat arms "It shouldn't be about what I look like at this point ...." . Right Padma! It NEVER should have been about how you looked. You're being made fun of now because you've been assaulting us with your body since day one. If Padma had put some clothes on in the early years and had stuck to hosting, not judging, I would have loved her (in the meantime Gail seems ageless and actually has food credentials). As it is I am so looking forward to season 21 with the highly likable and super foxy CHEF Kristen Kish.

But it's been great to follow the evolution of the show. It's the innovation that kept me tuned in for season after season. The unsung heroes of the show in my view is the production staff, which pulled off great sets, locations, arrays of food, etc., etc., show after show. Their must have been a full time person just being on the phone getting permissions and lining up guest chefs. Well done folks.

(ps the title of this review is a quote from two female Top Chef cooks midway through the series who were trying to look acceptable every day while struggling through the rigors of the competition. They were ribbing Padma for looking so effortlessly good every single day.

Although early seasons are more focused on the drama and competitiveness, I can still appreciate it for what it is. When you think of it as a reality show first, those early seasons are pretty good. As the show evolves, it becomes more of a cooking show and less of a reality show and I can appreciate that as well. The food always looks so good and its fun seeing how contestants find their way around wacky challenges and restrictions. If you hate reality tv, skip the first half of the franchise. Otherwise, this is a great franchise!

The chefs who compete in this series are all seasoned and professional and work in top rated restaurants around the country. Until now, I was watching it because I found it interesting that the group of chefs in this series and season were compelling and real to watch. If I was teaching culinary arts, this show would not only be a staple but mandatory in the world of restaurants and culinary fare. The fact that they shop at Whole Foods rather a normal supermarket would have saved them some money. I was rooting for Ariane Duarte in this season and thought she might make it to finals. I won't spoil who gets eliminated when. I think the fact that your colleagues are not voting you out helps a bit. I found them to be supportive of one another during those tough times like students in a class. In fact, Ariane started out on the bottom and suddenly redeemed herself by cooking turkey, lamb, etc., and she won Martha Stewart's choice during a quick challenge and a guest spot on the Today show. But Ariane's luck can change in a matter of days on this show as it does for some other seasoned chefs. Unlike other reality shows, this competitiveness is rather healthier and more entertaining. During their time, they live together while they are working. Their views and comments are often enticing. The culinary world is tough in itself and fiercely competitive just as it is on the show. I wouldn't know because I don't cook but go out to eat in restaurants. I'll probably keep watching this show to see who becomes top chef even though my first choice was let go.

So here's the formula....if you're Italian or French or from any predominantly historically white country, you have to change your style of cooking for every challenge. You may even get knocked if you do the same kind of technique (ie pasta) more than once in the entirety of the season no matter how long through the completion you make it. If you're a person of color, you can and are encouraged to make the same style of food every challenge on repeat and you're applauded for it. This goes double for South American chefs...even if they're born and raised in America, since they're of Latin decent, they're encouraged to make latin food from start to finish. But god forbid a white chef goes Italian, French, Greek, west African, Indian, Asian, Italian.....this second Italian dish will get them knocked by the judges for repeating a style. But the Latina can go 15 for 15 Mexican food and she'll be lauded. The double standard is so painstakingly obvious and the good news is, these shows are all run by liberal progressives and if they didn't have double standards they'd have no standards at all so we can look forward to this kind of added racial bias on white contestants from here on out. Equality y'all! Ain't it grand?!?!? Sad broken leftists....

This is a study in self importance. It is beyond me, why people cooking food think they are soo special. It's food, for Christ's sake. The judges and contestants take themselves equally important. I find it comical. They all honor this and that. They all cook from the heart. There is soul in the food. They all find their voice. OMG, it's so stupid. Can you come up with some new platitudes? Please! I don't care who wins. No one has caught my interest. Some of them I can't stand. Are there any NICE cooks in this world?

The first 3 series were fun to watch. After that, the producers struggled to make a series that didn´t create a yawn. I couldn´t get past the first 5 minutes. There seems to be a desperation in trying to attract an audience with their challenges, which are mundane. In there attempt to improve the contest, especially the recent first round with each team of three given minimal time for prep, then taking away the knives before putting a meal together in short time did nothing to stir my interest.

My favorite competitive cooking show. Interesting variety of characters sourced from around the country each season. You learn a lot about different cuisines, cooking techniques and hundreds of different chefs all while being entertained. There's a reason this show's been going strong well over a decade.

Padma is a little too too so just tolerate her. The first episode of Season 16 with the Kentucky Derby theme (filmed around November?) - looked like they rounded up all the homeless in Louisville, put suits and dumb hats on them, fed them, and handed 'em 5 bucks on the way out. Are people in Kentucky that odd? The "local" contestant seems to be....

I cannot stand Evelyn!! She is obnoxious! I hope she doesn't win! Her entire demeanor just turns me off. I can never eat at her establishment. Just my opinion.

Top Chef is a new show that they are currently viewing in India. I was surprised when I read that three seasons were already over over there. And therefore, I cannot comment much on the second season and the later season of the show.

Top Chef is a light-hearted show. It doesn't focus too much on drama like other reality shows do. Many people want more drama in reality shows in America, I think so- that's because many of the shows over there focus more on humor.

But once they have a trip to India, they would realize how much drama the audience is being viewed to in the countries. Daily soaps bring with them tons and tons of melodrama and utter rubbish that now has made me red with fury. Only a few shows are hilarious and make you laugh. Therefore, I have got tired of watching old grannies weeping on the television screen all the time.

Even the reality shows have adopted the new policy of including melodrama in them. We have fights during the shows between the judges and the contestants, with judges walking out of the show, people fainting, everyone weeping and judges yelling at the contestants in a hammy voice that hurts your ears. People are so gullible that they actually believe in these and gives more votes and watch the show with more drama persistently.

Therefore, when I saw Top Chef, I was relieved that it didn't focus too much of drama. The idea is simple, twelve people or rather cooks compete for winning the coveted title of the 'Top Chef' and winning some prizes.

The idea of this reality show isn't that new or unique. We have heard of such shows based on cooking before. Yet, it offers a mild pleasure as you watch the delicious dishes made by the contestants which make your mouth water.

The episodes aren't boring, dull and mundane but not even that great but just good. The manner in which the judges converse with the contestants is sophisticated. They do not yell at the top of their voices but discuss the pros and cons of the contestants in a well-behaved manner. Though there are some snide remarks by the judges, they're not hurting the feelings of the contestants that much ( remember Simon of American Idol).

The problems with this show are mentioned below:

1) Katie Lee looks beautiful but she is a bad host. Her speech seems rehearsed and monotonous and her behavior is like a Barbie prototype. She has no expressions on her face, even when she tells the contestants to leave the show and her conversation with the other judges about the contestants and the food is about nil.

2) The judges don't seem to guide the contestants even that much; they just point out their pros and cons. Unlike Hell's Kitchen, they don't go to the kitchen and assist the contestants and thus, are not their helping hands in any way.

3) In the reunion episode where all the contestants are called back together, there is unnecessary drama created which looks absolutely fake. You can see some of the contestants smiling as they argue with the other contestants. Plus, as there is not much drama in the show, why show so much drama in the special episode? I mean, highlighting the fights and calling them controversies is 'silly' as none of the fights have that much effect to cause a controversy.

Overall, its a good show that is entertaining to watch and a upliftment for a person like me who is exposed to the abominable drama of the daily shows that make you doze off. 7 out of 10.

I have been following this show since the first season and I must say I love it. Far as Judgement time you guys can be a bit harsh and you're not perfect chefs at all ( no one is) I just binged on the Wisconsin season and I really enjoyed it. Everytime show I get inspired as well to cook better and to be better with showing my family different ways of cooking and eating. I can't wait for next season!! I just wish I could be there to taste everything that they cook. Hopefully you guys can come to Richmond, VA one day so that I can be in the ambiance of it all. Tom, I want to taste your food sir💜

Top Chef, without question the best cooking show "competition" on TV, sadly, has entered the twilight its existence and I, for one, mourn its passing. The quality of the Houston season is so far below past seasons that I get the distinct impression that the cast and producers wish it would just go away. I mean, they couldn't have chosen a more boring and less creative group of contestants and judges? All of these people are painful to watch as they stumble through their mostly unimaginative and questionable food choices. (That stomach-turning Nigeria "mucous" dish is a perfect case in point.) And hiring a season X Quick Fire runner up as an elimination judge instead of a well-know master chef is redolent of cost cutting at its most obvious. Either bring back the Top Chef we learned to love or have the finale include a poison pill dessert. Where are Paul Qui or Mike Voltaggio when you need them? How about the usual cast of whacky, whacked out and sometimes genius people typically working in most professional kitchens. This is torture. Help.