It looks like another good season of Top Chef!

Last night the first challenge was making a signature deep dish pizza. I knew Nimma was in trouble from the get-go. Her mushroom and onion pizza looked dry and hard. This challenge was just to give the judges and idea of where the contestants stand. No one was eliminated or given immunity.

The first "real" challenge was to go head to head with another chef in pairs by cooking a classic dish. I believe the winner was Stephanie with her take on the Duck a l'orange. Loser was Nimma with over salted shrimp scampi.

Looks like a lot of talented chefs this season.

I'm really liking the personalities on this season as well. Good start!

Quickfire challange last night was to create a dish from ingredients found at the farmer's market--but they could only use 5 ingredients. Mark won. I can't even remember what his dish was--apparently nothing Mark does impresses me.

The elimination challenge was a team challenge. To cook food adaptations of what animal groups at the Lincoln Park Zoo would eat. This was for a cocktail party of zoo employees. Vanessa went home because of cold bilinis with nasty rutabega topping.

So, I started watching it...got caught up this weekend with the previous show last week! I think that the Dale this year is EXACTLY like chinese guy (or whatever orenitaion) from last year. The same personalities! Anyone else think that?

No I don't see it KB.

This week's epi was interesting. I was hoping Zoi would go instead but no luck...

I finally got caught up on Top Chef Chicago. I love this season's cast. I'm glad Zoe got a chance to stick around after having to make the dreaded noodle salad. I think the right person went. It was sort of like the bald guy leaving for his soggy corn dogs. Same theory anyway. ;)

Last night's quickfire was the famous "palate" testing. It was different this year in that each contestant was given a high end version of a food and a cheaper version. They were to determine which was the high end. Antonia was the winner getting 12 out of 15 correct.

Elimination challenge was to cook appetizer's for 80 at Chicago's Meals on Wheels benefit. Of course it was another "team" challenge. Teams were Air, Earth, Water and Fire. The only really "good" dish as determined by the judges was that of "Fire." That group consisted of Lisa, Dale and Stephanie. They prepared Grilled shrimp with pickled chili salad.

The two bottom teams were, "Water" Richard, Andrew and Mark preparing a poached salmon with faux caviar (yes, again) and "Earth" Zoi, Spike and Antonia (who had immunity) with a beef carpaccio with mushroom salad and artichoke aioli. The judges and patrons at the event had problems with both dishes. Richard's salmon had too little texture and they had seen Andrew's "faux caviar" (Tapioca) in the last challenge. On the "Earth" team the whole dish seemed "under seasoned" except for the rosemary, which was overpowering in the mushrooms.

Long story short--Zoi packed her knives because she was responsible for the mushroom portion of "Earth's" dish that was deemed the worst portion.

Life has been so crazy I can't believe I missed the last two weeks!!! I did see last night and was jumping for JOY when my most hated of all contestants was asked to pack his knives--Bye Bye Mark! Hahahaha