Top Chef

2005
4.4
917 reviews
TV-14
Rating
Eligible
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Season 4 episodes (15)

1 Anything You Can Cook I Can Cook Better
3/12/08
Bravo's Emmy-nominated hit culinary series "Top Chef: Chicago" premieres with a super-sized sizzling episode featuring 16 rising chefs, a windy city, and the restaurant industry's most renowned talent - so let the flames begin. In the first episode, the chefs have to put their own twist on a Chicago staple and serve it to host Padma Lakshmi and guest judge Rocco DiSpirito (Celebrity Chef and cookbook author) in their new residence. Then, for the elimination challenge, the chefs battle it out in a head to head competition that gets heated.
2 Zoo Food
3/19/08
In the second episode of "Top Chef: Chicago," the chefs shop at a local Farmers' Market for fresh ingredients to create their perfect quick-fire dish - which must impress guest judge Wylie Dufresne (Chef and owner of wd~50 in NYC). Then, it's all about teamwork when the chefs are put into teams and must cook and cater a posh event at an unusual location.
3 Block Party
3/26/08
The competition gets muy caliente when famed champion of fine Mexican cuisine, Rick Bayless (Chef of Frontera Grill and Topolobampo in Chicago and creator of Frontera gourmet foods) puts the chefs through their paces, including a neighborhood fiesta with ingredients they didn't buy at a supermarket.
4 Film Food
4/2/08
It's all about presentation in the fourth episode of "Top Chef: Chicago." The chefs show off their knife skills for guest judge Daniel Boulud (Chef and owner of Daniel and DB Bistro in NYC) by transforming ordinary veggies into pieces of art. Then, the chef 'testants are in for a treat when film critic Richard Roeper hosts a cinematic-inspired dinner party that has all the chefs seeing stars.
5 The Elements
4/9/08
With the competition heating up, the chefs must step up their game. First, guest judge Ming Tsai (owner of Blue Ginger) and host Padma Lakshmi put the chefs' palates to the test with a complex taste test. Then, for the elimination challenge the chefs are grouped and draw from the elements of the earth to cater an upscale charity event.
6 Tailgating
4/16/08
The chef 'testants must create a dish that works together and enhances the flavor of a particular drink...that has an age limit. Then, the Bears take center stage when Chicago culinary star Paul Kahan (Chef and owner of Blackbird and Avec) sees if the chefs have what it takes to cook up the ultimate tailgate meal.
7 Improv
4/23/08
This quick-fire is short and sweet. The chefs must create a dessert that will satisfy the sweet-tooth of renowned pastry chef Johnny Luzzini (Executive Pastry Chef at Jean Georges) with the winning recipe being featured in the Top Chef cookbook, due out in March. Then, the chef 'testants get a lesson in improvisation from the legendary Chicago comedy troupe, Second City.
8 Common Threads
4/30/08
When life gives the chefs lemons, they must make lemonade...using one ingredient and making it into a healthy meal - with only a microwave. Then, Oprah's personal chef Art Smith (Chef and owner of Table 52) stops by to show the chef 'testants how cooking well can also change the world.
9 Wedding Wars
5/7/08
Can the chefs cut it...with speed? It's a culinary relay race in this week's quickfire challenge that requires expert shucking, chopping and whipping - putting the chefs' knife skills to the ultimate test. Then the chef 'testants compete in two teams to create the ultimate wedding, catering for a 200-plus wedding and showing off their talent to distinguished pastry chef Gale Gand (Executive Pastry Chef and partner of Tru in Chicago). The competition gets difficult when the grooms' mother has her own ideas for what to serve.
10 Serve And Protect
5/14/08
The chefs must bring sexy back - to the salad. They are challenged to reinvent the salad by making it sexier and more modern in the quick fire challenge. Former contestant and season two fan favorite Sam Talbot gets a taste of what's cooking from the chefs when they must recreate an unhealthy dish into something healthier.
11 Restaurant Wars
5/21/08
If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. For the quick-fire challenge the chefs are forced to work the line at a busy, greasy spoon during breakfast rush, handling hundreds of orders. Then, it's time for restaurants wars...but where's Chef Tom? Special guest judge Jose Andres (Executive Chef and owner of Oyamel, Minibar, Zaytinya, Jaleo and Café Atlantico in Washington D.C.), who is widely credited with bringing the small plates (TAPAS) concept to the United States, puts the chefs to the ultimate test.
12 High Steaks
5/28/08
The chefs are given a slab of meat they must clean and butcher in their quick-fire challenge. Then, it's a blast from the past in the elimination challenge, and one chef is history. Rich Tramonto (Executive Chef of Tru and owner of Tramonto's Steak & Seafood, and Osteria di Tramonto in Chicago) gives the chefs his take on what could be their last meal.
13 Finale Part 1
6/4/08
The four remaining chefs travel to Puerto Rico to compete in the finale and for the final three spots. Local chef Wilo Benet, known for making gourmet Puerto Rican cuisine, guest judges.
14 Finale Part 2
6/11/08
And then there were three. The final three battle it out to cook the best meal of their lives and earn the prestigious title of Bravo's "Top Chef" in the final episode of "Top Chef: Chicago."
15 Reunion
6/18/08
It's a "dish" unlike any other on Bravo's "Top Chef: Watch What Happens Special". Bravo's programming executive Andy Cohen hosts a candid gathering of season four's chef 'testants and judges - host Padma Lakshmi, head judge Tom Colicchio, judge Gail Simmons and culinary expert Ted Allen. Cohen will answer viewers' burning questions and dish on season four's good, bad and overcooked. The winner of Bravo's "Fan Favorite" will also be announced during the reunion special.

About this show

"Top Chef," is a hit reality competition series that celebrates the culinary arts with a fascinating window into the competitive, pressurized environment of world-class cookery and the restaurant business at the highest level. This one-hour series features fifteen aspiring chefs who will put their culinary skills to the test for the chance to earn the prestigious title of "Top Chef." The competing chefs will live and breathe the high-pressure lifestyle that comes with being a master chef, and each week the judges will tell one to "pack up their knives." In the end, only one chef will make it through the spectacular finale episode to take the title of "Top Chef." The winning chef will receive $100,000 in seed money to help encourage their culinary career, be featured in Food & Wine magazine, and most importantly, earn the prestigious title of "Top Chef."

Ratings and reviews

4.4
917 reviews
Ryan Eichberger
January 27, 2019
Bravo is the issue here, not Google. Episode releases are inconsistent and unreliable; thumbnails for Last Chance Kitchen spoil who got voted off before the actual episode ever drops. People have been complaining about this for years, and nothing has been done, and that's pretty inexcusable. Similar issues occur on Amazon, meaning that this isn't a Google issue but a Bravo one (Amazon indicated exactly this to me, for what it's worth). Direct irritated messages to them.
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Debreta Martin
December 20, 2015
For all the purchasers of the current season 13 I suggest that you call Google Play and get a refund which is what I did. For the last 2 weeks they have been posting the after show "Last Chance Kitchen" with a thumbnail showing the eliminated contestant before posting the original episode. Huge spoiler!!! Also it takes way too long to post their episodes. The current episode from Dec 17 is still not posted as of Dec 20. Amazon, Vudu, and M-GO all have the current episodes with Vudu having the after show.
75 people found this review helpful
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Anne Marie Gauvin
April 5, 2015
Enjoyed watching all the MA locations a lot of us see frequently and take for granted.(ie. Plymouth Plantation). My favorite was the harvesting of the cranberries at an Ocean Spray bog. I have walked one myself in Rochester, MA; just trying one even ripened you'll know why they need lots of sweetener to make them edible, try it!
9 people found this review helpful
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