(WINNER) The chef won the series and was crowned Top Chef.

(RUNNER-UP) The chef was a runner-up for the season.

(WIN) The chef won that episode's Elimination Challenge.

(HIGH) The chef was selected as one of the top entries in the Elimination Challenge, but did not win.

(LOW) The chef was selected as one of the bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge, but was not eliminated.

(OUT) The chef lost that week's Elimination Challenge and was out of the competition.

(IN) The chef neither won nor lost that week's Elimination Challenge. They also were not up to be eliminated.

[IN (+)] The chef won a pair or team challenge but was not chosen as one of the judges' favorites.

[IN (-)] The chef lost a pair or team challenge but was not selected as one of the judges' least favorites.

Episodes

Episode 1: Anything You Can Cook, I Can Cook Better

• Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must create a signature deep dish pizza and serve it to Rocco DiSpirito
  Rocco DiSpirito
  Rocco DiSpirito is an Italian American chef based in New York City.-Life and career:DiSpirito was born in Queens, New York City, New York. He graduated in 1986 from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and in 1990 from Boston University with a bachelor's degree in business...
  
   and Padma Lakshmi
  Padma Lakshmi
  Padma Parvati Lakshmi also Padma, Lady Rushdie is an American cookbook author, actress, model and television host. She has been the host of the US reality television program Top Chef since season two in 2006, for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for...
  
  . Immunity
  Immunity (reality television)
  Immunity in reality television is a concept that is widely used in weekly elimination-type reality television shows by which a contestant participating in such a show may not be "kicked off" or eliminated from competition in a particular time period...
  
   from elimination was not awarded to the winners of this Quickfire. No other prize was noted in the broadcast airing.
  • WINNER: There was no one winner for this challenge.
    • Winners: Antonia, Dale, Erik, Jennifer, Mark, Richard, Ryan, Spike
    • Losers: Andrew, Lisa, Manuel, Nikki, Nimma, Stephanie, Valerie, Zoi
• Elimination Challenge: The winners of the Quickfire must cook head-to-head against the losers, using one dish from a list of classic dishes. The winners drew numbered knives and chose one of the losers as their opponent. The opponent then selected which dish the pair will each prepare. Both dishes will be served to the judges simultaneously, with decisions to follow immediately.
  • Pairs of Winners vs. Losers (in the order they chose their competitor), followed by the type of dish they were to make. The name of the winning chef for each dish is italicized.
    • #1: Richard vs. Andrew (Crab Cakes
      Crab cake
      A crab cake is an American dish composed of crab meat and various other ingredients, such as bread crumbs, milk, mayonnaise, eggs, yellow onions, and seasonings. Occasionally other ingredients such as red or green peppers or pink radishes are added, at which point the cake is then sautéed, baked,...
      
      )
    • #2: Mark vs. Stephanie (Duck à l'orange
      Duck à l'orange
      Canard à l'Orange is a classic French dish in which the duck is roasted and served with an orange sauce.Duck à l'Orange is an English interpretation of the French dish, made popular in the 1960s ....
      
      )
    • #3: Jennifer vs. Nikki (Lasagna
      Lasagna
      Lasagna is a wide and flat type of pasta and possibly one of the oldest shapes. As with most other pasta shapes, the word is generally used in its plural form lasagne in Italy and the U.K. Traditionally, the dough was prepared in Southern Italy with semolina and water and in the northern regions,...
      
      )
    • #4: Antonia vs. Nimma (Shrimp Scampi
      Scampi
      Scampi is the term for a particular type of lobster, deriving originally from the Greek word κάμπη 'kampē' meaning a 'bending' or 'winding'. The name is sometimes used loosely to describe a style of preparation typically for seafood, and as a culinary name for some species of crustacean...
      
      )
    • #5: Spike vs. Lisa (Eggs Benedict
      Eggs Benedict
      Eggs Benedict is a dish that consists of two halves of an English muffin, topped with ham or bacon, poached eggs and Hollandaise sauce.-Origin:There are conflicting accounts as to the origin of Eggs Benedict, including:...
      
      )
    • #6: Dale vs. Manuel (Steak au Poivre
      Steak au poivre
      Steak au poivre or pepper steak is a French dish that consists of a steak, traditionally a filet mignon, coated with loosely cracked peppercorns and then cooked. The peppercorns form a crust on the steak when cooked and provide a pungent but complementary counterpoint to the rich flavor of the...
      
      )
    • #7: Ryan vs. Valerie (Chicken Piccata)
    • #8: Erik vs. Zoi (Soufflé
      Soufflé
      A soufflé is a light baked cake made with egg yolks and beaten egg whites combined with various other ingredients and served as a savoury main dish or sweetened as a dessert...
      
      )
  • Of the eight winners, Antonia, Nikki, Richard, and Stephanie were chosen as the judges' favorites.
  • Of the eight losers, Erik, Mark, Nimma, and Ryan were chosen as the judges' least favorites.
• WINNER: Stephanie (Duck Breast with Mushrooms, Bok Choy
  Chinese cabbage
  Chinese cabbage can refer to two distinct varieties of Chinese leaf vegetables used often in Chinese cuisine. These vegetables are both related to the Western cabbage, and are of the same species as the common turnip...
  
  , and Duck Spring Roll
  Spring roll
  Spring rolls is an umbrella term used in some Western cultures to describe disparate varieties of filled, rolled appetizers similar to the Chinese chūn juǎn , from which the term was derived...
  
  s with Orange-Soy Glaze)
• ELIMINATED: Nimma (Shrimp Scampi with Cauliflower
  Cauliflower
  Cauliflower is one of several vegetables in the species Brassica oleracea, in the family Brassicaceae. It is an annual plant that reproduces by seed...
  
   Scramble)
• Elimination Challenge Prize: None noted in the broadcast airing.
• Guest Judges: Rocco DiSpirito
  Rocco DiSpirito
  Rocco DiSpirito is an Italian American chef based in New York City.-Life and career:DiSpirito was born in Queens, New York City, New York. He graduated in 1986 from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and in 1990 from Boston University with a bachelor's degree in business...
  
  , Anthony Bourdain
  Anthony Bourdain
  Anthony Michael "Tony" Bourdain is an American chef, author and television personality. He is well known for his 2000 book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, and is the host of Travel Channel's culinary and cultural adventure program Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.A...
  
  
• Original Airdate: March 12, 2008

Episode 2: Zoo Food

• Quickfire Challenge: Each chef is to create a dish using no more than five ingredients (excluding salt, pepper, sugar, oil), either purchased at Chicago's Green City Market
  Green City Market
  The Green City Market is a 501 not for profit organization that operates a farmers market in Chicago focusing on local and sustainable farming practices. Green City Market is Chicago's only year-round, sustainable market....
  
   or from the Top Chef pantry. The winner receives immunity from elimination.
  • Top: Mark, Ryan, Valerie
  • Bottom: Erik, Richard, Spike
    • WINNER: Mark (Sirloin Steak, Turnips, Mushrooms, Peaches, and Butter)
• Elimination Challenge: Five teams of three are selected by drawing knives, each assigned a specific animal (Bear
  Bear
  Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
  
  , Gorilla
  Gorilla
  Gorillas are the largest extant species of primates. They are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forests of central Africa. Gorillas are divided into two species and either four or five subspecies...
  
  , Lion
  Lion
  The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
  
  , Penguin
  Penguin
  Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers...
  
  , and Vulture
  Vulture
  Vulture is the name given to two groups of convergently evolved scavenging birds, the New World Vultures including the well-known Californian and Andean Condors, and the Old World Vultures including the birds which are seen scavenging on carcasses of dead animals on African plains...
  
  ). The teams must prepare a series of appetizers based around their animal's diet for a gathering of 200 guests at the Lincoln Park Zoo
  Lincoln Park Zoo
  Lincoln Park Zoo is a free zoo located in Lincoln Park in Chicago, Illinois. The zoo was founded in 1868, making it one of the oldest zoos in the nation. The zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums ....
  
  . Teams are given a half-hour and $500 to shop at the Whole Foods Market
  Whole Foods Market
  Whole Foods Market is a foods supermarket chain based in Austin, Texas which emphasizes "natural and organic products." The company has been ranked among the most socially responsible businesses and placed third on the U.S...
  
  , three hours to prep in the Top Chef kitchen, and a final hour to set up on-site.
  • Team Bear Dale, Nikki, Spike
    • Venison
      Venison
      Venison is the meat of a game animal, especially a deer but also other animals such as antelope, wild boar, etc.-Etymology:The word derives from the Latin vēnor...
      
       Loin with Butternut Squash
    • Salmon A La Plancha on Lettuce Chips with Pickled Vegetables and Peanuts
    • Mushrooms Stuffed with Blueberries, Walnuts and Pecorino
      Pecorino
      Pecorino is the name of a family of hard Italian cheeses made from ewe's milk. The word derives from pecora meaning ‘sheep’, also from the Latin pecora meaning livestock....
      
       Cheese
    • Chimay
      Chimay
      Chimay a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006, Chimay had a total population of 9,774. The total area is 197.10 km² which gives a population density of 50 inhabitants per km²...
      
       Cheese and Honeycomb on Cranberry-Pecan Bread
  • Team Gorilla Antonia, Stephanie, Valerie
    • Roasted Pear and Crab Salad with Celery Root
    • Black Olive Blini with Fennel
      Fennel
      Fennel is a plant species in the genus Foeniculum . It is a member of the family Apiaceae . It is a hardy, perennial, umbelliferous herb, with yellow flowers and feathery leaves...
      
       Mascarpone
      Mascarpone
      Mascarpone |denaturation]], whey is removed without pressing or aging. One can manufacture mascarpone by using cream and tartaric acid, citric acid, or even lemon juice....
      
      , Rutabaga
      Rutabaga
      The rutabaga, swede , turnip or yellow turnip is a root vegetable that originated as a cross between the cabbage and the turnip; see Triangle of U...
      
       and Beets
    • "Lamb and Edamame
      Edamame
      or Edamame bean is a preparation of immature soybeans in the pod commonly found in Japan, China, and Hawaii. The pods are boiled in water together with condiments such as salt, and served whole....
      
       with Lettuce Chips
    • Banana Bread with Salted Caramel Sauce and Meringue
      Meringue
      Meringue is a type of dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar, occasionally some recipes may call for adding an acid such as cream of tartar or a small amount of vinegar and a binding agent such as cornstarch found in icing sugar which may be added in addition to the corn starch which...
      
      
  • Team Lion Erik, Richard, Ryan
    • Beet Salad with Yuzu
      Yuzu
      The yuzu is a citrus fruit and plant originating in East Asia. It is believed to be a hybrid of sour mandarin and Ichang papeda...
      
      , Ras El Hanout
      Ras el hanout
      Ras el hanout or Rass el hanout is a popular Moroccan blend of spices that is used across North Africa. The name means "top of the shop" in Arabic and refers to a mixture of the best spices a seller has to offer...
      
       and Goat Cheese Foam
    • Bison
      Bison
      Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
      
       Tartare
      Tartare
      Tartare is a preparation of finely chopped raw meat or fish optionally with seasonings and sauces.Examples include:* Steak tartare* Venison tartare* Salmon tartare* Tuna tartareCommonly a tartare is served as a spread for toast...
      
       with Tarragon
      Tarragon
      Tarragon or dragon's-wort is a perennial herb in the family Asteraceae related to wormwood. Corresponding to its species name, a common term for the plant is "dragon herb". It is native to a wide area of the Northern Hemisphere from easternmost Europe across central and eastern Asia to India,...
      
       Coulis
      Coulis
      A coulis is a form of thick sauce made from puréed and strained vegetables or fruits. A vegetable coulis is commonly used on meat and vegetable dishes, and it can also be used as a base for soups or other sauces. Fruit coulis are most often used on desserts...
      
      
    • Chicken Sate
    • Prime Rib with Horseradish Foam
  • Team Penguin Andrew, Jennifer, Lisa
    • Thai Shrimp and Crab Salad with Watercress
      Watercress
      Watercresses are fast-growing, aquatic or semi-aquatic, perennial plants native from Europe to central Asia, and one of the oldest known leaf vegetables consumed by human beings...
      
      
    • Roasted Zuccini
    • "Squid Ceviche
      Ceviche
      Ceviche is a seafood dish popular in the coastal regions of the Americas, especially Central and South America. The dish is typically made from fresh raw fish marinated in citrus juices such as lemon or lime and spiced with chilli peppers. Additional seasonings such as onion, salt,...
      
       with Soy-Balsamic Tapioca
      Tapioca
      Tapioca is a starch extracted Manihot esculenta. This species, native to the Amazon, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and most of the West Indies, is now cultivated worldwide and has many names, including cassava, manioc, aipim,...
      
      
    • Yuzu-Mint Gelée "Glacier"
  • Team Vulture Manuel, Mark, Zoi
    • Braised Chicken on Tostado Chip
    • Moraccan-Spiced Lamb Meatball with Ricotta
      Ricotta
      Ricotta is an Italian dairy product made from sheep milk whey left over from the production of cheese. Although typically referred to as ricotta cheese, ricotta is not properly a cheese because it is not produced by coagulation of casein...
      
      , Pomegranate Syrup and Pistachio
    • Marinated Anchovy on Quinoa
      Quinoa
      Quinoa , a species of goosefoot , is a grain-like crop grown primarily for its edible seeds. It is a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal, or grain, as it is not a member of the grass family...
      
       Croquette
      Croquette
      A croquette is a small fried food roll containing, usually as main ingredients, mashed potatoes, and/or ground meat , shellfish, fish, vegetables, and soaked white bread, egg, onion, spices and herbs, wine, milk, beer or any of the combination thereof, sometimes with a filling, often encased in...
      
      
  • WINNING TEAMS: Team Penguin and Team Vulture
• WINNER: Andrew of Team Penguin (Squid Ceviche
  Ceviche
  Ceviche is a seafood dish popular in the coastal regions of the Americas, especially Central and South America. The dish is typically made from fresh raw fish marinated in citrus juices such as lemon or lime and spiced with chilli peppers. Additional seasonings such as onion, salt,...
  
   with Soy-Balsamic Tapioca
  Tapioca
  Tapioca is a starch extracted Manihot esculenta. This species, native to the Amazon, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and most of the West Indies, is now cultivated worldwide and has many names, including cassava, manioc, aipim,...
  
  ; Yuzu
  Yuzu
  The yuzu is a citrus fruit and plant originating in East Asia. It is believed to be a hybrid of sour mandarin and Ichang papeda...
  
  -Mint Gelée "Glacier")
• ELIMINATED: Valerie of Team Gorilla (Black Olive Blini with Fennel
  Fennel
  Fennel is a plant species in the genus Foeniculum . It is a member of the family Apiaceae . It is a hardy, perennial, umbelliferous herb, with yellow flowers and feathery leaves...
  
   Mascarpone
  Mascarpone
  Mascarpone |denaturation]], whey is removed without pressing or aging. One can manufacture mascarpone by using cream and tartaric acid, citric acid, or even lemon juice....
  
  , Rutabaga
  Rutabaga
  The rutabaga, swede , turnip or yellow turnip is a root vegetable that originated as a cross between the cabbage and the turnip; see Triangle of U...
  
   and Beet
  Beet
  The beet is a plant in the Chenopodiaceae family which is now included in Amaranthaceae family. It is best known in its numerous cultivated varieties, the most well known of which is the purple root vegetable known as the beetroot or garden beet...
  
  s)
• Elimination Challenge Prize: None noted in the broadcast airing.
• Guest Judge: Wylie Dufresne
  Wylie Dufresne
  Wylie Dufresne is the chef and owner of wd~50 restaurant in Manhattan. Dufresne is a leading American proponent of molecular gastronomy, the movement to incorporate science and new techniques in the preparation and presentation of food.-Early life:...
  
  
• Original Airdate: March 19, 2008

Episode 3: Block Party

• Quickfire Challenge: Each chef must create a mexican dish that elevates the mexican fine-dining. In addition to winning immunity, the winning dish will go on the menu at Rick Bayless' restaurant Topolobampo.
  • Top: Andrew, Richard, Spike
  • Bottom: Erik, Lisa, Ryan
    • WINNER: Richard (Vegetarian Tacos with a Jícama
      Jícama
      Pachyrhizus erosus, commonly known as Jícama , Yam, and Mexican Turnip, is the name of a native Mexican vine, although the name most commonly refers to the plant's edible tuberous root. Jícama is one species in the genus Pachyrhizus. Plants in this genus are commonly referred to as yam bean,...
      
       Tortilla, Avocado
      Avocado
      The avocado is a tree native to Central Mexico, classified in the flowering plant family Lauraceae along with cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel...
      
      , Papaya
      Papaya
      The papaya , papaw, or pawpaw is the fruit of the plant Carica papaya, the sole species in the genus Carica of the plant family Caricaceae...
      
       and Cilantro Stems)
• Elimination Challenge: Divided into two teams of seven, the chefs must cater a Chicago neighborhood's annual Block Party. The teams must only use ingredients that they can get from the residents of the block.
  • Blue Team: Antonia, Lisa, Manuel, Mark, Nikki, Richard, Stephanie
  • Red Team: Andrew, Dale, Erik, Jennifer, Ryan, Spike, Zoi
• WINNER: Stephanie of Blue Team (Mixed Fruit with Oatmeal-Pine Nut
  Pine nut
  Pine nuts are the edible seeds of pines . About 20 species of pine produce seeds large enough to be worth harvesting; in other pines the seeds are also edible, but are too small to be of great value as a human food....
  
   Crumble, Cinnamon Whipped Cream, and Fried Wonton
  Wonton
  Not to be confused with WantonA wonton is a type of dumpling commonly found in a number of Chinese cuisines.-Filling:...
  
   Dough)
• ELIMINATED: Erik of Red Team (Corn dog
  Corn dog
  A corn dog is a hot dog sausage coated in a thick layer of cornmeal batter and deep fried in oil, although some are baked. Almost all corn dogs are served on wooden sticks, though some early versions had no stick.-History:...
  
  s with Pomegranate Ketchup and Spicy Mustard)
• Elimination Challenge Prize: None noted in the broadcast airing.
• Guest Judge: Rick Bayless
  Rick Bayless
  Rick Bayless is an American chef who specializes in traditional Mexican cuisine with modern interpretations. He is perhaps best known for his PBS series Mexico: One Plate at a Time....
  
  
• Original Airdate: March 26, 2008

Episode 4: Film Food

• Quickfire Challenge: Each chef must create a vegetable platter using the various vegetables provided, in addition to all of the items from the entire Top Chef pantry. The chefs must utilize at least three techniques in their dish. The winner receives immunity in the next Elimination Challenge.
  • Top: Dale, Richard, Zoi
  • Bottom: Lisa, Manuel, Nikki
    • WINNER: Dale (Vegan Sashimi
      Sashimi
      Sashimi is a Japanese delicacy. It consists of very fresh raw meat, most commonly fish, sliced into thin pieces.-Origin:The word sashimi means "pierced body", i.e...
      
       Platter with Daikon
      Daikon
      Daikon , Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus, also called White Radish, Japanese radish, Oriental radish, Chinese radish, lo bok and Mooli , is a mild flavoured, very large, white East Asian radish...
      
       Marinated in Tobanjan (Spicy Miso
      Miso
      is a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting rice, barley and/or soybeans, with salt and the fungus , the most typical miso being made with soy. The result is a thick paste used for sauces and spreads, pickling vegetables or meats, and mixing with dashi soup stock to serve as miso...
      
       Paste) and a Tournée
      Tournee
      Tournee is the eighth album and the second Live album by the german Jazz rock band Kraan. It was recorded in four venues between March and November 1979.-Track listing:# "Borgward" – 8:16# "Almrausch" – 5:57# "Peterchens Reise" – 7:01...
      
       of Avocado and Cucumber)
• Elimination Challenge: The chefs must draw knives to pair up into six teams of two (with Dale having the privilege of selecting which pair he'll join to make one group of three). Then, create a 6-course meal, with each dish being inspired by the chefs' favorite film. The dinner will be for critic Richard Roeper
  Richard Roeper
  Richard E. Roeper is an American columnist and film critic for The Chicago Sun-Times and now a co-host on The Roe Conn Show on WLS-AM...
  
  , actress Aisha Tyler
  Aisha Tyler
  Aisha N. Tyler is an American actress, stand-up comedian, and author, known for her regular role as Andrea Marino in the first season of Ghost Whisperer and voicing Lana Kane in Archer, as well as her recurring roles in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Talk Soup, and on Friends as Charlie...
  
  , and company.
  • 1st Course: Andrew, Dale, and Richard (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
    Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
    Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a 1971 musical film adaptation of the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, directed by Mel Stuart, and starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. The film tells the story of Charlie Bucket as he receives a golden ticket and visits Willy...
    
    )
  • 2nd Course: Manuel and Spike (Good Morning, Vietnam
    Good Morning, Vietnam
    Good Morning, Vietnam is a 1987 American comedy-drama film set in Saigon during the Vietnam War, based on the career of Adrian Cronauer, a disc jockey on Armed Forces Radio Service , who proves hugely popular with the troops serving in South Vietnam, but infuriates his superiors with what they call...
    
    )
  • 3rd Course: Jennifer and Nikki (Il Postino
    Il Postino
    Il Postino is a 1994 Italian film directed by Michael Radford. The film was originally released in the U.S. as The Postman, a straight translation of the Italian title...
    
    )
  • 4th Course: Mark and Ryan (A Christmas Story
    A Christmas Story
    A Christmas Story is a 1983 American Christmas comedy film based on the short stories and semi-fictional anecdotes of author and raconteur Jean Shepherd, including material from his books In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, and Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories. It was directed by Bob Clark...
    
    )
  • 5th Course: Antonia and Zoi (Talk to Her
    Talk to Her
    Talk to Her is a 2002 Spanish comedy-drama film written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar, starring Javier Cámara, Darío Grandinetti, Leonor Watling, Geraldine Chaplin, and Rosario Flores...
    
    )
  • 6th Course: Lisa and Stephanie (Top Secret!
    Top Secret!
    Top Secret! is a 1984 comedy film directed by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker. It stars Val Kilmer , Lucy Gutteridge, Omar Sharif, Peter Cushing, Michael Gough and Jeremy Kemp. The film is a parody of the GDR era and Elvis films...
    
    )
    • Best Teams: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and Top Secret!
    • Worst Teams: Talk to Her and Good Morning, Vietnam
• WINNER: Richard of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Smoked Salmon with Tapioca
  Tapioca
  Tapioca is a starch extracted Manihot esculenta. This species, native to the Amazon, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and most of the West Indies, is now cultivated worldwide and has many names, including cassava, manioc, aipim,...
  
   Pearls and Wasabi
  Wasabi
  , also known as Japanese horseradish, is a member of the Brassicaceae family, which includes cabbages, horseradish, and mustard. Its root is used as a condiment and has an extremely strong flavor. Its hotness is more akin to that of a hot mustard rather than the capsaicin in a chili pepper,...
  
   White Chocolate Sauce)
• ELIMINATED: Manuel of Good Morning, Vietnam (Summer Roll with Chili-Rubbed Chilean Sea Bass and Pickled Swiss Chard)
• Elimination Challenge Prize: None noted in the broadcast airing.
• Guest Judge: Daniel Boulud
  Daniel Boulud
  Daniel Boulud is a French chef and restaurateur with restaurants in New York City, Palm Beach, Miami, Montreal, Beijing, and Singapore...
  
  
• Original Airdate: April 2, 2008

Episode 5: The Elements

• Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must participate in a taste test, consisting of series of 15 comparisons. For every comparison, each chef is blindfolded and tastes two variations of a certain food, one of which is of a lesser quality than the other. The chefs are scored for each high-end ingredient they correctly identify. The winner gets immunity from elimination.
  • Top: Antonia (12/15), Jennifer (11/15), Ryan (11/15)
  • Bottom: Stephanie (6/15)
    • WINNER: Antonia
• Elimination Challenge: The chefs are split into four groups of three by drawing knives, each assigned to one of the classical elements: Earth, Water, Fire, or Air. Each team is to create a first-course meal based on that element for 80 people of Chicago's Celebrity Chef-Meals on Wheels
  Meals on Wheels
  Meals on Wheels are programs that deliver meals to individuals at home who are unable to purchase or prepare their own meals. The name is often used generically to refer to home-delivered meals programs, not all of which are actually named "Meals on Wheels"...
  
   Fundraiser, held at the old Marshall Field & Co. Building
  Marshall Field and Company Building
  Marshall Field and Company Building or Macy's at State Street is the former flagship location of the former Marshall Field's department store and the current location of the Chicago flagship of Macy's...
  
  . Survey cards were filled out by the patrons of the dinner that evening and used as part of the judging process.
  • Team Air: Jennifer, Nikki, Ryan
  • Team Earth: Antonia, Spike, Zoi
  • Team Fire: Dale, Lisa, Stephanie
  • Team Water: Andrew, Mark, Richard
• WINNER: Lisa of Team Fire (Grilled Shrimp with Pickled Chili
  Chili pepper
  Chili pepper is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The term in British English and in Australia, New Zealand, India, Malaysia and other Asian countries is just chilli without pepper.Chili peppers originated in the Americas...
  
   Salad, Deviled Aioli
  Aioli
  Aioli ) is a traditional sauce made of garlic, olive oil, and egg. There are many variations, such as the addition of mustard or, in Catalonia, pears. It is usually served at room temperature. The name aioli comes from Provençal alh 'garlic' is a traditional sauce made of garlic, olive oil,...
  
  , and Miso
  Miso
  is a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting rice, barley and/or soybeans, with salt and the fungus , the most typical miso being made with soy. The result is a thick paste used for sauces and spreads, pickling vegetables or meats, and mixing with dashi soup stock to serve as miso...
  
  -Smoked Bacon)
• ELIMINATED: Zoi of Team Earth (Beef Carpaccio
  Carpaccio
  Carpaccio is a dish of raw meat or fish , thinly sliced or pounded thin and served as an appetizer.- History :...
  
   with Mushroom Salad and Sunchoke Aioli)
• Elimination Challenge Prize: A five-day trip for two (the winning chef and a guest) to Italy.
• Guest Judge: Ming Tsai
  Ming Tsai
  Ming Tsai is a Chinese-American fusion cuisine chef, restaurateur, and Emmy Award-winning television personality.Tsai currently hosts Ming's Quest, a cooking show featured on the Fine Living Network, and Simply Ming on American Public Television...
  
  
• Original Airdate: April 9, 2008

Episode 6: Tailgating

• Quickfire Challenge: Each contestant is allowed to taste three beers from several different brands prior to selecting one. With that beer, each contestant is then challenged to create a matching dish that works with the beer. The winner gets immunity from elimination.
  • Top: Jennifer, Richard, Stephanie
  • Bottom: Dale, Nikki, Spike
    • WINNER: Jennifer (Land Shark Lager — Shrimp and Scallop Beignet
      Beignet
      A beignet in the U.S. is a pastry made from deep-fried dough, much like a doughnut, and sprinkled with confectioner's sugar, or frostings. Savory versions of beignets are also popular as an appetizer, with fillings such as maple or fruit preserves....
      
      s with Fennel
      Fennel
      Fennel is a plant species in the genus Foeniculum . It is a member of the family Apiaceae . It is a hardy, perennial, umbelliferous herb, with yellow flowers and feathery leaves...
      
       Avocado & Pepper Pureés)
• Elimination Challenge: The contestants are asked to create meals for a tailgating
  Tailgate
  Tailgate is an American English word denoting the door or 'gate' at the back of a wagon, pickup truck, SUV or other similar type of vehicle that is hinged at the bottom and can be opened for the convenience in loading cargo into the rear of the vehicle...
  
   party at Soldier Field
  Soldier Field
  Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
  
   prior to a Chicago Bears
  Chicago Bears
  The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
  
   football game (Week 6 game versus the Minnesota Vikings). The chefs are given preparation time both at the Top Chef kitchen and at the field, prior to serving, on grills. The top and bottom three dishes were selected from the crowd participating in the tailgating party, including former Bears players Richard Dent
  Richard Dent
  Richard Lamar Dent is a former American football defensive end, who played primarily for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was the MVP of Super Bowl XX...
  
  , Gale Sayers
  Gale Sayers
  Gale Eugene Sayers also known as "The Kansas Comet", is a former professional football player in the National Football League who spent his entire career with the Chicago Bears....
  
   and William "The Refrigerator" Perry
  William Perry (American football)
  William Perry is a former professional American football player. He is best known for his years as a defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears. In reference to his large size, he was popularly known as "The Refrigerator" or, abbreviated, "The Fridge".-Life and athletic career:Perry was born in...
  
  , though the final decision of the winner and eliminated chef was left to the judges.
• WINNER: Dale (Baby Back Ribs Marinated in Tandoor
  Tandoor
  A tandoor is a cylindrical clay oven used in cooking and baking. The tandoor is used for cooking in Azerbaijan, India, Turkey, Iran, Armenia, Georgia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, the Balkans, the Middle East, and Central Asia, as well as Burma and Bangladesh.The heat for a tandoor was...
  
  i, Potato Salad
  Potato salad
  Potato salad is a dish made from boiled potatoes, the versions of which vary throughout different regions and countries of the world. Although called a salad, it is generally considered a side dish, as it generally accompanies the main course....
  
   with Raisins and Mango
  Mango
  The mango is a fleshy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The mango is native to India from where it spread all over the world. It is also the most cultivated fruit of the tropical world. While...
  
  )
• ELIMINATED: Ryan (Bread Salad and Marinated Chicken with Poached
  Poaching (cooking)
  Poaching is the process of gently simmering food in liquid, generally milk, stock or wine.-Utilization:Poaching is particularly suitable for delicate food, such as eggs, poultry, fish and fruit, which might easily fall apart or dry out...
  
   Pears and Brandy
  Brandy
  Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
  
   Cocoa)
• Elimination Challenge Prize: A Weber
  Weber-Stephen Products Co.
  The Weber-Stephen Products Co., founded in 1893, is headquartered in Palatine, Illinois. It is best known as a manufacturer of charcoal and gas grills, grilling accessories and other outdoor room products....
  
   Summit 650 Gas Grill (as used in the elimination challenge) and a Chicago Bears
  Chicago Bears
  The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
  
   jersey labeled "Top Chef".
• Guest Judges: Koren Grieveson, Paul Kahan
• Original Airdate: April 16, 2008

Episode 7: Improv

• Quickfire Challenge: Each chef is to make a dessert that will please the judges. The winner will receive immunity in the next challenge and have his or her Quickfire recipe placed in the Top Chef cookbook.
  • Top: Dale, Lisa, Richard
  • Bottom: Antonia, Mark, Spike
    • WINNER: Richard (Banana "Scallops" with Banana Guacamole and Chocolate Ice Cream)
• Elimination Challenge: The chefs attend a performance of the improvisational
  Improvisational theatre
  Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...
  
   comedy troupe, The Second City
  The Second City
  The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
  
  . During the performance, the Second City actors obtain combinations of a color, emotion, and ingredient from the audience, creating five descriptions for meals that the chefs are then to prepare. The chefs freely split into teams and select the order for the courses, and, as they discover during cooking, are unable to use electric mixers or food processors as they have been removed from the Top Chef kitchen for this challenge. The chefs also discover as they cook that — while an elaborate table was present in the kitchen — they will be serving their meals at the Top Chef house, and that they only have 20 minutes to move to the house from this announcement.
  • First Course: "Yellow Love Vanilla" (Andrew and Spike)- Butternut Squash Soup with Vanilla Creme Fraiche
    Crème fraîche
    Crème fraîche is a soured cream containing about 28% butterfat and with a pH of around 4.5. It is soured with bacterial culture, but is less sour than sour cream. It has a comparatively high viscosity and a higher fat content....
    
    
  • Second Course: "Orange Turned-On Asparagus" (Jennifer and Stephanie) - Ménage à trois of Orange with Goat Cheese, Asparagus Salad and Olive Tapenade
  • Third Course: "Green Perplexed Tofu" (Dale and Richard) - Tofu "Steak" Marinated in Beef Fat with Green Curry
  • Fourth Course: "Magenta Drunk Polish Sausage" (Antonia and Lisa) - Sea Bass with Purple Potato Puree and Chorizo
    Chorizo
    Chorizo is a term encompassing several types of pork sausages originating from the Iberian Peninsula.In English, it is usually pronounced , , or , but sometimes ....
    
     with Tequila
    Tequila
    Tequila is a spirit made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, northwest of Guadalajara, and in the highlands of the western Mexican state of Jalisco....
    
    
  • Fifth Course: "Purple Depressed Bacon" (Mark and Nikki) - Pork Loin with Sweet Potato, Grape Sauce Jus and Brussel Sprouts
• WINNERS: Dale and Richard (Tofu
  Tofu
  is a food made by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into soft white blocks. It is part of East Asian and Southeast Asian cuisine such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and others. There are many different varieties of tofu, including fresh tofu and tofu...
  
   "Steak" Marinated in Beef Fat with Green Curry
  Green curry
  Green curry is a variety of curry in Thai cuisine. The name "green" curry derives from the color of the dish. Other Thai curry dishes are identified solely by their colors, such as yellow and red curry. Green curries tend to be as hot as red curries, both being hotter than phanang/padang curries...
  
  )
• ELIMINATED: Jennifer (Ménage à trois
  Ménage à trois
  Ménage à trois is a French term which originally described a domestic arrangement in which three people having sexual relations occupy the same household – the phrase literally translates as "household of three"...
  
   of Orange with Goat Cheese, Asparagus Salad and Olive Tapenade
  Tapenade
  Tapenade is a Provençal dish consisting of puréed or finely chopped olives, capers, anchovies and olive oil. Its name comes from the Provençal word for capers, tapenas . It is a popular food in the south of France, where it is generally eaten as an hors d’œuvre, spread on bread...
  
  )
• Elimination Challenge Prize: Each team member receives $2,500 worth of Calphalon kitchenware.
• Guest Judge: Johnny Iuzzini
• Original Airdate: April 23, 2008

Episode 8: Common Threads

• Quickfire Challenge: Each chef is to create an entree in only 15 minutes, using Uncle Ben's Rice as a primary ingredient. The winner receives immunity in the next challenge.
  • Top: Antonia, Dale, Richard
  • Bottom: Lisa, Mark, Stephanie
    • WINNER: Antonia (Rice Salad with Skirt Steak, Arugula
      Arugula
      Eruca sativa , is an edible annual plant, commonly known as rocket, roquette, rucola or arugula, not to be confused with Wild rocket. It is a species of Eruca native to the Mediterranean region, from Morocco and Portugal east to Lebanon and Turkey...
      
      , Cherry Tomatoes)
• Elimination Challenge: The contestants are told to make a healthy, simple and flavorful meal for a family of four, using only US$10. Meal preparation would take place at the Washburn Culinary Institute. There, each chef is then paired with a child from the Common Threads program who will participate in preparing the dish and will be responsible for explaining the dish to fellow children from the program during the tasting.
• WINNER: Antonia (Stir Fry Whole Wheat Noodles with Bok Choy
  Chinese cabbage
  Chinese cabbage can refer to two distinct varieties of Chinese leaf vegetables used often in Chinese cuisine. These vegetables are both related to the Western cabbage, and are of the same species as the common turnip...
  
  , Chicken, Edamame
  Edamame
  or Edamame bean is a preparation of immature soybeans in the pod commonly found in Japan, China, and Hawaii. The pods are boiled in water together with condiments such as salt, and served whole....
  
   and Cilantro)
• ELIMINATED: Mark (Roasted Vegetables in Red Curry
  Red curry
  Red curry is a popular Thai dish consisting of curry paste to which coconut milk is added. The base is properly made with a mortar and pestle, and remains moist throughout the preparation process. The main ingredients are garlic, shallots, red chili peppers, galangal, shrimp paste, salt, kaffir...
  
   with Cucumber Salad and Garlic Naan
  Naan
  Naan is a leavened, oven-baked flatbread. It is typical of and popular in South and Central Asia, in Iran, and in South Asian restaurants abroad. Influenced by the large influx of South Asian labour, naan has also become popular in Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf states.Originally, naan is a...
  
  )
• Guest Judge: Art Smith
  Art Smith (chef)
  Charles Arthur "Art" Smith is an American chef who has worked for former Florida governor Bob Graham and Jeb Bush and until 2007 was personal chef to Oprah Winfrey...
  
  
• Original Airdate: April 30, 2008

Episode 9: Wedding Wars

• Quickfire Challenge: The chefs draw knives to split into two teams of four, Team Fork and Team Spoon. The teams are:
  • Team Fork: Andrew, Antonia, Richard, Stephanie
  • Team Spoon: Dale, Lisa, Nikki, Spike

1. Supreme

Supreme (cookery)

-Chicken:In cookery, the term supreme is used to describe a breast of chicken with the wing bone attached, generally referred to as Chicken Supreme...

 5 oranges

2. Turn 2 artichokes

3. Fillet a monkfish

4. Create mayonnaise from scratch

• WINNING TEAM: Team Fork
• From this point on, the winner(s) of the Quickfire Challenge will no longer receive immunity from elimination.
• Elimination Challenge: Instead of the usual "Restaurant Wars" challenge, the teams are challenged to "Wedding Wars". In the teams used for the Quickfire, the chefs must cater a 250-guest wedding (125 guests to be served per team) for a couple who own a restaurant and wedding facility. Each team will prepare a different menu, one team responsible for meeting the bride's requests, while the other for the groom. Team Fork, as the winner of the Quickfire, decides to cater for the bride. The wedding is to take place the next day, and the teams are given 30 minutes to discuss the menu with the bride or groom, 30 minutes to plan, $3000 to shop at a large food warehouse and $2000 at Whole Foods Market, and 14 hours (through the night) of preparation time in the Top Chef kitchen followed by additional preparation time at the banquet.
• WINNER: Richard of Team Fork
• ELIMINATED: Nikki of Team Spoon
• Elimination Challenge Prize: A $2000 gift certificate to Crate & Barrel
  Crate and Barrel
  Crate & Barrel is a 170+ store chain of American retail stores, based in Northbrook, Illinois, specializing in housewares, furniture , and home accessories. Its corporate name is Euromarket Designs, Inc. The company is wholly owned by Otto GmbH.-Founding:Gordon and Carole Segal opened the first...
  
   (Richard decided to give the prize to Stephanie)
• Guest Judge: Gale Gand
  Gale Gand
  Gale Gand is a Chicago-based pastry chef, cookbook author, television personality, and was the host of the Food Network show Sweet Dreams. She is currently the executive pastry chef and partner of the four star & AAA five diamond restaurant Tru , a contemporary fine-dining restaurant from Lettuce...
  
  
• Original Airdate: May 7, 2008
• Antonia is the fourth person to win 2 quickfire challenges in a row behind Hung in season 3, and Sam & Cliff in season 2.

Episode 10: Serve and Protect

• Quickfire Challenge: The chefs are given 45 minutes to create a modern take on a salad using fresh produce and items from the Top Chef pantry.
  • Top: Antonia, Dale, Spike
  • Bottom: Lisa, Richard, Stephanie
    • WINNER: Spike ("Sensual Beef Salad" with Pineapple, Radish, Cucumber and Skirt Steak)
• Elimination Challenge: The chefs are challenged to create a healthy, delicious, and filling box lunch meal for the members of the Chicago Police Academy. The meal must contain at least one ingredient from each of the following categories: whole grain, lean protein, fruit and vegetable. Any final preparation step (such as microwaving) must be completed by the diners. Spike, as the Quickfire winner, is given ten additional minutes to shop, and the first choice of each of the four required ingredients, which the other chefs are then not permitted to use. He chose bread, chicken, tomato, and lettuce as his exclusive ingredients.
• WINNER: Dale (Lemongrass Mango Bison
  Bison
  Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
  
   with Brown Rice, Cucumbers, Radish
  Radish
  The radish is an edible root vegetable of the Brassicaceae family that was domesticated in Europe, in pre-Roman times. They are grown and consumed throughout the world. Radishes have numerous varieties, varying in size, color and duration of required cultivation time...
  
   and Herb Salad)
• ELIMINATED: Andrew (Salmon Roll with Parsnip
  Parsnip
  The parsnip is a root vegetable related to the carrot. Parsnips resemble carrots, but are paler than most carrots and have a sweeter taste, especially when cooked. The buttery, slightly spicy, sweet flavor of cooked mature parsnips is reminiscent of butterscotch, honey, and subtle cardamom...
  
  -Pine Nut "Rice" and Pickled Ginger Wasabi
  Wasabi
  , also known as Japanese horseradish, is a member of the Brassicaceae family, which includes cabbages, horseradish, and mustard. Its root is used as a condiment and has an extremely strong flavor. Its hotness is more akin to that of a hot mustard rather than the capsaicin in a chili pepper,...
  
  )
• Elimination Challenge Prize: A bottle of wine from a Napa Valley winery and a trip to visit their vineyards.
• Guest Judge: Sam Talbot
  Sam Talbot
  Sam Talbot is a Sicilian-American chef from Charlotte, North Carolina, best known as a semi-finalist on Season 2 of Bravo's Top Chef, eventually placing third. Talbot returned to Top Chef for the episode "Four Star All Stars" with Elia Aboumrad, Marcel Vigneron, and Ilan Hall...
  
  
• First aired: May 14, 2008

Episode 11: Restaurant Wars

• Quickfire Challenge: Taking turns, each chef would spend the same amount of time manning the egg station during the busy breakfast hours at Lou Mitchell's Restaurant and Bakery
  Lou Mitchell's
  Lou Mitchell's, also known as Lou Mitchell's Restaurant, is a Chicago diner located at 565 W. Jackson Boulevard. It is a popular restaurant for commuters, as it is located near Union Station. It is also located near the start of U.S...
  
  . The chef's performance would be judged by both Tom Colicchio and the restaurant's owner, Heleen Thanas, based on who she'd be most likely to hire.
  • Top: Antonia, Dale
  • Bottom: None
    • WINNER: Antonia
• Elimination Challenge: For the standard "Restaurant Wars" challenge, the chefs had to open up a restaurant in teams of three for a dinner service, consisting of three courses with two selections for each for approximately 35 guests the next day. The winner would be judged based on both the normal judges and comment cards filled out by the patrons. Each team had $1,500 to spend on food, and $5,000 from Pier 1 Imports
  Pier 1 Imports
  Pier 1 Imports Inc. is a Fort Worth, Texas based retailer specializing in imported home furnishings and decor, particularly furniture, table-top items, decorative accessories and seasonal decor. The chain operates over 1,000 stores under the name Pier 1 Imports in the United States, Canada, Mexico...
  
   for decor. The winner of the Quickfire would be able to select his or her teammates for the challenge. One chef from each team was to assist in front of the house duties along with additional waitstaff. Midway through the challenge, each team's executive chef was allowed to select one additional assisting chef from the last four that were eliminated from the show; Antonia chose Nikki and Dale chose Jennifer.
  • Warehouse Kitchen: (Antonia, Richard, Stephanie, Nikki)
    • 1st Course: Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Ras el hanout
      Ras el hanout
      Ras el hanout or Rass el hanout is a popular Moroccan blend of spices that is used across North Africa. The name means "top of the shop" in Arabic and refers to a mixture of the best spices a seller has to offer...
      
       Spices or Linguine
      Linguine
      Linguine is a form of pasta — flat like fettuccine and trenette. It is wider than spaghetti, about 1/4 to 3/8 inch, but not as wide as fettuccine. The name linguine means "little tongues" in Italian, where it is a plural of the feminine linguina. Linguine are also called trenette or bavette...
      
       and Clams with Sausage and Horseradish Crème Fraîche
    • 2nd Course: Trout with Cauliflower or "Lamb Squared": Lamb Loin and Braised Lamb Shank
      Shank (meat)
      A meat shank or shin is the portion of meat around the tibia of the animal, the leg bone beneath the knee.Lamb shanks are often braised whole; veal shanks are typically cross-cut.Some dishes made using shank include:...
      
      
    • 3rd Course: Gorgonzola Cheesecake with Sweet Potato Purée and Concord Grape
      Concord grape
      Concord grapes are a cultivar derived from the grape species Vitis labrusca which are used as table grapes, wine grapes and juice grapes....
      
       Sauce or Banana "Scallops" with Banana Guacamole and Chocolate Ice Cream
  • Mai Buddha: (Dale, Lisa, Spike, Jennifer)
    • 1st Course: Spicy Coconut Shrimp Laksa
      Laksa
      Laksa is a popular spicy noodle soup from the Peranakan culture, which is a merger of Chinese and Malay elements found in Malaysia and Singapore, and to a lesser extent Indonesia.- Origin :The origin of the name "laksa" is unclear...
      
       or Pork and Pickled Plum Pot-stickers
    • 2nd Course: Braised Short Ribs with Pickled Red Cabbage
      Red Cabbage
      The red cabbage is a sort of cabbage, also known as Red Kraut or Blue Kraut after preparation....
      
       and Apple Basil Salad or Butterscotch
      Butterscotch
      Butterscotch is a type of confectionery whose primary ingredients are brown sugar and butter, although other ingredients such as corn syrup, cream, vanilla, and salt are part of some recipes...
      
       Miso
      Miso
      is a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting rice, barley and/or soybeans, with salt and the fungus , the most typical miso being made with soy. The result is a thick paste used for sauces and spreads, pickling vegetables or meats, and mixing with dashi soup stock to serve as miso...
      
       Scallops with Spicy Eggplant and Pickled Long Beans
    • 3rd Course: Halo-halo
      Halo-halo
      Halo-halo is a popular Filipino dessert that is a mixture of shaved ice and evaporated milk to which are added various boiled sweet beans and fruits, and served in a tall glass or bowl....
      
       with Cantaloupe, Coconut, Kiwi, Avocado and Candied Nuts or Mango Sticky Rice with Toasted Coconut
• WINNER: Stephanie of Warehouse Kitchen
• ELIMINATED: Dale of Mai Buddha
• Elimination Challenge Prize: A trip for two to Barcelona, Spain, including a guided wine tour.
• Guest Judges: Heleen Thanas, Anthony Bourdain
  Anthony Bourdain
  Anthony Michael "Tony" Bourdain is an American chef, author and television personality. He is well known for his 2000 book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, and is the host of Travel Channel's culinary and cultural adventure program Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.A...
  
  , José Andrés
  José Andrés
  José Ramón Andrés Puerta , known as José Andrés, is a Spanish chef often credited for bringing the small plates dining concept to America...
  
  
• Original Airdate: May 21, 2008

Episode 12: High Steaks

• Quickfire Challenge: At a meat packing warehouse, each chef is given twenty minutes to butcher and clean seven "tomahawk chops" from an aged side of beef. Then, at the Top Chef kitchen, they are given an additional thirty minutes to prepare two of the chops to the guest judge's preference - medium-rare.
  • Top: Antonia, Lisa, Spike
  • Bottom: Richard, Stephanie
    • WINNER: Spike
• Elimination Challenge: Each chef had to create an appetizer and an entrée and work the line at Rick Tramonto
  Rick Tramonto
  Richard Michael "Rick" Tramonto is a Chicago chef and cookbook author. He is executive chef and partner in Tru, a contemporary fine-dining restaurant from Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises.-Biography:...
  
  's Steak & Seafood restaurant. Spike, as the Quickfire winner, was able to select two proteins to use for his dishes, disallowing the other chefs to use those proteins. He chose frozen scallops to use for his appetizer, and tomahawk chops for his entrée.
  • Antonia Mushroom and Artichoke Salad, Poached Egg and Bacon Vinaigrette; Bone-in Rib-eye with Fennel and Cipollinis, Shallot
    Shallot
    The shallot is the botanical variety of Allium cepa to which the multiplier onion also belongs. It was formerly classified as the species A. ascalonicum, a name now considered a synonym of the correct name...
    
     and Potato Gratin
    Gratin
    Gratin is a widespread culinary technique in food preparation in which an ingredient is topped with a browned crust, often using breadcrumbs, grated cheese, egg and/or butter. Gratin originated in French cuisine and is usually prepared in a shallow dish of some kind...
    
    
  • Lisa Grilled & Chilled Prawns, Lemon Zest and Tomato Salad, Crostini
    Crostini
    Crostini is an Italian appetizer consisting of small slices of grilled or toasted bread and toppings. The toppings may include a variety of different cheeses, meats, and vegetables, or may be presented more simply with a brush of olive oil and herbs or a sauce...
    
    ; New York Strip Steak, Apple Caramel Sauce and Peanut Butter Mashed Potatoes
  • Spike Seared Scallops with Hearts of Palm and Oyster Mushrooms; Grilled Tomahawk Chop with Sweet Potato Purée, Brussels Sprouts, and Cipollini
    Onion
    The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
    
     Onions
  • Stephanie Sweetbread
    Sweetbread
    Sweetbreads or ris are culinary names for the thymus or the pancreas especially of the calf and lamb...
    
    s with Golden Raisins, Fennel and Pine Nuts; Beef Tenderloin with Wild Mushrooms and Apple Sauce
  • Richard Hamachi with Crispy Sweetbreads, Radish, Avocado and Yuzu
    Yuzu
    The yuzu is a citrus fruit and plant originating in East Asia. It is believed to be a hybrid of sour mandarin and Ichang papeda...
    
    ; Beef Filet, Potato Puree, Turnips and Red Wine Pickled Brussel Sprouts
• WINNER: Stephanie (Sweetbread
  Sweetbread
  Sweetbreads or ris are culinary names for the thymus or the pancreas especially of the calf and lamb...
  
  s with Golden Raisins, Fennel and Pine Nuts; Beef Tenderloin with Wild Mushrooms and Apple Sauce)
• ELIMINATED: Spike (Seared Scallops with Hearts of Palm and Oyster Mushrooms; Grilled Tomahawk Chop with Sweet Potato Purée, Brussels Sprouts, and Cipollini
  Onion
  The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
  
   Onions)
• Elimination challenge prize: Cook book by Rick Tramonto and a suite of GE Monogram appliances.
• Guest Judges: Rick Tramonto
  Rick Tramonto
  Richard Michael "Rick" Tramonto is a Chicago chef and cookbook author. He is executive chef and partner in Tru, a contemporary fine-dining restaurant from Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises.-Biography:...
  
  , Harold Dieterle
  Harold Dieterle
  Harold Dieterle III is an American chef, best known as the winner of the first season of the Bravo television network's reality television series Top Chef. His signature dish is spicy duck meatballs....
  
  , Ilan Hall
  Ilan Hall
  Ilan D. Hall is an American chef, best known as the winner of the second season of the Bravo television network's reality series Top Chef.Hall is a native of Great Neck, New York...
  
  , Hung Huynh
  Hung Huynh
  Hung Huynh is a Vietnamese-American chef, and in 2007 was the winner of the third season of Top Chef, the reality cooking competition show on Bravo....
  
  
• Original Airdate: May 28, 2008

Episode 13: Puerto Rico Finale, Part 1

• Quickfire Challenge: Each chef is to make frituras (fritter
  Fritter
  A fritter is any kind of food coated in batter and deep fried. Although very similar to a doughnut it differs in the fact that it requires some base ingredient beyond the dough it is cooked with.-Anglo-American fritters:...
  
  s) with the primary ingredient being plantain
  Plantain
  Plantain is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa. The fruit they produce is generally used for cooking, in contrast to the soft, sweet banana...
  
  s.
  • Top: Stephanie, Lisa
  • Bottom: Antonia, Richard
    • WINNER: Stephanie (Pork and Shrimp Fritter with Brown Butter, Lime and Basil; Tostones
      Tostones
      Tostones or patacones are a popular side dish in many Latin American countries. The dish is made from sliced green plantains cut either length-wise or width-wise and are twice fried...
      
       Topped with Seared Tuna)
• Elimination Challenge: The chefs are asked to prepare three dishes each for a reception held at La Fortaleza
  La Fortaleza
  La Fortaleza is the current official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico. It was built between 1533 and 1540 to defend the harbor of San Juan. The structure is also known as Palacio de Santa Catalina . It is the oldest executive mansion in the New World...
  
  , the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico
  Governor of Puerto Rico
  The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
  
  . Each chef is given a pig to butcher, and must use at least two different parts of it in two of three dishes. The last four previously eliminated chefs are brought back as sous chefs to assist, with Stephanie, as the Quickfire winner, selecting which sous chef works with which chef. She assigns Spike to Richard, Nikki to Antonia, Andrew to Lisa, and Dale to herself. While the chefs butcher the pig, the sous chefs shop for ingredients at a local market. Then, the chefs have 2 hours of prep time on the day before the reception, followed by five hours of cooking time just prior to the reception.
• WINNER: Richard (BBQ Pork Shoulder with Braised Greens, Coffee and Local Mango; "Costillas De Cerdo": Pork Ribs with Malta
  Malta (soft drink)
  Malta, young beer, Children's beer or wheat soda is a type of soft drink. It is a carbonated malt beverage, meaning it is brewed from barley, hops, and water much like beer; corn and caramel color may also be added...
  
   and Soy Glaze; Pressure Cooked Pork Belly with Pickled Watermelon; Fresh Pernal "Ham" with Local Beans)
• ELIMINATED: Antonia (Pigeon Peas with Homemade Pork Sausage; Ham Hock and Curried Pork with Yucca
  Yucca
  Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Its 40-50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flowers. They are native to the hot and dry parts of North...
  
   and Pumpkin; Honey Pork Belly with Pickled Sweet Peppers, Papaya
  Papaya
  The papaya , papaw, or pawpaw is the fruit of the plant Carica papaya, the sole species in the genus Carica of the plant family Caricaceae...
  
   and Chayote
  Chayote
  The chayote , also known as christophene, vegetable pear, mirliton, pear squash, christophine , chouchoute , choko , starprecianté, citrayota, citrayote , chuchu , chow chow , cho cho , sayote ,...
  
  )
• Elimination Challenge Prize: A 2009 Toyota Corolla
  Toyota Corolla
  The Toyota Corolla is a line of subcompact and compact cars manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, with over 35 million...
  
   S.
• Guest Judge: Wilo Benet
  Wilo Benet
  Wilo Benet is a Puerto Rican celebrity chef. He is the chef owner of the Pikayo, Varita and Payá restaurants as well as the president and owner of Museum Restaurant Group.-Early years:...
  
  
• This episode took place six months after the previous episode in Chicago, and took place in Puerto Rico
  Puerto Rico
  Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
  
  .
• Original Airdate: June 4, 2008

Episode 14: Puerto Rico Finale, Part 2

• Final Challenge: As the final challenge, each chef was asked to create a four-course meal for nine guests, consisting of a fish course, a poultry course, a red meat course, and a dessert, in order. Before they started to cook, the chefs had to select one of three famous New York chefs to have as their sous chef for the challenge. Additionally, each famous chef came paired with an array of proteins, for the contestant to use in their first three dishes. The order for picking the sous chefs (and proteins) was determined by the number of previous elimination round wins, with ties broken by knife pulling.

Stephanie chose celebrity chef, author, and restaurateur Eric Ripert

Eric Ripert

Eric Ripert is a chef, author and television personality specializing in modern French cuisine and renowned for his work with seafood. His flagship restaurant, Le Bernardin, located in New York City, is routinely ranked among the best restaurants in the world by Restaurant magazine's and S...

, of Le Bernardin

Le Bernardin

Le Bernardin is a Michelin Guide three star, Zagat-rated restaurant in New York City. It was started in 1972 in Paris by Gilbert and Maguy le Coze and moved to New York in 1986....

.

Richard chose chef and restaurateur Dan Barber, of Blue Hill at Stone Barns.

Lisa chose April Bloomfield, also a chef and restaurateur, from The Spotted Pig.

On the second and final day of cooking, the chefs had to finish the meal preparation alone. The final menus for each one of them were:

Lisa:

• Fish Course: Prawns with Chili Basil Sauce, Crab, Potato Chips and Pea Tendrils
• Poultry Course: Tom Kha Gai
  Tom kha gai
  Tom kha gai or Tom kha kai , literally "chicken galangal soup") is a spicy hot soup in Lao cuisine and Thai cuisine. This soup is made with coconut milk, galangal, lemon grass and chicken. The fried chillies add a smoky flavor as well as texture, color and heat, but not so much that it overwhelms...
  
   Soup Dumplings with Organic Chicken, Golden Threads, Toasted Chilies and Cilantro
• Red Meat Course: Coriander and Soy Glazed Wagyū
  Wagyu
  refers to several breeds of cattle genetically predisposed to intense marbling and to producing a high percentage of oleaginous unsaturated fat. The meat from wagyu cattle is known worldwide for its marbling characteristics, increased eating quality through a naturally enhanced flavor, tenderness...
  
   Strip Steak over Chayote and Cucumber Salad with Garlic Chips and Chili
• Dessert Course: Black Thai Rice with Caramelized Coconut, Mango Cream and Crispy Taro
  Taro
  Taro is a common name for the corms and tubers of several plants in the family Araceae . Of these, Colocasia esculenta is the most widely cultivated, and is the subject of this article. More specifically, this article describes the 'dasheen' form of taro; another variety is called eddoe.Taro is...
  
  

Richard:

• Fish Course: "The Beginning": Grilled Scallop with Pineapple Vinegar and Mango
• Poultry Course: "Which Came First?": Guinea Hen
  Guineafowl
  The guineafowl are a family of birds in the Galliformes order, although some authorities include the guineafowl as a subfamily, Numidinae, of the family Phasianidae...
  
  , Duck, Foie gras
  Foie gras
  Foie gras ; French for "fat liver") is a food product made of the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened. This fattening is typically achieved through gavage corn, according to French law, though outside of France it is occasionally produced using natural feeding...
  
  , and Chicken Egg with Spring Vegetables
• Red Meat Course: "Be the Bacon": Pork Belly with Pickled Radish and Mirin
  Mirin
  is an essential condiment used in Japanese cuisine, consisting of 40%–50% sugar. It is a kind of rice wine similar to sake, but with a lower alcohol content—14% instead of 20%. There are three general types. The first is hon mirin , which contains alcohol. The second is shio mirin, which contains...
  
   Broth
• Dessert Course: "The End": Banana Scallop with Bacon Ice Cream and Cilantro Stem

Stephanie:

• Fish Course: Sauteed Red Snapper Filet with Truffled White Asparagus and Clam Broth
• Poultry Course: Seared Quail Breast with Butter Poached Lobster Ravioli and Mango Lobster Sauce
• Red Meat Course: Roasted Lamb Medallions with Maitake Mushrooms, Braised Pistachio
  Pistachio
  The pistachio, Pistacia vera in the Anacardiaceae family, is a small tree originally from Persia , which now can also be found in regions of Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Sicily and possibly Afghanistan , as well as in the United States,...
  
  s, and Blackberry
• Dessert Course: Ricotta
  Ricotta
  Ricotta is an Italian dairy product made from sheep milk whey left over from the production of cheese. Although typically referred to as ricotta cheese, ricotta is not properly a cheese because it is not produced by coagulation of casein...
  
   Pound Cake with Lime Glaze, Pineapple, and Salted Banana Cream

In the stew room, Lisa said she thought she made the best poultry and dessert courses, and that Stephanie prepared the best fish and red meat courses. At Judges' Table, most of the judges generally agreed, but thought that Richard tied with Lisa for the dessert course.

• TOP CHEF: Stephanie
• RUNNERS-UP: Lisa and Richard
• Note: There was no Quickfire Challenge in this episode.
• Original Airdate: June 11, 2008

Episode 15: Reunion

• In this reunion special, all of the chefs from Season Four were reunited to discuss the season, along with Judges Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, and Ted Allen, and Bravo Vice President and bravotv.com blogger Andy Cohen. During the program, participants were asked questions drawn from viewer emails, and were shown video segments highlighting the season. They also joked about such topics as the bromance
  Bromance
  A bromance is a close but non-sexual relationship between two men, a form of homosocial intimacy.-Etymology:Bromance is a portmanteau of the words bro or brother and romance...
  
   that went on between the male chefs this season, Antonia's identity as "The Black Hammer", Ryan's extremely long dish explanations, and the contestants' heavy cursing. As well as this, the top four fights of the season were recapped, with the post-elimination fight in Episode 5 revealed to be the top one. Additionally, Spike revealed this year's Top Chef
  Top Chef
  Top Chef is an American reality competition show that airs on the cable television network Bravo, in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges. They are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the food and wine industry with one or more contestants...
  
  t-shirt, which read, "I have a culinary boner", a phrase said by Andrew during Episode 9, Wedding Wars. However, some more serious topics were also discussed, like the internet rumors that Jen and Zoi had split up, and that Lisa was getting dirty looks on the street. Near the end of the show, Richard was able to join the other contestants via satellite from Atlanta, Georgia, waiting for the impending birth of his baby daughter. He spoke about how he "choked" in the finale, and also revealed that the people from Bravo sent him a onesie
  Onesie
  An infant bodysuit is a garment designed to be worn by infants much like a t-shirt; they are distinguished from t-shirts by an extension below the waist, with snaps or Velcro that allow it to be closed over the crotch. The purpose of the opening at the crotch is to facilitate access to the infant's...
  
   reading "Top Chef" for his daughter. Lastly, the fan favorite was revealed to be Stephanie Izard
  Stephanie Izard
  Stephanie Izard is an American chef residing in Chicago, Illinois, and was the winner of the fourth season of Top Chef, Bravo's cooking competition show...
  
  , who became the first and only female to win Top Chef to also be the Fan Favorite. Stephanie is also the only contestant in Top Chef to be the Top Chef and the Fan Favorite at the same time.
• Original Airdate: June 18, 2008

External links

• Top Chef Episode Recaps on TV Fodder