The contestants each had 45 minutes and access to the Top Chef pantry to prepare and present their dish to host Padma Lakshmi and guest judge Donatella Arpaia, a successful restaurateur and food expert. They competed against Angelina DiAngelo of Dominick's Hot Dog Truck in Queens. Quickfire Challenge: The chefs were asked to create their version of a classic, well-loved New York dish: the hot dog. Eliminated: Patrick (Seared Salmon, Bok Choy with Black Rice Noodles).Winner: Stefan (Lamb Chops with Tabouli Salad & Beef Onion Skewer).Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten guest judges. The judges then selected their favorite and least favorite dishes from among the eligible contestants. The name of the winning chef for each match-up are indicated below in italics. The chefs with the winning dishes were safe, while the chefs with the losing dishes were eligible for elimination. The two dishes from each neighborhood were judged head-to-head. The chefs, in pairs, cooked dishes which represented the ethnic cuisines of those neighborhoods: Astoria (Greek), Brighton Beach (Russian), Long Island City (Middle Eastern), Ozone Park (Latin), Jamaica (Jamaican), Little Italy (Italian), Chinatown (Chinese), Little India/Curry Hill (Indian). After tasting, Colicchio choose one contestant to be eliminated from the competition.Įlimination Challenge: Each of the chefs drew a knife from the knife block marked with one of eight New York City neighborhoods. They were given a burner, a sauté pan, a choice of proteins and spices, and the apples they had prepared. Round 3: The remaining chefs were each given 20 minutes to 'cook something that convince that should stay here for this challenge in New York'.The last four remaining chefs were sent to Round Three. Round 2: The chefs brunoised apples until they filled up two cups.Safe: Ariane, Carla, Fabio, Hosea, Jamie, Jeff, Melissa, Richard.The remaining eight proceeded to Round Two. Round 1: The chefs had to peel 15 apples, using paring knives only, as quickly as possible.The chef who finished first in the Quickfire Challenge would win immunity in the next challenge, while the chef who finished last would leave the show immediately. The challenge was a skills tournament consisting of three rounds. Quickfire Challenge: The chefs were welcomed to the Big Apple by host Padma Lakshmi and head judge Tom Colicchio with a signature ingredient: apples. Main article: List of Top Chef episodes No. (OUT) The chef lost the Elimination Challenge. (LOW) The chef was selected as one of the bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge, but was not eliminated. (IN) The chef was not selected as one of the top or bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge and was safe. (HIGH) The chef was selected as one of the top entries in the Elimination Challenge, but did not win. (WIN) The chef won the Elimination Challenge. (RUNNER-UP) The chef was a runner-up for the season. (WINNER) The chef won the season and was crowned 'Top Chef'. Consequently, he was automatically eliminated. Jeff won the Quickfire, and the judges picked him as one of their favorites in the Elimination Challenge, but did not select him to win. The winner would compete in the subsequent Elimination Challenge, but could only move on to the season finale if they won the challenge.

^Note 4 : Leah, Jamie, and Jeff (the three most recently eliminated contestants) were brought back to the competition to compete in a Quickfire Challenge. Consequently, two chefs were eliminated in the following episode. ^Note 3 : Due to a refrigerator malfunction which spoiled some of the chefs' ingredients during the Elimination Challenge, no one was eliminated.

^Note 2 : Lauren was eliminated by placing last in the Quickfire Challenge. ^Note 1 : The chef(s) did not receive immunity for winning the Quickfire Challenge. Stefan Richter returned for Top Chef: Seattle, and later competed in Top Chef Duels.

NameĬarla Hall, Fabio Viviani, and Jamie Lauren returned to compete in Top Chef: All-Stars. Seventeen chefs were selected to compete in Top Chef: New York.

Quickfire restaurant