The first season of the American reality competition show Top Chef Masters was broadcast on Bravo. It is a spin-off of Bravo's hit show Top Chef. In the first season, 24 world-renowned chefs competed against each other in weekly challenges. The program took place in Los Angeles. In the season finale that premiered on August 19, 2009, Rick Bayless was crowned Top Chef Master.
Critics Kelly Choi (Host) Gael Greene (Critic) James Oseland (Critic) Jay Rayner (Critic) (alternates with Gail Simmons) Gail Simmons (Critic) (alternates with Jay Rayner)
Master Contestants There are 24 chefs competing in Top Chef Masters. In elimination order the contestants are:
Preliminary rounds
Episode 1 Michael Schlow — Radius Restaurant (Boston, MA) Tim Love — The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro (Fort Worth, TX) Christopher Lee — Aureole (New York, NY) Hubert Keller — Fleur de Lys (San Francisco, CA)
Episode 2 Elizabeth Falkner — citizen cake and Orson (San Francisco, CA) Wylie Dufresne — wd~50 (New York, NY) Graham Elliot — Graham Elliot (Chicago, IL) Suzanne Tracht — jar (Los Angeles, CA)
Episode 3 Cindy Pawlcyn — Mustards Grill (Napa Valley, CA) Ludovic Lefebvre — Ludo Bites (Los Angeles, CA) Wilo Benet — Pikayo (San Juan, Puerto Rico) Rick Bayless — Frontera Grill (Chicago, IL)
Episode 4 John Besh — Restaurant August, Lüke, Domenica and Besh Steak (New Orleans, LA) Douglas Rodriguez — Ola (Miami, FL) Alma de Cuba (Philadelphia, PA) Nuela (New York City, NY) Mark Peel — Campanile (Los Angeles, CA) Anita Lo — Annisa and Rickshaw Dumpling Bar (New York City, NY)
Episode 5 Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson — Frasca Food & Wine (Boulder, CO) Rick Moonen — RM Seafood (Las Vegas, NV) Nils Norén — French Culinary Institute (New York City, NY) Michael Chiarello — Bottega (Yountville, CA)
Episode 6 Roy Yamaguchi — Roy's Restaurants (Honolulu, HI) Michael Cimarusti — Providence (Los Angeles, CA) Jonathan Waxman — Barbuto (New York, NY) Art Smith — table fifty-two (Chicago, IL) and Art and Soul (Washington, DC)
Champions' Round Suzanne Tracht — Jar (Los Angeles, CA) Art Smith — Table Fifty-Two (Chicago, IL) Anita Lo — Annisa (New York, NY) Hubert Keller — Fleur de Lys (San Francisco, CA) Michael Chiarello — Bottega Restaurant (Yountville, CA) Rick Bayless — Frontera Grill (Chicago, IL
Top Chef Master Rick Bayless — Frontera Grill (Chicago, IL)
Masters' Progress
Preliminary rounds Episode Winner Runner-up 3rd Place 4th Place 1 Hubert Keller20½ Stars Christopher Lee19 Stars Tim Love14½ Stars Michael Schlow13½ Stars 2 Suzanne Tracht22½ Stars Graham Elliot20½ Stars Wylie Dufresne20 Stars Elizabeth Falkner16½ Stars 3 Rick Bayless22½ Stars Wilo Benet19½ Stars Ludo Lefebvre16½ Stars Cindy Pawlcyn15½ Stars 4 Anita Lo22½ Stars Mark Peel18½ Stars Douglas Rodriguez13 Stars John Besh12 Stars 5 Michael Chiarello19½ Stars Nils NorenRick Moonen17 Stars Lachlan M. Patterson15½ Stars 6 Art Smith22 Stars Jonathan Waxman20 Stars Michael Cimarusti17½ Stars Roy Yamaguchi15 Stars (QF WIN) The chef won that episode's Quickfire challenge Rick Moonen and Nils Norén tied for second with 17 Stars each.
Champions' Round Episode 7 8 9 Finale QuickfireWinner RickHubertAnitaRickMichaelMichaelNone Rick HIGH WINNER $110,000 IN WIN RUNNER-UP $20,000 Hubert IN HIGH WIN $20,000 Anita WIN LOW $20,000 Art LOW $10,000 $10,000 (WINNER) The chef won the season and was crowned Top Chef: Master. (RUNNER-UP) The chef was a runner-up for the season. (WIN) The chef won that episode's elimination challenge. (HIGH) The chef had one of the highest scores, but was not named the winner. (IN) The chef was declared safe and wasn't eliminated, moved on in Champions' Round. (LOW) The chef had one of the 2 lowest scores, but was not out. (OUT) The chef lost that week's challenge and was cut.
Episodes In each episode, the chefs compete to win money for their charity. The Elimination Round winners are awarded cash donations ($10,000) for their charities. For each of the first six episodes, only four chefs compete out of the twenty-four and one of the four chefs moves forward to the Champions Round. Episode format: Each episode consists of a Quickfire and an Elimination challenge. The Quickfire is a short, simple challenge that can vary from cooking, tasting or a food-related task (e.g., peeling a certain amount of apples to certain quality standard in a limited amount of time). The Elimination challenge is a more complex challenge which usually requires cooking a meal for many people with certain requirements. The chefs are scored based on how well they execute in the Elimination and Quickfire challenges. Scoring: The Quickfire is scored on a scale of one to five stars, and the Elimination challenge is scored on a scale of one to 20 stars (five stars given by the tasters, and fifteen given by the three critics). A chef can thus win a maximum of 25 stars. The chef with the most stars at the end of both challenges is considered the winner and moves on to the Champions Round. The six total winners then meet up for the final four weeks when one person will be eliminated in each episode until the finale where one winner is crowned Top Chef Master. The winning chef receives $100,000 for his or her designated charity.
Episode 1: Masters Get Schooled Christopher Lee, Hubert Keller, Michael Schlow, and Tim Love are the first group of chefs competing for one spot in the Champions Round. Quickfire Challenge: The chefs are challenged to create a creative and delicious dessert for a group of four Girl Scouts. Results: Christopher Lee (French Toast and Caramelized Banana on a Stick with Maple Syrup Fluff) – 3½ stars Hubert Keller (Chocolate Meringue Mousse, Fruit with Orange Foam and Tiny Surprises) – 5 stars Michael Schlow (Milk Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies and Honey Almond Cream) – 2½ stars Tim Love (Strawberry Three Ways: Chocolate Covered Strawberry, Strawberry Milkshake and Chicken Fried Strawberry) – 3½ stars WINNER: Hubert Keller Elimination Challenge: The chefs are challenged to create a three-course meal for the critics and a group of college students using only a microwave, a toaster oven, and a hot plate. They are restricted to a limited pantry and must cook in actual dorm rooms at Pomona College in Claremont, California. Results: Christopher Lee (Red Snapper Ceviche with Citrus Juices, Avocado and Popcorn; Creamy Risotto with Prosciutto, Sage and Parmigiano Reggiano; Pork Chop with Pipérade, Crushed Potatoes, Mâche and Fennel Salad) – 15½ stars Hubert Keller (Fresh Scottish Salmon over Creamy Whole Grain Mustard; Hearty Carrot and Petite Pea Soup with Cinnamon Croutons; Creamy Macaroni and Cheese with Prawns, Mushrooms and Fresh Herbs) – 15½ stars Michael Schlow (Salmon Crudo with Cucumber, Mint, Red Chilies and Kumquat; Cabbage Soup with Smoked Bacon, Fennel and White Beans; Pork a la Apicius with Broccolini and Mushrooms) – 11 stars Tim Love (Scallop Carpaccio with Lime and Chili; Squash and Corn "Pozole"; Skirt Steak and Braised Kale) – 11 stars WINNER: Hubert Keller (20½ stars) ELIMINATED: 2nd: Christopher Lee (19 stars) 3rd: Tim Love (14½ stars) 4th: Michael Schlow (13½ stars)
Episode 2: The Lost Supper Elizabeth Falkner, Graham Elliot Bowles, Suzanne Tracht, and Wylie Dufresne are the second group of chefs competing for one spot in the Champions Round. Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must create an amuse-bouche using ingredients found in a vending machine. This quickfire was originally used in Top Chef season 2, and season 2 contestants Ilan, Betty, and Michael were brought back to judge the quickfire. Results: Elizabeth Falkner (Braised Beef Jerky with Orange Juice, Lemon and Horseradish Ice Cream) – 3½ stars Graham Elliot Bowles (Tuna Salad with Ginger Orange Bubbles and Beef Jerky Miso Powder) – 4½ stars Suzanne Tracht (Fried Shallot Rings with Microgreen Salad and Dr. Pepper Aioli) – 5 stars Wylie Dufresne (Red Onion and Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Dr. Pepper Reduction) – 3 stars WINNER: Suzanne Tracht Elimination Challenge: The chefs must make a meal inspired by the television series Lost. They must only use fresh and preserved ingredients purchased from a Dharma Initiative-themed shopping list, and they cannot use the Top Chef pantry. Results: Elizabeth Falkner (Ancho-Beer Braised Boar Loin, Coffee Scented Poached Board Loin, Yam Papaya Pudding) – 13 stars Graham Elliot Bowles (Maki Roll with Tuna & Dehydrated Pineapple, Tuna Niçoise, Tuna a la Plancha) – 16 stars Suzanne Tracht (Risotto with Uni, Clams & Prawns, Wild Boar with Oyster Beer Sauce, Mango Corn Salad) – 17½ stars Wylie Dufresne (Roasted Chicken with Poached Egg, Beets with Dried Corn, Plantain Purée) – 17 stars WINNER: Suzanne Tracht (22½ stars) ELIMINATED: 2nd: Graham Elliot Bowles (20½ stars) 3rd: Wylie Dufresne (20 stars) 4th: Elizabeth Falkner (16½ stars)
Episode 3: Offal Tasty Cindy Pawlcyn, Ludo Lefebvre, Rick Bayless, and Wilo Benet are the third group of chefs competing for one spot in the Champions Round. Quickfire Challenge: The chefs are challenged to create themed meals based on the colors red, orange, yellow and green, with each contestant drawing knives to see what color they must work with. Results: Cindy Pawlcyn (Yellow – Yellow Vegetable Curry over Sweet Corn Grits and Fried Corn Tortillas) – 3½ stars Ludo Lefebvre (Red – Steak Tartare with Watermelon, Red Onions, and Red Beet Gazpacho) – 3 stars Rick Bayless (Green – Roasted Vegetables & Mole Verde with Tomatillos, Green Chilies and Pumpkin Seeds over a Banana Leaf) – 4 stars Wilo Benet (Orange – Smoked Salmon Tartare with Coconut Milk and Tomato Paste Sauce) – 4½ stars WINNER: Wilo Benet Elimination Challenge: The chefs are challenged to create offal-based street food entrees to be served at Universal Studios Hollywood, drawing to determine which offal from among beef tongue, beef heart, tripe, and pig's ear. Results: Cindy Pawlcyn (tripe – Hot & Spicy Menudo) – 12½ stars Ludo Lefebvre (pig's ear – Pig's Ear Quesadilla with Chorizo, Pinto Bean Pureé and Lime-Mint Aioli) – 13½ stars Rick Bayless (beef tongue – Chorizo, Bacon and Tongue Tacos with Tomatillo Guacamole and Pickled Onions) – 18½ stars Wilo Benet (beef heart – Beef Heart, Ham and Chicken "Tripleta" on Pita Bread with Spicy Mayonnaise) – 15 stars WINNER: Rick Bayless (22½ stars) ELIMINATED: 2nd: Wilo Benet (19½ stars) 3rd: Ludo Lefebvre (16½ stars) 4th: Cindy Pawlcyn (15½ stars)
Episode 4: Magic Chefs Anita Lo, Douglas Rodriguez, John Besh, and Mark Peel are the fourth group of chefs competing for one spot in the Champions Round. Quickfire Challenge: The chefs are challenged to create an egg dish while using only one hand. Results: Anita Lo (Soft Scrambled Egg with Shiitake and Oyster Sauce) – 5 stars Douglas Rodriguez (Corn Cake Arepas with Scrambled Eggs) – 3 stars John Besh (Slow-cooked Eggs with Asparagus, Dandelion Greens and Mushroom Ragout) – ½ star Mark Peel (Fresh Duck Egg Pasta with Cream Reduction and Cream Mayo) – 2½ stars WINNER: Anita Lo Elimination Challenge: The chefs are challenged to create a meal for actor Neil Patrick Harris and a few of his friends, at The Magic Castle. The chefs must use one of the following magic words as the inspiration for their dish: Mystery, Surprise, Spectacle, or Illusion. Results: Anita Lo – Illusion ("Surf or Turf": "Scallop with Caviar") (Seaside Braised Daikon Stuffed with Steak Tartare, Korean Flavors) – 17½ stars Douglas Rodriguez – Spectacle (Oyster Ceviche with Duck Foie Gras and Fig Empanada with Frisee Salad) – 10 stars John Besh – Surprise (Salmon tartare with cauliflower blini; Salmon roe salad with horseradish and creme fraiche sorbet; Tempura-fried lobster wrapped in smoked salmon) – 11½ stars Mark Peel – Mystery (Tai Snapper Roasted in Parchment with a Shrimp, Lobster and Kaffir Lime Glaze) – 16 stars WINNER: Anita Lo (22½ stars) ELIMINATED: 2nd: Mark Peel (18½ stars) 3rd: Douglas Rodriguez (13 stars) 4th: John Besh (12 stars)