Top Chef Suomi is a Finnish cooking reality show on Sub based on the American television series Top Chef. Auditions for the series were held in autumn 2010 and 12 contestants were chosen. The programme is hosted by model and restaurant chef Pipsa Hurmerinta The head judge for the competition is Finland's most renowned chef Hans Välimäki. The other judge is business group manager of Royal Ravintolat Pia Kämppi. Top Chef season 5 runner up Stefan Richter has made an appearance as a special guest judge for the first four episodes. The show is produced by Solar Television Oy. The show is renewed for a second season, which is expected to premiere in either fall 2011 or in spring 2012.
The winner of Top Chef Suomi Akseli Herlevi received a culinary travel grant to top restaurants worldwide worth €10,000, a contract for a cookbook with the publishing company Tammi, a Samsung flatscreen TV and home entertainment system worth €8,000.
Contestants 12 chefs competed in the first season. Names, ages, and hometowns below are from the Sub website. In elimination order, the contestants were: Mic Vettenranta 33 — Resides in: Helsinki Bianca McKell 32 — Resides in: Helsinki Jussi Raunio 22 — Resides in: Espoo Ulla Liukkonen 54 — Resides in: Lappeenranta Jani Pajala 34 — Resides in: Helsinki Arto Lappalainen 23 — Resides in: Tampere Markus Kauppinen 28 — Resides in: Helsinki Maija Silvennoinen 49 — Resides in: Kangasala Annina Roiha 22 — Resides in: Simpele/Helsinki Mika Jokela 40 — Resides in: Turenki Samu Koskinen 39 — Resides in: Helsinki Akseli Herlevi 24 — Resides in: Hyvinkää
Contestant progress Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Quickfire Winner Arto Akseli Maija Samu Mika MarkusMikaSamu NONE Annina Mika NONE Akseli IN IN IN (+) WIN HIGH HIGH LOW WIN HIGH WINNER SamuHIGH WIN IN (-) IN HIGH WIN LOW IN WIN RUNNER UP Mika IN HIGH IN (-) LOW IN IN WIN LOW OUT AnninaWIN IN IN (+) IN LOW LOW WIN HIGH OUT MaijaHIGH LOW IN (-) LOW IN HIGH WIN OUT Markus IN LOW WIN IN WIN LOW OUT Arto IN IN IN (-) HIGH LOW OUT JaniLOW HIGH IN (+) HIGH OUT Ulla IN IN IN (+) OUT JussiLOW IN OUT BiancaIN OUT Mic OUT
(WINNER) The chef won the season 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.
: Each entire team was called in for judging, thus there were no top or bottom individual team members. : There was no Quickfire Challenge in this episode. : Team Ravintola M.M.M. won the challenge, thus there was no one individual winner.
Episodes Each episode includes two challenges. The Tulikoe or Quickfire Challenge is a short, simple challenge with a varying reward each week; in the initial episodes of the season, it usually guarantees the winner immunity from being sent home that week. The Pudotushaaste or Elimination Challenge is a more complex challenge that determines who goes home. One or more guest judges join the show each week to evaluate both the Quickfire and Elimination challenges. Each week's elimination is announced in a segment called "Judges' Table."
Episode 1: Who's Who? (Kuka on kuka?) Quickfire Challenge: The contestants are asked to make an amuse bouche using only the food items and utensils at the buffet table for their welcome party Top: Arto, Samu, Maija Bottom: Aninna, Mic, Ulla WINNER: Arto (Hot smoked salmon, Parma Ham and Fish Roe on toasted rye bread) Elimination Challenge: The contestants were asked in advance to say what their favourite ingredient to work with is and they must now show why. At Judges' Table, Annina, Samu and Maija were selected as the judges' favorites At Judges' Table, Mic, Jussi and Jani were selected as the judges' least favorites WINNER: Annina (Pan Roasted Pike-Perch, Lentils, Jerusalem Artichoke Purée with a Beurre Blanc) ELIMINATED: Mic (Duck Breast Two Ways, Traditional and in a Pyttipannu) Guest Judges: Stefan Richter First aired 26 January 2011
Episode 2: Storm in the Aquarium (Myrsky akvaariossa) Quickfire Challenge: Each chef receives a whole pike and must fillet it and prepare a dish in 45min. Top: Akseli, Mika, Jussi Bottom: Bianca, Samu, Maija WINNER: Akseli (Butter Poached Pike, Potato Purée with Fish Roe Smetana) Elimination Challenge: In the Top Chef kitchen, the chefs must prepare a seafood dish in 1 hour. At Judges' Table, Samu, Jani, Mika were selected as the judges' favorites At Judges' Table, Maija, Bianca, Markus were selected as the judges' least favorites WINNER: Samu (Soy Glazed Norway Lobster, Sea Urchin Roe with a Sake Sauce) ELIMINATED: Bianca (Roasted Red Pepper and King Crab Risotto with Shrimp Ceviche Crostini) Guest Judges: Stefan Richter First aired 2 February 2011
Episode 3: Making Headlines (Etusivu uusiksi) Quickfire Challenge: The chefs are given 45 minutes to prepare a dessert using chocolate as the main ingredient. Top: Akseli, Samu, Maija Bottom: Annina, Markus, Jani WINNER: Maija (Chocolate Marquise and Pistachio Creme) Elimination Challenge: The chefs in a team challenge must prepare a buffet table for a Sub press conference with 200 guests taking ecology and ethics into account. Each team receives €900 and 2 hours prep time. As quickfire winner, Maija gets to choose her team members. Blue Team Maija: Baltic Herring Poached in Allspice Flavoured Broth; Vispipuuro with a Vanilla Sauce and Oatmeal Cookie Jussi: Honey and Rosemary Glazed Root Vegetables with Horseradish Crème Mika: Mushroom Mousse on Crispbread Samu: Jellied Whitefish Tartare Arto: Rillette of Pork Neck with Red Onion Jam Red Team: Annina: Pea Soup Shot; Cold Smoked Reindeer Tartare Akseli: Cold Smoked Salmon Mousse, on Caramalised Rustic Bread and "Granny's Cucumber"; Blueberry Pie Markus: Perch Croquette, Fennel Salad with Herb Mayonnaise Jani: Filet of Beef, Mushroom Salad and Smoked Celery Purée Ulla: Potato Bread "Lepuska" filled with Spinach At Judges' Table, the Red Team was selected as the judges' favorite team At Judges' Table, the Blue Team was selected as the judges' least favorite team WINNER: Markus ELIMINATED: Jussi Guest Judges: Stefan Richter First aired 9 February 2011
Episode 4: Shake, Cattle and Roll (Rockia ja rotukarjaa) Quickfire Challenge: Each chef must prepare a fast food dish in 45min. Top: Mika, Akseli, Samu Bottom: Ulla, Arto, Annina WINNER: Samu (Bunless Duck Liver Burger with Truffle Cole Slaw) Elimination Challenge: The chefs must prepare a dish from Finnish domestic livestock. As Quickfire winner, Samu chooses lamb neck. The rest of the chefs draw knives to assign meats. Annina: Rack of Pork Maija: Beef Flank Jani: Pork Flank Ulla: Sirloin of Beef Akseli: Rack of Lamb Markus: Lamb Shank Arto: Pork Shank Mika: Lamb Shoulder At Judges' Table, Jani, Akseli, Arto were selected as the judges' favorites At Judges' Table, Ulla, Maija, Mika were selected as the judges' least favorites WINNER: Akseli (Rack of Lamb with Paprika Bulgur, Garlic Purée and Coffee Sauce) ELIMINATED: Ulla (Roasted Sirloin, Mushroom and Potato Croquette with Red Wine Sauce) Guest Judges: Maija Vilkkumaa, Mikko Koskonen, Stefan Richter Original Airdate: 16 February 2011
Episode 5: Hungry Athletes (Nälkäiset urheilijat) Quickfire Challenge: The chefs must pair a dish with a beer appropriate for a gastropub in 45 minutes, The chefs draw knives to decide which beer goes to whom: Akseli: Krušovické černé Annina: Newcastle Brown Ale Markus: Murphy's Strout Maija: Gourmet Vaalea Jani: Gourmet Tumma Mika: Sol Arto: Affligem Samu: Eidelweiss Top: Mika, Jani, Maija Bottom: Akseli, Markus, Samu WINNER: Mika (Garlic Soup, Shrimp Ceviche and "Chili Tacos") Elimination Challenge: Prepare lunch for the hockey team Jokerit at Hartwall Arena before a match. The meal must be rich in carbohydrates and protein, low in fat and not heavily spiced. At Judges' Table, Samu, Akseli, Markus were selected as the judges' favorites At Judges' Table, Arto, Annina, Jani were selected as the judges' least favorites WINNER: Markus (Sesame Roasted Sea Trout, Herb Yogurt Raita and Humus) ELIMINATED: Jani (Fresh Pasta Tomato Lasagne) Elimination Challenge Prize: The top three get a private viewing of the match in the skybox. Guest Judges: Eeva-Liisa "Eve" Vaittinen, Marko Kauppinen Original Airdate: 23 February 2011
Episode 6: Classic Drama (Klassista draamaa) Quickfire Challenge: The chefs draw knives and are split into teams for a "broken telephone" challenge. Arto draws a blank knife which entitles him to be a judge. Each team member only gets 10 minutes of cooking time. The challenge starts with one chef starting a dish and after 10 minutes a whistle is blown and the next chef must continue cooking the dish. The chefs that is waiting to cook is blindfolded. The teams and in the order in which the chefs cook are: Blue Team Markus Samu Mika Red Team Maija Annina Akseli WINNING TEAM: Blue Team (Beef Hereford and Warm Salad) Elimination Challenge: The chefs draw knives for a classic dish to present to food writer Juha Virkki, restaurant critic and author Tuomas Vimma and Anna magazine editor-in-chief Hanna Jensen. The chefs must recreate the classic while preserving its food culture history. The chefs are given 2 hours cooking time to complete the challenge. Akseli: Sole Meuniére Annina: Bouillabaisse Arto: Lobster Thermidor Maija: Beef Wellington Markus: Liver A L’Anglaise Mika: Pike-Perch Walewska Samu: Tournedos Rossini At Judges' Table, Maija, Samu and Akseli were selected as the judges' favorites At Judges' Table, Arto, Annina and Markus were selected as the judges' least favorites WINNER: Samu ELIMINATED: Arto Guest Judges: Juha Virkki Original Airdate: 2 March 2011
Episode 7: Restaurant Wars (Ravintolasota) Quickfire Challenge: None Elimination Challenge: For Restaurant Wars, the chefs draw knives and Maija and Samu get to be team leaders and select their team members. Each team gets €2,000 to shop at K-citymarket. Lemström: (Samu, Akseli, Markus) First Course: Smoked and Braised Salmon or Roasted Beetroot, Poached Egg and Heidi Cheese Second Course: Elk Topside, Beef Shoulder and Bean Ragout or Vaasa Wild Whitefish, Miso Vegetables in Ginger Butter Sauce Third Course: Chocolate Ganache, Lemongrass and Salted Peanut Ice Cream or Lime Posset Ravintola M.M.M.: (Maija, Mika, Annina) Amuse Bouche: Freshwater Whitefish Roe, Smetana and Potato Crêpe First Course: Poached Pike-Perch, Pea Purée and Malt Bread Second Course: Reindeer Fillet, Brown Mushroom Sauce, Potato Fondant, Parsnip Purée and Roasted Root Vegetables Third Course: Cloudberry Parfait, Sabayon Sauce and Blueberry Sorbet At Judges' Table, Team Ravintola M.M.M. was selected as the judges' favorites At Judges' Table, Team Lemström was selected as the judges' least favourites WINNER: Team Ravintola M.M.M. ELIMINATED: Markus Guest Judges: Olli Vuori Original Airdate: 9 March 2011
Episode 8: Champagne and Small Surprises (Sampanjaa ja pikku yllätyksiä) Quickfire Challenge: The chefs are given 20 minutes to create a cocktail. WINNER: Annina ("Blueberry Dream": Vanila Blueberry Cocktail with Champagne Foam) Elimination Challenge: The chefs must prepare two savoury dishes and one sweet dish for a fashion show cocktail party for about 50 guests. The dishes must also match Lanson Champagne Brut Black Label. At Judges' Table, Annina and Akseli were selected as the judges' favorites