The fifth season of Top Chef Masters premiered on July 24, 2013, with 13 award-winning chefs competing in weekly challenges to win the grand prize of $100,000 for their charity and the title of "Top Chef Master". Gail Simmons appeared as the new head critic for the competition. In addition, Lesley Suter, the food and dining editor for Los Angeles Magazine, joined the judging panel alongside James Oseland, Ruth Reichl, and Francis Lam.
Each Top Chef Masters contestant had their sous-chef compete in a series of separate challenges called the "Battle of the Sous Chefs". Hosted by regular Top Chef judge Hugh Acheson, the results of each webisode directly impacted the competitors of the main competition. The winner of each round rewarded their respective head chef with immunity from elimination, while the sous-chefs with the lowest performances earned them a disadvantage, such as less time to prep or shop for ingredients.
Contestants 13 established chefs, along with their selected sous-chefs, competed in the fifth season of Top Chef Masters. Bryan Voltaggio originally competed in Top Chef: Las Vegas, the sixth season of the original Top Chef series. David Burke previously competed in the second season of Top Chef Masters, while Sue Zemanick appeared in the show's third season. Jennifer Jasinski's sous-chef Jorel Pierce vied for a spot on Top Chef: Seattle, the tenth season of Top Chef, but was eliminated during the qualifying rounds. Odette Fada's sous-chef Benedetto 'Bene' Bartolotta would later compete on Top Chef: New Orleans. Sue Zemanick's sous-chef would later compete in Padma's Picks to determine the 2 local New Orleans chefs that will represent the city in Top Chef: New Orleans, but he was not selected. Contestant Sous-chef Charity Franklin Becker Vinson Petrillo Autism Speaks David Burke Chris Shea Table to Table Lynn Crawford Lora Kirk Sunnybrook Foundation Odette Fada Benedetto Bartolotta Doctors Without Borders Neal Fraser Jason Bowlin Alex's Lemonade Stand Jennifer Jasinski Jorel Pierce Work Options for Women Douglas Keane Drew GlassellPaul Winberry, Jr. Green Dog Rescue, Inc. Jenn Louis Cory Chunn City of Hope Richard Sandoval Greg Howe Careers Through Culinary Arts Program Bryan Voltaggio Graeme Ritchie Share Our Strength Herbert Wilson Bobby Silva American Heart Association Sang Yoon Ted Hopson Worldwide Orphans Foundation Sue Zemanick Nick Lama Gulf Restoration Network
Contestant Progress Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Finale Cumulative WinningsQuickfireWinner(s)N/ASueSangSangN/ADouglasDouglasJenniferJenniferN/ADouglasIN HIGH LOWWIN HIGH HIGH WIN LOW HIGHWINNER$120,000Bryan HIGH HIGHININ LOW LOW LOW HIGHWINRUNNER-UP$20,000JenniferININWINLOWLOWOUTWINWIN LOWRUNNER-UP$35,000David LOWININWIN HIGHIN LOW LOWOUT$5,000SangINWINININ WINHIGH LOWOUT$30,000Neal HIGHININ LOW LOWWINOUT$10,000SueIN LOW HIGHWIN HIGHOUT$10,000LynnININ LOWINOUT FranklinININ HIGHOUT OdetteWIN LOWOUT $10,000JennINOUT Richard LOWOUTHerbertOUT : Eliminated by placing last in the Quickfire Challenge. : Jennifer beat Sue in the subsequent Battle of the Sous Chefs to return to the competition. (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 was selected as one of the top entries in the Elimination Challenge, but did not win. (IN) The chef neither won nor lost that week's Elimination Challenge. They also were not up to be eliminated. (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 eliminated.
Battle of the Sous Chefs Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10GraemeININ LOW LOW HIGHIN HIGHWINWINJorel HIGHINININ HIGH LOWWIN LOW LOWINPaul HIGHWIN HIGH LOWChris LOWIN HIGHIN LOWWIN HIGH LOWOUTTedINWIN LOW LOW LOWINLOWOUTJason HIGHIN HIGH HIGHWIN LOWOUTNickININININ LOW LOWOUTDrewWINININWIN LOW WDLora LOWINWIN LOW HIGHOUTVinsonININ LOW HIGHOUTBenedettoINININOUT CoryININOUT Greg LOWINOUTBobbyINOUT : Jorel and Jennifer beat Nick and Sue to stay in the competition. No immunity was awarded. : No immunity was awarded for the finale. (WIN) The sous-chef won the round, earning immunity for their head chef in the main competition. (HIGH) The chef was selected as one of the top entries in the challenge, but did not win. (IN) The sous-chef neither won nor lost the round. (LOW) The sous-chef was selected as one of the bottom entries of the round, giving their head chef a disadvantage in the main competition. (OUT) The head chef was ousted from the main competition in the previous episode, eliminating their respective sous-chef. (WD) The chef withdrew from the competition.
Episodes
Episode 1: Sous Chefs and Skydives Battle of the Sous Chefs: The sous chefs must make a dish that embodies their Top Chef Master's culinary style in 45 minutes. WINNER: Drew (Seared Scallop with Hon Shimeji Mushrooms & Shiitake Broth) ADVANTAGE: Immunity (Douglas) Bottom: Chris, Lora, Greg DISADVANTAGE: Top Chef Master can not use their knives; only a standard table setting may be used in its place (David, Lynn, Richard) Judge: Hugh
Elimination Challenge: The chefs must prepare a family style dinner for the SkyHawks Parachute Team. Each chef must choose if they want to travel to the site via car or by skydiving. If they skydive, they will have 2 hours to cook, but if they drive they will have only 1 hour. All of the chefs except Douglas decide to jump. After this, the chefs find out that they will only get to use the same ingredients in their dishes as their sous chefs used in the sous chef battle. They also find out that Douglas has won the immunity from his sous chef's performance and that David, Lynn and Richard will not learn their disadvantage until they arrive. The winner earns $10,000 for their charity. WINNER: Odette (Cold Roast Lamb with Cauliflower & Anchovy Salad) ELIMINATED: Herbert (Grilled Mango-Cucumber Butter & Red Pepper Gazpacho, Note: missing Oysters) Judges: Gail, James, Leslie, The SkyHawks Original Airdate: July 24, 2013 Ratings: 945,000 (0.4 18-49 rating)
Episode 2: Asian Night Market Battle of the Sous Chefs: The Mise en Place race. The sous chefs must prepare pomegranate, celery root, squid, and 3 cuts of lamb. WINNER: Ted ADVANTAGE: Immunity (Sang) DISADVANTAGE: All other Top Chef Masters must finish the Mise en Place before they may begin cooking.
Elimination Quickfire: The chefs must prepare a dish in 30 minutes using the Mise en Place ingredients. The winner earns $5,000 for their charity. Top: Sang, Sue, Jenn WINNER: Sue (Seared Lamb Loin, Celery Root Purée, Fennel Pomegranate Slaw & Crispy Calamari) Bottom: Lynn, Odette, Richard ELIMINATED: Richard (Lamb Tartare, Calamari Salad, Pomegranate Jicama & Micro Green Salad) Judge: Gail
Elimination Challenge: The chefs must put an Asian twist on an American classic at the 626 Asian Night Market. The chefs have 2 hours to prepare and cook on site before service begins for 200 guests. The chefs will be assisted by their sous chefs. The winner earns $10,000 for their charity. WINNER: Sang (Fried Shrimp Head & Poached Tail with Chili Garlic Aioli & Burmese Cabbage Slaw) ELIMINATED: Jenn (Banh Mi with Pork Meatballs, Chili Mayo and Cilantro-Cucumber Salad) Judges: Kathie Lee Gifford, Gail, James, Francis Original Airdate: July 31, 2013 Ratings: 1,093,000 (0.5 18-49 rating)
Episode 3: Sex, Greed and Murder Battle of the Sous Chefs: The sous chefs must create a dish that highlights sausage in 45 minutes. WINNER: Lora ADVANTAGE: Immunity (Lynn) Bottom: Graeme, Vinson, Ted DISADVANTAGE: Loss of 30 minutes of prep time in the Elimination Challenge (Bryan, Franklin, Sang) Judge: Hugh
Quickfire: The chefs must make a dish in 30 minutes using the scraps left over from the sausage challenge as their only protein. The winner earns $5,000 for their charity. Top: Neal, Douglas, Sang WINNER: Sang (Spicy Pork Larb with Cabbage & Thai Chilies) Bottom: Lynn, Sue Judges: Amelia Posada and Erika Nakamura, Owners of Lindy & Grundy butcher shop
Elimination Challenge: The chefs will be cooking for the cast of Days of Our Lives who have just completed their 12,000th episode. The chefs must create a dish that best represents one of the three cornerstones of soap opera plotlines, Sex, Greed and Murder. With immunity, Lynn gets her choice of plot. The chefs with each plot compete against each other, with the judges picking a winner and which chef will be up for elimination from each plot. The winner earns $10,000 for their charity. Sex: Neal, David, Franklin, Lynn Greed: Douglas, Bryan, Sue Murder: Odette, Jennifer, Sang WINNER: Jennifer (Seared Duck Breast & Citrus-Chili Duck Sausage with Fregola & Celery Salad) ELIMINATED: Odette (Mushroom & Soft Egg Yolk Filled Raviolo) Judges: Gail, Ruth, Lesley, Cast (Shawn Christian, Peggy McCay, Deidre Hall, Camila Banus, Drake Hogestyn, Bryan Dattilo, Arianne Zucker, Galen Gering, James Reynolds) Original Airdate: August 7, 2013 Ratings: 1,151,000 (0.4 18-49 rating)
Episode 4: Curtis' Surprise Party Battle of the Sous Chefs: The sous chefs must create a dish using ingredients selected by their Top Chef Master in 45 minutes. No pantry ingredients may be used. WINNER: Drew (Maine Lobster with Thai Vinaigrette, Mango & Avocado) ADVANTAGE: Immunity (Douglas) Bottom: Lora, Graeme, Ted DISADVANTAGE: Loss of 15 minutes shopping time in the Elimination Challenge. (Lynn, Bryan, Sang) Judge: Hugh
Quickfire: The chefs must make a curry dish in 30 minutes. The chefs must develop their own curry mix and pair it with a Goose Island beer. The winner earns $5,000 for their charity. Top: Lynn, Sang WINNER: Sang (Thai Yellow Curry with Kaffir Lime & Chicken Thighs, paired with Sofie beer) Bottom: Douglas, Franklin Judge: Jason Bentley (Music Director of KCRW Radio)
Elimination Challenge: The chefs are initially told by James that he is holding a Global Tasting for Saveur magazine and that they will provide the food. The chefs are broken into 3 teams of 3 chefs each. One team is made up of the chefs with the disadvantage and Douglas (with immunity) gets to pick the other 2 members of his team. When Curtis leaves the room to allow the chefs to menu plan with James, it is revealed that the chefs will actually be catering a surprise engagement party hosted by Curtis' fiancée, Lindsay Price. The chefs are given 30 minutes to shop and 2 hours to cook. Each chef must create their own dish and each team must create a dessert. The winning team's chefs each earn $5,000 for their charity. Blue Team - Lynn, Sang, Bryan Green Team - Franklin, Neal, Jennifer Red Team - David, Douglas, Sue WINNING TEAM: Red LOSING TEAM: Green ELIMINATED: Franklin (Salmon with Citrus, Avocado & Cucumber & Pink Sake Guava Coconut Cocktail. Ricotta Chocolate Donuts) Judges: James, Gail, Ruth Original Airdate: August 14, 2013 Ratings: 1,018,000 (0.4 18-49 rating)
Episode 5: Restaurant Wars Battle of the Sous Chefs: The sous chefs must create a dish judged against a competitor using an identical basket of ingredients in 30 minutes. Green basket: Jason defeats Chris Red basket: Jorel defeats Nick Yellow basket: Lora defeats Drew Blue basket: Graeme defeats Ted WINNER: Jason (Sardines & Liver Wrapped in Chicken Skin with Plantain Pine Nut Butter) ADVANTAGE: Immunity (Neal) DISADVANTAGE: The Top Chef Masters will not have the assistance of their sous chef in the Elimination Challenge. (David, Sue, Douglas, Sang) Judge: Hugh