Top Chef: New York - Season 5

I knew of TOP CHEF but just gave it a viewing a couple of months ago when Bravo did a marathon of season four - the Chicago episodes. I never thought I would enjoy a show about cooking but this show pulled me in right away and got me totally addicted. I of course had to then purchase this season taking place in New York. And what a perfect location for a show about chefs. There are so many reality shows on today but there are those rare few that rise levels above the others. TOP CHEF is one of those. It takes cooking seriously and while we get to know the contestants intimately throughout the season the food is the highlight. I am so impressed at how they mold both facets together so perfectly.Each episode starts off right away with a quickfire challenge which tests particular skills and talents a chef should possess. So much fun and informative. Then we have the elimination challenge. These are always very creative. What is so appealing about this show is the contestants all have some chef experience and the challenges have the cooks cooking food of al different styles. I in no way cook elegant cuisine though I do enjoy eating out. But here the challenges are so creative that anyone who uses a kitchen will find fun new ways to cook. They come up with everything from the basics to haute cuisine. And I have gained such high admiration for chefs and how difficult, challenging and skilled the job is.I also think this season is a perfect combination of a great show with perfect contestants. We have all personalities and pure entertainment is provided. Stefan, Carla, Ariane, Jamie, Jeff and of course Fabio all stood out for me. And add the perfect judges Tom Colicchio, Padma Lakshmi and Gail Simmons and magic happens. Some reality shows get off on judges being overly harsh as a gimmick. Judges here are tough but honest and respectful. So bottom line TOP CHEF provides a reality show of the highest caliber that will educate you about cooking, introduce you to some amazing people and pull you in obsessively to the final challenge. I find each episode so chock full of fun and info and great challenges that I will own each season they sell for I know I will watch each season again. Highly recommend this series and particularly this season.

I think this DVD was one of the better DVDs in the Top Chef series, because it included exit interviews and featured what happened to the eliminated chefs, but the season itself was probably the least entertaining of the entire series.I didn't really care for this particular season, and candidly, I don't know whether it was because of the challenges or the chefs. There were some very colorful chefs. This is the season that gave audiences the arrogant Stefan Richter (who I was set up to loathe, but I found him enjoyable to watch and nowhere as nasty as others described him – he comforted Carla Hall, when she was upset at Judges’ Table during the Finale, Part 2); the charismatic Fabio Viviani; and the energetic Carla Hall.Most of the elimination challenges appeared interesting. Except the cooking on television was silly, extremely intimidating, which only a chef with the character traits of a psychopath would succeed at. I also didn't like the Super Bowl Show Down, where a chef could be rattled by the audience. My two favorite challenges were definitely the Le Bernardin challenge, where I found Eric Ripert to be both complimentary to the contestants as well as full of humility (notice no criticism for Jamie Lauren's faux pas about confessing that the bass and celery was not a favorite of hers). I also liked the Last Supper elimination challenge, which was both illuminating and a joy to watch.Hosea has been criticized as one of the weaker Top Chef winners, but I thought his biggest flaw was personality. Being immature like Ilan Hall denouncing Marcel Vigneron's food. Hosea's performance was inconsistent, but I will applaud him for his ambition. I was particularly impressed with him in the New Orleans's challenge, going the extra mile unlike Stefan, who had gotten way too cocky. But during that challenge, Hosea taunted Jeff McInnis. I tried to understand Leah's infatuation, but I just couldn't.I wouldn't declare Season 5 the worst, but it was mediocre like Top Chef: Washington DC, which was season 7.

I never thought I would get sucked into a cooking show, let alone review one and give it a five-star rating, but here I am. I got this show for my boyfriend for Valentine's Day because he loves cooking, and I was hooked after we watched the first episode.The quickfire challenges are fascinating: watching what they can come up with on the fly with such limiting requirements and directions. The delicious looking and creative dishes the contestants were able to come up with in 15 minutes to an hour were incredible.The elimination challenges were fabulous. I can't imagine the stress the chefs were under, especially with all the harsh criticism from the judges, but they usually managed to produce wonderful looking dishes. They may not have wowed the judges every time, but I have a feeling I would have enjoyed almost everything they made.The tension in the kitchen creates enough drama to captivate your attention, and I'm sure you'll find yourself rooting for one or two favorites. If you're not a fan of cooking shows, don't be too quick to turn your back on this show. It really is entertaining.

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Hey, you either like Top Chef or you don't. It was enjoyable as usual and I always enjoy learning how things are prepared. Eat first as otherwise one can end each show with a binge.Disclaimer: In my world a product that performs as expected will never receive more than four stars. I think that to deserve a five star rating, a product should surprise me with value, benefits and deliverables that exceed my expectations and reasons for choosing it in the first place. Otherwise, how can I give an adequate rate those truly exceptional products that every once in a while, we our great delight, happen upon......

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