Monday morning can usually suck it, but this morning we woke up to discover something that made it all seem OK; the next season of "Top Chef" will be filmed in Chicago!
"We love moving the show from place to place; it gives it a completely different feel," Bravo executive Frances Berwick said in an interview after announcing the news at the annual Television Critics Association press tour in Beverly Hills. "Chicago is a hotbed of great talent and it felt like the next logical step." Amen, sister.
The producers' only caveat in filming here is they need to do so before the winter hits. We wouldn't want Padma Lakshmi all covered up, or Tom Colicchio to stop showing his tufts of chest hair, would we? Bravo's position also gives Chicagoist and "Top Chef" something in common; we have also been trying to figure out how to avoid the Chicago winter. One of the reasons this is especially cool is because "Top Chef" features a guest judge on each show. Having "Top Chef" in the city is a fantastic opportunity for Chicago's top chefs and restaurateurs to gain some easy national coverage.
The current season is filming in Miami and features one Chicago-based contestant, Dale Levitski. Levitski has been inconsistent, brilliant one week (comfort food) and daft the next (pineapple course in the tasting menu). As much as we want him to represent for Chicago, we don't see him making it to the final rounds of the show — he takes too many chances with not enough positive outcome. We'll just hold our breath until next season, when the star of the show won't be Padma, some hotshot foam maker, or the Glad crap, and it will be the lovely backdrop of our fair city.
Image of Levitski via Bravo.
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Yay! My girlfriend got me hooked on this show in the middle of last year.
Yes! A few weeks ago I was saying how Chicago should be chosen for the next locale, especially since it strikes me as much more of a gourmet-friendly city than Miami. I will be angling for a Colicchio sighting the entire time they're in town.
i'm super excited about this! when does taping begin?
I've wondered how people get to eat at Hell's Kitchen. Do they sign up somewhere for a reservation? Do they just show up for a taping and hope to get in? I'd love to wait two hours for an appetizer. Any tips, Chicagoist?
Boy, am I stoopid.
Pantagrapher: This is what I found
I'm hoping for an appearance by Sam Talbot...
YES!!
While Olivia stalks Colicchio, I'll be scouring the city for Padma...
She is single now...
You guys are bailing on Levitski too early. True he didn't look so hot early on but he has been improving each show. It's WAY too early to count him out.
Music to my ears, Laura...
I saw Dale in Sola (on Byron and Lincoln) Friday before service started. He was sitting at a table in the window (the rest of the place was empty) talking to the owner. Maybe he didn't win but was interviewing for a new chef gig?
kookybites: hey! she may be single, but you're not! :P
Shannon - shhhhhhhhhhhhh :P
personally i want to date salmon rushdie. what a manimal.