Top Chicagoan Featured on "Top Chef"

By Laura Oppenheimer in Food on May 10, 2007 4:30PM

Chicago "chef/consultant" Dale Levitski (formerly of Trio Atelier, La Tache and Orange — Levitski has also spent some time at Stone Lotus) will be Chicago's only representative on season three of Bravo's "Top Chef," a vast improvement from season two, which didn't feature anyone from the Windy City. The self-taught chef uses something called "'flavor math,' where the right number of spices can bring the perfect flavor and taste." He calls it flavor math, we call it following a recipe, but we guess that is why he is a famous chef and we are Chicagoist.

Season 3 filmed in Miami with the ever-lovely Padma Lakshmi sticking around for a second year of playing hostess. The other big news from Season 3 is that Ted Allen of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" will be a semi-recurring judge.

One thing strikes us as curious about Levitski's inclusion. The first is that two of his recipes have already been included in Food & Wine magazine (one of the prizes is a spread in F & W). It seems a little strange that he would already be acquainted professionally with the staff, or at least an editor there. Not that we are complaining — we hope it gives him a leg up on the competition!

The first episode Season 3 airs June 13.

Image via Bravo.