Malika Ameen Pulls Out Of "Top Chef Desserts"

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Oct 7, 2010 7:40PM

For the few of you who have been watching "Top Chef: Just Desserts," former Aigre Doux pastry chef Malika Ameen looked like one of the more solid candidates in the competition, although the competitive nature of the "Top Chef" franchise seemed to drain her. Still, it was a bit of a surprise last night when, after flooring Gail Simmons and the judges panel with her saffron panna cotta last night, Ameen asked to be eliminated from the competition. She cited her desire to cook and being a single mother wanting to return to her three kids as reasons.

That Ameen had divorced her husband Mohammed Islam was one of the revelations of her time on "Top Chef: Just Desserts." It's understandable she didn't want to be away from her children for an extended period of time.