Food TV’s gold standard returns: It’s “Top Chef” time!
By Brad Cramer
LEE ANNE WONG: Chef Wong is to “Top Chef” what Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, et al are to “Saturday Night Live”, an original from the show’s first season. Not only did Lee Anne finish fourth during the inaugural season, but she moved behind the camera for the next four seasons in her role as a culinary producer for the show. She reappeared briefly on “Top Chef: Colorado” before illness forced her to withdraw from the competition.
BRIAN MALARKEY: As part of “Top Chef: Miami”, Malarkey parlayed two Quickfire Challenges and an Elimination Challenge win into a spot in the final four. A successful Southern California restaurateur, the goofball chef can be seen, often, as a judge of a variety of Food Network shows, most frequently on “Guy’s Grocery Games”.
LISA FERNANDES: Known for her Asian cooking, Fernandes advanced to the final of “Top Chef: Chicago”, where she and Richard Blais were edged out for the title by Stephanie Izard. Chef Lisa has settled in Brooklyn, New York, where you’ll find her at the helm of her first restaurant, Sweet Chili.
ANGELO SOSA: All Stars LA will be Angelo’s third attempt at hearing Padma say the magic words “Angelo, you are Top Chef”, having fallen short in the “Top Chef: D.C.” finale and then being sent home much earlier when he competed on “Top Chef: All Stars”. An obvious glutton for punishment, Sosa went on to become Bobby Flay’s whipping boy, getting walloped by him on “Iron Chef America” and then losing to him twice on “Beat Bobby Flay”. Definition of insanity anyone?!
STEPHANIE CMAR: Sent home from “Top Chef: New Orleans” when another chef’s immunity saved him from elimination at her expense, Cmar is a Boston-based private chef who returns to the show looking to build upon her seventh-place finish as she seeks redemption.