Compliments to the Chef

It's the Top Chef night we've all been waiting for! Restaurant wars is here and our chefs are ready to head into battle. Restaurant wars wouldn't be complete without rushed prep time, untrained staff and hideous logos, and this episode has it ALL. Don't miss our coverage of the event of the season.

This interview with Top Chef Season 22 contestant Corwin Hemming is a blast! Learn about how he found his way into the Top Chef kitchen and what he's doing on the other side. This is an inspirational conversation for anyone feeling like they're in a rut or need to take on a new challenge.

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie that's...Top Chef episode 7! Tune in for a recap of the highest quality pizza party you have EVER been to. The chefs begin with a Finish dish detergent challenge and end with a slice of pie...pizza pie. It's a fabulous episode this week so tune in!

The gals have reached the pinnacle of Top Chef because with us this week is Executive Producer and Show runner Doneen Arquines! This is a fascinating BTS interview with the woman who has been there since day one. You absolutely do not want to miss this episode.

Zubair joins the gals to yap about his time on Top Chef an beyond. We learn about the origins of his famed chicken sandwich, and how he's using his platform to make great food and have even better conversations. Tune into this fabulous interview with a player who was gone too soon from Season 22.You can find Zubair on instagram: @zubairmohajirOriginally from Chennai, India, Chef Zubair Mohajir was a former financial analyst and began his career in the culinary field after getting laid off during the 2008 financial crisis. Starting as a prep cook and working his way up to sous chef in Chicago at Jean-Georges Vongerichten's the Pump Room, Zubair studied French techniques and Southeast Asian flavors before joiningThomas Keller's Bouchon as chef de partie in Napa. While there, he contacted the renowned Gaggan Anand to express his interest in an apprenticeship and was later invited to work at Gaggan in Bangkok. Returning to Chicago after six months, he launched his acclaimed pop-up Wazwan before opening his first brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2021. Two years later, he transformed the space into two concepts Lilac Tiger, highlighting South Asian street food, and the Coach House, his fine-dining restaurant. He recently opened his newest endeavor, Mirra, where diners experience a blend of Indian and Mexican flavors. Zubair has garnered industry acclaim as a 2022 Jean Banchet Rising Chef of the Year and a two-time James Beard semi-finalists—first in 2023 as Best Chef Great Lakes, and then in 2024, as Emerging Chef of the Year.

Week 6 is a wild one on Top Chef! The chefs work on a Chipotle-sponsored quickfire and then drama boils over in the elimination challenge, when one chef finds himself in a picked when all of his prep work thrown into the trash, literally. Tune in for coverage of another exciting week of Top Chef Destination Canada!

We have the current reigning champ of Last Chance Kitchen on the pod with us, Kat Turner! Her time on Top Chef was cut short by a brutal double elimination, but she is a true renaissance woman who continues to reinvent herself, so this is hardly the last we'll see of Kat. Tune into this great episode to hear about her experience in life, on the show, and stay tuned until the VERY end to hear an epic Anthony Bourdain anecdote.

Today, the road to Paducah is here because Bits and Nancy are manifesting their number one goal of interviewing two-time Top Chef finalist, Chopped Legends champion, James Beard Award finalist SARA BRADLEY!!!!!!!!!! This is a life goal interview and we're just happy to be here.

Week 5 of Top Chef Season 22 and we finally get a large format challenge in the elements!!! This is the type of Top Chef we like to see, with the chefs managing hundreds of diners and tiny plates. The contestants go into the kitchens of 6 different restaurants in Toronto to highlight some of the different popular cuisines in Canada. We go on a journey of flavors, friendship and fun!

We've got an incredibly silly second help this week for Top Chef episode 4. Tune in for some lazy sunday antic and tons of lols

Bits is back and so is Top Chef episode 4! We have a star studded episode, with some fun trivia to kick things off and a sweet elimination challenge. Things are heating up in the Top Chef kitchen and we can't get enough of Season 22.

We have current reigning champ of Top Chef on the pod this week! Bailey Sullivan joins us to discuss her time in the Top Chef kitchen, Last Chance Kitchen and all of the juicy BTS bits of season 22. You don't want to miss this interview with the woman who was brave enough to do risotto day 1.You can find Bailey:On Instagram @baileylynnsullivanCheck out Southern Smoke Foundation

It's episode 3 of Top Chef and we have a real live Top Chef finalist in the studio to unpack it all! Savannah Miller (season 21) joins us to discuss her takes on the new season, Jamaican beef patties, cold-dish challenges and maybe even re-live a little PTSD. This is an incredible episode with tons of insights from someone who was there to do it herself.You can find Savannah on instagram @savvysavv

It's another exciting day in Last Chance kitchen and we have some incredible guest stars in the Dish with Kish. Plus, an exciting announcement about week 3 of Top Chef season 22.

Top Chef Destination Canada had the opportunity to do the funniest thing possible, and they did it! We have a double header of classic Canadian delicacies: poutine and maple syrup. The Chefs have to make their versions of these iconic staples and the judges are blown away! Joined by Sarah Levy and Daniel Boulud, this is an epically fun episode you won't want to miss.

Top Chef fans rejoice! Season 15 winner Joe Flamm (@insta.flamm) is on the pod today. In addition to his Top Chef glory, Joe is the founder of Day Off Group, the restaurant team behind Chicago's award winning restaurants Rose Mary, Il Carciofo and BLVD Steakhouse. Joe is an incredibly talented and personable member of the Top Chef universe and we are honored to have him with us on today's second helping.Nancy and Bits also discuss the first week of Last Chance Kitchen. Tune in to hear our coverage!For more information:Day Off Group: https://www.dayoffgroup.com/

Put on your denim because Top Chef is BACK and we've gone north of the border! Season 22 is off to an incredibly strong start, with 15 exceptional contestants ready to earn the coveted title of Top Chef. With a knife draw, team quickfire and regional elimination challenge, the premier has everything, even three Canadian tuxedos. Tune into our coverage of Top Chef Season 22 Episode 1!

It's an incredible day to be a Compliments to the Chef fan because we have Top Chef season 21 finalist Savannah Miller on the pod today! You absolutely do not want to miss this interview full of great BTS tidbits and stories of Top Chef Wisconsin.

It's the finale showdown and we've got lot's to cover! Top Chef season 10 comes to a dramatic close with a live head to head battle. Tune in to our coverage of the iconic Top Chef arena battle.

An episode full of epic transportation and even more epic transformation! Brooke faces her fears, Josh welcomes his child into the world over FaceTime and the chefs cook their way into the finale.

It's time for a good old fashion Alaskan salmon bake!Who will be the sockeye and who will be CHUM?

Ahoy!!! We have our requisite boat day for the Chefs, which means Tom can hang out in his beloved birkenstocks. But this is a boat with a twist! The chefs have to prepare reimagined surf and turf, but not before the serve 200 PORTIONS in a titanic quickfire all about iceberg lettuce.

You've never seen fried chicken like this.....probably because the chefs seem to have never seen fried chicken at all! We're in a post-Kristen Kish world and the Top Chef kitchen seems to have lost its marbles with this at home challenge. Tune in to hear about Episode 12 of Top Chef Seattle!

The heat is on and it's time to go to battle! Tune in to recap one of the most shocking eliminations of the season.

The ultimate Top Chef gauntlet is here! Restaurant wars kicks off with the restaurant god himself Danny Meyer. We see 8 restaurant concepts and the winners will go head to head in the ultimate Top Chef showdown.

Sharpen your knives and pull out the scrapbook! The chefs start with a knife skills quickfire that has the slicing through paper, rabbit and even their fingers. The elimination challenge has us reliving the top 10 most memorable moments from Top Chef history, which has us revisiting iconic dishes, rivalries and one liners. Top Chef die hards do NOT want to miss this episode!!

Don your helmet and put on your skates because Top Chef is headed to the roller derby! This spicy episode has teams of two competing to see who can make the best concessions for the Seattle Roller Derby finals. There are some amazing collaborations and some unfortunate misses, but who will be the ones to take home the trophy?

The Top Chef kitchen is getting a makeover this week - everything is wrapped in tin foil! Reynolds wrap wins the award for best sponsored challenge of all time and the chefs win the award for most bacon consumed per square foot in any season. We head to a local berry festival where the cheftestants square off head-to-head to impress the inimitable Chef Stephanie Izard

The Top Chef kitchen is getting the celebrity guests - from viral critic Marilyn Hagerty to Chris Pratt before he got weird. They're cooking us some big game and we're ready to watch! Tune into our coverage of episode 6!

The Top Chef contestants are spending the day at Pike Place market. First with a breakfast challenge...on a stick! The elimination challenge is an unprecedented flop for all of the chefs, with all of them unsuccessfully paying homage to the artisans of the market. We get one of the most iconic judges tables with an epic clap back and dogged defense. Tune in to hear us discuss episode 5!

We're getting in a time machine and going back to opening night at Canlis restaurant. But first the chefs are all taking turns hacking away at a beautiful cut of beef. Follow the cheftestants as they build a menu straight out of an episode of Leave It To Beaver - jello, steamed cauliflower and a heavily dressed ceasar salad.

Call up your weird uncle and take out the carving knife because it's Thanksgiving in the Top Chef kitchen! Follow the chefs as they prepare meals inspired by Chef Tom and Chef Emeril's family traditions. Tune in to hear our recap of Season 10 episode 3.

We are humbled and honored to welcome Brooke Williamson, a Top Chef winner, runner up, All Star, winner and legend. Brooke is one of the only people to have never been asked to "pack your knives and go" and she has gone on to accomplish so much since. A frequent contestant on Guy's Grocery Games, Tournament of Champions and Bobby Flay's Triple Threat, Brooke is in the pantheon of great TV chefs. Brooke is hot off the publication of her first cookbook Sun-Kissed Cooking, now available for purchase: https://www.chefbrookewilliamson.com/You can find Brooke on instagram @chefbrookew

Welcome to Seattle, we've finally arrived in the Top Chef Kitchen! The chefs are put through their paces with a classic quickfire, an high-altitude elimination challenge and a textbook Top Chef twist. Tune in to hear our recap of season 10 episode 2!

We are BACK in the Top Chef universe, but there is one stop to make before we enter the Seattle kitchen. Season 10 is off to an incredibly fun start with a star studded panel of judges: Hugh Acheson, Emeril Lagasse, Wolfgang Puck and, of course, head judge Tom Collicchio. The chefs were put through their paces with tasks to test their fundamental skills in the kitchen. Who will pass the test and make it to Seattle? Tune in to find out!

Lauryn Bodden is the winner of Netflix's Snack vs. Chef and the inventor of S'NOODS! Tune in to hear about the BTS of TV cooking competition.You can find Lauryn:On Instagram: @boddenbitesFounder @eatsnoods

Can you believe it we have the WINNER of the Great American Baking Show on the pod this week! Martin Sorge is the champion of GABS Season 1 on Roku and he is the nicest and sweetest treat we've ever had on Compliments to the Chef. Learn all about what it's really like to be in the iconic tent, cook for Paul Hollywood, booze with Prue Leith and master a technical. You absolutely do not want to miss this episode!!You can find Martin:Instagram: @martinsorgeSubstack: Great BakesOnline: Martin Bakes WebsiteGreat American Baking Show, Season 1: On Roku for free!

The top three bakers are in the tent one last time to find out who will be named this year's Great British Bake Off champion! Tune in to listen to our recap of the finale and our Compliments to the Chefs.

This week we are holding space for Christiaan finally getting his just desserts! But before we get into the fabulous Great British Bake Off semifinal, we do a debrief of the Wicked movie and ponder the safety of yacht chef footwear on below deck. You don't want to miss this riveting discussion of fruit-shaped cakes, lamination and flagrant rule violations!

This week, we welcome to the tent Luca and Sal from The LA Food Podcast! Join the girls and the guys as we dissect 70s week, for all of its peace, love, shag carpets and retro pastries. Tune in to find out who's in the groove and who leaves the tent.

GBBO Episode 7 is one for the history books! We have meringue nests, tiramisu and the british dessert to end all british desserts: spotted dick! We giggle, we judge, and we go on a really long tangent about the Gilded Age.

It's bonfire night in the UK and the Great British Bake Off tent is on fire with talent! The bakers face off in Autumn Week, a celebration of worldly fall festivals. Things are getting witchy and Noel is feeling very at home. Tune in to hear the girls gab about crunchy leaves, pumpkin spice and everything nice!

The girls are joined by the exceptional Abena Anim Somuah to discuss the toughest challenge yet: Pastry Week!Nelly is wearing a beret so you know we are ready for business! Get your sheets of butter and prepare to see some phyllo dough for pastry week. The technical skill is high and our bakers are up to the task, so put in your headphones and join the gals to discuss this week's episode of Great British Bake Off!You can find Abena online: Instagram: @abenaanimsomuahNewsletter: Your Friend in FoodPodcast: The Future of Food is You

Get out your candy thermometers because Caramel Week is upon us in the Great British Bake Off tent! The bakers show off their skills in sticky challenges and a multi-part technical challenge that brings us our most controversial moment of Bake Off EVER. You won't want to miss the commentary or another Paul Hollywood fake out handshake. Tune in!

It's bread week in the tent! The most technical and anticipated week of the season is here and the bakers are ready to impress Paul Hollywood, the breadfather himself, and PROOVE who's the best bread baker in the tent.

The whole gang is (still) here and we're moving on to week 2! There's something in the water because the contestants are dropping like flies, literally. But that doesn't stop them from making show stopping cookie dioramas!

The Compliments to the Chef girlies are BACK and they are ready for dessert! Join hosts Bits and Nancy as they venture into the bucolic English Country side to cover this season of Great British Bake Off. We'll dive into every sweet morsel of Series 12 and have fun along the way!

We've got a great new season in store for you!

Top Chef 21 may be over but we're still cooking! Join Bits and Nancy as they interview Ellen Marie Bennett, Founder of Hedley & Bennett, the exclusive apron provider for Top Chef. Hear about her journey to becoming food-industry fashion royalty and how she became the go-to designer for your favorite chefs, from the brothers Voltaggio to Kristen Kish herself!Ellen's new show "Kitchen Glow Up" on Tastemade is a home improvement show for cooks who actually use their kitchens. Join her as she helps people make easy and affordable changes to their kitchens to make them the center of a food-obsessed home.You can watch Kitchen Glow Up on Tastemade: https://www.tastemade.com/shows/kitchen-glow-upYou can see more of what Tastemade has to offer: https://www.tastemade.com/streaming

We have reached the end of the voyage with our Wisconsin chefs. The finalists are asked to cook the meal of their lives for an elite panel of guests. Savannah, Dan and Danny put it all out on the line, but who will be named the 21st Top Chef? Tune in to find out!

Put on your swim trunks and let's head to the Caribbean! After six weeks of relaxation, the Top Chef finalists head to warmer weather to compete in the finale at sea. Focusing on fish and local delicacies, the chefs cook up three dishes this episode, all highlighting chicken of the sea. Have some fun in the sun as we cheers to part 1 of the Top Chef finale!