Top Chef

:

Season 1
  • Network: Bravo
  • Series Premiere Date: Mar 8, 2006
Season #: 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
6.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 56 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 56
  3. Negative: 14 out of 56
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User Reviews

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  1. chefjeffd
    Mar 20, 2006
    5
    i feel they should have based there choices on skills and knowledge rather than personality,any one who works in foodservice is a charecter in my book.The organic stir fry from episode 1 was quite possibly the most terrible looking dish i have ever seen on t.v.why ken was sent home first rather than her is very puzzling,tasting with your finger especially when on a line where the patrons i feel they should have based there choices on skills and knowledge rather than personality,any one who works in foodservice is a charecter in my book.The organic stir fry from episode 1 was quite possibly the most terrible looking dish i have ever seen on t.v.why ken was sent home first rather than her is very puzzling,tasting with your finger especially when on a line where the patrons can see you is uncalled for but if sauce was out of the temp danger zone whats the big deal,weve all done it when in a rush.the attitudes from the sommeliar and red head our terrible,very very arrogant.If they had the skills to back it up it would be o.k.when the sommeliar admitted to putting out a fruit dish that he hadn't even tasted showed me what type of chef he is.You never let something leave the kitchen if you dont know what it tastes like! all in all i find the show quite entertaining especially episode 2.And i dont understand why a show about chefs is being compared to a show about clothing designers?… Expand
  2. davea.
    Mar 9, 2006
    4
    The level of hostility and competitiveness far outweighs any other aspect of the show. It is a most unpleasant show. The tone is set by the unwaveringly hostile attitude of the ringleaders. Unlike the show on which it is based, Project Runway, in which Tim Gunn and the panel of judges seem on the whole to be very nice people who at times are stern, the judges on Top Chef lack any social The level of hostility and competitiveness far outweighs any other aspect of the show. It is a most unpleasant show. The tone is set by the unwaveringly hostile attitude of the ringleaders. Unlike the show on which it is based, Project Runway, in which Tim Gunn and the panel of judges seem on the whole to be very nice people who at times are stern, the judges on Top Chef lack any social grace that I can discern, and are simply brutish authoritarians. Perhaps that is the way in the kitchen, but I am not interested in spending my time with these people. Similarly, while the contestants in Project Runway were competitive, on balance the show was about how different artists respond to different challenges in a competitive environment. It was about how they dealt with the combination of stress and creativity. In contrast, in Top Chef, it seems to be primarily about testosterone and proving who is the best. There are several interesting and nice people in the competition, but they are overshadowed and overwhelmed by all the nasty egotists. All in all, this show is not worth anyone's time.… Expand
  3. TerriP
    Mar 9, 2006
    5
    There was an overall lack of class and education in the approach and conversation of the cast. There needs to be more discussion of how they are preparing their dishes and why...we can't taste what they are making and the discussion at the end doesn't engage the audience. I also think the host needs to interact more with the chefs. She seems alittle bored with the process. There was an overall lack of class and education in the approach and conversation of the cast. There needs to be more discussion of how they are preparing their dishes and why...we can't taste what they are making and the discussion at the end doesn't engage the audience. I also think the host needs to interact more with the chefs. She seems alittle bored with the process. Overall the show was hard to get into.… Expand
  4. chuyc
    Apr 6, 2006
    4
    i think this show sucks. i agree with one of the other reviewers that all of the chefs seem egotistical and arrogant. they fucking suck. i've watched a coupla shows already but can't stomach another round. ugh my concern is that in TV land there seems to be this subculture building up about food that it should be this artsy-fartsy thing and everything has to be precious and for i think this show sucks. i agree with one of the other reviewers that all of the chefs seem egotistical and arrogant. they fucking suck. i've watched a coupla shows already but can't stomach another round. ugh my concern is that in TV land there seems to be this subculture building up about food that it should be this artsy-fartsy thing and everything has to be precious and for the elite only. i watch food network a lot and it seems that for the most part the cooks on the show really want to teach people how to cook decent tasting food but there are a few wankers on that show that pose this celebrity cheff crap -- bobby flay, that fat italian guy who has to tell stories about his food everytime he cooks -- pretentious and annoying which is exactly like the losers on this stupid top chef's show.… Expand
  5. millvalleychef
    Mar 11, 2006
    4
    not believable whatsoever. more like bad acting that reality. fleur de lys business must be a little slow?
  6. cheftasty
    Mar 15, 2006
    4
    Lousy "casting" cuz so few of these people have any talent as chefs, whereas Project Runway's group seems truly skilled. The format for the show has great potential. Chef Hubert and Fleur de Lys, Tom Collichio--both great and respected veterans of the industry. Who was responsible for picking the contestents? Obviously, not chefs. I'd love this show it had all real kitchen Lousy "casting" cuz so few of these people have any talent as chefs, whereas Project Runway's group seems truly skilled. The format for the show has great potential. Chef Hubert and Fleur de Lys, Tom Collichio--both great and respected veterans of the industry. Who was responsible for picking the contestents? Obviously, not chefs. I'd love this show it had all real kitchen talent--and come on--San Francisco and the Bay Area must have one of the richest talent pools in the food industry!… Expand
  7. ShamiaH
    Mar 22, 2006
    5
    I agree that this is no Project Runway! While watching Top Chef I noticed the Tim Gunn character is named Tom...Tom is no Tim! He was pompusin the first episode and hardly guides the chefs....Also I saw in the commercials a montage with Heidi....all I could think of was ahhhh I REALLY miss project runway!

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times
    Reviewed by: Charlie McCollum
    70
    The series has a familiar format, but the opening episode suggests it may have some real spark to it.
    Read full review
  2. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    40
    "Top Chef," though it appears to have a stable of good talent in the kitchen, so far doesn't really have much else going for it in the way of personalities.
    Read full review
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Paul Brownfield
    70
    "Top Chef" seems like a no-brainer, an extension both of the interactivity of TV cooking and the art-and-craft side of reality shows, in which people are actually making things as opposed to just asses of themselves.
    Read full review
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