Top Chef Masters

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Gail Simmons
The Dream Team: Top Chef judge Gail Simmons dishes on her 'Masters' experience.

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How is it judging Master’s rather than regular Top Chef?

Judging Masters is super fun, especially because obviously I know a lot of the chefs. Many of them have been guests on our show before as guest judges. It was really exciting to see them cook and of course, really exciting to eat their food. It was also very interesting because I don’t know what they thought it would be like, but it was interesting to see how hard it was, even for the Masters. I think they overall did an extraordinary job over the course of the whole season. I think it showed all of them, and us, that what our regular top chefs do everyday is not easy on the show at all, no matter how good you are. You can be a master in your own kitchen, but when you’re thrown into a kitchen you’ve never been in before, with time constraints, and you don’t have your sous-chefs with you, you don’t have your menu plotted out and you don’t have time to think, it’s really difficult. And we kept them on their toes, but it was really exciting and overall, I think, really successful.

For this challenge we had Mark Peel, Doug Rodriguez, John Besh and Anita Lo and their quick-fire challenge was to cook an egg with one hand tied behind their back. The whole basis was “cooking an egg is a true sign of a chef’s ability.” Would you agree with that comment?

I do agree with that. It’s sort of legendary when a chef would audition young cooks for jobs on their line, they would ask them to cook an omelet, because it’s a lot harder and it takes a lot more finesse than your regular diner omelet. Cooking an egg and cooking it properly and making sure it has flavor and the proper texture, not overcooked or undercooked, is a very difficult thing. And now doing it with one hand tied behind your back is an extraordinarily difficult thing. So it was really fun. I felt for them. That is a really difficult thing to do, but they managed to do it. Three of the four of them managed to do it and do it relatively well.

Comments

21 Comments

: 08/26/2009 - 11:08am; Viewer; Love Top Chef Masters, it was so refreshing to watch a reality TV show that didn't include back stabbing, swearing, and sabotaging your opponent. Probably in real life to get people in their restaurants the Master Chefs do, but on the show they were all great sportsmen/women.
Still didn't like the idea of taking Tom and Padma off and putting Kelly Choi in their place.

: 08/25/2009 - 12:59pm; Sharon; I am all for encouraging chefs of any age, but do not agree that Top Chef is family-friendly viewing. Some of the 'cheftestants' use of continual swearing and consequent bleeping gets very old. Even elementary age children can read lips ... And that is just the tip of the iceberg of poor behaviors that one wouldn't want children to emulate!

: 08/25/2009 - 12:40pm; Sharon; Watching the Masters at work, I was impressed with how they conducted themselves. I have not always been impressed with 'behind the scenes' during regular Top Chef, returnees acting as sous chefs, as well as the recent contest held on "Next Food Network Star". Chefs, take a look at how you can compete strongly, yet maintain respect and dignity.
Please, give us more of such class entertainment!

08/24/2009 - 4:34pm

CollieB

Gail -

A very important question! Who made the ruffle-y dress you wore for the finale? I loved it!

: 08/20/2009 - 6:52pm; Denise; What a great show!! I haven't miss one episode ever since the first season started. I have to said Top Chef Master was a true inspiration. Thanks for such a fabulous program. Just wish one day I could meet one of the top chef masters, especially Rick Bayless.

08/20/2009 - 12:03am

karen

Hi Gail, I think you are great & so glad to have Top Chef Season starting. I have a question on the Top Chef Masters finale. What were the little wire like strips on Rick's watermelon salad? I found his recipe but those aren't listed.

Thanks for you help.

: 08/19/2009 - 11:53pm; mmc; I just watched the finale of Top Chef Masters and was so happy for Rick Bayless. He really is a great chef as well as a nice guy.Truthfully, these three chefs were my favorites from the first show. They are all so good that I would have been happy if any one of them won.What a great job you have Gail. You really seem to enjoy it.I'm glad you're back with Top Chef.

08/19/2009 - 6:02pm

Viewer

Gail,

I have been a Top Chef fan from the very first season. I did not know what to expect with Top Chef Masters. I LOVE, LOVE Top Chef Masters! The finanlist were so much fun to watch and I was very impressed with the friendship and respect of all the chefs. They helped one another and there was NO drama. Just pure fun and talent to watch.
For the first few shows I really missed the old judges but you came on and I was so glad to see you. You are a favorite!!!

: 08/16/2009 - 11:30pm; Cherie; I love Top Chef & Top Chef Masters, Gail your the most sincere judge along with Tom C. he is sweet, I've learned alot from your comments, and now enjoy my challenges with my friends, thank you for your insight on these dishes.

08/16/2009 - 11:22pm

Cherie

I'm loving evey season of Top Chef and

I love Top Chef and Gail S. I learn the differances with your comments, also I am so into cooking now that I do my own challenges with my friends, they love it.

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