For work today I had to search for photos from Top Chef to put into a presentation. I found this glorious photo of Chef Tom Collichio. It perfectly captures what I was describing in entry number 1. Don’t you agree?

Surprise Surprise, I like Top Chef. In fact I love Top Chef. Every Wednesday my roommate/brother and I watch it together almost as intently as we watch Lost. Each week we meticulously judge each cheftestant’s dish. We like to pretend that their Frois Gras is something I could whip up as easily as my Kraft Mac and Cheese. We also think that just because we can SEE their dish that we can accurately judge its taste. As with every other reality/game show I watch, I like to put myself in their shoes and think, “What would I sing for Neil Diamond Week on American Idol (obviously Red Wine, and Sweet Caroline)?” For Top Chef, I think I have the creativy to compete. One week, they had to create a dish based on a movie. They all picked terrible movies and even worse dishes. That is an awesome challenge that has great potential. I choose Silence of the Lambs as my inspiration and I would make liver, fava beans, and a nice chianti.

I enjoy the chefs this season, I think they have a lot of talent. However my number one cheftestant will always be CJ from season 3. He won my heart with his terrible brocclini, one testical (he had prostate cancer), and the fact that he was a giant. But really, I adore him. He had so much personality and fun with the show, and total fox. I think Padma wanted him too. I’ll fight her for him.

The most starstruck I’ve ever been was around a cheftestant. I spent New Years in Chicago with some friends from school. During that stay, we passed by a restaurant where my friend casually mentioned, “That’s the restaurant where Dale [who, it’s reported, is dating Jack from Pro Run] from Top Chef Season 3 works.” I preceded to freak out just a little bit. At the same time a worker was bringing in the valet parking sign and probably recommended to Dale that he get a restraining order from the crazy outside.

The next morning my friends Annie, Matt, and I decided to go to Dale’s restaurant for Matt’s birthday brunch. Since Dale was working late the night before (I could see him from the sidewalk- I told you a restraining order might be necessary) we weren’t expecting to see him. We walk in, and the hostess says, “Dale, your server, will be right with you.” Annie and I just stared in pure delight. Matt was way too cool to care, and judged us. When Dale came to our table to get our drink order, we tried sooooo hard to be cool. I even asked him which he recommended. After he gave his recommendation, I oh-so-very-coolly answered, “I’ll have that thanks!”

We debated all brunch whether or not to say something to him. Finally Annie and I decided that we would just be passive and awesome(which we were faking terribly). We would then become regulars and become best friends with Dale. So far the plan hasn’t worked. I’ll keep you updated though the minute that Annie, me, and Dale become bff.