With over a dozen seasons under so far, Top Chef has been one of the most popular culinary shows on television for over a decade. Pulling in some of the most talented chefs in the world, and having them compete in a variety of difficult and unique challenges, the show is able to show off the immense ability of chefs to create something from nothing while under immense pressure. The show has also featured numerous spin-offs, such as Top Chef Masters which sees some of the biggest names in the culinary world compete for the top prize.
Over the years there have been tons of crazy challenges attempted by the competitors. Fans seem to love the drama and skill on display when chefs are asked to create gourmet meals in less than favorable conditions. Whether it's using an unusual ingredient or perhaps being forced to cook using only a microwave or in a tiny kitchen, watching these chefs get pushed to the limits is both entertaining and impressive.
10 The Sky Dive Challenge (Season 5, Episode 1)
The most recent season of Top Chef Masters opened with one of the most adrenaline-pumping challenges that viewers have ever seen in any iteration of the show. The contestants were given a choice for the challenge: Drive to the venue and be given one hour to cook and prep a meal, or skydive and be given two hours to prepare.
With all but one contestant choosing to skydive, the episode is as hilarious as it is intense. Once on the ground, the chefs were given further complications as the ingredients they were allowed to use were those used by their sous chefs in the previous round.
9 Something Old, New, Borrowed, And Sous (Season 5, Episode 10)
In the show's season 5 finale, the final three contestants were given a challenge that was surprisingly open as they weren't forced to use any specific ingredients or cooking equipment to prepare their final meal for the judges. Instead, they were given parameters of creating a four-course meal with the theme: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something sous.
The rules were left to the chefs to interpret and the result was three gorgeous meals that showed the chef's true ability when uninhibited by the show's difficult challenges.
8 Mystery Teammate (Season 4, Episode 9)
A rather unusual challenge even by Top Chef standards, one of the final episodes in season 4 had a quickfire challenge that would test the contestant's ability to follow instructions from a mystery instructor. Unbeknownst to the chefs, they were actually cooking a meal for the person telling them how to cook it.
Chefs were judged on how close the dish resembled what they were instructed to create, in terms of both plating and how it tasted. It was a nice change to see chefs slightly out of their element by receiving orders rather than giving them.
7 Vegas Buffet (Season 4, Episode 1)
One of the rare challenges that saw the chefs pair up into a team rather than all working individually, the season 4 episode included a challenge involving a Las Vegas Buffet. The challenge itself is plenty exciting as the chefs run around frantically trying to create a massive meal to serve the diners.
However, the challenges get even more interesting when all the contestants are given scratch cards. Each card is different with some giving more money to the chef's charity and others requiring them to switch teams, it's exactly the kind of chaos that makes the show so great.
6 Quickfire Critters (Season 3, Episode 3)
With cooks as talented as the ones that feature on Top Chef Masters, sometimes the judges have to get creative with ways to get them to show off their culinary skills. In season 3, chefs took on one of the squirmiest challenges ever, as they were asked to create a dish using various bugs and other insects.
Although not the most appetizing challenge seen on the show, the winner's dish did look fairly pleasing, featuring tempura-fried crickets with a sunchoke and carrot puree alongside a blood orange vinaigrette.
5 Scientific Principle (Season 3, Episode 8)
Another challenge that impressed and delighted fans required the constants to create a dish that demonstrated a scientific principle and present the dish at a science fair for food. As if it wasn't difficult enough just coming up with a dish that does such a thing, they were also forced to cook the dish using only standard lab equipment.
It was another example how just how talented and resourceful these chefs were as they all created fabulous-looking dishes using bunsen burners, test tubes, etc.
4 The Grilled Cheese Challenge (Season 2, Episode 2)
Possibly the most drool-worthy challenge the show has seen, the season 2 challenges had chefs make a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich to impress the judges. Fans especially loved this challenge because unlike many of the other dishes on the show which involved advanced techniques or unusual ingredients, the grilled cheese sandwiches presented to the judges all seemed doable in a home kitchen.
The winning sandwich was especially memorable: Feta cheese on raisin nut bread with an herb salad.
3 The Simpsons Challenge (Season 2, Episode 6)
During the quickfire challenge part of the season 2 episode of the show, chefs were given a more light-hearted challenge to try and earn money for their charities and immunity from elimination: Create a dish inspired by a character from The Simpsons.
The entire Simpsons family was included as well as other fan-favorite characters like Chief Wiggum, Moe, and Apu. The final dishes were both silly and beautiful with Chef Rick taking home the prize with his Homer-inspired shrimp dish.
2 College Challenge (Season 1 Episode 1)
In the inaugural episode of the Top Chef spin-off, fans were treated to a variety of dishes that were prepared using only what one might find in a college dorm. Forced to cook an elaborate 3-course meal using only a toaster oven, microwave, and hot plate, the chefs were able to impress viewers once again with just how resourceful they can be.
The chefs were even asked to cook the meal itself in an actual dorm room and were still able to deliver incredible dishes of red snapper, scallop carpaccio, and more. As usual, the chefs didn't disappoint.
1 Biography Meal (Season 1 Episode 10)
The final episode of season 1 is a great reminder of one of the things that make Top Chef so great. Rather than just challenge the chefs, it also encourages viewers and contestants alike to tap into their culinary roots and to create dishes that they have a deep and personal connection with.
Watching the chefs rekindle their passion for cooking before the viewer's eyes is a truly wonderful experience. It's one that might remind them what got them into cooking or cooking shows in the first place.
from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/3x1VqFK
![DC's Next Batman May Be [SPOILER], Not Bruce Wayne | Screen Rant](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vRUUHmERB0tEbvl4MZP5lLxSXa20Lia1YsdvHSo0cm2frnwzvmlHTDKsRGr8idcSuPTAkMYctYINDSV3uJJv8xulY0b0CglafxR05s7Ca2hdE8dSWZkzqvoCCLNdZb7aPEyNoOXlGKDT66WloVgxiaXqYlFq-7KZ2PZXMQfogJLA=w72-h72-p-k-no-nu)
0 Comments