Top Chef Seattle: Entire Season 10 Recap

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Bravo.

On Top Chef Seattle Season 10 viewers were taken on a wild ride with exciting twists and head to head elimination challenges. The season began with 21 hopeful contestants all fighting for their chance to win the grand prize. The prize includes a feature in Food and Wine Magazine, a showcase at the annual Food and Wine Classic in Aspen, $125,000 from Healthy Choice, and the title of Top Chef.

Episode 1, The Ultimate Chef Test aired on November 7, 2012 and began with all 21 chefs at the kitchens of season 10’s judges. The Judges included Emeril Lagasse, Tom Colicchio, Hugh Acheson and the newest addition to the Top Chef family Wolfgang Puck. Each chef competed in the first challenge of the season and only the best moved on to Seattle.

Episode 2, A Shock at the Space Needle aired on November 14, 2012 and began with the introduction of the chefs who made it past the first elimination challenge and on to Seattle. Only 15 out of the original 21 made it to the next round and competed at the Seattle Space Needle against one another for the title of Top Chef. The chefs were also introduced to famous chef from Seattle Tom Douglas, Gail Simmons from Food and Wine Magazine, Emeril Lagasse chef and owner of Emeril’s New Orleans, head judge Tom Colicchio, and host Padma Lakshmi.

Episode 3, Tom vs. Emeril: Turkeypocalypse aired on November 21, 2012 and presented the first quickfire challenge of the season. Each chef had to create a variety of dumplings from different parts of the world. The elimination challenge began with Emeril and Tom suiting up to help the chefs battle against one another in the ultimate Turkey showdown.

Episode 4, ‘50s Food Flashback aired on November 28, 2012 and began with the remaining chefs receiving two huge sides of beef on meat hooks. The chefs had to showcase their skills as a butcher in order to win this episode’s quickfire challenge. As the show went on the contestants were told what they had to do for the elimination challenge. The chefs were taken back in time and were told to recreate a menu from one of the best 1950s restaurant in the country. The chefs were also thrown for a twist as this episode featured a double elimination.

Episode 5, Pike Place Pickle aired on December 5, 2012 where the chefs had to pair up for this episode’s quickfire challenge. The quickfire challenge was held at an icon Seattle establishment referred to as the “Soul of Seattle,” Pike Place Market. Once at the market the chefs were told about their elimination challenge that consisted of them using their imagination. The chef had to come up with a creative dish that highlighted some of the rarest ingredients found at Pike Place Market.

Episode 6, Even the Famous Come Home aired on December 12, 2012. The holidays had arrived and the chefs were still competing for the grand prize, which included the coveted title of Top Chef. The remaining contestants were tested on how well they could work together at the elimination challenge. The food they had to make was based on family influence and heritage. The chefs were then informed that they would be cooking for celebrities Anna Faris and Chris Pratt at their homecoming party.

Episode 7, Foiled Again aired on December 19, 2012 and threw contestants for a loop with an entire pantry wrapped in foil. The elimination challenge was heated as the contestants battled to win the spot on the next episode.

Episode 8, Jalapeno Business aired on December 26, 2012. On this episode the contestant were told that for this week’s quickfire challenge they had to gather oysters and serve them to judge Emeril Lagasse. The challenge required the chefs to use their creativity in order to impress Emeril. Later the chefs were told about their elimination challenge which had them cooking for a well-known sports team in Seattle. The chefs competed head to head fighting for their chance to win the grand prize.

Episode 9, Past Supper aired on January 2, 2013 and paid tribute to some of the most memorable moments in Top Chef history. In the episode the remaining contestants had to prove how skilled they were with knives for the quickfire challenge. The elimination challenge was difficult for some chefs as they honored some of the most exciting creations Top Chef had seen.

Episode 10, Battle Before the War aired on January 9, 2013 and showcased the chef’s talents to impress judge Wolfgang Puck. The quickfire challenge had chefs using one of Wolfgang’s favorite ingredients in each of their dishes. At the elimination challenge the chefs had to create a menu for more that 200 guests. The guests were dinning at the city’s premier food event Bite of Seattle. For this episode the chefs were introduced to Danny Meyer who joined as a guest judge.

Episode 11, Restaurant Wars aired on January 16, 2013. The chefs were separated into men vs. women with chef Kristen leading the women’s team and chef Sheldon leading the men’s team. The chefs had to create a menu that impressed all the judges in a friendly restaurant atmosphere. The challenge was difficult as the contestants had to work together to essentially build an entire restaurant in 48 hours. Emotions ran high as each contestant was tested on their ability to work as a team.

Episode 12, Wolfgang Clucks aired on January 23, 2013 with chefs being introduced to world-renowned sushi chef Katsuya Uechi. For this episode’s quickfire challenge the chefs had to make a sushi dish that impressed Katsuya. After the quickfire challenge had ended the chefs were told they would have to make fried chicken. Although fried chicken seemed like an easy meal to cook the chefs soon saw the complications that came with simplicity. David Chang, Michelle Bernstein, Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo joined the judges for this episode’s elimination challenge.

Episode 13, Chefs at Sea aired on January 30, 2013. The chefs set sail to Alaska where they were told about this episode’s quickfire challenge. The chefs had to create a appetizer that showcased iceberg lettuce. After the quickfire had ended the chefs were informed that they would be cooking a twist on the classic surf and turf combination. They were also reminded that one chef would be eliminated and not make it to Alaska with the rest.

Episode 14, Kings of Alaska aired on February 6, 2013 and showed how the chefs finally arrived in Juneau, Alaska. Once there the chefs had to create a dish that highlighted crab from Tracy’s King Crab Shack. After the challenge had ended the chefs were told they would not only have to impress the judges but also the people of Juneau Alaska with their famous salmon and sourdough combination. The chefs were lucky enough to have received fresh salmon right off the dock and a sourdough started to help them with the challenge.

Episode 15, Glacial Gourmand aired on February 13, 2013. The competition had narrowed down with the remaining contestants competing in the final quickfire challenge. The chefs created a meal for a camp of people training for the famous Iditarod race. The elimination challenge required the chefs to cook a meal that reminded them of the first time they wanted to become a chef. They would be cooking for the Governor and First Lady of Alaska along with guest judge Roy Choi. This episode also featured some exciting news when contestant Josh was introduced to his baby girl Georgia.

Episode 16, The Finale Part 1 aired February 20, 2013 with the final two chefs being introduced to the winner of Last Chance Kitchen, Kristen. The 3 chefs battled it out head to head at the famous Craft in Beverly Hills. The chefs had to create a full menu for Craft customers that also impressed the judges. Winner of Last Chance Kitchen Kristen and chef’testant Brooke were then congratulated for making it to the final two.

LA’s The Place’s prediction for the winner of Top Chef Season 10 is Brooke Williamson. Brooke continued to prove how talented she was throughout the entire season. Brooke won more challenges than any other chef’testant, including $5,000 and a trip to Costa Rica. Her ability to showcase fancy dishes with a home cooked feel impressed the judges all season long. Some of Brooke’s best dishes included her creative and tasty use of mussels and frog legs, along with her winning dish of braised chicken and grilled quail, and lastly her delectable dessert featured in the Finale Part 1 episode. Brooke reminded viewers time and time again that with the help of the competition she had overcome many fears. She explained how the competition had “helped her grow” and “nothing would be able to stop her”. The most memorable moment seen of Brooke was her getting into a helicopter in Episode 15. By getting in the helicopter, she symbolized what she had been saying all season long- to conquer her fears. Another memorable moment was seen in part 1 of the finale with Brooke at home. Being at home viewers were introduced to her son and husband and got a first hand look at where her passion and love of cooking comes from. Surprisingly Brooke has no formal culinary education but instead learned from just being in the kitchen. Being able to see Brooke’s passion and her unique combination of flavors that helped make her victorious is the exact reason we feel she will be crowned the winner of Top Chef Seattle Season 10.

Don’t miss out on the exciting season finale of Top Chef Seattle, Wednesday February 27 at 10p.m.

For more information on Top Chef please visit www.bravotv.com/topchef.