Top Chef Returns with Las Vegas Luck & Twists

Top Chef has returned for its sixth season and this time its taking the heat of the kitchen to Las Vegas. Padma, Tom and the brand new crew of 17 chefs are ready for a bran new season and so am I. Last season was my first full run in awhile and I'm surprised to be excited for the new season so let's get started! Hopefully we don't have any Debby Downer's this time around, AKA Leah, but I'm sure we won't know that tonight anyway. The cast was featured first thing with several award winners in the mix and others were trained by some of the most famous chefs in the world. There is also a set of brothers in the mix which could prove interesting.

As the chefs starting entering the house it was obvious they had an eclectic cast this season. Mattin will be one of the international chefs this season, seems to be they always do well. Some chefs found links with where they are from while others found they were the only ones from their states. The house seemed very "down home" this season after last season's apartment like style. Brings a new energy to the opening part of the show at least. Seems they are also letting people MOVE into the house this time, rather then doing the Quick Fire early to take someone out. Not sure if they'll throw one at them soon but I wouldn't doubt it. The brothers were then introduced, Michael and Brian and haven't seen each other in a long time. It seems they are a bit different at least while Mike recognized another Mike.... seems there are links all over the place.

It was then time to get into game mode as they were instructed to suit up into their chef coats and met Tom and Padma in their Top Chef kitchen. There Padma introduced their first Quick Fire challenge where they were broken into teams of four. They were going to perform a relay challenge and Padma revealed that twists would be introduced that featured luck. A hat filled with poker chips decided their teams, instead of the knife block. Robin was the only one to draw a golden chip which gave her a pass for the entire episode... based upon simple luck. It was then time for the relay which was shucking clams, cleaning lobsters and chopping prime rib. The first team to finish all four parts would win the challenge and win some type of reward.

The start of the race had the first team member shucking clams and Priti on the red team had never done that before. Others also struggled with blood flying while Blue and Black pulled ahead easily. Black was the first to move on quickly followed by the blue team and had to peel 30 prawns. Black and Blue finished their second test one after the other yet again while Green finally finished shucking. It was then onto cleaning lobsters for Blue and Black with the Blue taking the lead this time around. They were then onto their last task of cutting off two chops of ribs. Black then finished their lobsters as well putting them neck and neck for the win. Green was still on the second leg while Red was still shucking away, meaning they were far out of the win. The Blue team ended up winning the challenge after overtaking the lead but things were done. They then had to cook off against each other with the winner taking home $15,000 for themselves.

Robin, who had immunity, then had a chance to trade in her immunity for the money but decided not to. Padma then revealed they had 30 minutes to complete a dish that featured the food they worked with in their leg of the race. The four were then off with Bryan, Jennifer, Mattin and Jesse competing for the win. Tom had the choice of winner and selected Jenn to receive the money. It was then quickly into the elimination challenge where they had to show their dark sides. Their dishes would based upon a vice they are guilty of. They would be cooking in their own groups with Wolfgang Puck being their guest judge. That's pretty awesome for their first challenge!

It was then time for Top Chef's favorite store: Whole Foods. Each had $150 to buy the food for their vice, which seems to be their choice. Some ran around the store while others went at it rather calmly. Ron told a story of fish keeping him alive when he needed food, so fish would be his vice while Jennifer was going to use peppers since she has a "hot temper". Hopefully we get to see that from her! When time was up it the chef's when to Puck's kitchen in the Cut restaurant. They had some time to prep and realized they would be playing as a team but against their team. One from each team would head to the judge's table and nobody wanted to be out first. There were some interesting choices.... like Michael wanted to feature a "rack" in his vice... get the joke? His vice was plastic surgery... I guess that makes sense.

Others went with food vices like beer battered donuts oh and more alcohol choices. Apparently we have some heavy drinkers this season or people who just really like cooking with alcohol, I mean who calls their dish a "tipsy chicken"? Jesse does apparently! It was then time to serve their dishes where Padma, Tom, Gail and Wolfgang Puck sat in frot of them. The first four were up where Mike served food to represent his fowl mouth, Eli showed his bitterness and jaded quality, Ashley showed her fondness for red-wine and Bourbon while Hector showed his vice of smoking. The judges enjoyed Eli's scallops but thought there was too much. Hector's steak was deep fried, which confused Tom while Wolfgang didn't get it either. Gail enjoyed Mike's plate the most while there was little said about Ashley's.

The next set up were Bryan on Bourbon/cigars, Mattin on being stubborn, Jenn on alcohol, Jesse on whiskey while Robin focused on pork. Not sure how pork was a vice... maybe in her mind it was? Bryan's dish was liked by all the judges while Jenn's dish was the best halibut in Vegas according Puck. Jesse's dish was a bit dry, according to all while Mattin's dish didn't make sense to both Puck or Padma. Next out was the second to last team in the Quick Fire where Ash featured procrastination, Jen featured her hot temper, Ron features his time at sea go with some fish while Laurine featured chocolate and some beer. Ron's dish had a good story and the food was good too. Jen's dish wasn't a hit though as Tom hated it and Gail thought it was clunky. Laurine's donut didn't go over well either but the sauce was loved by all.

The last team then let the judges taste their foods with Michael featuring his plastic surgery lamb, Preeti featured some alcohol, Eve showed off her more simple side while Kevin also featured procrastination. Kevin's story and dish was loved by everyone while Eve's simple dish was only "ok" while Michael's dish was loved by everyone and they all felt his dish was the most professional. With everyone showcasing their dishes it was time to find out who would be heading to the Judge's Table and the first one going home. Ron, Mike, Jennifer and Kevin were all called out first and it was obvious they were the winners for the round. Kevin's dish was the first winner of the season but it was then time for the bad news as Hector, Jesse, Eve and Jenn (the bad temper one) were sent to the table. Eve had a harsh evaluation with many bashing her backwards story while Jesse is proving to be a crier as she teared up even without having a harsh eval. It seems Eve or Jenn will get the boot but Jen took the walk of shame, packing her knives and going first. The show went rather quickly with little chance to get to know most of the cast. I'm still having issues with names but hopefully by next week I'll at least have half the cast down!