Top Chef: The Game

I was very excited for “Top Chef: Chicago” last night on Bravo, and I was a little disappointed in the first ep. I love that show, but none of the chefs really grabbed my attention right out of the gate. I was so happy to see Anthony Bourdain as one of the guest judges, but he really held back last night, IMO, and Rocco? Really? Anyway, a creative Disher sends along the TC game idea he and his wife came up with, as well as observations from last night:

Immediately following the first episode of the season, we pick the 4 chefs that we think will make it to the end. Loser has to do the dishes on the night of the season finale, winner gets to cook. It’s not exactly high-stakes poker, but it’s fun.

Last season I had Hung and Casey on my list (Tre and Lia let me down, but I realize my picks were terribly homer) and she had CJ (don’t remember who her other 3 were that failed). But I thought it might be fun to open the competition up to all SideDishers. My Season 4 picks: Richard, Dale, Stephanie, and Andrew.

And an observation: Season 3 seemed to be characterized by a bunch of chefs who were playing not-to-lose up until the pack tightened around 6 or 7 contestants, and by then it was too late for some of them to really bring the goods at the end. Season 4 seems to have started off with the chefs holding back much less.

Okay, I’ll play: My four are Richard, Antonia, Nikki, and Manuel.