Top Chef is a reality show about to air its fifth season on Bravo. In, it chefs compete in order to win $100,000, a magazine feature, and other food/chef related prizes. Each show consists of two challenges. The first is the "Quickfire Challenge" which is usually either some sort of restricted cooking challenge or a culinary test. The winner then gets, at the start of the season, immunity form that week's elimination. The second challenge is the "Elimination Challenge." The elimination challenge can be almost enything, and some make more sense than others (there was an "improv" challenge in season 4). After the Elimination Challenge someone is, well, eliminated. Eventually, at a showdown in a whole new location, someone is crowned Top Chef.

The Judges Table consists of 4 permanent judges and at least one guest judge. Tom Colicchio is the Head Judge and is joined by Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi and either Gail Simmons of Food and Wine or Ted Allen of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

Season 4:
Anything You Can Cook I Can Cook Better (Aired: 3/12/08)
Zoo Food (Aired: 3/19/08)
Block Party (Aired: 3/26/08)

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Season 5
- Alex, 33 - Hometown: New York, N.Y.; Resides in Los Angeles, Calif.
- Ariane, 41 - Hometown/Resides in: Verona, N.J.
Carla, 44 - Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.; Resides in Washington, D.C.
- Danny, 26 – Hometown/ resides in: New Hyde Park, N.Y.
- Fabio, 30 - Hometown: Florence, Italy; Resides in Moorpark, Calif.
- Gene, 33 – Hometown: Whitmore Village, Hawaii; Resides in Las Vegas, Nev. - Hosea, 34 - Hometown: Taos, N.M.; Resides in Boulder, Colo.
- Jamie, 30 - Hometown: New York, N.Y.; Resides in San Francisco, Calif.
- Jeff, 30 – Hometown: Niceville, Fla.; Resides in: Miami, Fla.
- Jill, 28 - Hometown: Latrobe, Pa.; Resides in Baltimore, Md.
- Lauren, 24 - Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio; currently stationed at Fort Stewart
- Leah, 27 - Hometown: Scarsdale, N.Y.; Resides in New York, N.Y.
- Melissa, 28 – Hometown: Md.; Resides in Boulder, Colo.
- Patrick, 21 - Hometown: Quincy, Mass.; Resides in Hyde Park, N.Y.
- Radhika, 28 - Hometown/Resides in: Chicago, Ill.
- Richard, 27 - Hometown: Long Island, N.Y.; Resides in San Diego, Calif.
- Stefan, 35 – Hometown: Tampere, Finland; Resides in Santa Monica, Calif.