Guide Note

Top Chef is a Bravo reality show on which chefs compete in a weekly series of challenges. They are judged by a panel of professional chefs and food and wine industry celebrities. The show is hosted by chef and model Padma Lakshmi and features chef Tom Colicchio as the contestants' mentor and judge. Other judges' panel regulars include food critic Ted Allen and Food & Wine Magazine's Gail Simmons.

Each show features an initial "Quickfire Challenge," which provides the winning chef with either immunity from elimination for the week or an advantage going into the week's "Elimination Challenge," which makes up the show's second half.

As of March 2008, the show was in the midst of its fourth season. Each season takes place in a different city and has thus far been set in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami Beach and Chicago.

For coverage of the current season, check out our Top Chef Chicago page.

Fast Facts

1. Airs: Wednesdays at 10:00
2. Network: Bravo
3. Current Season: 4
4. First Aired: March 8, 2006
5. Starring: Padma Lakshmi, Ted Allen, Tom Colicchio

1. Season 1 (San Francisco): Harold Dieterle, Tiffani Faison (Runner-up)
2. Season 2 (Los Angeles): Ilan Hall, Marcel Vigneron (Runner-up)
3. Season 3 (Miami): Hung Huynh, Dale Levitski and Casey Thompson (Runners-up)