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• The fifth season of Top Chef began on November 12, 2008, and took place in New York City. Seventeen contestants from all over the world lived together and competed head to head throughout the series. Contestants were eliminated one by one as the season unfolded.

  Chef Hosea Rosenberg was named Top Chef of season five after he defeated Carla Hall and Stefan Richter in the finale episode. Rosenberg is the executive chef at Jax Fish House in Boulder, Colorado.Salon.com: Finale wrap-up: Top Chef (February 26, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Premiere: November 12, 2008
  2. Network: Bravo
  3. Host: Padma Lakshmi
  4. Judges: Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons and Toby Young
  5. Guest judges who appeared on season five, included Rocco DiSpirito, Martha Stewart, Eric Ripert, Emeril Lagasse and the Foo Fighters among others
  6. Promotions by: Glad Consumer Goods
  7. Hosea Rosenberg, Carla Hall and Stefan Richter were the top three chefs to go onto the finale
  8. Finale aired in two parts beginning February 18, 2009 and ending February 25, 2009
  9. Season five finale was held in New OrleansSalon.com: Finale wrap-up: Top Chef (February 26, 2009)
  10. Winner: Hosea RosenbergSalon.com: Finale wrap-up: Top Chef (February 26, 2009)
  11. Rosenberg prepared sashimi, scallops and venison for the final challenge
  12. In the kitchen, Rosenberg was helped by sous chef Richard Blais of Season 4

• Contestants

  • Alex Eusebio
  • Ariane Duarte
  • Carl
  • Danny Gagnon
  • Fabio Viviani
  • Gene Villiatora
  • Hosea Rosenberg
  • Jamie Lauren
  • Jeff McInnis
  • Jill Snyder
  • Lauren
  • Leah Cohen
  • Melissa Harrison
  • Patrick Dunlea
  • Radhika Desai
  • Richard Sweeney
  • Stefan RichterBravo TV: Top Chef

• New Judge, Toby Young

  A new judge, Toby Young, replaced Gail Simmons for a portion of the fifth season, while Gail was getting married and on her honeymoon. Young is a journalist and author of the book (which was turned into a movie) How to Lose Friends and Alienate People. While he has extensive journalism experience, Young is not a food critic.BuddyTV: Top Chef: Meet Toby Young (October 8, 2008)

• The Prize

  The winner of Top Chef receives $100,000 to launch their own restaurant, a featured table at the Food and Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado and an extended feature in Food and Wine magazine, but more important is the title of Top Chef!Bravo TV: Top Chef

• Quotes

  "I really think it's the culinary capital of the world. I'm biased because I'm a New Yorker, but I think the greatest chefs are here and the best restaurants. And I'm not just talking only about the fine-dining restaurants. I'm talking about everything."—Padma Kashmi on filming the show in New YorkEOnline: Top Chef Host's Food for Thought (November 12, 2008)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Top Chef | Padma Lakshmi | New York City | Toby Young | Tom Colicchio | After the Knife | Top Chef Super Bowl Showdown | Top Chef New York Season Finale | Hosea Rosenberg | Carla Hall | Stefan Richter | How to Become a Chef

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