No announcement of a premiere date yet, but we just got word that the sixth season of Top Chef will take place in Vegas, Baby!

Those of you that have been to Las Vegas know that some of the most incredible, high-end restaurants are located there. It’s a city based on pampering the tourists and it should prove to be a fantastic venue for the sixth season of the series.

The usual faces will be returning; host Padma Lakshmi, head judge Chef Tom Colicchio, judge Gail Simmons and that cranky, British judge Toby Young. He certainly did mix things up a bit, didn’t he?

I love Top Chef and I love Las Vegas, so I can’t wait for this new season to begin. I’ll keep you informed of developments as they are released.

[Photo: © 2009 NBC Universal Inc.]

Many of us who watched the most recent season of Top Chef were fans of Jamie Lauren, the spirited chef with the very distinct opinions. I know I wasn’t the only person who was sad to see her eliminated. I thought she might go all the way to the end.

But just because she’s no longer on the show doesn’t mean we can’t continue to learn from her about the dining experience in New York City. OurSceneTV.com has got a great video interview with Jamie taking us to all of her favorite New York places to grab a quick bite to eat. And of course, she brings her own fun opinions to the piece too.

If you live in New York, or plan to be there soon, you might want to go see which places Jamie recommends for you to eat. It could make your day even better!

Padma Lakshmi, the beautiful host of Bravo’s Top Chef is among the Sexiest Stars on TV, according to TV Guide. She’s included in the feature about TV’s sexiest stars and is truly deserving of the title. I know a lot of men who watch Top Chef, not for the competition, but to get a glimpse here and there of Padma.

Here’s a great little clip for us all to drool over. It’s a behind the scenes look at the TV Guide photo shoots and some words from the Sexiest Stars on TV, including Padma. She’s among very good company too. My own personal TV crush, Simon Baker is on the list along with a ton of other male and female hotties. So, sit back, relax and hit the play button. Enjoy!

These are the reality shows that are currently casting:

• Top Chef 6 - Bravo
• Shear Genius - Bravo
• Bartender Wars - FLN
• Chopped - Food Network
• LA Ink - TLC
• Real Chance of Love 2 - VH1

Do you have what it takes to be the next Top Chef? Then be sure to apply for the sixth season of Top Chef and prove it!

The show is looking for chefs with a passion for food, creativity, a knowledge of cooking techniques and trends and oodles of charisma. Here’s where you can find out how to apply.

Calling all fabulous hair stylists! The third season of Bravo’s hit reality series, Shear Genius is looking for you! They’re looking for the hottest hairstyling experts to bring it for the series, so be sure to apply now!

Be sure to check out this page for the application and all the details of what to bring with you. Open casting calls for stylists interested in competing in the high-stakes hair-cutting competition series will be held in cities across the country starting this week:

Read more

[Photos: © 2009 NBC Universal, Inc.]

[Photo: © 2009 NBC Universal, Inc.]

Last night, on the season finale of Top Chef New York, the final three chefs went head to head in their final challenge. Hosea was the chef that emerged victorious and can now claim the title of Top Chef.

It was a tough season of challenges and even though I was a bit disappointed that Carla didn’t win, I was happy that Hosea did. Stefan just was too condescending to the others and a little too arrogant for my taste.

Be sure to watch next Wednesday’s Top Chef New York reuinion show on Bravo at 10/9c.

[Photos: © 2009 NBC Universal, Inc.]

Tonight’s season finale of Top Chef is going to be intense. After one of the most competitive seasons ever, it comes down to the final three, Hosea, Stefan & Carla. (Go, Carla!!) To give us a taste of what’s in store for us tonight, here are a couple of preview clips. In the first clip, the final three have to get themselves into the “zone” so they can bring their best work to the challenges. Here’s how they mentally prepare:

Of course, a Top Chef finale wouldn’t be a Top Chef finale without a crazy twist of some kind…can you say, “alligator”?

Be sure to watch the Top Chef finale on Bravo, tonight at 10/9c.

Top Chef 6 is Casting

Now that we are down to the final five on Top Chef New York, it’s time for Bravo to find the next set of Cheftestants for Top Chef 6. No word yet on where it will be held, but it’s sure to be another fabulous season! If you think you have what it takes to compete for the title of Top Chef, all the rules are on the Bravo site. And here are the dates and locations for the upcoming open casting calls:

Top Chef Season Six Casting Calls are as follows:

[Photos: © 2009 NBC Universal, Inc.]

[Photo: Barbara Nitke, © 2009 NBC Universal, Inc.]

This week’s guest judge was the legendary Chef Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin in New York. He’s incredibly talented and his standards are quite high!

The Quickfire Challenge was to perfectly filet unusual types of fish in a three-round challenge. Round 1 was Sardines. The two who were eliminated this round were Jamie & Carla. Round 2 was Arctic Char. The two eliminated this round were Leah (she just gave up!) and Fabio. The third round was Fresh Water Eel. Stefan smoked Hosea and won the challenge.

[Photo: Virginia Sherwood, © 2009 NBC Universal, Inc.]

The chefs found out that they were all invited to be Chef Ripert’s guest at his restaurant the next day. They all sat down to try six of his signature seafood dishes. After they had finished, they were told that the food they had just tried was part of their Elimination Challenge. They each had to re-create as closely as possible, one of the six dishes.

Since Stefan won the Quickfire Challenge, he got to choose his dish. The rest had to draw knives to find out which dish they would create. Here are the dishes:

• Stefan: Baked Lobster with Asparagus & Hollandaise Sauce
• Fabio: Sourdough Encrusted Red Snapper with Tomato Basil Consomme
• Leah: Baked Mahi-Mahi with Miso & Matsutake Mushroom Sauce
• Carla: Oil-Poached Escolar with Potato Crisps in a Red Wine Bearnaise Sauce
• Hosea: Za’atar Spiced Monkfish with Black Garlic
• Jamie: Sauteed Black Bass & Braised Celery with Serrano Ham & Peppercorn Sauce

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[Photos: © 2009 NBC Universal, Inc.]

Tonight on Top Chef, Fabio and Stefan react to having been in the bottom three last week. They are both starting to really feel the pressure, now that things are down to only six chefs. And even though Carla won last week’s challenge, she feels that she’s still not taken seriously:

World-famous chef Eric Ripert is the guest judge this week. So, he will judge a three-round fish filet challenge. OMG!! Leah is soooo bad at fileting fish! I wonder if she’ll be able to pull it out for this challenge.

For the Elimination Challenge, Chef Ripert will turn over the kitchen of his New York restaurant, Le Bernardin. I guess we’ll see whether the chefs can live up to his level of quality…

Be sure to watch Top Chef on Bravo, tonight at 10/9c.

You could be flown to New York to compete against other Top Chef fans and attend a future episode of Top Chef. All you have to do is go to the Bravo web site and upload an original recipe using Quaker Oats. Here’s more about the contest:

Be sure to watch Top Chef on Bravo, Wednesday at 10/9c.