Here we are folks, for episode TWO in the Top Chef Masters series!

I thought for a minute that I would enjoy leftovers from my chicken phyllo pie recipe tonight as dinner, but due to a confluence of factors, I ended up creating a quick baked halibut with a warm stirfry of brussel sprouts, shitake mushrooms, shallots, salami and cashew nuts:

For the record, I am a big fan of chopping up brussel sprouts and sautéing them up with various things to make them taste good.

And while we are off topic, how about those New Jersey “Real Housewives?”  Anybody watch that finale?  Geez louise, it was like the Jerry Springer producers had suddenly seized control of the Bravo Network. Now that it’s all said and done, I can honestly say not a one of them are worth the air they breathe with the exception of Jacqueline, who stood up for her friend Danielle when her sisters-in-law were hell bent to try and lie their way out of blame for ruining Danielle’s reputation.  Thank god these people don’t live in my town.

Tonight promises much mayhem as Top Chef fave Wylie Dufresne competes against others.  Anyone notice that the Top Chef faves tend to get put up against folks they most likely can beat?  I don’t want to accuse Top Chef of putting in the fix on the competition, but let’s just say I’m not so sure that the brackets in this tournament were particularly evenly stacked…..

And we’ll also see if host Kelly Choi has loosend up at all in week two given her overly stiff and scripted performance in Episode One.

So without further ado, here we go……..

 10:00 --  we see scenes from last week, where Hubert Keller faced the competition.

10:01 -- not only are there not enough women in the competition, they are now grouping them together.

10:01 -- Graham Elliot Bowles from Chicago is the youngest chef in the competition, who says that punk rock is his influence.

10:02 -- Suzanne Tracht is local from Los Angeles.  I have to wonder if the home court advantage would be in effect.

10:04 -- Poor Wylie Dufresne, he doesn't like the idea of "molecular gastronomy" because it doesn't SOUND sexy.  Poor bastard.  My heart just bleeds.

10:05 -- I am so digging Elizabeth Faulkner with her James Beard win and her pastry chef cred.  And her black chef's jacket is badass!

10:06 -- They are bringing back the vending machine challenge -- and some of the most ornery competitors from Season 2.  MIKEY's BACK!!!!!

10:08 -- The chefs who are getting the ham and cheese sandwiches may find they need to be a little more creative than that I think....

10:09 -- Wylie is doing a grilled cheese?  I think that's a little obvious, particularly from the molecular gastronomy king, dontcha think?

10:10 -- Elizabeth is doing savory ice cream!  I LOVE HER!

10:11 -- Wylie suffers under the time crunch.  He's playing for Autism Speaks becuase he's got relatives with autism. 

10:16 -- I take another swig of Chimay blue as I watch Wylie's dish come out.  Betty hates the sauce.  Mikey of course can't resist grilled cheese.  Elan points out it's not an amuse bouche.  It's too big.

10:17 -- Suzanne Tracht scores big with her onion rings.  Betty is not happy with the flavors on Elizabeth's ice cream.  You can tell Betty is a caterer.

10:18 -- Kelly Choi is too friggin thin.  Her shoulders are little bony points.  It's disgusting.

10:19 -- Suzanne Tracht gets five stars.  Wylie gets 3.  If he's going to win, he's going to have to come from behind.  Suzanne is really really lacking in emotion.  It's like she's on some kind of depressant.

10:21 -- They are doing the "Lost" challenge.  No Top Chef pantry?  AWESOME!  And they are being forced to use canned goods.

10:23 -- This challenge really does put Suzanne Tracht at a disadvantage -- she's not really able to think outside her fresh produce box.  And Wylie and Graham need to have a cooking show together.

10:25 -- My answer to the Bravo text message question (which chef would you want to be stranded with?) is TIM LOVE!  But since I only have this episode's chefs to choose from, I have to say, Elizabeth is my choice. I would never be bored.  And she would make cool savory ice creams.

10:30 -- The strategies are interesting....Elizabeth goes to the wild boar.  Tracht is going for a wide variety of proteins, Wylie is doing something freaky involving a circulator?  Am I missing something?

10:31 -- That flower in Kelley Choi's hair is annoying.

10:32 -- Chef Elizabeth is up first with boar two ways. The boar is impressing the writers.  But we haven't heard from the critics yet. 

10:34 -- Graham Elliot Bowles wows them, although he makes it sound so complicated.

10:35 -- Wylie forgets to put chicken on one of the plates.  Holy.  Friggin. Shit.  Someone has poached Longhair's chicken.....

10:37 -- I was a little bit nervous that Suzanne Tracht had over done it, but her "holiday dinner" pitch apparently seals the deal.

10:44 -- The judges are obsessed with hearing about how everyone prepared everything.  Wylie's stuff is of course, perfect.  Graham is rewarded for being playful with green beans.

10:48 -- So far the judges haven't had a lot bad to say about anyone.  They did not like Elizabeth's plate, loved Wylie's and Suzanne's and Graham I think kind of got lost in the shuffle.

10:50 -- I know the updates have been a little sporadic for the past few minutes....for some reason it's taking a while for pages to load, and the way I do things for Liveblogging doesn't help much.

10:51 -- The chefs decide to raid the pantry and start making cookies together.  I like her.  She's my favorite for this episode.  So tonight I think my date is with Elizabeth with Suzanne Tracht cooking.  (Yes, boys, this would be girl on girl on girl action....but only if you count eating food as action.  No offense to my lesbian sisters, but Momma don't swing that way.)

10:55 -- What is it with Bravo viewers and molecular gastronomy. 

10:56 -- Wylie gets five stars from Oseland, but is that going to be enough?  NO!  Wow...that's kind of an upset.....

10:57 -- my homegirl Elizabeth didn't do so good.  Graham is still in the lead.  What did he cook again? I can't even remember.....how is he winning right now?

10:58 -- Suzanne is going to win....YAY!  There will be at least one woman in the Champion's Round.

10:59 -- everyone is so friendly and gracious....god, it's reality tv without the angst.  What's up people?

 11:00 -- Get ready for next week people!  Rick Bayless, one of my personal favorite chefs EVER, is comin to town!

Thanks for coming by everyone!  Don't forget to be here next week for Episode 3!