Top Chef Chicago Recap, Show 1: Part I.

Chicagoist - Chicago, IL, USA - Top Chef is back and, according to Padma Lakshmi, tastier than ever. As Padma gives us an overview of the show, we get a brief glimpse of telling scenes to come – mainly, the predominant use of the F-word. And something tells us that this may be the most honest look we get into the back of the house. Winner gets: A spread in Food & Wine Magazine, showcase at the Annual Food and Wine Classic in Aspen, vacation to the French Alps, one hundred grand and all the Glad pimpin’ a person can take.

Padma Lakshmi, Tom Coliccho, Gail Simmons, and Ted Allen retain their positions as the standard heavies with guest judges standing in to hand out beatings or praise. Check out that gorgeous Chicago skyline. Makes you want to live there. Or stay there. Oh, wait...

Quick run-down of Season Four’s contestants as they are introduced and the show progresses:

Ryan – Ryan’s got a little Season 2 Sam hottiness going. Maybe it’s just the five o’clock shadow. He’s 28 and lives in San Francisco.

Nimma – 26 and from Atlanta. Clips of her video in which she, confusingly, states that her parents think she should live at home until she’s married but she wants to live as a free American. She’s got this going for her – flawless skin.

Zoi – 30 and from San Francisco. Zoi tells us she’s going to bring a softer side to Top Chef and then growls as she anticipates making a spicy pig head’s soup. Bring it, sister.

Mark – 29 year old New Zealander, now living in New York. Do you recognize him? You might. He was an extra in the Lord of the Rings as generic Hobbit #4. (Check out those curls…don’t tell us he’s not a Baggins.)

*pause for Toyota pimpin’ action*

Richard – 35 and from Atlanta. Richard gets points by quickly singing the praises of our fine city. Nicholas Kurti would be proud as Richard tells us he likes to use liquid nitrogen.

Jennifer – 35 and from San Francisco. She gives a shout out to Chicago and Pizzeria Uno.

Erik – 38 and from San Francisco. This man is nothing less than a combination of complete opposites. He looks like he’d serve you a tattoo rather than a gourmet meal, wears a pimp hat but buttons his shirt all the way up. We love the contradiction.