Top Chef Calendar Giveaway: What's Your Favorite Sugar-free Dessert?
This week on Top Chef, after a two-week holiday hiatus, the Quickfire challenge involves sweets—a huge part of life during that gingerbread-worshiping hiatus. But here's the rub. No sugar allowed. Cheftestants will have 45 minutes to make a dessert without any sugar products, with French pastry chef Jean Christophe Novelli of the Novelli Academy cookery school, in as the guest judge.
In anticipation of this week's episode, we're giving away three 2009 Top Chef calendars. Just tell us your favorite dessert without sugar in the comments section below. After the jump, watch a preview of the sugarless Quickfire. The cheftestants look freaked out.
You have until 3 p.m. ET Wednesday (January 7) to enter. Three winners will be chosen at random from among the comments. Winners are limited to the continental U.S. The standard Serious Eats contest rules apply.
Quickfire Challenge: A Dessert Without Sugar
Related
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'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 5: Stefan Is a Snarky Button-Pusher, But Knows Turmeric
'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 4: Accents Are Good for TV
'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 3: Food Fighters
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Comments are closed: 121 Comments:
There is no such thing. Dessert equals sugar. Z
Michael Z at 2:40PM on 01/05/09
Does maple candy count? There's no white sugar in it...
sidebernie at 2:43PM on 01/05/09
Pear Tart, sugarless, of course.
gb944 at 2:48PM on 01/05/09
I eat a lot of SF jello, with whipped cream but I wouldn't exactly say it's my favorite! I suppose something better would be strawberries with cream, whipped or not. Can I have a packet of Splenda?
SueZeeQ at 2:50PM on 01/05/09
Strawberries with a balsamic reduction. Yummmmmmm
Jennefur at 2:51PM on 01/05/09
Cantaloupe.
karen r at 2:52PM on 01/05/09
beer
JudgeFudge at 2:53PM on 01/05/09
Ha!
I'm diabetic so sugar-free desserts exist in my life. Sugar-free Jell-O and their puddings are faves.
ArchieLeach at 2:57PM on 01/05/09
Gorgonzola cheese, straight up, with champagne.
LindaY at 3:04PM on 01/05/09
Sugar Free Rice Pudding isn't so bad.
feep at 3:06PM on 01/05/09
I'm with Linda....give me cheese, maybe with some of Jennefur's reduced balsamic.
Cary at 3:07PM on 01/05/09
So, natural sugar (as in such as occurs naturally in fruit) is ok?
If so, then I like a strawberry shortcake "parfait". Layer crumbled buttermilk biscuits alternately in a dessert glass with ripe strawberries (tossed with balsamic vinegar and black pepper if you like) and unsweetened whipped cream. Garnish with fresh mint.
Or just give me a slab of cabrales blue cheese and some tawny port and I'm good to go!
Amandarama at 3:10PM on 01/05/09
Sliced pears or granny smith apple with sharp cheddar cheese.
auntcy1 at 3:10PM on 01/05/09
my favorite is when i have bacon for desert, does that count?
sevenisthenumber at 3:11PM on 01/05/09
Manchego Cheese w/ Grapes and Pecan Halves (I'm allergic to Walnuts)
katarina_santiago at 3:11PM on 01/05/09
oops, meant dessert.
sevenisthenumber at 3:12PM on 01/05/09
plain sugar-free yogurt with honey (if allowed) and blueberries - or just blueberries if the honey isn't allowed
littlestcapy at 3:15PM on 01/05/09
fresh fruit (especially blueberries, cherries, and strawberries)
mrsbao at 3:16PM on 01/05/09
A plate of fruit and cheese happens to be one of my favourite desserts, no sugar needed!
brooke29 at 3:16PM on 01/05/09
Fruit and cheese, definitely. Sweet, savory and sugar-free!
Tootsie at 3:25PM on 01/05/09
a big bowl of pomegranate seeds in the winter, a pint of tristar strawberries in the summer.
cybercita at 3:26PM on 01/05/09
I can't eat sugar, so my favorite is sugar-free sorbet with kiwi (or SF gummy bears!)
kelsmnop at 3:26PM on 01/05/09
sidebernie, i think maple candies are just too much. I've known them as a holiday item and I can only eat about one per year.
No sugar free desserts come to mind for me... It's like asking me to visualize an empty room.
jgrutza at 3:32PM on 01/05/09
Sugar free JELLO pudding.
sosoeater at 3:33PM on 01/05/09
If sugar-free means no sugar added, I would say fresh fruit, especially those that are only available in the summer.
runnereater at 3:39PM on 01/05/09
Poached pears (in a white grape juice "syrup" or something similar). That's kind of skirting the no sugar rule though...
lagomorph at 3:43PM on 01/05/09
Cheese plate :o)
Cupcake819 at 3:43PM on 01/05/09
There's a Top Chef calendar?!?!
And it's simple, but grilled fruit with a balsamic reduction.
Truculence at 3:46PM on 01/05/09
Fresh blackberries and cream.
threedogkitchen at 3:46PM on 01/05/09
Bananas and sour cream
alainakunin at 3:51PM on 01/05/09
a cheese plate for me, too!
majorpepper at 3:57PM on 01/05/09
Fruit.
Sugarless desserts are an abomination, and must be avoided. The best you can do is make something milk-based because the lactose sugars help to hide the fakey-fakeness of artificial sweetners. So with that taken into consideration, I'm willing to bet that a sugarless banana cream pie would taste decent, although the amount of natural sugars (from the bananas and the dairy) and the fat (from the crust) would effectively nullify the point of making it sugarless.
onalark at 3:57PM on 01/05/09
I love the idea of pears and cheese on toast rounds, melted under the broiler.
donnajay at 4:09PM on 01/05/09
I make a great sugar free angel food cake using splenda. Then I top it with a bit of my homemade icing using fat free philly cream cheese & sugar free cool whip, both excellent products. Then a couple of berries on the side=great dessert completely sugar free! I'm diabetic.
dlane at 4:10PM on 01/05/09
Poached pears in wine with a vanilla bean. Also, baked apple with just a little cinammon.
SEFB9118 at 4:17PM on 01/05/09
Cheese w/ a nice, semi-sweet wine.
jd7979 at 4:23PM on 01/05/09
Having been a South Beach dieter, I enjoy sugar-free Jell-O and pudding, as well as ricotta with some bittersweet cocoa, roasted almonds, and a packet of Splenda. But if I were to really be honest, no dessert that I crave is sugar-free!
lisasav5 at 4:24PM on 01/05/09
Gently warmed tawny port ladeled into the rind of a whole Stilton (after most of the cheese has been eaten) with crusty crusty bread (and a large napkin for the crumbs). Do not stand between me and the cheese!
Mizbee at 4:27PM on 01/05/09
watermelon of course!
nedime_7 at 4:35PM on 01/05/09
vodka and orange juice
catalu at 4:35PM on 01/05/09
Stinky cheese
msecondo at 4:51PM on 01/05/09
mochi w/azuki bean filling
ShortStack at 4:53PM on 01/05/09
Clementines make the perfect after-meal sweet for me.
Grilled pineapples and peaches would also be at the top of the list.
jp_bakeupastorm at 4:55PM on 01/05/09
All natural fruits with natural sweetness are my favorite desserts.
kcatlin at 4:56PM on 01/05/09
wow, over 40 people actually want this calendar. i am refraining because i DO NOT WANT!
sloppy at 4:56PM on 01/05/09
cheese and fruit. natural sugars are allowed right?
Traci7822 at 5:11PM on 01/05/09
Grilled Stone Fruits and Pineapple with a little brandy sprinkled on at the end. YUM!!!!!!!
Bhc62 at 5:11PM on 01/05/09
Dessert without sugar?!? I'm not understanding....
But I guess berries are always good
charmon at 5:24PM on 01/05/09
nachos with cheese
ssultan23 at 5:35PM on 01/05/09
Grilled fruit - yum!
ohiogal at 5:36PM on 01/05/09
ripe strawberries with balsamic vinegar
ynot4me at 5:41PM on 01/05/09
Hmm, what about desserts using honey, agave nectar or maple syrup? They're sweeteners, but not technically sugar. ;)
usinda at 5:46PM on 01/05/09
Banana smoothie (blend banana into a cup or so of yogurt)... with a small bit cocoa powder for variety, or occasionally some sugar-free coffee syrup for extra flavor. But it really doesn't need much beyond blending!
squawky at 5:51PM on 01/05/09
Cheesecake made with Splenda......really!
zina1017 at 5:56PM on 01/05/09
gorgonzola dolce
skim at 6:16PM on 01/05/09
Greek Yogurt Dessert with Honey and Strawberries
Chew on That at 6:16PM on 01/05/09
Peanut butter banana smoothie. Frozen banana, unsweetened almond milk, and a scoop of natural peanut butter. Now I want one....
katiejo at 6:21PM on 01/05/09
peaches and cream
zenazure at 6:29PM on 01/05/09
cheese-style yogurt with grilled bananas and cinnamon.
mangabanga at 6:46PM on 01/05/09
Granola and Fresh Fruit and Berries with Cream.
kbwise1 at 6:49PM on 01/05/09
fruit & cheese
bibliothecaire at 6:49PM on 01/05/09
Ripe strawberries, excellent, aged balsamic vinegar and black pepper.
derosa at 6:54PM on 01/05/09
how about for deserts you just give me seconds on the preceding awesome dinner?
GretchinF at 7:01PM on 01/05/09
I am a diabetic and suppose to be sugar free lolzz
I think my most favorite sugar free dessert is a fruit smoothie, made with plain yogurt, bananas, pineapple and fresh strawberries.
Pam
pamelakrest at 7:17PM on 01/05/09
huh? no sugar?
babycakes has a good vegan scone recipe that uses agave, but that's not exactly dessert...
miamia at 7:27PM on 01/05/09
Fresh fruit would do the trick. Is honey allowed?
cmp45 at 7:50PM on 01/05/09
watermelon!!!!
southerncooker at 7:53PM on 01/05/09
Fresh Strawberries and cream
townfam at 7:54PM on 01/05/09
broiled peaches or pears
shalomblack at 8:14PM on 01/05/09
fresh strawberries!
graciecat at 8:17PM on 01/05/09
fresh cherries, pitted, with marscapone cheese!
annabanannas at 8:34PM on 01/05/09
baked apples with raisins
zekks at 8:48PM on 01/05/09
cheese for sure, and not just for dessert.
foodandscience at 8:51PM on 01/05/09
strawberries with white balsamic vinegar, or some frozen grapes.
bobcatsteph3 at 8:52PM on 01/05/09
grilled bananas
nmp164 at 8:56PM on 01/05/09
Dessert. Without sugar. No such thing.
blgrimes at 8:57PM on 01/05/09
cheeeeese
Jeane at 9:09PM on 01/05/09
fruit smoothies. natural sugars shouldn't count! :)
teenagefoodie at 9:13PM on 01/05/09
plain sugar-free yogurt with sliced strawberries
Remander at 9:36PM on 01/05/09
pears & stilton
kathyvegas at 9:42PM on 01/05/09
yogurt with fruit... mango + blueberry... my favorite!
eileen216 at 9:43PM on 01/05/09
grilled nectarines sprinkled with cinnamon
hills85 at 10:09PM on 01/05/09
I used to eat this all the time. Black canned cherries topped with that tofu that is runny like whipping cream and little honey - YUM! Love to win this calender!
PageZel at 10:23PM on 01/05/09
peaches...just peaches
supersissy at 10:30PM on 01/05/09
summer fruits
PerkyMac at 10:48PM on 01/05/09
coffee with heavy cream.
shuffer at 11:18PM on 01/05/09
fresh, warm peach right off the tree.
Heatherdee at 11:19PM on 01/05/09
Sugar Free Jello, Black Cherry or Cherry flavors more often than not, but I love the others too. It's good, I've loved Jello since I was very young, and had a black cat named Jello (well, Jello Biafra was his full name), and it's beneficial for my hair and my nails!
chanterelle at 11:24PM on 01/05/09
Greek yogurt with grilled peaches on top with cinnamon sprinkled on top
andrearode at 11:26PM on 01/05/09
the perfect juicy pear. Maybe a few slices of good cheese and nuts to round it out.
musicalpandibear at 11:33PM on 01/05/09
Fresh fruit with creme fraiche. Who needs sugar if you have enough fat?
dbcurrie at 12:46AM on 01/06/09
Have to be a tie between sugar free cheesecake and sugar free chocolate pudding topped w/sugar free whipped cream - yum.
swkathi at 2:26AM on 01/06/09
I would take a cheese plate over a sugar filled desert any day.
brittj8585 at 2:38AM on 01/06/09
caramelized ruby red grapefruit with cinnamon and agave nectar
GrassrootsGourmet at 5:31AM on 01/06/09
hmm... Watermelon or mango make terrific summer desserts. Pomegranate pips with banana slices are also quite nice in winter. I've also been mashing up black sapotes with orange juice lately = chocolatey persimmony unparsimonious creaminess.
sofltransplant at 6:13AM on 01/06/09
For me there's no better dessert than a ripe juicy Bosc pear. It beats pie or cake any day. To cook pears? Sacrilegious!
352lillian at 6:46AM on 01/06/09
baked apples, frozen grapes!
Curryinnohurry at 8:00AM on 01/06/09
I would have to go with cheese and fruit as I absolutely detest artificial sweeteners of any kind.
sarash at 8:41AM on 01/06/09
I just love grilled fruit !
Peaches, Nectarines, Bananas, etc.
mdobson at 8:46AM on 01/06/09
A bowl of gorgeous red raspberries.
Nezrite at 9:12AM on 01/06/09
Greek yogurt with raspberries
lucylucy at 9:43AM on 01/06/09
A bowl of berries and watermelon in the summertime, and cheese plates anytime!
poke87 at 10:14AM on 01/06/09
Perfectly ripe watermelon.
Weirdsmobile at 10:34AM on 01/06/09
fresh fruit
Carly705 at 10:47AM on 01/06/09
Rasberries
lakeloverhh at 10:58AM on 01/06/09
Fresh fruit and cheese.
amylou61 at 11:02AM on 01/06/09
berries and cream
drew13000 at 11:03AM on 01/06/09
lightly grilled fig with balsamic reduction
hungryinhouston at 11:08AM on 01/06/09
Fresh Asian pears
foodhuntress at 11:26AM on 01/06/09
ripe pineapple!
sfred at 12:51PM on 01/06/09
Queso fresco and fresh strawberries. Delicious.
rmalino2 at 1:38PM on 01/06/09
sliced korean pears and persimmons
julianne82 at 2:08PM on 01/06/09
Queso Blanco with tropical fruits (guava, pomegranate, pineapple, papaya, etc)
vdeliz at 3:32PM on 01/06/09
A really ripe August peach, eaten in a bathtub.
lemons at 4:32PM on 01/06/09
Baked apples and cinnamon
Jules123 at 4:43PM on 01/06/09
Ripe wild strawberries...no sugar needed
deefine at 4:47PM on 01/06/09
REAL sweet potato (NEVER yam) mashed with mascarpone, topped on filo and glazed with honey
vivosergirl at 5:54PM on 01/06/09
Home-made no-sugar-added sorbet among a mountain of fresh berries!
hungrychristel at 6:06PM on 01/06/09
Fig
Rajee at 2:35AM on 01/07/09
Greek yogurt mixed with a bit of maple syrup, used as a dip for fruit. Also, mango sorbet made without sugar (you need the sweetest mango you can get your hands on) and for texture, use some sort of alcohol. A liquor works well, as does a bit of vodka.
chisai at 1:13PM on 01/07/09
Thank you for participating, and congratulations to our winners: msecondo, drew13000, and Curryinnohurry. Winners has been notified by email and also appears on our Contest Winners page.
Erin Zimmer at 11:51AM on 01/08/09