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Cook the Book: 'Top Chef'

Book CoverFlipping through this week's Cook the Book selection, Top Chef: The Cookbook, is a sensory experience. And not just because of the up-close and personal photographs of memorable dishes such as Dave Martin's Truffle and Cognac Macaroni and Cheese from season one, or Hung Huynh's Sous-Vide Duck from season three. The book itself is wrapped in a canvas cover made from the same material as the jackets worn by the contestants on the show. Pretty cool.

More than a collection of recipes, Top Chef: The Cookbook is a backstage pass to the hit television show. Tour the kitchen and pantry to discover what staples Top Chefs always have on hand, or learn how to open a bottle of Champagne with a knife a la season one's Stephen Asprinio. There are insightful interviews with producers and judges, plus lighthearted inserts devoted to the "Top Coif," and the Anthony Bourdain Insult-O-Meter.

Win 'Top Chef: The Cookbook'

From perfectly executed classics to outlandish, newfangled creations, we'll be excerpting a recipe from Top Chef: The Cookbook every day this week. In addition, you can enter to win a copy for your own collection. Just tell us in the comments section below: If you were in a cooking competition, what dish would you prepare?

Comments are closed: 367 Comments:

Lasagna primavera. It's at least won over all my friends :P

Chocolate Guiness Cake

I'm sort of famous for my brownies. I think I'd make an especially decadent version of them for a contest!

Pulled pork with a sweet corn BBQ sauce! Who doesn't love themselves a little pulled pork!

I guess it depends on the competition...

I hope I'd prepare the winning one ; )

Probably something semi-traditional Korean with a twist... if that makes any sense

My spaghetti carbonara always makes me (and whoever else is around) pretty happy, so I think I'd make that.

Red beans and rice, either with or without meat. You give me a pressure cooker and I think I could even whip that one out in under an hour.

Maybe this shrimp and fennel pasta I make a lot in the summer? I also can make some amazing cupcakes.

Chipotle turkey tacos, with black beans and corn, topped with radishes, scallions, tomatoes, lettuce, and pepper jack. Surprisingly healthy and chock full of veggies.

A sweet bread pudding

Zekks: A pudding made from sweetbreads sounds awesome.

Spaghetti with meatballs, bread sticks, salad, and grape juice. At least, that is what I am hungry for right now.

Scrambled eggs

my portuguese - style fava beans / with chourico / in spicy tomato sauce .......it's always a hit !

Hopefully it's a baking competition! I'd make a fresh loaf of olive-rosemary bread with a side of handmade butter. Everyone loves this bread; my family has told me it's now mandatory for me to bring it to gatherings.

If not, then I've got to agree with Spike - soup is always a winner. I've make a killer cream of pumpkin and apple soup.

If it were dessert, I'd make something combining root beer and vanilla bean flavors as a play on root beer floats--maybe a root beer souffle with vanilla bean whipped cream? Wait, maybe I just want a float right now.

I'd make my greens pie with pomegranate molasses in a cornmeal and saffron crust - takes forever to make but is well worth the effort!

I made baked tilapia tacos with a chipotle coleslaw and honey cumin sauce the other day that were a success. Would be able to do that one for a quickfire, for sure.

Brisket with red wine and apricots.

Braised lamb shanks

I'd do a version of Citrus Marinated Salmon from the French Laundry cookbook. though ripping off Thomas Keller on TV might not be the best idea in the world.

BBQ pulled pork

roasted garlic stuffed fillet with polenta

Awesome scrambled eggs with sauteed mushrooms, peppers, broccoli, and onions!

A salad with bruschetta, depending on the season.

a chocolate budino with cherry sauce and a dollop of Greek yogurt.

sweetbreads with some fava beans and a nice chianti

I would make an omelette with bacon, cheese, wild mushrooms and spinach.

Chicken cutlets with apricot jam and brie cheese wrapped in puff pastry. Yum.

probably roast chicken.. simple and delicious every time!

biscuits and tomatoes

Either Crawfish enchiladias (sp?) or spiced-rubbed pork tenderloin with an andouille sauce

My garlic chicken curry pasta...

Eggplant fusilli with capers, currants and toasted pine nuts

My famous Three Cheese Chicken Kiev.

Dahl soup and lemon bars

I would make something appropriate for the catagory of competition. If there was a chili cook off I don't think I could get very far by making clam chowder.

Asparagus frittata

Spicy Mexican tortilla soup with all the fixings, maybe some tacos al pastor with salsa verde

Mexican! Roasted garlic guacamole and some fire roasted poblano and tomato quesadillas. Num Num

Garlic Chicken with pasta

Thick, bone-in pork chops with port-cherry reduction and roasted fingerling potatoes topped with a gorgonzola-chive compound butter.

Scrambled eggs with goat cheese and onion, served on salt rising bread.

Maybe some stuffed squash I tried recently. Flavorful beef, onion & pepper mix filling the squash of your choice (I had success with acorn & butternut squash).

Or something involving shrimp - everyone loves shrimp. :-)

an upscale version of fried rice, topped with a quail egg and caviar.

Upscale version of my mango and goat cheese enchiladas.

I generally find that people love my chili and cornbread. Or perhaps make pecan pie.

It would have to be a pie, probably my key lime, but that one is either a tremendous success or a dismal failure. If I could find wild blueberries, I'd make my mother's blueberry pie and it would knock the judges' socks off.

Something really easy - I'm not much of a top chef!

Hm. BBQ chicken with some fancy-pants slaw.

Guess it depends on the competition.

For cooking, kimchi noodles with greens and a poached egg on top.

For baking, cardamom cake with pistachios and honey.

And no, they don't go together.

A dish I call Pasta Da Stephie, a cream sauce made with Madeira, mushrooms, chicken, and penne pasta.

If I were on a Top Chef competition I'd make dessert, since few of them can make good desserts.

real tacos

a dessert -- either a pie or sugar cookies (decorated, of course!)

I make killer Seafood Alfredo. I'd also have garlic bread and a nice glass of wine paired with the dish.

If it was a quickfire, totally my chili.

I don't know why I'd be foolish enough to end up in a cooking competition, but I guess I'd make a vegetarian chili. Or some really killer blonde brownies!

Mushroom beef barley soup.

garlic shrimp

Definitely depends on the challenge and the available ingredients...I would probably lean towards a re-interpretation of a "classic" dish like beef bourgonoine....

Definitely depends on the challenge and the available ingredients...I would probably lean towards a re-interpretation of a "classic" dish like beef bourgonoine....

Of course, it depends on a type of the competition, but I'd probably make either a shrimp dish (like, shrimp, sausage and pineapple skewers, or brown rice, shrimp and asparagus salad), or some kind of a quiche.

Olive oil poached salmon steak with spicy olive salad and roasted corn in the husk

Chawanmushi would probably be my entry. :)

i wonder if i'd have enough time to make some homemade dumplings

I'd bake chocolate chip cookies. If they can help you sell your house, maybe they can help you win the bake-off contest.

I would definitely bake something, probably some bittersweet chocolate, hazelnut and toffee cookies. YUM.

I'd have to go dessert - I always bake pies for group gatherings.

I would make grilled stuffed squid. It's a little bit different, but really tasty.

Nutella and banana "calzone"

My DEEP dish lasagna w/ homemade meat sauce, 6 types of cheese, and grilled balsamic portabella's

or my boursin and green onion smashed potatoes

Double Chocolate Walnut Biscotti

Chinese food, as it's what I do best - I do make a mean hot & sour soup!

Simple Fried Rice always wins the hearts of my friends.

Chicken and dumplings. Yum!

A really, REALLY good pizza.

Something with Bacon... Bacon never loses.

I'd make a chocolate mousse.......so good!

Shrimp scampi with linguine

Roasted Ratatouille or Lentil Salad with Roasted Peppers and Goat Cheese

I guess I would have to stick to something I know that I can do. Maybe corn pudding or some form of pie.

No idea. This would require days and days of thought. Off the top of my head, I'd go with something Cuban - maybe my roast pork shoulder with guava and sour oranges. No one every makes Cuban food on Top Chef. Or maybe the most perfect and succulent Cuban sandwich...

Baked stuffed potatoes with lobster, gruyere and roasted garlic and a simple green salad.

Risotto Primavera with fresh walnut pesto and shaved parmesan. It's my signature dish, and there's a few secret (read: unusual) ingredients that make it yummy. It's simple and delcious--nothing moleculary gastronomical about it though :)

lemon pudding cake

I would make BBQ beef

I'm a baker, so I would win by making the best wedding cake they've ever seen!

I would make homemade Manhattan-style clam chowder made with local clams and veggies from my garden. Thanks for the giveaway!

Beef and bean chili. It's traditional chili-style, but man, is it good.

corn dogs

I think about this often when I watch Top Chef and the answer is always "I have no idea how they come up with stuff so quickly." I plan meals a week in advance, not on two seconds notice! But, since I've got the luxury of time now: rosemary pound cake would knock 'em dead.

Probably chocolate fondant - simple yet amazing.

I would probably take some pork loin chops and marinate them for two days in white wine with some salt and pepper. Then I would just sear it in a pain and put it under the broiler for a little bit.

Something simple that taste good

I would likely prepare something along the lines of a curried pot pie or a turkey/sweet potato/pea/turnip shepherd's pie. I like savory pies. They're also easy to do in small portions.

Or I could do what I did last night and make pesto, coat some pasta with it, and sautee garlic, onion, green pepper, peas, and sun-dried tomatoes (and maybe a light white fish of some kind) to accompany.

Butterflied filet mignon stuffed with brie on a pool of dried cranberry/balsamic reduction

German Chocolate cheesecake...YUUUUMMMMM

My Bolognese sauce and veal meatballs.

My loaded chicken spinach salad. Always a hit!

Every competition is somehow themed... how could I choose? I made this killer scallops dish in a saffron cream sauce once. If i could remember how I made it, that's what I'd do.

Well, my husband's family always has me make the rolls for any holiday. Plus, I have to quadruple the recipe, so I guess they're pretty good!

I think it would depend on the competition, but an opening dish for Top Chef might be pan seared grouper on a white bean puree with braised leeks.

i would prepare a nouveau vietnamese dish. Starting off with foam of green papaya, topping that with foam of fish sauce and foam of basil.

mmm shrimp pomodoro!

Outrageously good Asian three pepper deviled eggs with soy, pink and white peppercorns and ground black pepper. Or a savory such as pork tenderloin accompanied by a savory-sweet sorbert or ice cream, such as apple-Calvados-black pepper.

My great-great grandma's Brown Edge cookies. They basically consist of butter and sugar - so good!

I would make my Mom's Spaghetti with Meatballs and "Popat".

Crawfish and creamy grits with a Tasso gravy

definitely would depend on the challenge requirements and what ingredients are available... i probably try to make something Asian or a twist on a classic...

hmm, my non-winning recipe would probably be the only remotely sophisticated thing i've ever concocted from scratch: pappardelle with roasted cauliflower, lemon & capers in mascarpone/cream sauce. okay, the pasta wasn't from scratch...

Pan fried pecan and cornmeal encrusted grouper with a tomatillo-jalapeno chutney ... and I'm now hungry.

I'd whip up some fried chicken and mashed potatoes with cheese and make my grandma proud!!

I'd probably do what I enjoy most - a fresh artisan bread with one or two flavored butters.

Fried Chicken. I know it sounds simple but who can resist perfectly fried chicken, right?

If it was a dessert competition I would make either peanut butter cup cheesecake or cookie dough cheesecake which is my hubby's favorite.

Pineapple cake

I would make my fabulous shrimp cakes with pickled ginger, cilantro and sweet hot chili sauce.

meatloaf, i make it goooood

Beef Wellington with all the trimmings

If I were in a cooking competition and could cook what ever dish I wanted, it would be Hangtown Fry - a combination of eggs, oysters and bacon.

A new favorite, when I was cleaning out the fridge one day, is a deconstructed california sushi roll salad with brown rice (we are in brown rice country in northern CA) instead of sushi rice, with a wasabi dressing, toasted black and white sesame seeds, fake crab (the texture is more appropriate for the salad versus the real thing), avocado, minced ginger. Yum!

The only thing I can make without having to follow a recipe is fried rice! I'd suck in any cooking competition.

My famous chili.

Something with bacon. Anything with bacon. Who doesn't like bacon?

Either ta'amaya wrapped in pita bread with cucumbers and tomatoes or strawberry cheesecake. Thanks for the great contest!!!

Something that HOLDS WELL, so probably beef bourguignon. It has everything a diner could love -- wine, beef, bacon, unassuming vegetables, and you can pair it with practically any starch.

Alternately: my flourless chocolate cake with raspberry sauce and lightly sweetened bourbon whipped cream.

I would make a butternut squash ravioli with maple-sage brown butter. Simply divine!

I would make either French Onion Soup (my friends love it) or if the ingredients were really fresh and good, I'd make Ratatouille.

my grandma's gravy with meatballs, bracciole, pork chops and sausage and homemade gnocchi.

miso-sake marinated fish with forbidden black rice and baby bok choy

double-baked macaroni-n-3-cheese muffins in a corn-bread crust, made with mild cheddar, gruyere, and mozzarella, with chicken sausage add-ins.

My version of Greek Turkey Burgers.

Sesame crusted tuna steaks (extra rare) with black rice and greens.

My mom's cheesecake

Stir-fried veggies. Perfectly cooked, hot and crisp, they're great. And the closest I come to impressive.

I would totally make my pimento cheese served on hot skinny cornbread. A Southern masterpiece!

"crack brownies"

I'd have to make my signature carrot cake with cream cheese frosting

Arroz con pollo... the right way with crunchy rice on the bottom. Though eliemalone's idea for "crack brownies" sounds smart.

Oddly enough, I'd make my famous "Rice-a-Roni Meatballs". Of course I would doctor them up with some exotic mushrooms and really good meat stock.

My specialty....

Hook cheddar and gruyere matzoballs in a bacon garlic duck stock.

Tony Bourdain would finally be mine.

It would have to be my lasagna. When my Cuban mom-in-law asked for it on her birthday (she doesn't ever make anything not Cuban) I knew it was time to document my method.

lobster spaghetti

korean style short ribs two ways (soy braised and grilled) with apple and asian pear kimchi

seafood lasagna

Shrimp scampi

mac and cheese

some kind of savory cheesecake, depending on the contest theme and time of year.

I love this show so much, what a great prize! I think I would make the tastiest shrimp etouffee' for a competition. Thank you so much!

I would make a Rosemary and garlic infused Roast Chicken.

something from chicken....maybe chicken mozzarella or chicken chili

Since I'm not a Top Chef (I'm barely a BOTTOM Chef) ... I have no idea what I'd make! That's why I NEED this cookbook!!!

I would make a tasty soup.

I'd cook my famous chili. This is not a chili for cowards.

A grouper and jack cheese sandwich with chipolte lime mayo, tomato, red onion, bib lettuce, tossed french bread with a side of french fried sweet potatoes with tartar sauce.

downed with a corona an lime,

and a fattie for dessert

I would probably make a lemon layer cake I recently made for Easter. I combined a couple recipes and altered things a bit, so I can fairly claim this as my own creation!

charred marinated artichokes with homemade pasta, pignoli nuts, fresh locatelli and cold pressed extra virgin olive oil

my special lasagna

I make an outstanding chicken fried rice so I guess I'd go with that.

i would cook my ward wining elpaso scrambled eggs wn 5th place in a cooking contest and hasbeen pulished in a cook book and in local city newspaper

It depends on the contest ... but if I were on Top Chef (I can daydream, can't I?), I'd come prepared with a bunch of kick-ass desserts, because nobody wants to make them and the judges seem to be impressed by chefs who pull them off.

Fried chicken (as taught to me by my mother... which I'd be sure to mention, for the emotional appeal), grilled brussel sprouts (accompanied by an extended speech about eating healthy), secret recipe mashed potatoes (because I clearly haven't driven home the "down home" aspect of the challenge yet) and a shot of whiskey (because I've never worked with a chef who wasn't at least a moderate drinker).

For desert: Back talk and indignation to the judges when they declare my meal "too pedestrian" and criticize it for "not telling a story".

Carolina Barbeque with Southern Cole Slaw. Mmmm, mmmm.

Chai pudding!
So delicious it should be illegal!

I would make something crazy like fish poached in watermelon consomme with sriracha sauce. I would probably lose in the first week.

New York Style Cheesecake

My mother-in-law's recipe for beef barbeque!The best I've ever tasted!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Grilled lamb with garlic sauce

Lasagna. It's the dish I cook the best.

Hmmmm...some kind of dessert. Right now, a strawberry and rhubarb concoction.

soup! my favorite food.

pumpkin spice cake. it's not fancy, it's just delicious.

Eggplant Rollatini

pb & jelly sammich!!

my favorite pesto stuffed turkey breast!

Definity my fabulous pigs in the blanket...yum!!!!

Hopefully the competition would be about comfort food, so I could make my famous meatloaf with green peppers and swiss cheese.

nothing fancy, but an awesome cabbage stew!

My Blueberry Kugel...it's what I make whenever we have a gathering and is a big favorite

I'd make a Spanish egg dish that I learned to make while in Spain.

A Russian-German food. Matte Glace (cottage cheese dumplings) which I learned to make from my mother-in-law who immigrated to America when she was about 6 months old.

Chocolate Amaretto Cheesecake.

Spicy linguine with white clam sauce.

linguine with seafood (blue crab, shrimp, mussels, clams)

My mama's "Chop Suey".

Apple Cake - layers of thinly sliced apple with lemon juice, cinnamon and sugar with a rustic cobbled crust

cucumber sandwiches.

Robiola grilled cheese with chives.

Spaghetti with meatballs

chocolate mousse

Chicken and andouille gumbo - simple but with complex flavors

I'd make grilled cheese! Fear my wicked culinary skillz!

my special salmon-unagi dish - always a success!

apple pie from scratch

barbecue pulled pork

My mom's spring rolls

Probably my Peanut Butter Pasta. Sounds odd but it's really very yummy! It's not "beautiful" on the plate though ... wonder how many points I'd lose for that? :)

Beef with balsamic glazed onions and roasted fingerling potatoes

i would make my middle easter triangles- people can't get enough when i make them

I'd make my signaure Dutch Apple Pie with sugared pecans on top!

almond joy cake:
chocolate coconut cake and almond coconut cream cheese frosting. cover it in shaved coconut for a beautiful fluffy treat!

Macaroni salad!

My mother's home made raviolis with bracioli, but only after a LOT of practice!

singaporean chicken curry and scallion roti pancakes!! unless it was a challenge where the food had to be moved, then i'd omit the pancakes!

butternut squash and apple galette with stilton

mom's take on spiedini: veal roll stuffed with cheese, bread crumbs, garlic, and prociutto

My tiramisu has been known to garner better compliments from friends than any tiramisu in the County.

some type of baked good - cookies probably

Mini meatloaf wrapped in bacon

I would make my famous New York style cheesecake!

My Spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup Rocks!!

spinach and artichoke dip with pita chips

I would make Chocolate Eclair Cake. Our favorite!

the posh version of my homemade mac and cheese....never gets old.

Since I don't really cook it would probably have to be either Noodle Roni with stuff added or a sandwich. I make a pretty good sandwich.

chicken pot pie - it's dangerous

Venison lasagna with ricotta and homemade noodles.

Id prepare my southern style pot roast.. its wonderful!


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Fresh pasta with Bolognese sauce for sure!

Chicken wing dip!!! With hoity-toity ingredients, of course. Seriously, every time I make it there is a mad stampede for the fatty goodness.

My hubby and I make a mean fettucine alfredo.

Evening, My semi-famous white chili! Thanks, Cindi

seafood risotto....tasty goodness

chicken scampi over whole wheat penne, and walnuts and bacon over asparugus with a lemon vinagrette

I have an awesome recipe for oven barbequed chicken that even my fussy 12-year-old son asks for frequently. Thank you for the contest!

I'd make my homemade chicken pot pie. The whole family loves it.

Spanish Birds; a roll of pounded beef with boiled egg, klobasa, pickle and mustard concealed inside. All swimming in a lucious brown sauce with those same ingredients minced and stirred in. Serve these alongside steamed rice or bread dumplings.