Top Chef got off to a fast start last night by eliminating a contestant for the first time after the Quick Fire Challenge. The Quick Fire Challenge is tasked of the chefs at the beginning of each episode and is, just as it sounds, a short-timed challenge where each contestant must create something to impress the guest judge.
Last night's challenge was somewhat different. As tasked by Top Judge Tom Colicchio, each chef had to complete the first of 3 technical challenges, beginning with peeling 15 apples with a knife (no peelers allowed). The first nine finished were safe, the rest had to do the second challenge - Brunoise the apples. This was another new culinary term for me, but basically Brunoise is just a fancy way of dicing the apples. Something the remaining competitors attested to as being difficult. Again, the first 4 finishers were safe from elimination.
The remaining four were tasked to cook something to impress Tom, who would make the final decision. Oh, and when will these people learn? Don't they watch the show before auditioning? Left for elimination were Lauren, from Savannah, Ga., whose hubby is in Iraq; Patrick, 21-yr.-old CIA student; Leah, a sous chef; and Rhadika, whose parents are from India. Rhadika impressed with her pan-seared pork with apple chutney, while Leah was saved by her scallops with apples.
However Patrick and Lauren both opted to make salads - SALADS! The judges never go for the easy-way-out salads! A salad is what single-handedly cost Marcel the title of Top Chef in Season 2!
So, it was curtains for Leah, who said disappointedly as she left, "I didn't even get to see the Top Chef kitchen."

The remaining contestants were paired up by choosing knives enscribed with different neighborhoods of NYC, each with a specific ethnic food type. After spending their first evening bonding, during which Stefan and Hosea had a heated fight over vinaigrette, everyone was sent to their neighborhoods to shop for foods. Each had to prepare a single entrée to compete against their neighborhood partner at Judges Table. They had two hours to cook.
Stefan beat Ariane for his Middle Eastern dish, Dan beat Pat in Chinese cuisine, Hosea trumped Carla for Russian faire, James bested Richard for Greek, Leah topped Melissa in Italian, Eugene beat Alex for Indian, Jill won over Rhadika for Jamaican and Jeff beat Fabio for Latin cuisine.
Each losing contestant was fair game for elimination. At Judges Table Eugene, Stefan and Leah were congratulated for being the judges' favorites, with Stefan being chosen as the winner. He receives immunity next week.
Ariane, Patrick and Carla weren't as lucky, making the bottom three. CIA student Patrick was told to pack his knives and go, apparently his black noodles were the judges' bane!
Unfortunately last night didn't provide any good comments from the judges (Judges' Table, like the judging on Project Runway, is usually my fave part), however, gay contestant Richard provided a little comic relief with his crushing on judge Tom Colicchio.
"Tom is cute!," he proclaimed, adding he'd like to take him out for a beer.

The Cute Colicchio
Important Note: As told by the judges last night, only once in the history of the show did the winner of the first challenge NOT go on to win Top Chef. If memory serves me right, that would be Season 3's Trey, who was ousted after the dreaded Restaurant Wars challenge. So keep an eye on Stefan - I'm also watching Eugene, he seems impressive.
Top Chef repeats tonight at 9 p.m. on Bravo, right after an encore presentation of this week's Real Housewives of Atlanta.For more on Top Chef, visit http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/best_of/index.php

BTW, last night's PBS season debut of Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work was really good. It told of the Queen's U.S. visit from the British POV, which is always interesting. Make sure to mark next Wednesday night for the second episode, featuring preparation for the Queen's birthday celebration! For info visit http://www.pbs.org/opb/monarchy/

On TV tonight: You already know what's at the top of my viewing list - CBS, 8 pm, Survivor: Gabon. The conniving and scheming is getting deliciously evil - who's going home tonight?

Jen Aniston
The next biggest thing, I guess, is Jennifer Aniston's guest appearance on NBC's 30 Rock at 9:30 pm. She'll be stalking Alec Baldwin's character. Aniston stops by The Oprah Winfrey Show today as well. Check local listings.

Another big one for NBC is tonight's episode of ER - Dr. Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards), who died in 2002, will make an appearance. No, don't think ghosts, it's apparently in flashbacks.
And, according to TV Guide, Noah Wiley says that he, Eric LaSalle and, are you sitting down?, George Clooney will all be back for the series finale in May. (Clooney, schedule permitting, of course.) For info visit http://www.nbc.com/ER/

Ooooohhhh Clooney!
Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew continues at 10 p.m. on VH1. I have nothing new on this one, but I think last week's episode airs at 9 p.m. and features the Doc's interview with Rodney King about "the beating," if you know what I mean ...For more info or to watch visit http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/Celebrity_rehab_2_with_dr_drew/series.jhtml?source=globalnav

The Mean Girls
And remember back when Lindsay Lohan was a sweet, beloved actress (no? Think hard). Well I thought she was totally cute in the remake of Disney's The Parent Trap. Anyway, before she got all spoiled and went off the deep end (and got a girlfriend), she starred in a funny, teen flick called Mean Girls. Written by SNL alumn, 30 Rock star/creator and Sarah Palin impersonator-extraordinaire Tina Fey, and featuring a hilarious turn by Rachel McAdams, this little film is a gem worth watching. It airs tonight on ABC Family at 8 p.m.

Survivor Recap/Weekend Watch tomorrow