Atlanta chef Richard Blais returns to TV on a "Top Chef" spinoff show called "Duels" Wednesday night. He competes against fellow "Top Chef" regular Marcel Vigneron, who was runner up season two. Both are "molecular gastronomy" experts and pride themselves on their creativity.
The winner of this challenge goes to a finale with nine others to vie for $100,000.
I couldn't reach Blais for comment but I did get to view the episode in advance and speak briefly with Vigneron.
"We have a great relationship," said Vigneron. "We have a lot of mutual respect. It's an honor and pleasure to cook against him."
Blais, the winner of 'Top Chef All Stars," remains ultra competitive and is ready to rumble. "I have a crown to defend," he said on the show. "I don't want to be a one-time winner. I want to be a dynasty!"
The show is structured with three challenges. Each contestants creates his or her own challenge, which technically gives them an advantage in that challenge.
Vigneron, for instance, wanted each of them to cook something hot and cold side by side, temperature wise, so he could show off his ice cream.
"That's like a challenge my five year old would probably come up with," Blais said, in total smack down mode.
Blais then chose a burger challenge since he runs multiple Flip Burger Boutiques. Winner of each challenge pockets $10,000. Vigernon was unfazed by Blais' concept. "I'm not above a burger, bro," he said.
When Blais watched Vignernon put an egg on his burger, he used an analogy that hits me right smack on the head: "To me, the fried egg is the fedora in the club. It happened a couple of years ago. Now people shouldn't wear them. You put an egg on a burger. It's kind of like that." (I started wearing my fedora in 2009. Five years is a long time in trendiness world, eh?)
The third challenge decides who moves on to the finals. In their episode, they had to make three dishes. The first one has to look like one thing but taste like another. The second would be eaten blindfolded so would have to have rich aromatics. The third needs to play on different textures.
It's a fun hour of TV. Don't miss it if you're a "Top Chef" aficionado.
STOP READING IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE EPISODE
Blais ultimately edged out Vigneron in a very close contest.
Blais now has three Flip Burgers in Atlanta and one in Birmingham, The Spence in Midtown and Juniper & Ivy in San Diego. Vigneron is planning to open two restaurants later this year in Los Angeles side by side, one for quick meals and another more formal.
Other duels in future weeks will also feature past contestants from "Top Chef" and "Top Chef Masters" Among the challenges include Atlantan Kevin Gillespie (season 6 runner up) vs. Art Smith (Top Chef Masters, seasons 1 and 4) ; Shirley Chung (season 11) vs. Brooke Williamson (runner up Season 10); Antonia Lofaso (season 4 winner) vs. Mike Isabella (All Stars runner up) and Kristen Kish (season 11 winner) vs. Stephanie Izard (season 4 winner).
A losing chef will compete to get into the finals in a separate competition so there will be 10 total finalists gunning for $100,000.
TV preview
"Top Chef: Duels," 10 p.m. Wednesdays, starting August 6, Bravo
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