Top Chef: Los Angeles is the second season of the American reality television series Top Chef. It was first filmed in Los Angeles, before concluding in Waikoloa Village, Hawaii. The season premiered on October 18, 2006, and ended on January 31, 2007. Padma Lakshmi replaced Katie Lee Joel as the host, with Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons returning as judges. The winning recipe from each week's episode was featured on Bravo's Top Chef website and prepared by Season 1 contestant Lee Anne Wong in a web video called The Wong Way to Cook. Bravo cited negative viewer reaction to the Season 2 chefs' attitudes and overall behavior as the reason why no reunion episode was filmed. In the season finale, Ilan Hall was declared the winner over runner-up Marcel Vigneron. Sam Talbot was voted Fan Favorite.
Contestants
Fifteen chefs competed in Top Chef: Los Angeles. NameHometownCurrent ResidenceAgeElia AboumradMexico City, MexicoLas Vegas, Nevada23Otto BorsichVermilion, OhioLas Vegas, Nevada46Marisa ChurchillSan Francisco, California28Cliff CrooksNew York, New YorkWest Caldwell, New Jersey28Carlos FernandezHoboken, New JerseyFort Lauderdale, Florida36Betty FraserSan Francisco, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California44Mia Gaines-AltOakland, CaliforniaOakdale, California32Ilan HallGreat Neck, New YorkNew York, New York24Michael MidgleyStockton, CaliforniaLodi, California28 Josie Smith-MalaveMiami, FloridaBrooklyn, New York31Emily SprisslerWashington, D.C.Las Vegas, Nevada30Suyai SteinhauerOxford, EnglandNew York, New York29Sam TalbotCharlotte, North CarolinaNew York, New York28Frank TerzoliSan Diego, California39Marcel VigneronBainbridge Island, WashingtonLas Vegas, Nevada26
Marcel Vigneron and Elia Aboumrad returned to compete in Top Chef: All-Stars. Josie Smith-Malave returned for Top Chef: Seattle. Vigneron later competed in Top Chef Duels, and returned again for Top Chef: Colorado, competing in the Last Chance Kitchen. Sam Talbot returned for Top Chef: Charleston.
Contestant progress Episode #12345678910111213Quickfire ChallengeWinner(s) Sam Cliff Cliff Carlos Sam CliffFrankIlanMiaSam Marcel Cliff Michael SamMarcel Sam ContestantElimination Challenge Results1 IlanWINLOW IN IN WIN IN IN HIGHLOW IN HIGHLOW WINNER2 MarcelLOW LOW IN HIGH IN HIGH IN HIGHLOW IN LOWWIN 3 Sam IN HIGH HIGH LOW HIGH IN LOW WIN HIGH LOW HIGHOUT EliaHIGH LOW IN IN LOW WIN WINLOW HIGH IN LOWOUT5 Cliff IN LOW HIGH LOW HIGH IN LOW LOW INLOWDSQ 6 Michael IN HIGH LOW LOW HIGH LOW IN LOW WINOUT7 BettyHIGHWIN WINHIGHLOW LOW HIGH HIGH OUT 8 MiaHIGH HIGH IN LOW LOW IN HIGH WDR 9 Frank IN LOW LOW WIN IN IN OUT 10 CarlosLOW HIGH IN LOW LOW OUT11 Josie IN HIGH IN IN OUT Marisa IN LOW IN LOWOUT 13 Emily IN HIGHOUT14 OttoLOWWDR15 SuyaiOUT : The chef(s) did not receive immunity for winning the Quickfire Challenge. : Otto voluntarily withdrew before Lakshmi eliminated anyone, deciding that his misconduct over the unpaid lychees contributed the most to his team's loss. : After allegations of cheating, the judges decided not to eliminate anyone. Consequently, two chefs were eliminated in the following episode. : There were five winners in the Quickfire Challenge. These winners did not compete in the Elimination Challenge. : Mia voluntarily withdrew before Lakshmi eliminated anyone, fearing Elia would be eliminated. : Following the Elimination Challenge, no winning team was declared. The Bottom 3 was decided based on each chef's individual performance. : Cliff was disqualified for aggressive physical contact with Marcel. No one else was eliminated going into the finale. (WINNER) The chef won the season and was crowned "Top Chef". (RUNNER-UP) The chef was a runner-up for the season. (WIN) The chef won the Elimination Challenge. (HIGH) The chef was selected as one of the top entries in the Elimination Challenge, but did not win. (IN) The chef was not selected as one of the top or bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge and was safe. (LOW) The chef was selected as one of the bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge, but was not eliminated. (OUT) The chef lost the Elimination Challenge. (WDR) The chef voluntarily withdrew from the competition. (DSQ) The chef was disqualified from the competition.
Episodes
References Notes
Footnotes
External links Official website