Top Chef The Cookbook Hardcover – March 20, 2008

As a dedicated fan of TOP CHEF from the very first season ,who always wonders what I would do with the challenges (despite the fact, I'm only a "wanna be decent cook"), I bought this book because I always wonder what ingredients are actually available to use in the TOP CHEF Kitchen for those challenges.Afterall, how could anyone create some of those "out of the vending machine in 20 minutes" or "canned food" dishes without a few extra ingredients? What, I wondered, if I were doing the challenges would I be able to use?This book delivers on that question and more . While, apparently, the pantry ingredients for each challenge are TOP secret - the list of staples provided regularly and recipes from the various challenges - give a good sense of what the challenges truly consisted.Judge perspectives, unique profiles of the contestants, recaps of the seasons and challenges, and sample applications --- all make this like a behind-the-scenes tour with old friends. Plus, it's laden with beautiful food pictures - and enough cooking tips, ideas and information to keep any amatuer chef happy.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ANY TOP CHEF FAN.I also purchased  Think Like a Chef , which is the selection you want to go for if you're more interested in cooking great recipes and learning about Tom's culinary perspective, than the behind-the-scenes look of the show (you won't find online) this one provides.

I watch the show and wanted the chance to cook some of their dishes. I could care less about the show info and stories that are throughout the book, I really just wanted recipes. Theres a spicy street food (I think it was pork with a jalapenos, carrot, and vinegar slaw) recipe that really was great. I did find some recipes I will never try as they include ingredients I've never seen and have no clue how to get them. Would have liked more useable recipes, less show "fluff", and maybe a little more focus on technique. I guess I was expected and wanted a cookbook, and this was really part cookbook part fan book.

Beutifull book. Exactly what I expected. I dont know if the description said this but mine has a fabric cover which is nice. My wife loved it.

I didn't happen upon Top Chef the series until it's second season but once I discovered it, I was hooked. As a person who really enjoys (what we call in my "wherever") "bangin' the pans together, just the word "chef" in it's title drew me in as much as any of the other cooking competition shows would've; given the subject matter. I mean, c'mon...I watch Iron Chef!!! This is not the average food one cooks at home. Who cooks this stuff? Anyway, there was something different about this series. Of course the formula is very similar if not identical to the likes of Top Design or Project Runway in which the contestants live, eat, sleep and go everywhere together. The difference is; not all of us can design, fit, sit down at a sewing machine and whip up what they hope will be fashion's next "new thing" in 20 minutes but (hopefully) many more can sling some food in a pan, cook it up, serve it up, sit down at a table and eat it, right? The complete journey on which the contestants embark really draws the viewer in and the book encompasses all that "stuff" in the guise of a cookbook and it wears it's costume well.The two cookbooks (there's another with just the "quick-fire challenge" recipes) do not disappoint. They have put together a complete and very satisfying summation of the competition which takes you right back to rooting for you favorite through winning recipes, photos, trivia, back-story and background on all the chefs in addition to the main judges, Tom, Gail and Padma as well as critiques and quotes by many of the guests judges, favorite sayings of the chefs, catch-phrases, who had the craziest hairdos, etc...oh yeah and more recipes. It's more than just a cookbook; it's an intense but enjoyable pictorial through all of the madness of the entire process of becoming Top Chef from beginning to end...and then there are the recipes. You will find it amazing to see just how much information the writers and editors were to include in this book. If you are a fan of the series; buy the book. If you're a fan of the series AND someone who actually "likes" to cook; what the heck are you waiting for? Buy the book. You'll love it.

As a long-time fan of Top Chef, the book lived up to all my expectations - enjoyed the background excerpts as well as the receipes - gives us wanna-be chefs courage to try them , discover new ingredients and engender much respect for the men and women creating our dinner when we go to that special restaurant. I could never undergo the pressure these Chefs endure - totally love the show - watching the creation of wonderful dishes that make your mouth water - Highly recommend this delightful, informative read - every Top Chef fan will love it!

I knew going into this that the cookbook had more of a lean on the "chef-testants" rather than the cooking, but I didn't expect the frequent drivel about show ideas or ponderings about who has the best hair, etc. There are a few nice recipes, but I would recommend getting something more recipe-focused if you are looking for the "meat" of the material.

Here's the low down on this book for full disclosure: It only covers the first 3 seasons of Top Chef and about 1/3 of the book covers the contestants and judges. That said, there are still a lot of awesome recipes and if you are a fan of the show the background information is fun. Just know that it's not just recipes.

Beautiful photos and great recipes but the real flavor in this cookbook is the inside info (like the answer to what caused that scar on Padma's arm), great pictures of the contestants (Harold is every bit as hot as Sam), to helpful hints and definitions ("What are black chicken and Geoduck?"), bios of the contestants, and of course the recipes I've been dying to try such as "Ilan's Fideos with Clams and Saffron" , "Dave's Truffle and Cognac Cream Macaroni and Cheese", and "Tiffani's Mirin-Glazed Sea Bass" to name just a few. If you love the show, this book is a treasure.

Good quality