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Los Angeles
October 17, 2006

Los Angeles

Top Chef: Los Angeles is the second season of American reality television series Top Chef and was filmed first in Los Angeles, California, and concluded in Waikoloa Village, Hawaii. The season premiered on Bravo on October 18, 2006 and ended on January 31, 2007. Padma Lakshmi took over as host, with Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons returning as judges. Filming began in Westwood, near UCLA in Los Angeles, on August 10, 2006. The number of contestants expanded from 12 to 15. The prize money awarded to the Top Chef was $100,000. The winning recipe from each week's episode is 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 reunion episode of season one as the reason why no reunion episode was filmed for season two.

01. Into the Fire

Fifteen new contestants are introduced for Top Chef's second season in Los Angeles by new host Padma Lakshmi.

Guest Judge: Harold Dieterle.

QuickFire Challenge: Create a Dish Using the Flambé Technique. Elimination Challenge: Create a Dish Using all Five Mystery Box Ingredients.

42min
October 18, 2006

02. Eastern Promise

An Asian culinary theme runs through this episode's challenges. First the contestants put their own twists on sushi, then they work as teams to participate in a charity event.

Guest Judge: Hiroshi Shima – QuickFire Challenge.

Guest Judge: Ming Tsai – Elimination Challenge

QuickFire Challenge: Create a Sushi Dish in 30 Minutes.

Elimination Challenge: Work as Two Teams to Create One Hot and One Cold Dish Using Flavors from Korea and Vietnam.

42min
October 25, 2006

03. Food for the People

The 13 remaining contestants are asked to make food for everyday people: beach goers and firemen.

Guest Judge: Stephen Bulgarelli.

QuickFire Challenge: Create an Original Ice Cream Flavor.

T.G.I. Friday's Elimination Challenge: Create a Dish Updating a Childhood Classic.

42min
November 1, 2006

04. Less is More

Attention to detail will be rated during this round. The chefs are asked to create a tidbit from not so tidbit-y choices, and then must serve a meal to kids at a fitness camp.

Guest Judge: Suzanne Goin

QuickFire Challenge: Create an Amuse-Bouche. Elimination Challenge: Create a Meal That Does not Exceed 500 Calories.

42min
November 8, 2006

05. Social Service

This round is all about leftovers and the chefs’ ability to be creative with difficult ingredients. They must make fine cuisine from truly disgusting fare, and then create a multi-course affair from only a restaurant’s refrigerated remains of the night before.

Guest Judge: Michelle Bernstein

QuickFire Challenge: Create a Dish using "Offal" the Leftover Parts of Animals.

Elimination Challenge: Create a Luncheon for Sixty Using the Leftovers from the Social Menu.

42min
November 15, 2006

06. Thanksgiving

Taking the traditional and turning it on its ear is tonight's theme. The chefs are asked to make canned food pretty, and then a smaller group must make a "cutting edge" Thanksgiving dinner.

Guest Judge: Anthony Bourdain

QuickFire Challenge: Create a Tasty Dish Using at Least Three Canned Ingredients. Elimination Challenge: Create a Thanksgiving Meal with a Twist.

42min
November 22, 2006

07. The Raw and the Cooked

This round's theme is all about working with limitations. The contestants must create a dish that is not cooked, and then adapt when they're asked to plan a dish without knowing the kitchen equipment available to them.

Guest Judge: Raphael Lunetta

QuickFire Challenge: Create an Entree Using Only Raw Food Without any Cooking.

Elimination Challenge: Create a Gourmet Breakfast for Mystery Athletes.

42min
December 6, 2006

08. Holiday Spirit

It's all a party when the contestants are asked to put their skills to work on both hors d'oeuvres and spirits. This round focuses on entertaining as the chefs are first asked to create an original drink accompanied by a small snack, then they must change gears and cater a holiday event.

Guest Judge: Kristin Woodward – QuickFire Challenge Guest Judge: Lee Hefter – Elimination Challenge

QuickFire Challenge: Create an Original Bailey's Holiday Cocktail.

Elimination Challenge: Cater a Hollywood Holiday Party.

42min
December 13, 2006

09. Seven

Tonight's theme focuses on the chefs' creativity in using food as an expression of art. They first must create a dish using one color – a hard task for the color-blind chef, then the contestants are "given" their inspiration for a theme to a star-studded dinner.

Guest Judge: Ted Allen QuickFire & Elimination

Guest Judge: Roberto Ivan Elimination

QuickFire Challenge: Create a Dish Using One Color.

Elimination Challenge: Create a Seven Course Dinner Inspired by the Seven Deadly Sins.

42min
January 3, 2007

10. Unhappy Customers

This round's theme deals with vision and execution, challenging the chefs' to create original ideas that can also be achieved. First up is snack food limited by three condiments, then on to this season's version of "Restaurant Wars".

Guest Judge: Mike Yakura

Kraft QuickFire Challenge: Create a Gourmet Snack Dish.

Elimination Challenge: Create a Restaurant Concept & Menu, then Execute It with Your Team.

42min
January 10, 2007

11. Sense and Sensuality

The sensuality of food runs through this round's challenges as the five remaining chefs are asked to determine what they want the diner to experience and then create a dish that carries this through. First up is everything chocolate, then they must prepare a meal for couples who are all celebrating anniversaries.

Guest Judge: Eric Ripert

Nestlé Chocolatier QuickFire Challenge: Create a Sweet or Savory Dish using Nestlé Chocolatier.

Elimination Challenge: Create a Romantic Dinner with Paired Wines.

42min
January 17, 2007

12. Finale (1)

Location, location, location! The remaining chefs travel to Hawaii for this round, and must use food native to the island for a luau that ends with naming the final contestants.

Guest Judge: Alan Wong

QuickFire Challenge: There is none in this round.

Elimination Challenge: Prepare a Birthday Luau, Reformulating Traditional Luau Fare into each Chef's Own Style.

Round Twelve.

42min
January 24, 2007

13. Finale (2)

The final two contestants battle for the title of "Top Chef."

Guest Judge: Hubert Keller

Final Challenge: Cook the Best Five Course Meal Each Chef has Ever Prepared in his Life.

42min
January 31, 2007