Fans of Bravo’s Top Chef only have to wait a few more days for the fifth season season to premiere. Top Chef: New York brings a new batch of talented chefs to primetime television and though the panel will mostly feature familiar faces, a new judge has signed on, Toby Young. This week, Bravo has launched the Top Chef restaurant finder on their site. Over 40 contestants and judges have submitted their picks for the best restaurants in just about every major city including: New York, Las Vegas, Aspen, Miami and even Tokyo, Venice, and Athens. Fans can search by city, season, or by chef and judge.

Top Chef fanatics can not only check our recommended restaurants but also the restaurants that employ former contestants. Season 1 contestant Stephen Asprinio opened Forte di Asprinio in West Palm Beach this March. At his restaurant, he serves his signature dish, which was featured on Top Chef: a butter-poached Maine lobster served with a caramelized cauliflower and finished with an airy saffron vanilla sauce. "People remember this dish from the show," he said. "They get excited when they see it on the menu because they want to try it themselves."

Antonia Lofaso, of Season 4, has created a new bar menu for the Foxtail Lounge in West Hollywood. Her fellow castmate Erik Hopfinger is currently the executive chef at San Francisco’s Circa. Richard Blais is the creative director of Flip, based in Atlanta while Spike Mendehlson is currently at the helm is the owner of his very own place, Good Stuff Eatery in Washington, D.C.

Of all the winners of Top Chef, only season 1 champ Harold Deiterle has his restaurant open for business, Perilla, which is located in New York City. Other winners, however, have plans in the works. Season 2 winner Ilan Hall will soon launch a restaurant in Los Angeles. Season 3 winner Hung Hunyh is planning to open a New York hot spot while season 4 winner Stephanie Izard has been checking out Chicago for her place.


- Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV Staff Writer
Source: USA Today, RealityTV Magazine
(Image courtesy of Bravo)