Back to TV Shows Login to Watch
Top Chef Masters
2009 - 2013 6.7 (15 votes) 5 Seasons
Official Website
Genres
Reality
Networks
Bravo

Top Chef Masters

Overview

Top Chef Masters is an American reality competition series that airs on the cable television network Bravo, and premiered June 10, 2009. It is a spinoff of Bravo's hit show Top Chef. In the series, world-renowned chefs compete against each other in weekly challenges. This show is a contrast from Top Chef, which typically features younger professional cooks who are still rising in the food service industry.

Key Crew

Producer: Shauna Minoprio, Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz

Top Cast

Curtis Stone
Curtis Stone

Self - Host

Gail Simmons
Gail Simmons

Self - Judge

Hugh Acheson
Hugh Acheson

Self - Judge

Bryan Voltaggio
Bryan Voltaggio

Self - Contestant

Ruth Reichl

Self - Judge

Seasons

Season 1 poster
Season 1 (2009)

The first season of the American reality competition show Top Chef Masters was broadcast on Bravo. It is a spin-off of Bravo's hit show Top Chef. In the first season, 24 world-renowned chefs competed against each other in weekly challenges. The program took place in Los Angeles. In the season finale that premiered on August 19, 2009, Rick Bayless was crowned Top Chef Master.

10 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Masters Get Schooled
2009-06-10

In the premiere episode of "Top Chef Masters," Hubert Keller (Fleur de Lys), Christopher Lee (Aureole), Michael Schlow (Radius Restaurant), and Tim Love (The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro) are the first four chefs to draw knives and kick off a whole new level of culinary competition. The Master chefs are tasked with cooking dessert for a tough crowd of judges, Girl Scouts, and in the elimination challenge the acclaimed chefs must cook a three course meal in a college dorm room.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 2: The Lost Supper
2009-06-17

Top Chef season two's "Less is More" influences tonight's quickfire challenge, but there won't be any Cheetos in melted chocolate bars tonight as the next four chefs are asked to create an elegant amuse-bouche from vending machine fare. Then it's on to the elimination challenge where the show Lost acts the muse.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 3: Offal Tasty
2009-06-24

Tonight's quickfire challenge for the next group of four chefs comes from season four's "Seven", asking them to make a dish using color. Then they must sell upmarket street food using offal as the base ingredients.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 4: Magic Chef
2009-07-08

In the Quickfire, the four chefs take a page from season three's special "4 Star All Stars" when they find themselves manually challenged when they must cook an egg with one hand tied behind their backs- literally! Then it's on to a magically themed Elimination with Neil Patrick Harris as guest judge.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 5: Miniaturize Me
2009-07-15

The chefs are challenged to turn classic junk food items into fine-dining cuisine. The cast of Flipping Out are the diners for this challenge. Then, the chefs are challenged to create a mini 3-course "meal" for 100 people, without any help whatsoever. The meal must be based on an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 6: Trick in a Box
2009-07-22

The chefs are challenged to create a dish using items found in only one aisle of the grocery store, Whole Foods, with each chef drawing knives to determine their aisle. However, they only have a budget of $20. The diners for this challenge are workers at Whole Foods. Then, the chefs are challenged to make a meal using ingredients one of their fellow chefs have chosen for them with each chef drawing knives to see who they get paired with.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 7: Champions Round Begins
2009-07-29

The top six chefs get a surprise as they prepare to cook their signature dishes.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 8: Dietary Restrictions
2009-08-05

The five remaining chefs engage in a battle of burgers; guests actress Zooey Deschanel and filmmaker Morgan Spurlock.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 9: Masters of Disaster
2009-08-12

The four remaining chefs are challenge to identify ingredients blindfolded. Afterward, the chefs will be tested on their leadership talents and teaching skills when they cater an event.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 10: Top Chef Master
2009-08-19

Runtime: 60 min
Season 2 poster
Season 2 (2010)

The second season of the American reality competition show Top Chef Masters was announced on October 22, 2009. In addition, it was announced that Gail Simmons would be added as a critic. The season premiered on April 7, 2010 with 22 world-renowned chefs competing against each other in weekly challenges. In the season finale that premiered on June 9, 2010, Marcus Samuelsson was crowned Top Chef Master.

10 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: First Date Dinner
2010-04-07

The chefs are tasked with using aphrodisiac ingredients while creating dinners that would be appropriate for a first date.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 2: It's My Party
2010-04-14

The chefs cater a celebrity birthday party. This time it’s Mekhi Phifer and he’s requesting a soul food-themed feast for his birthday party. The chef’testants up to bat tonight are David Burke, Marcus Samuelsson, Monica Pope, Thierry Rautureau and Carmen Gonzalez.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 3: Pub Food
2010-04-21

Convincing high-brow clients of pub grub's merits is tonight's seemingly impossible challenge for the chefs as they try to show that flair and flavor can be found in other than haute cuisine. Competing chefs, Graham Elliot Bowles, Jonathan Waxman, Ludo Lefebvre, Mark Peel, Rick Moonen and Wylie Dufresne are tasked to reimagine old-school pub grub.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 4: Cast and Crew Meal
2010-04-28

op Chef Masters Season Two there are only five chefs left to compete in the first level for the final two spots in the champion round. Susur Lee, Rick Tramanto, Maria Hines, Debbie Gold, and Jody Adams. All but Susur have been awarded a James Beard. The chefs dabble in craft service as they prepare meals for the cast and crew of ABC's Modern Family.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 5: Wedding Wars
2010-05-05

Top Chef's brutal tag team relay begins the first champions round Quickfire, followed by the dreaded wedding elimination challenge—the first time the master chefs have seen this particular trial—and this time there's no cheats: the person with the lowest score packs their knives, so everyone must put his or her best dish forward… even if it is a wedding cake.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 6: Scary Surf & Turf
2010-05-12

The chefs are asked to create Quickfire dishes inspired by Simpsons characters who then judge them, and then they must turn their skills toward making offal tasty in a surf & turf presentation.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 7: Tailgating
2010-05-19

It's a Quickfire with a very specific focus: the leg. Once the chefs have butchered and prepared their dishes, they must then turn their skills to an even bigger challenge, preparing a tailgate feast for college football fans.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 8: Food of the Gods
2010-05-26

The Masters are challenged to create a divine dish inspired by a Greek God. The blind taste test returns with the "Name That Ingredient" Quickfire, and then the chefs look to Greece and the ancient gods as inspiration for their elimination dishes.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 9: Improv
2010-06-02

Taking inspiration from Top Chef Chicago's season four, the remaining chefs must use unusual pairings from Los Angeles' The Groundlings improv troupe to create dishes.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 10: Top Chef Master
2010-06-09

The remaining three chefs face their final challenge.

Runtime: 60 min
Season 3 poster
Season 3 (2011)

The third season of the American reality competition show Top Chef Masters was announced on March 2, 2011. In addition to the announcement, it was announced that celebrity chef Curtis Stone would serve as the new host. Food critic and author Ruth Reichl also joined as a new series judge. The season premiered on April 6, 2011 with 12 award-winning chefs competing against each other in weekly challenges. Unlike previous seasons, the chefs were not judged on a five-star rating system, but in elimination-style challenges similar to the format of the original Top Chef series.

10 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Restaurant Wars
2011-04-06

Top Chef Masters is back with a brand new host, new judge and a new format -- so why not start the competition off with something familiar, the most notorious of all Top Chef challenges, Restaurant Wars? These master chefs have opened their share of award-winning restaurants, but nothing could have prepared them for the pressure that’s on now. With their egos on the line, the knives come out right out of the gate.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 2: Everything Old is New Again
2011-04-13

The masters are in for a treat this week when two high-profile celebrities visit the top chef kitchen. Pop Star and trained chef, Kelis, drops by to judge a very meaty quickfire challenge and then Mad Men actress, Christina Hendricks and her husband, actor Geoffry Arend, enlist the help of the cheftestants in a special '60s-themed Elimination Challenge.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 3: Diners to Donors
2011-04-20

Crickets, nightcrawlers and beetles, oh my! These master chefs are used to cooking with the finest ingredients, but in this week's Quickfire they’re forced to make a delicious dish out of some horrifying creatures. The Elimination Challenge however, makes it all worthwhile when the chefs compete to sell their dishes for $100 a plate at a charity fundraiser. For every plate they sell, the money they receive goes directly to their charity of choice and these chefs are in to win it.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 4: Biggest Loser
2011-04-27

Eating healthy is a challenge that people face every day. For this week’s Elimination Challenge, the cheftestants must prove nutritious food can still taste good. The remaining masters will be broken up into three teams of three to prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the cast of The Biggest Loser, but that’s not all, all three meals, when added up, cannot exceed the daily allotment of 1500 calories a day.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 5: Would You Like Fries With That?
2011-05-04

Master chefs know how to work under pressure, but how well can they do fast food? This week’s Elimination Challenge puts the cheftestants to the test in a traditional Southern California eatery, the drive-through. The cheftestants will have to operate a fast food drive-through, from the grill to serving up their best meals and all in less than two minutes.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 6: I'm With the Band
2011-05-11

The tables are turned in this week’s Quickfire when the cheftestants become the judges and have to critique their fellow chefs. Then in the Elimination Challenge, the remaining contestants are in for a double dose of surprises. Pop Rock group Maroon 5 drops by and challenges the chefs to create a feast fit for a rock star, but it's not that easy. Once again the tables are turned and the chefs are taken out of kitchen and brought to a surprise location to prepare their meals.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 7: Date Night
2011-05-18

In this week’s Quickfire Challenge the chefs must use each of their five senses to identify mystery ingredients -- however they can only use one of their senses at time. In the Elimination Challenge, the masters help a man propose to his unsuspecting girlfriend on her favorite show, Top Chef Masters. In a six-course meal, the chefs must create dishes that reflect different stages of the couple’s relationship, but could one bad dish ruin the whole plan?

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 8: Blinded Me With Science
2011-06-01

The ace culinarians delve into science and technology by utilizing modern-day kitchen gadgetry to whip up breakfast. Later, they tap into old-school chemistry at a science fair to render culinary creations.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 9: A Soldier's Story
2011-06-08

A celebration of returning soldiers.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 10: My Life as a Chef
2011-06-15

Season Finale

Runtime: N/A min
Season 4 poster
Season 4 (2012)

The fourth season of Top Chef Masters was announced on May 24, 2012. Food and travel journalist, Krista Simmons, and features editor of Gilt Taste, Francis Lam, join James Oseland and Ruth Reichl as new additions to the judges' table. The season premiered on July 25, 2012 with 12 award-winning chefs competing in weekly challenges to win $100,000 for their charity and the title of Top Chef Master.

10 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: The Buffet Must Go On
2012-07-25

Twelve renowned chefs battle in culinary challenges in Las Vegas in the Season 4 opener. Here, the masters play a card game to score ingredients, then they create an extravagant buffet for some of Sin City's hottest performers.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 2: You May Now Feed The Bride
2012-08-01

The meal mavens prepare cuisine for a wedding.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 3: What Would Brian Boitano Eat?
2012-08-08

They can cook, but can they put on a show? The Chefs will be split into teams of 3 and have their skills put on full view as they cook up a 3-course meal to serve VIP guests at the most challenging of chef’s tables, a Teppanyaki. With only 30 minutes to put on a delicious and dazzling show, they’ll be serving some of our favorite Top Chef Masters along with our critics. Special guest judges include: Olympic gold medalist Brian Boitano and acclaimed chefs May Sue Milliken, Susan Feniger, Rick Moonen, Jonathan Waxman.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 4: Grand Canyon Cookout
2012-08-15

This week, the Chefs are tasked with taking ordinary salad bar ingredients and making them “pop” for music legends, the B-52’s. Then the Chefs will take a trip to the Grand Canyon for a cookout like never before. The Chefs will be paired up to cook for the Hualapai tribe, using ingredients from the tribe’s sacred land.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 5: Holly Madison's Pool Party
2012-08-22

In this week’s Quickfire challenge the Chefs must make a dynamic duo dish for a couple of dynamic musicians – The Indigo Girls. For the elimination challenge, the Chefs are tasked with making a whimsical all-you-can-eat - bottomless bloodys & mimosas brunch at an upscale sexy pool party, hosted by Ms. Vegas, Holly Madison. Bikini-clad servers will serve the chefs’ creations to Holly’s friends lounging poolside. Special guest judges include The Indigo Girls and Holly Madison.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 6: Thai One On
2012-08-29

On this week’s episode, the chefs will be creating an aphrodisiac dish using known aphrodisiac ingredients. The chef whose dish really turns them on will be the winner for this challenge. Lotus of Siam is a legendary Nevada Culinary landmark that has amassed award after award. For this Elimination Challenge, our chefs will be faced with the task of creating their own Thai restaurant in the Top Chef Masters kitchen and attempting to create their own versions of classic Thai dishes. Special guest judge is Dita Von Teese.

Runtime: 60 min
Episode 7: Culinary Knock Out
2012-09-05

This week the chefs will battle it out -- facing off in a boxing ring to serve our critics and boxing champ, Sugar Ray Leonard. The winner of the first match will compete against the winner from the second match in a third match for the win and $10,000. The losers from the first and second match will face off one last time to determine who will be sent packing. Special guest judge is Sugar Ray Leonard.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 8: Foodie Flash Mob
2012-09-12

It's getting down to the wire -- this week, the chefs will participate in one of the world's greatest underground dining events: a Diner en Blanc. For our Masters to take on this Diner en Blanc, each chef will create a picnic style meal with abundant ingredients to create an epic feast and pack it up for the first ever Diner en Blanc picnic in Vegas.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 9: Old School, New School
2012-09-19

The ace chefs instruct a mystery guest to make a dish in the penultimate Season 4 episode. Later, they mentor culinary students.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 10: Finale
2012-09-26

The winning chef is named in the Season 4 finale. Before that, the final two culinarians battle it out by creating a dish with the help of staffers from their own restaurants back home.

Runtime: 60 min
Season 5 poster
Season 5 (2013)

No overview available.

10 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Sous Chefs and Skydives
2013-07-24

Thirteen chefs arrive in Los Angeles to participate in culinary heats in the Season 5 opener. Here, the foodies take flight by cooking outdoors for a professional skydiving team and are given the opportunity to dive from the sky themselves. In Season 5, the chefs also have sous-chefs who will compete in their own online competition.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 2: Asian Night Market
2013-07-31

The chefs create classic American cuisine with an Asian spin.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 3: Sex, Greed and Murder
2013-08-07

Soap-opera themes inspire culinary creations. Appearing: the cast of "Days of Our Lives.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 4: Curtis Surprise Party
2013-08-14

As every chef knows, curry is difficult to hurry, but the chefs are challenged with making their version of curry in 30 minutes for this week’s Quickfire Challenge. Host Curtis Stone is not easy to surprise, but the tables are turned on him this week as fiancée Lindsay Price and the chefs team up to throw Curtis a surprise engagement party he won’t forget.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 5: Restaurant Wars
2013-08-21

The epic "Restaurant Wars" challenge tasks the foodies to open eateries with a Los Angeles theme. Appearing: actress Busy Philipps and culinary editor Dana Cowin.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 6: Mindy Kaling and Yo Gabba Gabba
2013-08-28

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 7: Catch of the Day
2013-09-04

Special guest judge actress Ali Larter challenges the chefs to elevate nachos for their Quickfire. Then the chefs get totally tubular as they cook up the catch of the day for Malibu locals. Divided in to pairs, they have to create a dish with a hot and cold preparation of the same fish, and hope that the critics’ response is better than lukewarm.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 8: Lucha Vavoom
2013-09-11

The winner of this week’s Battle of the Sous Chefs challenge, along with their Top Chef Master, get to create today’s Quickfire. Then, the chefs face a culinary body slam, as they create dishes with a Mexican flair for the wrestlers of Lucha Vavoom.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 9: Teacher Tribute
2013-09-18

The chefs serve up their version of a burger for a surprise guest critic. Also: The culinarians pay tribute to teachers through food; and three contestants advance to the finale.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 10: Finale
2013-09-25

Season 5 comes to a close with the final three master chefs creating memorable dishes from their personal and professional lives, after which the winner is revealed.

Runtime: N/A min

Videos

Top Chef Masters - Trick in a Box - Trailer

Recommended TV Shows