I'll start this off with a quick recap of the Top Chef: D.C. reunion special. The only thing "special" about it was Ed and his pea puree scandal shirt. I will say that my favorite moments from the entire season were the outtakes from the stew room foolery and of the judges. Otherwise, like the season, it was very forgettable.

Top Chef: Just Desserts, on the other hand, has more drama and excitement than the whole of Top Chef: D.C. — and it's only episode 2! The food looks great, the chef'testants are talented, yet mental, and the combination makes for one helluva ride. So what if I'm not watching for the skill and artistry? With this cast, I get more excited about a nervous breakdown over a perfectly tempered chocolate ganache.

The absolute best moment during last night's episode was Dexter's (Seth) meltdown that lasted from the Quickfire into the beginning of the Elimination Challenge. It also made, "The red hots are for my mommy!," my favorite new catchphrase.

Oh yeah, the challenges (I keep forgetting about those): The Quickfire had the chefs creating dishes based on/around classic penny candies, and for the Elimination Challenge, they had to create desserts based on cocktails.

I'm also happy to announce the next season of Top Chef — All-Stars! That's right, they're bringing back 18 former chef'testants who almost made it to the top. I will say that I'm incredibly excited to have back Casey Thompson (season 3), Jamie Lauren (season 5), and my Italian Stallion, Fabio Viviani (season 5). Why they asked Jersey Mike from last season to compete is beyond me. I guess we know who will be the first one chopped! See Bravo's page for more details and the list of contestants.

Want to know what happened? Well then, you'll have to listen to the podcast to find out.

This article appears in Oct 7-13, 2010.