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1.875rem;}}@media(m-width: 64rem){{paddg:0 1.875rem;}}</style><div class="css-mktybr exadjwu4"><style data-emotn="css 6bdp5f">{font-fay:GTWalsheim,Helveti,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;grid-lumn:1/-1;marg-bottom:0.9375rem;marg-top:0.9375rem;}@media(max-width: 48rem){{font-size:1.75rem;le-height:1.1;}}@media(m-width: 48rem){{font-size:2.625rem;le-height:1.1;}}@media(m-width: 64rem){{font-size:3.125rem;le-height:1.1;}}@media(m-width: 73.75rem){{font-size:3.125rem;le-height:1.1;}}</style><h1 class="css-6bdp5f exadjwu10"><span aria-hidn="te" class="css-0 eagam8p0"></span>'Top Chef' Gave Queer Women a Platform Before It Was Cool<span aria-hidn="te" class="css-0 eagam8p1"></span></h1><style data-emotn="css 1cgvs9y">{font-fay:GTWalsheim,Helveti,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;marg-bottom:0.625rem;}@media(max-width: 48rem){{font-size:1.0625rem;le-height:1.2;}}@media(m-width: 48rem){{font-size:1.25rem;le-height:1.2;}}@media(m-width: 64rem){{font-size:1.5rem;le-height:1.2;}} a{-webk-text-ratn:unrle;text-ratn:unrle;text-ratn-thickns:0.0625rem;text-ratn-lor:her;text-unrle-offset:0.25rem;lor:her;-webk-transn:all 0.3s ease--out;transn:all 0.3s ease--out;} a:hover{lor:#B20B16;text-ratn-lor:borr-lk-body-hover;}</style><div class="css-1cgvs9y exadjwu8"><p>The long-nng realy okg petn seri has showsed queer women sce 2006. So why don't we talk about more?</p></div><style data-emotn="css 1yvxpqj">{marg-bottom:0.625rem;paddg-right:0.3125rem;font-fay:GTWalsheim,Helveti,sans-serif;font-size:0.70003rem;le-height:1;letter-spacg:0.05em;text-transform:upperse;} span{le-height:1.6;}</style><div class="css-1yvxpqj exadjwu7"><style data-emotn="css ku2dj9">{font-style:normal;paddg-right:0.3125rem;font-fay:GTWalsheim,Helveti,sans-serif;font-size:0.70003rem;le-height:1;letter-spacg:0.05em;text-transform:upperse;}</style><addrs class="css-ku2dj9 ehvvd9m2"><style data-emotn="css 6ywij2">{paddg-right:0.3125rem;font-fay:GTWalsheim,Helveti,sans-serif;font-size:0.70003rem;le-height:1;letter-spacg:0.05em;text-transform:upperse;}</style><span class="css-6ywij2 ehvvd9m1">By Mariella Mosthof</span><style data-emotn="css w0ebia">{display:le-block;text-transform:upperse;marg-left:0.625rem;}</style><time class="css-w0ebia exadjwu6">Published: Mar 19, 2020</time></addrs></div></div></div></hear><style data-emotn="css k008qs">{display:-webk-box;display:-webk-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;}</style><div class="css-k008qs ewisyje0"><style data-emotn="css 7ce51e">{marg-bottom:0.9375rem;posn:relative;}@media(max-width: 64rem){{max-width:lc(100vw - (1rem * 2));marg-left:1rem;marg-right:1rem;} .e152u5os0{width:100vw;marg-left:lc(-1 * 1rem);}}@media(m-width: 48rem) and (max-width: 61.25rem){{marg-left:to;marg-right:to;} .e152u5os0{width:100vw;marg-left:lc((100vw - (lc(20.625rem * 2 - 1rem) - 2 * 1rem)) / -2);}}@media(m-width: 61.25rem) and (max-width: 90rem){{max-width:lc(20.625rem * 2 - 1rem);marg-left:lc((100vw - lc(20.625rem * 2 - 1rem) - 1rem - 20.625rem) / 2);paddg-left:1rem;paddg-right:1rem;} .e152u5os0{width:100vw;marg-left:lc(lc((100vw - lc(20.625rem * 2 - 1rem) - 1rem - 20.625rem) / -2) - 1rem);}}@media(m-width: 90rem){{marg-left:lc((100vw - lc(20.625rem * 2 - 1rem)) / 2);max-width:lc(20.625rem * 2 - 1rem);paddg-left:1rem;paddg-right:1rem;} .e152u5os0{width:100vw;marg-left:lc(lc((100vw - lc(20.625rem * 2 + 1rem)) / -2) - lc(2 * 1rem));}[data-has-sponsor] {marg-left:lc((100vw - lc(20.625rem * 2 - 1rem)) / 4);marg-right:lc((100vw - lc(20.625rem * 2 - 1rem)) / 4);}}</style><div class="standard-ntaer ntent-ntaer article-ntaer css-7ce51e ewisyje3"><style data-emotn="css trzem2">{jtify-self:center;posn:relative;}@media(max-width: 48rem){{marg-left:-50vw;marg-right:-50vw;width:100vw;left:50%;right:50%;}}</style><div class="ntent-lead css-trzem2 ewisyje6"><style data-emotn="css sm2oir">{height:to;}@media(max-width: 48rem){{marg:to lc(50% - 50vw);}}@media(m-width: 48rem){{marg:to;}}</style><div class="ntent-lead-image css-sm2oir e5f9kgu2"><style data-emotn="css eag3eq">{posn:relative;height:to;}</style><div class="css-eag3eq e5f9kgu1"><style data-emotn="css 335qep">{posn:relative;width:100%;height:100%;object-f:ver;vertil-align:top;}</style><img fetchPrry="high" alt="Top Chef" tle="Top Chef Gave Queer Women a Platform Before It Was Cool" width="2400" height="1200" dg="async" data-nimg="1" style="lor: transparent; width: 100%; height: to;" siz="100vw" srcSet=" 640w, 980w, 1120w, 1200w, 1920w" src="" class="css-335qep exi4f7p0" /></div><style data-emotn="css 285vyd">{le-height:1;}@media(max-width: 73.75rem){{paddg-left:0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 64rem){{paddg-left:0;}}</style><figptn class="css-285vyd enfs9c50"><style data-emotn="css r1wujd">{paddg-right:0.3125rem;lor:#595959;font-fay:GTWalsheim,Helveti,sans-serif;font-size:0.70003rem;le-height:1;letter-spacg:0.05em;text-transform:upperse;}</style><span class="css-r1wujd e6iqd2">Amber Hawks/Bravo </span></figptn></div></div><style data-emotn="css woto36">{font-fay:Charter,Geia,Tim,Serif;font-size:1.1875rem;le-height:1.6;paddg-left:0rem;paddg-right:0rem;posn:relative;}@media(m-width: 48rem){{paddg-left:3.5rem;paddg-right:3.5rem;}}@media(m-width: 48rem) and (max-width: 61.25rem){{max-width:45.25rem;marg-left:to;marg-right:to;}}@media(m-width: 61.25rem){{paddg-left:0rem;paddg-right:0rem;}}@media(m-width: 73.75rem) and (max-width: 100rem){{paddg-left:0rem;paddg-right:0rem;}}@media(m-width: 90rem){{paddg-left:0rem;paddg-right:0rem;}} em{font-style:alic;font-fay:Charter,Geia,Tim,Serif;} strong{font-fay:Charter,Geia,Tim,Serif;font-weight:bold;}{clear:both;ntent:" ";display:block;font-size:0.7rem;le-height:1.5rem;height:0rem;visibily:hidn;}</style><div class="article-body-ntent article-body standard-body-ntent css-woto36 ewisyje7"><style data-emotn="css aeyldl">{font-fay:Charter,Geia,Tim,Serif;font-size:1.1875rem;le-height:1.6;} strong{font-fay:Charter,Geia,Tim,Serif;font-weight:bold;} em{font-style:alic;font-fay:Charter,Geia,Tim,Serif;}</style><p data-no-id="0" class="css-aeyldl et3p2gv0">In 2009, smack the middle of a protracted natnwi bate over same-sex marriage, <em>Top Chef: Las Vegas</em> nttant Ashley Merriman fumed about terg a jot bachelor/bachelorette party. "I fd beyond prehensn makg go do what is effectively a weddg challenge when at least three of on the challenge aren't allowed that stutn," Merriman said, referrg to herself and two other gay nttants participatg that season. </p><p data-no-id="1" class="css-aeyldl et3p2gv0">It would be six more years before the Supreme Court stck down all state bans on same-sex marriage, but Bravo, <em>Top Chef's</em> home work, had been cultivatg a slate of LGBTQ-forward programmg for the better part of a . Realy shows starrg queer women were srce when <em>Top Chef</em> — which predat even MTV's <em>A Shot at Love Wh Tila Tequila</em> — first premiered 2006. But the Emmy Award-wng seri has st between one and three queer women on nearly every season of s 14-year history.</p><style data-emotn="css 8c6v">{posn:absolute;left:-10000px;top:to;width:1px;height:1px;overflow:hidn;}</style><div data-ad-exclu class="css-8c6v ehha8ut0">This ntent is imported om youTube. 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In the send episo, which aired 2006, gut judge Elizabeth Falkner sports a cht harns, a leather vt, and a not signifint amount of butch eyeler for an elimatn challenge staged a fetish shop. Conttant Tiffani Faison, who go on to bee the season one nner-up, mentns beg faiar wh Falkner bee they were both featured the same magaze article about queer women the kchen. She signed for her ssert a handma fortune okie stng onto choker necklac, tend to functn as a cisg ai for party guts. The episo's overt engagement wh queer kk, leather, and BDSM culture is unniable, and yet <em>Top Chef</em> is routely overlooked morn queer reprentatn disurse. </p><p data-no-id="4" class="css-aeyldl et3p2gv0">This week, the seri returns for s send eratn of <em>Top Chef: All-Stars</em> wh three of s most memorable queer nttants: Lisa Fernans (Season 4), Melissa Kg (Season 12), and Karen Akunowicz (Season 13).</p><p data-no-id="5" class="css-aeyldl et3p2gv0">"My inty is a big part of who I am," says Fernans, currently chef/owner of Sweet Chili Brooklyn. "I am obvly very, very out and very, very gay. But I also want to make queer people aware that my rtrant is a space for them. We've been hostg a lot of queer women and nonbary dners and mixers."</p><p data-no-id="6" class="css-aeyldl et3p2gv0">"We jt want to ph that muny feel," she adds.</p><p data-no-id="7" class="css-aeyldl et3p2gv0">Fernans was somethg of a third wheel on <em>Top Chef: Chigo</em>, which also clud lbian uple Jennifer Bity and Zoi Antonsas petg agast each other. But she managed to break ee om the pack and ok her way to the fale Puerto Ri, fishg third place behd Stephanie Izard and Richard Blais. Now, eply vted lol muny work, Fernans hop her rtrant n bee a dited and welg hub. Her staff skews heavily queer and female, and she remas aware of the enomic barriers facg her margalized clientele. </p><p data-no-id="8" class="css-aeyldl et3p2gv0">Fancial accsibily, she says, is prrized: "It's not expensive. It's not gimmicky. I want to create an environment that's gay as hell, but where you're also gettg amazg food and drks." Brastormg ias for queer weddgs and queer bar mzvahs ("well, maybe 's a ltle small for a bar mzvah"), Fernans entreati Kg and Akunowicz to e to Brooklyn and host "the gayt dner ever."</p><p data-no-id="9" class="css-aeyldl et3p2gv0">San Francis-based Kg, meanwhile, has succsfully nverted her <em>Top Chef</em> fame and knack for Instagram to queer fluencer stat, lnchg her own pany for culary and brand partnerships. "Before I went on <em>Top Chef</em>, I was only really out to my immediate fay," she nfs. "To go om that to a uple years later, beg a Levi's Pri mpaign? I was jt so proud of myself." For Kg, who simply went on the show to challenge herself creatively, the rponse om other Asian-Amerins who stggled wh g out to their own fai was overwhelmg. "<em>Top Chef</em> really opened up my nfince so many ways — my nfince as a chef, but also my nfince as a queer Asian-Amerin woman this untry," she says.</p><div supprsHydratnWarng data-no-id="10" data-embed="pullquote" class="embed css-0 e9hzx6g0"><style data-emotn="css 1eiql25">{text-align:center;marg:0rem;paddg-top:0.9375rem;paddg-bottom:0.9375rem;}</style><blockquote class="css-1eiql25 e1pe3zr91"><span aria-hidn="te" class="css-0 eagam8p0"></span><style data-emotn="css 1h5xk02">{font-fay:GTWalsheim,Helveti,sans-serif;font-size:1.625rem;font-weight:bold;le-height:1.2;marg:0rem;}@media(max-width: 48rem){{font-size:1.75rem;le-height:1.2;}}@media(m-width: 64rem){{font-size:1.875rem;le-height:1.2;}} b, strong{font-fay:her;font-weight:bold;} em, i{font-fay:her;font-style:alic;}</style><blockquote class="css-1h5xk02 e1pe3zr90">Dpe promently featurg queer chefs, queer culture, and even queer polil dissent sce the mid-2000s, however, <em>Top Chef</em> fails to be regnized as a trailblazer givg queer women a platform.</blockquote><span aria-hidn="te" class="css-0 eagam8p1"></span></blockquote></div><p data-no-id="11" class="css-aeyldl et3p2gv0">Dpe promently featurg queer chefs, queer culture, and even queer polil dissent sce the mid-2000s, however, <em>Top Chef</em> fails to be regnized as a trailblazer givg queer women a platform. It's never so much as been nomated for a GLAAD Media Award (though short-lived sp-off <em>Top Chef: Jt Dserts</em> has), even wh s many direct and topil stori centerg queer women. By parison, <em>Amerin Idol</em>, <em>Survivor</em>, and <em>Amazg Race</em> are all multiple-time nome the Outstandg Realy Program tegory.</p><p data-no-id="12" class="css-aeyldl et3p2gv0">"[Queer inty] has always been part of the fabric of the show," agre Akunowicz, who won Bt Chef: Northeast at the Jam Beard Awards 2018. "It's not somethg new that jt started happeng seven years ago. So I thk they don't get lled out bee they don't ll themselv out. That's actually what mak more powerful to the dience that they're reachg."</p><p data-no-id="13" class="css-aeyldl et3p2gv0">It's te that the show has managed to showse queer talent while avoidg tokenizatn. Each of the returng queer All Stars nfirmed that she was enuraged to speak openly and hontly about her life on the show — regardls of her <em>Top Chef</em> era — whout ever feelg like her inty was exploed for good PR. In Akunowicz's se, this meant beg able to matter-of-factly discs her genrqueer spoe on air, ee of any belabored explaers.</p><style data-emotn="css 1736von">{--data-embed-display:flex;-webk-align-ems:center;-webk-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-ems:center;clear:both;display:-webk-box;display:-webk-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;marg-bottom:0.9375rem;marg-left:to;marg-right:to;width:100%;}@media(m-width: 20rem){{width:100%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 30rem){{width:100%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 40.625rem){{width:100%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 48rem){{width:100%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 64rem){{width:100%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 73.75rem){{width:100%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 75rem){{width:100%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 90rem){{width:100%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}} a span{right:1rem;} img{width:to;height:85vh;} a{display:-webk-le-box;display:-webk-le-flex;display:-ms-le-flexbox;display:le-flex;posn:var(--posn, relative);} img:not(.ewcw41w1){display:block;width:100%;height:to;-webk-align-self:flex-start;-ms-flex-em-align:flex-start;align-self:flex-start;}</style><div size="medium" data-embed="body-image" data-no-id="14" class="align-center size-medium embed css-1736von e1xqj1sx4"><style data-emotn="css uwraif">{width:100%;display:-webk-le-box;display:-webk-le-flex;display:-ms-le-flexbox;display:le-flex;-webk-flex-directn:lumn;-ms-flex-directn:lumn;flex-directn:lumn;marg-left:to;marg-right:to;-webk-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webk-jtify-ntent:center;jtify-ntent:center;}</style><div class="css-uwraif e1xqj1sx3"><img alt="Top Chef All-Stars" tle="Top Chef Gave Queer Women a Platform Before It Was Cool" loadg="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" dg="async" data-nimg="1" style="lor: transparent; width: 100%; height: to;" siz="100vw" srcSet=" 640w, 980w, 1120w, 1200w, 1920w" src="" class="css-0 exi4f7p0" /><style data-emotn="css swqnqv">@media(m-width: 20rem){{paddg-left:0rem;}}@media(m-width: 30rem){{paddg-left:0rem;}}@media(m-width: 40.625rem){{paddg-left:0rem;}}@media(m-width: 48rem){{paddg-left:0rem;}}@media(m-width: 64rem){{paddg-left:0rem;}}@media(m-width: 73.75rem){{paddg-left:0rem;}}@media(m-width: 75rem){{paddg-left:0rem;}}@media(m-width: 90rem){{paddg-left:0rem;}}</style><div class="css-swqnqv e1xqj1sx2"><style data-emotn="css 37rghg">{font-fay:GTWalsheim,Helveti,sans-serif;font-size:0.875rem;le-height:1.2;m-width:100%;paddg-top:0.625rem;width:0;}@media(m-width: 64rem){{font-size:1rem;le-height:1.2;}} em, i{font-fay:her;font-style:alic;}</style><div class="css-37rghg e1xqj1sx1">’Top Chef’ nttants preparg for a challenge. </div><style data-emotn="css 1am3yn9">{paddg-left:0rem;le-height:1;}</style><figptn class="css-1am3yn9 enfs9c50"><span class="css-r1wujd e6iqd2">BRAVO</span></figptn></div></div></div><p data-no-id="15" class="css-aeyldl et3p2gv0">"People me to my rtrant and hugged me wh tears their ey, sayg, 'I've never heard somebody e genr-ntral pronouns on televisn,'" she rells of her first stt on the show 2015.</p><p data-no-id="16" class="css-aeyldl et3p2gv0">Trish Bendix, TV cric and former Edor--Chief of , remembers this as a hallmark of other realy shows ma throughout the 2000s by <em>Top Chef's</em> productn pany Magil Elv — like <em>The Real L Word</em> and <em>Project Runway</em>. "I always got the sense that they were very clive but they never ma a pot of showg off," she says. "I was always so fascated that they were able to fd so many queer women chefs bee, at the time, jt felt like there uld only be one lbian one specific [TV] world."</p><p data-no-id="17" class="css-aeyldl et3p2gv0">When that one lbian did emerge, she was equently whe, th, feme-prentg, hypersexualized, and uld fortably pass for straight. <em>Top Chef</em>, by ntrast, was reliably stg mascule of center people, a variety of body typ, and queer women of lor, cludg beloved Season 10 wner Kristen Kish. And the foc was on their creative work the service dtry. To Akunowicz, who opened her rtrant Fox and the Knife Boston early last year, <em>Top Chef</em> was a place where viewers uld fd queer women remblg their real-life iends and csh. </p><p data-no-id="18" class="css-aeyldl et3p2gv0">Like Fernans, Akunowicz also boasts a majory queer female staff at her rtrant. "[It's] lerally the gayt," she jok. "We always say this hoe was built on Robyn." And as queer bars for women dwdle, the spac grow creasgly val for muny to flourish. Bendix often fds herself a <em>Top Chef</em> alum's rtrant while travelg if she's at a loss for other queer hnts. "It's a work," she explas, "bee, if you go to a cy where they don't have a lbian bar, the next bt thg you n do is go to a rtrant where they have a lbian chef."</p><style data-emotn="css 18pb4rg">{borr:0;borr-bottom:th solid black;marg:1.875rem 0;clear:both;}</style><hr data-no-id="19" class="css-18pb4rg et3p2gv0" /><p data-no-id="20" class="css-aeyldl et3p2gv0"><em>Mariella Mosthof is a sex and culture wrer who's published wh Into, them., Bch Media, Nylon, VICE, <style data-emotn="css 5z6rvi">{-webk-text-ratn:unrle;text-ratn:unrle;text-ratn-thickns:0.0625rem;text-ratn-lor:her;text-unrle-offset:0.25rem;lor:her;-webk-transn:all 0.3s ease--out;transn:all 0.3s ease--out;}{lor:#B20B16;text-ratn-lor:borr-lk-body-hover;}</style><a target="_blank" aria-scribedby="slack-k-tooltip" href=" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-vars-ga-outbound-lk=" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlk" data-vars-ga-ll-to-actn="" class="body-lk css-5z6rvi et3p2gv0"></a>, Slate, and more. Her work has been nomated for a Jam Beard Media Award and she liv New York Cy. You n fd her on Twter at <a target="_blank" aria-scribedby="slack-k-tooltip" href=" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-vars-ga-outbound-lk=" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlk" data-vars-ga-ll-to-actn="@mariellamosthof" class="body-lk css-5z6rvi et3p2gv0">@mariellamosthof</a>.</em></p><p data-no-id="21" class="css-aeyldl et3p2gv0"><strong><em>Get Shondaland directly your box</em>: </strong><style data-emotn="css 18o6lw4">{-webk-text-ratn:none;text-ratn:none;text-ratn-thickns:0.0625rem;text-ratn-lor:her;text-unrle-offset:0.25rem;lor:#fff;-webk-transn:all 0.3s ease--out;transn:all 0.3s ease--out;display:le-block;font-fay:GTWalsheim,Helveti,sans-serif;text-transform:upperse;width:to;paddg:0.6rem 0.7rem;background-lor:#B20B16;font-size:0.875rem;le-height:1;letter-spacg:0.05em;font-weight:bold;marg:0rem;}{lor:#fff;text-ratn-lor:borr-lk-body-hover;background-lor:#000000;}{outle-lor:body-cta-btn-lk-foc;}</style><a href=" target="_blank" data-vars-ga-outbound-lk=" data-vars-ga-ll-to-actn="SUBSCRIBE TODAY" rel="nofollow" data-href=" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlk" class="body-btn-lk css-18o6lw4 et3p2gv0"><strong>SUBSCRIBE TODAY</strong></a><em><br /></em></p></div></div><style data-emotn="css 6b9rfj">{display:block;-webk-flex-basis:lc((100vw - 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top chef gay contestants

Cabler Bravo's upg fourth season of s realy okg show 'Top Chef Masters' clus three openly gay chefs

Contents:

THE 10 HOTTT CONTTANTS OF "TOP CHEF"{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY LOUIS VIRTELNOVEMBER 13, 2012/3:36 PMBY LOUIS VIRTELNOVEMBER 13, 2012 / 3:36 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"THE 10 HOTTT CONTTANTS OF \"TOP CHEF\"","DATEPUBLISHED":"2012-11-13T20:36:09.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2012-11-13T20:36:09.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"LOUIS VIRTEL","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TOP CHEF IS CURRENTLY OKG RAY SEATTLE, BUT I'D LIKE TO OFFER SOME SUNNIER VISTAS: THE TEN HOTTT NTTANTS TOP CHEF HISTORY. WE'LL HAVE TO SAVE OUR TOM COLICCH/ROC DISPIRO LT FOR ANOTHER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THE MEANTIME, TAKE A LOOK AT THE TEN HOTTI, GLARE OMOLY TO THEIR EY LIKE AN TRIGUED PADMA LAKSHMI, AND FIGHT WH ME THE MENTS ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE RANKED HIGHER/LOWER/NOT AT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}10. CHRIS CRARY (SEASON NE){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}YOU'RE WORKG WH SOME KD OF CHARM WHEN YOU N PLACE NTH AND STILL GARNER THE FAN FAVORE AWARD, AND AS YOU N SEE, CHRIS CRARY OF TOP CHEF: TEXAS WAS WORKG WH SOME FE PECTORAL CHARMS. TOO BAD MY VISN OF THAT SEASON IS TATED BY WEIRD, VAGUELY MEAN-SEEMG GUT JUDGE PEE WEE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}9. HUNG HUNYH (SEASON THREE){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GOD, I LOVE CKS. UNABASHED, EGO-POPP' CKS. HUNG HUYNH WAS A HOTSHOT THE MUTE THAT SEASON THREE BEGAN, AND HE RO THAT HOT STREAK RIGHT TO THE FALE (WHICH WAS AIRED LIVE OM CHIGO, FOR SOME REASON). LOOK AT THAT SMIRK. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}8. MARCEL VIGNERON (SEASON TWO){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE WAS JT A B TOO BIZARRE AND WILLG TO RAP (UGH), BUT MARCEL VIGNERON'S SUPERMOL EY AND LUDWIG VON KOOPA HAIRCUT ARE TOO UNMISTAKABLE TO PASS UP {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}7. SPIKE MENLSOHN (SEASON FOUR){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE "BUTTERNUT SQUASH" FIGHT IS ONE OF THE GREAT ALLTIME MBL ON TOP CHEF, AND SPIKE ME OUT OF LOOKG AWFUL. EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT HE'S HOT, AND LET'S NOT FET {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}6. MICHAEL VOLTAGG (SEASON SIX){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A WAY, I'M SORRY TO SUBJECT EVERYONE TO MY LOVE OF CKS, BUT THERE'S A REASON THE VOLTAGG SEASON OF TOP CHEF WON THE BT REALY COMPETN SERI EMMY: THOSE GENTS WERE PELLG AS HELL, AND HOTNS HAD SOMETHG TO DO WH . WNER MICHAEL VOLTAGG'S NERVY ARM ART IS ALONE WORTHY OF A SPOT ON THIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}5. FAB VIVIANI (SEASON FOUR){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FAB SURELY RANKS AS A FAN FAVORE EVEN AMONG FAN FAVOR, AND I'M PSYCHED HE'S A PART OF LIFE AFTER TOP CHEF (ALONG WH SPIKE) BEE BRAVO NEEDS HIM TO BALANCE OUT THEIR ITALIAN-AMERIN REPRENTATN. TERA GIUDICE, YOUR PRENCE MANDAT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}4. DALE LEVSKI (SEASON THREE){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE WAS GAY, ADORABLE, A RIGHTFUL ALL-STAR, A KICKASS CHIGOAN AND UNIVERSY OF IOWA ALUM (WHICH IS RELEVANT TO ME). HE WAS CHEEKY AND FUN ON BOTH HIS SEASONS, BUT I ADM I WAS NEVER MORE JEALO OF HIM THAN WHEN HE DATED PROJECT RUNWAY HUNK JACK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}3. BRYAN VOLTAGG (SEASON SIX){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE ANGST G OFF OF BRYAN VOLTAGG WHEN HE LOST TO HIS BROTHER WAS PALPABLE, AND HE CHANNELED ALL THOSE TENSE, EPLY STOIC EY. HE ALSO HAPPENS TO BE MATTEL PROTOTYPE HOT, AND WHO DON'T LOVE A SOUPN OF THAT?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}2. TRE WILX (SEASON THREE){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HELL Y TO THIS GUY. HE'S A SOMEHOW MORE-MCULAR VERSN OF THE HOTTT REAL WORLD ST MEMBER OF ALL TIME, ALTON OM THE FIRST LAS VEGAS SEASON. HIS SE IS AS ENORMO AS HIS BICEPS, AND THAT'S ALWAYS A LIBIDO BATN MY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}1. SAM TALBOT (SEASON TWO){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ACCEPT NO SUBSTUT! SAM WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE FT HETEROSEXUAL CSH EVER TO GRACE BRAVO. HE WAS EVEN-KEEL, GEO, UNASSUMG, AND GGED. AND JT SO DAMN HUGGABLE? AM I MAKG THAT UP? I'M GOG WH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Conttants on last night's episo of Top Chef: Las Vegas were faced wh the challenge of okg for 'Chef of the Century Joel Robuchon. For the most part, the chefs managed to imprs agast all odds. For our gay ambassadors to the show, however, was once aga an unlucky night Vegas. Lbian nttant Ashley and gay Ash land on the bottom while Jennifer tows the le for the women. * top chef gay contestants *

Season 3 gave our first gay wner, wh Chef Hung Huynh wng the whole season.

Dale, another gay chef, also ma the fale, g send place. In season 6, Ashley spoke out about how the nttants were ma to ok for a weddg while she, and other gay nttants, uldn't legally get married. Season 11 featured gay chef Travis Masar.

2003’s “Boy Meets Boy” was a datg show “wh a twist”; half the suors were straight men tryg to trick the gay bachelor to believg they were gay. “It ed to be the whe gay male was the face of LGBTQ media, and we’ve been able to see the evolutn of that through different shows, whether ’s ‘Pose’ or ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ or ‘Drag Race’ — other shows that have been able to really celebrate the rabow of people who make up the LGBTQ muny. "I fd beyond prehensn makg go do what is effectively a weddg challenge when at least three of on the challenge aren't allowed that stutn, " Merriman said, referrg to herself and two other gay nttants participatg that season.

'TOP CHEF MASTERS' INCLUS THREE OPENLY GAY CHEFS

From the looks of Bravo and the Food Network, gay and lbian chefs are ubiquo. But big-name LGBT oks say they're still the mory -- unrpaid and unrreprented. * top chef gay contestants *

"I am obvly very, very out and very, very gay. I want to create an environment that's gay as hell, but where you're also gettg amazg food and drks. " Brastormg ias for queer weddgs and queer bar mzvahs ("well, maybe 's a ltle small for a bar mzvah"), Fernans entreati Kg and Akunowicz to e to Brooklyn and host "the gayt dner ever.

"[It's] lerally the gayt, " she jok. Along the way they've bee visible role mols for our younger GLBT muny and have opened discsn to such gay subjects as same-sex marriage, equaly and gay acceptance. The gay chefs of Top Chef:: (clockwise om top left): Josie Smh-Malave, Dale Levski, Ashley Merriman and Dave Mart.

In Season One, who uld fet when chef Dave Mart, 40- year old gay nttant om Long Beach, California lashed out to the tense bi-sexual chef, Tiffani Faison durg one of the challeng, "I'm not your bch, Bch! " (Ah, gay pri at s bt.

GAY UPL MARRY 'TOP CHEF' PALM SPRGS CEREMONY

) Season One also gave our first gay weddg when the two "Stts" were wed then Pre-Prop 8 San Francis, California. It jt seemed there was no pleasg those two Two troduced to lbian Josie Smh-Malave, who after she was elimated om the show, h the prs wav when her lbian partner and she were victims of a gay bashg attack New York. In another episo, we met Chigo gay chef nttant, Dale Levski who has been okg profsnally for 15 years.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* TOP CHEF GAY CONTESTANTS

Gay upl marry 'Top Chef' Palm Sprgs ceremony.

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