Top Chef DC Premier Party At Good Stuff Eatery

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The most recent reality show to set up shop in the District, Top Chef, premiered last night.  I'm sure they say this every season, but the promos and previews of this seasons all claim this one will be the most competitive, crazy season to date.  Bravo and Washingtonian.com hosted a premier party at Good Stuff Eatery, owned by former Top Chef "cheftestant" Spike Mendelsohn, whose father claimed the event at Good Stuf was more packed than Obama's inauguration.

While it may be true that there were tons of people at the South East eatery, I doubt it was that serious, Papa Mendelsohn.  Spike was present, cooked some stuff, and the premier played for guests who actually cared to watch (instead of just mingle, drink and eat).

Of the episode, I will say a few things:

1.  While it always pains me to see grown men cry, I have to admit it was worth it in John's case.  John Somerville was the first cheftestant to be eliminated, and it was a good thing: man has dreadlocks that are so long and scraggly I'm surprised Padma Lakshmi didn't demand he wear some kind of snazzy hair nets to ensure whatever creatures live in that nest didn't become unwitting additions to John's dish.

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2.  Angelo, cheftestant owner of New York resto XieXie, is two things: really cute, but even more arrogant than handsome.  WIthin the first five minutes of being on screen, dude name drops chefs with whom he's worked like it's going to help him win or something.  And, he divulges that he was "in Monte Carlo just last week."  Then asks Timothy, the only DC-native contestant, if he's ever been to France.  Hey, Angelo, Monte Carlo is in Monaco.  Monaco, while miniscule and on the French Riviera, is its own country.  In order to be so snobbish, please do your homework.

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3.   I'm not quite sure what the show's producers were going for by hosting the first contest atop the Newseum--other than provide stunning views of our fair city.  But, at no point during the clip on the Newseum's roof did anyone mention that the building is also home to DC's only Wolfgang Puck restaurant: the Source.  What the hell?  Isn't this a cooking show on which contestants are all about the big chefs with whom they've worked?  We heard mention of Daniel Boulud, Eric Ripert, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, even Wolfgang at the end of the show.  Why no love for Mr. Puck's DC iteration?

[photos via Bravo]