'Top Chef' judge Tom Colicchio tells Andy Cohen about show's worst dish and hiding behind a cactus to throw up
'Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen' premiered a pre-recorded 'Top Chef' special episode on Thursday, March 19, night, right after a new season for the latter premiered on Bravo.
All three judges Gail Simmons, Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio were in attendance in the studio dishing about all things 'Top Chef' and recalling all the shady moments they've had over the seasons.
In the episode, a caller asked Gail Simmons if there ever was a time on the show when a contestant got away with less criticism that they deserved, considering the fact that she is one of the nicest judges among the trio.
Gail was very surprised to hear that someone thinks she's nice, "I am just going to address you. You think that I am nice because there are tons of people who come up to my friends on the streets and ask is she really that b***hy in person... so thank you..."
"I think we are really honest with them and you just see an eight-minute version of the judge's table but we spent a lot of time talking to them and we are constructive. I think we give everyone the criticism they should have. It just takes a lot of practice saying it to people's faces," Gail said.
Tom added, "We give the chefs honest criticism and the ones that take it personally, know that they messed up and they don't want to hear it, sometimes."
The judges also answered some shady questions posed by host Andy's special guest Shady Sharp Knife on the episode. When asked to name a former cheftestant, Tom was quick to recall the one time he was in a desert in Las Vegas.
He couldn't place the name of the contestant but he clearly remembered someone served him a cod ceviche, a hot one, in 90-degree temperature. He remembered having hidden behind a cactus and spitting it out immediately.
On being asked about a celebrity guest judge who gave the worst uneducated critique on the show, Tom pointed out that Padma definitely has something to say about this.
Andy guessed Padma Lakshmi wanted to name Paula Deen. Turns out he was right. "She's probably the shadiest guest we've had on the show. She wasn't shady on the show, but for other reasons maybe," confirmed Padma.
The judges also collectively named Season 2 contestants Elia Amoubrad and Mike Midgley as chefs with the worst attitudes in the kitchen. 'Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen' airs Sunday to Thursday at 11/10c on Bravo.