Top Chefs burger smackdown

GB2002 · 06-12-2009, 01:06 AM

Which former "Top Chef" contestant makes the better burger?
During the fourth season of Top Chef, Richard Blais and Spike Mendelsohn both made it to the Final 5. Now each has a burger joint — Blais in Atlanta, Mendelsohn in Washington, D.C. — and on a recent road trip that took me through both cities, I decided to conduct my own Quickfire Challenge. Contestants, you have one lunch to prove why your restaurant deserves immunity. The results start now.

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Food Network Fan · 06-12-2009, 10:49 AM

Didn't Spike beat Bobby at south beach?

GB2002 · 06-12-2009, 11:00 AM

Spike beat everybody at South Beach.

Spike's place in D.C. is a counter-service joint. Burger is squashed into a paper wrapper a la McDonald's. Looks scary. Tastes great.

Richard's place in Atlanta is a wait staff joint. Burger is presented beautifully. Also tastes great.

Food Network Fan · 06-12-2009, 11:02 AM

Awesome. We will probably see more of him in the future.

GB2002 · 06-12-2009, 09:57 PM

I didn't realize it at the time, but when I went to Good Stuff I ordered the burger that won in South Beach. It's called Colletti's Smokehouse and it was topped with applewood bacon, sharp Vermont cheddar, fried Vidalia onion and chipotle barbecue sauce.

Food Network Fan · 06-12-2009, 10:10 PM

Was it good?

ibcheft · 06-12-2009, 10:18 PM

Wasn't Spike that Frenched the rib roast during one of the competitions so fast or really clean something like that ?

GB2002 · 06-12-2009, 10:22 PM

fnf: Yes! I particularly liked the chipotle BBQ sauce on it. And I liked his herb fries. I'd go back if I lived in D.C.

ibcheft: yes, he had mad knife skills. but i think he served frozen scallops on that episode and got eliminated.