Tournament of Champions S06 E00
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00:00Whoever said that sequels are never as good as the original have never watched Tournament of Champions.
00:09Because we are coming back bigger, fatter, and better than ever.
00:14With the most epic event in the food universe, it's called Tournament of Champions 6.
00:22And for the next hour, we're going to give you a sneak peek of our most exciting and unpredictable tournament yet.
00:30We'll preview all 32 of the baller chefs that make up this year's bracket.
00:34From the returning superstars who still want a shot at the title.
00:37We're not friends right now? No.
00:39To the uber-talented newcomers determined to shake things up.
00:43Including 8 qualifier winners who competed in this year's qualifier competition.
00:48We're also going to reveal all the chefs' rankings and who will battle first.
00:53As well as the cast of culinary greats that will judge their dishes.
00:57Wow!
00:59And best of all, we'll reveal the monumental changes that are guaranteed to blow this tournament wide open.
01:05Oh my god!
01:07So buckle up and beware of curves because this is the road to Tournament of Champions 6.
01:20Sure, the place looks empty now.
01:22But before you know it, this arena will be filled with so many culinary greats,
01:27you'll feel like a spectator at the Food World All-Star Game.
01:31So before the players, the fans, and the refs show up,
01:35I've decided to sit down with my incredible culinary commentators
01:39to talk about the world-shaking event known as Tournament of Champions 6.
01:44But before we get started, I want to introduce to the world our newest commentator,
01:48the TOC3 champ, the one and only Sweet Tea, Chef Tiffany Faison,
01:53who has hung up her belt this season to join us for every battle in the arena.
01:58And of course, back again this year, our walking culinary encyclopedia,
02:02the one and only wild card, Chef Justin Warner.
02:05Welcome back, chefs. Very nice to have you.
02:07Different capacity to have you in.
02:09So tell me, Tiff, after stepping into a whole new role in this arena, how does it feel?
02:14I was thrilled to be able to maybe have an opportunity to hang out with you
02:19and watch all these incredible chefs cook.
02:21Don't worry, we will still have our roving reporter supporting you two,
02:25that is Hunter, who will be talking to the winners after each round.
02:28And then also, a new role that nobody expected to see,
02:32and that is Sir Simon Mujundar is now our judges' correspondent.
02:36He'll be sitting down with them after each competition,
02:39really getting the inside track to what the judges thought went on
02:41that they weren't able to say when they were at the judges' table.
02:45All right. Last season, we have something we've never seen before.
02:48We crowned our very first ever two-time champ.
02:51Now, Chef Manit Chauhan had quite the journey,
02:54including taking down the Princess Warrior, Chef Antonio Lofaso.
02:58Please remember how much you love me when I take the other belt.
03:01In the final battle, in a one-point win, that blew everybody away.
03:06This is a one-point win.
03:08The winner of Tournament of Champions 5 is...
03:14Manit Chauhan!
03:18So the question, as always, is how do we top last season?
03:24Well, chefs, that brings me to really good, big news.
03:28Not only is Chef Tiffany hanging up her belt,
03:31all four of our champs are hanging up their knives this season.
03:35And get this into the judging roll this season.
03:39Chef Manit Chauhan!
03:42Mei Ling.
03:45Brooke Williamson!
03:47What that means is we have a guaranteed brand-new champ in TOC 6.
03:52Sweetie, why do you think this year all the chefs decided to retire from TOC competition?
04:00It's time to let the next generation walk in. It's time. It's time for a new champ.
04:03It's time for a new champ.
04:05It's time for a new champ.
04:07I think that the gauntlet of getting to be a champ is so difficult and so stressful.
04:13This weighs on your mind the entire year.
04:16The whole year. It consumes your life.
04:18The closer it gets to the tournament, the more nightmares.
04:21It really is stressful. It's the hardest thing you've ever done multiple times year after year.
04:25Well, for whatever reasons you've chosen to do that, we support it, we believe in it.
04:29I love it because we get some amazing new judges.
04:31But that is not the only surprise we have in this new bracket.
04:35All five seasons of TOC, it has been East versus West.
04:39But this year, we are going to turn this tournament of champions on its head.
04:43We have decided to no longer divide the chefs into East versus West,
04:47which means the final battle is not going to be between the best of East and the best of the West.
04:51It's going to be the best of the best, period.
04:54Perfect. It adds another level of randomness to an already random process.
04:59I saw so many people in the West that I wanted to go head to head with.
05:02I would only ever battle one person from the West.
05:05So, I think throw it all in a bucket, mix it together and see what happens.
05:08So, with no champs returning, no East and West division brackets,
05:12it's wide open for a brand new champ.
05:15Now we have some big names returning from last year's tournament
05:18and some out of the world new faces throwing their hat in the ring.
05:21Plus, for the very first time, we have a judge stepping away from the judging table.
05:25The New York icon, Rocco Dispirito, coming back to the arena.
05:30I know. That's not something I ever planned.
05:33That's not something we ever talked about.
05:35But it's also something that we never said we wouldn't let happen.
05:38Anybody that you would put your money on that you think is after the title this year,
05:43that really has the guaranteed shot at it?
05:45I think that the judge that's returning to the arena
05:48has a chip on their shoulder against the randomizer.
05:51I know they are going to have a lot of fun.
05:54I know they are armed and operational.
05:57Great job, chef.
05:59I'm back because I've watched my friends win that big belt.
06:02I'd like to see if I have a shot at it myself.
06:05I think they're going to come back hot and with a vengeance.
06:08Wow. That's a big prediction.
06:10I think there are some chefs that have been playing
06:12and punching towards that belt so hard, they want it.
06:15When I win TOC, I think I'm just going to be a puddle on the floor of relief.
06:20It's just about winning, getting that belt.
06:23I'm back every single year until I win this thing.
06:26I'm here to finally win this show.
06:30So, keeping in the spirit of bigger and badder,
06:32our qualifier round is playing a bigger role this year than ever
06:35with eight spots open the bracket.
06:37Now, they have been filled with our amazing qualifier winners.
06:41Now, in case you've missed it,
06:4316 great chefs who wanted to compete at TOC6
06:46competed for the open in the seven and eight bracket position
06:50in all four divisions.
06:51Now, I'm talking Chopped Champions,
06:53I'm talking James Beard winners,
06:55MasterChef winners, you name it.
06:57We brought them from around the world to compete.
07:00They had to survive the Randomizer,
07:02Waffle Iron,
07:04Chicken Wings.
07:07Come on, man.
07:10Bye.
07:13And they were judged by TOC champs, including yourself,
07:17just to get in.
07:18Hey, Meilyne.
07:20Oh, my God.
07:22Right off the bat, I really love the vibrant colors of this dish.
07:25Such a depth of flavor in a really short time.
07:28I'm like...
07:30Tiffany Faison is the most terrifying chef
07:33in this entire competition.
07:35This is not soup.
07:37Okay.
07:39She makes me nervous.
07:41I wonder where the 32 minutes is in this.
07:43Are you kidding me?
07:45And, of course, world-class competitors.
07:46The winner, moving on to Tournament of Champions 6,
07:49will be...
07:52Chef Maria!
07:55Chef Sawyer!
07:58Chef Carlos Anthony!
08:00The winner is...
08:02Chrisso!
08:04The winner...
08:06Chef Brittany!
08:08The winner is...
08:10The Act of Spade!
08:12The winner is...
08:14Adriana Urbina!
08:16And the final spot...
08:18Congratulations, Chef David!
08:20What did you guys think of the qualifiers this year?
08:22What I love about the qualifiers setup is that
08:25the new chefs don't get a ton of time with a randomizer.
08:28They get some time.
08:30Tiff?
08:32I think I'm the only person that came in through the qualifiers
08:34and made the wall.
08:36I'm here to crush.
08:38I'm here to get into the main bracket.
08:40The first chef to win in the head-to-head battle
08:42of the East Coast Play-In is...
08:44Congratulations!
08:46Now, as you know, we have to go
08:48bigger, better, badder, bolder.
08:50And we're going to do it with the judging.
08:52We are bringing in some of the best judges
08:54that we have in the industry.
08:56Names like Palmer, Millican, Simon, Puck.
09:00Welcome back!
09:02You know, just some of the biggest legends
09:04in the culinary universe.
09:06Astounding panel of judges.
09:08Wait until you hear what the judges have to say.
09:10They do not hold back on their praises
09:12or their critiques.
09:14I thought like my grandmother was cooking.
09:16I think I need a doggy bag to pack this up for lunch.
09:19I would say it needs more flavor.
09:22This was messy.
09:25This is what DOC is all about.
09:27Oh my God.
09:29This is so good it actually makes me angry.
09:31I ate the whole thing like an animal.
09:34Really delicious to eat.
09:36I'm flabbergasted.
09:38Crave-able.
09:40It's a little bit weird, but I like it.
09:42I'm so impressed.
09:44I would crush this any day of the week.
09:46Plus, there are other three champs
09:48to be joining us at the judging table
09:50throughout the competition.
09:52Wow!
09:54Who knows better than what it takes to win
09:56than those three champs, right?
09:58Right.
10:00Justin, any new judges you're particularly excited about?
10:02Man, I like that Puck and Palmer combo.
10:04That sounds brutal.
10:06Charlie Palmer!
10:08The legend himself, such a big fan.
10:10He has been a mentor to countless acclaimed chefs.
10:12Wolfgang Puck, I have been trying to get him
10:14on the judging panel for years
10:16and this guy is such an OG.
10:18And one of the things that people don't know
10:20about Chef Puck, hysterical.
10:22When I was a kid,
10:24if my mother didn't bread the pork,
10:26I just didn't eat it.
10:28So maybe the chefs knew I like breaded stuff.
10:30My grandmother got the chicken fat
10:32and pork fat into everything.
10:34I grew up okay.
10:36I'm just so happy, you know.
10:38I had to go on a schnitzel detox.
10:40I had so many schnitzels,
10:42so thank God we have clams.
10:44I love the clam juice, you know,
10:46but I don't have enough of that.
10:48Did you run out of money to give them so little?
10:51I'm sorry,
10:53when did your comedy special start?
10:55I don't know.
10:57I think the show is going to have to be on after midnight.
10:59I was just going to say the same thing.
11:01I messed up your career
11:03and you won't be the first one, so it's okay.
11:05On top of a next level judging panel,
11:07we've also decided to amp up
11:09everybody's least favorite culinary juggernaut.
11:11Don't hide from it over there, Teff.
11:13It's the randomizer.
11:14This year, our wild cards are going to be even wilder.
11:16Our chefs will need to be on their toes
11:18like never before,
11:20and if they don't serve up
11:22what the randomizer tells them,
11:24what happens, Justin?
11:26They don't stand a chance.
11:28They don't stand a chance, exactly.
11:30You two have such a different perspective
11:32on the randomizer.
11:34Justin, what is it like to watch the chefs
11:36get the randomizer and try to manipulate it
11:38in their mind as to what they're going to make?
11:40Off you go, gentlemen.
11:42It's like watching an idea.
11:44And then it gets to a point
11:46where they have to commit.
11:48You work it or it works you.
11:50Those are the options.
11:52You work it or it works you.
11:54That's it. Those are the options.
11:56I think the chefs come in.
11:58Flavor matters. It's always going to matter.
12:00Protein and produce get all of the chefs' attention.
12:02Style. Style is going to be the make or break.
12:04Style's the make or break.
12:06Okay, we're almost ready to reveal
12:08this year's bracket, but before we do,
12:10let's take a look at the craziest
12:12randomizer reactions this year.
12:14Let the games begin.
12:16It's me against that wheel.
12:18I don't think I want to look yet.
12:20Tell me when it's done.
12:22I can't watch this.
12:24Oh, my God.
12:26Oh, my gosh.
12:28No.
12:33Oh, really?
12:36Welcome back to our sneak peek at TOC6.
12:39Now, this year, we have a full bracket
12:41of 32 of the most celebrated chefs
12:42in the food world.
12:44We've divided between four separate divisions.
12:46We have the A, B, C, and D divisions.
12:48So let's start by revealing
12:50our division A bracket chefs,
12:52ranking and first round match-ups.
12:54Now, the drumroll, please.
12:56Very nice. First seed,
12:59the Princess Warrior herself,
13:01Chef Antonia LoFasso,
13:03who fought her way to the final battle last year.
13:09This is a one-point win.
13:13Oh!
13:15Both chefs tied in plating with a nine.
13:19Both chefs tied in taste with a 44.
13:24Oh!
13:27In the randomizer,
13:29one chef scored a 36 out of 40,
13:31one scored a 37 out of 40.
13:34The winner of Tournament of Champions 5 is...
13:43...Vanita Chauhan!
13:48Ladies and gentlemen,
13:50big round of applause,
13:52Antonia LoFasso!
13:59It's just so hard.
14:02It's just so hard to do this.
14:08It takes so long, and it's just so hard.
14:13It's just so hard to come so far
14:16and then not get it done.
14:18Tournament of Champions is the one competition
14:21that I need to win.
14:27My tournament journey has been
14:30high, high, low, low,
14:32high, skyrocket high.
14:34I feel bad for anyone who's gonna come up against me.
14:36Everyone's going home.
14:38It's gonna be me at the very end,
14:40and it's not gonna be a loss by one point.
14:42She is up against one of this year's
14:44qualifying winners,
14:46that's number 8 seed,
14:48Chef Maria Maison.
14:50Going against Antonia,
14:52it's intimidating.
14:54She's one of the OGs,
14:56but I deserve it, and I'm ready.
14:58It's time for Mexico
15:00to be represented at TOC.
15:02We saw Maria,
15:04the award-winning Tucson restaurateur,
15:06did great in the play-ins.
15:08She is fired up, ready to battle.
15:10Antonia's got her work cut out for her.
15:12She was nimble.
15:14She was on fire.
15:16She has the moves to work this arena.
15:18Then we have number 2 seed,
15:20Mr. Delicious, Adam Sobel,
15:22who made it to the TOC quarterfinals
15:24in his very first culinary competition.
15:26It was his very first culinary competition.
15:28The winner in the battle is...
15:31Chef Adam Sobel!
15:33The winner is...
15:35Adam Sobel!
15:37Dang!
15:39Wow!
15:40Winning first seed is an honor,
15:42and it comes with great expectation.
15:44I'm a highly competitive person.
15:46I love to win.
15:48It's an adrenaline rush.
15:50Adam Sobel, Mr. Delicious,
15:52there's nothing that wheel can serve up
15:54that he can't knock out of the park.
15:56If I do everything that I'm planning to do,
15:58it will get me to the final,
16:00and I'll have the belt.
16:02I know 31 other chefs don't want to face me.
16:04And he's going up against
16:06number 7 seed,
16:08Chef Adriana Urbina,
16:10easy task.
16:12The randomizer was not kind.
16:14I give you tilapia,
16:16you make a pretty darn good dish.
16:18The highest score thus far
16:20in the playoffs.
16:22The winner is...
16:24Adriana Urbina!
16:26I'm here for a challenge.
16:28I want to battle against the best of the best.
16:30Adam has won two mission stars,
16:32but I'm not going to let him win.
16:34She's bringing this Argentinian
16:36incredible food
16:38that just doesn't get enough airtime.
16:40He's doing good in his first competition.
16:42He comes in at the number 2 seed.
16:44I think it was well-granted that he gets it.
16:46Number 3 seed,
16:48TOC5 breakout star,
16:50the Dragon Slayer,
16:52Kevin Lee,
16:54who defeated Brooke Williamson
16:56in his very first tournament battle.
16:58This is a one-point win.
17:0087-88.
17:02The winner of tonight's final battle
17:04between Chef Brooke Williamson
17:06and Chef Kevin Lee is...
17:10Chef Kevin Lee!
17:20Congratulations.
17:22Have fun.
17:26I went to the quarterfinals last season.
17:29I'm back to prove that that was not a fluke.
17:32Last year's competition
17:34really gave me the confidence
17:36to be a chef again.
17:38The Dragon Slayer is back.
17:40You know, Chef Kevin Lee,
17:42the Dragon Slayer,
17:44that guy is just one heck of a competitive cook.
17:46Goes up against the number 6 seed,
17:48Chef Casey Thompson,
17:50Top Chef All-Star
17:52and recent Triple-G All-Star winner.
17:54I love this. I love competing.
17:56I love that rush.
17:58I'm going up against Kevin Lee,
18:00but it doesn't matter who you're cooking against.
18:02It really only matters
18:04what you put on your plate
18:06and how you beat the randomizer.
18:08I'm in the right place at the right time.
18:10Casey Thompson is an OG,
18:12so she's got lots of different perspective
18:14on how she cooks.
18:16I love her food. I love her.
18:18She's hilarious.
18:20I think she could go all the way.
18:22But Kevin Lee is hot, fired up.
18:24He's just one to watch, you know?
18:26Number 4 seed,
18:28Chef Tim Love out of Texas.
18:30Dude's got 80 restaurants.
18:32Heavy hitter.
18:36I'm a chef owner of a plethora
18:38of really amazing restaurants
18:40with lots of awards and recognitions.
18:42I spent over a decade
18:44since I've been in food competition.
18:46It's a little bit of a leap of faith for me.
18:48I'm a die-hard competitor.
18:50I enjoy competition,
18:52and what better place to be
18:54than tournament champions
18:56with some of the best chefs in the world.
18:58Restaurant legend,
19:00Dr. Love out of Texas.
19:02Tim Love is no joke.
19:04This man knows barbecue.
19:06He knows Texas cuisine.
19:08I think he might be the dark horse.
19:10A New York icon
19:12and longstanding TOC judge
19:14decided to brave the bracket again.
19:16I'm back because I want to win.
19:18I've been here as a judge many times.
19:20Judges once in a while
19:22should come back and show their cooking skills.
19:24Let America see what they can do.
19:26I think I'm the one to beat
19:28because I'm able to fine-tune my cooking
19:30under pressure no matter what
19:32the randomizer throws at me.
19:34Love at 4, Rocco at 5.
19:37For the first time ever in TOC history,
19:38a judge is leaving the judges' podium
19:40to compete in the arena.
19:42These are heavy hitters that have come in.
19:44Legends that I've grown up with watching.
19:46Nice recap of the A Division.
19:48When we return,
19:50we will reveal the rest of the baller chefs
19:52competing at TOC 6.
19:54But first, here's a sneak peek
19:56of some of the exciting first-round battles
19:58featuring our A Division chefs.
20:00Antonia LaFasso!
20:02Chef Maria Maison!
20:08A great dish.
20:10Everything works together.
20:12I like this dish.
20:14Bold. I feel passionate.
20:16Kevin Lee!
20:18Casey Thompson!
20:22I thought like my grandmother was cooking.
20:24Oh, that's lovely. I'll take that.
20:27Adam Sobo!
20:29Adriana Urbina!
20:34Do you want to try it or not?
20:36I certainly do.
20:38What a great idea to get the black tea to the party.
20:40We'll see. You never know.
20:42Tim Law!
20:44Rocco Desperado!
20:46Tim Law, the legend.
20:48This is when all the joy gets sucked out of your body.
20:51It's tough. Makes me nervous.
20:53The winner is...
20:57So welcome back to our exclusive sneak peek
20:59at Tournament of Champions 6.
21:01Now we just did the Division A reveal.
21:03Let's talk about the chefs
21:05and matchups of the B Division.
21:06Now first up, we have the number one seed,
21:08Britt Resigno,
21:10who competed in the Final Four
21:12two years in a row
21:14and is determined to go all the way.
21:16Here we are in the Final Four.
21:18Ladies and gentlemen,
21:20POC's Final Four!
21:22I deserve to be here because I worked hard.
21:24I had to play in on Triple G to get here.
21:28Halibut is really difficult.
21:30This is brilliant. This is textbook.
21:32The flavor profile on this plate,
21:34everything makes sense.
21:36And this is exactly how I want my fresh corn grits.
21:39It's absolutely perfect.
21:41Chef Britt, congratulations, chef!
21:43You win the shot into the TOC bracket.
21:46And I made it to the Final Four
21:48two years in a row,
21:50taking out Giant...
21:52Britt Resigno!
21:54...after Giant...
21:56Britt Resigno!
21:58...after Giant.
22:00Congratulations, Chef Britt!
22:02I don't need to say much about Chef Britt.
22:04Watching her Cinderella story
22:06is one of the highlights of my career.
22:08Chefs, take on the number eight seed qualifier,
22:10Chef Chris Oh.
22:12And this guy looks better
22:14than I've seen him looking.
22:16I have Asian-inspired restaurants
22:18from San Francisco to Houston.
22:20I know Britt's a fierce competitor,
22:22but most important to me
22:24is that banner on the wall,
22:26because that means legacy.
22:28Chris Oh, winning in the qualifier.
22:30One chef will be moving on to the tournament.
22:33The winner is...
22:34Chris Oh!
22:36Congratulations, Chef!
22:38Chris Oh?
22:40He's been competing and winning
22:42like a madman.
22:44He's the only chef that's ever taken
22:46all three rounds of Wild Card
22:48and packed up the money and went home.
22:50Nacho pot pie!
22:52Nice job.
22:54Next, we have number two seed,
22:56Chef Shota Nakajima.
23:01I have three James Beard
23:02semifinalist nominations.
23:04I beat Bobby Flay.
23:06I beat Triple Threat this year.
23:08I'm gonna win.
23:10I'm gonna do everything that I can
23:12to put myself on the plate.
23:14Three-time James Beard nominee.
23:16Love that guy.
23:18One of my personal heroes.
23:20I love his style of Japanese cooking.
23:22I love the way his mind works,
23:24and I love watching him
23:26hunt mushrooms on Instagram.
23:28Let's head back,
23:30and I'm gonna show you
23:32the play-ins.
23:34That's why she's at the number seven seed.
23:36The winner,
23:38Chef Brittany!
23:40Congratulations!
23:42I have been James Beard nominated.
23:44I am a rising star restaurateur.
23:46I think people underestimate me a lot.
23:48They don't know what I do.
23:50They don't know what kind of food I cook.
23:52I am ready to prove myself.
23:54I deserve to be here alongside these giants.
23:56This should be a great match-up.
23:58Brittany Anderson's chicken wings
24:00in the qualifiers were incredible.
24:02Number three seed,
24:04Chef Kalina Bliss.
24:06TOC newcomer,
24:08Chopped Grand Champion?
24:10Beat Bobby Flay?
24:12Woo! Heavy hitter.
24:14TOC, it's anyone's game.
24:16You just don't know what's gonna happen,
24:18and that's what makes it so cool.
24:20I want to make a splash.
24:22I want them to be like,
24:24who is that? Who just won?
24:26Hi, I'm Kalina. Nice to meet you.
24:28Taking on number six seed,
24:30Chef Chris Cosentino.
24:32I'm ready to fight.
24:34Everybody wants to win.
24:36Everybody wants the bling.
24:38So would it be great to win?
24:40Of course it would be great to win.
24:42You just constantly put your best foot forward.
24:44You get knocked down, you get back up,
24:46and you do it all over again.
24:48I met Chef Kalina Bliss
24:50in the first season of Each Side Brawl.
24:52She took Brooke's team all the way to the finale and won it.
24:54Chris Cosentino has been on TV
24:56since Kalina Bliss was cutting teeth.
24:58He's the lean, mean fighting machine,
25:00and when he's dialed in,
25:02he's the number four seed,
25:04the GOAT Stephanie Izard.
25:06I'm a James Beard Award winner.
25:08I won Top Chef season four,
25:10first woman to win Top Chef,
25:12and I'm an Iron Chef.
25:14I love getting in the kitchen.
25:16It's fun, it's terrible all at the same time.
25:18I always want to be the best at what I do,
25:20but something about that randomizer
25:22keeps getting me.
25:24When I watch Steph cook,
25:26I always think, I need to be better.
25:28She has an understanding of technique
25:30that just blows my mind.
25:32It's the College vs. America
25:34and last year's qualifier competition.
25:36It's a redemption round for me.
25:38Stephanie, she is a force to be reckoned with,
25:40but I think I'm the sleeper.
25:42I have all the right skill set
25:44to challenge everyone here.
25:46I just do things that are outside the box.
25:49Michael came in last year pretty darn hot.
25:52I think he was also pretty heated
25:54when he was ejected.
25:56And the winner is
25:58Chef May Lin!
26:00Went out to the champs,
26:02so I'll definitely be back next year.
26:04I'm scared of anybody
26:06who's coming back to T.O.C. after a loss.
26:08So, that rounds out the B Division.
26:11When we return, we'll reveal the chefs
26:13in our remaining two divisions,
26:15but first, here's a preview
26:17of some of the baller first round battles
26:19starring our B Division chefs.
26:21Chris!
26:23Chris!
26:25Yummo, Chef.
26:27Ooh, we have kimchi going into fondue, Chef.
26:29I don't really like it.
26:31This is the type of cooking
26:33that I want to see on T.O.C.
26:35Chris O. always brings the flavors.
26:37Brittany Anderson!
26:39Chota Nakashima!
26:41How you doing, Brittany?
26:43I'm okay, how about you, Chota?
26:45I don't think I've ever seen anybody
26:47put hot liquid in me.
26:49I'm here for the underdog,
26:51I'm here for you.
26:53That's true.
26:55This dish is a flavor bomb.
26:57Ooh.
26:59This technique for me is new.
27:01I love this.
27:03I smell mortadella.
27:05This chef did so much hard work.
27:07Oh, my God!
27:09Oh, jeez.
27:11In 30 minutes to do this, I'm flabbergasted.
27:13Flabbergasted is nice, I'll take it.
27:15I tried my damnedest.
27:17Stephanie! Eyes on!
27:19Michael Reed!
27:21We'll be friends again later.
27:23We're not friends right now?
27:25No.
27:27The turkey thighs are cooked to perfection.
27:29It's in everything.
27:31And the winner is...
28:00Jet Tila!
28:02The winner is...
28:04Chef Jet Tila!
28:06And the winner is...
28:08Jet Tila!
28:10In the battle between Chef Mei Lin
28:12and Chef Jet Tila,
28:14the winner is...
28:16Jet Tila!
28:18This is your fourth Final Four in a row!
28:23There's nothing but pressure.
28:25It's just trauma from losing
28:27the Final Four so many times.
28:29But Brooke, Mei Lin, Tiffany, Manit,
28:33none of them are here.
28:35I've never had a better chance to win TLC.
28:38There's the $150K.
28:40There's the belt.
28:42There's that banner that my head's gonna be on.
28:44And there's the bragging rights.
28:46There's so much to win here.
28:49Who's he going against?
28:51The number eight seed, Piet Despaigne.
28:53A qualifier winner,
28:55next-level Chef Champion.
28:56I outscored a James Beard Award finalist
29:00in the qualifying round.
29:02In the battle between Ashley and Piet,
29:05the winner is...
29:07Piet Despaigne!
29:09As someone that is Native American
29:11and Mexican-American,
29:13I'm representing indigenous people
29:15and Native American chefs in the culinary industry,
29:17bringing those flavors to the forefront.
29:19Number one seed,
29:21the Jetster, Chef Jet Tila.
29:23Everybody's favorite.
29:24It's who people stop me on the street
29:26and ask about all the time.
29:28When is Jet gonna win?
29:30There's nothing Jet can't do,
29:32and he has been here knocking the door of the belt.
29:34He wants it more than, I think,
29:36almost anyone here.
29:38As a Native American woman,
29:40Piet Despaigne has an incredible story
29:42to tell through her food.
29:44If anybody's got a fighting spirit, it's her.
29:46The number two seed,
29:48the Fox, Karen Akutowicz.
29:50In TLC 3 and 4,
29:51I made it to the Elite 8.
29:53Last year, I went out
29:55in the first round against Dale Talbay.
29:57The winner of the battle,
29:59Chef Dale Talbay!
30:01Whoa!
30:03And I left thinking about
30:05coming back to TLC
30:07every single day for the last year.
30:10James Beard Award winner,
30:12the Fox,
30:14taking on the number seven seed,
30:16Chef Jonathan Sawyer.
30:18I'm a Food & Wine Best New Chef.
30:19I'm a James Beard Award winner.
30:21I've won Guys Grocery Games,
30:23Chopped, Alex vs. America.
30:25This is my third year on TLC,
30:27and I've lost the past two years
30:29in the first round.
30:31But now, I'm 27 months sober.
30:33I'm the best version of myself.
30:35I think it's my turn this year.
30:37Those two are friends.
30:39So a two and a seven,
30:41I mean, that's a pretty big spread.
30:43I'm excited to see who takes it.
30:45Jonathan Sawyer, the bearded brawler,
30:47he's such a seasoned, talented chef.
30:49He's gunning for big wins.
30:51All right, in the number three spot,
30:53Mama Wong, Chef Lee Ann Wong.
30:55She's opened award-winning restaurants
30:57in Hawaii and Japan.
30:59I'm OG culinary competitor.
31:01I've done TV all over the world.
31:03Last season,
31:05after losing my restaurant in Maui,
31:07I was really just grateful to be here.
31:09So this year is different.
31:11I really want to win.
31:13Think about how, like, the sun would reflect
31:15off that build in Maui.
31:17Lee Ann Wong was on
31:19the show with me.
31:21I want to see her do so well.
31:23I really want to see her take this.
31:25Sometimes she wants to throw everything
31:27that she knows about food on a plate,
31:29and if she can edit how she cooks
31:31and be a little bit more surgical,
31:33this awaits.
31:35Mama Wong going against number 60,
31:37Chef Chris Scott.
31:43I've been doing this for a long time.
31:46Right when you think you got me,
31:47you're going to see different styles,
31:49different techniques,
31:51showcasing this 35-plus years
31:53of knowledge and experience.
31:55You're going to see a different version
31:57of who you thought you knew.
32:01Last year's big qualifier winner,
32:03they call him Dr. Chocolate,
32:05one of my favorite all-time names.
32:07Chris Scott's incredible.
32:09He cooks with this integrity.
32:11He wants to transport knowing
32:13his beautiful self through his food.
32:15And I think that that's something
32:17that he's going to show us in this game.
32:19Dynamite to have them both
32:21back in the competition.
32:23Number four seed, Joe Sasto.
32:25I'm a top chef, all-star,
32:27chop champion.
32:29I've won guys' grocery games
32:31more times than I could count.
32:33I spent over a decade
32:35in Michelin-star restaurants,
32:37one, two, three stars,
32:39cutting my culinary teeth.
32:41This is a tournament of champions,
32:43and I am a champion.
32:45The stash is here to win.
32:47The winner of the TOC, Fabio Viviani,
32:49top chef, all-star.
32:51Winning TOC would mean
32:53that I still got it.
32:56People starting to question
32:58whether I can still cook.
33:01So these will be like the phoenix
33:04raising from the ashes.
33:06Got to get back
33:08and show these kids how it's done.
33:11This guy has over 50 restaurants,
33:13and I'm telling you,
33:15this guy is epic.
33:17He's here.
33:19He doesn't have to be here,
33:21financially or reputation-wise.
33:23I think this is fun for him.
33:25Three divisions down,
33:27one more to go.
33:29When we return,
33:31we will reveal the final eight chefs
33:33to come up in the TOC six bracket.
33:35But first, here's a sneak peek
33:37of some of the exciting
33:39first-round battles featuring
33:41our seed division chefs.
33:43Chef Chris Scott.
33:45Chef Leanne Wong.
33:47Fabio Viviani.
33:49Joe Sesto.
33:51What a stud.
33:53Yeah, goals.
33:55You have to play to the randomizer,
33:57and that's what they did.
33:59I love the use of the okra
34:01in the aioli.
34:03The battle between
34:05Chef Karen Akutowicz
34:07and Chef Jonathan Sawyer.
34:09Real smart move here,
34:11a little blast of cornstarch.
34:13Three egg yolks.
34:15Never seen a beet ricotta gnocchi.
34:17What?
34:19Chef Tila.
34:21Piet Despaigne.
34:23I got to get focused here.
34:25He's biting off a lot.
34:27The chop, it is perfectly cooked.
34:29Absolutely delicious.
34:31That was really good, Piet.
34:33The new high score at 91.
34:35And the winner is...
34:37Welcome back to our TOC sneak peek.
34:40Hanging out here with the two legends,
34:42Justin Warner and, of course,
34:44our TOC champ, sweet tea Tiffany Faison.
34:45We've already covered
34:47the first three divisions.
34:49Last but not least,
34:51let's take a look at our D division.
34:53Number one seed,
34:55Pancho, Chef Tobias Torzon.
34:57I love to compete.
34:59I love to battle.
35:01Classically trained,
35:03award after award in the culinary world.
35:05I want to make sure that people
35:07that look like me understand
35:09that you can be on this stage
35:11and you can strive at this stage.
35:13I want to be the person to show them that.
35:15You see someone who has grown tremendously,
35:18both as a human and also as a culinary competitor.
35:20I've become a fan.
35:22I love to see that level of just sheer hunger.
35:25Chef Tobias Torzon
35:27with an outstanding six TOC victories to his name,
35:30going up against the qualifier winner,
35:32number eight seed, David Vianna.
35:38I have a burning competitive fire.
35:41Just made it through the TOC qualifier.
35:43Itching for an opportunity to win again.
35:45Chef Tobias crystallizes the mountain I have to climb.
35:48It's going to be tough,
35:50because that man can cook his butt off
35:52and his flavors are real.
35:54This guy, I'm telling you,
35:56there's something about him.
35:58He's got a little something different.
36:00David Vianna, at least in the qualifiers,
36:02he's one of the few chefs
36:04that can work and talk to me.
36:06So I'm sautéing the jalapeno
36:08and the garlic that's going to go in my salsa macha.
36:10I'm going to fry the peppers
36:12and fry the peanuts
36:13to get them more caramelized,
36:15get a little extra heat,
36:17but I'm going to sauté.
36:19They call him a storyteller,
36:21and I think that's for a reason.
36:23If he has the energy and focus to cook like that
36:25and talk like that
36:27and to approach this not casually, but calmly,
36:29I think he could go really far.
36:31The number two seed,
36:33Chef AF, Amanda Freitag,
36:35renowned chop judge
36:37who has previously made it to the TOC finale.
36:39I'm back because there's nothing like TOC.
36:41I'm a number two seed,
36:43and that's what they all want to get at me.
36:45My mindset for TOC 6 is,
36:47keep it simple.
36:49I say that to myself every year,
36:51but this year I'm going to do it.
36:53Amanda kicked my ass from here to Kingdom Come.
36:55I can't imagine that she's not going to beat the doors down.
36:57Going against the number seven seed qualifier winner,
36:59Chef Carlos Anthony.
37:04I am here to win.
37:06I've opened up dozens of restaurants.
37:08I was named Best Chef in San Diego.
37:10What scares me about Amanda Freitag?
37:11Everything. All of it.
37:13But I'm here to prove myself
37:15and to show the world who I am.
37:19Been in the qualifiers,
37:21been in the competition,
37:23but had a really nice run in the off-season.
37:25Nice to see that he made it to the tournament.
37:27Chef Carlos Anthony has been mentored by Brian Malarkey.
37:30I've seen Carlos perform recently.
37:32He's coming in here hot.
37:34He's been competing.
37:36I think this is his year where he's saying,
37:38I am Carlos Anthony.
37:39The number three seed, Claudette Zepeda.
37:44A James Beard semi-finalist
37:46who has defeated Bobby Flay's Titans in competition.
37:49James Beard, Michelin, the best chefs
37:51in the Esquire's Best New Restaurant.
37:53Having an opportunity to compete in the Top Chef
37:55through Iron Chef.
37:57I have several competitions under my belt,
37:59but I'm just excited to be here for the first time ever.
38:03To beat the Titan.
38:05I mean, that is a feat.
38:07I'm so happy that she's seeing her day in the sun.
38:09Her repertoire is incredible.
38:12I fully expect a queen to be crowned.
38:14Going up against the number six seed,
38:16Chef Nini Nguyen.
38:19A Top Chef All-Star
38:21and one of last year's qualifier winners.
38:23I want to compete with the best.
38:25This is a really good match.
38:27I'm sad that I have to go against her,
38:29but I need to beat her.
38:31I want the chefs to know they should be scared.
38:34Martini Nini.
38:36I know her personally outside of this arena.
38:37I've seen her cook.
38:39I've eaten her food.
38:41I purchased her cookbook.
38:43She has this special sauce to her
38:45that when she puts it on, anything is delicious.
38:47And last, and definitely not least,
38:49the number four seed,
38:51Chef Dale Talde.
38:53James Beard Dominique,
38:55who scored his first big TOC win last year.
38:57Chef Dale Talde!
38:59Whoa!
39:01You start to get that competitive juice flowing
39:03right when you walk in the door.
39:05My forte is staying in the Southeast Asian realm,
39:07going to restaurants, numerous sports bars.
39:09I'm classically French-trained.
39:11I fear God only.
39:13That's about it.
39:15He's going against the number five seed again,
39:17a new chef that we haven't seen on TOC,
39:19Sarah Bradley.
39:21Chopped Legend,
39:23two-time Top Chef runner-up.
39:25I have done really well
39:27on some really big competitions.
39:29I am the first ever Chopped Legend.
39:31You have earned the coveted title
39:33of the very first Chopped Legend.
39:35Congratulations.
39:37I've been a Top Chef runner-up twice.
39:39Once on Kentucky's Top Chef
39:41and once on World All-Stars.
39:44But I am undefeated on Food Network.
39:46I'm here for that belt.
39:50The Duchess of Paducah, Sarah Bradley,
39:52definitely has the reputation,
39:54the street cred,
39:56and the competition worthiness.
39:58To be here, this is going to be a fight.
40:00She's the first Chopped Legend
40:02that we've ever crowned.
40:04I got to judge that episode,
40:05wow, this woman can cook.
40:07She's similar to me.
40:09Bridesmaid on Top Chef, two and two.
40:11Her season and then World Top Chef,
40:13she came in second on both.
40:15So when I tell you she's going to come in hungry,
40:17yeah, she's coming in hungry.
40:19What do you think?
40:21I've known Dale for a long time,
40:23the mean streets of Brooklyn,
40:25and there's a reason they call him a boogeyman.
40:27There's something about when Dale gets dialed,
40:29his cook is scary good.
40:31So there you have it.
40:33There's the TOC six bracket,
40:35no West,
40:37this is just mano y mano,
40:39the best of the best.
40:41To whet your appetite
40:43as we count down the days
40:45to this week's tournament kickoff,
40:47here's a sneak peek of the chef's reaction
40:49to the judges, the competition,
40:51the other chefs,
40:53and everything else that's going to take place.
40:55Enjoy.
40:57You guys ready for this?
40:59It's so wildly clever,
41:01and I really, really like that.
41:03Let's go!
41:05There's a bad boy.
41:07Ooh!
41:09Oh my God!
41:11That is evil.
41:13Wow!
41:15We're all tired of me losing.
41:17This is not timid cooking.
41:19I want to be the number one.
41:21Today it's me against me.
41:23We're staring down!
41:25She is.
41:27She's amazing, amazing.
41:29I'm not going to prove myself on my dime.
41:31The dragon slayer is back.
41:33Yeah, I'm out, chef.
41:35This tempura on top?
41:37This radicchio is ridiculous.
41:39The cheese is like barnyard funk.
41:42I think the batter is a little bit clunky.
41:44This is when all the joy gets sucked out of your body.
41:47We are down to a one-point difference.
41:50The winner of Tournament of Champions 6 is...
41:55It's early in the competition,
41:57but it feels like a final.