Thierry tries again for Top Chef Masters title
Jul 25, 2012, 6:43 AM | Updated: Oct 11, 2024, 10:39 am
When the new season of Top Chef Masters premiers Wednesday
night, it’ll be old hat for one of the contestants (pun
intended), Seattle’s own celebrity chef Thierry Rautureau.
“Two years ago, I was very busy with a new restaurant
opening. This time I was more ready for the competition
and more up for the challenge and I was going with a new
spirit,” says the James Beard Award-winning “Chef in the
Hat.”
Rautureau has no shortage of spirit or energy. Along
with owning the celebrated Rover’s and Luc restaurants, he
works tirelessly to fight hunger as a board member of Food
Lifeline. He says while he loves the experience pitting
his skills against some of the nation’s finest chefs, the
chance to win a lot of money to fight hunger is the real
inspiration. The winner receives $100,000 for the charity
of his or her choice.
“That would satisfy a lot of hungry people and that’s
something that is dear to my heart. Hunger is something
that I cannot fathom in this country or anywhere. So I
think it’s a problem we can solve. We just need more funds
and more help,” Rautureau says.
The show finished taping nearly 10 months ago in Las
Vegas, but as the saying goes, ‘What happens in Vegas
stays in Vegas.’ The $1 million non-disclosure he signed
is keeping the affable, usually chatty chef, tight-lipped.
Despite all my efforts, he wouldn’t offer any hints.
While he knows how he did, Rautureau says he’s actually
excited to see the show because with all of the cameras
and editing. The show is always a far cry from when he’s
in the heat of the kitchen.
“It’s going to be fun to watch for sure because I haven’t
seen any finished edited, finished product. So it’s going
to be interesting to see what kind of twist they put on
it.”
You can watch with him. He’s hosting viewing parties each
week at Luc. The show airs Wednesdays at 10
p.m. Just don’t bother asking him how far in advance to
make reservations.
“You’re going to have to watch and see. Unless you have a
lot of change, I’m not doing that,” he laughs. The threat
of having to pay the producers $1 million will do that to
you.
