More behind the scene stuff. For the last 6 seasons our host @chefmonamosly has a getting for beautiful shoes, I’m not sure if any of you notice this stuff, but one thing I have observed is that after an hour, her feet hurt her! Now as an innocent bystander, I generally know this and we are all well versed with finding the closest chair. What puzzles me is the high heels! It messes your back up, you can’t run in them. You got to learn to walk in them…. Well, I’m just a cook and thee is a lot of stuff I still do not understand! Bottom line, chivalry ain’t dead, it’s alive and kicking @mbctopchef @marounchedid
Throwback to Egypt and trying feseekh, a 21 day salted fish, which came about as a means to preserve fish before refrigeration
This is why I love my director/ assistant director and editors! (Can anyone tell me who they are?) well this is what happens when I film without them…. I really want to introduce you to the fabulous Cynthia!!!!! She creates the outdoor sets for @mbctopchef Obviously the setting of the first episode is pretty dramatic, with the old Ford Trucks, followed by the fashion show….. the next episode is also pretty cool. This is another important member of the team that make top chef the success that it is. A colossal thank you to @zaharcynthia for her great work. I hope you take note of the set for the next show…. Very cool
I’m posting this only so you can appreciate the lyrics of this band I’ve fallen in love with. @wookiefoot_official I find their music, and arrangements beautiful. The lyrics are inspirational, clever, fun and funny, taking on very important topics. When you have no plan, ‘going with the flow’ becomes the default, and, this is what it looks like when your work friends and family @mbctopchef
Tonight’s episode is a classic that you really don’t want to miss! Although I’m running late with this ‘behind the scene’ post, it’s sometimes better to be late then never. You’ve seen him in my other posts, but I don’t believe I introduced him before, but this is Fadi, he is one of our sound engineers, with Mazen & George. There job is very important, very technical, balancing sound, equalization, and a lot of other technical stuff I won’t bore you with. We’ve been working together for years now and as you can see, we have a pretty good working relationship to the point that we joke about it. For the record, I give him consent to mic me up every morning and never did I feel harassed or belittled. Pamela our producer makes a cameo and obviously our host Mona and fellow judge Maroun on judges table.
A picture says a thousand words. Top Chef has been nominated for an International Emmy. ‘Congratulations’ to all the incredibly talented, dedicated team members behind this world class production. I, with my fellow judges are obviously very proud and humble to be working with this internationally recognized production team. To think that in season 6 they continued to refine & fine tune the production is exactly the attitude that this team brings with each additional season. Now for some scrolling credits; When I first met Rabih Ramal (Executive Producer of Top Chef) I recognized that I was in the company of a very creative, kind soul. In time, I would experience his ethos / culture and sensibility that has made Top Chef uniquely different to the other international TC franchises. It’s not just just the creativity, it’s a team effort where the total is greater then the sim of the parts. He assembled an incredible team of dedicated professionals from a creative forces & technical forces behind this production is staggering. (I wanted to post the tour of the studio given by Ghazi (DOP) and some of the behind the scene shots of the third episode but this is pretty big news and I’ll post later.) Every season I mention director Wassim Succar & assistant director Reine. I hardly get to film them as they are always too busy, but they sure do give the show a lot of visual candy, drama, and capture the essence of the show. There are producers like Pamela who leave no stones unturned, and can juggle multiple issues on her 2 phones. Nothing falls through the cracks, with no time to waste, she literally listens to her WhatsApp voice messages at x2 speed. A huge honor for me personally to work with Kiki who could have been hired as my ‘emotional support’ personal but she is our ‘content producer’. Obviously Samir, our other content producer had big shoes to fill, but in his first season, he is part of an Emmy nominated show! I like to say ‘good work does not go unnoticed’ bravo to you all. Thank you @mbc for giving us all the opportunity to do what we do. @mbctopchef
For those of you watching the show, how did you like the first episode? That was a really long day, we were fighting against the elements. We worked through the bitter cold dessert morning, then we all got scorched by the afternoon sun, only to be blasted by very cold dessert winds. Much respect to the chefs that cooked under pressure in an intimidating first round. @mbctopchef @chefmonamosly @marounchedid
Little things make a big difference and every season the team tweaks the design of the set, the look and the feel of the Top Chef kitchen. I decided to pop in early and get a guided tour with the DOP (director of photography) but first this! @mbctopchef
Little things make a big difference and every season the team tweaks the design of the set, the look and the feel of the Top Chef kitchen. I decided to pop in early and get a guided tour with the DOP (director of photography) but first this! @mbctopchef
Conducted a food demo today, showcasing how we can all minimize #foodwaste on a common household ingredient: ginger. Stay tuned for more on the #UrbanEats campaign, circular food for more resilient cities! https://resilientcitiesnetwork.org/urban_resiliences/urban-eats/
Part 1: It’s #WorldFoodDay today! Besides thinking about food, we must also think about the huge amounts of food waste that is produced in our restaurants, kitchens and supermarkets every day. That is why I’ve teamed up with @RCitiesNetwork on the #UrbanEats campaign to call on cities to reduce #foodwaste and improve #foodsecurity towards a healthier planet. Watch the video and learn more here: http://bit.ly/Urban_Eats
A picture says a thousand words. Top Chef has been nominated for an International Emmy. ‘Congratulations’ to all the incredibly talented, dedicated team members behind this world class production. I, with my fellow judges are obviously very proud and humble to be working with this internationally recognized production team. To think that in season 6 they has continued to refine & fine tune the operation is exactly the attitude that this team brings with each additional season. Now for some scrolling credits; When I first met Rabih Ramal (Executive Producer of Top Chef) I recognized that I was in the company of a very creative, kind soul. In time, I would experience his ethos / culture and sensibility that has made Top Chef uniquely different to the other international TC franchises. It’s just just the creativity, it’s a team effort where the total is greater then the sim of the parts. He assemble an incredible team of dedicated professionals from a creative force & technical forces behind this production is staggering. (I wanted to post the tour of the studio given by Ghazi (DOP) and some of the behind the scene shots of the third episode but this is pretty big news and I’ll post later.) Every season I mention director Wassim Succar & assistant director Reine. I hardly get to film them as they are always too busy, but they sure do give the show a lot of visual candy, drama, and capture the essence of the show. There are producers like Pamela who Leaves no stone unturned and can juggle multiple issues on her 2 phones. Nothing falls through the cracks, with no time to waste, she literally listens to her WhatsApp voice messages at x2 speed. A huge honor for me personally to work with Kiki who could have been hired as my ‘emotional support’ but is in fact ‘content producer’. Obviously Samir, our other content producer had big shoes to fill, but in his first season is part of an Emmy nominated show!
For those of you that do not understand all the importance and all the fuss about Diwali Day, well, let me try and explain it as if Sherlock would explained it to his sidekick, ‘it’s elementary dear Watson!’ There is a lot of darkness in our world, seems more obvious then ever before. This is one of those days where one hopes that more and more people regardless of race, ethnicity or geography will celebrate and know the true meaning of Diwali. Although it’s deeply enriched in Indian culture, it’s a religious time as well, observed by; Hindu’s, Sikhs, Jens and some Buddhist. I personally love it, and it really couldn’t come at a more appropriate time. Serving as a poignant reminder to celebrate victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. I wish you all light, peace and growth.
Throwback to visiting a local market in Jakarta to buy ingredients for Gado Gado!
Well, it was one of those iconic closing parties for the end of the season in Ibiza. It kinda reminds of a Grateful Dead show, where the audience plays a significant role and the vibe is equally as fresh and fun as it looks. Now, back to work! Actually I was here to work, and it was way past my bedtime! Yes that’s @officialfatboyslim spinning the sounds 😜
Well, it was one of those iconic closing parties for the end of the season in Ibiza. It kinda reminds of a Grateful Dead show, where the audience plays a significant role and the vibe is equally as fresh and fun as it looks. Now, back to work! Actually I was here to work, and it was way past my bedtime! Yes that’s @officialfatboyslim spinning the sounds 😜
Well, it was one of those iconic closing parties for the end of the season in Ibiza. It kinda reminds of a Grateful Dead show, where the audience plays a significant role and the vibe is equally as fresh and fun as it looks. Now, back to work! Actually I was here to work, and it was way past my bedtime! Yes that’s @officialfatboyslim spinning the sounds 😜
Ladies and gentlemen, when you watch the show tonight, just look how beautiful the studio looks, even when it’s out of focus and just a backdrop. It didn’t happen by accident. It’s all by design, and that is the intimate relationship between Ghazi, our DOP & Wassim Succar the director. If they thought season 5 was worthy of an Emmy nomination, then season 6 is just as worthy! I hope you enjoy the show tonight! @mbctopchef
Part 2: It’s #WorldFoodDay today! Besides thinking about food, we must also think about the huge amounts of food waste that is produced in our restaurants, kitchens and supermarkets every day. That is why I’ve teamed up with @RCitiesNetwork on the #UrbanEats campaign to call on cities to reduce #foodwaste and improve #foodsecurity towards a healthier planet. Watch the video and learn more here: http://bit.ly/Urban_Eats
My appreciation for hats in the past, was just to keep my head warm, a little shelter when it rained, but then TV came around, I had no gel, no hairstylist and started to really appreciate the craftsmanship, the material, and the gentlemen that gave me an education on them. I particularly love the hats from @bates on 73 Jermyn street in London. A bad hair-day or Don Kind day @mbctopchef
‘Rabih told me not to come, and that’s exactly why I came!’ Ladies and gentlemen please allow me to introduce you to Ghazi, our DOP ( director of photography) I’ll let him explain his role and point out all the little tweaks and improvements in the Top Chef studio, the kitchen, the pantry, lounge etc. thank you @mbctopchef Ghazi for doing all that you do!
Throwback to Tokyo and discovering their passion for plastic food!
Wine appreciation with Joe from Petersons winery in Hunter valley region. For those that appreciate fine wines, these are pretty exceptional world class wines wines. #huntervalley #petersonswinessingapore
Excited to be in Singapore for a very special #UrbanEats partnership dinner with @RCitiesNetwork at the beautiful @Canopygardendining restaurant, Hort Park. We’re collaborating to minimize food waste and maximize sustainability in our menu, as part of the #UrbanEats campaign to build more #resilient and #circular food systems. Cities are ready to improve our food systems. We’re calling on partners to invest in them. Want to learn more? Follow @RCitiesNetwork and visit https://resilientcitiesnetwork.org/urban_resiliences/urban-eats/
