That's great, but who are the chefs?

Great googly moogly!

Top Chef is returning, in Masters form.  Being the only show I watch on Bravo, there's nothing I'm watching that tells me Top Chef is coming back so it's usually by word of mouth I find out it's back a few episodes into the season.  Seems like a marketing flaw, considering how much television I watch that I could somehow not know one of my favorite shows is on.  But then again, Top Chef is on Bravo, which is owned by NBC Universal, which is owned by Comcast.  So, with those guys on the job, I'm not particularly surprised.

This season is worth watching, to me, for the sole reason that Bryan Voltaggio returns.  Voltaggio was the runner up to his brother in the (probably strongest) Season Six in Vegas.  While he did not win a Quickfire, he did win four main challenges * and was selected in the top group four additional times.  He never was in the bottom group to be possibly eliminated, which even Kevin and Michael cannot claim.**

* Though it seemed like he was unlucky, never winning one of the challenges that had a cash prize as a reward.

** Looking to see if anyone else in the show's run can make that claim.  Thank you Wikipedia.

I think I was a fan because I could see the older brother in him come out often.  Bryan and Michael exemplified an older/younger brother relationship.  One segment, which I think was online and not on the show, was when a snake got into the the house.  Brian dealt with the snake while Michael drunkenly sat there ready with a knife in case the snake pounced.

Despite the often flawed competition structures they have which can result in the worst dish not being eliminated * Top Chef is still one of three reality shows I watch **.  If Kristen, unjustly elminated early due at least partially to a dishonorable competitor, hadn't ultimately won*** I may feel differently.

* Often due to a team or bracket style match up.

** The other two being The Amazing Race and Survivor.  Both competition based, rather than candid.

*** In some weird Iron Chef finale cookoff.  Hopefully TC doesn't continue to try to be something it's not.