Season six of Top Chef is taking place in the city of extreme indulgence — Las Vegas, and we’ve been promised high-stakes play. I’m assuming when Tom and Padma repeatedly mention high-stakes, they are referring to the cooking, competition, and drama — where there’s a lot to be won, and a lot to be lost. Highlights from episode one:

• There are two DC-area cheftestants: Michael Isabella from Zaytinya and Bryan Voltaggio from Volt Restaurant (whose younger bro is also a contestant on the show). First impression: The cute Voltaggio bros are easy to like. Isabella has an overbearing and slightly annoying personality, and let’s hope he reigns it in soon so he doesn’t go the way of Teddy ala The Next Food Network Star.
• The Quickfire Challenge is the relay challenge, where the chefs work in teams to shuck clams, clean prawns, crack lobsters, and French-cut a prime rib. There’s one team who spent the entire challenge shucking clams, and it was painful to watch.
• Winning relay team members square off for a challenge amongst themselves, with Jennifer (I’ve made men cry in the kitchen) Carroll‘s clam ceviche winning.
• The Elimination Challenge has the chefs creating a dish based on their personal vices, and we know a little something about vices as inspiration. :) It comes as no surprise that drinking, scotch, bourbon, beer, and the overindulgence of spirits are the primary vices of our cheftestants.
• Wolfgang Puck is guest judge for the Elimination Challenge, and he is funny. I like him and his Austrian accent.
• Kevin Gillespie, who reminds me a little of Zach Galifianakis, wins with his procrastination-inspired Arctic Char with Salsa Verde of Turnips.

Kevin Gillespie’s winning dish, Arctic Char with Salsa Verde of Turnips

Since the prevalent flavors in this dish include fennel and star anise, I recommend a French pastis, or anise-flavored liqueur, for the drink pairing. Pernod, whose distinct licorice flavor is often used as a cooking ingredient, as well as before-dinner beverage to stimulate the appetite, is a good choice. Pernod has a crisp, sweet flavor that makes it a favorite in the summer (a French favorite that is). Purists prefer the traditional French aperitif, the Pernod Classic. But, you know me — bring on the champagne and the French Fizz. Recipes courtesy of Pernod Richard USA. À votre santé!

Classic Pernod

• 1 part Pernod
• 5 parts water
• Ice

Pour 1 part Pernod in a glass. Add 5 parts water. Add ice to fill glass. Serve in a highball glass.

French Fizz

• 1 part Pernod
• 5 parts champagne
• Lots of ice

Pour Pernod and all of the other ingredients into a tall glass over lots of ice. Mix well. Serve in a white wine glass.

Shoes & Cocktails wants to know: What personal vice inspires you?

posted by Ms. S&C

After drinking Lillet during my NYC bar hop, I picked up a bottle at Whole Foods.  Then, I ran across the Corpse Reviver, No. 2 recipe – just in time for Halloween.  Other than a fitting name, the cocktail itself has no association with the holiday.

Lillet is a wine, blended with a secret recipe of herbs and fruits.  It pairs perfectly with citrus.  So, the combination of the sweet orange liqueur with the sour lemon juice is scary good.  You can hardly taste the gin, and the dash of Pernod gives a hint of star anise flavoring that really makes the cocktail.  Don’t let the unusual spirits discourage you, this is a very good cocktail.  My new book, The Savoy Cocktail Book, has a funny quote which reads, “Four of these taken in swift succession will unrevive the corpse again.”  Trick or treat!

Corpse Reviver, No. 2
(makes about two cocktails)

• 1 part Gin
• 1 part Lillet
• 1 part Cointreau (or another orange liqueur)
• 1 part Lemon Juice
• Dash Absinthe (or Pernod)

Combine all ingredients and shake well with ice.  Strain into chilled cocktail glass.  Garnish with lemon peel.