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Published on: 10/6/2008
Last Visited: 3/12/2008
Top Chef judge: Gail Simmons ,Top Chef judge: Gail Simmons (F. Scott Schafer)
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons
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set to premiere, Season 3 winner Hung Huynh and judge Gail Simmons were online Wednesday, March 12 at noon ET to take your questions about the show.
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Simmons is the special projects editor for Food and Wine magazine.
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Hung: Hi, this is Hung, Season 3 Top Chef winner!
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Gail: Hi, I'm Gail Simmons from Food and Wine Magazine and I'm a permanent judge on Top Chef, which has its season 4 premiere tonight on Bravo.
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Hung: I think everyone is OK now.
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Gail: That's what I loved about working with Hung so much.His food was great, but he never backed down, he never lost his confidence.
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Gail: I agree.
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Hung: For tomorrow night reservations at my restaurant have tripled.
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Gail: People are craving your food!
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Hung: Let's say 70 percent want to know about food and the other 30 want to know about Padma - and Gail!
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Hung: Let's say 70 percent want to know about food and the other 30 want to know about Padma - and Gail!
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Boston: Gail, what are your favorite restaurants in the country?
Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Gail: Let me assure you I have not eaten at every restaurant in the country.
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Hung: I look at the technique and what inspires me, maybe a memory spark, something I ate recently that was great and I want to reproduce it.
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Hung: Growing up with it, eating it every day.
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Gail: Hung, I think I am going to Vietnam on my honeymoon!
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Gail: It's hard to say.
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Washington, D.C.: Ms. Simmons: It seems like you like to disagree with Padma, is there sister rivalry there?
Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Gail: I didn't know I disagreed with Padma!
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Gail: Seasoning is the most basic thing.
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Cubicleville, USA: Gail, who have been your favorite contestants in past seasons?Who are your favorites in the new season -- who should we be watching?
Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Gail: I have favorites from all seasons.
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Gail: Chefs definitely need to have a knowledge of wine, but you have to walk before you can run.
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Gail: Yes, we did do a wine challenge!
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Hung: I watch Iron Chef!
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Gail: I watch both of those as well.
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Oh thanks.
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Hung: Every day is super busy.
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Gail: We have done that before, with the Season 1 vs.
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Washington, D.C. : Gail, how have the competitors changed since the show started?Are you getting more experienced people or are they about the same?
Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Gail: Definitely more experienced.
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Washington, D.C.: Gail and Hung - as a judge and winner, what qualities does a "top chef" possess that separates him/her from the rest of the bunch?
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Hung: Top Chefs need to have determination to succeed, don't give up.
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Gail: Don't blow up, stay calm, be a leader, and cook from your heart!
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Silver Spring, Md.: Gail, do you help come up with the challenges?Who's in charge of those?And Hung, which was your favorite challenge -- or least favorite?
Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Gail: I do not.
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Gail: Yes, I can tell you that!
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Gail: I think that's a great idea.
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20009: Hung and Gail: Seeing as we're on a Post chat, have either of you been to D.C. recently?What are your thoughts on our restaurant "scene"?Any favorites?
Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Hung: I had dinner at Citronelle and it was really interesting food, fun food and classic.
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Gail: I haven't been to DC in an absurdly long time but I have friends there and I know there are a lot of up and coming chefs.Like Eric Ziebold at CityZen and Cathal Armstrong at Eve, who have been named Food and Wine Best New Chefs.
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Hung: I think the sous vide thing is like using a saute pan, it's just a way of heating up food.
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Gail: We do give challenges that require them to do different things, but it depends on their comfort level.
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Gail: We don't choose the cities, it has to do with many factors: schedule, time of year, location for our crew.
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Hung: I don't know yet, maybe!
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Dupont Circle, D.C.: Gail: Congrats on your upcoming marriage!We're all dying to know -- what's on your menu for the big day?
Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Gail: Good question!
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Hung: Anthony Bourdain, and Gail was truly one of them.
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Hung: Anthony Bourdain, and Gail was truly one of them.
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Gail: Really?That's fascinating.
Hung: You scared me every time.
Gail: I don't know whether I'm honored or saddened by that.
Hung: You are all about the food.I'm like, Damn, she's tough.
Gail: Now you know I'm all bark and no bite.
D.C.: Just a quick insider question: How much time passes between the challenges that we see each week?Do you get much "downtime" to relax/think during the course of the filming?
Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Hung: Only a few hours of downtime.
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Gail: I don't think a home chef can compete on the same level any more.
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Hung: Elk was all right.
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Gail: That's like me and pickled ginger.
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Hung Huynh and Gail Simmons: Hung: I can't wait to watch the show tonight!
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Gail: Are you ready to hand over your tiara?
Hung: No, I'm not!
Gail: Hung's going to be around a long time.
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