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Season guide

Top Chef: San Francisco

12 episodes Premiered Mar 8, 2006 Updated Jul 26, 2026

Top Chef season 1, also known as Top Chef: San Francisco, is an American reality television series that premiered on Bravo on March 8, 2006. The season was based in San Francisco, California, and concluded in Las Vegas, Nevada. The competition was taped in October and November 2005. Twelve contestants from around the United States lived together in a house for approximately 21 days, competing in a series of challenge

Season overview

Top Chef season 1, also known as Top Chef: San Francisco, is an American reality television series that premiered on Bravo on March 8, 2006. The season was based in San Francisco, California, and concluded in Las Vegas, Nevada. The competition was taped in October and November 2005. Twelve contestants from around the United States lived together in a house for approximately 21 days, competing in a series of challenges. The weekly series featured a panel of judges, including chef Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons of Food & Wine Magazine, with Katie Lee Joel serving as host. The prize money awarded to the Top Chef was $100,000. The winning recipe from each week's episode was featured on Bravo's Top Chef website. The season concluded on May 24, 2006.

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Episodes

S1·E1

Who Deserves To Be Here

Mar 8, 2006 · 42 min

In the first episode of the series we meet the 12 contestants. For the quickfire challenge they are tested in Fleur de Lys (a San Fransisco restaurant). For the elimination challen

S1·E2

Food Of Love

Mar 15, 2006 · 42 min

For this episode the contestants have to impress Elizabeth Falkner the owner of Citizen Cake. For the elimination challenge the turn up the heat with a "Sexy Dessert" contest for a

S1·E3

Nasty Delights

Mar 22, 2006 · 42 min

For the quickfire challenge the contestants have to cook with octopus. For the elimination round the contestants are put into two teams: Red and Blue. They have to cook monk fish s

S1·E4

Food on the Fly

Mar 29, 2006 · 42 min

For the quickfire challenge the contestants are brought to a convenience store to buy ingredients for their dish. For the elimination round the contestants must create a delicious

S1·E5

Blind Confusion

Apr 5, 2006 · 42 min

For the quickfire challenge, the contestants are brought into an isolated room with many random exotic foods. They have to guess what they are with a blindfold on. For the eliminat

S1·E6

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner

Apr 12, 2006 · 42 min

For the quickfire challenge the contestants are put under some serious money restraints. They have to choose from ingredients that are put in front of them that are priced by the p

S1·E7

Restaurant Wars

Apr 19, 2006 · 42 min

For the quickfire challenge the contestants must make a gourmet sandwich. The winner doesn't get immunity but a sandwich on chef Tom Colicchio's menu at his new sandwich restaurant

S1·E8

Wedding Bell Blues

Apr 26, 2006 · 42 min

Teams compete for the chance to cater a commitment ceremony.

S1·E9

Napa's Finest

May 3, 2006 · 42 min

The four remaining contestants cook for some of Napa Valley's most respected chefs.

S1·E10

Reunion

May 10, 2006 · 42 min

Contestants reminisce about the competition.

S1·E12

Finale (2)

May 24, 2006 · 42 min

The final two contestants compete in the last elimination round to see who will become Top Chef.