Handicapping Top Chef

Top Chef debuts tonight, as anyone who cares already knows (Bravo network, check your listings). Seattle has two awesome women representing the city this season: Robin Leventhal (Crave, now closed) and Ashley Merriman (Branzino). I got a chance to work with Robin Leventhal Monday night when she led a meat class for a project I'm helping author Kathleen Flinn with: teaching people with major hangups in the kitchen the basics of cooking. Robin commands authority in the kitchen and she's opinionated (in a good way); her style of cooking is strongly rooted in the mastery of the simple, perfect braises, a knack for seasoning, and wicked organization. I will miss the lamb shank from Crave.

I predict at least seven cans of whoopass from her, an altercation or two, and I think she'll have a way with the judges... all while driving the young little cooking-school snots crazy with her enthusiasm and confidence. (Actually, this season's lineup looks older and stronger than any past season.) Robin didn't speak at all about the show, but I'd be shocked if she didn't get pretty goddamn far. This is gonna be a good season. *And this is by no means an official endorsement by the Weekly of one contestant over the other. Good luck to both ladies.