Top Chef All-Stars Finale: Richard Blais wins the "Top Chef"

"Top Chef All-Stars Finale", the remaining two contestants prepared the best meal of their lives. The final challenge was to create the restaurant of their dreams with a four-course tasting menu.

Richard Blais and Mike Isabella got to be assisted by eliminated chefs in the kitchen. The former had Spike, Angelo and Antonia on his team while the latter got Tiffani, Jamie and Carla. Richard decided to call his restaurant Tongue in Cheek while Mike preferred to call his simply Izz.

Mike created a dish made from beets for his first course, and followed it up with steamed halibut with kumquat, pork shoulder with pepperoni sauce and a flan. Richard amused the judges with hamachi and sweetbreads, black cod and pork belly, beef short rib and foie gras ice cream.

When the judges deliberated, the first and second course went to Richard, while the third went to Mike. The dessert became the determining point but it was apparent that Richard would win because during the tasting, judge Art Smith said about Mike's flan, "I don't like the way it feels in my mouth."

As a winner, Richard earned $200,000 prize and the Top Chef title. "I didn't think I could do this, I willed this," he said after Padma Lakshmi's announcement. Meanwhile, Mike did not take the loss lightly, saying "To come in second is tough. I felt like I beat him. I just didn't get the prize."

Top Chef All-Stars Finale: Who will be crowned "Top Chef?"

Mike Isabella and Richard Blais headed into the Top Chef: All-Stars finale with grills blazing and blenders whirring, knowing that $200,000 and the title that had eluded them both in previous seasons was on the line.

Their mission if they chose to accept it: Create a four-course tasting menu for the restaurant of their dreams.

So, did Richard find sweet redemption with foie gras ice cream after coming up short in season four? Or did season-six also-ran Mike and his pepperoni sauce finally end up with a real reason to brag?

Who will be crowned "Top Chef?"

Padma and Tom tell Mike and Richard that they will be creating the restaurant of their dreams with a four-course tasting menu. Of course, the voted-off chefs are back as sous chefs (AKA I get to see Angelo)! The chefs have 30 minutes to cook an amuse-bouche for Richard and Mike to taste. Twist! They are blind-folded, so can't tell who made what! Mike admits if he had a choice he would take his friend Jen (no surprise) and no one in their right mind would choose Jamie. Or Marcel. Richard wants Dale, Angelo or Jen.

In the end, Mike picks Tiffani, Jamie (ahh!) and Carla while Richard picks Spike, Angelo and Antonia. Mike acts happy to work with them, but come on. Jamie? Really? Anyway, it seems like they both are very set on what they want and very driven. Mike's obviously going Italian and Richard is doing more of a surf and turf theme. They have five hours before they open! Everything seems to be going great, but I can't even tell what they're cooking because it's all so rushed! This should have been a two-hour finale if you ask me.

Anyway, the judges start filing into the restaurants. Richard's restaurant is called "Tongue & Cheek" while Mike's is called "Restaurant Iz." The first round of judges include Padma, Lidia Bastianich, Alfred Portale and Hurbert Keller. They go to Richard's place first. He starts off with an oyster amuse-bouche, which is well-received. I love Spike. He's creeping on the judges. First course is raw Hamachi, which is also liked by all. His second course is pork belly and black cod, which they love. The third course is a beef short rib. They don't love the creativity, but they love the execution. Richard is crazy and looking at the chefs' leftovers! Richard's last dish is his foie gratis ice cream. "It's a controversial dish," says Spike. Haha!

Tom, Gail, Curtis Stone and Art Smith hit up Mike's restaurant first. Mike's first course is a spiced beet salad and they love it. Uh oh. It takes a little long to get the second course out. He serves Halibut and Tom says it's the best-cooked fish he's had on the show! Wow. His third course is braised ribs, which he calls his "Tom dish" and he's right. They really like it. Mike's last dish, rosemary custard, was the only one they weren't thrilled about it. Still good though.

The other chefs are also dining. The judges then switch and go to the other restaurant. Richard is trying to change his last dish to make it better for the second round of judges. At this point, it's so close. Who knows what will happen?!? The second set of judges really love Mike's dishes. But wait, they love Richard's too! He fixed his dessert too. Yay! I can't stop using exclamation points. Hah. The one thing I will say is that this is the first time there were no sous chef issues. Everyone seemed to pull their weight -- even Jamie!

Dukan Diet: celebs most favorite weight loss program

What is Dukan Diet?

According to the New York Times article, the diet has become such a staple of French culture that almost any public figure that loses weight is labeled as a "Dukanniste," including Carole Middleton, the mother of Kate Middleton. There have been rumors that the princess-to-be is also on the diet in preparation for the royal wedding, according to ABC News.

The Dukan Diet has taken France by storm, selling 3.5 million copies in 14 different languages and being hailed as a life-long weight loss answer. But many Americans have never heard of it.

Apparently it’s the latest diet fad out there, and it must be pretty hot if Gisele Bundchen and Kate Middleton are backing it up! Both of these women are envied for their perfect figures, and the Dukan Diet may be the reason they find it so easy to stay thin.

The Dukan Diet is fairly similar to the celebrity loved Atkins Diet, but it has four phases that dieters are required to follow. The first phase, the “Attack” phase, consists of eating only protein, so I’m guessing that there aren’t too many options for vegetarians!

The second phase of the diet is the “Cruise” phase, and lets followers add vegetables back into the plan. The third phase is called the “Consolidation” phase, where dieters are allowed two “festive” meals, whatever that means.

The final phase of the Dukan Diet is the “Stabilization” phase, which is basically just the maintenance phase of the diet.

Supposedly Gisele Bundchen used the Dukan Diet to lose the baby weight after her son was born. But wait a minute…I thought that Gisele originally reported that she barely gained any weight? What did she need a diet for, exactly?

Kate Middleton follows the Dukan Diet faithfully, and it’s definitely working for her. But is she running the risk of getting too thin?

Well they will next month when the diet books make their American debut, according to the New York Times. Dr. Pierre Dukan, the diet's creator, sold the North American Rights for $1.3 million up front.

Source:

• Huffingtonpost
• Babble.com

Seann William Scott to the next American Pie

Seann William Scott signed on to reprise the party animal character in another American Pie, to begin shooting in just weeks, despite entering treatment, his agent confirms to PEOPLE.

Scott, 34, is reportedly set to join Jason Biggs and Eugene Levy for another piece of Pie, and Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tara Reid, Chris Klein, Mena Suvari and Jennifer Coolidge are in negotiations to return.

The movie starts filming on May 24. Scott's treatment is not expected to affect production, his agent says.

The story was first reported by the Wrap.

Source: People

Gary Coleman’s home slashed price

The asking price for the property belonging to the ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ actor – who passed away after suffering a serious head injury last year – has been reduced to $225,000 in a bid to sell his assets.

Gary Coleman’s home and belongings remain unsold. The asking price for Gary Coleman’s former home in Utah, US, has been slashed in a bid to sell it.

Former child star Gary was at the house - located in Utah, US - when he fell and suffered the injury, which later led to his death in hospital aged 42.

Gary had bought the house for $320,000 in 2006 and lived in it with ex-wife Shannon Price. It is said to still contain his belongings.

A spokesperson for Shannon told website Radaronline.com: “She can’t afford to pay for it.

“She left it up to the third party attorney. It’s a big house. She can only do so much.

“She’s paying everything she has to attorneys. And she’s very cautious about spending wisely and saving every penny.”

Gary had struggled with money throughout most of his adult life, although in 1989 he successfully sued his parents and former business advisors for $1.3 million for misappropriation of funds.

In February it was revealed that Shannon was living in squalor in another home, which she shared with her father.

Glee: people set Darren Criss traps in New York

On Tuesday's "Glee" episode, Blaine (Darren Criss) and Kurt (Chris Colfer) finally got together! It's the moment we've been waiting for since Blaine sung his way into our hearts with "Teenage Dream." Since then, he's become a regular fixture on our Driving-to-Work Playlist, and our Monday playlist, and our Rainy Day playlist... basically any playlist that serves a cheering-up purpose.

Criss has come a long way since looking for love on bad reality shows -- rumor has it he's in talks to become a regular "Glee" cast member in Season 3. (Of course, those rumors come from Ryan Murphy, so we'll hold off on believing them.)

Now that the Dalton Academy Warblers have been knocked out of the running for Nationals (even though, frankly, we thought their performance was way better than the New Directions' original songs), will we still be seeing Blaine and Kurt on "Glee"? Sources tell us they'll still be in the mix.

We can't help but wonder if Blaine will be accompanying the New Directions on their trip to New York City for Nationals. If so, Criss had better watch out.

Someone has been setting "hipster traps" around the city. They're basically giant bear traps, luring unsuspecting hipsters in with American Spirit cigarettes, brightly colored bike chains, PBR, and bring pink wayfarers... which happen to be a Darren Criss wardrobe staple.

Watch out, Criss. Do not be fooled!

Source: blog.zap2it.com

The Khan Academy at TED Conference: YouTube videos can change education

When the former hedge fund manager began posting humorous math tutorials on YouTube for his young cousins, they not only loved it, but it quickly earned a grass roots following. Today, the Khan Academy offers 2,000 such tutorials, ranging from basic addition to vector calculus - for free. Khan conducts all the tutorials for his audience of 1 million students. This past year, a northern California school district began using a Khan-developed curriculum that uses data analysis and self-paced learning to help its teachers better work with students individually. Following Khan's rousing presentation at the annual TED conference Wednesday, Khan supporter Bill Gates told the audience: "I think we've just gotten a glimpse into the future of education."

Another very good talk from last week's TED conference. This time it's Salman Khan talking about his Khan Academy, aYouTube-ified short-bite education program offered by a former hedge fund analyst. It's good stuff. Just check it out.

Tera Myers: teacher stood down from job after exposed as ex adult star

High School science teacher Tera Myers has been suspended from her job as a high school teacher after her past came back to haunt her.

The well liked teacher was exposed by a student who discovered vision of Tera Myers from a shoot she underwent in the 1990s.

Working under the name Tericka Dye, its not the first time Tera Myers was embroiled in controversy over her past. 

Ms Myers, whose stage name is Rikki Andersin, even shared her story on television show Dr Phil and began work at Parkway North the next year, reported KMOV.

In 2006 Tera Myers lost her job from a Kentucky high school after her past was identified "I'm a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who's made a lot of bad decisions in life. This being the most major. I wish that I could undo it more than anything in the world," Myers said at the time.

Parkway North officials said they did not know about her past until a student found the video, and were left wondering if their background and reference checks are sufficient.

Ms Myers did nothing illegal so it did not show up on a background check - and none of her references talked about her adult film appearances.

Tera Myers Video (from local news broadcast):

Collins Tuohy will Speak at KPS’s CLASS Act Fundraiser

Collins Tuohy, one of the inspirational subjects of the best-selling book and the Oscar-nominated movie “The Blind Side,” will be the featured guest speaker at C.L.A.S.S. Act April 2.

C.L.A.S.S. Act, which will take place at the Younes Conference Center, is an annual fundraising dinner and auction.

Proceeds from the event benefit all Kearney Public Schools. More than $385,000 has been distributed to KPS since 2006.

Tuohy will take the audience through her journey with Michael Oher — a fellow student who became a close friend, confidant and, ultimately, adopted brother.

Michael Oher, now an offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, was adopted by Tuohy’s parents, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy. Before being adopted, Oher bounced from being in foster homes to homelessness.

Oher’s life was documented in Michael Lewis’s book, “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game,” which inspired the movie, “The Blind Side,” starring Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw.

Collins Tuohy is on the board of the Making it Happen Foundation, dedicated to changing children’s lives through hope, love and opportunity.

The social hour and silent auction will begin at 6 p.m., and dinner will follow at 7:30 p.m.

Some of the auction items include a guys poker night, a Minnesota walleye fishing trip, ladies Mexican cooking party, $500 of beef with a Green Egg smoker and a Denver trip that includes Colorado Rockies tickets, a private flight and dinner at Elway’s.