The 1,000 tasting portions were to be served over a period of six hours, starting at noon, so we would have to prep those another way, to keep them as fresh as possible.

He was eliminated on the October 14 2008 episode and placed ninth overall. Ballantine Books. DiSpirito returned in the Top Chef season three finale (Top Chef: Miami) — in which three celebrity chefs were brought to work as sous chefs to the contestants with DiSpirito assisting Hung Huynh — and was a guest judge on the March 14 2008 Top Chef season four premiere (Top Chef: Chicago).