MONDO EXTRAS

Next question: Was Clay's elimination tough on him and did he get ribbed by his friends when he went back home? Clay says it was a great time, and, dude, he got to be on TV! None of his friends are going to ride him for that! The next question leads us into a nice montage of Harold's Perilla in New York. The restaurant is open and it's doing well, due in no small part to Top Chef fans, who are specifically eating there and being supportive. Yay, Harold! Some of the cheftestants have eaten there and others haven't gotten a chance. Colicchio has eaten there and calls Harold a "chef's chef" and says that the restaurant really reflects who Harold is. Andy's next question puts forth the odd idea that the season three cheftestants "have it pretty cushy," and considering that, does Harold think season three could beat his season one? Harold smartly answers another question when he says, "The only people that I would ever consider going back for a smackdown would be season one cook-off against the judges." Ted Allen thinks there are a "couple" of the judges who could put up a formidable challenge, though he admits he's not volunteering himself. Colicchio. Colicchio is the only one I could see being a big challenge. Not Gail and not Padma. Of course, if we're taking guest judges into consideration, that's another story, but I don't think that's what Harold is saying. Frankly, I'd love to see Colicchio sweat through a Quickfire. The answer to two more questions is that the season two cheftestants -- Dave, Harold, and Lee Anne -- hang out when they can, and that Lee Anne and Harold are NOT dating. None of the rest of the cheftestants are dating, either. However, Clay cracks, "Me and Sandee." Sandee shyly cracks back, "Wrong gender, dude."

Jumping off another question, Lee Anne explains that her new job as culinary producer has her behind the cameras, helping to form and set the challenges. In order to assure us that yes, Project Runway is coming back one of these days, we cut over to a video of Tim Gunn asking, "Was Stephen from season one...real? I never quite...understood him." My joy in seeing Tim Gunn almost keeps me from mentioning that Stephen was as real as some of the wack-jobs he had to deal with. Santino? Vincent? Lupe? Wendy Pepper? People crack up, while explaining and defending the absent Stephen as really being that affected but also being a genuinely intelligent guy and good chef. Harold laughs and calls Stephen a cross between Barry Manilow and Rod Stewart with a little Tim Gunn added to the mix.