So, anyone else out there watching on Bravo? Allow us to introduce you to it -- it's like the Apprentice for foodies. Notably, it takes place right here, in our fair city. The cast of 12 are vying for $100,000 and a feature article in Food & Wine. And, while we appreciate our favorite TV guru Rain's pessimism, we've rather enjoyed it.

The third episode airs tonight. Each show contains two challenges -- one, a so-called "quickfire challenge," where contestants battle for immunity. The second challenge is a more-involved one wherein everyone but the winner of the previous challenge is subject to dismissal. The regular judges are Gail Simmons of Food & Wine, and Tom Colicchio, himself a top chef. Guest judges thus far have been Hubert Keller of Fleur de Lys and Elizabeth Falkner of Citizen Cake; Bravo's Website indicates that more San Francisco chefs are on the way. Katie Lee Joel is the host; you can click through to see her bona fides, but our distaste for her husband, Billy Joel (yes, that Billy Joel), is what most jumped out at us. (Sue us, we were forced to sit through that God-awful musical of his, "Movin' Out," last time we went to New York. Three hours we'll never get back.).

Episode one: we meet the 12 contestants, then the quickfire challenge: working "the line" in Chef Hubert Keller's kitchen (at Fleur de Lys, up on Sutter). Only three made it the whole 30 minutes. The most spectacular flame-out, angry Irishman Kenneth got the boot for sticking his finger into some of chef Keller's sauce to taste. Later, the elimination challenge was to cook a "signature dish" for judges and peers to try. This is where we saw what the aspirants were made of and how bitchy some of them can be.

We're looking at you, Stephen.

Top Chef