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Food Fans Savor Appearance Of Top Chefs

Tribune photo by JIM REED

Chefs Richard Blais, left, and Carlos Fernandez gave cooking demonstrations as part of "Top Chef: The Tour."

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By JEFF HOUCK | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 20, 2008

TAMPA - Rayetta Seward watches all the food shows on TV at her home in Tampa. She likes to cook seafood – she doesn't eat red meat – and she loves to try the new techniques she sees.

"If I ate all the recipes I made from watching, I'd be huge," Seward joked.

All of which explains why she was first in line for a noon cooking demonstration Saturday performed by chefs Richard Blais and Carlos Fernandez, former contestants on the Bravo reality series "Top Chef."

Their appearance at the Ybor City Saturday Market in Centennial Square was part of a 20-city promotional tour organized by the network that has taken cast members from the show to cities such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Joining the cast at each stop was a 48-foot tractor-trailer truck outfitted with a working kitchen, gift shop and 52-inch TV for simulcasts of the demonstrations.

Organizers said fans were waiting in line at 7 a.m. in Ybor City for autographs and seats to the first demo at 10 a.m. Even Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio attended.

Fernandez dished about his more temperamental cast members while pan-searing and baking lump crab cakes. Blaise took questions about his molecular gastronomy techniques while preparing lamb chops and ice cream made with liquid nitrogen.

Those who missed the tour in Tampa can catch up to it Tuesday and Wednesday in Orlando.

Reporter Jeff Houck can be reached at (813) 259-7324 and jhouck@tampatrib.com.

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