Thierry Rautureau on Top Chef Masters and Seattle Picks

As if Top Chef filming in Seattle for Season 10 weren't excitement enough, the premiere episode of the fourth season of Top Chef Masters will air this Wednesday.Thierry Rautureau took part in the new season, and Seattle Times' Rebekah Denn asks him why again? Ratureau explains that though he had a "fun" time on the first season of Top Chef Masters (Jerry Traunfeld and Maria Hines also competed in the same season), he was distracted then, busy opening Luc. So, he welcomed the opportunity to try again. Luc will begin airing Top Chef Masters this Wednesday at 10 p.m. and every week thereafter.

Meanwhile, Serious Eats published the Chef in the Hat's Seattle picks today, and some surprising bits turn up: Rautureau's crew may work in Madison Valley, but they party in the C.D. Their favorite venue is hipster dive bar, Twilight Exit.

· Talking Top Chef Masters with Thierry Rautureau [Seattle Times]
· Seattle: Where Chef Thierry Rautureau Eats [Serious Eats]