The first of Chicago's farmer's market openings are less than a week away and we can hardly contain our excitement. It's been a long, cold winter and we're practically giddy thinking about all the asparagus, rhubarb and green garlic that will be filling up our kitchen very soon. More

When gardening season rolls around in Chicago, we tend to get a little restless. We curse our north-facing kitchen windows and shaded deck, where many a plant has gone to die, and half-heartedly browse Craigslist ads for an apartment with more potential green space. This year, however, we decided to channel our energy into something more productive.

We've spent the past few Saturday mornings digging in the dirt at Ginkgo Organic Gardens on Chicago's north side. This community garden, located on a residential street in a formerly vacant lot, produces approximately 1,500 pounds of produce each year, and donates it to Vital Bridges' Grocery Land, a local food pantry serving people living with AIDS. More

No restaurant wars this season... Instead, we got wedding wars. Two teams, assigned to the bride or groom, created menus — and cakes! — for the actual reception. And Stephanie turned out a stunner. But did it get her the win? Click below to find out.

Also, have you ever seen a monk fish up close? More

With this post we welcome Joanna Miller, who is filing some correspondent reports from Chicago. Give Joanna a warm welcome there in the Windy City!

We've long dreamed of growing our own fig tree, but living in Chicago, we assumed it would take a move to the West Coast to make our dream come true. Little did we know the fig tree would come to us. The Chicago Hardy fig, also known as "Hardy Chicago" and "Bensonhurst Purple," is a relatively new variety that originated in Sicily.

Fresh figs in the North, grown in our own apartment, by late summer! Is it possible? Read on... More

Well, we're not above eating a little crow. A few chefs we'd dismissed earlier in the competition completely hit the mark this week. Maybe the producers are toying with our emotions and creating ups and downs, but it seems the race isn't locked for Dale, Stephanie, and Richard (whom many of you've mentioned as the most likely final three).

Of course, this week was different — not exactly the Top Cheffiest of Top Chef episodes.

Note: We reveal the winner and loser after the jump... More

We were traveling last night when Top Chef aired (ending up in a Tivo-less hotel), so we've only read the recaps of what happened. Dessert, the lonely step-child of the Top Chef world, finally had its day. And the losing dish sounded like a doozy.

We reveal the winners and loser below the jump — and we want your insight... More

Since the elimination challenge centered around tailgating at a Bears game, we'll go with some football terminology to describe our reaction... Quarterback sneak? Blitzed? It came out of left field? OK, it wasn't a complete shock, but we really did think we had the outcome pegged until Padma opened her mouth. What about you?

Note: We reveal the winner and loser after the jump... More

Every year, Top Chef does a Quickfire challenge where they blindfold the chefs and have them identify or distinguish between ingredients. We love it, we wait for it, and we occasionally dream of having a game night at home where we do the same thing.

This season's edition had the contestants tasting ingredients like soy sauce, maple syrup, olive oil, and caviar to determine which of two is high end and which is less expensive.

After the jump, we reveal the winners (and loser) — plus confirm our belief that bacon makes everything better. More

MARK (right): OK, Ryan, so we're creating a dish based on one of our favorite movies. I'm thinking...

RYAN: Dumb and Dumber, right?

MARK: Er....

RYAN: Old School!

MARK: Huh? What about Bad Boy Bubby?

RYAN: Or the one with the kid! And the b.b. gun! And the glass leg lamp! C'mon, what's that movie?

Not exactly verbatim, but pretty close. And yet... Dumb and Dumber they were not. They actually made something impressive based on A Christmas Story. We'll get to the cooking after the jump.

And, as always, we reveal the winner and loser below... More

We think the good folks at Bravo might be reading our minds. Just when we are enjoying some great kitchen tours and thinking it's time to bring back the cupboard challenge, Top Chef sends its contestants into a neighborhood in Chicago to poke around people's kitchens (we wish we could have seen more of one charming, all-white kitchen filled with fresh fruit) and cook a block party buffet using what they find.

Note: We reveal the winner and loser after the jump. More