Padma Praises Chicago 'Top Chef' Contestants

Bravo's Top Chef Texas premiere turned out to be red hot as the competition was seriously turned up with 29 chef-testants fighting to stay in the game.

The twist this season is that only 16 of those chefs would get to remain on the show for the real competition. Six of the chefs hailed from Chicago, and in the opening episode five of them made it to the real competition.

Who made it in?!

New Group Moves Into Old 33 Club Space

The former 33 Club interior will look entirely different when it reopens as a new concept. (Photo: 33 Club)

312DD broke the news of all the drama that went down at the 33 Club in Old Town.

Now here's the latest on that coveted space:

Spiaggia Snags Table Fifty-Two Pastry Chef

Celeste "CeCe" Campise with her pastries. (Photo: Table Fifty-Two)

Congrats are in order for Table Fifty-Two's pastry chef Celeste "CeCe" Campise, who's leaving the upscale Southern-focused restaurant for the Michelin-starred Spiaggia.

"My last day at Table is this Friday," Campise tells 312DD exclusively. "It was tough to leave Art (Smith) because I love him so much, but it's time to move back to the Italian roots!"

This is super exciting news for Spiaggia, which now boasts two talented head female chefs. Campise joins Executive Chef Sarah Grueneberg—who's one of six Chicagoans competing this season on Top Chef Texas.

Looking forward to seeing what she does. I already know that she makes sinfully delicious doughnuts!