Uchi and Uchiko Kick Off Top Chef: Texas with November 2nd Premiere

To kick off Top Chef: Texas, both Uchi and Uchiko will be hosting viewing parties beginning with the premiere on November 2nd. This year, in what promises to be the sauciest season yet, Executive Chef Paul Qui of Uchiko is one of  the 29 hopefuls vying for the title of “Top Chef.”

Starting at 9 pm, each restaurant will serve a menu of “Top Chef Socials,” similar to their “Sake Social” menus. Uchiko will install TVs in the restaurant for the viewing event, while Uchi will project Top Chef on their patio. The “Top Chef Social” menu will only be served on the patio at Uchi.

“We are really excited to watch Paul compete on Top Chef: Texas,” comments Tyson Cole, Chef and Owner of Uchi and Uchiko, and the recently dubbed 2011 Best Chef Southwest at the James Beard Foundation Awards. ”We cannot wait to see what unfolds as we gather to watch the show every Wednesday.”

Main dining room of Uchiko. Photo by Julia Robinson of AMERICAN-STATESMAN

Known for its blend of farmhouse aesthetic and modern Japanese cuisine,  it’s no wonder Uchiko’s Qui is a contender on Top Chef‘s ninth season. In early 2011, Uchi was named as one of the best new restaurants in America by GQ magazine. Amazingly, Qui began working at Uchi in 2004 as an intern for free. His talent propelled him into the role of Chef de Cuisine at Uchi, and now Executive Chef at Uchiko.

Literally translated as “child of uchi” from Japanese,  some of  the highlights on Uchiko’s menu consist of hot and cool tastings, grilled items, greens, the Omasake, sushi and sashimi, Makimono and Philip Speer’s award-winning desserts.

The ninth season of Top Chef promises to be a saucy one. The show has already garnered press for its title, which encompasses all of Texas as opposed to its more city-centric titles of the past. Some have accused the show of reinforcing stereotypes.

“I didn’t have any stereotypes in my mind,” Padma Lakshmi said. “The portions are bigger in Texas. The serving sizes are larger. If you’re writing about our time in Austin, it’s a great little town. Well, it’s not even really that little. It’s different from the rest of Texas.”

While Austin is definitely on the path toward “big city” rather than “little town,” restaurants as innovative as Uchi and Uchiko are what have put Austin on the map as a culinary destination. Perhaps this is part of the reason the show was not just limitted to  just Dallas or Houston. I daresay the amazing techniques employed by Qui and Cole would definitely give either city a run for its money.

So come show your support for Austin’s own local aspiring Top Chef with Uchi and Uchiko’s Wednesday-night screenings and “Top Chef Social” menu.

Uchiko is located at 4200 North Lamar Boulevard. Uchi is located on 801 South Lamar Boulevard. Screening and “Top Chef Social” menu will begin at 9 pm every Wednesday.

Posted by Lucy Kinney

Lucy Kinney has published 143 posts.

Lucy is a writer and publicist in Austin, Texas working in both the state and private sector. Lucy is a native to Austin and enjoys running on Town Lake, yoga, and exploring the hill country when she's not busy working. Lucy is married to local builder, Eden Kinney. She graduated from the University of Texas in 2010 with a B.S. in Public Relations and a Business Foundations Certificate. Her new travel blog can be found at http://lucysdistinctdestinations.wordpress.com/