Over and Past

Season 1 host Katie Lee Joel may have left Top Chef to pursue other opportunities, but it looks like Olive and Peach wasn't one of them -- or at least, it won't be for much longer. After this month's issue, readers will have to look elsewhere if they want to learn more about Katie and friend Alieshall Girard Maxon's shared passion for food.

Even the most virulent Katie haters (you know who you are) would be well served to check out a site that encourages us all to "eat well, live lightly, be love." You can read Katie's farewell here.

On the menu for Season 2

Here's what we know about Top Chef's sophomore season so far:

• The second helpings start on Wednesday, October 18th at 11 pm -- that's right after the Project Runway finale, kids. So get off your pins and needles and prepare to be served. Top Chef will move to its regular 10 pm timeslot for the second episode on Wednesday, October 25th.
  
  
• Katie Lee Joel has been canned. According to Bravo VP Andy Cohen, the stiffer-than-egg-whites Season 1 host and Piano Man mate has "left" the network to "pursue other opportunities." (I'll leave the snarky comments to you, dear readers.)
  
  Taking over as host for the upcoming season is Indian supermodel and author Padma Lakshmi, who formerly hosted two series, "Planet Food" and "Padma's Passport," for Food Network. Lakshmi is also married to none other than the famed writer Salman Rushdie. In my book, that totally trumps Billy Joel. You go, girl!
  
  
• Speaking of cha-cha-changes, the action this season is set in the "glitzy" and "culturally burgeoning" city of Los Angeles. But fear not, Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons will be back at the judges table to grill our 15 new contestants. And they are:
  
  Elia L. Aboumrad - 23 - Las Vegas, NV
  Otto Borsich - 46 - Las Vegas, NV
  Marisa Churchill - 28 - San Francisco, CA
  Clifford Crooks - 28 - West Caldwell, NJ
  Carlos Fernandez - 36 - Fort Lauderdale, FL
  Betty Fraser - 44 - Los Angeles, CA
  Mia Gaines - 32 - Oakdale, CA
  Ilan Hall - 24 - New York, NY
  Michael Midgley - 28 - Stockton, CA
  Josie Smith-Malave - 31 - Brooklyn, NY
  Emily Sprissler - 30 - Las Vegas, NV
  Suyai Steinhauer - 29 - New York, NY
  Sam Talbot - 28 - New York, NY
  Frank Terzoli - 39 - San Diego, CA
  Marcel Vigneron - 26 - Las Vegas, NV
  
  
• Just can't wait until the premiere? Whet your appetite with this trailer, or check out Bravo's schedule of upcoming Season 1 reruns for your foodie fix.
  

Any other juicy tidbits or chat about the show? Comment, please!