Top Chef's Tom saves the day...and a life

If you're a regular Top Chef watcher -- like me -- you know that when it comes to being a straight-shooter, down to earth, regular person, professional chef Tom Colicchio fills the bill. He's a tough judge, but pretty fair. He's also supposedly a world-class chef and restaurant mogul, but since I've never been to any of the Craft restaurants to had him cook a meal for me, I have to assume that's true.

One thing I do know is true, however, is that Tom Colicchio saved a life. Seriously.

On Monday night at a pre-Inaugural benefit in Washington, D.C., hosted by cookbook scribe Joan Nathan, when the hostess choked on a piece of chicken and author Alice Waters screamed for someone to help her, Chef Tom rushed over, assessed the situation and gave Ms. Nathan the Heimlich maneuver. After a few pulls, the chicken was dislodged and the party resumed.

In his undramatic, unassuming fashion, Colicchio downplayed the heroics. He said he did what anybody else would've done. In a party of hundreds, though, he was the one who acted and he's the one who deserves the pat on the back. Good work, Chef Tom.

By the way, while at the soiree, fans of Top Chef were giving it to Tom for last week's ouster of Ariane from New Jersey. I have to agree with those complainers; no way Ariane deserved to be sent home. So her roast lamb wasn't tied beautifully and her butchering skills left something to be desired. She still contributed more to her team than either Hosea or Leah. My guess is that the latter two were spared the chopping block because they may or may not be having a fling. Call me cynical, but a potential romance among the chefs might make better TV than a Jersey mom and small town restaurant owner.