And then there were eight. After last night's 'Top Chef All Stars,' the competition got even tougher after one more chef was told to pack up his knives and go home.

At least nobody was told to "sleep with the fishes." The Italian food challenge, set in the world-famous New York restaurant Rao's, evoked memories of great mob movies like 'Goodfellas' -- in part because actress Lorraine Bracco was one of the judges.

But it was the food that really set the tone. For the eliminated chef, a dish that had been a success in the past failed to impress the judges this time around.

Isaac Mizrahi was on hand to guest judge on 'Top Chef All-Stars' (Wed., 10PM ET on BRAVO). Since his forté is fashion (as opposed to food), his job was to critique how the dishes looked -- they wouldn't be tasted (?!).

Each chef created something from a personal inspiration. Richard wisely catered to the designer's penchant for basic black, making black chocolate ice cream with liquid nitrogen, which Mizrahi deemed "so sophisticated."

Antonia's favorite book, 'The Giving Tree,' turned out to be Mizrahi's favorite, too! Still, he wasn't a big fan of her foodie rendition.

Angelo's saying he was inspired by fashion designer Roberto Cavalli didn't do him any favors with the judge, nor did Mizrahi like that the cheftestant had scrawled on the table under the dish "like Charles Manson." Did he notice Angelo had written "crocadile"?

['Top Chef All Stars' - 'An Offer They Can't Refuse']

Nine chefs remain and 'Top Chef All Stars' is winding into the late innings. Things are getting tight and it's harder and harder to eliminate these contestants.

Fashion designer Isaac Mizrachi was a guest judge for the Quick Fire Challenge. Since it was Fashion week in New York, the theme of the challenge was inspiration. However, in what has to be the dumbest challenge of all time, the chefs were told to design a dish that would not be tasted.

The war raged last night on 'Top Chef All Stars' as the chefs picked up their knives and went into restaurant wars mode. It was a fierce battle, but not so much between the two teams. It turned out that the Etch team - that was the name of their pop-up restaurant - had more turmoil and tension among themselves than they did with their competition, team Bodega.

The cause of all the Sturm und Drang was leadership and it wasn't a shocked when the chef in charge of Etch was given the heave-ho.

On 'Top Chef All Stars' (Wed., 10PM ET on BRVO), the contestants were divided into two teams and challenged with setting up pop-up restaurants. Marcel attempted to captain his team. But since no one enjoys working with him, the result was a disorganized mess.

Mike and Marcel had a fight on the line that evening and later had it out again in front of the judges. "Why do you think everything's messed up? Because you weren't strong enough to do two things at once," said Mike.

Marcel countered, "You haven't worked the line in, like, years and were moving at a snail's pace." Mike remained unintimidated. "You did a poor job. No one wants to say anything because you're a time bomb." The judges eventually agreed and sent Marcel packing.

['Top Chef All Stars' - 'Restaurant Wars: One Night Only']

Well, tonight was the big one for 'Top Chef All Stars': Restaurant Wars, a favorite of every season.

No challenge is ever as intense or cutthroat on the show and when the two teams were chosen with Marcel and Dale taking the lead, you knew you could count on plenty of drama. Marcel and Dale are hardly the shy and quiet types.

It was a tough night on 'Top Chef All Stars' yesterday with not one, but two chefs being told to pack their knives and go home. There was no Quick Fire challenge and no immunity to be had, so the 12 remaining chefs were working without a safety net. Added to the danger factor was the singular Elimination Challenge. The chefs were taken out on fishing boats at Montauk Point and told to catch the product they would be cooking.

When all was sliced and diced and served, the two chefs asked to leave were not surprised. If the 'Top Chef All Stars' have proven anything, it's that these are the very best chefs and one bad day is all it takes to be out of the competition.

Contestants on 'Top Chef All Stars' (Wed., 10PM ET on BRAVO) first have to catch their food before cooking it. Fishing off of Long Island, Dale can feel he's hooked something big. With sweat dripping down his face, he slowly and steadily reels it in.

"Dale looks like he's going into labor -- head down, red-faced, like the baby is crowning," recounts Tiffani. It's a "ginormous" striped bass. Dale thinks the fish has a similar anatomy to his nemesis Marcel: "a really big head and then a little body -- like a little bobble-head doll," he chuckles.

['Top Chef All Stars' - 'We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat']

With tonight's episode of 'Top Chef All Stars,' there was bad blood bubbling to the surface in the aftermath of the dim sum elimination challenge last week. Jamie was getting the brunt of the anger, and justifiably so. She's yet to prove herself with the other chefs. And she's become an annoying presence.

Dale and Marcel were at each other's throats, too. So much for camaraderie. The final 12 were awakened early and learned that they were going to Montauk Point on Long Island to fish for their product. Everyone, especially, Tiffany F. was psyched.

Last night's episode of 'Top Chef All Stars" was heated to say the least! For the one-hundredth show of the Bravo series, we were not only given the chance to watch head judge Tom Colicchio pick up his knives and cook in the Quick Fire Challenge, we also had the chefs thrust into one of the toughest Elimination Challenges of all time.

Imagine the daunting task of cooking dim sum in a New York Chinatown restaurant. If you watched, you saw just how harrowing the task was and the pressure the remaining chefs felt. Invariably, one had to be sent packing and it was somewhat surprising to see who it was and why things didn't work out for the chef.

['Top Chef All Stars' - 'Dim Sum, Lose Sum']

What do you do for the 100th episode of 'Top Chef'? Why you get Tom Colicchio to unpack his knives and get to work! The theme of the night would be speed, and Tom's mastery was the perfect way to kick off the show. He's not Mr. Top Chef for nothing!

The 'Quick Fire Challenge' was Tom in the spotlight. We've seen him as a tough judge and we know he's an uber-successful restaurateur and chef, but what's he like as a 'Top Chef Master'?

Reality TV -- with all its challenges, critiques, eliminations and votes -- is bound to create friction between judges and contestants. And after looking back at the year that was, it's clear that Simon Cowell wasn't the only snippy judge in the land of reality-TV competitions. We've found several other examples of testy critics, and their victims aren't always quietly stoic, either. Check out our video playlist of berating judges and cocky competitors. Which judge or contestant do you think was the most out-of-line?

As this season unwinds, it seems 'Top Chef All Stars' is getting more difficult to predict. The episode last night was as tight as a U.S. Open tennis match, which was apt considering that the chefs were asked to create hearty and healthy dishes at the Queens tennis center and serve them to the judges right on center court.

Give credit to the Magical Elves production team for the creative competition, pitting the two teams of chefs (picked at random) in a game of culinary tennis. The members of the team that failed to score a point wound up the losers.

['Top Chef All Stars' - 'Advantage Chef']

At the start of tonight's show there were 14 chefs remaining. By the time we were down to 13, there were bad feelings, a little blood spilled and some creative cooking on display. There was also an interesting new competition that seemed confusing, but was actually kind of fun.

The quickfire challenge was a good one. Tony Mantuano, who'd appeared in 'Top Chef Masters,' was the judge. Each cheftestant had to make stuffing, but they were not allowed to use any knives or kitchen tools. The advice from Padma was "Be resourceful."

Last night's third episode of Bravo's 'Top Chef All Stars' was a bittersweet affair. Two of the remaining sixteen chefs were eliminated after a particularly difficult challenge in which they were asked to re-create the style of some of the finest chefs in New York City.

Four teams visited four different places: David Burke's Townhouse, which specializes in New American cuisine; Ma Peche, the restaurant owned by David Chang that blends the French and Vietnamese styles; Michael White's Marea, a new style Italian restaurant; and wd-50, Wiley Dufresne's adventure in molecular gastronomy.

The two eliminated chefs found themselves attempting to emulate Michael White and David Burke. Both dishes showed ambition, but were flawed. In a competition as tough as 'Top Chef All Stars,' those flaws were enough to send these two chefs packing.