Top Chef Saves Life at Inaugural Party

Tom Colicchio has long been known as the heroically skeptical judge on Top Chef. But last night, at an inaugural party thrown by Washington, D.C., chef Joan Nathan, he was an actual hero, saving the host’s life. Ezra Klein reports from the swank gathering that included chefs Dan Barber, Daniel Boulud, and Lydia Bastianich. Colicchio was being hounded by fans who were furious one of their favorites had been chucked off Top Chef. The next thing you know, Nathan, the author of Jewish Cooking in America, had a piece of chicken stuck in her windpipe. Colicchio flew into action and the hostess was saved. “Versatile guy,” cracks Klein. “Think he’d be willing to manage the stimulus package?”