‘Top Chef: California’ episode 5 preview: Ready for (many) weddings?

Thursday night marks the return of “Top Chef” after a couple of weeks off the air, and this is going to mark a great opportunity to see some of the remaining chefs compete in what is a very different sort of episode.

First and foremost, let’s talk the sneak peek below. In it, host Padma Lakshmi serves as officiant for 25 same-sex couples in Palm Springs, as all of them have chosen to share their wedding day with the show! It’s a pretty emotional clip when you think about all of the struggles some of these couples have probably faced, and you can see Padma briefly getting choked-up before she starts to perform some of her duties.

Of course, this is still a cooking competition, so don’t expect the entire episode to be all tears. The remaining chefs are going to have to cook a dinner worthy of this celebration, and while we’d like to pretend that nobody is going home after such a happy occasion, that’s unlikely. Our hope here is mostly that this is one of those elimination challenges were everyone is really great, and therefore someone is sent home just because someone has to go home. We don’t want a whole chorus of flops and the brides and grooms are forced to eat some crummy food right after their big day.

We’re only four episodes into the season so far, and while we’re enjoying it so far, anything can still happen. That’s one of the reasons why we’re excited for the competition portion of Thursday’s episode.

Want to get some other news related to “Top Chef”? Then head over here, where you can check out the latest edition of our “Last Chance Kitchen” review series! Also, sign up over here to get some more TV news on everything we cover, sent right over to you via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: Bravo.)

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