Latest news with #Murillo
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
‘Top Chef' begins its 2-part finale tonight — and these 2 Chicago chefs are in it
Warning: spoilers ahead for the first 12 episodes of Season 22 of 'Top Chef.' Two Chicago chefs have fought long and hard to make it to the 'Top Chef' season finale, which airs June 5 and concludes June 12 on Bravo. César Murillo, executive chef at North Pond, and Bailey Sullivan, executive chef at Monteverde, qualified for the finals, alongside Shuai Wang, chef/owner of Jackrabbit Filly and King BBQ in North Charleston, South Carolina, and Tristen Epps, chef/owner of Epps & Flows Culinary in Houston. This season, subtitled 'Destination: Canada,' started with 15 chefs and was narrowed down week by week until the final four competitors. 'Top Chef' Season 10 winner Kristen Kish hosts this season, joined by judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons. Murillo had a strong showing all season with a focus on vegetables, playful plating and ingenuity. Though his team lost the elimination challenge in the sixth episode and were thus ineligible for a win, Colicchio called Murillo's bread and butter pickle curd with dill ice cream one of the best dishes he'd ever had on the show. Epps, who has won by far the most challenges this season, called Murillo a 'monster in creativity.' By her own admission, Sullivan's journey was a bit rockier, though she grew in confidence as time went on. She was eliminated in the second episode for her maple tart, but clawed her way back into the main competition by winning four challenges in a row in Last Chance Kitchen, a secondary competition for eliminated chefs. A third Chicago chef, Zubair Mohajir, founder and executive chef of Lilac Tiger, Coach House and Mirra, had a strong showing early in the season, winning the second episode's elimination challenge with a tandoori fried chicken dish, which appeared on the menu at Lilac Tiger. In the fourth episode, the James Beard-nominated chef was eliminated, to the surprise of many — it was his only time at the bottom. In Last Chance Kitchen, he met his Chicago peer, Sullivan, and both fought hard for a chance to rejoin the competition. Sullivan expressed her respect for Mohajir's talent. 'I've been impressed by both of you,' said Colicchio as he was judging their showdown of savory and sweet. 'Zubair, I was quite frankly surprised to see you just this early here, based on some of the earlier challenges. And Bailey, in Last Chance Kitchen, you've been cooking really well.' Eventually, he picked Sullivan's pork and panna cotta dishes over Mohajir's scallops and French toast to win, though it was close. Sullivan was emotional and energized to return to the main competition. Throughout her time on the show, she dug into her experience cooking foods from different cuisines at influential Chicago restaurants, including Italian at Monteverde and Asian and Korean at Parachute. 'I came into this doubting myself,' she said on Last Chance Kitchen. The mini-competition changed her view and encouraged her to cook food she loves. 'Bailey looks like a whole different person,' Epps said. 'She looks like she wants to cook and destroy.' Sullivan rejoined the main competition in the fifth episode, where she and Epps won the team elimination challenge with fire-kissed grilled octopus with olives. These 3 Chicago chefs compete on the new season of 'Top Chef'Murillo was also eliminated in the ninth episode, but immediately returned to the competition by winning the second half of Last Chance Kitchen. On his return in the 10th episode, he won his first Quickfire Challenge and $10,000 by making popcorn grits with limited tools and convenience store ingredients. He frequently referenced his pride and excitement to share his successes with his mother and team from back home. In an interview with the Tribune before the season premiere, Murillo said the Chicago chefs were all rooting for each other. Sullivan described herself as a 'very Chicago proud person' and that she was thrilled to represent her city. If Sullivan or Murillo make it to the end, it wouldn't be the first time a Chicago chef has won; Stephanie Izard and Joe Flamm were both crowned Top Chef of their seasons and Rick Bayless won the first season of 'Top Chef Masters.' This time around, the winning chef will have the opportunity to present at the James Beard Awards in Chicago on June 16. They will also win $250,000, a feature in Food & Wine magazine and other perks. This Chicago chef just won season two of Food Network's '24 in 24: Last Chef Standing'
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Liam Delap names surprise defender as toughest opponent - 'Everyone says Van Dijk'
Ipswich striker Liam Delap named Nottingham Forest center-back Murillo as the toughest center-back he has faced in his career. The 22-year-old, who has been mentioned as a possible summer target for Liverpool, has come up against Murillo twice this season, failing to score or assist in either of Ipswich's games against Forest. Advertisement Delap was asked to choose between Ruben Dias, William Saliba, Murillo and Van Dijk for the toughest center-back he has faced, and although he mentioned Van Dijk — who Delap also drew a blank against in two games this season — he ultimately plumped for Murillo, who has also been linked with the Reds. "I think everyone says Van Dijk and he's probably been one of the best centre-backs in the world," Delap told Sky Sports. "When I went and played against Murillo, I was really impressed with him. He's still young and he's so fast and strong. READ MORE: Jeremie Frimpong shows exactly what he would bring to Liverpool before Xabi Alonso gesture READ MORE: Footage shows how Dominik Szoboszlai reacted to Trent Alexander-Arnold's boos at full-time Advertisement "Do you know what, I think I'm going to go with Murillo. I really like what I've seen from him this season. I don't watch too much football or anything but I don't want to go with what everyone else says." A $40 million buyout clause in Delap's Ipswich contract became active once the Suffolk club's relegation from the Premier League was confirmed, and it is expected that there will be plenty of interest in the former Manchester City player this summer. Delap has scored 12 Premier League goals for Ipswich despite the team's struggles and there is little chance of him remaining at Portman Road next term. The Reds are interested in signing a new striker this summer, although it remains to be seen whether they plan to firm up any interest in Delap. Advertisement Arne Slot has relied on his wide players for many of Liverpool's goals, with Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez having managed just 11 Premier League goals between them. The anticipated sale of Nunez will help to raise funds for a new striker, with Liverpool expecting there to be a strong market for the Uruguayan after rejecting approaches from clubs in Saudi Arabia during the winter window. Murillo has been a top player for Nottingham Forest this season -Credit:MI News/NurPhoto One of the offers, from Al-Hilal, was reported to have been worth $93 million, and if the club can command a similar fee this summer, it could go some way to ensuring the Reds can replace Nunez with a top-class striker. Newcastle's Alexander Isak would be Liverpool's preferred target but he is likely to prove too expensive, while the Reds have also been linked with the likes of Julian Alvarez, Viktor Gyokeres, and Benjamin Sesko of Atletico Madrid, Sporting CP, and RB Leipzig respectively.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Your Forest player of the season
We asked you to select your Nottingham Forest player of the season from the four candidates chosen by our fan taking part in your thousands, we can reveal the winner is... Nikola Milenkovic!Here's what Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external said about him:One of the Premier League's signings of last summer, Milenkovic has shored up a leaky defence - solving the club's set-piece problem in an instant and given Forest a platform this season that few could imagine. His centre-back partnership with Murillo is surely one of the league's best and there must be several clubs wondering why they didn't act the final poll breakdown
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Premier League 2024-25 review: signings of the season
Nottingham Forest had a huge problem with defending set pieces last season and Nuno Espírito Santo demanded a centre-back who could dominate in the air. The club were efficient in their business, signing the brick-headed Serb from Fiorentina for £10m. It was a bargain and the centre-back fitted in immediately alongside the Brazilian Murillo as the club created one of the best defences in the league. The pair complement one another perfectly and, along with Matz Sels, created the foundation for Forest's tilt at qualifying for the Champions League by dominating some of the best strikers in the world. After missing the opening match of the season against Bournemouth through suspension, Milenkovic, 27, has played every single minute in the Premier League. It is rare that an outfield player is an ever-present but the centre-back has been integral and his consistency cannot be underestimated, helping Murillo thrive. It is often the Brazilian who gets the most credit as he is the more flamboyant of the two but Milenkovic deserves just as much praise for what Forest have achieved this season. Bournemouth's recruitment policy is one of the best in the league and they know how to spot a bargain. Huijsen joined from Juventus after a spell on loan at Roma, where he spent a large part of his time on the bench. So the centre-back, 19 at the time, jumped at the opportunity to test himself in the Premier League. Most teenagers might have been somewhat hesitant at the prospect of facing Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland but Huijsen is a different breed. A relaxed character, the son of former AZ Alkmaar and Go Ahead Eagles player Donny, he is known for his calm demeanour on and off the pitch. The aggressive defender offers a maturity rarely seen in a player of his age and has been integral to Andoni Iraola's plans. His form has earned him his first caps for Spain, where he was brought up after being born in the Netherlands, and plenty of admirers were willing to spend £50m on acquiring his services in the summer but in the end he will return to his homeland and join Real Madrid, who he turned down as a young player. With Newcastle needing to ship a few players out to resolve any lingering profit and sustainability rules concerns, Minteh and Elliot Anderson were sacrificed for the sake of the accountant. Both have gone on to shine at their new clubs, and Minteh was eager to let the visiting Newcastle supporters know it when he scored against them at the Amex Stadium in May, celebrating in front of the away end with a confused bit of finger-wagging and pointing at his Brighton shirt. It might not have been the best choreographed piece of revenge but he got his message across. The Gambian has spent most of the season trying to prove Newcastle wrong for selling him with six goals and four assists. It is not easy to get minutes on the wing under Fabian Hürzeler who has Simon Adingra and Kaoru Mitoma as part of his arsenal but Minteh's direct running and skill make him difficult to handle for full-backs. He will turn 21 over the summer, giving him plenty of years to hone his skills and make him an even greater threat for Brighton. The price tag of £12m and the fact that the winger had enjoyed a spell with Watford, meant Sarr was not an extremely high-profile signing when he joined Palace from Marseille. There are greater headline-grabbers at Selhurst Park and that suits Sarr down to the ground, happy to express himself freely on the flank, while the expectations are placed upon others. He always wanted to be playing in the Premier League and eagerly accepted the proposition to replace Michael Olise in the Eagles' squad. Considering what Olise did at Selhurst Park to earn himself a move to Bayern Munich, Sarr faced a difficult task but under the guidance of Oliver Glasner he has been able to make south London his home. After a slow start, Sarr broke into the starting lineup in late October and has not looked back after earning the confidence of the coaching staff. He has featured in every Premier League match and his output has improved as the season has progressed, the highlight being two goals and an assist in December's win at Brighton. Meanwhile in the FA Cup he scored twice to dispatch Aston Villa in the semi-finals, helping Palace back to Wembley for their day of glory against Manchester City in the final. The striker had a respectable time on loan at Hull in 2023-24, scoring eight goals in 31 games in the Championship but they are not the sort of figures that guarantee Premier League success. Manchester City did not want to keep him, leaving Southampton and Ipswich to battle it out for his signature. Delap is very much a No 9, a rare breed in modern football and he is able to mix physicality with clever movement. His goals have not been enough to keep Kieran McKenna's Tractor Boys up – or even close for that matter – but Delap has shown he deserves to be at this level and surely will be again next season. His movement in the box has earned him his goals and he is a constant pest for defenders, providing some of Ipswich's best moments, in what has been a difficult season, scoring to help see off Tottenham and Chelsea. Portman Road was a smart stepping stone for Delap, who will not be short of offers, especially with a £30m buyout clause in his contract. Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle are all interested.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Premier League 2024-25 review: signings of the season
Nikola Milenkovic (Nottingham Forest) Nottingham Forest had a huge problem with defending set pieces last season and Nuno Espírito Santo demanded a centre-back who could dominate in the air. The club were efficient in their business, signing the brick-headed Serb from Fiorentina for £10m. It was a bargain and the centre-back fitted in immediately alongside the Brazilian Murillo as the club created one of the best defences in the league. The pair complement one another perfectly and, along with Matz Sels, created the foundation for Forest's tilt at qualifying for the Champions League by dominating some of the best strikers in the world. After missing the opening match of the season against Bournemouth through suspension, Milenkovic, 27, has played every single minute in the Premier League. It is rare that an outfield player is an ever-present but the centre-back has been integral and his consistency cannot be underestimated, helping Murillo thrive. It is often the Brazilian who gets the most credit as he is the more flamboyant of the two but Milenkovic deserves just as much praise for what Forest have achieved this season. Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth) Bournemouth's recruitment policy is one of the best in the league and they know how to spot a bargain. Huijsen joined from Juventus after a spell on loan at Roma, where he spent a large part of his time on the bench. So the centre-back, 19 at the time, jumped at the opportunity to test himself in the Premier League. Most teenagers might have been somewhat hesitant at the prospect of facing Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland but Huijsen is a different breed. A relaxed character, the son of former AZ Alkmaar and Go Ahead Eagles player Donny, he is known for his calm demeanour on and off the pitch. The aggressive defender offers a maturity rarely seen in a player of his age and has been integral to Andoni Iraola's plans. His form has earned him his first caps for Spain, where he was brought up after being born in the Netherlands, and plenty of admirers were willing to spend £50m on acquiring his services in the summer but in the end he will return to his homeland and join Real Madrid, who he turned down as a young player. Yankuba Minteh (Brighton) With Newcastle needing to ship a few players out to resolve any lingering profit and sustainability rules concerns, Minteh and Elliot Anderson were sacrificed for the sake of the accountant. Both have gone on to shine at their new clubs, and Minteh was eager to let the visiting Newcastle supporters know it when he scored against them at the Amex Stadium in May, celebrating in front of the away end with a confused bit of finger-wagging and pointing at his Brighton shirt. It might not have been the best choreographed piece of revenge but he got his message across. The Gambian has spent most of the season trying to prove Newcastle wrong for selling him with six goals and four assists. It is not easy to get minutes on the wing under Fabian Hürzeler who has Simon Adingra and Kaoru Mitoma as part of his arsenal but Minteh's direct running and skill make him difficult to handle for full-backs. He will turn 21 over the summer, giving him plenty of years to hone his skills and make him an even greater threat for Brighton. Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace) The price tag of £12m and the fact that the winger had enjoyed a spell with Watford, meant Sarr was not an extremely high-profile signing when he joined Palace from Marseille. There are greater headline-grabbers at Selhurst Park and that suits Sarr down to the ground, happy to express himself freely on the flank, while the expectations are placed upon others. He always wanted to be playing in the Premier League and eagerly accepted the proposition to replace Michael Olise in the Eagles' squad. Considering what Olise did at Selhurst Park to earn himself a move to Bayern Munich, Sarr faced a difficult task but under the guidance of Oliver Glasner he has been able to make south London his home. After a slow start, Sarr broke into the starting lineup in late October and has not looked back after earning the confidence of the coaching staff. He has featured in every Premier League match and his output has improved as the season has progressed, the highlight being two goals and an assist in December's win at Brighton. Meanwhile in the FA Cup he scored twice to dispatch Aston Villa in the semi-finals, helping Palace back to Wembley for their day of glory against Manchester City in the final. Liam Delap (Ipswich) The striker had a respectable time on loan at Hull in 2023-24, scoring eight goals in 31 games in the Championship but they are not the sort of figures that guarantee Premier League success. Manchester City did not want to keep him, leaving Southampton and Ipswich to battle it out for his signature. Delap is very much a No 9, a rare breed in modern football and he is able to mix physicality with clever movement. His goals have not been enough to keep Kieran McKenna's Tractor Boys up – or even close for that matter – but Delap has shown he deserves to be at this level and surely will be again next season. His movement in the box has earned him his goals and he is a constant pest for defenders, providing some of Ipswich's best moments, in what has been a difficult season, scoring to help see off Tottenham and Chelsea. Portman Road was a smart stepping stone for Delap, who will not be short of offers, especially with a £30m buyout clause in his contract. Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle are all interested.
