TV Top Chef - Season 9 Episode 1 : Everything's Bigger in Texas Top Chef - Season 9 Episode 1 : Everything's Bigger in Texas 6.738/10 by 63 users 29 chefs gather at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, to compete for 16 slots in the 9th season of Top Chef. Tonight they are divided into three groups and must master their challenge to move forward. Some will know their fate immediately and receive a chef coat or be sent home. Others will be on the "bubble" and must compete and be judged again before they know their fates. Yes, it's bigger in Texas, but it's also hotter and harder, too. Group 1 Qualifying Challenge: Prepare a Dish Using One Cut of a Pig Group 2 Qualifying Challenge: Prepare a Dish Using the Same Ingredient Details Casts Posters Images Title Top Chef - Season 9 Episode 1 : Everything's Bigger in Texas Alternative Titles First Air Date 2006-03-08 Last Air Date 2025-06-05 Number of Episodes 328 Number of Seasons 22 Genres Reality, Networks Bravo, Casts Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, Kristen Kish Plot Keywords , Self - Head Judge Tom Colicchio Self - Judge Gail Simmons Self - Host Kristen Kish Episodes List Top Chef Season 9 :Episode 1 Everything's Bigger in Texas Everything's Bigger in Texas 2011-11-02 An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs... Top Chef Season 9 :Episode 2 The Heat Is On The Heat Is On 2011-11-09 An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs... Top Chef Season 9 :Episode 3 Quinceanera Quinceanera 2011-11-16 An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs... Top Chef Season 9 :Episode 4 Red Hot Chili Cook Off Red Hot Chili Cook Off 2011-11-23 An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs... Top Chef Season 9 :Episode 5 Don't Be Tardy for the Dinner Party Don't Be Tardy for the Dinner Party 2011-11-30 An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs... Top Chef Season 9 :Episode 6 Higher Steaks Higher Steaks 2011-12-07 An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs... Top Chef Season 9 :Episode 7 Game On Game On 2011-12-14 An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs... Top Chef Season 9 :Episode 8 Tribute Dinner Tribute Dinner 2011-12-21 An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs... Top Chef Season 9 :Episode 9 BBQ Pit Wars BBQ Pit Wars 2012-01-04 An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs... Top Chef Season 9 :Episode 10 Restaurant Wars Restaurant Wars 2012-01-11 An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs... Top Chef Season 9 :Episode 11 Fit For an Evil Queen Fit For an Evil Queen 2012-01-18 An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs... Top Chef Season 9 :Episode 12 Block Party Block Party 2012-01-25 An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs... Top Chef Season 9 :Episode 13 Bike, Borrow & Steal Bike, Borrow & Steal 2012-02-01 An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs... Top Chef Season 9 :Episode 14 Mentors Mentors 2012-02-08 An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs... Top Chef Season 9 :Episode 15 Culinary Games Culinary Games 2012-02-15 An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs... Top Chef Season 9 :Episode 16 Fire and Ice Fire and Ice 2012-02-22 An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs... Top Chef Season 9 :Episode 17 Finale Finale 2012-02-29 An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs... Top Chef Season 9 :Episode 18 Reunion Reunion 2012-03-07 An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs...