Spike from Season 4 of "Top Chef" did a live chat this morning with Washingtonian.com -- he landed in D.C. after last season and runs Good Stuff Eatery, a burger joint on Capitol Hill.

He seems pretty annoyed that the show let Patrick on -- he's still a student at the Culinary Institute of America and was booted off last night for his pedestrian salmon bok choy.

Spike says:

"This guys didn't stand a chance. Not even on Junior Top Chef!! I called it from the introductions. This isn't Top Culinary Student, it's Top Freakin' Chef. Personally, I've paid a LOT of dues to be granted a spot on that show. And I know there's a lot of people out there, that probably applied and feel insulted that they were denied and this toddler got a spot instead. Including some of my friends! Rosie Cheeks Boy MIGHT stand a chance in Top Chef, Season 89, but not this one."

And:

"If you open Pro-Chef (the text books in school), go to page 121, you will see his dish. Mark my words. Sorry kiddo, busted."

Sounds like he's got a bone to pick.

Other highlights from trolling for dirt and reaction to last night's episode:

Reality TV Magazine says: "The Top Chef contestants always seem to be big personalities, and with the introductions of these chefs, this season looks to be no different."

Cheftestant (God, I love that word) Richard Blaise, last season's No. 2, points out that every chef's biggest fear is being the first one out.

But Television Without Pity points out that Lauren got to take a ferry home after she was eliminated in the Quickfire, which is at least more interesting. (She also had a wicked arm sunburn.)

Tom Colicchio pontificates on inspiration vs. intimidation and how it relates to a chef's experience, which we saw in Patrick and Ariane last night. 

Finally, our sister site, latimes.com, has a Show Tracker blog that gets at the heart of why "Top Chef" (and "Project Runway") are the kinds of reality shows that many of us are drawn to: "Contestants on these shows either know what they’re doing, or they should not be contestants at all."

I'm starting a new Google Reader folder for all these Top Chef blogs. More suggestions welcome!