Rockman Wins Big on Premiere of Top Chef Just Desserts

If winning on the first night of Top Chef is any indication of success on the show, it looks like Amanda Rockman may be going pretty far in this season of Just Desserts. The Bristol's exec pastry chef won the show's very first elimination challenge. She and her partner, Nelson Paz, wowed the judges—Gail Simmons and Johnny Iuzzini—with their updated soda fountain dessert: chocolate sponge cake, pickled cherries and pistachios.

Then, with immunity, Rockman was able to choose which fairy-tale-themed team to join. She selected Little Red Riding Hood, which ultimately took the big prize of the night. The judges liked their show piece and were impressed with the team's two desserts: bomboloni with strawberry and a blackout sponge cake with poached cherries and basil, which the judges said really made the flavors pop. Upon returning to the show's Stew Room, Rockman said she was still feeling tense from facing judge's table. Let's hope she gets used to that feeling as she progresses in the show.