Top Chef

Matt Levin isn't the first creative cook to clash with the administrative demands of being an executive chef at a luxury hotel. But for a guy who'd rather be fiddling with his sous-vide machine and working to build a better duck-fat fry, the notion of sitting in long meetings on whether or not to have a harpist in the lobby or discussing the chafing dishes for banquets was its own special form of five-diamond hotel torture. "I wasn't cooking anymore, and I wanted to be back having fun in the kitchen," Levin says, looking back on his days at Lacroix at the Rittenhouse.

CONGRATULATIONS to Willingboro's Kevin Sbraga, who won Bravo's "Top Chef: D.C. " last night. He's won $125,000, coverage in Food & Wine magazine and the opportunity to cook at the Food & Wine Classic in Colorado. The new "Top Chef" and family, including wife Jesmary and their children, Angelo and Jenae-Marie , and friends watched the finale in a private viewing party at Osteria (640 N. Broad), along with owner Marc Vetri , Jose Garces , Eagles tackle Winston Justice and other friends, reports our 24/7 colleague Dan Gross . Sbraga Tweeted throughout the finale from the party.

For all the clattering, sizzling and bravado that courses through the reality series Top Chef, yesterday's Philadelphia casting call had - well - none of that. Those hoping for a chance to wow the judges in the Bravo show's sixth season patiently waited their turn under crystal chandeliers at hushed banquet tables at Nineteen restaurant at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue. (Well, there was a little snippiness, as three hopefuls snickered when a guy in a lavishly embroidered and highly starched chef's jacket walked in.)

It could happen to anyone in the kitchen. It happened yesterday to Philadelphia's Georges Perrier, one of the premier chefs on the planet. He sliced the tips of four fingers on the razor-sharp blades of a heavy-duty food processor. Three fingers were cut nearly to the bone. The accident occurred before lunchtime in the kitchen of Le Bec-Fin, Perrier's Walnut Street restaurant. The injury was to his right hand. He is right-handed. The chef underwent surgery at Pennsylvania Hospital and was resting comfortably last night, said his spokeswoman, Clare Pelino.

  "HELL'S KITCHEN" Season 10 champ Christina Wilson knows the secret to winning a reality-TV competition. The secret is simple. And it's not in the sauce. Last spring, Wilson, 32, temporarily left her job cooking at popular Center City BYOB Mercato to appear alongside brash chef Gordon Ramsay in "Hell's Kitchen," Fox TV's version of "Top Chef" meets "Survivor. " For weeks, the South Philly resident sautéed, filleted, garnished and groaned among a cast of 18 chef-testants - until, at last, there were two. Then, just one. Her. Monday night, the show's final episode aired.

George H. Lambi, 88, who started working as a dishwasher in New York City and became a top chef at Olga's Diner when it was located in Camden, died Saturday at West Jersey Hospital-Voorhees. Mr. Lambi came to the United States from Greece in 1929 and first settled in New York City, where he found jobs washing dishes in restaurants. A Cherry Hill resident for the last 23 years, he moved to Camden in 1940 and first found a job as an area chef with the former Lintonia Restaurant in Camden.

Camryn Drew Rollins is the newest Phillies fan. The baby girl was born to shortstop Jimmy Rollins and fitness trainer bride Johari Smith Rollins late Sunday night. The little lady weighed in at 5 pounds, 11 ounces. As we mentioned yesterday, Rollins had to leave a charity event Sunday night upon learning that Johari was in labor. He was out of the lineup on paternity leave for Monday's and Tuesday's games against the Washington Nationals. Jimmy and Johari wed in the Grand Cayman Islands in January 2010.

BRAVO CAMERAS have been following former "Top Chef" contestant and fan favorite Jennifer Carroll around town. Carroll, a Daily News "Sexy Single," was recently captured having a girls'-night dinner at Sbraga (Broad & Pine), which "Top Chef" winner Kevin Sbraga opened last year. We're told the Bravo crew is shooting a new series that follows a handful of "Top Chef" contestants as they try to open restaurants, which Carroll, who spent several years at 10 Arts by Eric Ripert at the Ritz-Carlton, is now working on. She's scouting locations for a spot called Concrete Blonde, which she has described as a play on her hard-edged personality and blond hair and also a tribute to the alternative-rock band by the same name.

Thomas Anastasi of the Anastasi Seafood family of South Philly's Italian Market has gone out to Montgomery County, opening the white-tablecloth Pescatore BYOB (134 Bala Ave., Bala Cynwyd, 610-660-9400). The Restaurant School-trained Anastasi, who previously owned Thomas in Moorestown, is keeping entrees on his Italian menu under $25; naturally, seafood predominates, and he makes his own ravioli, gnocchi, fettuccine, pappardelle, and tortellini. It's open for dinner Wednesdays through Mondays.

Philly restaurants worth visiting, local chefs worth following - based on TV worth watching. 1. "Iron Chef" Jose Garces Philly's most televised chef won't be slowing down any time soon. But you can, at J.G. Domestic, his laid-back American joint in Cira Centre. 2929 Arch St., 215-222-2363, www.jgdomestic.com . 2. Good Dog Bar Locals love the cheese-stuffed burger. Guy Fieri of "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" goes for the duck pot pie. 224 S. 15th St., 215-985-9600, www.gooddogbar.com . 3. Kevin Sbraga "Top Chef" season 7 winner wins again with his months-old rustic-chic bistro.