Lemondrop

Now that' we're a couple of weeks into season six, it seems high-time for a party to celebrate the latest crop of contestants on the ever-delicious "Top Chef." You can set up your own evening of cooking challenges and Padma-gawking. Try these quick-fire tips to host a a fête worthy of the dreamy Tom Colicchio.

The Invite

While a rigorous video audition and résumé approval would be a nice way to screen guests for any party, don't keep your casting simple. If you're going to have a cook-off, inform chefs of what ingredients you'll have on hand, and remind them to bring their favorites if they want to pack their own supplies. Give them at least a week's notice so they have time to prep, and let them know about any themed challenges.

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The Decor

To turn your pad into the "Top Chef" kitchen you'll need more than just the Glad Family of Products. Pick up an inexpensive butcher block to use for games (try a restaurant supply store -- they're insanely cheap). Steer clear of the mistakes made every Restaurant Wars Challenge -- skip scented candles and excessively cheesy decor. Instead, go for Industrial Kitchen Spare. Encourage guests to dress up as in white shirts or jackets with the proper accessories --goofy straw hats (a la Spike), crazy bandannas and ridiculous faux-hawks.

The Competition

Get into the spirit of competition with a series of your own Quick Fire challenges. Have a blind taste test, but skew toward lowbrow delights (as the contestants tend to have done late-night after a few glasses of wine) by dividing up junk food into small cups and have guests Name That Snack. If you're feeling bold, try some of the classic knife relay games at a much smaller level-who can chop the most carrots during a commercial break anyone? Or, make a potluck competitive by asking guests to cook and plate their specialties at your place. Give out prizes to the best, but do things kid-birthday-style and have a customized award ("Best Use of Bacon," for instance) for everybody.

Food and Drink

In case somebody pulls a CJ and serves up a disaster (that mushy broccoli rabe still haunts us) have snacks on hand, or re-create a favorite dish from the past yourself in advance. (Bravo's site offers a host of recipes, and guests can even boil down to basics, like Spike's open-face chicken sandwich or Antonia's prosciutto-and-goat-cheese pizza.) Stock your "stew room" with soft drinks, beer and wine or any of a previous season's cocktails. Just don't let guests drink so much they make out with a castmate. (I'm looking at you Hosea.)