Jerkass Façade: He's harsh with the contestants, but it's because he sincerely wants to push them to do their best work.
Self-Made Man: Bobby came from a hard-scrabble existence in a rough neighborhood of the Bronx, dropped out of high school, and fell in with a bad crowd, by his own admission. But then he got a job at a restaurant and realized he loved it. He finally had a long-term goal, and he began working hard to become the best chef and entrepreneur he could be. He built himself up into the celebrity chef he is today through Horatio Alger-style hard work. Quite admirable.
But Now I Must Go: In Season 6 she's brought aboard as a mentor to the contestants during the Los Angeles portion of the season; when the contestants go to New York for the final leg of the journey, Giada wishes them good luck and encourages them to remember everything they've learned.
Formerly Fat: Alton describes himself this way and it becomes important in Season 8 when he goes to bat for the also-Formerly Fat Judson and expresses how a lot of people could relate to Judson's story.
But Not Too Foreign: Averted. With Herb, they wanted him to act more foreign.
Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Though it always seems the people who don't win disappear, the winner and the other runner up, Aarti and Tom, both got their own shows, while Herb was just as good a cook.
Lovable Jock: He is very muscular, and a personal trainer, though he can hardly stand being separated from his familt for so long.
Absolute Cleavage: THIS IS NOT DONE ACCIDENTALLY. She believes people like to see that from her, which is why she likes wearing tanktops or leaving buttons undone.
Running Gag: The constant question of whether or not he uses lipstick. He has stated that he doesn't, and that his lip color is from the frequent use of Burt's Beesnote This was said outside of the series.
Martie Duncan
Cool Old Lady: She seems to think of herself as this, but she is not all that old.
Cordon Bleugh Chef: Her food never looks all too appealing, but it doesn't seem to taste too horrible. She also has had a number of dishes that weren't well liked.
Expy: She is basically a cross between Paula Dean and the Pioneer Woman — who cannot cook all too well.
Motor Mouth: She just talks, and talks, and talks, to the detriment of her team.
Not Quite Saved Enough: The judges decide to let her make a pilot rather than eliminate her in the penultimate episode, only for her to be the lowest scoring contestant in the national poll. Also a notable subversion of Creator's Pet, since despite her being put through she still didn't win. invoked
Absolute Cleavage: The thing about this show, is when you have an attractive female cook like Nikki, there's a lot of bending over towards the camera involved.
