2nd Chicago chef in ‘Top Chef’ finals

Chicago chef Art Smith winged his way Wednesday into the finals of “Top Chef Masters.” He joins earlier local winner Rick Bayless in the finals, which begin Wednesday on Bravo.

Smith relied on the Southern cooking that won Oprah Winfrey’s heart (he’s her former personal chef) and packs tables at downtown’s Table Fifty-Two.

Smith takes home $10,000 for his charity, Common Threads, which teaches kids to cook.