Top Chef - S7E14 Postmortem

Well, it's nice to see that a lackluster season finished strong. I said on Monday that I'd be a little disappointed if Kevin won since I didn't feel he'd established the same body of work the other two did over the course of the season, but having now watched it happen, I can't say I mind. The bottom line is that everybody came to cook, the producers set them up to succeed rather than setting them up to fail, and the best man of the day won. Sure, it would have been nicer if Angelo was at full strength, and it would have been nicer if Ed had the sense to do his own dessert (is it 100% clear whether that was his recipe or whether he turned the conception over to Ilan as well?), but nobody was killed by lame last-minute twists and nobody dropped the ball.

And Hung rocks.

Gotta crash. You guys chat. Season postmortem next week!

UPDATE : I wrote more below, but I'm really flabbergasted that anybody thinks Mike V. was responsible for Kevin's success. This was a Kevin menu, through and through, not a Mike V. menu. Kevin's issue was never one of ability, it was one of consistency. At his best, he was as good as any other chef in the competition. We got his best last night.

Comments

[KinderJ]

Livebloggery! For Justice!

[KinderJ]

My livebloggery is crying in the corner. All lone. Because nobody loves him. Snif.

[garik16]

Good Kevin Prevails!

[Vega]

Good Kevin really shone. Totally content with his win... nobody really screwed up, and the winner had the best menu. I was really impressed by it.

[KinderJ]

I really, really want to try Kevin's dessert. Looks delicious.

[Bart]

Hooray! I love that he gave a shout-out to New Jersey!

Overall, I was really, really happy with this finale. It seems like so often that a season that was really good ends on a bit of a sour note (e.g. Blais stumbling, Carla's collapse, Kevin Gillespie's rotten treatment), but this one was the opposite. For so long the season was kind of blah but it picked up some incredible momentum at the end.

I loved how Ed said, "I'm not listening to my sous chef because it's been a disaster in the past." He knows his Top Chef finale history. But why, then, did he leave dessert solely to Ilan? That just puts him at odds with his assertion to give no creative license to his sous chef for the meal. I was surprised he wasn't intent on micromanaging his dessert.

Glad to see Angelo bounced back for the finale. Hung's a sexy beast, isn't he? Getting all that prep done singlehandedly.

It doesn't look like it took long for the judges to deliberate because Padma said, "Well, I think the choice is clear."

Congrats to Kevin! I'm very happy with the outcome, and very happy to see a fellow Jersey boy do good.

PS - he made noodles out of a fish. Fish noodles. I think that's absolutely CRAAAAAAAAAZY. Does anyone else feel that way? The judges didn't talk about it much. Maybe the foodies here can enlighten me a bit.

[Sprugman]

Not to take anything away from Kevin, and it's not clear from the episode whether or not it was a factor, but just one word: Volt!

[KinderJ]

I have heard of the fish noodle thing done a couple of different ways. Never tried it. I do know that freezing, or near freezing, is a pretty standard part of the preparation.

[Lon]

No histronics, other than Angelo being ill. No big flubs. Great food. Very satisfying ending to what was otherwise a mediocre season.

[Independent George]

Actually, the last three episodes were outstanding. To hear Tom talk about it, there wasn't a single bad performance among the twelve EC meals served - they were splitting hairs down the stretch. Bravo to all of them, Tiffany and Kelly included.

Bart - fish noodles actually aren't uncommon in Asian food. Dom actually mentioned some here; I've had a version with jellyfish (which I didn't like, incidentally; jellyfish just isn't my thing).

[nomnomnom]

No issues with that result. You don't come into a 4 part finale and totally punt 1 part of it and flaunt that fact.

Kevin probably spent weeks working on perfecting that dish and knew he could pass it to anyone to finish it.

[Elizabeth]

Although I'm personally disappointed that Angelo didn't win, I could see that Kevin was going to take it...he got the most enthusiastic praise...so he deserved it.

[bfish]

I was pleased with the episode and outcome -- great show tonight. Not to take anything away from Kevin, but the editors certainly chose to show not too much Michael V.; this was probably to counter folks from second guessing that MV had a big guiding hand in the win. As shown, it did appear that Kevin was well-prepared and confident, and used MV effectively but didn't have him take over (unlike my impression of the Hosea/Blais team effort in season before last). Ed didn't seem to hit it off so well with Ilan and apparently put his all into the first 3 courses while allowing Ilan free rein to put out a rather pedestrian dessert.

I loved Hung from the get-go in season 3 -- and never understood why he was such a big turn-off for some -- so it was delightful to see how much he rose to the occasion to keep Angelo in the game. In all honesty the ideal would have been an Angelo victory because I thought he was the star of this season, plus the Hung factor, but no complaints overall.

[Joanna]

Kudos to Kevin, but the person I am by FAR the most impressed with is Hung. Not only did he do all of Angelo's prep work, he did it in a completely submissive way, and I mean that in the best way possible. It's one thing to be a good sous chef when your boss is looking over your shoulder, and another thing to follow someone else's rules without going off on a tangent when you're basically working alone. I know that Angelo didn't win, but the fact that he even came close is a testament to Hung's awesomeness this time around, in my opinion.

I also wish we had seen more of the interaction between Kevin and Michael V. I don't want to take anything away from Kevin - his dishes were generally true to the style he's shown this season, at least for Good Kevin - but given the way Michael V dominates in the kitchen, I wonder how much input he provided and whether the outcome would have been the same if the sous chefs were swapped.

One last thing... I loved the structure of this challenge SO MUCH. This is what a finale should be. Lots of time to plan, some reasonable constraints and guidelines, no last-minute twists. The design of the challenge was perfection, and because of that, I can't help but be satisfied with the result.

[Joanna]

Hah, bfish, didn't see your comment until after I posted mine - apparently I am one of those second-guessers! But it's just curiosity from me, nothing accusatory.

[bfish]

No sweat, Joanna, I didn't read yours that way at all -- we just seemed to be on the same wavelength though I think you described it more eloquently. Thanks --

[mncharm]

Season-saving last few episodes. Went from "blah" to fantastic FAST. Very fun to watch.

Great win for Kevin. He really seemed to warm up to the competition as the season went on. Makes it more fun to see someone who seems gracious and pleasant win, even if this isn't truly reality and the food is the star of the show. It's so much more satisfying to see someone as humble as he appears to be win. Good on him.

And good on Angelo and Ed for appearing to be genuinely happy for Kevin.

Best finale in terms of the challenges? After being so worried earlier in the season, the finale challenges turned out to be both compelling and fair.

Great stuff. I'll be back for season 8. Can't wait.

[Kenny]

This was an Episode quite in keeping with the season, i.e. anything goes. It was clear watching the discernment of the judges who would win, and the prep seemed very fairly covered. So, it is what it is.

What I'm left wondering overall is, how do I make spicy crab? and the Singapore Sling 'new national dessert'? (And what will become of Angelo's Russian bride?) Ed was seen this weekend on Iron Chef, as a sous chef along with Blaise, for Iron Chef Kat Cora, and TBH his dish looked terrible, platewise.

I've not been to Singapore, but my forays into other parts of the world usually leave me humbled foodwise, and I appreciate the exposure to so many new ideas in cuisine. Perhaps one day my travels will bring me there, until then, this is at least a kickstart of sorts; at least until I perfect spicy crab.

[lamelama22]

Hell yeah Bart, NJ shout-outs ftw!

I think Kevin was the probably the least likely and least talented of the three, but he pulled it out because he stepped up his game at the same time the others faltered and definitely earned it.

That said... If Ed doesn't say "I don't feel like doing dessert, Ilan go make something" he wins, hands down. That's just... probably the single biggest bad decision I can remember in Top Chef history. It was Ed's to lose, and he probably had the best dishes of the night, save for that dessert.

I feel bad for Angelo getting sick at the wrong time, but his head wasn't completely in the game judging by the first part of the finale. I like that he was man enough to get a needle shot in the butt on camera - it shows he actually did want to get into the kitchen & win.

I was actually most looking forward to the sous chefs. Ilan came off as a huge tool and douchebag as always, and definitely sabotaged Ed both with his shitty dessert and with his constantly trying to take the chef role. Michael V. and Kevin seemed to get along well, and although we didn't see much of him, the shots we did see clearly showed him taking the backseat to Kevin. Hung was amazing! The ninja speed demon was back, and almost won it for Angelo by himself while also taking a backseat. I think Hung came out looking the best of any of the people working in the kitchen this episode. Hung is the man...

Now did anybody watch Top Chef: Just Desserts after the finale? If you didn't, here's the season in a nutshell: The drama & crap that was in Season 2 of Top Chef is going to be NOTHING compared to the crap in JD, so if you don't like that... you probably shouldn't watch.

I mean, they show a clip from a later episode. One of the guys throws a hissy fit (ironic since he's one of only two straight guys on the show) when someone says something to him, and decides to sabotage all of the other chefs by stealing all of the butter in the pantry. lololololol

[Kenny]

Braised Pork Belly --- one might think of it automatically given the ingredients and the time, but only Kevin mentioned it, along with his cuttlefish noodles, etc. And then it was infused with squid ink? They underplayed that whole element, but it must have been wonderful and unctious as a base to his dish.

[timothy]

I am oversensitive about certain things, and as I write this let me make clear that my tone is not mad, snippy, or accusatory. I am smiling as I type. But I just am a person who likes to speak up and clarify when people make generalizations about gay people, and when I read a comment like this -- "One of the guys throws a hissy fit (ironic since he's one of only two straight guys on the show)" -- I am inclined to point out that by calling the straightness of the fit thrower "ironic," you are implying that it would be less surprising if the gay guys threw hissy fits. There is no reason to expect gay people to throw more fits than straight people. Gayness means only that one is attracted to the same sex; there is absolutely no connection between sexual orientation and fit throwing. Okay, I am done on that subject. I agree it was a fun episode to watch, and I agree that Hung was cool.

[mclrk]

I'm one of those people who watch these shows and can't afford to eat shit like this hardly ever, so bear with me. I drank 2 40 oz. of Magnum tonight and was torn whether to watch this or the season premiere of The Ultimate Fighter. Here's my take of it, purely as a mindless dregg television watcher who found this website due to me being a pure American sports power ranking loving mofo instead of some self-acclaimed quasi-food expert.

The misstep this season took was focusing on random forced drama when I think the dishes were actually there.

Opinion is quickly swayed when you get a half hour of people bitching about each other and a combined 2 minutes of conversation regarding the food itself.

The Alex thing was bullshit, the whole Amanda is an amateur thing was overdone.

Kelly made far more amateurish mistakes than Amanda did if you want to believe the editing outside of the fellow contestants saying "AMANDA IS AN AMATEUR!!!!!!!!!!!!1" They were clearly upset by the fact she was able not fuck up horrifically while they were all able to be her equal at some point. They simply edited Kelly's mistakes to look more minor and Amanda's to be that of someone who is a fool.

The food in the last few episodes of this year seems to me as it could stand up to the food of any other season's final. Isn't that the point? The trend of food has shifted towards flavors instead of pure technique and awe in a laymen's eyes, and more towards flavor.

Isn't this not an accurate assessment of where current fine dining is headed? The cutesy shit is fine but when it comes down to food, it's how food tastes. Isn't that why 99% of the people championed a more "down-home" competitor in Kevin last year? Why is there a surprise that we had more Kevins than Voltaggios this year?

That being said I believed this season was likely produced before their emmy win and they've clearly diverted back to the more successful formula of last season with the all-star thing, Top Chef Desserts nonwithstanding. If Top Chef Desserts was withstanding, I'd have written off the entire series within the first 30 seconds of its season premiere by the way.

/scatterbrained response to the season.

[mclrk]

I was referring to Kevin from last year at points.

[Joe S]

@mclrk I thought I was the only one with the Ultimate Fighter/Top Chef dilemma. Luckily UFC is kind enough to put all of their episodes on a website. Let's hope Bravo/Hulu does the same for Top Chef so I can drop cable entirely.

[Vega]

@mclrk Probably because this season *didn't* really have anyone like Kevin. No one's food was simple yet creative in the same way his food was, and none of the cheftestants consistently got called out for top mentions because they were able to pull off the perfection that super-simple dishes ask for. Kevin was so popular because he knew when to keep things simple, but still give it his own creative twist. He had the technique to pull it off, and I don't think most of the chefs this season had that.

That said, I don't think the food they made this season was uninteresting... just not all that eye-catching. It was certainly better than most of the contestants on Season 5, at any rate.

[lamelama22]

Timothy: You are certainly right, not all gay men act like little girls as you interpreted my statement. I personally know this to be true, since I have openly gay family members and some of them act in a way you would never know they are gay, and others act like, as they would refer to themselves, queens. I know not every gay man acts like a stereotype, but the stereotype is there, and many gay men do - just like nearly every single guy on Top Chef Just Desserts. Please don't confuse a simple comparison with a stereotype and the other contestants on the show with homophobia and hatred - the two do not go hand in hand.

I should have clarified that in the first episode of desserts most of the openly gay male contestants did throw "hissy fits" and act in a ridiculous way as if to fit that generic stereotype that many people associate with it - which would fit the statement I made. I have no doubt it was edited to play that up, though. The irony for me stemmed a lot that guy who acted like a little bitch in the preview of the later episodes was the same guy that in the first episode was a stone cold rock of non-emotion in a frightening way, making Bryan Voltaggio look like Mr. Personality and Electricity. And since you think I'm a biggot - the only person I hate so far on desserts is the straight male douchebag for his evil attitude & sabotaging the team. I let actions speak for people. :P

Jeez, people read way too much into things sometimes...

As for the season 7 of Top Chef, I don't know what the problem with the season was - it just didn't seem as interesting to me and I can't really put my finger on why?

Some guesses:
Hangover from how awesome season 6 was? Boring personalities? More boring celebrities and government hosts than chef judges who knew what they were doing/tasting? No real drama so they invented some (which was boring)? Really lackluster food on average until the episode before the finale? No real standouts or competition? Boring challenges (lack of LeAnne shows)? Big Padma? I think the lack of LeAnne and Colicchio taking over as executive producer have had a huge impact on the show this season, as it just got a heck of a lot more boring.

It's a tough job they have. How much drama vs how much cooking? What challenges to do and at what point in the season? Picking the right contestants with the right amount of skill/experience/personality (but not too much)?

Some suggestions, since I do like to be proactive:
Cast up & comers, not ppl with their own restaurants (more motivation) - season 1 was one of the best seasons b/c it had a lot of unknowns & young talents that didn't already run restaurants. Restaurant wars - make it like Seasons 1-4, I know the food purists don't like them having to handle decor and such, but it made the episode much more fun. The last two restaurant wars episodes were boring as hell to watch, and didn't really seem like "their" restaurants... just working the line in someone else's. Season 3's 2 parter was the best yet. Move the relay race later in the season b/c it's so fun, don't waste it on day 1 when we don't know the people yet. Bring on CHEF judges, not just celebrities. And please, for the finale, let them cook whatever they want like in the good old days (pre-season 4) - it shows their skills, and more importantly, their creativity, a heck of a lot more.

And mclrk, I think if you took the 4 finalists from any other season (including 2), they would dominate the four finalists from season 7 in a cookoff.

[Daniel]

@Timothy - thank you. It is always nice to see someone else saying it too.

It's a little frustrating seeing Kevin win, but only because he was so hit or miss throughout the season. Ed may not have had the miss, but he was certainly a non-entity for most of the season as well. And Angelo, who started out so very strong, has been essentially flamed out for the last third of the season, and was essentially completely out in the finale - that he performed as well as he did despite the huge handicaps of exhaustion and effectively half the time of the other chefs was a testament to his and Hung's abilities.

On a positive note, while we've gotten 'good' Kevin the last few episodes, we've also gotten non-whiny petulant jerk Kevin the last few episodes too, and that was very nice. Similarly, as many others have noted, though for much of the season the food seemed weak, in these last few episodes it has seemed as strong as it has in any other season.

I think we've discussed all sorts of various reasons why this season seemed lackluster. But I think most of us are willing to take the lows with the highs, and I'm very much looking forward to next season.

And my God, it is always such a pleasure to see Hung. The guy is great as an executive, he's great as a sous, he was a total pleasure as a competitor.

[Daniel]

@lamelama22 - while I can't speak for Timothy, I didn't think you were coming from a place of hatred. I just thought you were being thoughtlessly and pointlessly insulting in an attempt to be witty.

Unfortunately, it failed. You got called on it. Instead of giving a long-winded version of "I can't be racist because I have black friends" mixed in with defensive hyperbole, just take the well deserved and minor ding instead.

And while your initial comment didn't [necessarily] make you seem like a 'homophobe' or a 'bigot', but merely as slightly obnoxious, your follow up definitely didn't help and certainly doesn't paint you in ways that you would probably like to be seen. When you are in a hole, however small, it might be a better idea to simply dig yourself out or let it lie rather than dig yourself deeper. ;)

And for general clarification - while acknowledging stereotypes doesn't make one a bigot, treating them as if they are true kinda does. Yes, many gay people act like 'little girls' throwing a tantrum. So do many straight people. So do many women...and so are you right now ;). Next time you find yourself in a similar situation, and I'm sure there will be many, many, many next times, why not just gracefully acknowledge and deflate the situation? You would come across much better if the first three paragraphs of your latest response were simply edited down to "My bad." ;)

Just sayin'.

[Skillet Doux]

Okay, guys, let's move on... kthxbye. :-)

[Nsam]

I was in a bit of a fit, about to say much the same as Daniel (but more harshly), but my screen froze and I lost my draft. And I came back, and the fit had passed, and Dom had interceded. Whew, close one.

So instead, I'll actually talk about the food, which I rarely seem to do (because so many posters here are much more food-savvy than I am.) Was Ilan's dessert really a crucial negative against Ed? I couldn't exactly follow the gist of the convo among the diners/judges through the odd, choppy editing. Tom didn't like it, right, but I thought others did (?)

And, just to play what if -- what if Ed had kept his superlative banana fritters in his back pocket for the final round, instead of using them in the semifinal? He had immunity, he didn't have to waste his best ammo then. What if he'd done so -- would he have been the winner? Ah well, hindsight is 20/20...

[dach]

Michael V should not have been an assistant, much less this close after his own season. He is a total ringer, especially just months coming off of his own win.

When I saw the final dishes lined up, it sure looked a lot more like Michael V product of last season than anything I can remember Kevin putting out this season.

I love TC and the judges, so I hate to call shenanigans, but that's what everyone at my viewing party thought when we all saw the end dishes. And when every meat Kevin prepared was "perfect." Since when could he cook meat "perfectly", much less off-the-road proteins like the local fish and duck? And that "Singapore Sling" dessert he got gushing praise for, both for impeccable presentation and execution looked totally Michael V. Kevin did not produce anything at all similar all season.

Michael V won 2 TCs in a row.

[Bart]

I disagree with lamelama22's assertion that Ed wins hands down if not for the dessert - based on their comments, and Padma's assertion that there was a "clear" winner, I think Kevin soundly won this one.

Here's a neat pre-season article about Sbraga, with a funny line: http://www.nj.com/entertainment/dining/index.ssf/2010/06/top_chef_returns_njs_barack_ob.html

...[As] for that Obama comparison, it has nothing to do with Sbraga’s own mixed heritage (African-American and Italian). "In 2004, no one knew who (Obama) was. By 2008, everyone knew who he was. Out of the woodwork came this man who became so inspirational."

Pretty much how it worked this season - he came out of nowhere to win this thing.

[Anon man]

Too bad for Angelo being sick. Rotten luck. If he didn't have Hung, I'm not sure he would have had food. Maybe he'll redeem himself in the all-stars next season (although there's quite a few people that would apply to). Best line of the night goes to Ed. "I don't know much about him, other than he won top chef."

On thing that marred the episode for me was the crap-tastic editing (again). I know they had to devote extra time to Angelo being sick, but they didn't allow enough of an explanation of a challenge, such that when I saw cockles in a vegetable dish, I thought that would be a no-no. (I had to go back and re-watch it and I got the impression that this was clearly ok.) And, the real killer was during judges table, the bounced around the dishes in discussing them such that I felt like my was in a game of ping pong. "Let's talk about Ed's meat, now let's talk about Kevin's dessert, and now Angelo's fish, and Angelo's dessert, and...." Eventually, they went through dish by dish but it seemed way faster and more superficial than normal.

All and all, a decent, but not fantastic, season.

[Susan]

I noticed as the episode progressed I was pulling for Kevin. I have felt my issue with the year has been I didn't have someone I was rooting for. I loved Michael V.'s comment while pulling the fish bones, and even more loved Kevin ignoring it and keep moving forward.
I can't decide if my dislike of Angelo was hanging over me as I watched. I really cynically felt manipulated by the editing. When he got to part where he was going to compete and pronounced from the editing comment chair that he was going to go on to win because it was meant to be my stomach turned. And oddly, driving to work today I may have decided part of my problem, as I heard a comment from Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees, and his voice strongly reminded me of Angelo's. Maybe leftover dislike of A-Rod slid into my view of Angelo. Hung rocked in a way I don't think we ever saw before - like an earlier commenter said, subsuming his own thoughts to totally do what Angelo needed. Way cool.
Ed seems to have knowingly looked at the situation with overly strong sous-chefs, avoided it specifically in the corn veloute and other main dish items, and then possibly just hands offed the dessert? Where is the logic there? I don't get it.
And I left Just Desserts on, and will now forget to watch it like I did last year. Ugh.

[Susan]

And why wasn't it an episode of 1 hour 15 minutes? I could have gone with a few more minutes at judges table. I agree with Anon Man on the format there being confusing.

[Cheryl]

I think it is a disservice to Kevin to assume that, because he had Mike V as his sous, he had some sort of advantage. I think the real advantage was the fact that, as Kevin said, they have worked together before in a kitchen. They know each other and understand each other's working style. It would be somewhat like having your sous from your restaurant coming to work with you like they did in TCM. Kevin was certainly boosted mentally by having Mike V but may have done equally well with Ilan or Hung because he owned his dishes. I think it is also a disservice to Mike V for everyone to assume he was the power behind the win. He's been in Kevin's shoes and he has enough respect for the competition and for Kevin as a chef to take the supporting role. He's already won top chef as the lead. His job was to help Kevin win, not by taking over, but by helping Kevin to be at his best. The fact that they worked together before just made his job easier because he had the history with Kevin.

[ally]

Regarding sous chefs: I think either Mike V or Hung would have asked Ed enough questions to force him to come up with a dessert, and not just suggested some lame cake. And I think that lost it for Ed. I don't think it would have been "hand's down" but look at the scoring:

By courses, as far as I can tell:
First course: Ed wins hands down (Kevin's is timid, Angelo's isn't really a veg).
Second course: Angelo wins, Kevin's is true to the challenge instructions, Ed's isn't (?).
Third course: Ed overcooked his duck or would have won based on flavors and creativity, Kevin's was "prepared well" and Gail "doesn't mind" duck a l'orange in this case (cough) and Angelo fails.
Fourth course: Everyone has the big O over Kevin's dessert.

Most telling, I think, was the kudos for Kevin actually following the spirit of the challenge most closely, and so in a close race that really stood out. Plus there was the dessert.

So, in short, I think Ed would have won if he had come up with a fantastic dessert. *refuses to make a pun about just desserts*

I also think this episode would have been better if they had made it longer so we could at least see which dish a commenter had in front of them when they were commenting. I had to sort of rely on the elves not to pull the ole switcheroo on me.

And I guess I'm the only one who thinks "bleh" about this result. Good on Kevin and I truly believe he won with the best meal of the day, but because of a rather safe menu but amazing dessert. But I would love to have those dumplings with duck and foie gras (had Hung not hogged the foie).

[nomnomnom]

Maybe, but Kevin won by probably making 250000 of those Singapore slings at home in the downtime. Hosea and Stephanie both knew how to do this thing. You develop one dish you can totally hand off to a sous, and then knowing it's bombproof go on to work some magic on the twists.

The "best" chef usually thinks they can just come in and make crap up and win, and it just hasn't worked that way except for MV.

[Anon Man]

One topic I would like to raise for discussion based on the pre-show (Masterchef). There, the four finalists faced off in two head to head matches with the winners going mano a mano in the finals. I thought that was kind of neat, and maybe some version of that format would be a nice change of pace for the finals in Top Chef one season. Thoughts?

[zsparks]

Awfully polite of diners (or editors) to not mention any sort of fear of Angelo's food. All I could think about was germs. I would absolutely have preferred to not know he was sick. I feel ill now just thinking about it.

Now: Once we know he's sick, I want to know what's wrong with him. If they said, I missed it. And I was NOT convinced when the doc said, "You can cook!" Yeah, I KNOW he can cook. I heard the producer tell you, "He WILL cook. Now let him go. Here's a 20."

Okay, Dom, I know this is peripheral talk, not about the fook. I think that's been a hallmark of this season, in which the food has apparently been better than usual, but the boringness and bitchiness of the characters has made it feel even more lame than the Ilan season or the Fabio season (can't even remember the name of the FAbio season winner.) Seeing Hung and Michael V was the most exciting thing all season. If Ripert and Bourdain hadn't appeared together, I'd have forgotten to watch the last three eps.

[Bill]

Power Rankings - Top Chef Winners
1. Volt
2. Stephanie
3. Hung
4. Harold
5. Kevin
6. Ilan
7. Hosea

[Anon Man]

@Bill, that seems fair except I would reverse 6 and 7. I also have a preference for Harold over Stephanie, but I don't feel as strongly about that one.

[GlennM]

I'm happy for Kevin that he won. He did seem to bring it the most over all four courses. And I don't recall seeing MVolt driving things in the kitchen. If anything, Kevin gets props for from treating MVolt as a sous chef instead of his boss.

I'm happy that Kevin (and Ed) welcomed Angelo back into the competition. After starting to sour on all three, it was nice to see that they stepped up their humanity as well their food for the end.

I was wondering if they were going to bring back Kelly to help Hung with the prep while Angelo was out, just to keep things a little more even. Amazing that Hung didn't seem to need the help. And adding a third-person to the mix might have muddied the waters too much for when Angelo returned.

It was nice that this was a twist-free final. Guess they figured that Angelo's absence was enough of a twist. I was waiting for "add an amuse" or some other crap and it was nice to just have them cook it off.

[Bart]

Looks like Kevin is going to open a restaurant in Philly with his money. There's at least one article out there about it. Between Jen Carroll and Kevin, plus a handful of other restaurants, Philly's shaping up to be a great foodie city

[redpoint]

People keep commenting on how nice it was that the episode was straight-forward, that there were no unfair twists. I posit that the whole sous-chef thing is unfair. It muddies up who the top chef actually is. Was it season 3 when the chefs had help in the kitchen to prepare, but then had do the final cooking on their own. That, I believe, is the only truly fair way of doing it. Come on.

And -- though some will disagree -- they should have given Angelo another day to get well. It would have been a much more interesting contest. They should write a clause into the rules to account for this.

Looking over the whole season, I actually think it was not bad, and the last stretch was downright exciting. To the commentator who scoffs at the "Fabio" season, there were actually some good chefs there. Jamie, Stefan, Carla, and even Jeff, Hosea (I say that begrudgingly), and Ariane (who actually did make some delicious sounding food).

The chef I thought got the raw end of the competition was Arnold. I would have liked to see what he could have done.

[Skillet Doux]

Dach... I really think you're looking for something that isn't there.

First, we could talk about how Kevin's dishes didn't involve a single MG element or even wacky technique -- they were really very classic, if slightly contemporized, which couldn't be less Mike V's style. The closest he got was using an immersion circulator, which is not only bordering on standard issue these days, but something he used himself in the previous episode.

Second... since when could Kevin cook a perfect piece of meat? At the Bocuse d'Or U.S. trials where he won best meat presentation, for starters. But beyond that, there was his Pennsylvania lamb in episode 1, his grilled flank steak in episode 3, his chicken skewer in episode 11 (even if they didn't like the dish overall), his grilled quail in episode 12 (bad pairing, "beautifully cooked" meat) and his NY strip in episode 12, all of which were complimented for the cooking on the proteins.

But more importantly, if you don't believe he made this...

Eggplant, Zucchini & Pepper Terrine, Tomatoes, Jalapenos, & Sweet Soy Reduction with Ginger Oil

...you should review the recipe for this:

Romaine Lettuce, Tomato, Bacon, Roquefort, Avocado, Cucumber & Turkey

If you don't think he could have made this...

Rouget, Cuttlefish Noodles, Pork Belly, Cockles, Slipper Lobster

...you should review the recipe for this:

Pan-Seared Rockfish, Black Garlic & Hominy Purée, Jicama & Passion Fruit Salad

If you don't believe he could have made this...

Roasted Duck Breast with Duck Dumpling, Caramelized Bok Choy & Coriander Sauce

...you should review the recipe for this (even if it wasn't well-received, look at the style and techniques involved):

Double-Cut Chops with Olive & Goat Cheese Rissole, Mache & Tomato Concasse

If you don't believe he could have made this...

Frozen Singapore Sling with Tropical Fruits

...you should review the recipe for this (budget dish, similar sensibilities):

Fresh Melon Kebab with Orange Chantilly Dipped in Yogurt

And these aren't even his stronger dishes... just the closest single-dish analogues I could find. But if you look at his flavors and techniques over the course of the season, there's nothing in his finale menu that we didn't see earlier in the season. Maybe it's because I'm looking over all of the recipes rather than simply going off of the judges' reactions, but to me this menu looked exactly like the food Kevin's been putting out all season long. He's been very hot and cold in terms of executing it, but in terms of styles and flavors, which the exception of some Asian flavors that we know he spent the downtime studying, this menu was him all over.

[Cheryl]

Someone commented that there was no last minute twist thrown as there has been in the past. I'm wondering if there was one but, because of Angelo's illness, they dropped it.

[Independent George]

1. The 1:15 episodes are worthless. I watched with a stopwatch once; of the extra 15 miutes, about 12 of them are commercials (44 minutes of run-time, rather than 41).

2. I loved the structure of the finale, and the fact that Tom explicitly said it was designed to give them time to think & plan their menu. No surprises, no gimmicks. It purposely does what I want all of the challenges to do - put the chefs in a position to succeed or fail on their own merits.

3. Hung remains awesome.

4. Big brain fart on Ed's part - Why would he decide to turn complete control of 1/4 of the most important meal of his life, to a chef he's never worked with?

5. I don't understand why so many people are so eager to credit MikeV with Kevin's win. All of his dishes have Kevin's signature on it, not Mike's. Heck, they even show Mike (good-naturedly) bitching about being Kevin's sous. By extension, was his one error (not enough spice in the terrine) also Mike's fault? The sous who had the biggest hand in the outcome was Hung - to his immense credit.

[khadijah]

Happy with the results.
As for the cuttlefish noodles.... Cuttlefish is NOT a fish. its more like a squid than like a fish. NOT fish noodles. You can make fishballs out of fish though.

And please don't call it 'spicy crab'. burgers aren't called 'beef sandwich'. the proper name of the dish is 'chilli crab'

[Krazikarl]

According to Tom's blog, Keven had the best dish for the 1st, 2nd, and final courses. Ed had the best dish in the 3rd course, but Tom specifically said that Kevin was very very close in that course too.

So Kevin won big (Tom's blog says it was the best food in a Top Chef finale ever) and would have won even without the 4th course since he beat Ed on 2 of the 3 other course, and was very close to him on the one that he didnt beat Ed on.

[Nikki L]

1. Ed bothered me so much.. mostly for what has already been said about not wanting to give Ilan any say but giving him the dessert. However, I just also thought he was rude to Ilan in general. He reminded him a handful of times that he was the sous chef and he wasn't going to listen to him, and Ilan was nice enough to just roll over and take it. I feel like the other two chefs were much more gracious to their assistants.

2. I think I figured out why this season was less interesting - there was no Molecular Gastronomy chef. In the past several seasons we've had M Volt, Blaise, Marcel - all who were constantly turning new tricks and morphing presentations using MG tricks. Most of the complaint was that the contestants were not creative enough but maybe it's easier to be creative when you know how to use liquid nitrogen to transform your food. I know there was more to it than that but I was always most amused by the MV contestants because you never knew what strange technique they would whip out next. Meat flavored tofu... genius!

3. As also stated already, I think MV was more of a help to Kevin because they had worked together before NOT BECAUSE MV IS A GREAT CHEF. Kevin even made a comment that it was funny to have MV chopping vegetables for him this time. And Dom - love your proof that Kevin came up with his own dishes.

4. Great end to the season. I only wish Angelo could have been in full form. I think he would have had a stronger presence if that had been the case. It seemed that aside from his fish dish, something was a bit off in all the others that he might have been able to fix. Also, he may have bumped into something in the market that would have inspired him.

5. Is anyone going to keep watching TC Desserts? I think the guy who won the quick fire is the next Marcel...

[ally]

I just saw Tom's blog and was going to say "show's you what I know" regarding course winners. Also show's how strangely the judging was edited. I guess it is for suspense, but it baffles me how little information we were given about reactions to the food.

[helaine]

Another point from Tom's Blog (though i know some people don't "believe" some of what he writes) - he straight out addresses the Michael V. issue and, from his perspective, Michael V.'s skill was not the factor in Kevin's win.

"Now someone is sure to gripe that perhaps working with Michael Voltaggio gave Kevin an advantage. No. Kevin got lucky in being paired with Michael because they knew one another and had enjoyed working together in the past, but that’s the extent of it. One could just as easily argue, for example, that Angelo got lucky in being paired with Hung, who worked quickly and efficiently while Angelo was flat out. Folks will also argue that Angelo was disadvantaged by being sick. Surely. But would he have won had he been well? I don’t think it would have made a difference. Kevin’s food was the best we’ve had in any finale. It was exciting."

[Anon Man]

The blog is interesting (by the way, not linked to Tom's regular blog right now, so you can just go to the blog page to find it). I also read Kevin's interview and he noted that last year, the first person called got the "you are not top chef" treatment. I think what I gather from this is that last season the brothers were close, with Kevin of the Pig a distant 3rd, but this year it was clear win.

[nomnomnom]

Maybe the MV got the win for Kevin7 response is due to how much having Petti or hurt Kevin6 last year. The sous thing is just a part of it. Come prepared with things you know a sous can execute of any competency and do the rest yourself. It's not that hard. They had what? 7 weeks to prep for this?

I'm trying to convince myself to skip TC:D and watch the canada one instead. What little I monitored of the dessert one was really horrible.

[Naomi]

Weird, I thought I posted this earlier but I'm not seeing it. My apologies if it turns out to be a double post.

Was this the first year in a while that the most recently eliminated chef didn't get to sit at the table and eat the final meal? Kelly was there for champagne time at the end but wasn't one of the diners. My husband wondered if they had her in a kitchen somewhere, prepping and cooking in case Angelo had to drop out.

[matthew]

I'm pleased with the results. I think those high-fiving Michael V are adding too much yeast to that story. I think Kevin benefited from having Michael as a sous, but I don't think, in any way, that it became the Michael V and Kevin show. Kevin was in charge, and the food that was put out look consistent with what he's produced throughout the season -- when he's been on point. This is quite different than the situation with Richard Blais basically carrying Hosea across the finish line.

What do I even say about Ed? He acted like an ass, and the reward was fitting.

Angelo was slotted as the odd's on favorite all season, but I've learned over the course of seven seasons that when the edit shows someone in that light...they usually lose. Think Tre, Richard, Stefan, and even Carla to some extent.

Like Dom, I'm glad the season come to a great crescendo. It has been flat for most of the season. It really only started to heat up for me when it was down to the last five contestants.

[ally]

Now that this is no longer a spoiler - does anyone know if Bravo accidentally "leaked" the correct Top Chef winner?

[Daniel]

I agree with the rest of you regarding Mike V's contribution - Kevin's strategic edge came, not from having Mike V's in and of itself, but from using him so effectively.

Ed conflicted with Illan on many of the dishes, and then provided zero oversight or vision for the desert - in effect, he allowed Illan zero latitude where Illan might have helped (in editing) and too much latitude where Illan hurt. And to take a moment to be catty, I wonder if toffee cake is the current desert on the menu wherever Illan works? :D

Unfortunately, Angelo didn't really get the opportunity to forge a true partnership with Hung, but that wasn't Kevin's fault.

I'm sure Mike V. provided useful editing and suggestions, the way any good sous would - it seemed in the show that the dragonfruit used as a container for the desert was Mike's suggestion, for example. But it also seemed very clear that what he was offering were suggestions, not directions.

[Anon Man]

Daniel,

To answer your dessert question: it appears so.

http://thegorbals.squarespace.com/current-menu/

[Joanna]

Anon Man... that is amazing.

[Daniel]

@anon man - holy crap! That's freaking hilarious.

[jordanhc]

Couple Comments I'd like to add to the Sous debate. 1st off, from the editing its pretty clear Mikey Volt had the LEAST influence of any sous, not the most. Ilan did an entire dish and Hung did everything day 1. Its pretty clear Mike didnt take over Kevin's menu, but that doesnt mean its not a distinct advantage to have him. The difference between him and Hung may not be that great, but he is way above Ilan in terms of being able to execute the Chefs food. Kevin's food was executed the best, Ed's probably the worst, and I do believe that has something to do with the Sous Chef.

2nd. Everyone saying Angelo was not at a disadvantage is crazy. He did get really lucky to have the fastest cheftestant in history do his prep (who also knows asian flavors) but he admitted himself he didnt think his menu was that good. Just because he was well enough to cook didnt mean he wasnt still in pain and he constantly had to drink water, both major distractions. Im not saying he would have won, but its really hard in my mind to call that a fair matchup.

@Bill. I thought your winner power rankings were right except for 2 and 3. I'd place Hung above Stephanie.

@Bart - Philly is already a great foodie city (I have to stand up for it whenever there is an oppurtunity). We have an Iron Chef in Garces, 1 of the best italian chefs in America in Marc Vetri and great foodie markets, reading terminal market and italian. Also FYI in philly Jen Carroll's 10 arts really isnt regarded that highly by anyone.

[aaalex]

anon man: great link and interesting that ilan hall is proud that the season two finale is "still the most watched episode" of top chef ever. (i wonder if that's true and it's kind of amusing that he says nothing about him being one of the most disliked chefs ever to appear on the show ... on the other hand, what's he going to say: "i was really, really hated"?)

doimnic: thank for the great defense of kevin's cooking. the michael v comment was, to be kind, not very thoughtful.

also: i don't know if you mentioned this elsewhere, but ARE you going to keep up with just desserts? maybe throw a picture up and let us talk (and talk along with us from time to time)?

also: just curious: what did you think of the first episode of "just desserts"? i had the strange sensation, after watching it, that i'd eaten too much dessert. i wanted to run around the block a few times. "just desserts" might be the only top chef you should watch was exercising.

[Independent George]

Philly is already a great foodie city (I have to stand up for it whenever there is an oppurtunity). We have an Iron Chef in Garces, 1 of the best italian chefs in America in Marc Vetri and great foodie markets, reading terminal market and italian. Also FYI in philly Jen Carroll's 10 arts really isn't regarded that highly by anyone.

Yes, but in keeping with Philly tradition, do your foodies boo all of these chefs until they leave the city in disgrace, and then, years later, wax poetic about the good old days when they were still in the city?

[dach]

Dom, appreciate the recipes linked. But I won't be convinced until Kevin's new restaurant gets rave reviews.

Because I can't comprehend how Kevin, with as many bottoms as tops during the regular season, and only 1 QF win and 1 elim win, and elim win was for cold soup dish which needed Tom to use a bit of verbal arm-twisting on the other tasters to even get picked as a top finalist, is legitimately capable of executing the best TC final menu ever ... as someone mentions judge Tom praises in his blog.

I can't believe Tom denies that Mike V made a difference. I'll begrudge Kevin may have won anyway, but no way believe that Kevin food is near as perfect if he plans and works with another sous. Any chef having a Michael V robot in their toolkit is at a huge advantage: Mike V fresh off of his s6 win, and demonstrating the entire season 7 winning dishes in the Top Chef recipe videos. Mike V knows what the TC judges like right now. Mike V will not let his teammate lose (remember team REVOLT in s6 RW). Mike V who has had the likes of Hung, Marcel and Mike Isabella work under him. IMO getting Mike V is as big an advantage as if they knife pull for the sharp knife, dull knife and plastic knife (Ilian) to work with.

Or a sports analogy, if I am in a 2-on-2 tournament, paired to LeBron James or Tiger Woods (pre divorce), I can be the team leader, tell my partner to "get it in the hole", great job following my leadership!, . My team will kick ass and dominate, but it don't mean I did the critical lifting for my team's win.

[Anon Man]

To be fair to Ilan with that link I posted, if Ed really handed the dessert over to Ilan, then OF COURSE he's going to make something on his menu that he can bang out. I think that shows very badly on Ed, apparently not offering any real creative spin on the dish.

Ilan gets a lot of flack for being the least deserving (or most hated) of the winners, but the kid was really young on that season and they were all pretty inexperienced. As an added bonus, Cliff, probably the most experienced near the end of that season, got himself thrown off the show. Nice move, there.

[aaalex]

re: michael v: i really don't think the sports analogy holds. lebron is one of the best bball players of all time. you get the ball to him, he does the rest. he does ALL the work. it's physical. here, it's mental/psychological as much or more than it is physical.

kevin had to plan the menu. he did. he made dishes that, as dominic pointed out, are very much HIS kind of dishes not mike v's. kevin had to decide how much he wanted his sous to be involved. he did and he used the volt-bot perfectly. we saw ed misuse the ilan-bot and we saw what happened. (blaise didn't so much insure hosea's win, btw. i seem to remember stefan shot himself in the foot with a mediocre dessert in the finale.)

finally: you've got to consider who michael v is. do you really think he would give the kind of respect we saw him give kevin if he thought for a second kevin was unworthy? he didn't exactly bow down to robin, last year, did he? among the best evidence for kevin's skill (for the "good kevin"'s skill) was, in fact, michael v himself.

[Independent George]

Because I can't comprehend how Kevin, with as many bottoms as tops during the regular season, and only 1 QF win and 1 elim win, and elim win was for cold soup dish which needed Tom to use a bit of verbal arm-twisting on the other tasters to even get picked as a top finalist, is legitimately capable of executing the best TC final menu ever ... as someone mentions judge Tom praises in his blog.

Ummm... because TC challenges are rather contrived affairs which can rattle even the best, most experienced chefs? Because people do learn from their experiences, and get stronger as time wears on?

[Bart]

@jordanhc - I have been to Philly many times! I love the Italian food markets there. I had an uncle who lived there, and I used to visit him once in a while. There is a lot of good food, but it struck me more as the casual good food (as opposed to more fine dining). Haven't been there in a few years, though. I'm surprised 10 Arts isn't highly regarded.

@Independent George - Philly fans get a bad rap, lol. I root for the Phillies and the Eagles (and the New Jersey Devils) - but the one incident that stands out in the minds of many, the Santa Claus booing incident. Of course, they were really booing the Eagles organization who couldn't do anything right, but hey, why let the facts get in the way of a good narrative?

@dach - I hear you, but I really think you're grasping at straws here. Kevin has shown creativity in previous dishes that are not far removed from the finale. He's also shown superb execution. Heck, look at the penultimate episode - sure, he didn't win (Ed did) but listen to the judge's praise. Look at the dishes he made.

Kevin has shown and proven, not only on Top Chef but also at the Bocuse, that he is more than capable of performing at an absurdly high level.

[twelden]

dach: "I won't be convinced until Kevin's new restaurant gets rave reviews."

By this same logic, if Ed had won last night, would you attribute his success to Ilan since Ed's restaurant recently got horrible reviews. After all, how could someone who's restaraunt got slammed in the NYT possibly have cooked a meal good enough to win TC without help?

I'm not sure where the Kevin-hate is coming from. When I watched, I saw an incredibly focused chef who envisioned and articulated a menu, worked his ass off to execute it, and acheived the goal set out for him: he cooked the meal of his life. Perhaps because so many finalists in year's past have tripped up at this late stage some people can't accept that Kevin rose to the occassion, but I saw nothing on the show last night which indicated anything to the contrary. If this season had "Good Kevin" and "Bad Kevin," as Dom so artfully put it, then last night we got "Best Kevin" and well-deserved win.

[Nancy]

Hung is still The MAN! Lord help Angelo (whom I never really liked) had he been stuck with Icklan in the draw. After all these years, THAT guy still makes my skin crawl.

Congrats to Kevin. I want that SS, stat. Ironic that Icklan's winning dessert was also fruit-based and not a lame cake (that might have been a noodge at Hung's dessert).

[JJ]

A disappointing finale to a mediocre season. Not that I begrudge Kevin his win. It just says a lot to me that Angelo was sick in bed for a whole day and still came in a close second. As for Ed: he almost redeemed himself in my eyes with his great slagging off on Ilan: "not sure who he is, except that he won Top Chef"(my approximation). I agree with Bill that Kevin is one of the three least impressive winners in TC history. Of course, he might prove everyone wrong, and good on him if he manages to do so. It's just hard to get excited about his win or the way it happened.

[Independent George]

Bart - I agree Philly's reputation is largely overdone - particularly the Santa thing - but there is a certain, significant portion of the population that (loudly) derided players like Mike Schmidt, Eric Lindros, and Ron Jaworski as bums during their careers, only to embrace them as one their greats long after it mattered (though, interestingly enough, Allen Iverson seems to have won & held the fan base from the beginning).

I just think it'd be hilarious if the Philly foodies (Phoodies, perhaps?) followed local chefs with the same sort of attitude.

[Independent George]

I love this closing comment from Tom:

A word about desserts: I simply cannot understand why, season after season, chefs like Ed do not arrive at the finals with a dessert up their sleeves, ready to be pulled out, not requiring much in the way of pastry skills, and second-nature enough not to require much thought. Even something as simple as a great chocolate soufflé, something they know they’ll be able to execute well. I believe that Kevin did exactly that – he arrived with the know-how to dash off a great panna cotta and found a way to integrate it into a dish, allowing himself to be inspired by the fruits he found. It was smart. In fact, it was sensational.

Yep. I know we've been saying the same thing since the beginning, but it's nice to know Colicchio is equally perplexed.

[paula]

OK, I didn't really care who won in the end. But I was quite proud of myself that I figured out it would be Kevin very early on in the show. Check out my Nancy Drew detective work:

In an early talking-head interview in this episode, Kevin talks about how winning this would not be about just him. It's about him, his wife, his daughter, his son...

Wait, his son?

So that interview obviously happened AFTER the finale was finished, since the first day in Singapore, they were all chatting at the table about how Kevin's wife's pregnancy was going, and he said she was "about to pop" or something like that. And then, during the talking-head, when he was talking about his family and what a Top Chef title would mean to them, he could barely keep from smiling. Right then I said, "Damn. He won."

P.S. Hung rocks. And I still think Ed's a dick. Paula out.

[Nicole]

I've been saying for ages that they really need to have a season of Top Chef set in Philly. Yes, we have Garces and Vetri, and we also have amazing hidden gems of BYOBs in all sorts of neighborhoods (Bibou, Cochon, Fond-my personal favorite) not to mention a lively gastropub/brewing scene, proximity to the farm fresh revolution that is Lancaster (I'm serious!) AND some of the best stadium food around.

[Merlin's Nephew]

Paula, IIRC Kevin's wife was pregnant with his second son.

Was anyone else surprised at the remark that Kevin is the first African American TC? For some reason I had it in my head that he was hispanic/latino. Weird.

[Daniel]

@JJ: Going to disagree with you on 2 points:

1. According to Tom, Angelo came in a close third, not a close second - so I think that point says a lot about Angelo and Ed, but not necessarily so much about Kevin.

2. In terms of Kevin not being an impressive winner - I actually think he is a solid, if not wholly impressive winner - he was just a generally unimpressive contestant. I think that had he been performing like he did in the finals all season long, we'd have all been very happy, and I think a great deal of our dissatisfaction comes from the fact that for most of the season, he just wasn't.

[mncharm]

If Tom is saying it was the beast meal he has had in a final -- and why wouldn't we belive him -- why would this win be unimpressive?

Yes, Kevin had some shaky performances early in the year, but you have to think about what Top Chef is. It is NOT "Best Chef." The challenges these chefs perform have little comparison to what they do in a restaurant. Just because you can't make good food in a school cafeteria for 200 people on a $25 budget in an hour and a half doesn't mean you aren't a good chef or can't run a good restaurant.

In fact, the final -- particularly this edition -- seems to me to be the closest analogy to what these people do for a living. In that respect, seems to me like Kevin probably is a damn decent chef.

Could well be that both Angelo and Ed, overall, are better chefs. But again, that's not what Top Chef decides. Hell, the '87 Twins won the World Series, and they sure as heck weren't better than the Tigers that year. Doesn't take away from the fact that they won, fair and square.

[Nsam]

Just watched some of the bonus vids on the Bravo site, and they're really working the sous chef issue. In the preview of the reunion show Andy Cohen (that tool) keeps prodding Ed for his thoughts about drawing Ilan rather than Hung or Volt. Now, I'd like to emphasize (because Ed has gotten so much flak here for the unlikeable aspects of his personality) that Ed seems to really resist Andy's attempts to get him to blame Ilan, or to admit that he's disappointed that he didn't draw Hung or Volt instead (although, badgered and flustered, he does eventually concede the second point.) Weaselly and dodgy as his personality has been at times this season, he gets points from me for resisting the prod to speak negatively of Ilan.

Interestingly, Kevin answers a question by saying that he could have also won with Hung, thus implying by omission that he isn't confident that he could have won had he gotten Ilan.

I mean, I don't like Ilan very much, either, but I start to feel sympathy for ANYONE who has to endure this many shots...

[Allison]

I was happy for Kevin's win. Made the last episode more interesting - it seemed clear that he deserved it (me not being able to taste the food and all).

And Hung rocks! He & this blog made me a complete TC addict. Never got why people didn't like him. I'll never forget him butchering chickens in the quickfire relay. He really kept Angelo in the game.

[paula]

Merlin's Nephew: I'm pretty sure he just has two kids now, a son and a daughter. Dude, don't crush my moment! ;)

[chrish]

Based on Tom C.'s comments, there was enough of a margin for Kevin that the sous chefs probably weren't critical. (Maybe a different sous would have done a better dessert for Ed or told him to take a more active role, but that's really his fault for delegating that anyway.) I do think having someone at the quality and professionalism of Michael V or Hung is a pretty big deal. It almost guarantees your proteins will be very well cooked and that whatever you choose to delegate will be well done without your constant supervision.

I also think Hung might have been the only one who could have kept Angelo in the running.

[Polybus]

Well, I hate to say this, but my confidence in sous chefs led me to pick Kevin as my sole fantasy team member for this episode and it vaulted me from 381st place to 15th to end the season. I'm not saying that MV was the reason Kevin won, but I went in that direction because I didn't trust Angelo to recover from his illness quickly enough to be 100% on his game. I did not pick Ed, even though I considered him the favorite, because of Ilan.

Obviously, I think the sous chef does help the Top Chef win. It may be an error to have the choice be random on a show like Top Chef where accidents should not determine the winner - maybe the chefs should be allowed to bring their own sous chef along.

All of that aside, I really do congratulate Kevin on his inspired menu and performance under duress. When you think about it, creating a "Singapore Sling" as your dessert is both brilliant and obvious - and he was the only one who thought of it and prepped it before coming to Singapore. (I'd love to get a taste of it!) Combine that with Tom's accolades on the first two courses, with Kevin's Bocuse d'Or trial performance and you have to admit that he really must a be a terrific chef.

[Anon Man]

@Nsam, I saw that video, I think the exchange was that Ed was "disappointed" that he got Ilan, which he eventually conceded. But, I think its a long jounrey from that to the sous cost him the title because Ilan isn't that good or whatever. As Ed said during the show, he didn't really know much about Ilan except that he had won. If the chef had been Harold or Stephanie and he said the same thing, would we all be saying he got hosed? I doubt it. He didn't know Ilan, didn't necessarily trust him (although apparently trusted him enough to make dessert by himself), and that may have cost him a little bit. But at some point I think you have to assume that a former winner can prep a meal and follow directions. My personal view is that Angelo got a break getting Hung because of his speed, but that break was negated by being sick.

[HF]

Eric Ripert weighs in...
http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/season-7/blogs/eric-ripert/under-the-radar

[aaalex]

hf (or anyone kind enough): could you give a little account of what ripert actually says? i'm in canada and can't access the bravo videos for copyright reasons.

[dach]

Ripert gave a course by course accounting.
1) Vegetable: ER really liked Angelo watermelon mushroom noodle, but judge panel had issue with use of a big piece of bacon. Kevin wins as his was vegetarian, which showed high skill and had excellent flavor. No mention of Ed. IIRC Ed's used conch. Kevin win.
2) Fish: Kevin's fish was perfect, crisp. Angelo strong 2nd. Ed's way too busy and complicated. Kevin win.
3) Duck: ER really likes Ed's stuffed neck. Kevin was tied with perfectly sous vide duck. He did not appreciate Angelo cherry shooter, made his overall a bit too sour. Ed and Kevin tie.
4) Dessert: #1 Kevin, #2 Angelo also very good, #3 Ed - tasty but way too simple. Kevin win.

Kevin clear win. (dach: looking at the breakdown each course, Angelo was 2nd, Ed 3rd. Ed only beats Angelo on the duck dish.)

ER favorite dish all season is Angelo's ep 1 arctic char amuse bouche.

[bryanD]

Again. Weeeird season. A weeeird finale seems appropriate. There were just so many *little* details that didn't seem quite kosher. Just one example (and maybe this is nothing big): Tom gives the chefs an extra day(night) to plan their meals. However, the exact ingredients aren't revealed until the next day. (As my dear old dad might say, "It's just fish!" But I object.)
And take Angelo (please!). Laying there as healthy as Tarzan, trying to decide what his symptoms are. (It was funny how quickly he amended his off-hand "stomach" complaint----probably remembering that stomach pain exploratories might mean a doctor's gloved hand inside his rectum! (WHEW! Close one, A! Migraine! Stick with migraine!)

Also, the MD's "3% chance" that his hypodermic injection would work. Huh? Anyway, Angelo gets up, and in my mind I hear the Popeye Spinach Fanfare. Oy!

The good news: Kevin won. He basically did his own thing without hogging the interview closet (i.e. not gossiping so much). True, he didn't have much to honk about early anyway, but that has never stopped anybody.

It's also nice to see that Ilan is still trapped in season 2. Likely forever in the small food world.

[aaalex]

dach: much, much thanks for the ripert report. very interesting. and also amusing that ripert's season favourite dish was angelo's arctic char. it says something about angelo's skill that he was able to impress an acknowledged master of fish. or is it, rather, that ripert on has eyes for fish? (i know, i know: "eyes for fish" is wrong.)

bryanD: angelo's miraculous revival from the dead was really funny. i mean, it seemed obvious by the way he jumped from the bed - when the doctor told him he could get up and cook - that this was a re-enactment of angelo's death agony. (3% chance? i laughed out loud.) then: the jangly, "happy chef" music comes on, as if we've all just witnessed a triumph of the human spirit. i know i haven't been a fan of this season, but the final ep was a classic for so many reasons. (not least of which: it was cool to see susan feniger again. i hope she's going to be on the show more often.) almost redeemed the season.

[aaalex]

oops: i meant, of course, "ONLY has eyes for fish". so the metaphor was wrong and my spelling sucked too.

[foodiewannabe]

Went into the finale not really caring who won - just wanted a good episode with great food - minimum of twisty caca. Thought the sous chef debacle of season 6 had been addressed and while there will also be some discussion on who got lucky or not - I think this was okay. After a few days thinking about it I am glad Kevin won. He seemed to me, during the season, to be a fellow who could cook but somehow nerves, lack of confidence, a bit of a temper and yes a little immaturity worked against him. I believe he will make the most of this win and he will be a good addition to the Top Chef roster of winners, finalists who provide Bravo with great promotion/merchandising opportunities. Good for Kevin.

[Nsam]

@Anon Man: Am I missing something? I believe we're in agreement, and you misread what I wrote (?) As I wrote originally, I give Ed credit for resisting Andy Cohen's attempt to get him to throw Ilan under the bus...

[Anon Man]

@Nsam, I think we're in agreement. I was just clarifying that I thought Ed's comment, while a juicy teaser clip, was actually pretty innocent. I don't think there is any bus throwing.

[vizoroo]

I guess the only thing left is who is fan favorite?

My vote for Tiffany,

[Bart]

Did anyone watch the reunion show? I thought it was good. Man, next season's cast is going to be awesome. It's strange how heartwarming it is to know that we'll be seeing old favorites.

[foodiewannabe]

Show wasnt bad considering what they had to work with. Would have liked to see more Judges outtakes. They were funny. Amusing to see Chef Tom and Padma having a sense of humor about what they do. I know I am probably in the minority but I think Padma is one smart cookie who knows exactly what she's doing when she makes some comments that she knows will be talked about and possibly made fun of. It was interesting that to hear that Michelle Bernstein really was uncomfortable about judging when Andrea was a contestant. Those 2 gals really dont like each other - methinks jealousy on Andrea's part.
Anyway, not a bad hour and am really stoked about All Stars

[aaalex]

don't know if anybody else cares about "top chef just desserts" but, having complained about the sheer lack of personality or cooking consistency on top chef season seven, i'm just flabbergasted by the insane levels of "drama" on just desserts. in episode two, the chef who looks like dexter (seth) was so over the top, the episode was virtually unwatchable. for me, these shows are about the cooking, but i kind of liked the flashy personalities at play in just desserts episode one. not any more. another episode like last night and i'll avoid any of the top chefs coming up, including season eight.

[foodiewannabe]

Definitely agree with aalex. Snippy, sarcastic, bitchy is okay - especially if cheftestant has some smarts/talent but this was way beyond. I liked Episode 1, more than I thought I would, and will tune in next week but if this exhibition is the road that they are traveling, I'm gone.