Top Chef Winner Spoiler!!

Do not read the second post if you haven't watched the finale

This is probably the best season talent wise. Michael was the most creative and I would fly anywhere to eat Brian Voltaggio's food. Kevin seems like the most accomplished southern chef out there. That was a great season.

Agreed. I thought the judges' comments on Brian's final dinner were the most complimentary of the three chefs but Michael probably had the lead on a season-long basis. Personality-wise I would take Brian, Kevin or Jen over Michael and I think as a less adventurous eater I would probably like their cuisine better too. I hope to eat at Volt (Brian's restaurant in Frederick, MD) sometime in 2010 and at Woodfire Grill if I visit Atlanta during the DaVinci exhibit.

I plan to check out Kevin's place the next time I visit my siblings in Georgia, whenever that will be.

must admit i wasn't too happy with the result. being a girl, i guess my natural instinct was to cheer for jen - and in the first part of the finale i thought it was down to her and michael.

then i rooted for kevin - such a nice guy - and bryan. michael, i feel sometimes "over-techniques" and it becomes less about the food. but, ah well....

i agree though that any of the four finalists would have been an easy winner in any of the previous seasons. especially 2-5

Agreed. I thought the judges' comments on Brian's final dinner were the most complimentary of the three chefs but Michael probably had the lead on a season-long basis. Personality-wise I would take Brian, Kevin or Jen over Michael and I think as a less adventurous eater I would probably like their cuisine better too.

JC, I competely agree. And Jacques, you are so right--this was a terrific season. I hated to see it end.

Well, I just can't leave this season without Max Silvestri's hilarious view on the finale:

http://eater.com/archives/2009/12/10/to ... ne-cub.php

[Jenise]

must admit i wasn't too happy with the result. being a girl, i guess my natural instinct was to cheer for jen - and in the first part of the finale i thought it was down to her and michael.

then i rooted for kevin - such a nice guy - and bryan. michael, i feel sometimes "over-techniques" and it becomes less about the food. but, ah well....

i agree though that any of the four finalists would have been an easy winner in any of the previous seasons. especially 2-5

April, Jen was impressive, wasn't she? She did seem to cave to the pressure though after awhile, and in terms of consistency she wasn't in the same league as the three boys though I'm sure that in real life she'd give them all a run for their money. I actually thought Bryan would win it--and probably in some measure due to the fact that his calmer demeanor is more appealing to me, where Michael's surfer-dude looks and noisier intensity are not. I therefore missed just how good he really is until close to the finale.

The Washington "Post" ran a feature on the two Voltaggio brothers answering questions from the public (not sure if it questions were e-mailed or phoned in.) There is a link to the interview on Mark Squires' website under the Food and Wine Thread and Top Chef 6 blog.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01553.html

Also, by following Tom Collichio's blog you can see how the judges reached their decisions in different episodes.

I hope to eat at Volt (Brian's restaurant in Frederick, MD) sometime in 2010...

JC - If you want to, drop me a PM when you come to Frederick and perhaps Liz and I can meet you for dinner at Volt.

must admit i wasn't too happy with the result. being a girl, i guess my natural instinct was to cheer for jen - and in the first part of the finale i thought it was down to her and michael.

I really thought Jenn got hosed in the Final Four episode. The only issue they had with any of her food was that one component of one dish was slightly over-salted. Others' dishes had way more issues. They must have decided since Kevin had so many season "wins" that he had to make it to the top three, and of course there was no way they could keep either of the V-bros out of the final three, if for nothing else than to see the sibling rivalry thing through to the end.

To Jon Peterson, I will let you know when I will be in DC/Maryland area and we'll see if the dates work out.

agree. her main problem was the pressure at the end, but she could cook with the best of them. honestly i feel she actually has more in her than michael v and his main asset was his unswerving confidence.

that being said, with her gone, i thought it would be bryan or kevin. michael was a surprise - that actually stopped me from watching the final episode (we get it delayed so i knew the results before i could get the episode). hahahahaha. i'm a sore loser

must admit i wasn't too happy with the result. being a girl, i guess my natural instinct was to cheer for jen - and in the first part of the finale i thought it was down to her and michael.

then i rooted for kevin - such a nice guy - and bryan. michael, i feel sometimes "over-techniques" and it becomes less about the food. but, ah well....

i agree though that any of the four finalists would have been an easy winner in any of the previous seasons. especially 2-5

April, Jen was impressive, wasn't she? She did seem to cave to the pressure though after awhile, and in terms of consistency she wasn't in the same league as the three boys though I'm sure that in real life she'd give them all a run for their money. I actually thought Bryan would win it--and probably in some measure due to the fact that his calmer demeanor is more appealing to me, where Michael's surfer-dude looks and noisier intensity are not. I therefore missed just how good he really is until close to the finale.