So I finally watched the Top Chef finale...

[Jenise]

...Kevin? WTF?

I know. I didn't get it either. He was a definite "sleeper."
Early on, I was pulling for Kelly. I liked her spunk. Then I decided I liked Ed and really wanted to see him win. Oh well.

[Jenise]

I know. I didn't get it either. He was a definite "sleeper."
Early on, I was pulling for Kelly. I liked her spunk. Then I decided I liked Ed and really wanted to see him win. Oh well.

Ditto, and I would have been happy with Angelo too, whose food was often the most original on the table. He really took risks, and I admire him for that. But Kevin...I just never got that he was that good. Two things: one, he admitted to having played it safe to stay in and not really trying to shine until they got to Singapore, so maybe that explains why we underestimated him. (I guess he proved that works, although the downside of winning that way is that you don't end up with a fan club and no one seems to think you deserved it.) Two, who couldn't have won with Michael Voltaggio as your sous? You have to wonder how much that mattered.

(I guess he proved that works, although the downside of winning that way is that you don't end up with a fan club and no one seems to think you deserved it.) Two, who couldn't have won with Michael Voltaggio as your sous? You have to wonder how much that mattered.

These people have fan clubs?

[Jenise]

(I guess he proved that works, although the downside of winning that way is that you don't end up with a fan club and no one seems to think you deserved it.) Two, who couldn't have won with Michael Voltaggio as your sous? You have to wonder how much that mattered.

These people have fan clubs?

I just meant that no one watching the show thought he was seriously in contention.

[Jenise]

Addendum: someone emailed me a link to Tom Colicchio's blog on bravotv.com where apparently Tom gives a lowdown on each episode. He ranked each chef on each course, and Kevin was first in every category except one, where he was a very close second. Tom said it was clear to everyone as the meal unfolded, included the past contestant sous chefs, that Kevin was way out in front. Tom also poohpoohed the idea I guess he anticipated everyone having about the difference Michael V made in Kevin's win, saying that Kevin won in his own right. The only advantage there, he said, was that Michael and Kevin had worked together long ago and there was already mutual like and respect which, by comparison, it was quite obvious Ed and Ilan didn't have.

Addendum: someone emailed me a link to Tom Colicchio's blog on bravotv.com where apparently Tom gives a lowdown on each episode. He ranked each chef on each course, and Kevin was first in every category except one, where he was a very close second. Tom said it was clear to everyone as the meal unfolded, included the past contestant sous chefs, that Kevin was way out in front. Tom also poohpoohed the idea I guess he anticipated everyone having about the difference Michael V made in Kevin's win, saying that Kevin won in his own right. The only advantage there, he said, was that Michael and Kevin had worked together long ago and there was already mutual like and respect.

Interesting...thank you Jenise for the update. I always love the insiders' views, and had been reading Tom C's blog off and on. Are you watching Top Chef Just Desserts? I watched one episode and found it mildy entertaining. I don't find the dessert making nearly as interesting as actual cooking, but I think it would be fun to watch if I had loads of extra time on my hands.

[Jenise]

No re the Dessert show--until yesterday. I'm still fighting off some French infection and spent a low day pretty much confined to the sofa watching TV. Stumbled over the dessert show and watched the rest of that episode and one that came on immediately after. No idea where those two fit into the whole of what they're doing, but the first episode was dominated by this total PITA guy named Seth who got eliminated in the second episode by the producers after he blew up and had an anxiety attack on the set. Two female contestants proved to be just as annoying. They may both be named Heather, one's a professional victim from Wash DC, and the other's a little Asian girl who never stops seething--sets herself up and then blames everyone else for her failure. If looks could kill, everybody else would be dead by now. But who went home? A stunningly beautiful Indian girl who found competition too overwelming and asked to be let go. What a bunch of nutjobs! There were two, a guy who called himself a "baker" and one tall very good-looking guy from Houston who seemed to be normal--even tempered, considerate, competent--but the rest are a bunch of conniving control freaks. Can't see myself watching when but for two (or maybe three, come to think of it the Indian girl might have had the right idea) they're a bunch of whining losers.

No re the Dessert show--until yesterday. I'm still fighting off some French infection and spent a low day pretty much confined to the sofa watching TV. Stumbled over the dessert show and watched the rest of that episode and one that came on immediately after. No idea where those two fit into the whole of what they're doing, but the first episode was dominated by this total PITA guy named Seth who got eliminated in the second episode by the producers after he blew up and had an anxiety attack on the set. Two female contestants proved to be just as annoying. They may both be named Heather, one's a professional victim from Wash DC, and the other's a little Asian girl who never stops seething--sets herself up and then blames everyone else for her failure. If looks could kill, everybody else would be dead by now. But who went home? A stunningly beautiful Indian girl who found competition too overwelming and asked to be let go. What a bunch of nutjobs! There were two, a guy who called himself a "baker" and one tall very good-looking guy from Houston who seemed to be normal--even tempered, considerate, competent--but the rest are a bunch of conniving control freaks. Can't see myself watching when but for two (or maybe three, come to think of it the Indian girl might have had the right idea) they're a bunch of whining losers.

Where are my manners Jenise?? I should have first welcomed you back! It was really fun reading about your trip, but a real shame you guys all got sick (and REALLY too bad that you are still under the weather...)
On the episode I watched, Seth made two desserts that didn't meet the challenge criteria whatsoever and he was a total drama queen. The Indian girl never stopped crying through the entire episode. It's as though the producers looked for the most emotionally unstable people they could find.
Feel better!

[Jenise]

Where are my manners Jenise?? I should have first welcomed you back! It was really fun reading about your trip, but a real shame you guys all got sick (and REALLY too bad that you are still under the weather...)

Oh thanks. I'm really not that bad off except for the loss of smell (and, therefore, taste). Pretty bummed that it hasn't come back yet and it's getting a little scary.

On the episode I watched, Seth made two desserts that didn't meet the challenge criteria whatsoever and he was a total drama queen.

On the one episode I saw where he completed something, he made some very adult concoction called a "financier" for a teenage bake sale and asserted that his purpose was to educate the kids about the world beyond what they already know, or some such crap to which the cutie judge with the pompadour lambasted him for rationalizing doing what he wants instead of what's called for. In some of the so-called candid footage they showed him calling his mother and while I realize these moments are usually not all that candid, it was pretty mental--he's WAY too close to his mom.

Honestly, the contestants were all so f---ed up I found myself wondering if certain personality disorders are rife among people who find their calling in pastry.

Honestly, the contestants were all so f---ed up I found myself wondering if certain personality disorders are rife among people who find their calling in pastry.

Gail and I have been watching Just Desserts, and we were commenting on that very sentiment after while watching the last episode. We're curious now as to which nutjob will be the next eliminated.

[Jenise]

Gail and I have been watching Just Desserts, and we were commenting on that very sentiment after while watching the last episode. We're curious now as to which nutjob will be the next eliminated.

Hmmm...if we're all thinking like this, then the show has already failed. There's no prestige in winning a contest just because you're the only one left who didn't get hauled off in a straitjacket.

Gail and I have been watching Just Desserts, and we were commenting on that very sentiment after while watching the last episode. We're curious now as to which nutjob will be the next eliminated.

Hmmm...if we're all thinking like this, then the show has already failed. There's no prestige in winning a contest just because you're the only one left who didn't get hauled off in a straitjacket.

That guy with the show "The Ace Of Cakes" would have been perfect in this lineup.

Doris here.......Guess I can find all this stuff on U Tube?

Doris here.......Guess I can find all this stuff on U Tube?

Bravo.com has the episodes for streaming, I believe.

[Jenise]

That guy with the show "The Ace Of Cakes" would have been perfect in this lineup.

I've never seen that show--the guy's a nutjob?

That guy with the show "The Ace Of Cakes" would have been perfect in this lineup.

I've never seen that show--the guy's a nutjob?

A nutjob that gets 3-5K for a cake! No, I'm not kidding. http://www.charmcitycakes.com/

That guy with the show "The Ace Of Cakes" would have been perfect in this lineup.

I've never seen that show--the guy's a nutjob?

Yes, and he LOVES to use power tools to build his cakes (the support structures, at least).
The NYC guy with a rival cake show, The Cake Boss, is better at cake building, imho. One episode had him and his crew making a full-sized cake replica of the Stanley Cup for a team party. It was an awesome job, and I don't even watch hockey.