Talde states that "looking back, I cannot see myself handling it in a different way", but agrees he acted inappropriately? So what is he saying, he cannot control his emotions? Is this someone you would want on your team? My God, I was embarrassed for him. Here is this little banty rooster, strutting up to Michael taunting him on national television. My money was on Michael, I think he could have pounded this little man into the ground. Michael definitely showed more class, by walking away.

I didn't take Michael Chiarello's "young man" comment as offensive at all. It seemed like a huge over reaction on Dale's part.

Dale, I too was taken aback at Chef Chiarello's "interviewing style;" but clearly, he was aware that sous chefs have sometimes ruined previous chef's menus in past seasons. Your job there was SOUS CHEF. So, if the chef claims a fridge, you should have honored that immediately without lip.

Also, I am not sure that you are aware of Chiarello's background, his education and awards. Just because he has been a t.v. chef does not lessen his "master chef" status. I think if he is as big of an ass as was presented in this shocking episode tonight, he would not have all of this lasting success. Hopefully, this is an isolated incident brought about by stress.

Gael Greene may be an acclaimed food critic but I do not feel she is an adequate Top Chef judge. I do not think she can honestly say that she understands the food presented by Rick. Per the recently presented event (8/12/09) it is amazing to me that the invited diners got what Rick was presenting and casted a lesser vote for Hubert, yet she voted contrary and I will say in an obvious fashion (as well as the other judges). She gave more negative comments regarding Chef Chiarell yet gave him the same score as Rick. HELLO???? There is a bias here that I think is obvious and is polluting what is a very creative show. Correct me if I am wrong...Hubert receives a diner's score of 3.5, Rick receives 4.5. How can there be such a desparity between the judges unanimous 5 star rating and what the diners perceive????? I am wondering if there is too much bias regarding preconceived reputation. I can't be the only one with this bitter taste in my mouth (pun intended). To subject such brilliant chefs to such obvious annomolies is an insult.

I was very disappointed with Dale. THere is a reason Michael Chiarello is competing in Top Chef "Masters". He is a much more experienced chef than Dale is and Dale needs to realize if he is working with a more experienced chef he has to respect him. And, an interview is an interview. I was sad to see Richard Blais complain about the way Chiarello interviewed them. On the whole these top chef contestents are a bunch of losers (except for a few - Malarkey, CJ and Fabio).

dale you needed to show respect to michael and you didn't...you should've been honored just to be in his company....he is a magnificent chef and you well....who are you again?

When you asked Chef Michael Chiarello what is he going to do about you getting in his face, you are lucky that he, as a very respected chef, did not get you blackballed. Remember he does have pull in the industry.

Dale, I thought you were awesome in the episode tonight!!! I have the utmost respect as well for chefs that are atleast a generation older than myself but there is never a need for anyone to act better than anyone else in my opinion and feel Michael was very out of line. I will not call him "chef" as HE WANTED EVERYONE "WORKING FOR HIM" TONIGHT TO DO BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL A TRUE CHEF MUST BE CALLED THAT IN ORDER TO KNOW HE ACTUALLY IS A CHEF " MASTER " I am proud to call you and all other Top Chef's that were on the show true "chefs" Great Job and My best wishes to you, Elizabeth Taylor Mississippi

Dale, you are a talente chef, and some of the best meals of my life were prepared not in Paris but in the Philippines. But why bother to engage Chiarello at all? Sure, on the tape he seems to be a pompous ass, but who really cares? Why not be big enough simply to ignore him?

hah. i voted for you in the dale vs michael survey.

Dale, you need to curb your temper. I don't think you can excuse your behavior because you say it is the behavior of chefs. I think you are an excellent chef and it is your achilles heel to show so much temper. I was sorry that you didn't go further in the last competition. I wish you luck but learn to curb your anger.

It may have been the editing, but you came off poorly. I can see you are a competitive chef and clearly wanted to win badly. I respect that. But your comments were egotistical and did not show you up as a strong leader. I've loved your cooking in the past, but maybe a deep breath and less ego would make you come off as a more sympathetic character.

What the beep is a vegan, is it eggs or no,cheese or not. Your show feel apart at this, I think everyone confessed. Go back and EXPLAIN, just dumb

Dale, until you can control some semblence of your temper, I don't see you going too far. Being a Chef constitutes leadership and respect from your peers. Obviously you're talented, but that's just a portion of the package.

I'm not a fan of Michael Chiarello either. I didn't appreciate his interviewing style and found it demeaning. That said, like the previous blogger stated, he must have done something right to be so successful.

Choose your confrontations wisely.

Dale, it's great to stand up for yourself, but you probably could have handled it differently. Michael Chiarello, who was our favorite until the last episode, totally showed another side of himself in the 8/12 episode--not very appetizing in our minds. Michael is not a people person and cannot work with a team. He clearly knows his place in the kitchen, and he puts himself in too high of a regard--not an admirable characteristic in my mind. He treated the Top Chef contestants condescendingly and it showed. He wants people to work FOR him, and not WITH him...because in his mind, he is in a different league. And even if he is, he doesn't have to treat non-celebrity chefs the way he does. If there's anybody who should be admired about their leadership and people skills in the kitchen, it is Hubert Keller. He is oh-so humble and his chefs enjoyed working for/with him. Not only is he a GREAT chef, but he seems to be a really good person. He's my new favorite and he should win Top Chef master.

Dale,

During your season, you were a shining star (with obvious temperment issues). I always cut you slack when you had a mental meltdown because I felt you were very talented and actually quite sweet underneath. However, your hissy fit with Michael was truly absurd. The time with the masters was not long. Therefore, pressure was not an excuse. All he did was call you "young man". To him, you ARE young! He has more accomplishments than you have teeth. Get over yourself. Please grow up and control your inner child or you won't get very far in your career.

I've watched Michael for a number of years and also was taken aback by his interviewing technique, but then Susan seems to hit the nail on the head about the fact that it is HIS plates that are being judged, and he needs good Sous Chef's to prepare them. Also, Dale's attitude on his season turned me off to him immediately. You cannot garner respect from anyone if you aren't willing to give it!

Dale, Your comment that inappropriateness is part of a chef's life is a total cop out for your rude behavior. Of course no one is perfect,but saying it's ok to be rude and disrespectful because you are a chef is absurd. Maybe you take some tips from those other chefs around you. They're gonna "Check you Boo."

I think Michael Chiarello is nothing but Class. His composure, mild manner demeanor and professionalism is beyond amazing! Keep up the good work Chef.

I don't know, Dale. What I saw in Hubert (last name escapes me) and Rick Bayliss was anything but "degenerate, compulsive, irrational, egotistical". These GREAT chefs (and winners of the challenge not surprisingly) were humble and worked with their team - giving credit where it was due and listening to the ideas of far less seasoned chefs.

Michael (not even going to try to spell his name - or scroll for the spelling) was an ass. I was disappointed in the way he treated the chefs. Of course you guys can cut a carrot.

But the phrase "be bigger then that" comes to mind. If you are looking to become as arrogant as him, you are on the right track. If not learn something from the chefs who shined. Their leadership and humility was refreshing and inspiring.

Michael Chiarello's is an accomplished "Master" rightfully owning that status. Pick your battles, no one will succeed in a less accomplished status without the knowledge of the wiser! Your pompass actions show no better than the one called out!

This just my own opinion, of course, but, really thought both Dale & Michael mishandled that interaction. Thought it was karma that both chefs who treated their staff well, did well. I've gotten to meet Rick Bayless in person, and he is exceptionally gracious even when under pressure, and think the same would be true of Keller.

Dale, you are a professional, and profess to be one. You should act accordingly in any situation, even if you feel that you have been wrongly treated. I don't think that someone calling you 'young man' is a degrading phrase. I am a doctor that is 49 yrs old, and older patients call me young man all the time, although I've been a doctor for 23 years. Does it often annoy me? Yes. Do I ever threaten to kick their butt or challenge them to a fight? No. You should be proud to be a 'young man' in your position because of your accomplishments at your age. You need to control your temper as you were obviously provoking a fight ON NATIONAL TV. That will lead to your downfall, and if oblidged, jail time. Keep your cool and you will succeed even more, becuase of your great talent. You obviously were on the show because you're a great chef. Now act like one bro, especially since in the kitchen, you da man!

Peace

Dale, there is a reason why Michael Chiarello is successful in this industry -- he paid his dues, worked his way up in the industry and now has a restaurant, cookbooks, TV show, and a successful retail store. As a fellow filipino, I am ashamed of the way you conducted yourself - even if Chiarello is a little arrogant at least he has the chops to back it up. You young chefs that compete on Top Chef need to learn from the "Masters." There is no bitching or backstabbing at their level - they conduct themselves in a professional manner amongst their competition. It's no secret in this industry that there are chefs who are even more arrogant and over the top than what we've seen from Chiarello. What have you accomplished? You competed in Top Chef and didn't even make it to the finals. I hope you get blackballed in the industry for not showing respect to a chef who paid their dues - I know there is a pecking order and clearly you didn't honor it.

I hate to say it, but I agree with the majority of these comments. Dale you should have let that go. Alot of older people call the younger people "Young man, or Young lady". I understand though that probably a lot of "egos" show their true form on this show!

I agree with a lot of the comments, I can see where you would get offended, but Michael didn't intend to demean you Dale. I think you over reacted a little bit. I love the show and love watching both of you.

In response to some of the comments people have made about the difference between the Masters and regular contestants, I would like to point something out. We need to remember that these Master chefs are competing for charity. Their livelihoods are not on the line, nor are they depending on the win to jumpstart their careers. Therefore, they naturally are not going to be as competitive and ruthless as the regular Top Chef contestants. Is it really fair to say that they are more professional and less back-stabbing than the less experienced chefs when they have much less to lose? We have no idea how these Master chefs would act if their careers were actually at stake. This also explains (was it Brian Malarkey's? blog complaint) why the judges are not as insulting when they review the Master chefs' dishes. These chefs did not participate in this charity event to have their reputations slandered and be insulted on national television. That is why they do not suffer the same ruthless judging as the regular contestants usually are.

I understood Chef Chiarello's interview technique. He was looking for a Sous Chef that would take orders. He was not looking for a collaborator which is why he asked the chefs to do something like cutting carrots. As a Master Chef in competition that is his right to decide on being the decision maker down to every little detail. To me he clearly communicated what he wanted in "His" Sous Chef.

In regards to Dale's reaction to Chef Chiarello it was unprofessional. Chef Chiarello should of asked the film crew to remove him from the set. It is obvious that Dale has issues controlling his temper and one day will seriously hurt someone, be hurt or be jailed. His excuse that bad boy behavior is standard in the food profession is insulting. You should not be rewarded for your behavior and I for one will not support you in your career to be the next Bad Boy Chef. You need a serious reality check or knowing Bravo maybe your own reality show.

I'm not sure what everyone's problem with Dale is. He has a strong personality. We already know that, but he put out good food during his stint on Top Chef. Also, his dish on this show that he helped prepare for Anita was among the judges' favorite parts of Anita's meal.

I agree with the top chef's contestants' complaints with Michael on the show. Both Hubert and Rick used the other chefs as an asset. Ideas, flavors, and discussion were all part of the process, and their meals came out on top. Michael thought the guys calling him "chef," pronouncing his name correctly, and cutting a carrot were more important... Even telling the guys exactly how to do things didn't lead to things getting done well. Maybe that's because he should've incorporated what they knew how to do well into the challenge instead.

Being a strict, "everything my way" boss is fine for his restaurant, but he shouldn't have tried that on his team that he only gets to work with for a few hours. Plus it made him look like a huge jerk.

You said it yourself, you wouldn't have treated the other chefs the same way you treated Chiarello, because you came in with a predisposed respect for them that you did not have for Michael. You were looking for a fight and you got one. Idiot.

By the way, HE won the quickfire challenge over your precious Hubert, Lo and Bayless. Just because his food may not be on your cutting edge does not mean he's not a great chef.

I think it's obvious that Michael Chee-Uh-Rel-Oh had it coming to him the whole time. His interviewing process, even if it was conducted slightly in jest, was completely uncalled for. Just because he may double them in age does not make them inexperienced culinary students, they are professional chefs themselves. Asking them to julienne a carrot, something that is learned very early in culinary school if not prior to from a parent or culinary mentor was a bushleague move at best. He was getting on all the former cheftestants nerves from the get-go and I think Dale, who obviously has a short fuse, had probably been taking offense the whole time and decided to take matters into his own hands when Chee-Uh-Rel-Oh decided to be a baby about a refrigerator, complaining it would be too far of a walk for him to scamper on over to the other side of the kitchen.

I thought your behaviour was disgraceful and uncalled for. I really felt bad for Michael...

Dale. As a fellow Filipino, I rooted for you and was proud of the fact that you were on Top Chef. HOWEVER, the way you handled the situation with chef Michael Chiarelli on the show made yourself look extremely unprofessional and frankly like a thug. Chef Chiarelli has earned every success brought to him. He called you "young man" and gave you direction because you were a SOUS. Big deal. Infact, when you were in his face, he maintained his composure. You need to learn from people more experienced than you rather than battle with them on national TV. You made yourself look bad. And, oh, your excuse about a chef's temperment is insulting to other chefs. I really hope you learn from this experience.

Top chef is a great time to show our kids the value of good prep, great food and be prepared for change. When we watched the Dale and Michael confrontation, I had to stop and explain that Dale's behavior was disrespectful and should don't be considered the norm in the kitchen.

If you have an opportunity to present yourself on to a national audience, why would you make a fool of yourself or others. Where is the value? A simple "thank you for your comments, but please call me Dale" would have shocked Michael and create a respectful situation, then what was presented on the show. I noticed the show was edited as not further the issue and show what leadership qualities there are in the cooking industry, I do appreciate it.

As former restaurant owner and 20 year veteran of TV and Radio, I'll say that some people forget the power and influence they have on others with their words and actions.

Our Family loves the show keep it entertaining.

dale is punk ,show some respect to your chefs. it shows how unproffesional he is . if i were to hire him i would think twice.michel is one hell of a chef ,dale on the other hand is just ordinary chef.

I've really enjoyed watching the Masters series because these chefs show so much respect for each other, much more mature than the egos of the Top Chef series. Dale, completely completely out of line, immature and disrespectful.

I can fully understand Chef Chiarello having the Top Chefs chopping the carrot. How many times in the Top Chef (regular not Masters)series have we seen plates being criticized for poor knife skills. The dishes Chef Chiarello was presenting had his name on them.

Yeah, I wondered why Gael gave Michael and Rick the same score. Going by what we were shown, Gael and the other judges felt Michael's food had serious problems, while nothing really negative was said about Rick's food. It was also strange that the diners and the judges had such contrasting views on Hubert's food. (3.5 stars as compared to 5 stars).

Why do you quote master? He is a great chef, and yes, a master chef, even if he doesn't win Top Chef Masters. He has much more experience, skill, and technique. I would have great respect for Michael if I got to meet him. I would NOT pick a fight with someone that is known throughout the culinary world. That was just unnecessary. But it did make for great TV!

He should have called you Little Boy, not Young Man, that would be a better description.

Renee, you make good points about the difference between TC and TC Masters and some of the reasons for a more relaxed attitude amongst the Masters. I am sure you are right.

But, the other side of the equation is that what these top-level Chefs are putting on the line are their reputstions. In some ways, the TC contestants have nothing to lose whereas 23 of the Masters ultimately have very little to gain. For professionals operating at their levels, public perceptions of them and their food are everything. If anything, it would be reasonable to assume this would create more competitive tensions. Yet it hasn't seemed to and I think this is what impresses so many of us about them, It took real cohones for them to agree to put themselves on the line and great character to do it with such grace, humor and a sense of fun.

As for the judging, I think there is an argument that their food would be better, so they would receieve less criticism than other TC contestants. James, in another blog, has already confessed to nitpicking as it is - such is the high standards of their food. This is what we would expect.

Great, Dale, so world knows you're a shouter. Your food always looks good, so I might want to eat in your restaurant, but I wouldn't want to cook in your kitchen, or have you cook in mine.

My husband and I were very shocked by Dale's behavior. Thus far on the show all the Top Master Chefs have treated each other with great respect. Dale's behavior was immature and very agressive. If he had behaved this way in a public place the police would have been called. He should have been asked to leave the show immediately. There is no place for that kind of behavior on this show. It is not the " Housewives". Dale needs to seek professional help for anger management. Would he have preferred "Hey you" to "Young man"? Anita should have stepped in to manage her team. Both she and the Judges allowed Dale's behavior to change the demeanor of the show in a bad way.

dale who?

Bad behavior is bad behavior... that's why you didn't win top chef, you've got a lot to learn boy!

Dale - I understand how you felt but you should have let it go. Someone once call me "little girl" when I was a grown woman in my forties! Yes, I was angry because this person didn't bother to call me by my name and it was demeaning. You will have to work with all kinds of people, people that you don't like, it's better to just walk away or you'll get high blood pressure or a stroke and it's not worth it. As for Michael, I was disappointed in his manner and he was one of my favorites. We really did not need to see all this drama - it was very upsetting for viewers and Top Chef is my favorite show.

Chiarello was being "tongue-in-cheek" with the "my name is 'chef'" bit... and I cant believe how no one got that. His interview "style" is exactly the way I have been interviewed by chefs. They want to see if you 1. can take orders 2. work well under pressure. In 2 minutes he determined that Spike and Ilan would be petulant, insubordinate jerks and therefore unemployable in his kitchen. Thats better than Colicchio & CO. who weren't as successful in determining this in a couple of weeks. His asking of them to pronounce his name was a way to determine if they actually knew who he was and if they understood his style. Wylie Dufresne could have used the same approach. If you don't know how to pronounce his name... then you probably don't know who he is and therefore have no idea what his culinary style is.

Your reaction to him was unprofessional. You are very talented, but your short fuse makes you scary.

Dale, I am so glad you put Michael in his place. He really didn't think you would talk back to him. With him, it was like seeing a top celebrity be a diva with the "what's my last name". You don't deserve respect unless you give it back no matter how famous, or talented you are.

I'm glad to see the approach of Rick and Hubert and how they mentored, used to other top chefs past contestants to their advantage, while paying them respect.

I also don't believe Michael deserved the 4 stars from the critics at the end, since the critics comments on his dishes were not positive. You pretty much know who they want in the final three...I thought it would have been interesting to see Anita versus Michael in the final round.

Dale, you were very disrespectful for Michael Chiarello. He is a Master Chef. He has been a Chef for years. I have known Michael for awhile now. He has worked very hard for where he is today. He's owned Restaurants, cookbooks, etc. If I were you, I'd talk to Michael very soon and apoligize to him. You are just starting out. I watched you on top chef. You had an attitude problem as you did the other night. Michael has been around for along time and he knows what he is doing. He handled everything the right way the other night. That's how it works sometimes. And anyone who puts Michael Chiarello down need to grow up. He is the best and I hope he wins next Wednesday night.

Dale, you are seriously in need of anger management training. This is not the first time you have lost it. And what's so terrible about "young man"? Lots of people can't think of someones name in a pinch (mothers notoriously call their children by each other's names) and there are a lot less respectful things to be called than "young man". What would you prefer, "hey, you", "boy", "kid"? Relax!