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If you do not have another series of Top Chef Masters you must be mad,mad,mad!` This was so very marvelous I must have watched each episode at least 3 times. I thought Micheal should have won=but ces't la vie!!

Hi Kelly,

I loved all of your clothes and jewelry on the show. Can you share who makes the cute necklace with silver circles in different sizes on it? Loved you and the show!

When Rick Bayless said he was going to make Black Mole- Mole Negro, I knew he was going to win it because I have tasted Black Mole and it really is black gold. It is the best tasting stuff! Im sure Rick's was even better than the Black Mole I had in LA at a Oaxacan Restaurant. Im so happy that Rick won!!! Congratulations!

I picked the three final chefs as my favorites from the first show.They all are winners.Their food was wonderfully done and the regard they had for each other was a joy to see. Dale showed so much disrespect to Chef Michael. He had a lot of nerve as these chefs have worked so hard to get where they are.I enjoyed this show and I thank them for a great job.Any one of them could have won but since Chef Rick did I'll say "Bravo" to a great Chef and a great human being!

In our house you're our pick for hosting Top Chef.
Loved Top Masters and the humble chefs who all had great sense of humor. Have watched Top Chef from season 1 but liked Master even better, you can have good drama without people being horrible to each other.

Michael Chiarello has a very impressive resume and I'm sure he has worked extremely hard to get to the superior accomplished level which he is now at. It's obvious that he is a very talented chef and should be proud. That said, his attitude is unappealing. He seemed disgusted any time he was asked to work with, or be judged by, younger chefs. It was an unattractive trait to watch.

Kelly,
What a wonderful series!! My husband and I never missed a program. I initially was so sorry that none of our chefs that were more connected to American cooking (my interpretation but said differently by Jay in his blog) made it to the finals. (Where was Paula Dean???) You ended with Old World French, Old World Italian, Old World Mexican and the week before Old World Asian. Is this due to more worldly palates and Judges?? I think so. I also think Old World Mexican/Hispanic food has skyrocketed in our country and I think Rick winning has proven this and definitely goes beyond Jalapenos, Tacos and Guacamole and moved into the ancient and old world way of cooking these foods. I find this totally amazing!! Way to go Rick! Beyond being Chefs these three finalist were 3 of the most genuinely kind and hard working chefs for their charities. What great GUYS!!!!!

I love your wardrobe Every dress is a dress I raally want to own. I think Bravo's designers should copy and mass market affordable copies of your dresses. I would buy every one. They are unique, beautiful and difficult to match. I enjoyed the program very much. The grace of the master chefs inspire.

I have to say that Rick is my favorite because he is so nice! So humble and so calming.
Hubert had some of those qualities too.

I agree with most of the other posts, I really appreciated the professionalism and lack of rudeness and ego you get from the other chefs on Top Chef. Perhaps it is the maturity of the Masters or that they don't have to prove anything. In the future and I sure hope there is a second season, you might consider keeping the Dales out of the show. That was really uncalled for.

Loved the show!

Classy, well-done show, especially the fantastic finale. We felt honored to watch it! The finale was was a pinnacle of food tv and certainly the most classy hour of reality tv ever shown. We're very happy Bayless won and look forward to tasting his food some day. We also really appreciated his Frontera charity - how brave and refreshing that someone chose a charity that provides starter funds for the recipients to use to grow (literally!) and succeed by their own merits, instead of a charity that simply provides services! But in our hearts we were rooting for Keller - a class act and a joy to watch during the entire series.

Thanks Bravo!

Hi Kelly,
I enjoyed watching the show and looking forward to watching it every Wednesday, I am a fan. I was rooting for Hubert, but I know Rick will run away with the title. My only wish was that when you brought in some previous top chef contestants and winners, it was great, the only one I don't like is Dale, he kind of disrespect Michael, Dale is a rookie and Michael is a master chef, I think he needs to apologize to Michael and change his attitude toward other chef. I personally think Michael deserved better than how he treats him, its a disgrace. My other thoughts was that, the judges know who their favorite and the vote can swing the winner. I think it would be fair to the chef, if the scoring system is different, like after the deliberation judges should write their score in a card and after you announced the diner's score, then the judges can show the score.
Thank you and hope to see the next season. ML

Kelly, beautiful writing! By far, you have the best posts I've ever read on Bravo. You definitely personify brains plus beauty.

I was so touched by the chefs' dishes and thoughtfulness to the challenge. This finale kicks any TC finale's butt. I was surprised Michael beat Hubert. I agree, the garlic would've made me love the dish more. love garlic. But I wasn't surprised by Rick. He's been so consistently good and I've always loved his food. Congrats Rick!

TOP CHEF MASTERS SEASON 2! Wonder who'll show up next. I have so much respect for the chefs who sign up for this show. They have nothing to prove but they still risk a little ego hurtin'.

Huge Hubert crush here thanks to the show. Kelly, you were a great host.

Kelly,
My husband and I have always enjoyed your shows about NY secrets and NY food. We were very happy to see you as host of this show. We hope TCM comes back and that you are the host!

I have always had a crush on Michael, but Rick & Hubert are really attractive too.

Kelly, You have the most beautiful writing in your blog! Your writing really expressed in pictures so vividly the dishes that you had with all your senses as if I could taste it! I felt like I was watching 3D Smellavision/Tastavision from your blog! WOW! You should get a critics award for your writing! I know you were not a judge, but your writing blog was brilliant and as colorful and sensual as the food you enjoyed! You are the BEST!!!

Thank you, Kelly, for doing an outstanding job as host. I really appreciated all your insights and discussions about the food we did not have an opportunity to taste.

I LOVED the premise of the last episode, which really gave these chef's an opportunity to express their personal stories and their passion for food. My hat is off to the person who came up with this brilliant idea! No gimmicks or tricks, just the opportunity to cook and tell their stories through food.

My heartthrob has always been Hubert Keller. Sexy and super talented Hubert. Can a master chef REALLY be that genuinely kind and nice? Yes, he can, if it's Hubert Keller. What an extraordinary person he is. However, I'm not sorry that Rick Bayless won. I think Rick won for his super bright bold Mexican flavors, creativity and risk-tasking. Bravo Rick!

Kelly, I hope to see you again. Thanks for everything!

Black food and velvet blankets - your writing in this post was luscious! I thought you were a great hostess - and I like garlic too. The final challenge was genius. It was moving and emotional and inspiring. How amazing that each chef expressed a link with a parent - mothers and fathers. We receive our first food from our parents and that love and care clearly motivated these men to love and care for others through food. I thought they were all very attractive. Hubert was humble and quirky and cool; Rick was sweet and cerebral and giving; Michael was intense and sharp and ornery. I was amazed that Michael's food memory came from his mother helping him with dough. Who would have thought? If I had to marry any of them, I would probably marry Michael. But I always choose bad boys and live to regret it.

Hi Kelly,

Loved this show, hope Bravo decides to bring it back. The finale was the best, you guys did not disappoint. Wish I was there to taste all that deliciousness!!! You've been a beautiful, gracious host, and how lucky are you to be around all those great chefs. My big crush was with Michael, he is so charming and what a wonderful story teller. Please BRAVO bring this show back!!

Hi Kelly,

I hated this show to end, BRAVO to BRAVO for an exciting show. Please bring it back!! You are a beautiful gracious host & so lucky to have been in the company of all those accomplised chefs. The finale was so exciting, I called my daughter in Hawaii & brother in South Carolina to remind them to watch, we are all such big fans, and we get so excited just talking about the FOOD. All three chefs were winners for me, but my serious crush is Michael, maybe the macho thing LOL. Wish I could have tasted all those dishes they prepared, everything looked divine, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR A GREAT SHOW!!

This was an amazing show! For full disclosure I have to say I am Mexican living in the Midwest for 8 years now. I first tried Frontera Grill about 6 years ago, and I was speechless, not only because I couldn't stop enjoying the food but because I couldn't believe how good the food was! I never thought I could find fine Mexican cuisine in the US but I was mistaken. It brought me closer to home and I was so happy to taste great Mexican food on this side of the border. I started watching the show because Rick Bayless was in it, and I learned to appreciate the camaraderie of all the chefs and liked them all. I didn't think Rick would win, I thought the judges wouldn't think Mexican food couldn't be a winner, but at the end of last night's show I was jumping like crazy (like when the Mexican national soccer team wins a match). I loved watching all the cooking process, decisions, and surprises. Bravo for such a great show! (wish I could have been invited to eat at every episode!)

All three have aged gracefully but I've had a crush on Michael for years with his dancing, devilish eyes... I would have been happy with any of the three winning. It was fantastic watching them and even if you bring the show back next year, I think you may have already gotten the cream of the crop! Fantastic show!

Thanks for a wonderful season. It was wonderful to see the top three chefs perform under extraordinary circumstances to produce beautiful dishes. I certainly hope that there'd be a Top Chef Masters season 2 soon.

Regarding crushes, I am torn between Chef Keller and Chef Bayless. Both are charming and good looking in their own right.

Hi, Kelly.

As a fellow foodie, this series was the best by far of all the Top Chefs. Why? The camaraderie and the goodwill of the chefs, not to mention all of the delicious looking food. That said, it DID seem Micheal was something of an arrogant cuss when it came to working with the past Top Chef contestants. If the unassuming Richard Blase has a problem with Micheal, then it seems Micheal just has a problem in working with others. Note that Rick didn't and he ended up really liking Richard's help with the avocado ice cream. It was from that point on where I really started rooting for Rick (and that, and when Rick revealed he grew up in a BBQ restaurant. As a BBQ addict, he had me right there. Can't wait to try his Hickory House sauce recipe!).

As for my "crush", well, that would be on you, Kelly, my dear. I always did have a weakness for Asian babes... . If you need a judge for a contest between you and Padma, sign me up!

Hubert Keller is the epitomy of class and sexiness. And he can cook! What a man!

Hubert Keller was robbed!!! What set him apart was an ability to step outside his expected niche - i.e., last week's Vietnamese gazpacho. Bayless and Chiarello always worked closer to their respective cuisines - Mexican and Italian.

This was by far the BEST FINALE EVER! You could just tell how passionate and eager the chefs were to tell their stories through their dishes. I cannot believe it's already over. SEASON 2 PLEASE! Don't make me wait another year to watch, KELLY! I can't believe it was just 10 episodes.
I've always loved Top Chef, but Masters is on a different level. It was about the talent and less about the drama. Thus, showing reality tv doesn't have to be trashy and all about drama. Mucho respect for all the classy chefs on masters.

Oh yes! I forgot to mention my crush...Rick Bayless ofcourse! He is such a classy, passionate, yet simple, kind of man. Go Rick Bayless!!

Hi Kelly,
What a great show! I loved it every minute of it from beginning to the end. You guys showcased not only some great chefs, but some of the nicest, most humble people Ive ever seen on tv. Im a huge fan of Top Chef, but I must say this show became a quick favorite for me.
I couldn't be happier chef Rick Bayless won. He seems like such a great person and I truly enjoyed watching him on screen. His passion for Mexican cuisine is undeniable. I'am Mexican American so I was very proud when I heared and saw him display his love for our culture. I will miss it and I hope Bravo brings it back for another season. You were an awesome host.
Thanks for a great show! Hope to see you soon for another round of Top Chef Masters.

I'm feeling a little empty today, knowing that the TCM is over. This has been my favorite of all of the TC series.
I've watched Hubert, Michael and Rick many many times on their shows and can't get enough.

Originally, I was sure that Hubert was going to win. He is so empressive and creative, but Rick finally won me over. Not so much for his cooking (couldn't taste it) but with his genuine classy and kind nature. He is definitly TCM in my book. All three deserved to win. Their culinary backgrounds were so diverse that it must have been so very difficult to make a decision.

Everytime I watch Michael on his "Easy Entertainin", I'm always wishing that I was at that party. He seems like a perfect gentleman. It was so heartening to hear him (on his video) talk about being so happy for Rick and I do believe that he was sincere.

All in all, it was the best reality cooking show that I have ever seen. I hope that BRAVO continues with this particular format. There are soooo many talented and deserving chefs out there that it could be perhaps the most watched show of all time. Sure hope so.

Thanks, to all of you for your blogs. It gives us more insight of the show and the chefs.

LONG LIVE TOP CHEF MASTERS!!!!

Bravo, Bravo, Bravo...what a great series! Hated to see every episode end, but last nite was fantastic...what true gentleman all the Master Chefs were, but these last three blew my mind. What I would have given to have been at that dinner!!

Kelly, you outdid yourself and every other reality TV show in this last challenge. It was the best I'd ever seen, and what a finale should be. After making it through all the surprises and oddball challenges, now they simply had to cook, no holds barred. It was beautiful, and when you sent their sous-chefs in I wanted to hug you.

Thank you for TV series. I think that it's the first reality TV show that's given us the best of people, instead of their worst. You really should be proud of what you've done here.

I had a crush on Michael from the beginning. Last night's episode gave insight into all three, and each stole a piece of my heart. But Michael I think would have me behaving most like a school girl.

Kelly,
This show was beautifully done. It was so great to see real chefs just doing what they do best. As for the crush, it was Michael. I'm italian so of course I'm partial. But even being middle aged (sorry Mike, so am I) he is extremely handsome and looks like alot of fun to be around. Lucky wife!!!!!! The chefs really floored me with what they made at the finale. I was sitting there thinking that as much as I love to cook, I could never do what they did. My hats off to all of them. To me they were all winners. Hubert is full of style and grace. Michael appears fun loving and handsome and Rick seems like one the nicest guys around. They all deserved the win. I hope that this show will be back and also I applaud you Kelly. You did a great job. Always with a smile. Thanks for the season.

Kelly,
What a truly wonderful finale. I'm literally speechless. It's been the most incredible show, from beginning to end. I'm just amazed at their talent. It's almost intimidating. How much do I want to taste Rick's mole sauce, Michael's ribs and Hubert's salmon (even if he judges didn't rave about it).

My favorite chef won. I was rootng for Rick from the get go. I've followed him for years on PBS and just love his LOVE of anything Mexican. So, if I have a crush..it'd be Rick. But Hubert"s not far behind.

Thanks, Kelly, for being such a wonderful host. Maybe you'll have more input in the judging the next time around. Because BRAVO better bring TCM back!!!!

Hubert Keller. Huber Keller. Huber Keller....

Hi Kelly

This show was the best yet on Bravo and you are an amazing host. I loved watching every episode, but the concept for the finale was pure genius. I was rooting for Hubert, my secret crush, but couldn't help having hopeful thoughts for both Rick and Michael. It was great to see mature chefs pull out all the stops to create food fit for the gods!

I can hardly wait for next season!

This was a fantastic show and I'm thrilled that Rick Bayless took the crown. What a tremendous program this was, and thank YOU for doing an excellent job of hosting it. I hope we'll see a second season!

Why choose? I'm just dead envious that you got to sit down with the three of them. At the Getty, no less. You're one lucky girl.

I love love love this show. Can Bravo TV make more series of Top chef Masters?

P.S. My favorite is Hubert Keller! He is hot!

Definitely Michael. I do believe he should have won, but I'm glad it went to Rick if it couldn't be Michael. I think his cooking is flawless and yes, his storytelling and the way he loves his food is intoxicating.

I'm in love with this show. And you are adorable. Thanks for entertaining us this summer. It was a pleasure and joy to watch.

This entire "competition" demonstrated everything that is good about cooking.

Aside from Dale's ill-considered bravado, the entire series was devoid of any of the dramatic shenanigans that tend to creep into TV reality cooking. It really was all about the food.

I was pulling for Hubert but as soon as I saw the "classic" presentation of his dishes, the char in particular, I knew it was over for him. The best technician by far, but his plates looked dated.

As for my crush? We need look no farther than Ms. Choi herself.

Please Bravo, please bring this back next year.

Hi Kelly,

This was a very satisfying conclusion to a season that ended too soon. I could watch TCM every week. All the participating chefs displayed a calm maturity and comraderie that is missing from the amateur version.

My fave is Hubert Keller. He exudes a classic style and is very appealing. His dishes looked like works of art. I enjoyed his velvet voice and smoldering looks. I rooted for his win from the first ep. (btw: he was the very first guest judge in TC S-1 EP-1; the QF. He was very stern to the competitors. He showed no mercy. It's funny to see him be so relaxed as he competed.)

That said, I am not disappointed that Rick won. His easy going manner was fun to watch. He seemed to really enjoy cooking. Obviously, the judges enjoyed eating his food. I also liked Michael's charming personality. All 3 finalists were great!

You did a wonderful job as host. You were able to bring the one element no viewer can have: the tastes of the dishes were brought to life in your blogs. Thank you for that! Hopefully, TCM will return and you'll be back as well. Bon Appetit!

My crush is a tie between Hubert and Rick-- they both (and Michael) have aged gracefully. I think alot of it has to do w/their temperments. They both tend toward being nurturing teachers and are genuinely kind. It shows on their faces! Glad my Chicago boy won though-- used to love watching his show 'Mexico: One Plate at a Time" in addition to eating at Frontera. Those Chile Rellenos and their Sangria is to die for!

Hi Kelly,

I loved the show! In fact, I preferred it to the amateur version. All the TCM chefs displayed their maturity and comraderie. There was a great spirit showcased each week.
You did a wonderful job as host. Your blogs really delivered the major element the viewers miss - the flavors of the food. Thank you for that.

As for my fave: It's Hubert Keller. I know the area he is from (i.e. Alsace). When he lovingly describes the food, I remember it too. In addition, he is very debonair. I was rooting for Keller from the start. His dishes looked beautiful! However, I believe that both Michael and Rick were deserving to be in the final 3. Rick's win did not disappoint me because he had such an easy going manner. He seemed to enjoy cooking. Obviously, the judges enjoyed what he made. Michael possesses charm in abundance. Many of his dishes seemed amazing too. As Tom C. put it, "It's an embarrassment of riches" (to eat their food). Truer words were never said.

I truly hope that Top Chef Masters returns and you are there as well. Bon Appetit!

Hi Kelly,

I wanted this show to last forever. I wanted to see everything that was filmed with nothing edited for TV and time constrants.
This whole season of TCM was some of the best I have ever seen. Not only because yu got to see great chefs doing what they do best but you also got to see them as regular people and I felt as if you got to know them. I wanted to sit down and have a meal with them and pick their brain about life.
As so many other folks have posted on these pages it was so refreshing to see chefs cooking in the kitchen instead of the ranting of raving of TC. Just look at the one episode where the sous chefs were former TC people that was in my humble opinion the weakest episode due to the fact that the TC "chefs", I use that term loosly were brats.Hope this goes to season 2.

I have had a crush on Michael since I first watched him on Food Network ;)

Hi Kelly,
The finale was so beautiful and emotional...I will really miss watching these true gentlemen and master chefs dance in the kitchen. I am so happy for Rick and I think it was monumental in elevating Mexican Cuisine to a place that it truly deserves to be.
You were a great host and I always enjoy watching you!
Happy Eating and Happy Cooking!!
XOXO

Hubert Keller is classy, sexy, and as close to God as a chef can get...he's been my crush all along.