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I cannot believe the recent winner. Stefan should have won, no wonder the moronic American picked him, typical sticking together !

We all know who the true winner was.

"Hung won my season with an '80s inspired dessert garnished with the random raspberry"

LOL...jealous much?

Right on Brian, great stuff! You really summed it up nicely and gave your valuable insights into what's really going on behind the scenes, as you've been there and know the drill. Hope that you stick around!
I totally agree with you on the confusing final decision and how something can be good one year and the next it's outdated. I guess it depends more on who's making the food... And not one mention from the judges about SKILL in the finale. Tom's usually been all over this with comments like "It's a cooking competition!". And when you think about it the finalists are on completely different pages when you compare menus for the final episode. Hoseas is a walk in the park compared to the two others. He got redfish, Stefan got alligator. He made fish-on-plate, Stefan made complex fish-on-plate. He made scallops with foie gras (isn't this outdated already???), Stefan made the best duck ever. Hosea made venison (safe, easy) while Stefan made dessert. And who in his or her right mind don't want a dessert to finish??? I know I don't want a steak, and I think 90% of the people feel that way.
Go Brian, you're the king!

After the reunion show, just want to thank you for making this so much fun. Your blog is waaaay cute.

loved the analogy, I thought Stefan would win, and was confused by the ending, too But as it were, Hosea will also go on to bigger and better things. I don't think he has to pay any $$ to Richard for helping, just having him back on the show, was plenty of PR for him. Looking forward to a 6th Top Chef, this season was great, as us the viewers really get into the show & favorite or not so favorite contestants, *yeah, I voted for Fabio.
Til the next show.

I disagree that Richard deserves any money. A sous chef compliments his chef, not the other way around. This was Carla's achilles heel; she gave too much of the decision making to her SC. I can't imagine the judges were put off by Stefan's personality. Those who have worked in commercial kitchens have worked with many Chefs who's arrogance will make your eyes roll so far back in your head they will stick.
It's about creative ideas, confidence to carry them out and then, just plain good food. In other words, Hosea.

Love the Oz analogy! Can't wait to watch the reunion show tonight. Although I wanted Carla to win, I'm happy for Hosea. And thanks Hosea, for the one finger salute to Stephan. Something I wanted to do since the second episode!

Stefan should have won and was robbed of the title "Top Chef." He consistently was the best chef, winning more quickfire and elimination challenges. If you're reading this Carla, I was rooting for you and I enjoyed watching you put so much LOVE into your cooking. My fan favorite: Fabio and Carla.

NOTE TO PRODUCERS: Fine good chefs who want to compete and leave all the unneeded drama on the cutting room floor. I am sick and tired of watching over exaggerated "characters" on reality (?) competition shows. Keeping "characters" and "unneeded drama queens" on the show for view ratings, actually dimishes the purpose and integrity of the show.

My goodness what nasty commenters people are. Hosea might not be their choice for top chef, but he did nothing to deserve such vile comments. They must be european soccer fans - those heathens.

Nice Oz analogy.

Hosea should give Richard $99,500 (before taxes), and take the other $500 and buy Stefan and Carla a nice gift with a "I am Sorry I was a Jerk" Halmark card. It should include a still photo camera shot of him flipping the bird during the finale with a caption below (in his handwriting) that says, "I apologize for this too."

Congrats to Richard Blais for being Top Chef Season 5!

The phrase above should be a T-Shirt.

Tom - pack your ego and go.

Hosea should call you to learn how to cook fish! I hope the endorsements go to the chefs who deserve them this season Stefan and Carla.

I also loved the Wizard of Oz analogy.

I felt that Stefan should have won. I was truly touched when he comforted Carla. Moreover, his dishes stood out throughout the season. I thought his desserts looked yummy, and actually resented the remark from the model/host/judge/brunette "pedestrian at best." That was quite patronizing.

I felt Hosea was selfish with the goose (foie gras) and caviar, and that he did take the easy way out. For personal reasons, I would not eat venison, unless it were "road kill."

Carla did a great job, too, but Stefan was the true Top Chef. I was surprised at how disappointed I was that some of the judges made it into a "personality contest," because they appeared not to think Stefan was "humble enough."

I did feel Stefan showed more courage and skill, throughout, and that he will be successful. If I had a restaurant, I would certainly choose him over Hosea, although they were all good :)))

I'd say Top Chef still comes out on top:

Harold
Hung
Stephanie

$300,000 well spent

Ilan
Hosea

$200,000 down the drain

Bravo is still up $100k.

I agree Brian only I think Richard should receive 50,000
dollars. He is great and work his tail off. Hosea never
would of won without him.

Hosea did great. He truly deserved to be the Top Chef. I think is very rude to suggest to Hosea to give Richard $10,000. How dare you. Learn to be a decent human being.

Brian I agree with you. Except I think Richard should get
$50,000. Without him Hosea would not of won. Plus Hosea
got all the luck. The one thing I don't get. Stefan did
some great deserts. I don't know why he didn't this time.
This overall was not the greatest group of chefs. Leave
the romance on the editing floor ANDY!

This was the first season where I saw prejudice enter the judging. It was obvious the judges did not want to see Stefan win. If Karla had not stumbled she would have been destined to win. Karla is one of my all-time favorites. Stefan's personality cursed him. He was doomed no matter how fine his food was. Stefan should have won and shame on the judges for deciding otherwise.

I think they did a mighty fine Job! Carla you rock, good showing was sad for me to see casey try to persue her dream through you, still have no regrets. Now it's time to get this Jamaican (from the Island ) in the game. Let me show what I can do.

I love your Wizard of OZ analogy! I couldn't agree with you more with your thoughts on the finale- nothing is ever consistent with the judging of Top Chef. Hung won with a safe choice of a dessert, but Stefan can't. Seemed like the comments of the other judges at Commander's Palace were dismissed by Tom, Gail and Padma, too. So, what's the point of inviting them to the finale?

Love you, Brian!

Very nice blog Brian and I loved what you had to say about Carla.....hootie hoooooo to her! My favorites comments were hers and Fabios....you mentioned some of Fabios...I loved his, "I will cut this finger off, sear it on the grill to stop the bleeding and cook with 9 fingers" comment, I still laugh out loud over that one. And for Carla her "Gail, Gail?" comment after Toby joined the judges cracked me up as did her "Peasssssss!" comment. What a beautiful person she is, I hope we see her again, she's probably my favorite cheftestan EVER! I'm still disappointed that she let Casey influence her final meal, but as Tom said, it was her choice, she should have stuck to what she had been doing the last few weeks, cooking HER food from HER heart! Congrats to Hosea and I give Stefan kudos for being so kind to Carla at the end, he really does seem to have a heart after all!

You are rude and envious. Hosea deserve the winning. How dare you suggest that Hosea give $10,000 to Richard. Hosea was doing better and better and Steffan was loosing territory. The bottom line Steffan was happy for Hosea. Who are you to say otherwise.

Hi Brian, as always you are right on the money regarding your observations. I feel that Carla came a long way and made it to the top three. Too bad that she listened to Casey and didn't just do what she intended. I know that we are going to see alot of Carla in the future. As for Stefan, I think that he should have won Top Chef hands down. It is too bad that Top Chef seems to be chosen on one meal. I really feel that they would have given Lisa the Top Chef title even though her cooking was not the best through out the season. How sad.

Brian:

Don't be bitter because Hosea won. He did a great job in the finally. He has been consistent. In the other hand Stefan was not doing his best at the last few shows.

Carla is great but she needs more time. It is so sad that she let Cassey run the show.

How dare you suggest Hosea to give $10,000 to Richard. How rude of you.
Hosea did a great job. Steffan is happy for Hosea why you are not?

Great blog and insight, Brian.. Love the Oz metaphors.. You and Richard have said it before.. It is not the final win/money.. They are all winners.. Carla won the hearts of America and the car!! She will become very successful at her restaurant and beyond from here on..Stefan is like the "Richard" of last season. He didn't win the egg, but, he won the chicken, and chickens lay eggs..He will always be successful and have many chefs wanting to work with him due to his talent and skills. And, despite what they say about him being arrogant, you can tell he has a "soft center", just like his deserts. Fabio, of course, will most likely get his own TV show.. He's like the "Emeril" of NYC.. Hosea had all of the New Orleans luck in the finale..Maybe that card reader brought him luck? Hosea will now be able to open his own restaurant. They are ALL "winners".....Wish people would stop being so mean/negative to Hosea. He didn't pick the winner. He just happened to be lucky and the cards all fell into place for him when he needed it.

I'm so glad you brought up Gail rolling her eyes. I was crying! LOL!
I have two favorite Fabio comments: "Fabio my friend, what do you do in New York" and "this is Top Chef, not Top Pussy".

Hosea must've done some serious voodoo rituals the night before the final, because he got lucky with a bunch of circumstances. King's cake, knife selection, Casey's steamrolling of Carla, Stefan getting obliterated because of his dessert, not getting a kick in the pants because he made venison [!] instead of dessert because he was too much of an old yeller to attempt it. King Hosea? Voodoo Hosea is more like it. And I don't think that he should give Richard just 10k. He should hand over the entire 100k along with a "Thank You for the Piggyback Ride!" card.

Your Wizard of OZ paragraph, absolutely priceless. If I had my own 100k to throw around, I'd give it to you just for that.

Hung may have had a "dated" dessert, but it was deemed tasty, and his other dishes were judged as good to excellent. Dale, on the other hand, produced a lousy lobster dish that none of the judges liked. His lamb dish was not enough to overcome that. At least from a viewer's perspective, that is why Dale lost. That was not the same situation with Stefan and Hosea. Stefan's dessert was considered "dated" AND he also had a weak fish dish that was judged to be worse than Hosea's somewhat flawed fish dish. Hosea's other courses were considered to be successful. Both Stefan's and Hosea's appetizers were good, so that was a wash. That left the 3 courses. Hosea's 1st course was judged better than Stefan's, Stephan's 2nd course was judged better than Hosea's, and Hosea's 3rd course was judged better than Stephan's. Just looking at the numbers, it's clear why Hosea won.

I disagreed with your blogs often, but they were always very fun to read. Pick up a column somwhere - you're a good writer! :)

I too loved your Oz comparison-witty.

Dude, Padma as the wicked witch because she sends everyone Home? Come on, there's no place like home!

But seriously, enjoyed the commentary this year and hope you'll be back again for next season!

Now that was a fun and enlightening blog to read. I absolutely agree with the "little gift" for Richard he certainly earned it.

Brian--you are hilarious! Your comment about Hosea sending Richard Blais a little "thank you" present said everything. Ten grand should be a minimum.

I love your Wizard of Oz comparison!