Thanks for your blog. I, also, have watched the brothers' video several times. I thought the reunion show was the best. I laughed and cried.

"I am actually looking forward to seeing Rubechon in the flesh. I was under the impression that he didn't actually exist and that he might be a unicorn!" ~Eli I am a die-hard Top Chef fan, and i have to say that this is one of my favorite quotes of all time. LOL!

I agree with most of your comments: Although I found Kevin the cute teddy bear, Bryan was my fave. I adored his chuckling laugh. His whole face lit up. Actually his speaking voice was smooth like velvet. Your memorable moments also hit the mark. For me, the Restaurant Wars' Mike V vs Robin face off was priceless, "Relax, Relas, RE--LAX!!"

Last night's reunion was okay. Two problems bothered me: 1. too much attention was paid to Mike I. His insults to Robin were unrelenting and uncalled for. 2. too little attention was paid to Bryan. There was no retrospective featurning him. Wasn't he worthy?

My favorite was during the Penn & Teller episode. I think someone said a meatball looked like bull's testicles and Padma said something to the effect of: "I've actually had testicles" and Penn (or Teller - the one who talks) said under his breath "I bet"! It was so funny esp. the look on Tom's face when he said that.

Agree, especially with #5. It was her tone. I laugh out loud everytime I see Bryan congratulate Michael so formally after Finale #1, and Michael mimics him, saying "Well, congratulations to you, too, sir." Hilarious. And Jennifer's "I feel a little broken" comment after RW always gets me.

Who was fan favorite? I don't recall them announcing it ...

I would like to know why no one was thrown off the show for throwing Jennifer into the pool. Tom's blog about the Marcel incident (which I didn't see, as I didn't watch as regularly then) said that the contestants weren't supposed to touch/assault each other. Throwing someone into a pool sure seems to cross that line.

I about died laughing throughout Kevin's montage when he was eating with the French chefs. It was right up there with all of the innuendo during the Natalie Portman dinner! And who here thinks that Padma doesn't like him/her? ;o)

Priceless moment, in the finale, as each of the judges were making comments, the camera would flash back to Padma where she would simply say, "yeah"....it happened like three times. That was funny! Sort of made Padma look like she wasn't contributing to the discussion, just kept agreeing with everyone....Priceless!

The fan comment regarding throwing Jenn in the pool, that was all in good fun and I'm sure Jenn didn't complain to producers about it. All season we saw people touching each other, pushing each other in the grocery store, etc. No one got hurt and they were all just having fun. The incident with Marcel was completely different.

I loved this whole season and loved Tobys'armpit remark that had Chef Tom laughing his head off.I also loved when Chef Tom spit out his food.That had to be pretty bad for hom to do that. I loved the Chefs, especially the final four.they really are all Tops to me.I just hope next season they won't have pulling knives for the sous chefs and let the final three stand together when the Top Chef is announced.That was not a nice way to dismiss Kevin,a really nice man and a wonderful chef!

Agree that not enough attention was paid to Bryan (Mr. Smoothie-voice) and too much to Mike I. (Mr. Self-absorbed). LOVED Ash and Ashley and think they should have their own show. Just my .02 -

loved this scenes, but yo forgot my favourite in the finale, when they ask michael why he deserves to be a top chef, and he says that he doesnt want bryan to be hahaha

(1) I love the expression on all of the judges' faces as they watch tearful Michael & stoic Bryan hug after Padma announces the winner

(2) Gail's knowing glance at Padma after a tearful Jennifer throws herself in Mike I's arms

(3) Kevin surreptiously peering at Bryan after Tom comments that his dish needed more flavor (dash of salt)

(4) Tom's bewildered eye rolls while Preeti tries to open the clams (he was probably thinking what I was, 'how did she get on this show'!)

(5) Kevin and Mike I missing the High 5 clap after the Blue Team won the quick fire challenge. Pretty lame!

**Bonus: Bryan chuckling after his young son Thatcher, calls him "Bryan" on the phone**

~ Sigh ~

What a terrific season this was. I'm almost sorry to see it end. :-(

I also love Bryan. Too bad he was "first runner up" again with the Fan Favorite voting. I guess that's better than second runner up, though no more lucrative. I'm so glad his restaurant got such a boost from the show, and can't wait to dine at Volt.

The brothers are cooking up some joint projects and started a new website: http://www.voltaggiobrothers.com/ It has video clips of their TV appearances, and you can register to get an email when the website is updated, which happens frequently.

A favorite moment: When Kevin is recounting his dinner with the French chefs and ones asks if he speaks French. He replies "no" and the chef says [pause] "Pity." A very funny moment and you can just picture it happening.

I'm wondering if the prize-giving throughout the season was planned ahead or adapted for the winner? There's something wrong with Mike V., Kevin, Jenn, Mike I, Eli, Laurine winning thousands of dollars in cash and prizes, sometimes for winning quickfires, but also for winning some elimination challenges. Then, whenever Bryan V. won an elimination challenge (5 times), he received a handshake and a "job well done", and never cash or a prize. He was 2nd place for the whole competition, and second for fan favorite. Please tell me he gets something for all his hard work besides a little publicity for his restaurant???

I really never liked this crowd outside of the kitchen as much as other seasons. I thought Mike I and Eli were mean spirited little twerps(regardless of talent), I thought Jenn was a bit spineless in the house scenes, and Michael was snooty all the way through. In previous seasons the groups were entertaining and even when snotty they were funny(i'm not your bitch, bitch). It seems with more success the show is drawing too many people together who are too snobby to realized they can learn from others- in the past it was usually just one or two chefs like that now it is the majority. Give me back the swearing season people- they were at least amusing.

I loved the montage of them all putting themselves down. It was funny when Jesse said "Balls!" and they all talked about how they sucked for Ashley to end with a big "pile of suck"! Another hilarious moment was when they asked if it was difficult to work hungover and Mike said it was the everyday life of being a chef. Awesome!

I've enjoyed your blog. Great insights! I do think it would have been more appropriate to announce the fan fave on the renunion show rather than hawking Andy's show. I can't bring myself to watch the SJP video to see who won...

I loved Ash saying that cooking with Mike V. was like cleaning paintbrushes for Picasso. And the Natalie Portman episode was hilarious.

It would be cool if all the Chefs that didn't make "TC" Have another try at it. This would be cool season because they know what they need to bring to win.

Loved the progam. I will miss watching every Wednesday night. Who did win the fan favorite?

Narya, The Marcel incident was very different. He was sleeping on the couch when another contestant dragged him off and put him in a headlock despite him being upset and saying no. It was pretty ugly-and i am no fan of marcel's. This season seemed to be fun. I am also pretty sure marcel told the producers.

My favorite all season was Padma's "welcome back" comment to Jennifer. Something about the way she said it made me feel like she was really sincere about it.

Why...why, what's the deal w/ fan favorite and SJP??? It should have been relevant to the Top Chef reunion. Whoever came up w/ that one was in the wine cellar toooo long.

My all-time favorite was the vegan challenge with Natalie Portman when Padma says the taste of a dish was "like a tiny prick at the tip of my tongue". I thought Natalie Portman was going to fall out of her seat and onto the floor!

The unicorn comment by Eli was also pretty darn priceless!

This was by far the best season. All of the four finalists are top chefs to me!

I am like you, i could not get enough of the Volt Brothers, they are awesome, especially Bryan, and i like the dynamics between them, very competitive with each yet loving and respecting each, i hope their mother is proud, to have raised such sons, i just adore and respect them.

I love the show and watch it religiously. For Christmas I got both cook books and the jacket. I am making dinners from both of them nightly. I have two questions: 1. is there a diffrence in Heavy Cream and Heavy Whipping Cream? In many of the receipes in the book it asks for Heavy Cream, I can only find Heavy Whipping Cream. 2. When are you going to come out with the book from the receipes from the last season. This was the best one yet and I would love that book!!!!

i would like to respectively disagree with bjh ... you can never be in a wine cellar too long

Loved the season. Loved Jennifer. Loved Kevin. I was disappointed to see Kevin dismissed before the winner was announced. Disappointed not to see fan favorite announced on the reunion (you notice by comments here that many people don't know who fan favorite was).

i watch top chef regularly i am an indian i just dont see radhika being given much importance in the episodes of top chef there are no details about what she is cooking and all the other stuff like while preparing the meal all the other chef have their part to say infront of the camera but i have not seen radhika doing that what the reason behind this???????????????????????/

Loved the DVD collection from Season 5. Please tell me you're going to put out DVDs from the earlier seasons, also! If you do, I can delete those favorite episodes from my DVR! :-) Seriously, putting out Season 5 on DVD was a trial run to see if it would fly, trust me - it's soaring, baby! Thank you.

How does one become one of the "Diners" on this show. We love these show and are amateur chefs and learn much from the series. However, we would like to be able to be a "diner" some time in the future.

Thanks

Please offer seasons 1-4 on DVD.