Yee-owch, you viewers were lusty for some chef blood last week, weren't ya?!

And not even just the two or three "politically-correct"-ravin', Oxycontin-munchin', Limbaugh-listenin', Falwell-missin', hard-right conservative Bushies whose tender feelings I apparently bruised in last week's blog. (Sorry, really sorry, and I'll shut up as soon as Ann Coulter goes away for good and you quit voting.) But also the peacenik, Chablis-sniffin', book-readin', almost-vegetarian-but-can't-kick-prosciutto, vaguely bisexual, Volvo-and- Birkenstock set I had always figured for the Bravo audience we love so much! I kid, you know. I really do.

Most of my relatives voted for Mr. "Mission Accomplished," and some of them don't even regret it yet. But since you ask, my fundamentalist friends, I LOVE Fred Thompson. On "Law & Order." Where he'll be working again in November 2008—can't wait! J Oh, yes: "Top Chef." Apparently, nobody's happy unless a chef goes down. Me, I'm almost always sad to see somebody go. Tonight, y'all got your wish.

Were you happy with the judges' choice?
I

wasn't. Happy, I mean. I was part of it, I agreed with it, I actually came off in the edit as if I led the charge for it (I didn't; it was open and shut. Tre was the right choice tonight). Still, it makes me a little sad. Tre is such an excellent chef, such a class act, such a strong, solid leader in the kitchen, such a no-bullshit, no-drama guy. I didn't like his cooking tonight, but I have long been hoping to see him cooking in the finale. I respect him deeply and I wish him the best.

Now, then, how about our spikey-haired Chicago boy? Dale was the star of the show tonight, and I loved it. He is a leader, he's strong but not stubborn, and he makes his people want to perform. I loved his poussin, and I loved the way he ran his restaurant. I loved his shirt, too—I think it was by Penguin—although I wouldn't have chosen it for the front-of-house job (maybe at the Melrose Diner in Chicago, a place I'm sure Dale has seen on one or another late nights). I loved how Dale managed the inimitable Stephen's elaborate wine service. And I loved how he stood up to Chris Ciccone, who was wrong about the meat dish last week, wrong about the vegetables, and, as Dale said, doesn't get a pass for being Louise's brother. He did, however, make both restaurants look better. (Good thing he designs rooms and not clothing... meow.) Quote of the week goes to Dale: "The other team, they kind of seemed like the dream team, and we're kind of like the Bad News Bears and the fact that we kicked their ass really has us going."