BravoTV.com

I'm sorry that Kevin didn't win. It seems like he did have a final bad day of cooking. But, apart from that, he's been my favorite chef from all the Top Chef seasons. Obviously, he's a great chef and his food has been the most appealing to me. Also, I think he is a terrific person. He's been very generous in his support of his fellow chefs. He never seemed the least bit manipulative and unpleasantly ambitious. He's a nice, likable guy. We will be hearing much more about him in the culinary world.

This has been a very enjoyable season to us.. The contestants have been there to cook... no "snarkey" attitudes, they all seem to like each other (I discount those who comment on the brothers.. they ARE brothers in the same occupation after all and it is natural for them to be competitive)..and no one has been mean/cruel or trying to throw one another under the bus as in past seasons. I enjoy the "non-drama".. personally. The past seasons always had the long clips trashing each other, being mean, cursing each other out, trying to sabotage each other.. So glad that this season has not focused on that. We phans want to see them cook and view and learn from their talent. We do not care much about their personal issues..or what gender they prefer to date!!! This is a cooking show!! So nice to see the original Top Chef back. These chefs are all top notch and it is just interesting to watch and see how the pressure of the challenges creates the tiniest imperfection for elimination at this point, since they are ALL top chefs and great personalities. Being from NJ, the Philly area, we were all rooting for Jen, but, even though she did not win the final, we all know to go to Philly and look for her food! She is a doll and held her own to the end. The rest are all amazing as well. Great season and great chefs. Hope next season is as good. Best to Padma!! We hear that she is expecting a baby!! She is still as gorgeous as ever and it will be nice to see her expand..her family, her horizons, and herself!! We don't care if she comes back skinny/super model.. She is gorgeous and hopefully she will embrace that at any size and be a normal mom with no weight issues!!! We'd like to see Padma as a real mom and not worry about looking the same as she does in the super model days!! We love her!!

Wow, what a great episode and the talent of these four shined. Kevin always trusting his simple foods with great flavors and Bryan honing his supurb technique. Michael ever challeging himself and jennifer stepping up to the plate. Sorry to see her go but I feel the judges made the right decision, as for Jennifer stepping up was a little too late. Good Luck to the finalists, WE WILL BE WATCHING

I rarely watch television but love Top Chef. However, I have found this season extremely boring. I'm not sure if it the challenges or those competing or the fact that the final four were so predictable from the very first episode this season. Maybe it is the whole combination.

I'm, also, not sure where people are getting the observation about certain people's attitudes and Kevin being so professional. I seem to recall on this episode, Kevin taking several stabs at his competition. The only person that I think has maintained composure is Brian. The fact that he helped explain a cooking technique to Kevin also speaks volumes. I don't see any fighting with other contestants when Brian is present, he is very calm and focused when he cooks, and maintains a high level of professionalism (Brian wasn't one of the chef's at the beginning that jumped into the pool, if people remember, but Kevin surely did).

Obviously Kevin appears to be a great chef. But, he has had several fumbles that some seem to forget. Especialy during the Restaurant Wars. They all were so worried about disagreeing with each other, in that group, that they ended up destroying all chances of winning. And I do recall the multiple poor remarks Kevin received about the pork being poorly cooked, cut, etc. And his dish was the one holding up the servers the longest.

Also, Brian knows what his errors are when he serves a dish. He has an interesting technique that is served beautifully. Kevin's may taste fantastic but some look extremely unappetizing. Kevin's dishes just lack that certain execution of someone with the potential to become a master chef. Brian appears to have the ability to shine.

It is unforunate but Jennifer really has fallen the past couple weeks. And I was really pulling for her. She is very professional in the kitchen, also. Michael, I just can't seem to get a grap on who he really is a chef. But, I think when Michael can learn to incorporate his wealth of knowedgle and develop his niche, he is going to be truly amazing!!!

So, even though this episode was extremely boring....in 5 minutes we'll see who gets eliminated out of the final four. I wish them great success in life. And, thank you Tom for your thought provoking feedback and genius. Besides the chef's, I think you make the show, Tom!!

Thank you.

As I understand from Tom's explanation, Kevin has won a chance to compete to qualify as the USA representative to the Bocuse d'Or. For more information, I looked up the application process - apparently Michael, Brian, Jennifer, any of the other competitors or any other chef with the professional qualifications required can apply to compete to be the USA rep.

For this Top Chef elimination, Kevin tried a cooking technique he never uses, got advice from a competitor - AND COOKED HIS DISH MORE SUCCESSFULLY THAN ANYONE ELSE. If I heard what I think I did, Brian said he used the same technique to cook his protein and failed to cook it properly.

Kevin has an incredible skill set and had the guts to try something new at this critical juncture in the competition - that gets him the win without question!!

Methinks you just gave away who the new Top Chef is by posting those pictures of Kevin. I realize he won the Bocuse d'Or challenge, but his body language in those pictures is that of a winner. As is the body language of those around him. Maybe it's a moot point, since everyone thinks Kevin will win anyway...

Man, I am worried. How in the world will TC be able to top these challanges in Season 7. I think back to other seasons and have to laugh at the thought of Big Crazy Cheeto Mike competing in this last episode . . . Tom's head would have been shiny with sweat.

Yep, I know the talent is at a different level. Yet, it seems predictably boring to have chefs who have shadowed Eric Ripert working with the self-proclaimed "comfort cookin" Robin. It's like a contestant on Dancing with the Stars who's been dancing "professionally" for 15 years, competing with a sport's announcer.
ZZZzzzzz . .somebody wake me up when it's over.

I love Top Chef! I record it every week, and look forward to watching every week! I cheer the winners and am sad for the losers. I can't cook. Not at all. But I like to watch Food Network and Bravo/Top Chef. Don't know why.
I am a fan. PLease continue showing Top Chef. I love it!

Thank you Tom for the informative posting regarding the Bocuse d’Or Episode. I gained quite a bit of insight from it and will be watching to see how Kevin does in his quest to compete in the finals.

I have been a Top Chef fan from day one. In all honesty, I cannot believe that ANYONE would be rooting for either of the brothers.

From the start of this season they have both demonstrated the snootiest attitudes I have ever seen on television..they have been rude to their fellow cheftestants and seem to absolutely hate each other. Not once when one brother has won - has the other brother been happy for him. So much for the great American ideal of Family.

No matter how contrived or complicated the dish is - it is the taste that matters when all is said and done. Would you go back to a restaurant if you didn't enjoy the meal you had? I wouldn't.

I have supported Kevin since this season began - he is consistant, he thinks his dishes out before he constructs them - and based on his body of work - deserves to win this competition.

Jen obviously needs to go back and learn more from Eric....and the brothers need to learn they are not the greatest chefs to ever cook in the USA. Their egos should not be more important than the food they prepare.

Tom-

In the Bocuse D'Or episode, you asked Tim Hollingsworth how coachable Bryan Voltaggio is. Did you or the one of the other judges (Padma, Gail) ask this question about the other chef contestants? If not, why not? I think it was an intriguing question and would liked to have known how the other contestants ranked in this aspect. If so, I believe the editors of this episode should have kept them (including responses) in the final edit, if only for fairness symmetry.

I may have mentioned this in another comment, but I also believe the episode should have illustrated or commented about Gavin Kaysen's unfortunate "diswasher ate the project" incident that probably kept his entry from ranking higher.

Overall, great episode.

This isn't about the Bocuse D'or. This is about how BORING the contestants are to watch this season....yawner with a capital Y!

The brothers and Jennifer are like watching paint dry. Man, I love food but these people are making me actually think of turning Top Chef off. Hopefuly next season, there are some personalities as vibrant as the food they produce, otherwise consider me an ex-fan.

Also, why pit almost Michelin starred up and comers against nobodies? The writing was on the wall at the start of this season who the last four would be, considering they already were the "biggest guns" of the lot - very, VERY predictable. I'd rather see a bunch of people come together who haven't apprenticed under world renowned chefs, and just have this natural talent yet to be discovered. It was like the Little League going up against the World Series team - who do you think is going to win?

PS: Last but not least..my final crab (notice the food pun? hahahaha) That goldfish tank behind the judges table is uber distracting. Total animal cruelty to put that many fish in a tank that size.

Dear Chef Tom,
My husband and I love this season. Thank you.

I had sent in a request for a challenge that involves an attention to ingredients for people with dietary restrictions and food allergies, and I want to thank you for the Celebrity series challenge that did just that. Fabulous!

I just found this site and started reading Tom C.'s blog. I have to say this blog really gave me further input on the show and judging. I have loved Top Chef and have to say each year it gets better and better. Tom C. is just the best at keeping the balance at the judges table. Love his low-key, constructive way of judging.

This year I have to say I'm pulling for Kevin but not because of his dishes as I think each of the finalist bring their own unique styles to cooking. For me, Kevin seems to leave his ego at the door. I appreciate watching someone like that...this world has enough chefs with egos bigger than their culinary abilities.

Hi Mr.Colicchio,

I noticed that all of the chefs on the show carry their own professional grade cutlery sets. My partner is an aspiring chef and I want to get her a really nice professional set. I know you are extremely busy but could you possibly recommend a brand so that I go in the right direction. I don't know anything about the professional chef world and I want to make sure I get her the best. Thank you. The show is great!! We watch it every week.

Congratulations to Kevin. It's nice to see someone with such a generosity of spirit do so well. He reminds me of the contestants in Top Chef Masters. I have a feeling that the Masters would also have found a way to live with Robin amicably. That's what a chef does--give them a broken egg and they make an omelette.

Our family loves this show- we're huge fans. However, I have a suggestion. If the elimination is truly about the food served at that challenge and that challenge alone, then it seems unfair that the judges know who cooked what. To be truly unbiased, the judges should taste the food without knowing which cheftestant did the preparation (of course, the home audience will know and be able to root for their favorite meal). That way, chef personality or history would not enter the judging- and the results would be honestly about only the food.

i have this one big question why do the cheftestants smoke i thought you had to be able to taste foods how can you taste the food when you smoke

I would think that chefs cook very well on their days off considering who would be eating that food.

I've watched great cooks win the contest and deservingly so. Top Chef each one. But I’ve seen enough Drama Queens from each season. Most of them lost along the way. Just one episode I would like to see Burned Toast Contest. Get a collection of Prima donna, exasperating personality together and let them dish out among themselves. How do the birds of feather fly against each other?

I'm surprised at all the digs at Kevin. Considering the judges seemed to really enjoy what they were eating, I could have predicted his win a mile away when the other dishes all fell flat. Being able to execute is an important skill and some of the Cheftestants overreached. Yes that is the point, considering the Bocuse d'Or theme, however they also have to keep in mind time restraints, just like they do at the actual competition.

What I was more shocked with was Eli going home over Micheal. But I suppose I can't taste the food, so I can't really say, but it had seemed like Michael was way at the bottom, bad night or not.

And generally a type of food is not a theme, it's not usually accepted as such on this show, and it was sort of out of his depth to go so simplistic thematically. I was really surprised by what an off night he had.

~Amanda~

This is my favorite season of Top Chef by far! I think the final four are fantastic, but I am pulling for Kevin to win. I think Kevin and Bryan are the top two, with Kevin being the best. He cooks food that tastes good,he is consistent and he adapts well to each challenge. He seems to thrive under pressure, which is impressive. Kevin deserves to win, with Bryan as runner up.

Thanks for the blog, very informative!

I think the majority of us agree that Bryan should have won this challenge, therefore I hope we can all agree that we should show him how we feel by voting for him as Fan Favorite!
The frustrating part is even as the Chef's sat waiting for their fate, Kevin said he didn't do his best and he certainly did not expect to win, that says it all!
Tom your blogs are great and they really provide a lot of help for us "civilians" to understand why you make the decisions that you do, and most of the time you do convince, unfortunately not this time.
I agree with a previous post, I don't know how you're ever going to be able to top the talent on this season's Top Chef going forward, this is a truly high caliber pool of talent. Good luck, you've raised the bar for the viewer, I hope you can meet it next year.
Love you Chef Tom!

This season is no doubt the best season. I just watched the rerun and it's quite obvious that Kevin didn't deserve to win the Bocuse d'Or competition. He should be disqualified. Sending Kevin to 2010 Bocuse d'Or competition is unfair and a huge mistake since he didn't really participated in Bocuse d’Or competition; he made up his own. Bryan definitely ought to win the competition. Still love the show, but very disappointed with the judges' decision.

Own would think that to be considered "top chef" one would know sous-vide cooking. It's been around for 40 years. One doesn't need to cook in that manner every day but should be familiar with the technique.

Tom- your blogs add so much more depth to the show. Thanks for the obvious thought and time that you spend on your comments. I enjoy it! I cant believe there are Kevin haters...hilarious. He exemplifies a professional, positive, passionate love for his craft and quietly sets an example with his food. What a great season... and I appreciate the education that this show provides those of us who are fans of food but not in the industry. The producers have kept the necessary amount of drama via the editing without losing the focus on the culinary content. I'm a fan!

Kevin has won with consistent flavorful cooking. His vegetarian dish wasnt great looking but was what a vegetarian would be looking for. The Olympics - same thing. The judges were looking for perfection. any cooking mistake is elementary and would definitely not qualify. Techniques can be taught - basic cooking cannot at this level. This is why they train for so long. Kevin can cook and has an apptitude for learning new techniques - a perfect trainee for the Bocuse d'Or. So good for him. Love Kevin.
He cooks for his judges and for his customers. exactly what i would be looking for as a customer.

This challenge needed to go to Bryan. Yes, Kevin is very talented but he always insisted he cooks southern food with a twist. Compared to Bryan, Kevin doesn't seem to have the level of technial skill Bryan has. In my "humble" opinion, Bryan is the most qualified to compete in the Bocuse d'Or. He's by far the most rounded of the final 4. Oh and "welcome back Jen"! Love her too.
The talent from this season is incredible. They are head and shoulders above seasons 1 - 5.

My Boyfriend and I have made Top Chef our weeknight Date Night! We sit together and watch the show, critique the chefs and the judges, wonder what the food tastes like and make predictions on the winners and losers! We have thoroughly enjoyed watching this season's Top Chef and are extremely excited that an Atlanta Chef has made it to the finale! I love your blog, Tom! You explain everything with such passion and detail. It really helps me see where you are coming from! Thanks for keeping us in the light!

Debbie in Atlanta

This episode shows once again how underrated Bryan has been. Bryan has helped his competitors (he gave Mike I a sharp knife in the Natalie Portman challenge), supported his younger brother (wouldn't gossip about the failed fish dish) and generously gave Kevin cooking tips in this challenge. He has been gentlemanly, serious of purpose and produced some amazing food as well. If that isn't a consummate chef, then I don't know what is...
He is my fan fave and I will vote for him to the max!

I did not like this episode at all. The fun of watching Top Chef is watching the process while imagining making the dishes or at least eating them. I could do neither with the food presented in this challenge. The food seemed so far removed from anythig attainable that I lost any interest in the result.

Tom, Recently my 25 year old daughter and I were hospitalized within two weeks of each other. She for an emergency appendectomy in Buenos Aires, Argentina and me for bladder surgery in Loma Linda, California. Both being great fans of top chef, we think there needs to be a challenge for "hospital food"! Not for those on special diets, but for those of us recovery from surgery who crave a decent meal. Thanks for the consideration and Bravo for Top Chef!

I had never heard of the Bocuse d'Or until this episode. I can't help but chuckle at the faux Bocuse d'Or. It was a fake version of a made up competition started by a chef someplace to get his name out there for perpetuity. This competition seemed overwrought with details and high expectations that had no possibility of being fulfilled in the limited amount of time allotted. The real version seems like so many other competitions in that are geared for a very small segment of society who arbitrarily give the award to whomever they feel like (even if the entire competition has not been completed (as alleged in Gavin's case). That smacks of unfairness and frustration to even participate in it, let alone watch it. When the rules of the faux contest were given, 4 out of 5 tried their best to comply. The lone chef to do whatever he wanted (Kevin) won by default because the others followed the rules and failed the test. He bent or broke the rules to cook his way and won! What a world... btw: I adore Kevin. I'm just disappointed that he was given such an enormous prize based on a weak dish.

I have been a Top Chef fan from the beginning, I don't always agree on your decisions, but still love the show. This weeks challenge should have been a tie between Brian and Kevin, Kevin winning for taste and Brian winning for the Bocuse D'or portion. You said that Kevin was judged as a Top Chef contestant and not for the Bocuse D'or but then also said on the show that Kevin would have been disqualifed from the get go for the Bocuse D'or portion. But the Bocuse D'or was what the challenge was so I am a bit confused on the outcome. I think that Brian should have come away with something at least for the complexity of his dish and how well it seemed to be received by the other judges. Still love the show!!!

I agree with all the comments from viewers who were perplexed by Kevin's win. Essentially, the criteria of the elimination challenge was explained to the viewers as being X and he gave the judges Y. Seems to me analogous to a student submitting a brilliant paper yet one that does not meet any of the criteria of the assignment given. That usually get you a failing grade.

Love the blog Tom. Because of editing it's nice to read your reasoning. We surely don't see every detail and hear every discussion due to time restraint.
I am leaning to Bryan winning over all and Kevin will be fan favorite. This season of chefs are truly amazing. It is to the point where it rips your heart out every week. I agree with some of the bloggers where you see them helping each other even though it's a competition. They are a great bunch of people and fantastic to watch. I just get out the tissues out every wednesday night now. You will have to pull a rabbit out of the hat next year to top this season. But I am sure you will think of something. My favorite episode this year is when they served Joel Robuchon.

I was very happy to see Kevin win this and hope he wins the title of next Top Chef. I was also surprised because of the judges comments. Not one of them could have exactly executed what was needed for this challenge. However, they all did a great job. Once again Kevin showed his intelligence by knowing what he had to do, asking for help, and following through with a great finish. Bryan has also shown himself to be a good person by answering Kevin's questions.
On the other hand, I've had enough of Michael's comments.
It was also good to see Jen rally and do well.
I totally disagree with the person who has said that Kevin is becoming arrogant. I have not seen one little bit of that. We have Michael and Bryan telling us all how good they are and how much more they know than everyone else, all the time. Geez, if that is so, why are they not winning everything?
Kevin has shown intelligence.
Kevin has shown versatility.
Kevin has been a gentleman.
Kevin has been constantly praised has having flavorful food.
Gee, flavorful food...maybe that should be highest on the list for a cooking competition !
Good Luck, Kevin
And, thank you Tom for your informative blog.

Kudos to Byran and Jen. Kevin should share some of his prize money with Byran. The dude didn't know how to suvee. Personally, I think Byran should have been chosen over Kevin to compete in the 2010 Bocuse d'Or.

I quite enjoyed this episode! I had never heard of this competition so I'm glad they partnered with Top Chef to raise the profile of the competition and to take the individual challenges to a new level.

Bryan helping Kevin, Jen helping Bryan... Professionalism at its best. This season is just pure fun to watch because it's about cooking...

It seems that over the 6 seasons your focus has gently migrated from a typical reality show formula (focus on unusual personalities and interpersonal drama) to more of a focus on finding and showcasing great young chefs. I can't remember any other episode from any season where your compliments just before announcing "pack your knives and go" seemed so sincere and heartfelt in the praise you lavished on all 5 chefs. I sincerely hope that your focus more on food and and less on drama doesn't kill viewership; instead I hope your viewers appreciate the smart show you offer and the mental stimulus I feel each week. I for one am a bigger fan today than ever. Bravo!

Michael is really taking a beating for being "cocky" but he is very tame in comparison to some past contestants, he certainly hasn't had nearly as many confrontations with fellow contestants as some have, (Marcel for example)

Yes, Kevin is talented and seems to be a very nice person, but did you all miss his little "plug" of himself noting that he had also been nominated for an award that the guest judge had won? He can be a little over-confident at times too, helped along by the judges awarding him wins.

I understand, viewers can't taste the food we can only base our opinions on what the judges state. Still, I think Bryan should have been awarded the win last week.

I love this show and find Tom's blog extremely helpful in parsing out why the judges make their decisions. I felt the winner of the last challenge Kevin, who I think is very deserving of his wins, once again showed why he won because of his food, That being said, the prizes were almost an embarrassment of riches. I would have preferred to see Bryan, whose food I thought exemplified the challenge in spite of the fact he needed more time, have been the chef who was afforded the opportunity to be a member of the Bocuse D'Or team and Kevin could have taken home the 30K. Sadly Jen, who I was a big fan of in the beginning has really lost traction and deserves to go home. The final 3 should be the V brothers and Kevin. As obnoxiously as they have portrayed Michael he is an interesting and innovative chef. We all should take into consideration that this is TV and the producers have something to say about the personalities.

Tom--excellent blog, it provided good insight and background into the various aspects of this episode. I found myself wondering why Tom Keller didn't participate in the judging and was pleasantly surprised by the reason you provided.

You also provided nice commentary on Kevin's offerings and why he won. I'm very glad to see that Kevin is able to win in a variety of settings while remaining true to his food style, even if Michael Voltaggio dimisses his technique as appropriate only for days off. I wonder what Michael V thinks now of Kevin's skills. Kevin continues to prove that taste trumps technique. I'm also impressed that Kevin was able to learn and fairly master a new technique for the contest, showing he is not only skilled and intelligent, but is able to elevate his techniques as each contest and competition demands.

Best episode! After reading your blog explaining in detail of Bocuse d’Or, I now feel that Bryan ought to win this competition. Kevin is a great chef and no doubt he cooks delicious food; however, all of the final cheftestants are able to cook delicious meals. But to accomplish the Bocuse d’Or competition requirements, Kevin’s simple approach should be disqualified. Of course, I don’t think he should be eliminated as he deserves to be the final two.

I just want to give huge Props to Bryan & Jen for helping out their fellow team mates. I think they showed some true sportsmanship.

I love this show and the seasons top 4-5. I am enjoying it so much I don't want it to end. I can't even imagine how difficult this will be for the judges. I get the feeling you really like/respect this group.

Kevin has always been my favorite. The guy is a sweetheart and very smart but I think Bryan may take this thing and Kevin will be the runner-up. It' all good with me either way. Not that that matters.

Chef,

Thanks for the insight, as always, about parts of the chef world that most of us don't see, in addition to what happened in the episode. It was great to see the mutual respect all of the chefs have for each other. I know it's a competition, but I think it makes for better television to see them helping each other out with technique and in the kitchen. Great to see Jen get her game face back and great to see Kevin keep winning with food that is clearly his.
I love learning tidbits of cooking history from the blog - I'd love to see more of it on the show. Keep up the great work on the show and the blog. It's very clear the judges have been getting it right in narrowing it down to this group of five, then this final four.

it kills me how derogatory and critical so many of these people are in the post...if you don't enjoy the show, don't watch it and quit whining when they don't do things the way you think they should be done...obviously, the posters aren't at the top of their profession or they would be on the show themselves...sounds like a lot of bitter grapes around here

Tom wrote:

"cauliflower is not a Mediterranean vegetable"

This statement is not true. Cauliflower originated in the Northeast Mediterranean and is a highly valued vegetable in Italian, Balkan, Greek, and Turkish cooking.

Tom,

Wow, your blogs are so unbelievable this year. So much more information and insight. As far as the drama, Bravo!, Bravo. So glad you dropped that business (one might think you listened to the comments). This season ,it just seems to be the usual troubles that accompany a large group of people living together and competing (this one can live with). This is what we watch the show for, cooking and seeing future talented chefs that will make a name for themselves and make this a better world to live in and eat in.

That being said, wonderful challenge. I myself had not heard of this competition, once again great season you are introducing so many new and interesting challenges and test of chefs this year.

You almost lost me as a viewer last season but I decided to give your team another chance, glad I did.

You could not have ended up with better chefs in the finale. I have butterflies and total impatience waiting for the next show.

Keep Toby on next season, last year I was not sure about him, but he has stepped us him game, lost some of his painful sarcasm and has ended up delivering much needed humour into this competition.

Keep up the good work and please, please pick the same level of chefcontestants next season.

Can't even wait for the finale.

I have been watching the show faithfully since its birth. I love the show and the whole famuily plans our night around it. I myself dabble in french cuisine. So my comment here is why in every season do we need a stand out villian? This season Michael seems to be creeping forward into the role. I understand being cocky when you are brilliant or a little stand off-ish to ones competition , but he comes off as though he is the best in the bunch and that his time is being wasted because he is going to win anyway. This is how he comes off. If he is so great why hasn't he won more quick fires or challenges? He makes rude comments about Kevin everytime kevin wins one...I think to myself if Kevins type of cooking is what you do on your days off, maybe you should take that approach in the comptetition, maybe you(Michael) would win more. BY the way I love Kevin's easy going personality, and I have tried some of his recipes from what I can see that he is doing...they have turned out great. Hope you win Kevin!!!!!

BEST. EPISODE. EVER. EVER. EVER. LOVE Thomas, Timothy, and Tom. Imagine the possibilities!!

Thank you, Chef. Just found the blogs today and cannot wait to go back thru them all!!

Due to editing and not being able to taste anything, we just can't know as much as would be necessary to agree or disagree with the judges. I have overall found the judges to be fair, and I thank you for that.

I've been surprised that Bryan hasn't won more, but so long as he doesn't lose and wins the big one, the 'little wins' don't much matter (altho he has received at least one Very Nice prize). I don't see him as All About Me as his brother, seems to be the congenial one of the two, and a true gentleman of high character (remember his chastising the others for remarking on a dish they did not taste). He's my fave (ok, I think he's darned cute, I'm sure that colors my opinion).

Kevin has won a lot. I believe he's good. Quiet intelligence, well read, certainly a rising star. Probably has been the easiest to live with during the season!!!

I like Jen. I'd like to see her win, also. Actually, only because I think he thinks too highly of himself and too little of others, the only one I don't want to see win is Michael.

The Win-Place-Show will be Kevin, Jen, Bryan.
This entire series rocks! Congratulations on the best season yet!

I think you're great, Tom and I have eaten at Craft LA which I enjoyed. But why would you think Cauliflower is not a meditarrenean vegetable? Cauliflower is used all over the mediterranean - Italy, France, Lebanon AND North Africa. Salmon maybe not, but cauliflower definitely! And who says the French Mediterranean is no less Mediterranean than the North African one?

The Bocuse d'OR competition has been shown on the Food Network. I recall a female American chef from Kinkead's preparing to compete in the Bocuse d'OR. Some of us are familiar with this competition and I do not feel that you have to be a food snob to appreciate this competition or ones like Top Chef. The reason why I watch Top Chef and even shows on the Food Network is that I appreciate good food. Appreciating good food does not require an elitist attitude (as evident in some of the chefs' attitudes toward cooking). Some people feel that the chefs and the programming of the Food Network are beneath them. Some of the people who appear on the Food Network have culinary training and some do not. Some of the chefs who appear on Top Chef have not had culinary training either. Lack of culinary training does not preclude them from being a chef. I know that not everyone who appears on the Food Network prepares high-end food. It seems to me the point should be does it taste good, not whether it is high-end or not? I appreciate a well-executed gourmet meal as well as a simple burger and fries. It may seem that I am in love with the Food Network, I am not. I just do not like people who think they can sneer at it because it is an easy target. I feel that Bryan or Kevin are both worthy of winning Top Chef.

in my opinion i think i know tom has already voted for kevin to win the final. tom why don't you just offer him a job at kraft?

I really respect you, Chef but when you set up parameters of a contest making it as difficult as possible (unrealistic time allowed and the nature of the contest) and four people attempt to perform within the parameters and one plays it safe and he is rewarded, you cheated the other four contestants. You punished them and gave your future contestants no incentive to follow your instructions. I write this being a fan of Kevin's.

Great blog as always Tom. This is the only show I watch and also follow the blog. As many others have noted, it really fills in the blanks and provides great insight into the competition. Bravo! (duh!)

I predicted the "Final Four" of Jen, V-Bros and Kevin. It feels like Kevin has the pole position going into the finals. I think Michael and Bryan's brotherly competiveness, is adversely affecting them. As the competition tightens up, this sibling rivalry is affecting their food and they're losing focus. It strikes me that whichever brother goes next (one of em' has to go eventually) is going to feel worse not because they lost/didn't impress the judges etc, but because they lost to their brother.

Great to see Jen back in the game. I like her allot. With Jen, it's all about her confidence level. If she keeps that up, doesn't second guess/questions herself and skill level, she has a good shot at going all the way.

Probability would say that one of the V-Bros is going home next week.

Should be interesting and as always, great TV and follow up commentary in the coming weeks.

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the detailed comments regarding the Bocuse D'Or and the cheftestants entries to that challenge. It's difficult to fathom why none of them nailed the protein. How difficult is it to cook lamb for 6 or 8 people? How could it be raw after cooking? How could it not be noticed by these guys? (Kevin undercooked lamb at RW and here, he overcooked it. How weird.) What's up with Michael and Jen not realizing they botched their dishes? Must be the pressure. I like Kevin and find him very intellectual in his approach to cooking. However, his dishes look rather unappealing or dull at times. The more you defend Kevin and his cooking and slam the Brothers V, the more biased you seem. Obviously, Kevin won it all in the end.

Thanks for your blog Tom. I read it after every show. It explains so much.

I LOVE that I don't know who is going to win. I did not know who would win last night, and I have no idea who will win Top Chef. Michael has lessened my respect for him with his unnecessary bad-mouthing, but anyone who wins from this point on is a good choice. There is real suspense this year. Each chef is worthy of the win. No need for "What, are you kidding?" when this year's winner is announced. I also enjoyed watching the cooking instead of background. This is a classy crowd. Thanks!

MG Viewer,

You make a valid point, but many of the comments seem to both indicate that Michael was incessantly putting down Kevin's food and that Michael's food lacks the "taste" of Kevin's. With regards to the latter point, it might have in this last challenge (but that happens to all chefs and it's why each of them have won on certain nights). With regards to the former point, as "Aud" mentions, Michael really only had one comment and it was repeatedly played by Bravo to create a villain for everyone to hate. The replaying of it convinced everyone that Michael is the one to dislike and gives a greater reason to tune in - drama. Michael stated that Kevin's type of food is the food that he prepares at home and having eaten at Michael's restaurants (both at Bazaar and Dining Room at The Langham - no, I do not know Michael, but I eat at a lot of Michelin starred restaurants and the like) I believe him. Kevin's food is more "comfort food meets fine dining". For anyone who has eaten at a top restaurant in New Orleans, Kevin's style would be well suited for a top New Orleans restaurant. That's not a put-down by the way - I love New Orleans and their dining scene. But it's a dining scene, beyond the cultural/ingedient influences that go into the food, that's founded on "comfort" rather than on haut cuisine. Maybe Restaurant August has flashes of haut cuisine, but that's beside the point. Michael probably does cook "comfort food meets fine cuisine" when he's at home - it would not be a difficult task for him.

WOW...what a great challenge!!! I can safely say I am happy I did not have to pick the winner. Kevin and Brian were clearly at the top here, and a case could be made for Jen also. Some of the comments here are wondering why Kevin won when there were so many comments about how simple his food was. I have to believe this was just part of the editing, otherwise, there would have been no doubt as to the winner.

As for Eli going home, you did not have to be there to taste the food to see that his lamb was not just under cooked...it was raw. Eli is a very talented chef, and has a very bright future in front of him. Michael could have gone home for his lack of execution, but ultimately his skill and techniques kept him around. The best four chefs are going to Napa.

As to Michael's comments about Kevin's cooking...I do not think there is any real malice in them, just more of stating a fact that his cooking is more complex then Kevin's. Kevin has won over and over again with his style because he executes well, and it fits a lot of the challenges. Michael should remember the first premise of cooking...Make the food taste good, FIRST.

Hi Tom....

I am such a huge fan of yours. I am not a classicly trained chef or cook by any sense of the word, but I do technique classes part time...and I can say that every week I learn something new from watching the show. The challenges are incredible, and with that being said...I have the utmost respect for all the contestants. The Bocuse Challange was amazing. I can only imagine the thrill of it all when they presented thier dishes. Thank you, Tom for being an inspiration to all of us in the kitchen or around the grill. Yes your book 'Whichcraft has been a dinner time life saver...again thank you for bringing cooking to the masses!!

To Rob K
I think the swipes some people are taking at Michael have less to do with his skill and whether he'd had an off night (no doubt all four finalists are very talented) more so than his being portrayed as disrespectful of the judges' palates and opinions whenever they award a win to another contestant.

Palates may differ; the audience can only imagine the flavor of the dishes based on what the professionals on the panel convey.

This competition reminded me of the movie "Mermaids." You know where Cher makes her cuisine resembling stars and other shapes on sticks.

I cannot make a comment about who should and who should not have won this challenge, as I wasn't eating the food. What I can say is, kudos to Bryan for his incredibly mature & gracious handling of this challenge as well as the whole competition. He generously answered Kevin's questions regarding sous-vide, and did not once evince any kind of petty comment about how "kevin couldn't have won without my input".
In my opinion, Bryan ought to win because he's the best-rounded individual, not just the best chef.

I think you and your food are awesome...I hope someday to enjoy your cooking again..I hope you don't leave cooking for tv (would be a huge loss)...I am hoping you might cook a little in a future episode..(maybe some kind of new competition or demo on an upcoming season)..One thing,...Do you know if and when Bravo, you. or whoever, are going to put all the seasons on dvd? It is driving us crazy trying to find out...Seasons 1-4 PLEASE!..(we just got season 5), Hopefully all future ones as well..Seasons 1, 2,3,&4 are what make the show so popular...so why aren't they out yet? Would like to see a series or season with: Marcel,Hung, Richard, Kevin, Michael, Brian and tiffany, would be interesting..Thanks for such a good show...John J

Has Michael V. really badmouthed Kevin multiple times or just once and it was edited to make it look that way. Can't wait for the final?

Top Chef now approaches the finale of Season Six. The four remaining Cheftestants are the cream of the crop of the season ,, and any one of them is deserving of the title: Top Chef.
Tom, your blog (and Gail's and Toby's too) are crucial to the overall success of the show. We viewers cannot see, smell, or taste the food ,, so we must rely on judges' opinion, and it's serves the viewer well when decisions are explained in the blogs.
Kudos to the edit staff. Improvement was needed in that area (from past seasons) and they came through splendidly. (I'm aware that lots of things go on in the professional kitchen ,, but on Wednesday night - the chefs are cooking in my living room.)
The Finale approaches. And, as Jackie Gleason would say: "And Away We Go!" Good luck to all cheftestants. ( Jen, glad to see that you've picked it up ,, but you've got to kick it into high-gear now.)

Tom,
I agree with all the comments regarding your blog being a great companion piece to the show. It rounds out the whole Top Chef experience and gives me an "aha" moment, sometimes explaining something that I wondered about or confirms a suspicion.

Enjoyed learning more about the Bocuse d'Or. Known about it but did not know a lot about it.

Happy Thanksgiving to all

Thanks, Tom, for the great blog. And although it seemed to me that Michael should have gone home, between his ill-conceived "Mediterranean" story (which, did anyone else notice, he admitted he thought of only as he was plating???)and bone in his salmon, I was thrilled to finally be rid of Eli. Food without love, without soul, is nothing. Until this boy becomes a man and shows a bit of empathy, class and tact he will have a hard time making it in the food service industry.
I'm hoping for Kevin, Jen and Bryan in the finale with Kevin bringing home the bacon.

Tom, I really enjoyed your incredible blog entry. It was very informative, and illuminated this challenge for me.

As viewers, we can't taste, smell or appreciate the quality of the dishes that are competing, but, you bring it to us through your descriptions.

That being said, from a purely emotional reaction from a top fan of Top Chef, I was thrilled that Kevin won this one. I was worried about him, but, he never ceases to amaze me. In addition to being a monster chef (I mean that in a good way), he is easily the most likable contestant since Harold from Season 1.

Bryan and Michael are really getting on my last nerve, and I was feeling schadenfreude joy at their coming in behind Kevin. Kevin never cuts down other chefs, but, the brothers act like the competition is merely between them, dismissing Jen and Kevin, as if they were surely going to fail.

Kevin has consistently awed me. In addition to his considerable talents, he is a joy to behold. So much of this season was tainted by juvenile backstabbing and personalities, while he stood apart from the crowd of "mean girl" chefs, and by that I include the boys. Only Kevin and Jen have come through radiating good character, talent, and humility.

I have no doubt the brothers are geniuses, but, I am rooting for Kevin first, and then Jen. It would cheer me up if Michael or Bryan went home next week, as well.

Great episode and really the best Top Chef season so far. I think that Kevin is playing this competition very wisely. He goes into each challenge focused on what he should do to win, including factoring in the time limitations. Better to make something 'simple' that taste perfect. Michael on the other hand wastes energy on showing off. I'm sure editing isn't helping but he is coming off like a pretentious jerk. His food should speak for itself without him doing all that chest thumping.

Can't wait to see what happens next!

Tom, Great blog again, Kevin is my favorite to win along with Bryan. Michael has got to stop disparaging Kevins food and his technique. There is a reason Kevin has done as well as he has, He is Fricken Good! Perhaps Michael is a little jealous or insecure about himself. He is a very talented and creative chef, but needs to act more like his older brother and grow up.
Look forward to the finale!

Were all of you watching the same episode as I was??? Yes, Kevin is a nice guy, but humble? Did you all miss him announcing the award that he was nominated for? How many times he has patted himself on the back for his "down home cooking"?

While Brian is truly humble - Kevin tells you that he is humble. Kevin wouldn't have won that without Brian's help, he didn't even know how to cook that meat, not the time or the temperature!

Brian is simply the best Chef this season, without a doubt and as an added bonus, he is a GREAT guy!

Michael is cut from the same cloth as Brian as well, people should give him a break, he is not nearly as obnoxious as some of the past season chefs, compared to some of them he is sweet! Simply because everyone is so goody-goody this season, it is making Michael look like an ogre, his is not!

Doesn't anyone remember how nasty Marcel was? or some of the other chefs from past seasons? Comeon, get off Michael's back!

I fell asleep! Whah!
I woke up at 10:56pm to see that it was Eli who went home.

I came on to read your blog and am so glad I did. Thank you for the insight. I can't wait to see the rerun.

I have watched all the seasons and have loved all the episodes...however...I wish I can tell Jennifer Carroll that her language is a real turn off...to her as a lady and contestant.
This is public TV and the image portrayed is a negative one !

Glad to see the final four - comment for the producers, though - this ep really shows how much usable footage there is of Michael V. being unlikeable - wonder if letting Robin get kicked off earlier and developing Mike V.'s d-baggedness...leading up to the epic battle b/w good & evil in the finals wouldn't have made for a better story!

Frankly, I am tired of the arrogance some of these chefs have exhibited (i.e. Hung and Josea). This season Michael said that Kevin cooks the kind of food he eats when he is at home. Michael is another "take no prisoners" kind of chef, like Hung. I am really hoping that Jennifer can rebound and make it to the final. And Kevin and the two brothers-Michael and Brian, are about as arrogant a group as you have had on Top Chef. Kevin may be a good chef, but humble is not his strong suit. Do you judges ever take arrogance into account when judging these chefs? Harold and Stephanie should be the standard by which Top Chef is viewed.

Michael needs to grow up and get over his rivalry with Bryan. It is so important to Michael to beat Bryan, but Bryan doesn't really care, which probably infuriates Michael even more. And Michael's put-downs of others further prove his own insecurity. He may think he is elevating himself, but it actually makes him look like an ass. I loved him comment in an earlier episode when he said, "I'm probably the nicest one here." Really? If you really are nice, and really are fabulous, you don't have to TELL people. They will figure it out for themselves. GO KEVIN, GO BRYAN, and GO JENNIFER!

I had the pleasure of meeting Thomas Keller 2 years ago after a meal at the French Laundry and i have to say as a chef from california, there is no bigger name in this country than his. And deservedly so. I couldn't imagine the pressure put on these chefs to have cook for him. Well done.

And why didn't Jennifer win? You say her garnishes where excellent. She makes sophisticated food, used a sophisticated technique but had a technical issue with her salmon cuts. But many diners said her salmon was perfect or slightly undercooked (which is no felony with salmon), so I thought it was a matter of taste whether her salmon was undercooked or not. And now you admit Kevin lamb was slightly overcooked, which should have created a wash compared to Kevin.

I think Kevin got win over Jennifer because Kevin fits the profile of Bocuse d'Or competitor better, and because he's Kevin, and Jennifer had been doing poorly, not because he beat out Jennifer according to the letter of challenge. Or was Jennifer not interested in doing real Bocuse, whereas Kevin did express positive enthusiasm? I doubt it with $30k on the line.

Sad to say we can't taste the food ourselves and be contented who pack they're knives and who stays. Its food not art. When there is food, there should be taste. Taste is still gonna be the biggest factor than plating. Whats the used of modern techniques and sphistication with a picturesque plating and yet we don't crave for another bite. Keep it up Kevin. Almost there.

incroyable

It is clear that the culinary fireworks of the Voltaggio brothers masks an underlying insecurity. The constant need to show off, either by ripping on fellow contestants or by trying to one-up each other with artistic displays of culinary expertise, is really nothing more than anxiety masquerading under the guise of a competitive nature. Let's call it culinary machismo. It would be funny if it wasn't so spiteful. As the Voltaggio personalities go, so goes the food. Perhaps the brothers should study Tom's current post about Keller, and realize that Kevin's kindness, and his calmness under pressure, place him in good company. As Kevin goes, so clearly goes his food: honest, delicious, and direct, with none of the insecurity that fosters the need to show off. Let's hope the nicest contestant we've seen in a while wins this thing.

The right four are in the Finals! Among these four outstanding chefs, they have won ALL of the Elimination Challenges and all but four Quick Fire Challenges. I'm giddy with anticipation. Bryan is my favorite and I hope he wins! (I think he should have won the petite Bocuse d'Or).

Chef:

I am both an accomplished home cook and an English teacher. You write well. Yes, I agree that a great chef must also be "culturally aware" and intelligent as well as a great cook. I also feel that they must be loving, supportive human beings as well. These are also areas where Kevin has the advantage. This is what stood out in the summer's TC Masters competition--the lack of arrogance, combined with skill and charisma. Michael says he's "never done anything else." He needs to work less on his knife skills and spend more time on his people skills. He will, unfortunately, have to watch re-runs, over and over, of his mean-spirited comments and demeanor.

Chef Tom,
Thank you for the insight about this week challenge I never heard of the Bocuse d'or and learned a little about how truly difficult cooking can be. As for the competition as with past seasons Kevin will not win the final due to his $30,000 dollar win and I see Jen winning the car in the next episode and the older brother winning the final while the younger brother is left empty handed. It seems the "big prizes" are split up between the final cheftestants.
Hope I am wrong.

Nice Blog.

By the way, it would be "Le Petit Chef Superieur Bocuse d'Or"

I realize that Michael had an off night on last night's show, but I wonder how many of those who want to take swipes at Michael have actually eaten at any of the contestants restaurants. Go to the Dining Room at The Langham, order the 7 course tasting menu, and I'm pretty certain you will be impressed with all components of Michael's cooking (taste, creativity, cohesiveness of the meal as a whole, etc..). It certainly matches that of Gramercy Tavern when Chef Tom was running it and it is certainly worth it's Michelin star (and possibly should be worth one more).