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oh my god!
i jsut love you!
you are the best judge! you dont insult viewers intelligenves with stupid remarks. you're just perfect and so is gail. and sadly, u r married too i hear.
anyway...you are the best! and why oh why cant they switch the rules to how you described...that woudl be great..sort of like project runway..they do it at home....and then theres usually some tiny twist..

I stumbled upon Top Chef on Camille's elimination episode from season 3, and have been a faithful viewer ever since. For me personally, this has been the most exciting season so far. I really appreciate the way this show lines up episodes to coincide with holidays and celebrations well before they actually come to pass. This season was a roller-coaster ride, with so many way-ups, and a few way-downs. For the controversial few wrongs with the show, there are so many rights.

I have read a lot of seemingly passionate blog replies to the finale, and I must say that the majority of replies I read, offered up some of the least savory of opinions that I have ever had to endure as a fellow viewer.

With respect for fellow respondants, know that I know this Tom; This season's title could have gone to any one of them, but Carla had it all set up for her to win. After the dessert debacle in 'restaurant wars', she was either the runner-up or the winner of every challenge leading to the final. That is someone coming into their own and making a powerful push. Plus, even though she is a bit kooky, she is one of the sweetest human beings in this world and if you have a problem with her, you have a problem with yourself.
Conversely, after his unbelievable team saving win with a dessert on 'restaurant wars', Stephan seemed to plateau and actually cool down. Other than the 'Le Bernadin' episode, he was on the bottom looking up leading to the finale. Stephan's arrogance was really annoying, but I am so glad he was there because he was very entertaining and is obviously superior with his technical prowess. He also showed me something when he felt Carla's pain at judges table in the finale. He does have heart and soul...that made me love Stephan. He was the dominant chef throughout, but down the stretch, no one can argue that he was flat-lining while Carla was rising dominant, with Hosea maintaining and gaining confindence.
Hosea was my guy all season long. He was unquestionably middle-of-the-road most of the season, but he was intelligent and you could tell there was something good there because he had his share of ups to go with his downs i.e. monkfish disaster, Leah, etc. On finale night though, Hosea had what it took to present the best menu of the evening. Let's face it, in having Richard, he had the best soux chef too.

There is so much more I want to say. Let it suffice for me to say that this is my absolute favorite show, hands down. If you feel that there should only be two in the finale, then that should be what it be. Padma is the best hostess for this show, without question. Gail is a perfect piece on the panel. I like Toby too. I hope to listen to his analogies again. Congrats on another successful season full of good food, controversy, perfect music and cinematography.

My winners: S1 - Harold
S2 - Marcel
S3 - Dale
S4 - Stephanie
S5 - Hosea

Oh please Tom, the past few season winners were the most blandest of chefs and only in the finale out of luck by not being elimated when they should have been. You always seem to be harder on the chefs about the desserts they do, and Hosea didn't even do one. Personally I don't think there's a dessert you would even care for, you overly nit-pick them. Hosea played it safe with the finale by not doing a dessert--isn't playing it safe the pet peeve of you judges? And what is it with this season all the "Cook your best" or :Whatever you want" challenges? I think you all are getting lazy and jaded with the exception of Toby. Your inconsisent--one week you'll say the chefs are playing it safe and the next you'll penalize them for taking a chance. A true finale would have the chefs cooking with the same ingrediants--that would determine the true winner and would be more satisying than this continued picking the middle of the road chef as a "Top Chef". It's becoming clearer every season that the best chef does not win. And if you guys ever have Casey back on you will lose what's left of your fans--she is another one who never should have made it to a finale with her dry chicken and rice crap meal.

Do celebrity chefs get invited to friends/relative's home for dinner? Are people afraid to cook for you?

You made the right decision on the finale. He did cook some of his best food food in New Orleans, as much as it bugs me to see Hosea win. He is such a Weiner; A Pussy as Adrianne called it. To watch and let Arianne do what she did to the Lamb... What did he make? potatoes? He won the final challenge but to me it didin't like he Won "Top Chef". He "got through" the challenges, and I found his food incredibly boring. I don't even remember any of the food he cooked. And his obsession with Steffan was ridiculous.

All in all this season, I was impressed by the talent you guys brought. Especially Carla, Steffan, Jamie, and Jeff because of the different point of views about food and how that manifest in the food they created. I was disapointed to see the challenges designed so that people like Leah could float by show after show. Especially with the uncooked and butchered fish at the restaurant wars show. As a result, we couldnt get to see the likes of Jeff do something complex and different or watch Jamie approach the final challenges with her intellegent creativity. The show where Jeff was eliminated was ridiculous as well. They weren't even competing with each other!

But Mr. Colicchio this is Top Chef and not football. The problem is... there is no consistency in your judging. In the restaurant wars Carla's desert not just one but all desserts were out of this world, was she eliminated then? The best finale you had was season 3 Hung deliver from the beginning till the end. Yes, his desert was not good but he took the title and he earned it. Stefan is all around. He was tested in so many ways even when there was a problem with the refrigerators he saved his restaurant team. We never choose the best restaurant or the best chef just for a night. Of course you have to defend your decision, who wouldn't.
I just can't believe it would be compared to a football.

While I will cede Tom's point about Stefan blowing it in the finale, the whole thing validates the "just good enough to get by" strategy that Hosea used all season. I don't know that the sports metaphor holds either. The Giants went out and beat the Patriots head to head. Hosea didn't win like the Giants did, Stefan just lost. It's kind of sad to have your "winner" get the title that way

At first I was impatiently waiting for Tom's blog to be published, but now I am very glad that it was "delayed." Having him be able to respond to people's reactions concerning finale is very key. And the judges/judging is the reason why the only reality TV show I watch is Top Chef.

Casey did write about her experience in the finale and how the editing did not reveal that Carla was extremely indecisive and inefficient when it came to the dishes.

I like the idea of having 2 dishes being able to be pre-planned. Being able to prep the best meal of your life would be difficult in such a short time span. I remember when Season 1 Dave had memorized a great dessert recipe specifically for the finale that really made Tiffany shine when she served it.

I did want to comment on appreciating the opportunity for the chefs to eat at Perilla. Given at how sheltered they are during that time, it was really nice to be reminded of what they were working towards, especially with a "chef's chef" like Harold.

Who chose the 3 chefs to be returning as sous chefs??

Clearing the caliber of skill between the 3 was not equal. Anyone who had Richard to work with had a distinct advantage!

The only fair way is to bring in well-known chefs, as in Season 3, to be sous chefs.

Also, why must you throw in a curve on the finale? Their time is already limited so just let them cook without throwing in something!

just admit you were wrong, fathead. the football analogy totally fails here - if you don't want the person who wins the top chef title to embarrass your show, pick the person who wins continuously. a chef does not make his career on a few great meals using limited range of ingredients. oh, well mediocrity it is then (or as you call it "best overall meal')!

If a mediocre chef can take the grand prize perhaps the format needs revamping

Sorry, but you all blew it. He gets thrown alligator and cooks beautifully with it, while the others do fine with fish and crab. He prepares a dessert course, one that seems more sophisticated than the pound cake that won last year's final challenge. His main dish was the best course of the night. Had it not been Stefan, you would have handed that person the title. Clearly you were miffed because he didn't act desperate enough for the title. Time after time you kept Hosea when he should have gone home, and Stefan faltered once or twice, consistently won, yet didn't win the final title. Had he flubbed it like Carla, the choice would have been understandable. But he didn't flub it. Toby was right, and I totally respect him for not giving in the way Gail did. I've lost a lot of interest in the show because it obviously doesn't really matter how brilliant a cook someone is.

Well, I understand your perspective on the win, but I still feel that there was something fundamentally not right about the choice to me. It has to do with a meal that felt incomplete or lacking an ending: Hosea's
While I understand the football analogy, maybe the solution is to make the chefs do 3 specified courses so that they include an appetizer, entree and dessert. This would showcase their skills and crown the all-rounder - to use a gymnastics analogy.

It would also be interesting to get your perspective on a couple of other debates going around the internet:
1. That Hosea's meal was at least as strongly influenced by his sous-chef as Carla's was. It's even being regarded as a team win
2. The whole Casey debacle at sidedish. Anyone can make an ill-judged remark that reflects anger or bitterness in the course of a private email, but this went considerably further and has probably done irreparable damage. Now, I realize that this is proably a waste of space since you will probably not be able to comment for legal reasons, but it would be fascinating to know if any of the allegations made at sidedish were remotely accurate.
I have to say that reading both the "interview" and the comments was a thoroughly unpleasant experience since the one forever changed my view of a former cheftestant and some of the others reeked of sexism and abusive language.

...and like Super Bowl fans whose team has just lost the big game, many viewers apparently walked away from this finale feeling "robbed". This surprises me since everyone from the judges to the chefs realize that you are only as good as your last dish. Thank you Tom, for articulating it so well. Congratulations to Hosea, Stefan and dear Carla for giving us a finale that was not an obvious blow out, but one where everyone had a horse in the race. (I hope we will see Anthony Bourdain come back next season to judge... Always fun to watch him react!)

The day that this clown is named Top Chef is the day that I cease to watch the show. I don't care how the judges are trying to spin it, this was a most disgusting decision and the flak that the show has taken since this horrible finale is indicative of just how transparent the contrived ending was. I have watched seasons from 2 through 5. Never again!

I want Carla's pea recipe. I have been craving peas ever since I watched that episode. Please ask her if I may cook her peas for my home.

Thanks for blogging. Helps me to understand a bit better why Hosea was chosen. I love the Super Bowl analogy. Where perhaps the best chef doesn't prevail, but those are the rules. Top Chef is one of my favorite shows to watch. Absolutely loved Carla and hope she's the fan favorite. Hootie Hoo girl! Also want to say I actually feel bad for Casey. It's horrid that Carla took her advice, but she did what she did, and the fault lies with Carla not Casey. Tho, I do have to say Casey's comments afterwards were super unprofessional. Looking forward to TC6.

Don't understand why people are surprised Stefan didn't win. He also lost the two previous challenges, and didn't just lose, but was on the bottom - behind Fabio & Carla (Last Supper) and then Carla, Hosea & Jeff (Mardi Gras).

He seems to have a great technique and palate but to me never seemed interested in the food or in learning anything, and that bit him in the end. His attitude seemed to be, all he had to do was show up, to win. That worked for a while, but in the end, when he was up against people who were seriously invested in what they were doing, he came up empty. Hosea seemed to improve with time through hard work, and it paid off. We've seen that happen in other seasons as well (e.g., Dale).

My disappointment in the show has been there's less and less focus on the food as time goes on. This was supposed to be one of the best groups of chefs ever, but you never showed me why. Would love to learn more about the actual cooking as opposed to the personalities, but that probably puts me in the minority!

Tom... If only you tasted the food I would agree with you, Toby felt that Stefan should have won!! I feel the least you
could do to save yourself is give him the 10 grand and wrap
up this season. Love the show! Stefan is the top chef!!

Tom, the fact that you are defending this decision only reveals your discomfort with it. The stupidest pick in all five seasons.

By the way, the show has been getting weaker (in terms of real culinary talent) every year as well. Probably won't tune in for Season 6.

Pack your knives and go! Stick to selling overpriced steaks. Leave the judging to a real chef.

I agree with Tom C. Stefan choked and Carla was led around by the nose. If they really wanted it they would have won. The problem is the fans in the viewing know little about chefs and their ways of cooking. Cooking is a skill and an art. Not everyone can build a house and not everyone can paint a masterpiece. That is why we should reward the best. Congrats to Hosea, you are the top chef.

Tom I did not think you would be brave enough to comment-so I just checked your blog. I am a chef- this was a good show that lets you see the chefs grow and work together, But this sickened me- to see a guy who cheats on his girl, cheats and steals in the kitchen, who is arrogant and can only cook fish and even that most of the time sucked. I am just sick and I too have avoided watching any of the reruns, or checked this page. I do not think I can watch next season as it has really given me food poisoning- no way am I going to be reduced to Paula or Rachael- yours was the finest- now it is gone- but we still have chopped. This is a good show. Ramsey I do love him but not his show- ridiculous. I guess you rate now down with the worst. I still can not believe you had the nerve to blog. Well, I guess you get points for having some nerve.

You're still trying to justify a wrong decision. All I will remember from this season is your active dislike for Stefan. I guess there's only room for one big ego on Top Chef.

I'll say it again: WIth Fabio out of the running, I really did not care who won Top Chef. But from a viewer's perspective: It seemed that Stefan's arrogance did him in because it seemed to me that he felt he had won the challenge based on past performance so what he did with the final challenge was immaterial. I might feel differently if I tasted the food. But all I have to go on is behavior and Stefan behaved as if he was already named Top Chef. And anyway, I believe Fabio could have done better!!

One question: Where was Anthony Bourdain this season?

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT i DON'T SEE YOU COOKING OR EVER TASTED YOUR FOOD TO CONSIDER YOU A GOOD CHEF,BUT JUDGING BY WHAT I SAW WEEK BY WEEK STEPHAN NOT ONLY IS A BETTER COOK(MORE QUALIFIED,MORE ADVENTURUOS,RISK TAKER)THAN HOSEA WHO(TO SAY THE LEAST)WAS ALWAYS MEDOICRE AND TOTALLY LACKING CLASS
THIS WAS MY LAST SEASON WATCHING THE SHOW,I THINK YOU DIDRESPECTED THE VIEWERS AND YOURSELVES CHOOSING HOSEA AS TOP CHEF

Most disatisfying season of Top Chef to date right up there with Season 2. I haven't watched the finale and don't intend to.

Josea is the guy representing Top Chef? The guy who cheated on his girlfriend. Whined all season about Stefan. Cooked middle of the pack. Threw Ariane under the bus and didn't step up as a leader much at all. This is your Top Chef?

Sorry, he's not my Top Chef. Worst choice I have ever seen you make. I hope you all come up with some other system to judge the finale because of this. It makes me sick to think that Josea is respresenting Top Chef for the show when he isn't number one in anything on the show.

Stefan should be Top Chef. He was even more helpful than Josea by far. He helped his teams win far more often than Josea. He even helped his fellow chefs far more often than Josea.

Just a pitiful shame that you judges decided to have Josea as Top Chef. I hope his food was so much better that it outdid all Stefan's accomplishments all season, because he would have been a much better candidate to represent Top Chef on every level as a chef: skill level, character, and leadership.

I feel a little small now. I've been waiting for Tom's blog and now I feel like a naughty child when their parent gets home.

(I do want to make the point that I've never agreed with the way the Super Bowl works either though. LOL!)

But, your blog put a lot of things into perspective and I appreciate the point of view.

We all have to keep in mind that this is a Reality Show and Cooking show ... and Tom is right, we can all go find Stefan and eat his food.

The rules were known from the start and it is clearer to me now that Stefan did blow it. (He should have done those other lollipops from restaurant wars).

I will never stop watching Top Chef and have a few Top Chef items on my birthday wish list - I'm a fan forever.

It must be flattering to Bravo, that us viewers and fans are so very opinionated and involved that we have such heartfelt comments to write.

Bottom line is, Hosea won and he did make a wonderful final meal. SO! That being said, congrats Hosea ... Good luck Stefan and we love you Carla.

I think that there needs to be a new set of rules. I am so heart broken over Carla's loss and Casey's "help". I don't know if I can continue to watch this show again. Congrats to Hosea, but I think it was by the skin of his teeth.

This is an example of why overconfidence is as much of a barrier to success as lack of confidence. Hosea exhibited the right amount of confidence in himself to get over his nerves. I'm looking forward to watching him in the future. I hope he stays in Boulder. It is a great food city.

Thank you Carla for your attempt at a more congenial partnership. You just need to be able to say no with the same amount of kindness. You deserve your own show.

Maybe the rules of the competition could be tweaked a bit, so that consistency in cooking has its merits when being judged. This dish-by-dish elimination theory doesn't really sit well with me, and quite frankly, many of the bloggers. Perhaps re-think the game plan for Season 6??

It is clear that Stefan should have won Top Chef. Your blog expresses such a bias against Stefan and your defensiveness is off putting.

Your analogy to the super bowl doesn't even apply to this situation because of the breakdown of the "scores"in the finale. According to the judges and Richard, Stefan made the best dish and Hosea made the best 3rd course, therefore a "tie breaker" should have been used.

Furthermore, it is not fair that Hosea was awarded BOTH advantages. Carla won the last elimination challenge and should have been rewarded with a real advantage. If Hosea had to cook alligator, I think we all know that it would have been a disaster. How convenient for the producers to let Hosea, the "seafood guy," cook fish. If Hosea did not have any advantages, he would have NOT won.

Finally, it is obvious that the producers do have an input on who stays and who goes (which is understandable, it's their show and there is a disclaimer). However, the fact that you deny it is ridiculous especially since Hosea and Leah remained in the contest in order for the producers to play up a romance between them (one that no one wanted to see).

Stefan is the real Top Chef :)

TOM! Wonderful! I hope the Elves listen to you!
"I would love to try to find a feasible way for us to challenge future finalists to create a five-course meal. I’d require that one be a dessert (...) And I’d permit them to plan and prepare two of the courses in advance."

I think it's an excellent combination of "twist" balanced with demanding the chefs' best. It's a win/win for chefs and audience—plenty of time for menu preparation (Project Runway's finalist collections anyone?) but demanding seasonality and geographical awareness.

I think this would result in very very strong finales. Elves! Listen to Tom!

I completely agree with Tom. Stefan thought he could cruise and win because of past performance. I wish Carla had cooked her food. I think she could have won if she had. Congtaulations Hosea, you busted your butt and beat Stefan.

Chef Tom, I wasn't happy with the decision, but only because of personal feelings. On technical merits, it was an understandable judgment. But I REALLY appreciate your comments about the final round! Season 1, you allowed the chefs to plan and execute THEIR menu, THEIR way, and they had plenty of help. No curve balls at the last minute, really. BTW, Season 2? We were tuning in because we didn't like Marcel, and wanted to see who was going to win. But again, they got to make (more or less) their own menu (there was a surprise extra course, wasn't there?). I think, by the final round, the chefs have earned the right to cook their food, no curveballs. Maybe 1-2 extra courses, for the "jazz, improv" chefs you described, and 2-3 that they've planned, served their way. Stefan complained about 4-inch plates, which he hadn't expected. Tell Bravo, "JUST LET THEM COOK." Thanks for your continued participation, you really give the show a lot of credibility.

Shame on you Tom C. and Gail--you guys blew it!! This is my last year of watching Top Chef. Quite apparent Tom was against the "Euro's" from the get go, I'd like to see him go to Europe and try to make pasta and pass--like Fabio had to cook Creole food--NOT FAIR!! I'm hoping Bravo cans Tom and Gail and keeps Toby on as head judge. Hosea most definately was NOT the Top Chef this season. Shame on you!!

Blah, Blah, Blah ...

Thanks for the discourse.
I saw something different.
Favoritism and producer intervention.
"hometown guy"

I like the jazz vs classical analogy. The idea of allowing some planning time, plus some improv is a great idea for the future.

As for the helpers/sous chefs. I don't like the idea of past contestants. I prefer the outside professionals. But what I think would be even better is to allow each finalist to bring one of their own staff from their home restaurant/business. And if they are doing 5 courses, bring two staff members.

As for the winner this season... I would have preferred Jamie, Jeff or Carla... but that isn't the way the competition played out. I still love the show and can't wait til next season.

Tom, your analogy to the Super Bowl was perfect. I just wanted to say how much I love the show ! I certainly didn't agree with all the decisions this year but...thanks for taking the time to give us a little bit more insight.

Tom, I used to think you were..."The Man." I don't anymore. In fact, this season you showed how "touchy" you really are. You even have said yourself that a GOOD chef should have a certain "swagger" or "ego." I just think you were really intimidated by Stefan. As far as Potato Head vs. Stefan, PH was always saying that, "he tries to get everyone off their game." Who, who...did he rattle but Hosea. That's all he lived for...to beat Stefan and he won one quickfire and one challenge...that's IT!! I can't believe you just threw that by the wayside and were convinced in the end that he was top chef...NO WAY!! Stefan will always be TOP CHEF for Season 5!!

I really enjoyed this season! I agree with Tom that the finalists having more time to prepare and cook would be interesting. Also, equal access to ingredients--no one finalist should use all the available caviar, for instance. To cook the "meal of a lifetime" takes more than a couple of hours, there are so many things that require time and advance prep.

The guest judges this season were outstanding. I would love to see more of Eric Ripert, and my favorite tv chef, Lidia Bastianich. I did miss Anthony Bourdain and Ted Allen.

Thanks for keeping the off-kitchen drama to a minimum and focusing on the food. Although I must comment that after watching every season of TC, I have not seen any dish prepared that I wanted to cook myself, and I love to cook. Perhaps that is one of the reasons I enjoy TC, because it validates my appreciation for dining at great restaurants and experiencing food that I would not be interested in duplicating in my home kitchen. I have eaten alligator but I'm not going to be hacking one apart at home! Looking forward to the next season.

In the end, I thought Hosea came across as an ingracious jerk. My hope is that Stefan, Carla, and Fabio far exceed his winnings in endorsements and appearance fees.

I have been waiting and waiting for your blog, Tom. So good to hear from you. I heard that you took some guff over this at an event. Thank you for your insight, it was so very helpful. I am feeling so bad that Carla, Fabio or Stephan didn't win. But I understand fully what happened and appreciate your analogy. I am a true fan and will be back. No silly threats of never again. My 'guy' has never won, Marcel, Richard, Fabio, but hey, maybe next year! I look forward to next season, until then, love you you and yours!

Sure, Tom, the show would be like the Superbowl if it were not for the fact that you told Toby if there were to be a tie the tie-breaker would be to consider the entire season's work of the cheftestants. You have all sent many contestants packing for cooking 101 mistakes: seasoning (aka Hosea's bland first course.) Furthermore, Hosea shouldn't be penalized for not making a dessert; but Stefan should of been given kudos for making one that tasted good. So, ok, the venison was better. That makes one for Hosea and one for Stefan's squab, best course of the evening. Appetizer, both were great and first course, both were bad. The final meal should of gone to a tie-breaker considering the entire season. And, Stefan should of won hands down!!! It was the judges and the show who lost this season for bias and lack of integrity. It was written all over the judges table because Stefan's "arrogance" (as Gail mentioned) didn't suit your (judges' and producers') palates.

I wanted Stefan to win, but I thought it became very clear as the episode progressed that Hosea was going to win. Particularly when they went to a shot of Marcel questioning Stefan freezing the fish in his app.

Where will Top Chef be next season? (I would like to see San Fran or Las Vegas)

I think you Tom deserve to be replaced. End of story

I think TC needs to stop pandering and self-referencing by bringing back past alomost-rans contestants as sous chefs. Their time is done, let them depart from our screens for good. This finale turned into grudge match of the also-rans and ruined what could have been an honest and exciting runoff. The desire to do over a past failure and redeem themselves means that these "helpers" WON'T be a true sous and will instead try for a collaborative team role - which means that it's not a true contest, regardless of whether the finalists are pared to two or not.

In last season's Casey/Dale/Hung final, the professional sous chefs kept their input and opinions to themselves - if they had doubts or reservations over certain methods they kept them to themselves and let each chef's vision come through. Looking at Hosea's food, I feel he won with Richard Blais's cuisine. Foam is part of "his food"? Really, now - how dumb do you guys think we are?

"Advantages" that aren't advantages in a knife draw, punitive assignments of ingredients in the extra course by the winner - you tanked your own program and put weed killer on your playing field. Shame on you for having such contempt for your viewers by ruining what could have been an exciting experience.

Sure, Tom, the show would be like the Superbowl if it were not for the fact that you told Toby if there were to be a tie the tie-breaker would be to consider the entire season's work of the cheftestants. Please don't insult our (viewers) intelligence. You have all sent many contestants packing for cooking 101 mistakes: seasoning (aka Hosea's bland first course.) Furthermore, Hosea shouldn't be penalized for not making a dessert; but Stefan should of been given kudos for making one that tasted good. So, ok, the venison was better. That makes one for Hosea and one for Stefan's squab, best course of the evening. Appetizer both were great and first course both were bad. The final meal should of gone to a tie-breaker considering the entire season. And, Stefan should of won hands down!!! It was the judges and the show who lost this season for being biased and lacking integrity. It was written all over the judges table because Stefan's "arrogance" (as Gail mentions) didn't suit your (judges and producers) palates.

Has anyone discussed the Casey Curse being in effect? This theory was mentioned at her reunion show when her friendship with different folks coincidentally got them knocked off the show (CJ, etc). It seems as if Carla being stuck with Casey, for all of her talent, may just have been the Top Chef gods picking their winner.
In all seriousness, although I really enjoyed this season and would watch regardless of what y'all did, I wish y'all would go back to they hype of the finale that was Season 3's reveal. The live announcement of the winner, the multiple city extravaganza, etc. really hyped up winner and made it seem like such an accomplishment. I remember the excitement of seeing Harold win Season 1; since it was the first season it was probably the most exciting. After that, Hung's win is clearly the next most suspenseful and thus exciting.
Last suggestion, given that some of us fans have been very loyal viewers (I can probably quote you some of the things you, Gail, Padma, Katie, etc have said at judge's table or in blogs), I think it would be wonderful if there was some competition to add a loyal fan to the finals judges. Obviously, I'd love to rig it as just me, but honestly I think a lot of us with more quotidienne tastes have learned a lot from the show, have cooked many of the recipes, and may surprise you with the astuteness of our observations.

Tom: I love your work as judge. No complaints with anything I have ever heard/seen. I would prefer this not be posted by the moderator...rather, I hope it is passed along to you.
As a fan of the show who came in at the end of Season Ilan and watched everything since AND the back catalog, I am sure you'd have been shocked at the meal I had at Craft in Las Vegas last June. We had a table of 8 and the food and service just were not what we expected of what we saw in the environs or on the menu. I am not angry. I was just a bit surprised. Must be someone between you and the tables I guess. No hard feelings. Happy if I get another chance. And if you ever have to choose I hope you stay on TV.

I'm glad to see these suggestions. I, too, miss the depth of the season 1 and 2 finales. Some techniques in the kitchen take time - dough to rise, meat to braise, etc. These rush jobs, fun in the first instance, simply eliminate such key techniques. Hope the producers listen to their star.

Carla would have been the top chef,if she had put out the same fooD as Stefan. She was Tom's pick for Top Chef however she tanked and Hosea LUCKED OUT. Stefan was the best Chef of all 5 seasons.

Sure Tom, the show would be like the Superbowl if it wasn't the fact that you told Toby if there were to be a tie the tie-breaker would be to consider the entire season's work of the cheftestants.

I agree with Hupert Keller's and Toby's argument in defense of Stefan. (See Toby's blog). How can you even say with a straight face that Hosea's first course was better than Stefan's. You all have eliminated many a contestants for cooking 101 mistakes: seasoning. So, how can you sit there and defend that Hosea's bland dish was better than Stefan's watered-down one. Last season, you sent ??? (one of the partners in the gay couple) packing because her salad was not seasoned enough. And, have said in many occasions that that is just cooking 101. Also, any Top Chef should be able to make a dessert. Hosea should not be penalized for not making one; however, Stefan should of been given kudos for producing one that tasted good with no complaints except presentation. But, as you have mentioned, if a chef had to choose between presentation and taste, it should be the latter. So, ok, the venison was better. That makes one for Hosea and one for Stefan's squab, best course of the evening. The final meal should of been a tie and should of gone to a tie-breaker considering the entire season. And, Stefan should of won hands down.

So, I agree with 98% of the comments made on the message boards and on the blogs. Hosea is the weakest winner in the history of TC and I am disgusted of the lack of integrity in the judging. I've been a faithful fan everyone season but now I don't even care to watch the show anymore like many of fans have mentioned in their comments. Listen, producers, I'm sure you have someone to read the message boards and blog commments. You will be losing many faithful fans for the disgrace and lack of integrity presented at the judges table in the finale. If you care about your fans, you should stick to your guns (like Tom said about Carla and go with your gut) and not just try to shoot for ratings. What were you all thinking?

Lastly, I think the judges were rather biased and went with Hosea because Stefan was "arrogant" as Gail mentioned in her blog and seemed to of stepped on a few too many toes with the judges. Stefan appears egotistical but he's truly the top chef and has proven his expertise throughout the season. Everyone knows Stefan is a great chef and he's going to have an amazing future ahead of him. We will all look forward to seeing him in the future as one of the greats in the culinary world.

No problem with the finale challenge decision. Whats wrong is all the challenges. Instead its luck of the draw and by the end you are left with a mis mash of chefs with unequal skills. Are producers deliberately eliminating uninteresting chefs?!!

Really chef, how important do you think it is for a chef to be able to prepare desert.

"I’d require that one be a dessert (I have always believed that one of them should be a dessert. These aren’t my rules; I just play by them!)" So you strongly think a dinner should have a desert now?

"Some people have expressed indignation at the result, insisting that Stefan was clearly the stronger chef. Perhaps, perhaps not. Irrelevant. " Thank you for being so clear about the status of the audience (us).

"And thanks to you, for watching with such enthusiasm and for your heartfelt and thoughtful comments." Oh I thought I misunderstood you.

Any feedback to this blog entry is irrelevant anyway as you clearly don't even want to mention the desert.

Really..

Bravo Tom for another fine season as head judge. You are a big reason I love the show and I always appreciate your thinking and articulate commentary even if I don't agree (although I usually do). Your blog here is right on the money. Although many might have liked other seasons better -- we all know every season has their own chemistry. Frankly I enjoyed the fact that this season there was less acrimony between the cast mates compared to other seasons (i.e. Marcel, Betty, Ilan) -- and even though this season there were a few who I thought to be a quite immature (some very uninsightful/inspiring exit commentaries from the contestants), I still thoroughly enjoyed this year's production. I can't wait until next season. Just a suggestion for TC6, add back in a challenge with a blind taste test... Best regards to you and all the Top Chef judges who did a great job this season.

Go ahead Tom, defend your decision as you will - it isn't going to make any difference. What you said above isn't unlike trying to "stand behind your dish." Chefs can argue their intent and the integrity of their process as much as they want, but if they put out something that downright tastes bad, their customers will walk. And this season, the audience was force-fed "monkey ass on a clam shell." Guess what? They don't like it. We've sat through an endless number of episodes in which product placement grew ever more egregious and inappropriate, we've watched mediocrity tolerated again and again - to what end? An uninspired contestant whose work was consistently middling and sometimes poor managed(with the help of an exceptional sous-chef) to pull off one good meal and was given a title of which he was profoundly unworthy.* Do you genuinely think that's what the audience wants? They may tolerate being jerked around throughout the rest of the season, but in the end, they do wish to see good prevail. And it didn't. Change the rules of the finale if you wish (they certainly should be), but it's too late for the likes of me - I won't be watching.

* Better change the title of the show, too. It's utterly misleading.

My heart just broke for Carla, she had the good grace to be aware of her shortcomings so more power to her. I sincerely hope she moves on to further successess. Sounds like this really was Stephan's to lose, and he lost. I would honestly swear he was getting bored by it all at the end. When even Fabio couldn't give it to him (which clearly broke his heart) I knew that the meal he had just served up wasn't what it should have been. Stephan seems to be talented, creative and is probably a much nicer guy than the show lead us to believe. Congrats Hosea.

The future of this show is going to seriously depend big changes in challenges as well as for the finale. What was with the SuperBowl Challenge? I don't necessarily think it was a bad challenge, but why in the world was anyone besides the judges allowed a voice in who wins? And did anyone else notice the students and the judges never voted for the same person? More "chefy" challenges like the relay please. Less gimmicks like the hot dogs. Strictly personal opinion here but there shouldn't be 3 chefs in the finale, it should be two. They shouldn't serve head to head, they should serve consecutively. They should require that a desert is made. Hubert Keller was right. If you seriously want to consider yourself a TOP CHEF, then learn how to freaking make a dessert. Then give them 2 whole days, no help except for service, and get out of their way.

Well said Tom! Thanks for a great season.

Loved the musician / chef analogy! And thanks, Tom, for your explanation about the finale. Unlike many who have said they will no longer watch, I for one am hooked - and have been since season 1. While my favorites this year were Fabio and Carla and would loved to have seen one of them win, I understand how things played out. Can't wait til next year!

The rules of Top Chef need to be changed to more accurately determine who is the "Top Chef." This season failed to identify the true top chef because mediocrity throughout the season was rewarded. With all due respect, your analogy to the NFL only highlights the problem.

The NFL has one team playing one other team once a week. It is a one on one challenge with one team losing and one winning. Several teams play each week. In Top Chef, all the contestants play each other all at the same time once a week. Sometimes, contestants must even form teams and play as a group. Nothing like the NFL.

The rules for football don't change. The equipment doesn't change. Only the weather and turf change. In Top Chef, the rules and challenges change every week. Again, no relationship to the NFL here.

The point of Top Chef is to determine who is the best, not who wins the last challenge. That is why each weekly challenge is different. The purpose is to discover a chef's range, ability to work under pressure, ability to supervise, etc. etc. Clearly the top chef is not only the one who wins the final challenge, but the one who has the greatest overall proven ability. There is no relationship here between the champion of the AFC playing the champion of the NFC, no relationship whatsoever. Take for instance the Tour de France. With its various stages each representing a different challenge, isn't this a more accurate analogy? Do you think Lance Armstrong should have lost the Tour if he lost the final stage?

I think I speak for the majority of Top Chef fans when I say that this season highlighted a problem that was demonstrated last season when Lisa made it to the top three when clearly more qualified contestants were eliminated. The difference here is that season 5 is the season where the new Lisa (Hosea) won. Very disappointing.

I love the show and the judges, but Bravo really needs to listen to the viewers here and react in some way. Simply defending the result does not make it right. Hosea was at the bottom or close to it far more than Stephan. Stephan won more than any other contestant in the show's history. Ask yourself this, is the purpose of each challenge just to eliminate a chef or rather to discover something about the chef's abilities?

I for one was not happy with the outcome. After reading the blog, I see the point in making Hosea the winner. Although overall, I do not believe he won the season, I can see that in that episode, in that challenge, Hosea won.
Thank you for giving your views and clarifying Mr. Colicchio.

As for future final, I would love for it to go back to 2 finalists. I would vote for a 5 course meal and I too feel dessert in mandatory. You are not a top chef if you can not master at least a couple great desserts!
I would also like the actual cooking be part of the voting. Who works well under pressure, who works cleanly, who directs other well, who uses ingredients smartly. These are all factors of a great chef. I also think to make it fair for the viewing public; there should be an open scoring system in play.
Make the love-child of To Chef, Iron Chef and a cooking show! For all of the “non-Chef” friends, they get to see cooking and creation like a cooking show. For Top Chef Foodies, use the idea of scoring each episode like Iron Chef and the Fantasy Team idea (more dignified episode scoring please, less MTV and more ACF meets PBS). Then use the Quick Fire “must use this ingredient” idea, add 5 courses, previous losers helping, open kitchen forum and OPEN scoring mechanism that the viewer sees. Make it a multi night event with more stress and angst! Winner has really earned it and proven his/her talents. No lucky breaks, no staying under the radar, no Leah’s staying way to long on the show!
What else is it to be a chef, if not to perform well under pressure CONSISTENTLY?

Tom, we are clearly at a disadvantage at home because we cannot taste the food. So we have to rely on your (and the other judge's comments).

Your bias against Stefan's attitude was evident from early on. Hung was also an arrogant little prick but he was clearly the top chef and won as a result of his strong performance. For some reason though Stefan really got under your skin. And that bias was evident to us viewers at home. Hosea is no top chef. He made strong dishes but it was argued that Stefan had the best dish of the night with his squab. Couple that with the fact that Stefan had the best performance throughout the season and it's clear he should have won.

The Top Chef final round is NOT the superbowl. Earlier performance SHOULD influence the final decision. I don't think I will be watching this show anymore. It doesn't showcase talent - it showcases reality tv compelling personalities and side stories (face it, the only reason Hosea made it to the finale is because he had an on-air sexual indiscretion). Such a crushing disappointment.

I'm so sick of reading that Stefan was robbed. He was the most consistently strong chef during the entire competition, but he said himself that he was tired of Top Chef by the finale. He was so sure that he would win that he didn't seem to feel enough sense of urgency at the end. Hosea, on the other hand, was not confident that he would win, so he gave his cooking every ounce of effort he had. As has been pointed out over and over, the title of Top Chef goes to the person who does the best in the final challenge, and I think Tom Colicchio's Superbowl analogy is a very good one.

I would have loved for Carla to win, and my heart just broke for her, but I think life has a lot of good things in store for her.

Very anticlimactic and very disappointed, is all I can say!!!

I'm not a fan of the Super Bowl analogy. I prefer the World Series one, where a team can't rely on dumb luck to win the game (see: David Tyreee's miracle catch against the Pats), but through consistently outperforming the other team.

All season long, Stefan (and Carla) outperformed Hosea. Simple.

TOP CHEF can not be measure like Superbowl, on Top Chef you are grated by other's opinions while Superbowl is based solely on your own team effort. You go to the final because you scored. But on Top Chef you can go to the final even you were mediocre during the whole season just like Horsea. Have you seen a team go to the final without winning any game? So is disapointing when you elect a Top Chep that was never at the TOP and will never be. You have to admit it, you blowed this season out with your bad choice of a BOTTOM CHEF. Like you had told them before, you have to be humble when you realize your own mistake.

But isn't "strongest chef" synonymous with "top chef" or "best chef"? If that's the case, Stefan should have won. The show needs reformatting, as it became apparent this season. I will watch next time around, though.

I'm truly disappointed with the regular judges this year! I'm glad Toby was on this season, he was a breath of fresh air. I believe that the rules were changed this year in the finale to help Hosea to win. I have watched top chef every season and the regular judges should be ashamed of themselves..it's suppose to be Top Chef not Let me play it Safe and manipulate my way to stay Mediocre Chef! HOSEA IS MEDIOCRE AT BEST. I BELIEVE THAT RIGHT IS RIGHT and Stefan did consistently better than Hosea the whole season and it always mattered in the past seasons when it came to break a tie for the title of top chef but was totally disregarded in this one. I WILL NOT WATCH ANOTHER SEASON of Top Chef, it's not based on how well the chefs cook it's based on how well they can kiss butt. Hosea did all he could with his sidekick Leah (the worst chef) to stay alive! It was disgusting to watch, I mean really alot of better chefs were sent home while he remained. Whereas Stefan was a bit arrogant at times but he was a darn good chef and friend to many on the show. I thought this competition was based on the chefs ability to cook not on their personalities. I believe Tom Colicchio didn't like Stefan and exercised his persuasive power on the other regular judges to vote against him. In addition Tom made good on his threat to Stefan(at the judges table in finale part 1), when he told him "you come in here confident almost cocky and with that attitude you better be able to deliver!" by holding Stefan to a higher standard than everybody else. By the way, I wouldn't be surprised to find the recipes of the food Hosea cooked in the Finale in the cook books of the Best chefs of New Orleans (he has no originality)!!!

Thank you for your comments. They clairfy a lot. I thought this was a great season and I already can't wait for the next. Please appreciate that those of us at home watching get attached to certain cheftestants and are usually rooting for our favorites. I don't always agree with your decisions, but then I don't taste the food. I think those of us that just watch tend to want the judging to be based on the performance throughout the competition and even though we know the rules, it's difficult for us. I still feel Jamie should have been in the final and that Leah should never have made it as far as she did, but as I have said, my opinion is based on the whole competition, not just one dish. For those who say they will never watch again, I say, "SHAME ON YOU!". I feel that Tom and Gail and Padma do the best they can with the rules they are given. I'm sure they sent home chefs that they thought were better than those left, but the judging has RULES which I do believe they try very hard to follow. I just want Top Chef to be on 2 or 3 times a year! It has become my favorite reality show and I hope it continues for many years to come. Great job and congratulations to Hosea for the win and Carla, you are probably my favorite chef ever, darn you for not cooking YOUR food on the finale. I wish you the very best and I hope we see you again soon! Hootie hoooooooooo to you!!

Chef Colicchio - I respect your incredible talent and your judgement in this competition. However, I am a bit confused by your comments in this blog. How is it possible that "Stefan made one strong course and two problematic courses" and "Hosea made two extremely strong courses and one that would have been great with more salt." This does not seem to add up correcly. If Stefan's squab course was "the best course of the night" at least according to the majority of the judges....how does Stefan score only "one strong course" while Hosea scores two "extremely strong" courses? Which were those? It certainly can't include the scallop course, since the judges appeared to give that course to Stefan, nor can it include the first course, which unanimously went to Carla, and appeared ot require more salt. Can you please explain???

you invite european chefs to compete and then take them to new orleans to prepare cajun food? ciao, fabio. you don't take into account that stefan knocked it out of the park after being given (by hosea) the most difficult protein (alligator) for the starter? you don't take consistency into account for the title of Top Chef? it's hardly a football game, really poor analogy. you stacked the deck in hosea's favor by not requiring dessert –how can you have a finale that doesn't require dessert? -- absurd.

rationalize as you might, tom, the audience sees the emperor's new clothes, and doesn't like it. your bias against stefan came across time and time again – were you threatened by his confidence? Even hosea knew stefan was better than him. you ultimately rewarded mediocrity & playing it safe. quite a precedent you’ve set.

rename the show Top American Chef and stop the hypocrisy. it was really quite sad to see this program manipulate the outcome – and those of us watching.

This season I found it difficult to stay interested in the show. The chefs were consumed with quirky personality scenes, instead of dedication to cooking. I compare this season to the first one, and see quite a difference. The chefs in the first show were focused on their work. Personalities came through. However, they were professional. In the last few seasons, it has become more and more common for the chefs to try to show their human sides. But we are seing too much of this. The chefs are not presenting themselves as professional people.

For what it's worth, I would have liked to see Stefan win. I know he did not present himself as a cuddly teddy bear. He was all business. The guy won a lot of challenges, and was totally dedicated to his work. I was completely impressed with him when he used an ice bath to complete a dish when the refrigerator failed. He did this without ringing his hands or having a crisis for the camera. At that point, I decided the guy had it together and was a top chef. The way Carla handled the same situation made me decide she was not a top chef, although she is a nice person. But this is Top Chef, not Top Nice Person.

Loved the show. Can't wait for Top Chef 6

Tom you guys did a great job judging this year. It must be said that Top Chef does a much better job judging than a certain other cable show we all know and love. I hope to continue seeing Padma & Gail in the future along with all of the great guest judges. Gail's absence did not go unnoticed this year. Toby brings a different angle to the judges table but i do worry that he might one day choose brash statements over genuine criticism.

Carla Eff'd Up, Stefan Got Screwed -- that's my headline.

pretty clear to me that Bravo mgmt stacked the deck for a Hosea win of "NY Top Chef". dessert NOT required in the finale -- what's up with that? choosing a top chef who is woefully inadequate in a major category of cooking?

it was clear to me that the continental judges recognized this (thanks Toby) but the Euros were doomed to lose -- ratings and 'the home town call' won out over skill.

oh well, that's TV for ya.

With all due respect Tom, if all that matters for the finale is the chef's performance that day, what incentive do the competitors have throughout the season to take risks or do anything exciting? Everyone will just cook "safe" foods that they feel are enough to just get by (which happens to be the biggest criticism I've heard about this season). A chef's goal each week should be to WIN the challenges (as Stefan had), not just get by to avoid being on the bottom.

Tom one of the reasons I have watched Top Chef is because you seem to have a good sense of humor and seem to know food. You have always seemed unbiased and fair in your judgments. This finale though has ruined the show for me. I realize I was not there to taste the food. I realize that I did not see what went on behind the scenes of the show. What I do know is that Hosea is not and will never be Top Chef in the minds of most viewers. All you need to do is read the comments on this site, I would say a good 95% of them are from people completely aghast at your selection. To keep this short I will put my problems with Hosea into a list:

Why Hosea Is Not Top Chef
1) Never won a quickfire, only won a challenge when others helped him.

2) Is a seafood chef yet he sucked in the Le Bernardin challenge and had no clue how to skin an eel.

3) Was given first choice of proteins and first choice of sous chefs, hoarded all of the ingredients he wanted and yet still could only cook two courses better than Stefan who was at a serious disadvantage. Alligator and Marcel? How much more failure can be thrown at a contestant?

4) Venison for a fourth course? Afraid of dessert much?

5) You and Gail obviously did not like Stefan personally and took it out on him in the judging. Everyone saw it. This seems to be based on the faulty idea that people saw Stefan as some sort of villain, like Tiffani or Marcel. The truth of the matter is that while most people thought Stefan was an ass he was no villain. He was the one always willing to help other contestants, he comforted Carla when she was down. He was arrogant, but he had every right to be he was easily the best chef over the course of the season.

I have not decided whether or not to continue watching the show, but you and Gail have completely ruined the show as far as I am concerned.

I enjoyed this season, though not always agreeing with Bravo's choices in editing the episodes. I don't want to sound like an old fuddy-duddy, but could we please have more intelligent, less foul language from the cheftestants next competition? I would like to see more professionalism outside the kitchen as well.
Congrats to Hosea!
Looking forward to Top Chef 6!

A competition, of course. And, a competition demands fair judging, which seemed to be missing. Carla was the producer's choice and was gifted into the finale. Hosea won by cooking a chunk of meat. And, you took every opportunity to attack Steffan, on several shows and ocassions. Every appearance was made that the producers and judging biased determined the outcome, and not the food.

I agree with you and the judges. Based on the rules that they are only judged on the present dishes, and we cannot taste them, I have to say that the viewers have to just accept what you guys spend hours deliberating on. I feel they are ALL winners, anyway!! I loved Richard's blog, a while ago, where he talks about his second place finish. Instead of being resentful that he didn't come in first? His take was, there is an egg (the $100,000) and the chicken.. He accepts that he won the "chicken".. and chickens lay eggs.. In other words, he still won. he won the exposure of his great talent/skills, his winning personality, and his business/restaurant thrives/becomes famous/more successful, plus the media attention offers in the future.They ALL win... Carla wins the hearts of America AND the car, and her restaurant will become famous, like Richard... Stefan wins the respect of many famous chefs and the opportunity to work with and travel to the food and wine fest. with Eric Rippert...and, his restaurant will now become famous..Hosea gets to open his own restaurant now.. and help his ill mom.. They All win.. It was a nice season and I loved the last several challenges.. What started out as a boring season really ended with some very interesting/informative venues and challenges.. I think this season showed a lot of improvement from start to finish.

I see your point about the Super Bowl comparison - and it makes sense. I think there is just an unsatisfactory feeling when you watch the whole season and become invested in these chefs to find at the end that the best chef among the group didn't win. But point taken about the Bowl, will keep that in mind.

Secondly, can we please do the finale you want! That sounds so much better! One of the things that was so frustrating to watch on Top Chef this season was terrible challenges, with terrible ingredients - that often in no way elucidated who had the talent in the group. Fabio was right when he said that it's wasn't cooking, but rushing.

Can't wait for next season!

Tom

It is hard to argue with the Finale judging as a standalone. It was obvious that Hosea was hitting the marks, that Carla blew it and Stefan fell just short. On the pure "what is in front of me tonight" criteria, the decision was justified.

But the anger and frustration was in how a chef like Hosea got that far to begin with. The problems stem all the way from chef selection for the season (which you are not involved with), the design of the challenges (which you also have no say in) and the judging rules (which you might have some influence in). Once all that is set you have to decide among those parameters.

But too many mediocre chefs were cast this season. And some challenges were designed not to showcase the real cooking skills, but the chefs' "fun" or "TV" skills. The TV Host challenge particularly was odd. Jeff lost on the Super Bowl challenge not because he didn't cook well, but because his food was not as "fun" SuperBowl food, judged by the panel of culinary students.

It's the element of randomness --- challenges that allow a lesser chef to triumph -- that annoy.

Also, it's too easy for a Spike or Hosea to skate by in the middle, to lay back and not try too hard. And we'd like to see teamwork be a judging criteria in team challenges. Yes, Ariane butchered the lamb, but when Hosea lays back and makes potatoes, and brags about his butchering skills at JT, it means he was content to have his team send out bad food so he could win. That should be unforgiveable.

It's clear that Richard had a huge hand in the menu constrution for the Finale -- you could see his eye in the presentation and preparation ("Chef, let's plate in the walk-in"). It was Richard's win as much as Hosea's. Last year the sous-chefs were not allowed to contribute ideas, which was much fairer.

You can defend the Finale easily - I would hope you would use your influence on the producers to make every attempt to design a season that highlights real chef talent and attitude. I think the producers assume that we complain about the drama and dishonest editing but secretly love the excitement -- nothing could be farther from the truth. I'm annoyed at the overdramatization but suffer through it to see high-level, highly professional mature chefs give it their best.

Hope Season 6 is up to better standards.

Hey Tom--I can totally appreciate your Super Bowl analogy; however, I would love it if Top Chef incorporated past performance into all the judging sessions. Perhaps allocating 25% of your decision to be based on the chef's previous performance. In that way, it wouldn't overwhelm the final decision, but it would allow consistently strong individuals to stay until the end. It bums me out when I see someone go because they botched one meal, but had several outstanding dishes in previous challenges. It would also weed out those chefs who more or less skate by and only occasionally hit it out of the park.

Rationalize it all you want, but your ego got in the way of your palate. You just didn't like Stephan.

I was one of those up in arms about Hosea's win, but I too thought of the Super Bowl analogy. The one specific way the analogy doesn't work, particularly in the case of New England's loss to the Giants, is that we could see why the Giants won and the fact that they did so in such dramatic fashion. In other words, we could experience the game viscerally. In that sense, the Giants' win was satisfactory (maybe not to NE fans) and also convincing. However, as you've pointed out, Tom, we can't smell or taste the food, and so it's much more difficult for us to understand the differences between the meals. I hope in the future, the show can be produced in such a way that viewers can get a longer look at dishes and have more descriptive analysis by the judges. 'It tastes good' or 'The dish is well-balanced' really doesn't tell us much.
And I suppose that the fact that a cheftestant is a finalist speaks for his or her past performances. Although, the way the show is formatted, it's possible for a cheftestant to skate by for some time by being in the middle of the pack. You don't win, but you're not eliminated either. Maybe in the future, the producers can figure out a way to make it more difficult to stay on. Maybe include the cheftestants whose dishes weren't so bad in the group whose dishes were, for elimination. Either you're at the top -- or close to it -- or you're at the bottom, even if you're dish didn't outright fail.
I can see now that the show was edited with Hosea's win in mind. I wonder now how often Hosea really referred to Stefan. Was it in actuality a small number of times, but knowing that he and Stefan would be competing in the finale, the editors showed only and often clips of Hosea complaining about Stefan?
Anyway, thanks, Tom, for being pretty even-tempered about viewer response. We've been harsh, but it doesn't sound as if you're taking it personally, which is good.
Can't wait for next season. Try to include more individuals from different parts of the world. That would add all varieties of perspective.

Boooooo Bravo. Boooooo Tom. You are wrong. Stefan is the clear winner.

Thank you Tom for reaching out to your fans. The biggest reason people are upset with this decision is because it seems that the decision was based more on personality than the quality of the food. Even your defense sounds overblown when you say Stefan "blew it". There is a bias here that is undeniable and most fans have picked up on it. It is unfortunate. In watching the episode it was clear that there were esteemed judges who felt that Stefan did not blow it, either on his first course (which everyone admitted was watery)or on his dessert course. Specifically noting that they demonstrated technique and refined qualitites of a chef. It is understandable that the TOP CHEF franchise would not want Stefan to be representing them, but if that is what the show has boiled down to than too bad for TOP CHEF. Eveyone has an ego, I think your fans expected more of you and TOP CHEF.

As viewers of the show we can not taste the food but we do get a pretty good feel of how the food is by the way the food looks, its ingredients and the judges reactions. With that said we do have the ability to tell who is deserving to win.
Carla peeked our palates with her true love and passion in her food and she has made me excited to try her food at some point. She showed some absolute geatness at times.
Stefan impressed us with his food knowledge, technique and consistent great food.
Hosea showed us he was a decent but not a great chef who somehow just survived the season. His dishes NEVER wowed us.
Sorry Tom I dont by your explanation for rewarding Hosea top chef he still hasnt captivated the audience with his cooking ability. You need ALOT of tweeks to this show to make it a legit comptetition because the rules are so vague that you the judges keep screwing up which will make you lose alot viewers.