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A great season.

Unlike in prior seasons it took a while to see the top chefs emerge.

It seemed to me that the contestants really liked each other and it made it very enjoyable to watch.

With all due respect, sir, Stefan didn't "blow it", the judges did.

In a competition about FOOD, Hosea would never have gotten anywhere near the Finale. It was all about the melodrama this season.

While I was rooting for Carla, I would have been very happy to see Stefan win. But, Hosea? I don't think so.

Just my opinion, but there it is.

OK, I thought perhaps I'd hallucinated this, so went back to my TIVO queue and played this appalling finale again. And imagine my relief to learn that my mind is still intact. As regards Stefan's squab vs. whatever typcially unmemorable dish Hosea concocted for that particular course, YOU stated unequivocally and even with a bit of enthusiasm (so unusual for you, the best of the poker-faced superchefs, sarcastic/smarmy grin intact) that Stefan's squab "was THE BEST DISH OF THE NIGHT". You said this to him as they lined up to face the music - and you said it yet again at JT during final deliberations. While Padma & Gail bobbed their heads up and down which is pretty much what they do whenever you make a proclamation. Why, then, have you now compeletely backpedaled? Above you say that Stefan's winning of the squab was "arguable" - huh? It wasn't that night; and worse, in your summary you state that "Hosea made two "extremely strong" courses & Stefan made "one strong course" - thereby indicating a complete about-face in your assessment of the two courses in question. Bewildering - you certainly don't need to "save face" as you are clearly the leader of the show. And simply in the service of graciousness after the smoke has cleared, I feel that your reference to Stefan's dessert as a trainwreck 3 days after the fact to be mean-spirited and beneath any chef who appears to rule NYC, Vegas, and wherever else your domain now appears. OK, we get it! You hated his dessert! sheesh. Get over it already - & have the class to stick to your guns. I've tipped my hat to Toby Young - the only judge who appears to have the audacity to disagree with the mighty colicchio.

This season, Tom, you seemed to be going through the motions. There was little evidence of any enthusiasm; most often, your on-screen appearances seemed more a burden than a joy, and your duties as judge and mentor more an annoyance than a delight. Your blogs, too, reflected this, rarely managing more than a cursory six short paragraphs, like a student who submits 501 words on a 500 word assignment.
The final straw was the choice of Hosea, the least interesting, least exciting, and least rewarded (with victories) of the three finalists. Your distaste for Stefan could not have been more obvious. Not exactly unbiased judging, wouldn't you agree?
Perhaps it's time for the old war-horse to be put out to pasture, and some new blood brought in to reinvigorate this once enjoyable show.

What a fantastic idea! Bravo execs are you listening? Your head judge has some awesome suggestions for making the finale better. Pay attention! As a fan from season 1 episode 1, I wholeheartedly agree with Chef Colicchio. Sure, during the hiatus some chefs probably do spend time figuring out what they sort of want to make in the finale if the challenge permits. But film it, let us see the process, if not actually on the show, as part of the videos on the website.

Let's be clear Tom. This season was aweful. Read the viewers' comments and take them seriously.

Boring show. Wrong decision. I tallied the comments on this site - 83% believe Hosea should not have won. 67% believe it should have been Stefan.

Stop being stubborn and start listening, because you've already lost a chunk of viewers. Chances are, Top Chef is done. And understand that it's your fault - your ego and desire to outalpha Stefan got away with you.

Also, and please take this as the dry truth, you vastly overestimate your understanding of food. Take this from someone who has spent his life eating at Michelin 3 and 2 star restaurants across the globe. Do you get what Adria, Veyrat, Blumenthal, Gagnaire, etc have that you don't?

Listen to Ripert and Vongerichten (and frankly, stop interrupting them when they are talking). It's not about frosting the fish or whether you liked the plating of the dessert. It's about the visible genius in Stefan's food (and in an upset, the visible soul in Carla's). Hosea personified mediocrity, and that's why barely anyone agrees with your decision.

Finally - your comments about Season 2 show that you don't get it. We didn't love it because of the format 1v1. We loved it because Marcel, Sam and Elia were each more talented than the majority of contestants since. Naturally, you had to choose the only uninspired one, the kid who reminds you of your own flaws.

A former viewer.

For everyone complaining about Hosea winning, it's hard to argue with this from Tom:

Some people have expressed indignation at the result, insisting that Stefan was clearly the stronger chef. Perhaps, perhaps not. Irrelevant. This is a competition, and Stefan blew it. Were it about who is the stronger chef, they needn’t have cooked anything for the finale — we could have sat around and discussed the merits of their work and just handed one of them the win. In last year’s Super Bowl, the New England Patriots, with their 17-0 record, were clearly a better team than the Giants, but do you stop the game in the third quarter and just hand the trophy to the Patriots or do the Giants need to win by 20 points to win the Super Bowl? No. The team that plays best in the Super Bowl wins. Here, people can be as upset as they like, but Stefan blew it.

Wow!

I thought Stephan clearly won, taking the whole season
in mind. Also your voting showed Hosea came in last!
The bias is sickening!!

to the network folks... I and my family will no longer
watch this show, I'm sick of it, saturated. Get rid of all the judges. I will be telling all my friends, family, co-workers, those on my social networks, people I meet in the streets...etc.

i agree with tom about the finale. my heart broke for carla. the finale would be great with 2 people and 5 courses including dessert. maybe the twist could be they just cook and serve right there and then. they all have best recipes in their head. love the show.

Thanks for this blog Tom. As usual, it sheds light on many things the judges see that we may not.

One question I do have, though, is why Carla was "automatically" out of the running if she had one strong dish and one you, yourself, said was "so-so." At the very least, it seems like she was in the same boat as Stefan; who had one strong dish and two problematic dishes. I'm not suggesting that Carla should have won, but it seems like you and the other judges were quickly dismissive of her.

Oh good Lord! Give us a break Tom. We saw many guests and even our dear Toby disagreeing with you. You told the chefs to listen to their help! Then we see Hosea being his usual low life self by hording ingredients away from Stefan. This entire season has been terrible. Freezers not freezing. Burners not working properly, and boring dishes being rewarded and creative dishes being dissed. By the way, If Jeff had served a cold oyster dish instead of heating with the Sterno he was supplied with, you would has still complained!

I wonder if you regret telling the contestants to Listen to their suis chefs?

Does it really matter? I mean the only reason we women watch the show anyway is for the sexy Head Judge Tom Colicchio and to wish we had Padma's hair and figure.

If Fabio couldn't win, then I was rooting for Carla but I wasn't the one tasting the food, I was the one at home drooling over the food with my hand stuck in a bag of less than satisfying vanilla wafers.

I can't get enough! Bring on the next season!

Thank you for your post Tom. I think part of the problem with the Hosea win is the show editing. If Bravo wants us to watch and be enthusiastic about the winner, then don't show us Hosea hording the ingredients in order to hurt Stephan's efforts. Hosea may be a great chef, but has been presented to us viewers as is man who is an inferior chef, and a person of questional moral behavior. We can only judge by what we see.

I'm sorry but this season will be my last. I do not appreciate you as a judge, you plainly do not like Stefan and looked for something, anything to criticize. I noticed that Hubert Keller made a comment about a chef not being able to make a dessert and the owner of the Commander's Palace raised her glass. Hosea might have made a decent meal, he had the help of Robert did he not? So who really was responsible for the overall dishes, we don't know. Hosea could not have pulled off using the alligator, he palmed it off on Stefan. He can't make a dessert, we know that as well. He took all the foie gras and the caviar. Class? NOT! Stephan let Hosea choose knives first, that was class.

I've watched every single show since the beginning. This season has jumped the shark. I'm finished with this show. You have ruined it for me.

It was, without a doubt, a disappointing finale. The rules being what they are, I suppose Hosea won. But let's be clear about a few things. The "no dessert necessary" rule was put in place to help weaker chefs. So no one would have to do something uncomfortable.

Chefs should be able to pull off dessert. It's not that Hosea chose not to do a dessert. He can't. That surely should have been considered. All of the past winners would have done a dessert.

I was also surprised by the 3rd course Hosea put out. That was an easy dish. It may have tasted fine, but really, sliced venison stacked on a puree? The sauce was even a failure. That was basic bistro food.

It's also clear that Stefan's attitude caught up with him. You could see the sarcasm from Tom in the semifinal episode. It continued in the finale.

Perhaps a better job needs to be done in designing the earlier challenges to get rid of the truly weaker chefs. Hosea was not in the top five. Jamie, Stefan, Fabio, Jeff and Rhadika were each superior. Easily.

Tom,
You are not fooling anyone. Your decision was clearly a biased one. You gave Stefan no extra credit for working with the alligator, a meat he had never even seen before. You allowed Hosea to get away without making a desert (really a top chef who can't make a desert?) Hosea simply churned out safe dishes. He was what he has been all season, a mediocre chef who cheated and never took chances. I am very disappointed in you. I always thought that you were a fair person. But clearly Stefan's "confidence" bothered or even threatened you. Perhaps if he had worked you the way Hung did ("I am just a poor immigrant who loves America....") he would have won. But as a typical one of those "little America" people you let your chauvinism show through and could not deal with a confident European. Your comment about "team Europe" in the penultimate episode showed your hand. I won't be watching this show again. Shame on you!

Thanks for your insights and a great season. Early on it looked like a weaker set of cheftestants than in previous seasons, but consistent work by Stefan, Hosea, Fabio, Jamie, Jeff and some suprises like Carla made this an interesting one! Maybe overall one of the most talented groups?

Hosea proved to be a diligent, consistent, thoughtful, and don't forget fierce competitor. That's why he won. Stefan and Carla faltered, Hosea did not. That's clear in watching the finale, and not the first season this has happened to a TC favorite in the final (Blais redeemed himself somewhat in TC5, and it was great to see him get the opportunity and accomplish that task).

Stefan could use a little of Hosea's driving competitiveness, instead he takes it easy and coasts sometimes on his considerable skills. If he pushed himself we'd be comparing him to some of the best ever on the show.

And great for Carla - we came to love her open, honest, warm personality, as we did with Fabio. Glad to hear rumors that we'll see more of him, he was born to be on TV.

Can't wait for TC6!!

I have to admit that I was pretty upset that Stefan didn't win. It seems more logical that the chef that has been the most consistent throughout the season would be bestowed a title and an honor like "Top Chef". I think that is where the confusion lies with the dissenters. I do feel much beter better about the judges' decision with your Super Bowl analogy.

Well, for once, with the exception of your solution for future seasons, I agree with you. In the end, Hosea performed better than Stefan; end of story.

Sorry, Tom, but raw fish, scallops, then earthy venison is not a good combination! That is Surf 'N Turf gone bad. Sounds like instead of the best this season, we got who screwed up the least. hooray :(

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.

Wow, Tom. Thanks for posting. You are respected as a judge. Please don't confuse the fact that most of your audience did not WANT Hosea to win with our understanding of why he did. We saw Carla and Stefan's issues (but many also believe that Blais's skill and character were an advantage, which apparently Hosea used effectively). Hopefully the producers will listen to your suggestions about the next finale, with this added as well - no surprises, no arbitrary advantages. Let us see the true top chef be a top chef for the finale. Thank you for a great season.

Thanks, Tom C., for taking the time to explain the final decision from your POV. Your post clearly comes across as damage control because so many viewers are unsatisfied. I appreciate that you say you don't make the rules, just play by them. And it's reassuring that you briefly explore the idea of changing the finale format.

Have the contestants learned from previous seasons of Top Chef to play it safe and skate ahead, meanwhile producing uninteresting, even mediocre food?

Was it a good decision to bring in past Top Chef runners-up to act as sous chefs? Last season, three truly expert chefs took on this role, and that approach seemed more fair. Richard Blais is practically a genius; Casey Thompson, maybe not so much. Having uneven skill levels among the sous seems to have set an unequal playing field.

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.

The Super Bowl analogy is completely ridiculous. Football is a game. The Super Bowl is one, independent game. The whole season is one independent game after the other, and the result of each individual game is all that matters. So yeah, a better team can mess up and lose the Super Bowl, but they are still recognized as the better team, they just lost the one game that would have given them a title.

Why should Top Chef be like that? That's stupid. You seem to really have gone off the wagon. I thought the point of the show was to pick the chef that has done consistently well, has had success, is a decent human being, cooks good food, has a mind for business, can organize and control a staff, and will inspire people to work for them.

Personality should be a factor. So what if Stefan is overly confident? He will inspire his employees to be better at what they do. He is a better, kinder person than Hosea. Does that mean nothing?
Who will want to work for Hosea? He is whiny, immature,and selfish. And a slacker. Did he challenge himself and cook alligator? No. He took the easy, safest choice. And relished the ability to possibly mess Stefan up with the glee of a deranged child.

Wasn't he laughing when Carla got pinched by the crab? And he just stood there like a jerk while Carla cried. Stefan TOOK TIME FROM HIS PREP WORK TO HELP CARLA. And then in the judging stopped thinking about himself for a minute, and focused on making Carla feel better and comforting her. Stefan's display of selflessness, compassion, pride, leadership and ingenuity are qualities that make a 'Top' anything. Hosea is not a Top Chef, and he never will be. He can't learn to be a good person. Carla and Stefan may have not cooked the best "last meals", but at least they have souls.

Ya know Tom, if you weren't so frequently contradicting yourself, and adamant that you never make mistakes in your judging, people wouldn't have such a hard time believing you now. Plus, competitive sports is not an analogy that pays dividends when scrutinized. Football competitions do not eliminate participants in the same manner as Top Chef, and food and sports are not nearly comparable enough, in any way, to warrant comparison. There is no judging panel in football to argue which of three teams was the worst and which one should go home.

Cooking competitions like this are about more than just the score in the final because you are awarding a chef with a title and prize acknowledging that one person as superior to the other chefs. So it is most definitely relevant whether or not the winner is actually a better chef than the others. It's somewhat flabbergasting that this is somehow not an important factor in a contest which seeks to find "the next great chef". I don't think your inability to use the word "great" to describe the winner, (choosing instead to use adjectives like "solid" and "very good"), does much for your credibility here. If the three finalists each had restaurants, would you really prefer to eat at Hosea's restaurant rather than the other two given the track record of Stefan's skills throughout the season, and the less than laudable track record of Hosea's?

Tom, I think you did everything in your power, to steer any compliments about Stefan's dishes turning them to negative.

I saw you as the sole force against Stefan and it's a sad show when at the end it comes down to a popularity contest.

You didn't like Stefan, admit it, and because of it, you steered him to a loss. It was so obvious it was sickening.

Also, since the show is now so ridiculous, I'll never watch it again. What show bases an entire seasons winnings on ONE contest with zero points for all his prior wins.

I'm happy for Hosea that he's now 100k richer, he should get that JUST for being on the show. That's a very cheap winning prize! PATHETIC

Tom, I agree...there should be more courses served in the finale. I do like, however, when there is that '3rd party.' That seems to add more suspense. I do wish the 'weaker' chefs would be eliminated earlier in the process when the timing of the show is narrowed. I thought it would be forever before Leah to be voted off; she should have been sent home long before, regardless of her romance with Hosea. She never really proved anything with her dishes and just seemed to skate by. I thought Jeffrey had a better presentation and dishes than Carla, so I was sad to see him go---Stefan should have been the one to go on that elimination challenge---he didn't deliver on the challenge and what's worse is he had no respect for the competition of that meal. I love 'low-country' cooking and yes, Carla did deliver with her dishes, but not Stefan--he should have been sent packing with Fabio---neither one of them got what the food is about, but at least Fabio tried. Carla should not blame Casey for her own failure to execute a menu. I was disappointed with her when I was watching her talk and could not believe my ears. I do like it when more than 1 person is eliminated because some of the people just don't understand they goofed up the conception of the meal and still think their food was wrong. Eugene, Leah, and Rhadika lasted alot longer than needed, and Stefan too. I still can't believe how Stefan was allowed to stay and Jeff sent home...again. I was glad to see the incorporation of former castmates---I always like that part of the series---even Marcel and his foam. I can't hardly wait to see the new season!

blah.. blah.. blah.. blah

You still picked the wrong chef.

"Some people have expressed indignation at the result..."

Some? I'd say many.

Viewers have every right to express indignation. Without your viewers, you have no show, you have no one to look at the show's sponsors. Be real. While we respect the judges' decision, we don't have to like it. And MANY of us don't, and will exercise the right to whine about it all we like after we have faithfully watched the show for months until the finale. Sorry - while Stefan and Carla did not earn the win, there are many who think that Hosea didn't either. In my eyes, there is no Top Chef this season.

Morale of this season's story: You can show mediocre chef skills and still win. You can show some incredibly poor sportsmanship and still win. You can hate on and flip the bird at your competitor during the competition and still win. All you need is a little bit of luck, the judges on your side and hope that your competitors screw up during the finale. God bless America.

Tom,

You mention that it was clear to all that Hosea made the stronger dishes, but that is not accurate at all. This is evidenced by Toby's blog, as well as Richard stating in his how much he enjoyed Stefan's food and he even went so far as to say "Sometimes, the best team doesn’t win the game." with reference to Stefan. Even Gail is second guessing her decision to go with Hosea. So I am not sure how you actually came to the conclusion that it was clear to all that Hosea was better because that definitely does not appear to be the case.

You also seem to be missing the huge contributions with both ideas and actual cooking that Richard gave to Hosea. If your argument is that Hosea was clearly the top chef then what you should have done was split that title and prize money with Richard because without him there was absolutely no way that Hosea would have won. Again, this was proven time and time and time again throughout the season as Hosea failed to provide any dishes that judges loved and by not winning any challenges except for the one where he received help from the rest of the cheftestants, including Stefan, because his protein was ruined.

I also find your post on the finale to clearly show your bias towards Stefan as you attack him and say that he failed. Stefan did not fail, in fact, YOU did. You have made yourself appear to be quite an ass. You are absolutely right about one thing though, that the viewers really get no say in who wins top chef, but we are able to show our opinions and feelings by actually supporting and frequenting establishments that each chef works at. So the one good thing you have been able to do was give Hosea some money that he will clearly need in the future because as evidenced in the very large majority of the viewers comments, not a single one of us will ever eat anything that Hosea cooks.

Good luck with future seasons, but don't be surprised when the ratings drop significantly. It is too bad that you are too blind to see talent when it is staring you in the face.

Maybe next time the judges would do well to make sure the teams that make it to the Super Bowl at least have a winning record and deserve to be there.

I appreciate Chef Collichio's analogy of the Top Chef Finale being akin to the Super Bowl, it explains and justify's the decision-making process. I get it.

You guys need to re-think this or, as I read elsewhere, perhaps change the name of the show to Top Meal?

Thank you Tom!!!!!

I liked your reasoning and explaination of the finale. After reading your comments, it has made me rethink my displeasure. Thank you again for giving the viewers, like me, the insite of the judges.

I will be watching your show again, now!!! I had thought it was a wrong choice, however, I didn't taste the food. Best to you and I will look forward to next season.

Tracy in Tucson

Hey Tom:
What was your news about Fabio and his future on television.
Fabio? Bring your accent, wit, spirit, and knives to my kitchen and cook for my family. What a joy to meet you. I hope you got some monies to take care of your mother in Italy. I am caregiver for my mother and cook some great easy meals for her. She kids me when I tell her that the 'plating' is not up to par. Plating food is not something Mom is in tune with. But love her just the same. Wish there were more men like you around. Do great things and be happy.

Tom it is amazing to me that you a "steak chef" would pick someone who cooks a venison steak. Ha Anyone that has a decent piece of meat can turn out a good steak, no talent just timing and knowing when to turn it. Not a big problem.
It all ways seems that you come off just a little jealous of the really talented chefs on the show. And after all these years it is really a shame. You saying that Hosea cooked a better meal is disgraceful he was, is, nothing but a whiner and complainer like you, maybe that is why you stuck up for him. Oh well it is only a TV show and with you selling skirt steak and passing it off as rib eye it relly does not matter all that much. I am sure that Stephan knows you for who you really are and it does not bother him that much.

I've been looking forward to Chef Colicchio's post on the finale since it aired. I suspected he'd reprise some of the same arguments he made when Elan won in S2, and I wasn't disappointed.

The fact is that TC is judged on what might be called the Any Given Sunday rule. Like it or not, in any given competition, any chef -- at least at the level of those who can actually reach the finale -- can outcook any other chef. It's all a matter of preparation, discipline and execution. Whatever folks think of Hosea -- and there's been a tremendous amount of trash talk about him, not least this all but incomprehensible rant by Reihan Salam -- he managed to execute really, really well. Stefan and Carla -- again, regardless of their strengths and the skill they demonstrated over the course of the season -- dropped their respective balls. And so Hosea wins.

I'm not Hosea's biggest fan by any stretch of the imagination. I thought he often came across as something of a dork at best, and at times seemed to exhibit a passive-aggressive streak that could border on self-pity. (The usual caveats about the likely gap between what we were presented versus what actually happened, of course, apply in spades.) But when it really counted, he stepped up and delivered what certainly sounds like a pretty fine meal. (The usual caveats about how we as viewers can never really know how those awesome-looking meals actually tasted also apply.)

This all makes sense to me, and so I'm not overpowered by rage or sadness or despair of the sort that seem to have afflicted so many other viewers. Maybe Hosea isn't really in the league of other chefs who've won TC -- and maybe Elan isn't, either. But they were good enough when they needed to be.

I have to say, I like the idea of going back to a two-chef finale, and Colicchio's idea of using a five-course meal to level the playing field makes eminent sense to me. Then again, I find myself nodding in agreement with most things he writes here or says on the show. He's one of the rare chefs who not only walks the walk, but can talk the talk in a way that tends to illuminate the experience of judging a competition like this. And I'm greatly appreciative of that.

I can't say whether or not Stefan should have been named Top Chef, but I really would have liked to have read your reasons for why you so actively disliked his dessert, Tom. Personally, I was offended at the way both you and Gail turned up your noses at the fact that he made a dessert when it was not required. If it tasted awful or was poorly made, I could understand, but it appeared that you just didn't want to see a dessert--and Gail just didn't like how it looked. If I was being served a three-course meal, you can bet I'd be wanting to see dessert at the end of it--not a heavy dish like venison. I'm not a chef or a food magazine editor, but I thought his dessert looked tasty and was a perfect way to end a meal such as he had presented. If he had come up with something rich and elaborate, would that have impressed you more?

I think dessert SHOULD be a requirement for the final meal, and the chefs should be challenged to make it more often than they currently do. It seems that too many of these otherwise great chefs who appear on Top Chef can't make a dessert to save their souls, and to me, that's unacceptable. A proper meal includes dessert, and if a chef can make appetizers, salads, entrees, etc., they should be able to come up with a dessert as well. Otherwise, you're just not a Top Chef, period.

You can't be serious! It's "irrelevant" whether Stefan was the better chef?!?! You are deluded and so full of yourself that you can't think straight. You need to step down as judge, and let someone rational like Toby Young take over. Get back in the kitchen. Pack your bloated ego and go.

Your Super Bowl analogy was ridiculous. YOU'RE irrelevant. Stefan is the winner.

You can't compare the finale to the supper bowl. In the supper bowl both teams play with a set of established rules and point system. They both play with the same ball and they both play with their own teams. You had one team playing with a football and one playing with an alligator. You gave one team a star quarterback and another team deadweight. Your teams had "help" from prep to plate so none of us could see how the chef in the finale cooks or plates their own food. Many of us think Richard won top chef 5 last night. So does he it seems from his blog. Why not give each chef in the finale ample time to cook without a sous chef? At least for the final day of cooking/plating like in the past. Why not have a point system in place; like what they did to ice skating when the gold kept going to the wrong team. And why not make the point total from the entire season be 50% or 49% of the finale score? It would feel more real and fun to watch. It would feel like a top chef show then.

Tom, YOU ROCK! This is the first season that I found myself rooting for all the chefs in the finale. Stephan is unquestionably arrogant but he backed it up with his cooking. Carla, well, she managed to really touch my heart and was on fire in the kitchen. I liked Hosea best from the start so I was thrilled that he made it to the end. I think making Hosea Top Chef was absolutely the right choice!! I can't wait to see what this talented trio does in the future. TEAM TOP CHEF!!

You had to pick a winner based on the meal in front of you, and you did. I don't quite get how people are so incensed over it. So Hosea wasn't a fan favorite, and he wins Top Chef, so what. he has his 100k and his bragging rights to take back to Colorado with him. He did a good job.Carla had the most potential to be the sleeper of the season, her lack of leadership on a team of two is indicative of the fact that she will need to work on this weak spot if she really wants to be a Top Chef someday.
I liked her, and great things will come her way.
I also loved Team Euro, and they have a very bright future as well.

I enjoyed this congenial and alented group as a whole this season. their overall behavior in the kitchen is relective of what really goes on in a restaurant kitchen. Pitching in and helping out where needed . I liked that thre was a bt more behind the scenes info shared, but I am disappointed that I don't see LeeAnns blog. She is the ultimate behind the scenes resourse and I always enjoyed her take on things. Where is she?

That's your opinion. Obviously, I did not taste any of the dishes served in the Finale, but based on the telecast, majority of the invited guests in the table preferred Stefan's. Did their opinion not play a role in your decision-making in the Judge's Table? It seems like the decision solely relied among the four judges -- you, Padma, Gail, and Toby. You must admit that being with the chef-testants all throughout the season, you have formed biases toward them that influenced, one way or another, your push for Hosea as Top Chef.

Maybe there should be a second prize too!!

Your comment that the chefs needed to be like Branford, multifaceted and multi-talented in different genre of music, is totally contrary to who you ended up awarding the Top Chef title. The one note, savory only chef, who had no talent or courage to venture out beyond his comfort zone. Stefan was the one chef who proved over and over again that he was multifaceted and multi-talented in every aspect of cooking yet you brushed him aside for his lack of "soul" in his cooking??? WTF??? How does "soul" taste like? Everyone agreed his squab was the best dish of the night even without this magical herb called "soul". You could have just phoned in that "souless" critique without tasting anything. You should have also added, "that was pedestrian..." with a roll of your eyes and a sneer. Oh yeah, that was Padma's phone-in for the night. These are the kind of insightful and thoughtful critique we foodies love to hear on a show called "Top Chef". The show has lost all credibility and many, many fans...

Hosea may have had a good night and won but i still consider Stephan to be the top chef throughout the season. He may have been the "villain" but he showed his competitive streak but he showed how much better he was more consistently. I know you judge for only what's prepared that day but its just crappy. Oh well, looking forward to next season.

O.M.G.

Tom, god knows I love you but you have to know you guys boned it. Maybe you should review the season as we have. Maybe you could change the name of the show to Top Meal. Hosea was by no means the best chef. Not even top 3.

This more than anything (including Lisa's presence in the TC4 finale) should show you you methodology in the finals is flawed. I'm all for it in previous challenges BUT NOT THE FINALS.

Moreover, the fans of the show are really getting pissed about this, particularly when it yeilds these results. Defend yourself all you want, but I watch the reruns and there is nothing to support your glowing defense of Hosea's crown, and YES, I mean through the entire season, WATCH the show!

Tom,
It's sad to see how one of my favorite show has degenerated to the rediculous finale of season 5. I actually use to think that you were one of the more objective judges of the show. Although I really think Richard should have won Top Chef in season 4, I could see how Stephanie won (they both won about the same number of previous challenges and it did really come down to who cooked a better final meal). In season 5, after Carla self destructed with the last 2 dishes, I (along with majority of the TC viewers) believed the obvious winner was Stefan. I was appalled with your final judgement. Your arguement that Top Chef finale is like the Superbowl is just as insane and inane arguement as some yours and Gail's critiques about Stefan's dishes / cooking. First of all, Superbowl isn't a subjective game like Top Chef at the whim of the judges' taste buds and mood du jour. Superbowl has objective rules and officials who enforce them. Granted there are instances where the official makes a poor call but that's why they have coach's challenge where a play can be reviewed in excruiciating detail to make sure the right call is made. Both teams play by the same rules on an even playing field (with the exception of the individual talent of the players on each team). There's no coin toss to determine which teams has to score using a hacky sack as a ball and which team gets the regular football. There's no coin toss to decide who gets Tom Brady or Ryan Leaf on their team.
I don't know how many fine restaurants offer preset or tasting menu that ends with a hunk of red meat...seriously. Gail may have been perfectly happy ending her meal with a slab of rare game meat but even more respected chefs at the table (not you Tom) said that a great chef needs to know how to make dessert and not take the safter, easier road. No extra consideration for Stefan for making a yummy soup out of aligator when even you said Hosea was "sticking it to Stefan" for giving him this protein. How much soul was in the trio of raw fish Hosea created that seemed to have been universally panned by everyone at the table as bland and lacking. I could get that from my local sushi joint. This finale was the worst ever - so much worse than when Richard (and even Marcel in season 3) lost to a less talented chef. I can't watch another episode of TC with the erratic, contradictory, and nonsensical critiques from so called unbiased and knowledgable judges. TC needs to clean house and get new judges and producers!

Aside from the fact that you don't need great cooking skills to be Top Chef, you obviously don't need any dignity either. It cracks me up that people have the nerve to talk s#!t about Stefan's arrogance, especially when Hosea gives the finger to the camera, whines and bitches about what Stefan is up to, and most of all, makes out with some two-bit cook before millions of viewers while his girlfriend is at home supporting him, and probably praying for his victory.

Tom Colicchio dropped a few notches on the respect scale(actually he's off the scale) for me simply because he's not impartial enough to be a judge. This season alone has shown that espeacially with Hosea. He clearly isnt the Top Chef for the season, and has defended him on more than one occasion. Were he should have been gone on at least two occasions, Colicchio saved him from the "chopping block" with his influence over the others. But this isnt the first time in the history of Top Chef has Colicchio been impartial or contridicted himself. Accusing Stefan of being arrigant??...please Tom, take a look at yourself, and other prestigous Chefs in the bussiness..its a pre-requisite to be arragant as a chef, if not, your help will walk all over you, hence what happened to Carla(which will toughen Carla up as a Chef). At face value you, it seemed you docked Stefan points for making a desert, which in my opinion Toby is right in his blog that it was a tie. I thought it was a tie, and i think did so of the rest(mainly) of the "Top Chef" viewing audience. So, in my opinion and others that i know that watch the show, and i feel confident in saying this, time for you to go. Something is clouding your judgement, and has gotten worse over the past three season. Take a lesson from Fabio, who Stefan is his friend, and judged him impartially, which you couldnt. Why not give the job to him??

what a joke of an explanation. please.

Chef Tom,

I hope the finale puts to rest any charges of producer manipulation or questions about the integrity of the judging. This was not a result anyone would have expected, not a result the producers or judges would have forced to happen. It just happened. I wish Hosea had won by beating his opponents at their finest, and it makes a less-than-satisfying conclusion because that's not what happened. But he did what he was supposed to do--cook the meal of his life.

Thanks for your great blogging.

>>a top chef needs to find a way to solve that dichotomy and achieve both

A top chef should be able to solve a dichotomy, but doesn't have to solve the problem of cooking a proficient dessert?

And "it just lacked salt"? How many times have you blasted a contestant for not getting the basic seasoning right, particularly salt?

>>Even his guy Fabio clearly commented that Stefan did not cook up to his potential.

And because Stefan could have done better, he is penalized? But he gets no points for doing the harder appetizer? Yet we have to suffer through yet ANOTHER plate of scallops and foie gras.

>>Were it about who is the stronger chef, they needn’t have cooked anything for the finale

What? What a disingenuous comment. So..top chef is not about being the stronger chef? There is no way to marry the concept of a competitive final presentation with points for established prior performance? Wow. That's quite...unimaginative.

Honestly, this reads like a justification for you suddenly deciding that Stefan was too arrogant, had mouthed off at you, and was not working hard enough. Some consistency and consistent quality in the judging across rounds would be nice.

Great season! I've loved them all but this was one of my favorites. I totally agree that the final decision can't be decided by previous performance. The excitement of the finale comes from knowing anyone can still win! From a viewer's perspective, I completely agreed with your choice. Anyway, can't wait 'til season 6!

We no longer respect your opinion, Tom. It is void of credibility. Stefan is our winner.

meh

Thank you, Tom, for explaining how the Top Chef is chosen. Comparing it to the Super Bowl makes perfect sense (and I'm not a football fan).

I love Top Chef no matter what happens. I wanted Stefan to win, but understand the judging. Also, Stefan posted his thoughts twice with all of us fans and he is completely fine with the outcome. Also, the rivalry between him and Hosea was not as it seemed, they became friends and planned a skiing trip in Colorado (Stefan stated they all became friends).

We are not tasting the food and most of us are not chefs, so I think we are learning from this excellent program. The exposure helps a lot of chefs and would like to hear how they are doing in their careers.

I think all the negative and hateful talk is useless. We are watching "edited" TV. I loved Season 5 and will always be a Top Chef fan even if I don't agree with the judging (I think being a judge is a difficult job!).

Thank you Tom, Padma, Gail, Toby and all the great guest judges. We love Anthony Bourdain, hope to see more of him.

Thank you Bravo for Top Chef and the enjoyment it is bringing to so many!

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH MR. COLICCHIO! WAY TO GO HOSEA! I DO CONFESS HOSEA WASNT IN MY FAV TIL THE END, BUT; HOSEA KICKED BEHIND IN THE FINALE, IT WAS AWSOME. EVER SINCE THIS AWSOME SHOW STARTED I HAVEN'T MISSED IT. SPECIALLY WHEN THEY CAME DOWN TO PUERTO RICO FOR THE FINALE IN SEASON 4! (MY HOMETOWN!!!) BUT THIS SEASON ALWAYS KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT. SCREAMING AT THE TV LIKE THE JUDGES COULD HEAR ME, STEFAN!! THANK GOD YOU CANT HEAR ME. YOU AND FABIO WERE AMONG MY FAV BUT HOSEA SWEPT US AWAYYYYYYY!!! PLEASE KEEP THIS SHOW GOING ON FOR EVER, I LOOK FOWARD TO WEDNESDAY NITES. GREAT SHOW, YOU SHOULD KEEP TOBY YOUNG FOR SEASONS TO COME MAKE HIM YOUR 4TH JUDGE, HE'S GOOD! BUT TOM, GAIL AND PADMA YOU GUYS ROCK. CONGRATS HOSEA! BEST OF LUCK AND MANY BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL!

PR GIRL

As many others have noted, I was quite shocked to see the finale of this season and had to leave a comment. What I also don't understand is how someone can win so many challenges throughout this season yet not win the title of Top Chef because his dessert didn't have enough soul and Gail has put it. (huh?)

In the various episodes that I've followed Stefan has hardly been at the bottom; yet, in your final assessment Stefan had some high and some lows while Hosea had performed consistently. Huh? If I didn't watch the final episode of Top Chef this season, I would have thought that you were mixing those two people up.

from,
a confused viewer.

Thank you Tom, for your Superbowl analogy. Hopefully that will quiet down some of the ire about the final verdict on the site. As for Stefan, if you can't bring it in the final, if you don't have a 3 course meal stored up on your head that not only exemplifies your soul vision and talent, then you deserve the titl eto be stolen from you by a less deserving chef. It doesn't matter how many quickfires and elim challenges you won. Tom Thanks for your integrity and point of view this season, as usual. See you next year, unless you choose to make more Dite Coke commercials.

Tom,
Thanks for giving us your explanation. As you interpret the rules, the show is a weekly competiton -- even the finale -- that anyone can win with a marginally better dish. What's confusing is that the title you bestow is Top Chef. Perhaps you should call the show Kitchen Survivor.

The Giants won a lot of games to get to the Super Bowl. Hosea, unfortunately, did nothing of the sort. Mostly, he showed envy for Stefan and lust for Leah and consistently produced dishes that allowed him to escape elimintation but that never inspired the judges.

Last year Stephanie flubbed her dessert and nearly lost the prize to an vastly inferior cook. But I sensed then that you and the other judges realized how unfair that would be. Perhaps I'm wrong. But the final decision seemed just. I can't say the same this time.

You can try and justify this idiotic decision all night and it will still end up being a joke. I've read countless columns and blogs and the sentiment is almost universal. Hosea was a terrible choice and a horrible ending to this season.

Your bias is easily apparent. This was a lame decision and Hosea is nothing but a mediocre tool. His lame cooking and skating by in the middle (and often bottom) of the pack coupled with his acts of jackassery make him a travesty.

Have you seen the polls Tom? Read any blogs? How about looking at Television without pity where there are 42 pages of posts after posts deriding your decision?

We the fans are not pleased. And at the end of the day and his 5 minutes of fame, no one will remember Hosea but we will remember Stefan's skill and Carla and Fabio and Jeff. Hosea? Enjoy your 5 minutes.

(Oh and I won't be watching the reunion so maybe you could stop playing the promo about the hookup. Trust me, no one cares)

Tom, your suggestion for the finale is great. I for one would love to watch the chefs prep in thier own kitchens. And I also agree that it should be narrowed down to two. In the last three seasons of TC, one of the three finalists has cooked so poorly the decision was only really between two cheftestants anyway. The thrid chef was only a distraction, not a true contender (for that competition at least).

I agree completely with your comments. Carla should have stood her ground and not let Casey run the show. Stefan was pompous and arrogant, even more so in the last few shows. He needed to be knocked down a few pegs.

Anyone else think Tom sounds a wee bit defensive. His New England Patriots metaphor is laughable. Ok so sometimes the superior team doesn't always win but deep down I wonder if Tom had to choose, who's restaurant would he rather eat at, Stefan's or Josea's? Tom may keep his thoughts secret but it's pretty clear that most people who followed this season have made their decision that it's not the "Top Chef's."

The rules of the finale made no sense. Tom says that each course was scored straight down the middle but how is that fair if they kept throwing in twists such as choice of protein and sous-chef which makes for good TV but compromises fairness. If Stefan was penalized for a lackluster dessert and Josea was allowed to cop out with a savory dish for the last course, shouldn't Stefan have been given more consideration for having had to use the more challenging alligator in the appetizer ?
Oh and the next time I have dinner at a nice restaurant and the waiter asks if I'd like dessert or coffee, I'll tell 'em that what I'd really like to finish the meal off with is a big hunk of deer meat.
One last note to Gail, if ice cream and mousse is so 1992, isn't venison so 1835?

Tom,
After reading your blog on the season finale...what can I say? You are a tuff Chef to impress. My husband and I plan to visit your restaurant for our 5th year anniversary. We hope to meet you and we look forward to Season 6.

totally agree with everything you wrote. hosea came through in the clinch. will be looking forward to next season. your thoughts on some changes are interesting. i think an udating of the format would bring a freshness that may be needed. tom, as always the show is better with you being on it.

Tom, my obs:
1. If you read the comments on the other blogs, you'll notice that the overwhelming reaction is one of dissatisfaction with this finale. What fans think is important--they're who your advertisers are trying to reach. Try to listen.

2. TC, unfortunately like all the other reality shows, try to show the weaker moments contestants might have, for "entertainment's" sake. I think part of the problem is that it seems the clips were edited to make Hosea, Stefan and others look self-serving in order to create controversy. Then, you wind up giving high praise to one as the final pick. You can't have it both ways.

3. You need to revise your rules, IMHO. For the final challenge, you should stipulate that the sous chef can't materially change the menu the cheftestant decides upon. And something should be done to prevent what happened to Ariane, when it appeared that Leah and Hosea wouldn't take responsibility for prepping and cooking the lamb dish.

4. I agree, I would rather have a decent savory venison dish than some insipid dessert. And, the it's right that the meal be expected to finish on a high note. But, you fail to see that this season did not end on a high note.

5. It's painful to watch people get tortured emotionally, and I think Carla got an unfair dose considering she proved her ability to bounce back from a rough start. She deserves some recognition. At least Stefan made a gesture toward her.

6. You should drum up some Diet Dr Pepper money to reward Stefan and Carla to make up for this bitter finish. A token of goodwill will go a long way to satisfying the loyal fans of TC.

7. NBC will be giving you some competition with their new "Chopping Block" series. You have to prove that TC can do a better job.

8. There's too much time pressure for the final challenge. I agree with you that the chefs should be given the options of preparing 2 courses out of 5 ahead of time. Also, don't bring back runners-up from previous seasons to act as sous chefs. It seems like their tempted to try to redeem themselves for their previous failures.

9. That trick with making one cheftestant cook an alligator appetizer is just a dumb idea. You put these people in the position of putting someone else at a disadvantage.

10. Please, no more football analogies when talking about preparing food. Jeez.

Tom,

To watch Carla's finale was so painful. I really did enjoy watching her work and watching her grow as a chef. When she began to cook her food, it showed with successful dishes. It's clear that she understood her mistakes at the end of the show. I wanted her to win. Stefan was so arrogant, it was ridiculous. Make great food and stop with the drama in the kitchen. I think stefan stopped trying in the last three episodes.

Thanks, Tom. As always, your blog enhances my viewing experience.

I didn't realize this was supposed to be like the Super Bowl. Maybe I'm wrong, but I always liked Top Chef because I didn't see it as just a game. I saw it as a way to find the most talented chef of the group, and give them a chance to make their mark. That's what makes it interesting.

And yes, if you're looking for the most talented chef, you have to give some consideration to their performance over the long run. Otherwise, you could end up with a flash in the pan, someone who just got lucky. When football recruiters pick a player, do you think they just go on one performance? No, they're going to look over their whole history to make sure they're getting the real thing.

If I had wanted to watch football, I would have watched football. Maybe next time I will.

I felt that this season was a bit more truthful than previous. The chefs of this season brought themselves to the game rather than the expectation of who they were. Although the results of this season were less than exciting once one realized Carla's undoing, I have to agree with Tom. When asked to bring your best, you do just that. Between the three, Carla basically sold out, Stefan phoned it in and Hosea came closest to meeting the challenge at hand. Tom, I think the two finalist "cook off", where they are required to serve a full out 5 course meal, provides for the viewer, an idea of who these chefs are. For me, this is why I watch, what keeps me interested. What makes them cook? Why have they chosen to express themselves in this way in the culinary arena? Confidence, love, passion, understanding, skill must meld together as the flavors in any balanced meal for one to be considered "Top Chef". In closing I must congratulate the three and even Fabio... it was a great season to watch even though I found the finale a bit lacking. Best of luck to all who will be involved next season! Cheers.

Tom---the mere fact you find yourself defending Hosea as the finalist shows just how wrong the decision was---regardless of that challenge, consistently he did not rank well in all the challenges we saw throughout the season. Shouldn't the "top chef" be able to always do well? I agree that Carla's consistent "lack of confidence," [which I see as her just being too nice---what's wrong with that?] cost her the win---but Stefan's ability and consistency to cook all levels of a meal, should have been considered. I think you all penalized him for not lacking confidence. Hosea was a sneaky, undermining, talentless individual who lacked character [cheating on his girlfriend and in the elimination finals] and regardless of this title unearned, he will never have the respect in the culinary world as many of the esteemed former winners and guest chefs your program has had----and in my opinion, you have gone down with him. Shameful finale and I won't tune in for Season 6---why bother---you don't respect the title anymore.

I think the winner was a good choice. Even though I would have been just as happy if Carla won. She was great too!

So glad to see your blog at last! People sure have strong feelings about this season and seem very angry about the results. Not sure why, since none of us had the pleasure to taste any of the dishes all season. I was of the opinion that Stefan was a lock, based on his number of wins during the previous weeks and his seeming unflappability (is that a word?) I adored Carla, but thought she had perhaps peaked too late to pull it off. Never in a million years thought Hosea could pull it off, after his performance for the entire season, but I never thought he would be in the final three either. From the first few shows I had predicted Stefan, Jamie, and either Jeff or Fabio.
Also, people seem to resent that Hosea won after having a "thing" with Leah- when did we start making moral judgements with our palates? The producers had some fun with two people acting foolishly and many seem to have let it affect the entire season and their preference for a winner. I suspect the romance kept Leah on for longer than she would have survived otherwise, but it didn't make me "wish" for one winner over another.
For next season I would wish for a couple of enhancements to the show. First, I love to cook and paid for college by catering but that was 20 years ago. There are so many techniques and ingredients that were unfamiliar to me when watching the show. Could there be an online "glossary" that explains (in some detail, I would hope) what the technique or ingredient is, where it comes from, what it "adds" to the final product? This level of discussion is what I really love about "America's Test Kitchen"- the way they really break down the WHY. "We do it this way because......" Also it would be terrific if on the web site there were some discussion about possible substitutions. I live in a decent sized town, but it sure isn't possible for me to find all of the ingredients I have seen used. If there is a similar flavor profile (or even disimilar but equally interesting) it would be nice to have that available.
Lastly, it would be really fascinating to hear (after the fact, of course) from cheftestants about how their thought process went. Like "I saw foie gras and immediately remembered this dish I had once ..." or "Never having cooked with alligator I had to assume that I could mask/enhance anything if I used enough cream". Most of the choices have been fairly obvious, but I would love to learn more of how the decisions were made.
My only other "wishes" would be to hear more from Lee Anne- she doesn't post nearly enough- and see Eric Ripert when I wake up each morning! That is one sexy, compassionate and yummy man! (Tom is no slouch, either)
Keep up the good work and I look forward to Top Chef 6.

Given Casey's tantrums post airdate and Carla's impeccably gracious deportment, it's most unfortunate that you went there.

Looking forward to feast of foodery next season.

Ugh. I hate it when Tom makes sense. OK...Hosea deserves it, I begrudgingly admit.

It was enlightening , as always, to get your insight on the final decisions at JT. My heart was with Carla & I believe that had she not agreed to try Casey's suggestions but instead stuck with her original plan the outcome would have been in Carla's favor. She brought a lot of class, talent, love & "hootie-hoo" to the finale. I'm so glad that she was awarded the car for her winning efforts in Part I of the finale. I'm looking forward to the upcoming "reunion" show.

I also have to add that I'm so glad that the past 2 seasons have gone back to the original format of revealing the winner the same evening that the meal is served & judged. The Season finale when Hung was "crowned" was awful... with all the finalists & their families sitting in a studio "after the fact" when the announcement was made.... lame.

I'll be looking forward to Season 5..... (I guess we'll have to suffer through "Make me a Super Model" first.)

Chef Colicchio, while I really appreciate your viewpoint, I cannot congratulate Hosea on his win, because he didn't deserve to be there. He should have been gone when you chose to let Ariane go - he was the *admitted* better butcher, and yet just stood by and let her sacrifice herself with her horrible butchering of the lamb. How is that being a "Top Chef"? (And Leah supposedly knows how to tie up a roast, and did a piss-poor job of it - even you said that!)

As for you saying that Hosea won the 2nd course - that is ONLY because of Richard. For me, Richard Blais is the winner of TC5. Without him, Hosea wouldn't have had the beautiful plating of his dishes.

In my opinion, this win is no better than Season 2 with Ilan. He didn't deserve to be there either.

Next season - will you tell the Powers That Be to focus MORE on the cooking and LESS on the drama? People want to see the FOOD the cheftestants create - not them nuzzling each other on a couch in the TC house!

Thanks for the update, chef.

And you are right - if the finale were decided by the regular season performance, there would be nobody watching it. Especially this year, when Stefan would have clinched in week 9.

Whatever, Tom.

I just wish people would stop making allusions to "football" to explain themselves. (Football is in quotation marks because where I'm from "football" is a different kind of sport and frankly, I've never even heard anyone in my life make an allsuion to the latter to prove a point.) Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and by now I could not care less about Top Chef. Until now, every finale might not have had been won by the chef I wanted towin, but at least I couldfeel that they deserved the win based on the performance on the night of the finale as well as their perfonance during the course of the show. This season this was not the case. The food was uninspiring for the most part of the season, the ultimate winner was undeserving of the title. Unless the format of the show and the way it is judged is will change drastically for next season I doubt that I will give this show an evening of my time every time next season. And besides : who wants to look at 2 hours of obvious advertising for unhealthy products. How realistic is it that professional chefs who cringe at the thought of using canned food in a challenge; going even so far as to call it "garbage" (as long as there are people starving in the world, how can anyone justify to call perfectly fine food garbage?! I am appalled by the attidude of the chefs sometimes!); would use a diet soda or similar unhealthy produce in their meals? Well, that's just my opinion. Just one more thing in the long list of things that have taken away from the shows credibility this season...

P.S.: Thank god in Europe there are very stirct laws against product placement!!!

can i just ask what the point of inviting other reknowned chefs for their opinion/judgement, if the only the opinion that is going to determine the winner, is yours? we know you're the head judge, but I feel it is a waste of other chef's time, if in the end, only your opinion counts.

Chefs Keller, McPhail, Besh, and Susan had nothing but positive things to say about Stefan's dishes (let alone they didn't even make the frozen fish comment). How come their opinions/criticisms don't count when it obviously was in favor of Stefan?

Until this past Finale Part 2, i truly believed you were fair and objective in your decisions, but I guess not. Hosea cannot be compared to the NY Giants who won the superbowl. The Giants actually have to win a certain number of games and have to have a high record to advance to the playoffs. Hosea, in no way/shape/form had the record nor the skill to advance. He could not have made it to the Finale for the very reason you alluded to the Superbowl - b/c he just is not good enough to advance was it nor for many many lucky opportunities (which also consisted of inappropriate behavior w/ Leah)...

please do not allude to silly/useless examples like the Superbowl/Jazz analogy b/c it only makes your defense that much weaker. It would be better if you just honestly said: "I thought Hosea should've won b/c he was humble, he seemed like he wanted to be TC more than Stefan, and b/c I wanted an American to win."

sigh. so disappointed.

Hosea, top chef? Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Sorry Tom, but there is something wrong when a person that has skated by and not distinguished himself (besides his whining) the whole season gets the title of "Top Chef." I don't think there is anyone out there that would have Hosea cook for them over Stephan or Carla. Or Fabio or Jamie. As for the Superbowl analogy, it is inappropriate in many ways. I do not recall the teams drawing straws to choose a running back to add to their team (of varying quality) or one team being able to dictate where each team would start from to spice things up.
The fact that Hosea won is a blow to the credibility of the show and is indicative that there needs to be changes made to the way it is judged and its format. This is like if Sanjaya would have won American Idol.

Terrible finale! Hosea is a whining immature tool (much like Lea)! Stefan is a skilled (cocky too, yes) chef who was voted down becuase the judges did not like the way he plated the dessert while Hosea chickened out on dessert. This seemed more about the judges dislike for Stefan personally. The show is top chef, not top friend.

Well, Tom. I used to like you. Now you lost me.

Hi Tom,

Good explanation: however, I agree with one of the posters on another blog who said "If the judging is based solely on that one last meal, then why the hell doesn't everyone just ..... cook a single meal." It is hard to escape that logic.

I respect Carla for not blaming Casey at judges table. She learned a terrible lesson the hard, hard, hard way. Most of us have had to learn that way too, so it is easy to feel empathy and compassion.

Josea was clearly jealous of Stefan throughout the contest, but none of us are qualified to judge what any of the contestants' food tasted like. Who cares about a chef's personality as long as he/she delivers.

Thanks for another great season. This season wasn't as good as the last one, but it was still worth watching. Except, next time please edit out the sleezy "love" scenes. Best regards to you.

Thank you, Tom, for an exciting season. I agree with you completely that the finalists should have ample time at home to prep for the finale, similar to the Project Runway format. They've been showcasing their ability to whip up dishes on on the fly throughout the entire season, and they should be given a chance to show their best, with no excuses, in the finale. I hope very much that we will see this next season! I think that it would be more fair to the contestants and more satisfying for the viewers.

Regarding Chef Colicchio's suggestions to improve the show: yes, yes, and yes. For the finale, less emphasis needs to be placed on improvisation. Rather, let the TC contestants show what they can do without any hindrances or unnecessary restrictions--maybe one course (out of five) can be an extemporaneous challenge. Also a five-course meal including a mandatory dessert course eliminates much of the controversy regarding Hosea's decision to avoid the risk of making a dessert (I'm sorry Chef, I really believe the other two chefs were penalized too much for taking the larger risks.) Finally, a showdown between two contestants heightens the tension over one among three, but this is not a big deal to me either way.

In any case, I'm sure the producers will continue to run the show into the ground instead of listening to someone like Chef Tom. What does he know anyway, he's only a highly respected chef with years of experience running top-notch restaurants? Sometimes, change for change's sake is not a good idea.