You contradicted yourself in this blog post Tom. Sarah made a technical error that led her "mousse" to be too cold and inedible with the pasta. Lindsay clearly explained the concept and common thread of tomatoes and the fire-roasting of them tying her dish together. If the cocktail itself is being judged, why did Sarah's pass muster when all of the judges admit that although tasty, it didn't go with her food at all? Clearly there was something else at play here, and it's sad to see Sarah steal a place in the finale when she is not the best or second best chef of this season. Go Paul, kick some butt!

Someone needs to tell Sarah that not all Asian cuisine is cooked in a wok and apparently Bev can now cook every Asian cuisine. What's with the Asian hate this season? Paul needs to win it all for pure Asian revenge! Go Paul!

"don't have outsized egos" and "quietly worked hard" . . . are we the viewers to then think it must be the film crew and editors that have shaped the shows this season to give us the three bull-ettes? And those challenges leave much to be desired. This was a good season to introduce the Last Chance challenge, because the poor quality of this season was definitely the last chance for my continued viewing. The season has left me with the worst possible result - a bad taste in my mouth!

I don't know how frozen mousse can compliment a dish, and Sarah, pasta again???? Tom, your bias is SO obvious!

Please, Sarah quiet, no ego......................well maybe I have been watching another show. And so it goes. Foggy minds.

This episode was completely ruined by Tom's obvious bias towards Sarah. How is it that he "failed to see the fire in [Lindsay's] “fiery celery root salad.”", yet he where was the fire in Sarah's pasta? The frozen block that Gail can't even eat seemed like a more grievous error but Tom always defends Sarah even as the other judges criticize her. The fix is in...if Paul doesn't win this thing, I'm done!

The thing that strikes me the most isn't that Lindsey was eliminated... it is that when Bev returned to spoil the order, it sent packing the more talented Chef Ed. This was a decision that I can't get out of my head... no matter how hard I try, and will likely affect my viewing the next season... I'm still on the fence. Paul and Ed... come on! ...it would have been the Grand Finale! Sarah likely wouldn't have been a factor, because the reintroduction of Bev interrupted the natural order, and altered the entire outcome.

I wish both Paul and Sarah the best in their Finale... and may the best Chef win.

I noticed that when you visited the kitchen during prep that you were a little snarky with Paul and Lindsey, but didn't bother Sarah. I do believe you have a favorite!!

I noticed when you visited the kitchen you were a little snarky with Paul and Lindsey but not with Sarah! I do believe you have a favorite!

Tom, your bias for Sarah was never so loudly or clearly evident as in this episode. The frozen mousse was an error, pure and simple, and Sarah should have gone home for it. Period. You've minimized critiques of her cooking all season, and ignored her overuse of pasta dishes. Out of her comfort zone??? Please. I'm going to watch the finale because I am invested in the season, but highly doubt that I will continue to watch this show. This season was a mess.

I think this was really it for me. It was very obvious throughout this season that Sarah was in. I too agree with MFPViewer. Sarah had a technical error and a key item of her dish was non edible and her cocktail did not go with her dish, and it was commented on by the judges. Was a bad call to send Lindsay home. Happy to see Paul move on. Think it's time to find something else to do with my time spent watching Top Chef.... Maybe I'll take up cooking lol

I have a hard time with a chef who serves frozen mousse that was supposed to melt but didn't beating out a well cooked halibut. If you can't eat it how good can it be? Lindsay ought to be in the finale with Paul. Tom has peculiar tastes.

Proud of who they are? Have you been watching the behind the scenes? Sara is a bully..Lindsday isn't much better. Aside from that this season which started so exciting and has ended so boring that i stopped watching and only look at the end to see who won.

Yeh, Sarah needs to go. Unless Paul screws up royally, he needs to win this thing. Too much lack of "wow" from Sarah for her to qualify as Top Chef. Somehow, she is slipping through, and it is extremely frustrating to watch.

Really now people, none of us are tasting the dishes, now are we? Tom, bias to Sarah, really now, I thought the panel was bias towards Bev. Bev should have never returned, should have been Nyesha returning for the "Mentors" episode. But then again that is my opinion, seeing that I nor anyone else was there to taste the dishes. As far as the persons indicating that they stopped watching the season early on, why are you back here at the end of the season to even comment?

Frozen mouse is not a grevious error? Tom, would you serve Sarah's dish? Seriously, Lindsey's dish was edible and for that reason alone she should have been in the top two. Quietly cooking? Tom did you get a chance to see Sarah's nasty side or did you only see the cutesy personality? She and Heather were the queens of mean.

When Padma said "sarah" I opened my eyes and was so thrilled...only to be soooo dissapointed. Frozen mousse that didn't melt and make the sauce that it was intended to. Can you imagine being served this in a restaurant? Was the challenge to make a delicious summer cocktail??? All 3 could have easily done that. Tom, Tom, Tom, shame on you. I've lost respect for you. As this season progressed I knew that no matter what she did wrong that sarah would be in the finale. Also, last chance kitchen, I loved. There were a number of chefs I would have loved to see return. That Bev won and was then treated poorly was a disgrace. She didn't make the rules. Any of the standing chefs would have loved having the opportunity to return had they been eliminated too early. Poor sportsmanship! I did not enjoy watching the show tonight because sarah was there and I will not enjoy the finale and may not watch it until I know if Paul wins.

You contradicted yourself in this blog post Tom. Sarah made a technical error that led her "mousse" to be too cold and inedible with the pasta. Lindsay clearly explained the concept and common thread of tomatoes and the fire-roasting of them tying her dish together. If the cocktail itself is being judged, why did Sarah's pass muster when all of the judges admit that although tasty, it didn't go with her food at all? Clearly there was something else at play here, and it's sad to see Sarah steal a place in the finale when she is not the best or second best chef of this season. Go Paul, kick some butt!

It baffles me how it seems Hugh's the only one that noticed the bullying this season, ( bet he doesn't return next season..something tells me) Sarah is phony, two-faced and a bully, how in the world does that make her a good candidate? Lindsey is barely better, watch the episode before this where they clearly interrupt Bev's talking, its childish and I'm rather sick to death of it.

Did anyone else see the part in the preview for the finale where Tom gives Sarah advice? not just a " do you think this is too.." but " there's bones in that, fix it so I can make you the winner"

This season has been lack-luster, it did nothing to establish that Texas is more than chili and BBQ, as most episodes centered around that, was Chicago all about deep dish and hot dogs? NO! this was a weak showing for a state that probably has a great food scene, maybe they should have ventured into Dallas, and Houston, I don't know, I've never been and this season did not make me want to.

Hoping ( somehow through the obvious bias) Paul wins, so Sarah can go home to..Chicago..or Texas..or..where ever Bullying is an okay way to handle things.

I really dont get the Sarah thing, she should have been eliminated long ago. I've constantly been stunned after criticism of her food each week then she's safe. At least she has such little confidence in her cooking that she didn't take a new car over a spot to move forward. Stupidest thing I've ever seen.

It's a farce that she's in the final two, but since she is Paul is by far the better chef.

Tom, I respect you as a chef and love your blog comments and tweets. This one is a tough one, though ... frozen-solid mousse doesn't seem like nailing it to me! What we see happening in the episode does not match the outcome, which makes for unsatisfying TV. I don't know if you have any sway over how the episode unfolds, but it seems like the producers/editors are doing you a disservice by making Sarah look so bad and you look so happy with her.

I agree with all of the above. Clear bias for Sarah, but personally, happy, because she will be easy for Paul to beat in the finale. I've been eating his fabulous food for years now @ Uchi and Uchiko and now East Side Kings food trailer in East Austin.

Tom, bad call. Lindsey should have gone on to final with Paul. Sarah's dish was not fully constructed as she had hoped and I think Gail was right to call that out.

Team Paul all the way! I live in Austin and I can't wait to try Uchiko.

Since I live in Austin, this season has me on the edge of my seat. When you kept harping on that arugula garnish, I wanted to beat you so badly with a bunch of arugula, just like Carrie did to Mr. Big with her bouquet of roses. I've had the pleasure of eating Chef Paul's food and he will win!

Really!!! I don't believe you are not watching the episodes for you to talk about how they worked quietly!!! Sarah is far from quiet...Paul has worked hard...he has concentrated on the food and pushed to make better dishes...sarah is a phony, fake...It is clear that you like her...which is crap..she has messed up her risotto dishes...but you kept her...she keeps on cooking italian but you have said nothing even though you said something to bev about coming to expect the asian...I'm over it... There is no way having a frozen piece of "sauce" is good...oh because the pasta was from scratch!!! I wonder how much of why sarah is around is because her mentor is a master chef.... I always liked you but I don't appreciate you saying clear lies about their egos..it is clear sarah and the blonde one are BULLIES!

There is a small print blurb at the end of each show that states that the producers also have a say in who gets booted off, and this season proves it to me. I truly believe Nyehsha lost to Bev in LCK to bring Bev back for dramatic purposes.

Tom, I read once that you were proud that TC was finally getting recognition as a serious show, this season should make you "eat your words".

I have to say Tom normally I adore you but this season has just been a shame. If Sarah wouldn't have had a personally connection she would have been gone weeks ago. I also agree that you must not watch her snide comments every five min. She is not fun to watch and is a bully. I hope next season is better.

I couldn't believe Sara got excused for her frozen mousse, which was too difficult for Gail to eat. That alone should have sent her to packing her knives. Lindsey was robbed, pure and simple.

After Heather, Sarah was the biggest bully of them all- no ego? Worked quietly? Wow. Someone needs to watch the whole season from the start because clearly, you aren't seeing what the viewers at home have been seeing! And Sarah stays even with a major part of her dish that was frozen solid and couldn't be eaten? Here's to Paul- hope you win!

Tom, afer watching your review of the chef's while cooking, It was very clear you have a favorite, Sarah!! It is the only way a chef who serves ineditable food is kept in the final competition. Amazing, but then this season had amazing things that have changed my mind about Top Chef. I have always loved the cooking, the competition with eachother to win each challenge but this was the the most outrageous season when it came to being down right mean to each other (no names needed). Good competition is important but the skiing and shooting, was this necessary? I have always like when the Chefs could prepare what they wanted and see great results. I hope we see this in the fanale. Producers, let get back to the cooking next season. I did really enjoy the Last Chance Kitchen.

None of you have tasted the food. The judges see none of the behind the scenes footage until the show is aired.

None of you have tasted the food. The judges don't see the behind the scenes footage until the show is aired.

If Sarah didn't take immunity a few weeks ago to guarantee going to the finale I bet she would not be here today. She always says she never made this before or that and that is not a trait of a Top Chef. She is also a bully towards Beverly and that is unprofessional. Please Paul win! I will be very disappointed in the show if Sarah wins.

This season was like one or two in the past where people kind of ganged up on another chef. This episode reminded us of how different Top Chef Masters is in levels of maturity in the way they approach the other chefs and the challenges. We missed several episodes of this season. They signed up for a game and whatever drove the bad attitudes, it was unfortunate. Doesn't make going to some of those restaurants as appealing when money is so tight.

One last thing to say. My respect for Michelle Bernstein and Tony Mantuano has dropped considerably becuase they obviously didn't feel it important to 'mentor' their 'mentees' about how HORRIBLE their behavior has been this season. Perhaps a quite word from either mentor would have made the two witches aware of how much they are hated by TC watchers.

1. This is the final 3 contestants, why do you have them doing a Quickfire with other chefs? Still waiting for them to just have the opportunity to cook. Period. 2. Sarah makes pasta again. Big surprise. Her mousse was too cold and her cocktail didn't pair well with her food. 3. Lindsay plays it safe again, as she has the whole season. How did she get to the final 3? 4. I would not eat Sarah or Lindsay's food if given the opportunity. After watching several seasons of Top Chef, it's apparent that as a chef, you need strong leadership and management abilities. I cannot imagine having to work with or for either Sarah or Lindsay.

I think what people need to keep in mind is that we don't get to see everything.the judges are constantly saying that we don't even see half of judges table.they are in there for hours picking those dishes apart and focusing on the slightest error to figure out who should go home.a job that is probably excruciatingly hard at this point,so keep that in mind before you accuse people of bias.I for one don't doubt tom's integrity one bit.he is one of the most talented chefs in the business right now and that's evident in the things he notices while food is being cooked,the flaws he zooms in on while tasting,and the comments he makes.plus the fact the he once cooked a fish dish that made my mouth water just looking at it in 6 minutes.tom,that was beautiful to watch.would love to see you cook more.anyway,I've been a fan of this show from the very first episode but I do have one major problem with it.people watch this show because they love to see talented chefs come up with extraordinary dishes under challenging circumstances.it's fun and inspiring.but every season we have to put up with hateful,petty backstabbing people and that is not fun.we don't watch it for that.and personally,it ruins the show for me.this season you had sarah,heather and lindsay who were terrible to bev.and their defense for that behavior?she's messy and chaotic.really?Grayson was in that same kitchen and never lost her cool over bev's messiness.in past seasons we've had people like marcel.ick.what a horrible little man.the show needs to have some kind of sportmanlike conduct rules so people like that will suffer some consequences.and it's not just the bullying.it's the sneakiness.like when sarah had to leave because of heat sickness.I don't blame her for going to the hospital.she absolutely should have.what turned my stomach was her coming back just long enough to serve plates to the judges then going to sit down and leaving ed and paul in the lurch again because she was feeling sick again.that was a calculated move that made me sick.she shouldn't have been allowed to come back at all,and when she did that should have made her eligible again to be sent home,instead of a free pass.then there was jamie in the all star season.she got away with so much more than she should have.and marcel in season 2.if cliff can be disqualified for wrestling marcel to the ground why can't marcel be disqualified for the horrible behavior that drove his fellow chefs to that kind of action?yes,it's a brutal competition with very high stakes and I'm sure that causes people to act in ways they never thought they would.but every season you have chefs who don't give in to the pressure and don't turn ugly.why not have consequences for the ones who do?that ugly behavior does not make the competition more interesting.it makes me want to change the channel,and I'm positive I'm not the only one who feels that way.

Um, Tom - no out-sized egos?

Sarah: "It's me, Paul, and Lindsay, just like it was always supposed to be."

Sarah: "Lindsay is my friend, but I always knew it was going to be Paul and me in the final."

Her food looks like good Italian-based cooking, but I find her style to be boring, predictable, and limited in range. I'd rather a Top Chef who may cook one style but could easily adapt to other styles, rather than a Top Chef who has honed in on one cuisine and only does that time and time again.

The way the episode was edited it clearly looks like Tom is overtly favoring Sarah while the viewers see Sarah coming up short all over the place. During Tom's kitchen visit, he clearly said something to both Paul and Lindsay that was designed to bring up a moment that was a failure or negative to each of them and as we saw on TV, he said no such thing to Sarah and it was a stark difference. Equally, it was clear from Gail's words that "Lindsay made no mistakes" in her dish, while obviously Sarah did, her entire concept of the dish, that the ice block sauce would melt and become sauce, was a failure, no matter how it tasted. That cannot be "nailing the dish" to paraphrase Tom's blog. Besides, anyone notice that Sarah looks exactly like one of those Angry Bird Pigs that steal the eggs? She is not worth the spot on the finale. Bad choice.

To BRAVO:

It is obvious that no one reads the comments on the blogs or if you do, you could care less about what remarks are made.

Tom for you to say that the final three cooked quietly and didn't have large egos was utterly ridiculous. Only one of them could come close to that descriptive. I have really liked you for years on this show. This season it seems it is all about the Sarah and Tom show. Sorry.

At this point I have to think you and I were watching a different show other than Top Chef: Texas. What a great concept for the franchise, what the heck went wrong? Utterly stupid team challenges, circus like events, consistantly cooking for hundreds of people, bullies from all directions. What happened to the individual cooking? Because if anyone would take a half day to read through people's thoughts and feelings, the wrongness would be very sour to the taste.

There is an element of drama that most honest people can't seem to ignore, but too much is too much and between Sarah, Heather and Lindsay? The whole show was ruined from about episode three. And now one is in the finale. That sort of behaviour would not be allowed in any business including kitchens. I wonder how proud their mentors are of them now. That was not a question.

Paul should win, but he should have had the chance to prove it against either Grayson (who stood up to you and POOF she is gone), Ed, Nyesha or Bev.

I couldn't even watch last night...I just caught the end to see who moved on and Watch What Happens Live after where of course my worst fear was confirmed. Bev..gone now, was repeatedly thrown under the bus.

Here is a fact. Bev would have never been so popular had she not been so bullied on the show. This theme is a running and overwhelming comment through the blogs since Heather started it all. I get that these shows are in the can by the time they are aired and no editing can be done, but lessons can certainly be learned.

Bravo with Top Chef set the bar for this type of cooking competition, now it is time for you to set the example. Do the right thing if there is another season of Top Chef, get back to what was so good and entertaining about the show:

THE COOKING!!!!!

As much as I like watching Top Chef, this season I was really disappointed in the show. Why you ask? Because you had some of the meanest chefs competing this season. The ones I am talking about are Sarah and Lindsey. They thought they were the best and I didn't like the way they treated Beverly. Why didn't the judges say something to them. They were very rude and I am glad Lindsey was sent home yesterday. I hope Paul wins the Top Chef title, he is a much better chef than Sarah. I also thought Beverly was much better than the girls too. Paul, I hope you kick Sarah's butt and win the competition, you deserve it.

I was excited when Padma said Sara's name cuz I would have preferred Lindsey in the finale over Sara, but in true TC form, she is safe. :( Sara also played it safe by making pasta AGAIN (and she called out Lindsey for playing it safe). And she is VERY lucky that her dish tasted good despite of her execution error. This is Top Chef Sara, not Top Noodle! At least she gave Bev props about the Asian challenge! In Tom's defense, even though Sara's frozen chunk of sauce did not melt as planned, I did not hear anyone on the episode state that it was inedible, in fact I heard several comments on how good it was in their mouths. Lindsey did not embrace the challenge of Fire & Ice and ultimately I think that is what did her in. Tomatoes to me do not evoke feelings of warmth, I think of salad when I hear the word tomato. Now if she would have made a Frozen Bloody Mary for her cocktail then I think she could have gotten some more points with the judges. Hope Paul wins the title! Can't wait for the Reunion show to see the 3 bullys face the music for their treatment of Bev! COME ON ANDY COHEN, YOU HAVE TO SHOWCASE THAT!

Is the franchise's relationship with Tony Mantuano so strong that this spiteful bully gets a pass all the way to the top.

She undercooked her risotto a second time despite having been criticized previously? On the bottom five times and suspiciously makes it through each time? By the time the final episodes were filmed, the judges must have seen how full of hate and selfishness this woman is. I left my team in the lurch, but don't feel guilty at all? Nice.

I really hope most of it is editing and that she really deserved to be there. Otherwise the judges and especially her mentor, should all be ashamed of themselves.

Lindsey - Mean Girl got was coming to her. Now one more Mean GIrl to go. Sarah the clock is ticking. Your going home!!!! Go Team Paul you rock.....

"they don't have outsized egos"

Compared to who?! Sarah and Lindsey are high maintenance prima donnas. Good grief, Tom. You must be in love.

I can only agree with most of the others who are dismayed that Lindsey was eliminated and Sarah continued based on the results of this challenge. I would also like to suggest that if Last Chance Kitchen is to be repeated, the judging should be a "blind taste test" -- simply presented with the two completed dishes. I think it would be much fairer if Tom or whoever is judging does not know which chef's dish he is tasting.

THE MOUSSE WAS FROZEN!!!

Bad call leaving Sarah as part of the finale. Frozen food is bad food, regardless how good is supposed to taste. The concept was not executed properly. In addition, the Top Chef Master basically conceptualized and cooked the winning dish but she gets the 20 thousand dollar price? She didnt even now the name of one of the ingredients. I will not watch the finale becasue Sarah has such an ugly TV perosnality (rolling eyes, being disrepectful to fellow chefs, trash talker, etc) that I can not stand to watch. I will read all the blogs and comments the next day. Paul for the win!

Thank goodness. Last night the final Republican debate and next week, the finale of Top Chef Texas. Poor season all the way around. Good luck, Paul.