Wednesday, June 11, 2008

The last one

The Top Chef season finale was really kind of low key compared to previous seasons. No live cut in for the results. No reunion. Really not much hype throughout the episode, and the challenge itself just kind of slid by without much real drama. Maybe this had to do with the relatively minor personalities left standing, or maybe as I've hypothesized before, the show just isn't what it once was. (Kind of like this blog.)

Nowhere near the euphoria of Hung's great victory of last season.

Richard was putting on a clinic in mad-scientist cooking for the celebrity guest chefs, including Eric Ripert, who is opening a new restaurant, 10 Arts, in Center City Philadelphia.

But, he said it himself, he choked. No where near his best showing. I'm a little disappointed, but on the other hand, it could have went way worse.

"My menu is really going to reflect my personality." - Lisa. You would think that meant her menu would feature dogshit, armpit hair, and grease, but it really looked like she was going to win for a minute. I'm sure 96% of Top Chef viewers were ready to puke.

So Stephanie wins (Jess Sum's favorite) and at least saves the show from the indignity of having Lisa represent the pinnacle of Top Chef. Unfortunately, since they always bring back finalists in later season episodes, we probably haven't seen the last of her.

3 comments:

Los said...

It was anticlimactic last night, except that I had this feeling right from the beginning that Lisa was going to win, and I thought when Stephanie screwed up the dessert, Lisa had it won.

I think the judges took into account that Lisa was not very good for most of the season, and that Stephanie was in or near the top most of the time.

schue said...

I really like Richard, but he did choke, he definitly performed better. I'm also happy with the fact that Stephanie was the first female chef to win it.
And what's the deal with no live audience, why did they only do that once? And I didn't see anything at the end about a reunion. There better be one, so they can all bust on Lisa. Oh and Eric Ripert is one of my favorite guest judges - he's funny.
Ugh, and next up is Shear Genious, my husband and i will not be watching.

Anonymous said...

I watched this with my entire family. And all our significant others. All ten of us (we were on vacation). Fortunately, my brother's "Top 10 in the world Williams-Sonoma Manager" foodie girlfriend was there to be nervous with me. She knows food AND she hooks me up with free kitchen swag! ANYHOW, we were endlessly amused by Eric Ripert's seemingly boundless love for this show. For Chrissake, he willing dressed up as Santa Claus in a special. Eric friggin' Ripert! Who were those other two "celebrity" schmucks?

Don't blame Tom or Padma, Gail, Ted. Other than the time with Dale, there was always someone who screwed up slightly more than Lisa. This time, that was Richard. Fortunately, I never believe dessert challenges are weighted as heavily. Yay, Stephanie! I don't care if you're a woman or a man; you're a nice person and a kickass chef!

P.S. Did you guys catch that Richard said he's got a little Blaiss on the way?