Top Chef finale part 2 10/3/07

[betts4]

All I can say is YEEEEAAAAHHHHH!!!!!

I have wanted either Hung or Howie to win since day one. I am so glad he did it.

I don't know much about the food he cooked, but am glad they worked out for him. I did like the fact that Dale did well also. I have never been a casey fan so I wouldn't have minded if either Dale or Hung won...as long as it wasn't her. And when she got called to the carpet and tried to say she couldn't find the leeks. And she seemed so rattled. But I also wonder if the high altitude was getting to her. I loved Hungs idea to use the camp stoves and cook by himself in the back.

Interesting that two of the three chefs created a dish that the judges said was perfect and they should remember and not change. I think that is nice for the chefs. Good job from all three but Yea for Hung! :up:

[Ruth]

Bummer. I wanted Casey to win. Since she flopped the last challenge obviously she wasn't going to, but still, I was rooting for her.

[logic88]

(Ok, not a good time for TiVo to tell me that it's deleted Bravo from my channel lineup. I manually recorded it but didn't realize it was going to run over 1 hour. Then when I came back and saw that it was running over, I hit record thinking that it was going record the whole thing. But it only recorded from when I hit record and had erased about fifteen minutes before. I guess that's how TiVo is suppose to behave when confronted with a deleted channel? Argh.)

Anyway, I was slightly surprised to see that Hung won. It seemed that Dale's dishes were better received especially given the comments that Hung's first two dishes were underseasoned. But perhaps Hung's great duck dish or Dale's not-so-great lobster dish made the difference?

Wow, Casey was a bit on edge at the judging table, wasn't she? I don't remember her ever being so defensive. Very Hung-like, even. :)

[betts4]

Anyway, I was slightly surprised to see that Hung won. It seemed that Dale's dishes were better received especially given the comments that Hung's first two dishes were underseasoned. But perhaps Hung's great duck dish or Dale's not-so-great lobster dish made the difference?

Wow, Casey was a bit on edge at the judging table, wasn't she? I don't remember her ever being so defensive. Very Hung-like, even. :)

I felt that it was a pretty even down the middle (hung and dale) on the comments. The lobster dish was sort of offset by the mundane but nice to have dessert dish of Hungs. At one point I thought there was going to be a tribal council cook off or something.

I also thought it was interesting that CJ did the scallop dish that was well liked...but thought that Dale really just let him do it. And yet took a 50/50 credit.

Casey must have been suffering from altitude problems. Or PMS. :D

[ireland967]

I'm glad Hung won of the three finalists. His dessert dish was an easy layup that didn't stand out in any way, but none of the judges could find any major faults in any of his courses. I'm sure you'd have to taste his duck dish to appreciate it, but Dale's rack of lamb looked incredible. Quite a compliment from Colicchio on these signature dishes they should carry with them for life.

Didn't seem useful having a live finale. I thought the point was they would be promoting the next season of Top Chef currently filming in Chicago, but they seemed crunched on time. We didn't even get much reaction from the finalists.

I suppose next week's reunion show was taped, so they won't have any knowledge of the winner.

Lastly a :up: to the contestants, in each of the other seasons the chefs were often going after each other personally, creating all sorts of unnecessary drama. This season's chefs let their cooking say it all. It was great seeing the finalists walk out arm in arm after their last visit at the judges table.

[uncdrew]

They made the right choice.


Of course Casey made it easy on them. :)

[montag]

Casey's rack looked nicer than Dales.

While I actually grew to like Dale, they made the right choice. The thing is, if they could have voted based on food and heart, Dale would have won. Hung's good at talking about his passion for food but it never came out. Even on this last challange when he said he was going to show the real Hung.

He was my pick from week one and I'm glad he won.

What was up with the Chicago studio. 1976 called and they want their studio back. The lighting was horrible. Everything was washed out and yellow.

[mwhip]

Might have to make a special trip to see Casey out here. ;) And I am fairly positive she will never take a job in a high altitude.

[jon01]

go hung! i wanted him to win since day 1, so im glad to see. great show as always!

- Jon

[marksman]

Anyone see Marcel at the finale?

I think Marcel and Hung are an item.

[mwhip]

Anyone see Marcel at the finale?

I think Marcel and Hung are an item.

Marcel and Hung worked together and they both tried out for the show and Marcel got on. Then the next year Hung got on...of course they could still be an item.

I still think Collachio was flirting with Casey the whole season.

[Mr. Soze]

Casey's rack looked nicer than Dales.Yes indeed!

After Tre left, it was Hung's to lose.

[nedthelab]

Hung is a creep - it takes more than fast knife work and being a prick to be a good chef,dale someone I would like to hang with, Hung is someone I would slap the back of the head of.

I did like the cell phone voters that had Casey at >50% to win, so what if she is cute, she also very inconsistent.

[MikeMar]

If Dale hadn't screwed up that Lobster dish he would have won easy :(

Obviously between Dale and Hung at that point, oh well, Hung is an ass and would be best at someone else's restaurant making stuff, not his own.

[Zrealm]

Didn't seem useful having a live finale. I thought the point was they would be promoting the next season of Top Chef currently filming in Chicago, but they seemed crunched on time. We didn't even get much reaction from the finalists.

I suppose next week's reunion show was taped, so they won't have any knowledge of the winner.


Supposedly it was taped at the live show, afterwards - so it should have knowledge of a winner and the reactions you're looking for :)

[jsmeeker]

Dale's downfall was a dish that was disliked. Hung had no dish that was disliked. Both had stellar dishes in Dale's lamb and Hung's duck. High praise for both. (Todd English calling the duck dish Michelin 3 star worthy is high praise indeed).

Sure, his dessert was a super safe and a boring cliché seen on seemingly every menu. But it was executed well. Nothing offended out of the 4. Dale had 3 good ones, and one that didn't work out well.

I was surprised to see Casey stumble. Too bad. But she's great and I like her a lot.


So, congrats to Hung! I'd love to try his duck dish. (and Dale's lamb, too)

[bareyb]

Bummer. I wanted Casey to win. Since she flopped the last challenge obviously she wasn't going to, but still, I was rooting for her.

Me too. That last challenge just totally derailed her... I kind of felt like the whole cooking at altitude thing was a bit too much of a monkey wrench for the finale. How are they supposed to show what they can "really do" with that kind of twist? I know it's a level playing field and all, but I still wish they'd given them a chance to show their skills in more a a 'real life" scenario. In the end, Hung was my second choice. So I'm not too disappointed. I was impressed with Dales big push at the end. Seems like he "woke up" when he needed to.

[MikeMar]

Me too. That last challenge just totally derailed her... I kind of felt like the whole cooking at altitude thing was a bit too much of a monkey wrench for the finale. How are they supposed to show what they can "really do" with that kind of twist? I know it's a level playing field and all, but I still wish they'd given them a chance to show their skills in more a a 'real life" scenario. In the end, Hung was my second choice. So I'm not too disappointed. I was impressed with Dales big push at the end. Seems like he "woke up" when he needed to.

Yeah I thought the last show was going to be just flat out, whoever cooks the best stuff, but the whole altitude thing just make it another gimmick type thing :(

[logic88]

Yeah I thought the last show was going to be just flat out, whoever cooks the best stuff, but the whole altitude thing just make it another gimmick type thing :(

Where were the finales previously held (I didn't see season 1 or 2)?

As for the altitude thing, isn't it a pretty well known fact that altitude decreases the boiling point? Or at least shouldn't a "top chef" be trained about these things?

[pdhenry]

The boiling point depression is fairly obvious, but it affects everything. IIRC they were trying to fry and they were having trouble with the food cooking properly and browning properly (either too brown or not enough). I doubt they'd be specifically trained for that, but would learn to adapt the recipes if they found themselves emplyed at altitude.

[MikeMar]

Where were the finales previously held (I didn't see season 1 or 2)?

As for the altitude thing, isn't it a pretty well known fact that altitude decreases the boiling point? Or at least shouldn't a "top chef" be trained about these things?

first season i watched, but still a semi-gimmick thing I wish they didn't do.

[jsmeeker]

Where were the finales previously held (I didn't see season 1 or 2)?

As for the altitude thing, isn't it a pretty well known fact that altitude decreases the boiling point? Or at least shouldn't a "top chef" be trained about these things?

sure.. But unless you have worked in those conditions regularly, it will take some getting used to. Tough to do with only a few days.

Not many restaurants are at 11,000+ feet MSL.

I understand the boiling point thing. Essentially, you are cooking things at a lower temperature, even if it appears you aren't. So, stuff takes longer to cook. Also, it affects baking. But there wasn't any of that (except Hung, and apparently his cake came out very nicely). I guess I don't understand the browning thing. Is it because the fire doesn't get as hot? (less O2 in the mix with the gas??)

really, I think there was some great dishes coming from Hung and Dale. The altitude didn't seem to really get to them (although from the blogs, I guess it did in a way for dale. He couldn't get a sear on the lamb, so he decided to poach it in duck fat. Sometimes challenges like that pay off. Dale had some good plan Bs up his sleeve in Aspen)

[Mr. Soze]

I was surprised to see Casey stumble. Too bad. But she's great and I like her a lot.She was coming up so fast at the end it was a shame to see her stumble in the finale. Do you know her place in Dallas? (I can't remember the name, vaguely Japanese sounding).

ETA: Shinsei. Duh. Bravo website.

[jsmeeker]

Have not been there. But I have been to the place were Tre works a couple of times


(need to dig up the pick of Peter000 with Tre in the background)

[MaryT]

I was sorry to see Casey lose, but honestly, given that her cooking was so good throughout the show, I believe that the altitude effected HER, not just the cooking, but her.

They were at 12k feet. That's pretty high and can and does make people light headed and sleepy.

I don't think Aspen was a good location for a competition, particularly if you don't know how the contestants will react.

[logic88]

I understand the boiling point thing. Essentially, you are cooking things at a lower temperature, even if it appears you aren't. So, stuff takes longer to cook. Also, it affects baking. But there wasn't any of that (except Hung, and apparently his cake came out very nicely). I guess I don't understand the browning thing. Is it because the fire doesn't get as hot? (less O2 in the mix with the gas??)


Didn't Hung make a flourless molten chocolate cake? If so, would the altitude affect it since it doesn't need to rise?

As for searing, perhaps because the moisture evaporates at a lower temperature at altitude, a crust doesn't form as nicely?

[logic88]

Hmmm... Stumbled across this interview with Casey at chow.com (http://www.chow.com/stories/10755), she certainly didn't sound like a very gracious loser.

She's probably PO'ed at Bravo for editing the finale to make it look like she had a meltdown.

[jsmeeker]

Didn't Hung make a flourless molten chocolate cake? If so, would the altitude affect it since it doesn't need to rise?




he made some sort of cake.. He didn't appear to have issues, though. The judges all seemed to like it.

[anom]

Hmmm... Stumbled across this interview with Casey at chow.com (http://www.chow.com/stories/10755), she certainly didn't sound like a very gracious loser.

She's probably PO'ed at Bravo for editing the finale to make it look like she had a meltdown.

It didn't look like she had a meltdown.

It did look like she overcooked her pork dish.

[nedthelab]

Although I enjoy the show the hyper editing to superimpose reaction shots is getting old - contrived and fake

[Ruth]

Yeah I thought the last show was going to be just flat out, whoever cooks the best stuff, but the whole altitude thing just make it another gimmick type thing :(

I don't think that's fair. The Food & Wine Classic in Aspen is a real event, not a Bravo creation, and it was announced from the very beginning of the show that the finalists would be competing there. They had plenty of time to learn about altitude cooking and/or get some practice -- it's not like a new twist was suddenly presented to them at the last minute. I don't think that counts as a gimmick.

[Agatha Mystery]

I don't think that's fair. The Food & Wine Classic in Aspen is a real event, not a Bravo creation, and it was announced from the very beginning of the show that the finalists would be competing there. They had plenty of time to learn about altitude cooking and/or get some practice -- it's not like a new twist was suddenly presented to them at the last minute. I don't think that counts as a gimmick.
You can learn about altitude cooking, but unless you're spending time up there, you aren't certain how to adjust your cooking. They made some decisions spur of the moment on what to cook, and u nless you've planned ahead, you aren't certain how you want to do that at high altitude.

On top of that, most of them probably went back to work. I don't know what kind of stipend they were receiving while participating. They may have needed the cash influx to keep going.

[MikeMar]

I don't think that's fair. The Food & Wine Classic in Aspen is a real event, not a Bravo creation, and it was announced from the very beginning of the show that the finalists would be competing there. They had plenty of time to learn about altitude cooking and/or get some practice -- it's not like a new twist was suddenly presented to them at the last minute. I don't think that counts as a gimmick.

Well what Agatha said, and they were in Aspen AND THEN on top of a mountain, so it was that much extra elevation!!

I don't think it was a full gimmick, but a somewhat gimmick.

[logic88]

It didn't look like she had a meltdown.

It did look like she overcooked her pork dish.

She was considered one of the favorites yet none of her dishes were considered round winners as Dale won 2 of the rounds and Hung the other 2 rounds. And the one dish that they liked without reservations was made by Howie. This was confirmed at the judges table by her comments but then she claims in that Chow.com interview that Bravo edited the show to make it look that way. She also claims that Sara was responsible for Hung's chocolate cake even though we saw Hung had the recipe and did the piping into the rings.

Also in that interview, she talks a bit of trash about Hung and that being a Top Chef is "more than making plates". Finally she says that she should have won because she was more consistent throughout the season and she won more challenges than either one of them. So perhaps the "real" Casey is not quite as nice as Bravo tried to portray her to be.

[MikeMar]

Finally she says that she should have won because she was more consistent throughout the season and she won more challenges than either one of them.

I love this line, it's like the best record team in the regular season in sports losing in the final game(s) and saying "we should have won it all, we had the best record"

Competitions generally only award whoever makes it to the final competition and then wins that, not the best overall performance :D

[logic88]

On top of that, most of them probably went back to work. I don't know what kind of stipend they were receiving while participating. They may have needed the cash influx to keep going.

Casey mentioned this during the interview as one of the reasons that she should have won. She said that Dale wasn't cooking, that he was waiting tables and that he took some time off to travel to Hawaii. Hung apparently took a month off and was in New York eating at various restaurants (though a blog comment indicated that this was because Guy Savoy was closed during this time). She was at work the next day at her "very successful" restaurant so I guess she meant that she had the least amount of time to prep for the challenge.

[jsmeeker]

Well what Agatha said, and they were in Aspen AND THEN on top of a mountain, so it was that much extra elevation!!

I don't think it was a full gimmick, but a somewhat gimmick.


yet there were several really top notch dishes that came to the final table. A challenge, but not one that could not be overcome.

really, Casey just had a bad day. Which was too bad.

as far as Hung's cake goes, if you go back and watch, it's clear that Hung gives Sara a recipe for the cake and has her prepare it. Really, not all the challenging to do. he used her as a prep person the same way he used Rocco as one.

Casey did a good job of leveraging Howie, too. I got the impression that he is the one that sear the fois gras and during the judging, it was either Rocco or Todd that commented that it was cooked nicely.

I just don't get what the deal is hear with Casey. She never ever seemed to be the kind of person that would get this way.

[Jesda]

I still think its crap that Tre wasnt there in the top 4.

Otherwise, I think Casey and Hung proved themselves to be the most consistently good, but Hung had better skill and efficiency.

[MasterOfPuppets]

I had a tough time getting into this season.
For the final episode, I played it and the first thing I see is the end of the finale with Hung hugging people and confetti.
So, there really wasn't much point in watching the whole episode.

[SoldOnTiVo]

I had a tough time getting into this season.
For the final episode, I played it and the first thing I see is the end of the finale with Hung hugging people and confetti.
So, there really wasn't much point in watching the whole episode.

Both him and Dale received a "Keep this on your menu and don't even try to improve it" comment on one of their respective dishes. That kind of tells you the level at which the final was played.

Both dishes did look great. (with my preference going to Dale's lamb. wow! )

I was happy Dale was able to give Hung a run for his money.

[Havana Brown]

I had a tough time getting into this season.
For the final episode, I played it and the first thing I see is the end of the finale with Hung hugging people and confetti.
So, there really wasn't much point in watching the whole episode.


Mine was the same way!!! :mad:

[jsmeeker]

Bourdain's final blog is up at Bravo's website.

:)

[marksman]

Someone should have told casey that the judging is strictly round-by-round and not an overall review of the entire compeitition. What you did in week 3 or week 6 was irrelevant to the final judging. It was done solely on the final challenge.

[jsmeeker]

anyone watch the reunion show?

It was pretty lame, but there were some OK clip montages/highlights.

Casey won fan favorite. Not really suprising. If Tre had made it futherer, I think he would have won it.


Also, check out this short video of Hung doing some basic knife skills instruction

http://nymag.com/daily/food/2007/10/top_chef_winner_hung_shows_off.html

[Jesda]

I wonder if Casey will be doing Maxim. By wonder I mean hope.

[mwhip]

I wonder if Casey will be doing Maxim. By wonder I mean hope.

The bathing suit scene was nice of course they are some fake tatas but I would not kick her out of bed for eating crackers. :p

[logic88]

anyone watch the reunion show?

It was pretty lame, but there were some OK clip montages/highlights.

[deleted] won fan favorite. Not really suprising. If [deleted] had made it futherer, I think [deleted] would have won it.
[/url]

It was kinda boring. After watching this season, I was intrigued enough to go and snag the first season. Now that was a reunion show! The tears, the screaming, the almost-fights, the walkouts, that reunion show had it all.

It would have been shocking to me if anyone other than [deleted] had won for fan favorites. I doubt that the final tally was even close.

[David Platt]

anyone watch the reunion show?

It was pretty lame, but there were some OK clip montages/highlights.

<spoilers removed>

[/url]

Nope, haven't watched it yet. But thanks for spilling who won.

[jsmeeker]

ooops..

Didn't really think it was much of a prize or deal to know. That's why I didn't even bother with a new thread for that episode.