"Top Chef" in a 777?
 

Just found this thread. Love it. Thought I'd throw in my two bits.

I truly feel for the clients. I did like this show last season, but after seeing more and more of the "gimicky" sort of challenges, I've come to realize this is less about prep ability, and more about how not to throw in the towel under outrageous circumstances. Thus my desire for a TRUE Top Chef show, where they just cook, and cook and cook in professional kitchens, in professional situations, making true food to be eaten at a restaurant. If that's for Chili's, then fine. But....

Making "gourmet" meals on a plane is akin to working with a child's Easy Bake 100W light-bulb oven. There is no top chef talent here. I'd love to see Anthony Bourdain or Tom C. take part in these challenges.

Harold's (deservingly) disgust last year of cooking from a vending machine or with products from a gas station for a quick fire make me wonder where the producers of this show come up with these ideas? And disgust for Tom C. for letting it happen.

Anthony Bourdain claims (in his blog) that this is not unlike off-site catering, where staging on unfamiliar ground. But professional chefs do plan for these sorts of issues, and often spend as much time preparing as they do cooking. Obviously not so in quickfire. The old saying that the best gardener is working in January by the fireplace is also true of cooking.

I'll watch the ending, but in reality, I think this show is equivalent to cooking acrobatics, or "How not to throw a knife at a producer who asks you to make something with a twinkie and Hershey's chocolate syrup (a sponsor).

What's with Tom's backward beret hat? Katie Lee Joel had more fashion sense at least.

all of a sudden it's finale time - let's all make our picks.

I'm rooting for Casey, and think Hung will win.

Hung wins, Casey runner up

I am definitely rooting for Casey!

Dale will win, followed by Hung, then Casey.

In reality, I think it will be b/w Hung and Casey.

Wasn't too surprised to see Brian go home after what he made last night. I couldn't believe how rare Casey cooked her elk though (this, coming from a guy that LOVES his elk rare!) - when Eric Ripert describes it as "black and blue" you know the temperature is off.

I think it's going to be between Dale and Casey.

IF the finale this year is anything like the last 2, they will bring back other contestants to serve as sous chefs for the finalists. I can't see all that many people giving 100% to Hung's effort, hobbling him the way Tiffani was in season one.

Hung must go
 

Gawd, how we love to hate Hung. What an a---ole. I loved the way he lied and got away with it. And, his incredible suck-up speech at the end..

My fave is Casey, but either of the Dale would be fine too. He really came through last night..

Great show, and we've even picked a couple a small cooking tips in the process.

Really? I really like Hung and his arrogance. Then again, I also liked the foam guy last year who thought he was all that. I find it to be entertaining.

The big problem with this show is that we can't taste the damn food!

That would mean the info I got would be accurate so I'm thinking it would be correct. :o

I'm rooting for Casey big time... she's the former roommate of my chef friend.

Casey has a good shot; I'm sure the Top Chef producers would like a female winner this time.

I hope its Casey all the way.

i hope its casey too, i love her. shes an amazing chef but i think the fact that she a woman is gonna help her out a lot...

Can't stand Casey. As one prior poster said she is prissy.

I've liked Dale and Hung from the beginning, so I can live with either of those but there is so much Hung bashing I'm leaning towards him right now.

oooooh, live finale!

(can anyone tell i'm excited?)

Live Baby Live!!!

gonna be interesting to see how rocco and hung work together - seem to be a combination of two very strong personalities!

I wish hotel chains would nix at least one of the 4 ESPN options, and add Bravo to their TV line-up. Not that I don't love ESPN, but I hate missing Top Chef!! I always watch it on Fridays, but most weeks, I can't wait to know what happened and have already read about it. I am going to try to restrain myself this week.

So far, so good, but they have a lot to get through in the 20 minutes remaining!

Dangit - it's done, I know it is, and I want so bad to hit some forums to know what happened!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's killing me!!!!!!!!!!! Must refrain myself. Must refrain myself. Shut down the computer. :D

Casey bombed, particularly in the questioning.

Too bad Dale didn't win. I think of the finalists he's definitely the most sophisticated and experienced. His interviews highlighted that he's a more mature chef than Hung who continues to rub me the wrong way.

Casey fell short when it counted and she admitted it during the judging.

Disappointed in Casey, big time. She was such a trainwreck during the questions too - painful to watch.

Hung and Dale did great work - kinda miffed to see Hung win after a season full of bad attitudes, but i always knew he was the most talented - I guess the cream rose to the top in this case.

So when does season 4 start?

Not soon enough!

What a great finale! It seemed really tight between Dale and Hung. But to my chagrin, Hung got the nod.

I honestly think the most irritating part of Hung winning was having to see Marcel from Season 2 at the finale.

Agree 100% - i guess he didn't get his taste of the winner's circle last year, so he had to ride the coattails of Hung this time around.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!

I am so bummed. :(

I reallly think they made a bad call between dale and hung. Granted, dale had that lobster dish they didn't like, but his 4th dish was the fav on many of the diners. All the judges agreed that hung's chocolate cake was *meh*.

I felt really bad for Casey. Her one good dish was entirely Howie's doing.

All right, so we know the winner now the new question is who will receive the $10k prize next week??

I think this time Casey will win

Season 4 is under production right now in Chicago. I found a blog the other day that mentions spotting cast and crew in various parts of the city. Also why the live part of last night was aired from Chicago.


Agreed. Comments from the judges indicated that Dale's overall effort was better than Hung's. Gotta love that subjective judging (and possible influence from the producers).

I am so miffed at their decision!

All in all, Dale took far more of a chance on his menu. Although they didn't care for his lobster dish, Hung himself admitted that he played it safe with the chocolate cake.

Casey rocks! She's so down to earth, and deserves to win this.

By the way - Did Hung do a little "homage to Marcel" with that coconut foam? Seemed like Marcel was happier than anybody when the decision was announced. Or maybe, villains just tend to root for eachother.

Duplicate post

Thanks for that info. I had no idea why the reveal was done in Chicago, especially since it is Dale's hometown, until you shared this. At first, I thought it was Top Chef: Flyer Talk style, with stops in Miami, Newark, New York City, Aspen and Chicago. I wonder why Bravo didn't clarify this, seeing as it would have been a natural promotion for their next season.

I had exactly the same thought--and then I rolled my eyes.

I didn't really get that impression, rather that it was a very tough call.

According the the results of the text message poll they do during the ads, the audience was about 60% for Casey, about 22% for Dale, and about 18% for Hung. Why would the producers try to influence the judges to pick the audience's least favorite finalist?

Um, no. If anything you have it reversed. Hung was the one that got the Michelin 3 Star compliment. He was the one who had 4 edible dishes. Recall that Dale's lobster dish was piss poor.

Not sure I agree with that logic either. Both of them had two of the best dishes in the four rounds. Dale had one dish the judges just didn't like. The worst of Hung's dishes may have been "meh," but mediocre beats downright bad any day.

edit: I watched the show with half an eye while working last night, and I'm watching it again now. I think I was too harsh on Dale regarding credit for CJ.

Apparently she didn't. She didn't even think so. I have to give her props though for giving Howie the credit he was due for his dish. I don't think Dale did that with properly with CJ, though he certainly wasn't nearly as bad as Tiffani taking credit for Dave's desserts.

Ok, here's another discussion point. Which season of the three, has the best collection of cooking talent?

Going into the final couple of episodes of season 3, I didn't think they were nearly as good as the prior two - but the last couple of contestants and their dishes really elevated my overall feeling on season 3.

My vote would be for season 2 (even though they didn't win the 1 vs. 2 challenge).