OK, so, funny story. I’ve been thinking that this week’s episode would be the reunion episode. I hate reunion episodes and I had a whole rant written in my head about how little I cared about re-hashing Marcel’s douchery and the Great Fried Oyster Controversy when the title was still on the line.
But nope. Today I logged into iTunes and the episode they had for download was titled simply, “Finale.” It’s the real effing deal, folks!
All spoilers in the comments. Enjoy!
1. I like the way they tweaked the parameters of the final meal.
Usually they just tell the chefs cooking in the finale to cook the best meal they’ve ever made in their lives. This time they got a little more specific: create a tasting menu for the restaurant of their dreams. I liked that specificity.
2. We’re making the eliminated contestants do a Quickfire? Really?
Come on. By now Mike and Richard know what style of food each of these folks cooks and more importantly, they know who they work well with. Let them pick the people they want and don’t make the eliminated contestants go through the Quickfire grind. You could just tell that none of the people in that kitchen gave even a tiny shit about “winning” the right to be sous-chef.
Things did get a bit more interesting when they made Richard and Mike pick based on a blind tasting of the dishes their competitors cooked, but I still would have liked to see them just pick the people they wanted. Top Chef producers, take note: at this point in the competition we are over the twists.
Admittedly, I’m mostly bitter because Dale and Jen would have been the first two chosen if Richard and Mike had just picked their teams, and I really wanted to see those two back on the line.
3. It’s Hubert Keller! Yaaaaaaay!
I will admit it. I’m a sucker for a French accent. But where is Tony Bourdain?
4. How long before Spike gets recruited into the CIA?
And I don’t mean the Culinary Institute of America. I mean the other CIA. That was some very slick spy work in the dining room.
5. First course
The first course appears to be a tie. Personally I would much rather have had Richard’s raw Hamachi with crispy sweetbreads (and the yummy-looking oyster amuse) than Mike’s beet salad, but I’m not really a big beet person. Both offerings appear to make the judges happy.
6. Second course
Mike’s halibut with cauliflower puree is a clear home run, but the diners in Round 1 had to wait almost 20 minutes in between courses. Once again, though, Richard’s dish—black cod, bone marrow, and pork belly—looks and sounds more appealing to me. It sounds rich and interesting and complex, whereas Mike’s food sounds delicately flavored and a bit fussy.
7. Third course
Richard goes for my heart with a short rib and a celery root puree. Yum. I want that right now.
I think my palate must be completely different from Mike’s because once again, I’m scratching my head over his dish—pork shoulder with pepperoni sauce and cabbage. I loathe pepperoni and cabbage isn’t my favorite either. But the judges love it.
8. Fourth course
Mike puts out a rosemary-caramel custard with pine nuts and citrus salad. I think that sounds like a promising combination of flavors, but Tom and Gail think the execution fell short.
Richard is also facing some trouble in the dessert course. While the judges like the cornbread and mango combination, the foie gras ice cream clearly has an off texture and the first panel of judges are confused. Richard successfully adjusts the ice cream for the second panel of judges, but will that be enough to salvage the course?
9. And … it’s Richard!
Not the most surprising outcome given the editing we’ve seen (fast way to die of alcohol poisoning: drink every time Richard mentions how he “choked”), but still a satisfying one, especially with the meal Richard put out. My mouth is still watering over that black cod and pork belly dish. Hats off, Richard. I hope you open your own place and you can finally get over losing the first time around!
I think we all saw Richard’s “second shot at redemption” (can’t stand the redundency and nonsense of that phrase) coming from the get go this season. Sigh.
And seriously, what’s up, Bourdain? Pretty sure he said “where are we going? The Bahamas? Why? No really, Why? I’m out, suckers.”
New Masters judge with the interesting accent – I can’t figure you out. I think I might like you.
I wonder if the Target episode broke Bourdain’s will to participate. “2am at a megastore in Jersey? Eff this shit.”
The reveal felt really anticlimactic for some reason. Like ‘oh, sure, Richard won. What’s on next?’ Bummer.
NOW I want to see a Top Chef miniseries where they bring together ALL of the former winners and have them go head to head with each other.
The quick fire for sous chef was a bit interesting — picking who you work with based on what they churn out does strike me as a good way to figure out who is talented. But unfortunately you need more than talent to work in a kitchen (and presumably they already know who is talented); you need to be able to get along. It was so nerve wracking to watch them pick. I really hoped for both their sakes neither would get Marcel.
In the end I was so happy Richard had one. I kind of hate how quickly they cut to the credits after announcing his win. This is something that annoys me on my competitive reality shows. The winner is announced and then bam its over. I want a little more time to celebrate with the winner. And oh man, I’m a sucker for a happy ending. I cried when Richard cried and when he told his wife. So happy for him. I definitely want to eat in the restaurant he opens.
So do we think Richard will follow through and give Mike some of the prize money like he said he was going to?
Goodness won, not one. It’s late and way past my bed time obviously.