Top Chef reviewed

So I have been watching the show 'Top Chef' since the new season started and it is winding down as the finale is taking place. I cook for a living, so this kind of stuff is of interest to me because I like to see what these chefs create and how they deal with the pressures involved in such a daunting challenge. In addition, I am by no way on the same planet as the talent of these people. They are pretty phenomenal at there craft and can give aspiring chefs something to shoot for, as far as caliber of cook. Sure they make some mistakes and people get eliminated, but it is human nature to make errors and the whole point of the show is to beat the other competitors. I like the show not only for the culinary aspect, but over the course of the programs you get to understand the people in the competition. There styles, personalities and there professionalism.

Well lately, as the cream has risen to the top, I have been overly impressed with the remaining competitors in the challenge. Hosea, Stefan, Fabio and Carla are all capable of winning this thing. However, for the finale in New Orleans, they did a challenge where they brought back three people who had previously been eliminated and had them compete for a spot in the finale. The three they brought back were Jeff, Leah, and Jamie. Of those three I personally thought Jeff had the most talent and he didn't disappoint guest judge, Emeril Lagasse, as he voted him back in. However, for the elimination challenge Jeff had a double whammy; Sure he was back in, but he had to win the challenge outright or he was automatically eliminated. When Jeff got eliminated on a previous episode I thought he got a raw deal and one of the others should have gone instead. He had been a strong player in the game throughout. So I was excited that he was getting a second chance at this.

So the chefs cater this ball that takes place prior to Mardi Gras, apparently a big deal, and none of them disappointed. I would go into there preparations, but that would be very long winded, and I am not even sure about some of them. But in true form, the two I have been routing for came through in the clutch and that would be Carla and Hosea. I guess I jumped on there bandwagon a few weeks ago because they are American and they put out the dishes I would most like to eat. Not that the others, Stefan and Fabio, put out bad dishes and that they are foreign. I just really like the style of Hosea and Carla. They really come across as down to earth people who just want to work there ass off and put out a great product. Where Stefan and Fabio just come across as too arrogant. Arrogance is good in the kitchen to a certain degree, but they take it a bit far. I view the person cooking my food in the same fashion as I would a surgeon. Would you want a confident person who knows the principles and technique to do the job or would you rather have someone who is unsure and has no confidence. I prefer the confidence with a touch of arrogance because I, like most people, want it done right and I want it to taste great.

So the plot thickens now with Hosea, Carla, and Stefan. They are all that is left. While Jeff came in and did a great job and the judges liked his work, it was not good enough to win overall. That title went to Carla. She is an African-American lady whose Southern roots really come through in her cooking. As evidenced by her being in the finale. I am sure nobody cares about this post and I really don't care if they do or not. It is my blog and this is something I have been watching and have enjoyed watching it. So I felt like writing about it. I don't have a clear cut favorite, but I am hoping the title of 'Top Chef' goes to either Carla or Hosea. Don't get me wrong, Stefan is pretty damn strong in the kitchen, so it will be a challenge and I am looking forward to watching.