We’re live and blogging the showdown between the Voltaggio brothers and Kevin, for the next Top Chef!
Top Chef’s best season yet, with finalists:
Michael Voltaggio, Kevin Gillespie, and Bryan Voltaggio
I just realized that Kevin is 26 years old. 26!!! Pretty effing incredible. But, I think it was the early balding that threw me off.
Tom and Padma introduce the three four course meal challenge [updated]:
- First course – cook a favorite childhood memory
- Second course – must use identical ingredients from a mystery box
- Third course – cook anything, with any ingredient
- Fourth course – must cook dessert
Jennifer’s back! And, Bryan gets her. Bryan has a superstar chef team.
Poor Kevin. Looks like he gets stuck with some duds (read: Preeti).
Michael V says he is a risk-taker and Bryan plays it safe. Bryan says he plays it smart.
The chefs’ moms visit! Sweet, but what’s this about? Highlight the sibling rivalry?
Nope. Tom throws them a curve ball. Chefs have to cook an extra course — they’re favorite childhood food memory.
Kevin has bacon in his dessert. Says he should get an award from the bacon council. Pork belly is also his main course.
Looks to me like Kevin takes the first round, with his down-home fried chicken inspired dish.
Michael V is the favorite for the second course/mystery box, with his sweet and sour dish.
Here comes the most critical course. This “original” dish should be the most representative of what these chefs would have on their menus. And, it looks like Bryan comes out on top.
The dessert course looks to be a toss-up between the Voltaggio brothers.
Usually these sentimental moments make me uncomfortable, but I loved hearing why these chefs think they should be Top Chef.
[Update] For a complete breakdown of each chef’s course, read Tom Colicchio’s blog post. It was impossible for me to keep up with each dish and the many, many ingredients. In the end, Tom says Michael won two of the four courses. His second course of Dashi-Glazed Rockfish, Sweet and Sour Crab Salad with Squash and Meyer Lemon, and his main course of Fennel-Scented Squab Breast, Pistachio Cassoulet and Textures of Mushrooms, were the best.
Michael Voltaggio’s main course of Fennel-Scented Squab Breast,
Pistachio Cassoulet and Textures of Mushrooms
——Spoiler Alert——
Amazing that this comes down to the two brothers. And, the winner is Michael?!?!?! Wow, I seriously thought it would be Bryan.
This was the best Top Chef season yet. Well done, fellas.
Author’s note: Blog post updated with pictures and links after the show.
posted by Ms. S&C
Shoes & Cocktails 
I’m slightly sad but if anyone could win besides Bryan I’m glad it was Michael. Best season of TC ever.