Top Chef Championship all set for next week. Who wins it all? (Requisite SPOILER warning)

[charlie and algernon]

Poll question: Top Chef Championship all set for next week. Who wins it all? (Requisite SPOILER warning)

[hifiguy]

1. Unless Richard screws up big time

he is going to win. He has been so consistent for so long, save for choking (his word) in the finale of his season that I think it's his to lose. I hope he does win. I didn't really mind Mike I. for quite a while, and there was no one really irritating on this series since that asshole Marcel got sent packing, but Mikey is now starting to grate on me a little. I'd rather have seen Dale in the finals.

What is really a head scratcher is how Marcel wound up with his own show over on SyFy.

[LynneSin]

2. Same reason Survivor keeps having Russel as a contestant

People love to watch the asshole even if the asshole does piss them off.

However Marcel does have a very unique talent since he is not just a chef but a molecular gastronomist. That fits in well with the Sy-Fy channel.

[Duer 157099]

4. Marcel on SyFy? Name of show? tx n/t

[hifiguy]

5. "Marcel's Quantum Kitchen" debuted

Tuesday night at 9 CDT. It was quite a bit more interesting than I had expected it to be given my visceral dislike for Chef Vigneron. He's still a spoled, prima-donna-ish pain. But the man does have some serious culinary chops.

[fishwax]

3. I hope Richard finally gets the validation he seems to so desperately need

This will also ensure that we don't have to see him a few years down the road in "Top Chef: All-Stars 2," talking about how badly he choked the last two times around. (Of course, "Top Chef: Champions" probably isn't out the question, but maybe with an actual championship under his belt he'd tone it down a notch.)

That aside, I've figured from the beginning that he would probably win, though I've been pulling for Antonia since the middle of the season. I do think that Richard is certainly among the best cheftestants who didn't win. I think that Bryan V. and Kevin from Mike I's season are also in that category, but I suppose neither wanted to compete in this season.

[IcyPeas]

6. I hope Richard wins too.

Mike I. has been doing okay these days though, but I want Richard to win. He always looks so sad and disappointed in himself. He is good and serious and works so hard and he's had 8 wins (as he mentioned last night lol) and Mike I. has only had 3. I like when Richard praises himself a little.

go Richard.

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I liked Antonia too although I knew she wouldn't win.

[AngryOldDem]

7. Richard...

...for the simple reason that I can no longer stand Mike.

I'd like to know what the tipping factor was with Antonia's last dish. Sounds like pretty much the whole table was for her, except for Collichio. Maybe that explains it right there. I was so disappointed because 1) I think she could have given either Mike or Richard a good run for their money in the final; 2) I'd like to see another woman win Top Chef.

I just hope Richard doesn't screw himself over like he did in his last final.

[davsand]

10. Seemed like Collichio had been gunning for Antonia for a while now

He was just blatant about it in the episode where they cooked on the beach. He kept whining that her Conch was diced too small--and he just kept going ON about it when others raved about her dish. It was bad enough that Gail Simmons actually had to make the comment that Antonia had made a dish that pleased everyone...

Last night was almost as bad, IMO. Mike made what sounded like a fairly limp fried chicken. It was bad enough that they commented on the lack of crispiness in that crust. The comment was made that Mike really didn't do anything too difficult, nor was it all that well done. I just do not understand how that translates into a "tie" with Antonia that set up that last little surprise cook-off. I dunno, maybe something got lost in the editing, but that outcome made zero sense to me.

I think Richard is a good cook, and I have pretty much thought for a while now that he'd probably be the winner. I think it was "decided" a while ago.



Laura

[fishwax]

11. that was the episode where Tom couldn't tell the difference between sweet potato and pasta

Tom: the ambition of actually making hand-made pasta on the beach in that time frame!

Gail: yeah, I think that was sliced sweet potato.

Tom: sweet pota-what-now?

:rofl:

(disclaimer: the above conversation has been paraphrased ;))

[jumptheshadow]

8. The editing has been a little strange...

On a few occasions the female chefs have said, "It would be so great if a woman could win Top Chef!" I thought they were building towards a happy ending there. Then Carla, my absolute favorite, was out, quickly followed by Tiffany and Antonia.

I recently watched the first season for the first time and was surprised at how raw and ungroomed Tom Colicchio looked that season. He's certainly a richer, more suave guy now, and he certainly has perfected his role.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

9. how can anyone root for an self-absorbed A-hole like Richard

ugh....and Mike - is not extraordinarily talented, by any means

bring back Carla