The Unfiltered Ramblings of a DVR Addict

I’ve watched all six seasons of Top Chef.  I mean I’ve never even missed an episode.  That being said I feel like I know what I’m talkig about when I say that never in the history of the show have there been four more deserving chefs make it to the top four.  Sure I’ve got my opinion on who should go home, but that opinion has little to do with the food that any of the chefs have produced this season and more to do with just not liking them.

The chefs have left Las Vegas and the M Resort and now are in Napa Valley.  They are greeted by a preganet Padma Lakshmi and Top Chef Masters finalist Michael Chiarello, who owns Bottega in Napa.  The chefs have thirty minutes to cook on the Napa Valley Wine Train with their main ingredient being grapes of course.  This is also the last quickfire challenge that is a high stakes challenge, with the proze being a 3rd Generation Prius.  With only this four left there was no least favorite, just a favorite, and Michael Voltaggio got the keys to the car, damn.

For the final elimination challenge the chefs were going to be cooking for 300 guests at the Chimney Rock Vinyards.  They can only use local ingredients, so the chefs buy everything at a local farmers market.  All of the dishes come out pretty well with no one really messing up and being the obvious loser, which is a rarity at this point in the competition.  Brian Voltaggio ends up winning and Jennifer is sent to pack her knives and go.

As much as I would have liked to have seen Michael be the one sent home, since he is such a big jerk, the three best and most consistent chefs throughout the competition are the final three.  Jennifer was great on Top Chef.  She started off really strong, but seems to lose her way , only to rebound at the end.  Kevin, and the Brothers Voltaggio never slipped, and were truly the best three chefs in the competition.

Thought and Observations:

• I’m a little sick of Michael bashing Kevin’s cooking style.  It was nice to see Tom stand up for simple food done well.
• Padma going to have a baby.  I’d read this of course, but it makes me wonder about the time-line in which the show was filmed and aired.  I know that when I interviewed Chef Tim Love, he told me that he filmed his episode in June or July.
• I’m still pulling for Kevin, but at this point any of these guys could win, and it would be deserved.  Even if Kevin doesn’t win the way that he acted in this competition should win him fan favorite hands down.  I also see him being more successful afterwards because people like him so much more than they like Michael or Brian.
• By the way, I did pick 3 of the final 4 and 2 of the final 3 before the first episode.  Not too shabby on my part.
• I thought Chef Michael Chiarello came across like a huge jerk on Top Chef Masters, but he seems much cooler on this episode.
• I don’t understand the whole 3rd Generation Toyota thing.  I mean I drive a 2009 model vehicle, so if asked I say I drive a 2009.  Since it’s a Silverado should I say that I drive the 49th generation?  It just comes across as arrogant calling it the 3rd generation.  Reminds me of the South Park episode where they made fun of Prius drivers, and rightfully so.  Oh by the way, they love the smell of their own farts.