After such a fantastic episode of MDLLA, that I just recapped, I was on such a high. And now, I find myself a tiny bit wistful that this fantastic season of Top Chef ends tonight. I will be happy for the winner and sad for the two who came so far without winning. One of my commenters here, (sorry y’all are legion and it’s hard to remember who said what) has been commenting for weeks that she believes the edit clearly shows that Melissa was prechosen to win. I hope she will expand on why she feels that way if Melissa does win.
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I’ll be happy if Bryan Voltaggio wins but maybe a tiny bit less happy than if one of the girls win. I am not overly pro women. I usually just root for the home town person if there is one, or that adorable man from Alabama on a recent season. But this is season SEVENTEEN. And there have only been four female winners (and one did not deserve it in my not so humble opinion). In the early, and Emmy award winning I might add there was a lot of outright misogyny filmed from regarding the male chefs.
I’ve worked in the restaurant business and chefs are extremely egotistical and at least in my day didn’t accept female chefs. I was not a chef, I was a REALLY shitty waitress who go fired from every job I had. I was a smart ass teenager who I told a manager at an old fashioned diner I used to work at. “I’m eighteen and waiting tables. You’re old and will be working here your entire life. So no, I will not be back to practice stupid dance routines that screw up service. So bye.” Yep, I’ve pretty much always been really bad at getting along with others.
This Is The Last Day Of Our Acquaintance
Anyway, off we go! This is so exciting. I didn’t realize this was Bryan’s third time making it to the finals. Melissa has more wins than any other competitor in Top Chef history. And I would like to remind you that she is super fucking hot. I don’t know how to work with her equipment nor do I want too, but dayum. We could be college makeout buddies. And Stephanie, who doesn’t realize how great she is and is getting the underdog edit that makes me think she will win. Everyone loves an underdog. Also, she just got an edit where she says, “I absolutely deserve the title of Top Chef” that is not an attitude we have seen much of this season.
Sigh. Italy…Sigh. Will I ever get back there?
The Elimination Challenge
They have to make a four course progressive meal. That’s it, no twists. According to Padma. I don’t believe her, do you? They are cooking for some of the world’s most renowned chefs. And they are going to get a little help from their friends. It’s super foggy and they all get to chef to help them out. Kevin, Malarkey and….LeeAnne? Gregory had to leave for his back problems that fucking production exacerbated on the last episode.
They draw knives and Stephanie picks Malarkey. Brian is next and picks his bestie Kevin. This means that Melissa is stuck with gets LeeAnne. LeeAnne? Didn’t she go home in 1987?At least it will be team Asia. Or is Leeanne Hawaiian which is also maybe Asia? I am really bad at knowing what race people are. Melissa says she’s happy with LeeAnne because she knows Asian flavors. Maybe that was a plant for Melissa?
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Leeanne is already giving a lot of opinions. Sometimes when people come to help the chef, they tend to act like they didn’t get to where they are for knowing what to do. That’s Leeanne. I know in her mind she is trying to help. But, girl, she’s got this! Meanwhile, Malarkery is encouraging Stephanie and says that this is going to be the best fucking upset ever. Bryan wants to make lasagna for Italians. Oh boy. Kevein says it’s been a long time since he’s been a sous chef.
Firenze!
And we are off to shop in Florence! They have one hour and a thousand euros. A THOUSAND EUROS! Melissa finds some beautiful squab and some Italian persimmons she is not familiar with (girl! you in danger!). She also gets some octopus for her Chinese meets Italy inspired menu. Leeanne keeps giving Melissa helpful suggestions. I would have punched her in the face by now. I hate helpful suggestions. It looks like Steph may be getting octopus too. I am not an octopus person, are you? She also gets some really good looking veal. Bryan also gets veal. And some beets.
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Then, we go straight to the kitchen. Leeanne’s intentions are good but my God she is overbearing. Malarkey on the other hand follows Stephanie’s lead. If Melissa loses this I will forever blame Leeanne. And, If Stephanie wins this I will forever credit Malarkey. If Bryan loses it will be because he made lasagna for Italians. Malarkey is worried about Steph’s braised veal. Her veal cut isn’t fatty enough for a braise according to Malarkey.
Tom Arrives In The Kitchen
He goes straight to Malarkey. Bryan is making a Cacciucco which is an Italian fish stew. The only other time he has been to Italy was to learn how to make that dish in Tuscany. Tom says it’s a dish he makes a lot. Yikes. The same thing happens with Steph’s veal dish with melted lemon. Of course Tom has made all of these dishes. Tom doesn’t seem like a fan of Melissa’s “Chinese-Italian” food. Sounds good to me. Melissa says in her talking head, the term “fusion” has a bad rap in the culinary field. She wants to change that.
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Next Tom cooks for the final three on an outdoor farmhouse girl. And Inside Padma and Gail are cooking for them. It looks fantastic. Gail made a salad and roasted artichokes. I didn’t catch what Padma made. Tom made white truffle lasagna and some squab? Not sure. I am getting really far behind and just want to know who won! Sorry. I’m not sure the judges have ever cooked for the chefs before. I sort of remember a breakfast a few years ago. But nothing like this. Gail also made a ricotta quiche. Melissa tastes Tom squab and changes her menu. Then the final three finally got to call home. So touching. Again I want them all to win.
IT’S GO TIME!
Melissa’s tiramisu is all fucked up and Leeanne has to start over. I didn’t even realize that the three sous chefs were not invited to enjoy the judges cooking until Melissa told Leeanne. That was kind of rotten. Then Melissa says she decided to grill her squab like Tom did. Steph is still unsure about how to cook her shrimp dish. Bryan is overly confident due to his y-chromosome privilege. SWIDT? Melissa is also confident in her porchini mudrooms. We might have to break up over mushrooms. They are just not my thing.
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Mangiamo!
It looks like all three chefs courses are coming out side by side for each course. HOW IS THIS SHOWING A PROGRESSIVE DINNER? This is a terrible way to judge. Bryan’s first course is a beet dish. Steph’s first course is a shrimp dish. She cries because it’s a tribute to her father. She’s definitely going to win. The judges licked all three of the first courses clean. It’s a draw so far. The African chef in the hat is one of my favorite chefs from Parts Unknown and other shows. Oh Marcus! How could I forget Marcus Samuelsson! I hate that I cannot remember his name at this moment.
Clare Smyth is not a name I am familiar with but she won Best Female Chef according to someone.Really? A British chef? Have you traveled to the UK. (prepares for negative comments. I have a grudge with the Brits for two reasons. One my parents took me there as a child and one day we went to Piccadilly Circus. IT WAS NOT A FUCKING CIRCUS! It’s like a roundabout or I don’t even know. It was traumatic. And as an adult Brits are fucking lousy lays. I feel like Clare makes spotted dick. Or some other nonsense. Anyway, she doesn’t have much nice to say about Melissa’s dish. How dare she mock my imaginary gay lover like that! Lots of raves for Steph’s prawn! They loved Bryan’s beet dish.
The Second Course
My tummy has decided to do unspeakable things so I keep falling behind. Perhaps it wanted the food I am watching rather than nachos today. What can I say? It’s a pandemic and I had the stuff for nachos! Anyway, Steph made a pasta dish. That was well received. So did Melissa but hers was squash based with as Szechuan sauce. Bryan made a lasagna with a wild boar bolognese and gives his emotional family connection. The judges loved them all. But Steph is getting rave reviews.
The Third Course
Just as Malakey said, the veal Steph is cooking is drying out due to lack of fat. I wish I could dry out do to lack of fat. First up we have Melissa’s squab. Bryan’s Caccuico seems like a hit. There is one chef who cleans every plate and the is team Bryan. Steph make a gnocchi (more pasta?) with her veal breast. All the judges say it is very close. One judge says she doesn’t like squab and Melissa converted her. Girl, Melissa converts everyone and not just to squab. Marcus loves Melissa’s dish. An Italian judge did not like Steph’s dish. The veal was over cooked. The gnocchi was not good. It looks like it is down to Melissa and Bryan.
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The Fourth Course
It all comes down to this. Bryan has chocolate mousse dish made with coffee and cardamon. You can hear a female judge say “mmmmm cardamon.” I have no idea what cardamon is. We get no feedback on the women’s dishes. Bryan “started with the earth and ended with the earth. Oh here we go, the really liked Steph dish and Melissa’s tiramisu. There was one judge who didn’t like Melissa’s dessert and another who thought hers was the best. He was the one who cleaned his plate for everyone. Then he tears up and says she respected the Italian culture the most. He apologizes for being the emotional butcher. He’s embarrassed. So I think we have our winner.
I’ll Talk But You Won’t Listen To Me, I Know Your Answer Already
Tom says all three of them cooked the best meal of their lives. Gail cries talking to Steph. Tom says she nailed her dish. Gail says Bryan’s first dish was the best. Lots of compliments to Bryan and Steph. This is foreboding a Melissa win. Basically, they start to pick about Bryan and Steph’s dishes. This is in contrast to what they said in the moment. #Editing. The guest judges says Melissa’s dish for course three was the best course of the day. On course four they go back to praising all three. Then by the dessert course they bout out the Italian butcher literally crying at the table over Melissa’s fourth dish.
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I love Stephanie. But I feel like my commenter may be right and Melissa was pre-ordained? If so that will be sad and taint her win. I’d be happy for anyone if that commenter was not constantly saying it like she already knew she won. Le sigh. If she does win. We have a no spoiler rule here! 🙂
In the end, the families are there. So I presume they all at least get time with their families in Italy on the show for a week or two. And so of course Banjo does his potty dance. FUCK.
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MELISSA WON! I AM SO HAPPY FOR HER AND SO SAD FOR EVERYONE ELSE! They all deserved to win. I am happy for Steph and Bryan too. He was the only one to go to the finale three times. He’a a super star.
Tom said on WWHL that Melissa’s food was some of the best things he has ever eaten. Tom and Padma talk about the pandemic. Padma is getting through on tequila and Tom is bakind sourdough bread. Why is everyone doing that? And can someone send me a starter thingy and tell me what to do?
Questions for Tom and Padma…
Who made the worst dish? Padma says she doesn’t remember the dish. CoronaBrain? Too much tequila? She just remembers her being on the bottom. Shut up, Padma. Don’t come for my girl. They both were “surprised” to see her in the final three. Fuck them both. And Tom said his worst dish wasn’t a dish but Kevin bombed on Restaurant Wars (true) .
Padma thought Brian, Melissa and Gregory would be final three. But also Kevin. Toms favorites were Gregory and Melissa. Neither of then are sober enough to remember what anyone cooked. Padma keeps being a cunt to Steph. Fuck you Padma.
Tom says that Melissa is in the top 10 to 15% of all chefs on the show. Tom throws shade at Bobby Flay.
This show is making me hate Padma.
Melissa Skypes in! YAY! She is so gracious. Melissa won fan favorite! She is donatiing the money to minority charities. AND THAT IS WHY SHE IS FAN FAVORITE.
Don’t worry. Seems Padma is not a nice person. Tom doesn’t care for her either
I never like Padma since she seem so egotistical and really are her skimpy outfits necessary for a cooking show? I think Padma was pretty snobby to Steph since she’s more of a caterer than chef; but she did some great dishes.
Last I checked Bryan was ahead for Fan Favorite so I think when Melissa announced she would donate the FF winnings that’s what got her the votes to win.
The Italian butcher was my favorite guest diner EVER! Melissa’s dishes were so unique and so well thought out and prepared, Stephanie and Brian Had no shot. I would LOVE to try any of her Italian Asian dishes!
They all had amazing dishes for all four courses. I do have on my list for very soon to try making the Parisian gnocchi. I also will be looking for some wild boar bacon, I don’t know why I never thought to look for it until now since had wild boar a few times over the years and lord knows i love me some bacon!
Glad to hear Steph got fan favorite and is donating the money. She really came far in this season, very impressive. Poor Bryan, that’s got to be frustrating to always get sooo close but never win.
I’m ready for the next season! Like NOW please ❤️
Beets, Melissa won fan favorite, not Steph. All 3 were great. I do feel bad for Brian. I know he really wanted to win. I think it was more to beat his brother than any of the others. I would have been happy with any of them winning. All were very gracious and nice people. I think Steph got some self confidence back.
Dario is the butcher. Check out netflix chef table. Hes amazing and he made me cry with his passion for food and his customers (and his cattle). He was training to be a vet but had to take over the family business when his dad died. Watchh the show!! Its on my bucket list to visit his restaurants.
This was the best season in a long time. By the end I would have been happy with any of the final three winning. I was thrilled for Melissa. I don’t think she was preordained to win, I think she was just the most consistently good chef throughout the season so it made sense that she won.
I agree. I don’t think it was necessarily pre-ordained that Melissa would win. It was more that it seemed obvious that Melissa and Gregory were hitting it out of the park consistently from the very beginning. When Gregory was felled by his back injury, it seemed obvious that Melissa deserved to be Top Chef.
The “pre-ordained” question for me was whether this whole thing was a set-up for Bryan Voltaggio to finally win, the way it was so obvious that the reason for the first all stars season was to give Blais the crown. I love Bryan, but he just seemed off his game so much this season that it wouldn’t have seemed right for him to win.
And as I’ve said before, Stephanie’s run to the final was thrilling. It was so fun to watch her gain confidence and thrill and delight herself and us.
I was a bit emotional when the show began and when it ended. It has been such a bright light in these dark past three months. I will miss it.
By my count, there were, prior to Melissa, 5 women who won Top Chef. Also curious to know which one didn’t deserve it!
I will miss this show. I cried when Melissa won. A few days ago, I tried to find out which restaurant in SF she’s associated with, and it looks like she’s been jobless. Now she has $250,000 hopefully she’ll open a place when the virus allows.
I have only had octopus as sushi, and I like it.
I was surprised that Melissa won fan favorite, but so cool that she’s donating it all. She had promised to do that even before knowing she won it all. Great season. Great winner.
She has some sort of consulting or menu developing or some such business. She was working up until the shutdown, which happened here in California before the other states. A blessing timing wise. No HUGE SF rent to pay.
I loved this season of Top Chef. The chefs were competitive but not arrogant .I loved my trip to Italy and reliving some of these cites was a great escape. I don’t think Melissa was the clear winner .Brian was amazing . I knew it would be difficult for Stephanie to overcome against these two it’s scary that Tom said 85 percent of restaurants won’t be back. I really hope he is wrong.
Wonder if this is it for any of these shows anymore with everything going on.
Even if Melissa was pre-ordained to win, just seeing her cooking it was obvious that she was a winner from the beginning. I can see how she would convert many to her side 😉 There is a quiet, calm, simple, radiant beauty that shines so bright out of her and her cooking, like an elegant painting. Her win was well deserved and she is someone that will win accommodations for years.
Steph was my girl and I would have loved to see her give a huge upset and win. Loved that she picked Malarkey, they made a great time and you could tell that he backed her up 100%.
Felt bad for Brian, he’s such a great chef and it clearly shows considering that he’s made it so far each time. In my book he’s already a Top Chef winner/honorary just for making it through so far so many times.
I agree with all of your comments! But glad in the end that one of the “girls” Melissa won. The Tom C vagicide (term I love that I picked up from TT) was so unfair for female chefs. He is a bit more socially correct, but often does the mainsplaing thing to the females.
But I also would have been happy for any of the top 3 to win. 🙂
“Girl, Melissa converts everyone and not just to squab.” Perhaps the best joke of my entire pandemic experience.
And I agree, she was so gracious on WWHL. Much as I love Bryan V, Melissa brought a real originality with her dishes, and I believe she deserved the title. However, I do agree with the mystery commenter who suspected her win was in the bag. And given the economy, how fortuitous for her. (Because, let’s face it, the Voltaggio brothers will survive.)
Oh, Bryan. I will miss your nervous giggle. Your terrible Italian accent. Your precision and breadth of knowledge. The care you put into every dish. And your startled look when you locked eyes with your wife, a beat after every other finalist had noticed their family member standing there. And though I rooted for you, I will save my tears for all those other chefs, line cooks, servers, and bartenders who are not nearly as lucky as you have been.
What a beautiful post. As sentimental favorite, I wanted Bryan. The thing that I loved most was how Gail Simmons was so generous and told him his heart and soul were showing up in this final dinner.
Thank you, yes!
DAMN YOU TOP CHEF!!!!!!!!!!!
Cardamom is amazing . Pick up a jar of it and add it to anything that requires cinnamon. It is great sprinkled on rice pudding and is in many Indian foods .
I knew Melissa would win, she is just too perfect , no errors in weeks. I loved Bryan and Stephanie too, but it had to be Melissa.
I don’t think I will eat octopus anymore since I learned how smart they are( hypocritical of me since I adore pulled pork), and cooking baby cow in his mother’s milk? A big no for me
Another great season in the bag, I will miss the whole , classy crew
I LOVE cardamom AND octopuses. I can’t eat octopus anymore after spending time at the Monterey Bay Aquarium when I lived blocks away. I’ve never had cuttlefish, but, like octopus, I won’t eat it because they are so smart and cute.
If you haven’t read “Soul of an Octopus,” you might want to check it out.
Melissa made me laugh so hard with her Lee Anne comments. Her food is what I would choose if I were going through “Blind Item Menus.” When “the butcher” cried, it was the best. I think it was close with the judges, but she was the clear winner (just barely) in my eyes. I would LOVE — and because she has no restaurant, she COULD do it — to see her travel and gather fresh local ingredients and do what she did in Italy. Give fusion back it’s good name. Seeing Marcus Samuelsson get blown away by her food was a prize moment.
I loved him before, but after this season, I love Bryan Voltaggio even more. He has such grace and he DOES cook with his heart and soul.
Stephanie has a great Instagram — My Shitty Little Kitchen. She has videos of herself making stuff in her TINY kitchen. If I were wealthy, I would redo her entire kitchen. She has a little Barbie stove — and ALORS, it’s ELECTRIC. She deserves so much better.
She is sweet and funny and everything else we got to see from her on the show.
This season reminds me of some seasons of Project Runway when I think “the second and third place could have beaten out the winner of almost every other season.”
AND I REALLY, REALLY WISH that on ALL of these competition shows, that the second- and third-place winners would get some DAMNED CONSOLATION PRIZES!
I agree, I wish 2nd & 3rd place winners would get some sort of monetary prize.
there were several quickfires that had prize money. The chefs had an opportunity to win some cash then. They probably end up making money as influencers on social media. I would be happy if 2nd and 3rd place won prizes on this season. Maybe not on every season though.
Best show on tv I am the only one I know who watches it, I try and convert every one to it. It’s very rare I don’t like a chef. I love the all star seasons they are the best! Now I’ll be spending the night trying to figure out which female chef Tamara doesn’t think deserved it I have it narrowed down to two ? I love reading here about everyone’s attraction to Melissa because I think she could convert me as well!
Stephanie’s first dish, the shrimp, was a tribute to her late brother not her father. It is an important distinction because her brother’s overdose death a year a half ago put her in a tailspin. She said on a previous episode that she was barely able to live a day at a time. And that was when she lost her confidence. It was a terrific Top Chef season. It is a breath of fresh air to see a supportive reality TV cast
Melissa is from my hometown so we were always cheering for her.
And here is an excellent article from our paper, featuring Melissa! She’s done a LOT of good things and is continuing to keep busy and help other Chefs whilst all the restaurants remain closed.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/article/How-COVID-19-changes-Top-Chef-for-San-15320695.php
Thanks Carson!