TOP CHEF FINALE RECAP - It's MICHAEL V!

Well, Top Chef ends the way many of us thought it would. Though some pulled for Bryan, or Kevin or (be still my beating heart) Jen, Michael V, the one chef that was the most "out there" when it came to creativity took the title of Top Chef.

I have to say, that although Michael was somewhat snobby to the others, his culinary passion, application of technique and instinct for the right flavor profiles and textures, was unmatched by anyone. I think his brother Bryan and also Kevin had the chops, knowledge, technique and passion to be Top Chef, Michael was just a level above them. And the fact that he, Michael, approached each dish with "abandon", not wreckless, but sort of a controlled crash kind of approach, he was able to push the envelope each time and mostly successfully.

Even though they didn't take the title, you have to believe that Bryan and Kevin will be wildly successful. This kind of exposure is invaluable. I wouldn't be surprised to see Bryan in the Bocuse D'Or competition representing America. And both he and Kevin will, no doubt, enjoy success in each of their establishments. They are both on my "places I want to eat at" list.

There were more good chefs in this competition than in any prior season, especially in the last group of five. I really enjoyed it and didn't have any chefs I was pulling against. A pretty likable group.

Now, we wait for the "reunion" to dish all the dirt and get one last look at the cheftestants.

I'm looking forward to next season. Padma will be a mommy. All the best to her. And, we'll see if Top Chef can top itself.

Top Chef Recap - And Then There Were Three!

This week Jen, Michael, Bryan and Kevin returned to the competition to decide which three would continue on to the final. Napa was the venue.

Of course, when you are in Napa, you must include "Mr. NapaStyle", Michael Chiarello. Chef Chiarello, also a Top Chef Master, was the guest judge.

The QuickFire Challenge was to make a dish that incorporated and celebrated the Napa wine grape. The cheftestants had several varieties to choose from, including concord grapes. The prize, a brand new Toyota Prius. The catch, the chefs had to cook on a moving train, The Napa Wine Train. It took each chef just a few moments to get back into the competitive groove. Michael took the challenge and the Prius.

The Elimination Challenge was they had to cater a party for 150 people at one of the Napa Valley vineyards and each had to make two dishes which had to include a vegetarian dish.

Everyone made some mistake in the elimination challenge. Bryan definitely was the best. The only thing they said about his two dishes was that they needed a little more seasoning (salt and pepper).

Kevin made brisket as one dish and he didn't have enough time to braise it and it was "toothsome" as he called it. It wasn't tender and needed a little more time.

Jen's dishes were good. She wanted to grill duck, but the wood grill went out so she couldn't do that and wound up doing duck confit. It was good, but I think they held against her that she let the grill go out and couldn't do the dish she originally planned on.

Michael served a dish with an egg in it and the egg was undercooked. Yucky. I thought that was going to send him home especially since pregnant Padma got the most "raw" egg.

Jen went home. I don't understand why, but they sent her home, so it's the three amigos.

I think it's going to be Kevin or Bryan.