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 MASTERS: It's Rick Bayless!

Rick Bayless won Top Chef Masters last night presenting "his life in food". His mole' sealed the deal as he presented four courses of exquisite food with great stories behind all of them.

Michael Chiarello came in second and Hubert Keller came in third.

The challenge got started with lovely Kelly Choi informing the three Master Finalists that their task was to tell a story of their culinary careers in food. First course was to be their very first memory of food. Second course, the dish that got them hooked and convinced them to head into the world of cooking. Third course an homage to their first restaurant and lastly a look at who they are now or where they are going in their career.

I have to say that all three of them did a great job showcasing their diverse backgrounds and experiences. Rick grew up in his dad's BBQ business. "Until I was about 15, my clothes smelled like hickory smoke.", Rick recounted. "I kept my dating clothes in a separate closet." Michael shared of his experience learning how to make gnocchi with his mom and how she would lean over his shoulder to show him how to push the dough down the gnocchi paddle. And Hubert told us about how on Mondays, laundry day, in his little town in the Alsace region, the ladies would stop and his dad's bakery and drop off a pot of stew to cook while they tended to the wash. A nice story.

The judges for the final brought together the three critics from this season, as well as Tom, Gail and Padma from Top Chef and the five Top Chef winners from the past seasons. Good to see everyone: Harold, Hung, Ilan, Stephanie and Hosea.

All were impressed with all twelve courses. No one slipped up as Michael thought they would. He said his job was to make sure there were no mistakes.

The finalists did not go it alone in this final task. A nice touch at the beginning was that there was a video greeting from each of the chefs sous chefs from their respective restaurants and then after the greeting and pep talk, while each chef was feeling pumped, in walks each of the sous chefs to help out for the task. That was a very cool thing.

So, in the end, I believe Michael did not win because David Oseland, who never gave Michael more than 3 and a half stars, gave Michael just three and a half stars. That was enough to give Rick the title and put Michael in second.

I wanted Michael to win, but I really enjoyed all three of the finalists. Hubert is obviously supremely talented and just the nicest of guys. Michael, though a hot-blooded Italian (I can relate being half Italian myself), is also just so talented and fun to watch. He makes cooking approachable. And Rick Bayless, although I am not a huge fan of his shows, impressed me with his obvious expert grasp of Mexican cuisine and his quiet and thoughtful approach to every dish he presented.

This was a great series. I wonder if they'll do it again. I hope they do although I don't know how they could possibly top this group.

Now, it's time for Top Chef Las Vegas and judging by the first episode, it should be pretty fun!