It is 9:56 PM and, like all of you, I'm about to watch Top Chef. Here is my prediction for what will happen: the final two will be Casey and Hung. Casey will win the whole competition. Let's see if tonight's results support my theory...
UPDATE: Click ahead to see my reaction to the episode (don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen it.)
Holy Dale!
I definitely didn't see that coming. And good for him. I found his story touching, though what restaurant did he work for that was one of the Top 20 restaurants in the country? Do we know this? I could look it up on his bio but I'm lazy. Anyone? And is it really one of the Top 20 restaurants in the country? Eric Ripert seemed to frost over a bit when he heard that.
So my basic theory still stands: Hung and Casey will be in the final three with a surprise twist of Dale. Can Dale go all the way? I'm not so sure. He's vulnerable to brain blips, as evidenced by forgetting the 18th dish on the airplane challenge and forgetting his sauce at the French Culinary Institute. Hung, though, has a bit to worry about after tonight: it seems the judges have pulled back the curtain on him to reveal a technical master with no soul. Hung, I got the impression, is aware of his reputation and is doing everything in his power to cure it. His story--escaping from Vietnam, sleeping in the kitchen--is authentic, I'm sure, but it still comes across as a desperate final attempt to prove that he has heart. Will he prove he has heart in his food next week?
Casey, methinks, is still primed to win. She's won challenge after challenge, she won the Quickfire tonight, and her presence would finally bring some Estrogen into the Top Chef pantheon. And wouldn't it be great to have a woman win Top Chef? At the very least, the winner won't, as in seasons past, be a white, heterosexual male. Finally the gays, the Asians and the ladies have a chance to take it all. Who will it be? What are your thoughts, AG readers? Who'll win Top Chef next week?
Comments (17)
Well, they let 3 people to the finals, but you were right 2/3. I'm glad to see Hung in the finale - hopefully he'll pull out all the stops. IMO, he's the best of the three. But Casey has impressed me a lot, especially considering I wanted her to go after tuna birds nest and that disgusting coffee chicken dish!
Posted by Emily | September 26, 2007 11:08 PM
See now, the one thing that I saw coming was a three-person finale. I don't know why, but I just knew they would do that. I think Colicchio was right, the talent is just at such a different level this season that it just made sense. Also, I was really surprised at how Dale stepped up his game. I love Dale, really, but there was no way I would have pegged him as being in the top three. I knew it was going to be Casey and Hung, so I figured it would be a toss-up between Dale and Brian, but I dunno, I was leaning more towards Brian. Well done Dale, though. (Oh, and his bio - at least his Bravo Bio - doesn't say where he used to work.)
Posted by Kathryn | September 27, 2007 12:58 AM
Oh...and it was Trio that closed.
It was in the top 20 when Grant Achatz was chef.
Posted by Bill Burge | September 27, 2007 12:58 AM
I watched a few episodes this season and I still like where it's going. If they do a DVD for the season, I will certainly pick it up.
Posted by Kelly Mahoney | September 27, 2007 9:10 AM
A local Chicago interview with Dale from this week:
http://chicago.metromix.com/restaurants/article/dishing-with-dale/209079/content
Posted by Mer | September 27, 2007 11:29 AM
Yep, I knew it too - definitely Hung and Casey in the finale. But now Dale too! That rocks - I wish Dale would take the whole thing, he just seems like such an all-around good guy and funny as hell to boot. I predicted from the start that a woman would win TC this season, and I'm sticking to that. My bet is on Casey. Stay tuned...
Posted by zeep | September 27, 2007 11:59 AM
I got the impression that this season the chefs weren't given as much freedom to cook just how they wanted during the elimination challenges. During the very first challenge, you saw the way Hung likes to cook when he gets the ingredients he wants (the geoduck).
I think part of this was they didn't want a repeat of last year where Ilan was basically able to coast by just recreating dishes from Casa Mono.
Hung is the one I'm most curious about seeing in the finale, because we haven't got to see him cook his kind of food very often.
Posted by Andrew | September 27, 2007 12:49 PM
Is it wrong that I'd like to do some very non-food oriented things with Dale?
Posted by kitchenbeard | September 27, 2007 2:49 PM
LOL @ kitchenbeard.
In that case, I'm glad I came over here to share this vid I found on YouTube - Dale working the Dunk Tank at a food fair in Chicago. =)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCL-9WcXVb8
Posted by Kathryn | September 27, 2007 4:00 PM
I just want to say thanks for putting the spoilers after the jump! You're so considerate because I haven't seen it yet (my tape didn't work! :(). But stupid me went on the Bravo website today to find out when the reunion episode was and there it was smack in the face...I know who was eliminated. Oh well, still going to watch it for myself! I agree with your prediction, and since Tre was gone, I've thought that the whole time! I hope she does win!
Posted by Hillary | September 27, 2007 5:00 PM
go hung!
Posted by Johnny | September 27, 2007 10:34 PM
I'm rooting for Hung to win just because I like his style. I know he's arrogant and thinks very highly of his food, but I think it's cute heh.
Casey deserves to win though. She's a very strong competitor.
Dale, I feel like, was a fluke. He got in because he won the very last challenge before the 2nd part finale.
Posted by Jaded | September 28, 2007 11:11 AM
My money is on Casey- and I agree 100% with your assessment of Hung.....technically brilliant but no soul whatsoever. Let's face it- anyone who can read and follow directions can cook- after all, isn't that what following recipes are all about? However, if you are lacking a love, profound interest, curiosity or pure joy for it, your dish just isn't going to warm my soul as one cooked by someone who does. Honestly, if Dale takes it all, I wouldn't be disapponted at all. His story really touched me. I feel that the TC folk have already set Hung up to lose with all of the "souless" emphasis, and personally, I would not want to see him win.
BTW, does anyone else think that Ripert is the sexiest chef on the planet?
Posted by tokyoastrogirl | September 28, 2007 12:18 PM
Ok, I'm finally caught up. I was surprised about Dale's win too! I still think Casey should win for her consistency, soul, and overall lovability (as a chef, not as a TV star - you need someone easy to get along with).
Speaking of Dale though, and being from Chicago, everyone around here is very bandwagon about him. We were psyched to have a Chicagoan...then we were embarassed...now we're throwing our finalist in your face! But, I have to say I'm excited for TC4 being in Chicago and the finale (have any idea where it's supposed to be AG? I know you're big these days, care to email me about it if you know? :))
Posted by Hillary | September 28, 2007 1:45 PM
I want Casey to win.
I don't see Hung taking it all, that I believe.
Posted by RD | September 29, 2007 11:36 AM
I'm hoping for Casey to win. I think Dale just got lucky this last round and managed to pull everything together. Hung while an excellent chef, hasn't learned that it is more important how you play a game then whether or not you win or lose.
I know that's kind of an old fashioned idea, but a strong competitor is someone who has enough confidence in their own abilities and respect for the abilities of their competitors to continue to behave selflessly practice good manners while competing. This was once called winning with honor.
Casey has demonstrated excellent skills as a chef and respect for her competitors throughout the competition proving she is worthy of the honor of being named Top Chef.
Posted by Joel | September 30, 2007 12:00 PM
Let us not forget that this is still television..so although Casey does seem to have talent and soul, and Hung appears to have excellent technical skills, the bottom line is that Top Chef is meant to entertain us. And it has certainly done that this season. Casey is on her way to being the first female Top Chef, both for her talent and...well, she's hot too...and hot girls who cook really well make for great TV!
Posted by gourmet girl | October 2, 2007 11:28 PM