Top Chef Rehash: And the Winner Is...
Not Richard? What?!
Even though I should be excited that we have our first female Top Chef, I cannot help but ignore the fact that the person we all thought would wipe the floor with some poor sap actually ended up losing grip in the end.
What went wrong with Richard that fateful night? What was running through his mind? While there are some that may say the question cannot be answered, I beg to differ. Everything was running through his mind. That was his problem. While he was so intent on taking the judges through a culinary journey, he overloaded his cleverly named dishes with culinary kitsch. For example, the dish labeled “Which Came First” (a play on the old “which came first, the chicken or the egg”), he put in foie gras. Too rich for the dish.
The same sort of idea overload exploded all over his pork belly dish, which showed his unique techniques — sous vide for the pork belly — but missed the mark. Each of the judges has said the same thing: the pork belly should be crispier, and with the fat on that piece of pork, I definitely agree.
All that being said, I still think Richard could be Top Chef material. He is relaxed in the kitchen. He treats his sous chefs with respect, and he does have a lot of great ideas. He just needs to work on his idea filter. I wish he got the praise that was directed towards Lisa (who actually made a decent decision and stayed away from rice).
Still, I am very very excited that not only do we have the first female Top Chef on our hands, the honor went to someone who was most deserving of it. Throughout the season, Stephanie showed an ability to stay calm in what is probably the most chaotic kitchen ever (next to Gordan Ramsey’s on Hell’s Kitchen). She displayed talent that ran circles around most of her competitors. She harnessed creativity that elevated her food to a new level.
The best part about all of it? She was actually humble (take notes, TC Miami’s Hung!). Stephanie really deserved to be called “Top Chef.”
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By Melissa Alfano
Melissa Alfano is a Washington, D.C.-based business consultant and self-proclaimed foodie. A native of Northern Virginia, she attended James Madison University in the Shenandoah Valley and, after four years of studying economics and finding any excuse possible to write research papers on food, managed to find her way back to Arlington. Melissa enjoys anything that can be quickly, nutritiously, and deliciously created so she can get back to watching the Food Network.
About The Humble Gourmand
The Humble Gourmand is published the first Friday of each month, edited by Alison L. McConnell, a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and writer. It is designed to offer straightforward lessons and advice to aspiring cooks, oenophiles, and all other eaters and drinkers.
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