Top Chef Chicago -- Finale

Here it is, the season finale. Stephanie, Richard, and Lisa remain. I'm glad Richard agrees with, well, everyone, in that Lisa should not be in the top three.

Is it bad that I don't recognize any of these supposed cullinary Gods? Maybe I'm watching the wrong reality TV show. Nah, that's definitely not it. Oh, and Bravo is advertising that there's a shocking winner no one will believe. Hopefully that doesn't mean it's Lisa. Hopefully they're just trying to throw us all off.

Also, what's up, Padma in your blue dress. Also, she's not wearing a bra, so naturally I'm a big fan of that.

Go Stephanie for getting your first choice of which chef to be her sous chef. I think it's kind of funny, though, that the Top Chefs have these ridiculously good people as their sous chefs. Role reversal, I guess?

Richard brought liquid nitrogen as his one special tool. He's so ridiculous with all these gadgets. I want to know what Stephanie and Lisa brought. I doubt they will show it though, because I doubt it's as cool as liquid nitrogen.

[sidenote: How bad do the Bravo's A-List Awards look?]

What a predictable curve-ball from Tom. No more sous chefs? Makes sense, that means no one else can be blamed and no one has an advantage. This is obviously better. And more work for the Chefs. Score!

I don't like how calm Lisa seems... I hope this is not a bad sign. For the record, I want Stephanie to win, would be fine with Richard winning, and would be very annoyed if Lisa won.

Padma, are you really wearing that for the finale? Girl I think you should aim a little higher. I mean, she still looks gorgeous, but I'm not feeling the red.

Sweet, we finally have Gail and Ted back to judge on the same episode.

All right, appetizers are out and Stephanie appears to have the favorite. It also had the best presentation, though Richard's looked delicious.

Man, second course looks like Lisa dominated. Stephanie and Richard struck out, it looks like. Again though, Stephanie's looked delicious.

Richard doesn't do well on the third dish. Man, he's falling out. Lisa's seemed to go all right, but called out for using the same sauce. Stephanie takes the third dish by a landslide.

Lisa's dessert went well, I guess. Richard's, the same. Stephanie's dessert didn't go superb but they didn't call her out too badly. I guess that's good?

Damn Padma, don't think I can't see those tan lines. Another reason she shouldn't have gone with that outfit.

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All right, time for Judges' Table.

It's interesting how all the Chefs talk at Judges' Table. Richard tries to explain, but when he has criticism, he just says, "Okay." Lisa bitches and whines and stuff. Stephanie is very humble and seems constantly nervous. I like it.

"The lamb was cooked perfectly and I was like 'woohoo!' " Man, Stephanie is great.

Holy crap! Richard saying he choked... I mean, it seems he did, but him actually saying that as his closing statement after the other two say they deserve it? Wow, what the hell?

These 'polls by course' are killing me. It makes me want to predict how the judges will go, but that's just a red herring. Maybe....

So the results for the Top Chef poll: Who do you think should be Top Chef:
Lisa: 4%
Richard: 36%
Stephanie: 60%

................. hilarious.

YES!!!!!!! Go Stephanie! Yeah, that's right, she was my favorite and my pick from the beginning. And she deserved it. Yay!

In conclusion: Good season, and I can still deal with marrying Padma because she picked the correct winner.

We'll be back for the next Bravo reality show, whatever it is.