The Top Chef Is…
And your American Idol is Taylor Hicks! The reason the plane crashed on the island is… Sorry, from the powerhouse finales on Wednesday night, the big news was Harold Dieterle, the self-described “cook,” won the Top Chef competition. The final elimination featured an all out five-course meal for the judges without any gimmicks. The last four eliminated chefs, Dave, Lee Anne, Stephen, and Miguel, were brought back as sous chefs to help the finalists. Dave, Lee Anne, and Miguel opted to join Harold’s team while matured Stephen sided with Tiffani to keep things interesting. To even out the teams, democratic Harold recommended drawing knives to see who would join Tiffani’s team. Through kismet, the oil and water combination of Dave and Tiffani were reunited.
The final competition wasn’t just about the food. Teamwork was a huge factor. While both chefs are very competent with their culinary skills, Harold had the decided edge in teamwork and likeability. Yes, likeability. I talked about likeability in the workplace being an important factor, rated higher than skill level or competency. Likeability is important in the kitchen as well as Harold’s team gelled while Dave and Stephen quietly clashed with their Chef.
I thought Harold showed more qualities of a Top Chef as described by judge Tom Colicchio and said the right things and involved his teammates. Tiffani on the other hand simply didn’t bring out the best of her and her team. Okay, okay, Dave and Stephen were still blitzed from partying the night before, but they still made major contributions to the meal, especially Dave whose dessert rocked the judges. When asked who was responsible for the dessert, Tiffani took the credit. Likeabilitiy -1.
The truly defining moment of the competition happened when the judges asked the sous chefs their opinion of who should be Top Chef. It was unanimous. All were in favor of Harold. Tiffani freaked when she heard this and made a comment about her back running into Harold’s knife. Whoa, what’d Harold do but be more likeable? Likeability -2.
And finally, some parting comments to this entertaining series. What’s with Harold and Lee Anne? A slight touch here, a hand on the back there, a better-than-friends embrace at the end of the show. Hmmm… Dave was in fine form. His commentary and facial expressions while working with Tiffani were classic. We need to see Dave again somewhere. If Tiffani had won, our household would have boycotted the next Top Chef competition.
Technorati Tags: television, Top Chef
May 25, 2006 @ 3:53 am
The whole season was great fun. What a bunch of characters. I’m already looking forward to the next one.
May 25, 2006 @ 8:07 am
Yep, getting the right mix of personalities is key. Snooty Stephen, even mannered Harold and Lee Anne, ambitious Tiffani, spazzy Dave, and the fun Funk Le Chunk!
May 29, 2006 @ 10:33 am
I thought Harold was the clear cut winner also. Tiffani made it close though. I like her fire but it’s just a little too overpowering. She’s just too into herself. It’s like my life has this duality theme so that’s what my theme will be. Who frickin cares?! And she kept on yapping and it absolutely zero personality. It was almost like here’s the food, eat it and like it. I can’t believe she’s surprised at how the other people feel about her. She knows she’s a bitch and she says she doesn’t care because she’s not there to make friends and yet she still lets it hurt her feelings. When she took credit for the dessert, that was just like her. No surprise there. Great show though.
May 29, 2006 @ 10:33 am
I thought Harold was the clear cut winner also. Tiffani made it close though. I like her fire but it’s just a little too overpowering. She’s just too into herself. It’s like my life has this duality theme so that’s what my theme will be. Who frickin cares?! And she kept on yapping and it absolutely zero personality. It was almost like here’s the food, eat it and like it. I can’t believe she’s surprised at how the other people feel about her. She knows she’s a bitch and she says she doesn’t care because she’s not there to make friends and yet she still lets it hurt her feelings. When she took credit for the dessert, that was just like her. No surprise there. Great show though.
May 30, 2006 @ 12:33 pm
In the time off until the finale, it seemed like Tiffani tried to get a grip with her personality and make some changes. She worked as a waitress to see how customer service affected dining and at the very end of the show, her interview seemed sincere (but too late).
If you read the judges blogs, esp Tom C.’s then you can get insight about the change they saw in Tiffani as well.
Still glad Harold won cause he seems like a cool guy to work with.