Top Chef Masters 1 Finale - I Heart Hubert!
Posted by ERIN in Top Chef, Top Chef MastersAugust 18th, 2009, 04:22 PM
I caved like a tragic, dieting housewife and consumed, a.k.a. watched the ENTIRE new season of Top Chef Masters in two days. Now I’m set for tomorrow night’s season finale (Bravo, 10pm)! This season, 24 established chefs competed to flaunt their cooking skills for the title of Top Chef Master and $100,000 for the charity of their choice.
Here’s my very professional opinion of the three final Master Chefs: Michael Chiarello, Rick Bayless and *bells, whistles, fireworks* Hubert Keller. But first up…
Chef Michael Chiarello (Chef-owner of Bottega Ristorante, Napa Valley, CA): You may also recognize Michael from his Food Network show, Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello. He’s a charming chef with Italian roots, but lost my vote with his gets-old-quick teasing of other contestants and rude treatment of his sous chefs last week. Personality aside, he’s also the weakest chef of the three. Ah well, what about Rick Bayless?
Chef Rick Bayless (Chef-owner of Frontera Grill, Chicago, IL): Yikes! I don’t know why, but something about Chef Bayless really creeps me out. Maybe it’s because the boyish top half of his face doesn’t match the grayed-out goatee stubble of its bottom half? I’m having flashbacks of my “Claus”-phobia. I think shaving would make a world of difference. Anyway, Rick is also supposedly the master of Mexican food in the US, which causes my eyebrows to raise in doubt, but at least he isn’t a tool (*ahem* see above chef) and can definitely cook great food. He has a chance of taking the Top Chef Masters title, but I’d much rather our final participant win…
Chef Hubert Keller (Chef-owner of Fleur de Lys, San Francisco, CA): Chef Keller for the win! I adore this Bay Area Frenchmen. He’s humble, confident, skilled, a good mentor, funny and a DJ on the side! Sounds like marriage material to me, but I’ll settle with him winning this season. Lurve him, throbbing head vein and all. Vive Hubert!
Be sure to watch the Top Chef Master season finale tomorrow night (Bravo, 10pm)! And don’t forget that an hour earlier (9pm, brainiacs) is the premiere of the sixth season of Top Chef (Las Vegas)! I’m stoked and drooling already.
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August 19th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Tempting… And Rick Bayless looks like he has an eye for Mexican food and little kids. Ew.
August 19th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
BUT - he is the king of Mexican food. We’ve had great success duplicating his recipes at home and the food is delish.
August 19th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
I cannot understand why Hubert did not win. His dishes were flawless except for the garlic that some claimed was not cooked and the vanilla in the sauce. The other chefs had problems with at least one of their dishes. I am disappointed, just as I was when Stefan did not win over Josea in last season’s top chef.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:38 am
@Maureen, doh! I haven’t seen the finale yet but am so bummed that Hubert doesn’t win! He is a class act. I was disappointed that Hosea beat Stefan too…hopefully this season in Las Vegas will deliver some justice.
August 28th, 2009 at 7:44 am
I think Rick Bayless has a medical secret he has been keeping from us. My guess is hepatitis or AIDS. In his own comments on the Top Chef Masters website, he tries to explain away his gaunt appearance without admitting to what he knows about what’s going on with his health. This does not take away from his tremendous talent as a chef and the significant contributions he has made with the introduction of native cuisine of Mexico into the American culinary lexicon. And I don’t blame him for keeping his private business private. A sick chef is simply bad for business.
September 5th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Hepatitis or AIDS?? Don’t start rumors that you know NOTHING about……….I know Rick…..and now WE all know that YOU are a jerk. How dare you……fool.