Since I can't summon enough energy to care about this season's Top Chef, here's a missive from CL Sarasota's Amanda Schurr to fill you in on last night's finale:
Those of you who indulge me enough to read this week's Morning After column are aware of my general disappointment with this season's Top Chef. It should be a no brainer: I love to taste, I love to cook, I love to veg (no pun intended) on occasion in front of the TV — I should be in culinary arts heaven. But the Chi-town installment has been an underwhelming affair.
I can sleep tonight, though, for piercingly blue-eyed head judge Tom Colicchio and Co. anointed Stephanie the Top Chef. Still, I felt finalist Richard's pain and admit that Lisa, after squeezing by time-after-mediocre-time, redeemed herself nicely, cooking-wise. (And welcome back, Chef Ripert! My, how you've been missed.)
In other TC news, the Bravo network just announced plans for a junior version of the show. We can only speculate what the 13-16 year-old-friendly tests will be. Quick Fire challenges concerning pizza? Elimination contests themed to favorite movies?
Oh right, they already did that with the adults this season.
Of course, my palate is embarrassingly unrefined compared to that of our own foodie extraordinaire, Brian Ries. Check out his blog while I crack open a celebratory bottle of Lagunitas-bottled, [Frank] Zappa estate Lumpy Gravy beer, comforted by the knowledge that a nice gal finished first (even if a bad apple lasted far longer than she should have).
This article appears in Jun 11-17, 2008.