I can go no longer go without blogging about the upcoming finale of Top Chef set to air Wednesday at 9 p.m. I am so enamored with the season that I have gotten in the habit of watching and watching and rewatching episodes until my eyes bleed. I have fallen deeply in lust with Tom Collichio. I am researching tuition costs for the Culinary Institute of America. Today at lunch, I came home and watched the episode in which the contestants visit the French Culinary Institute for the SIXTH time. It's that serious.
Things have heated up in the Top Chef kitchen with only three chefs left to contend for the coveted title of Top Chef....
Dale
Dale is an out of work chef with more daring and creativity than the other two finalists combined, so daring in fact that he shamelessly used instant mashed potatoes during one challenge. While Hung and Casey play it safe with classic dishes, Dale kicks it up a notch cooking things like poussin with mint gnocchi, mustard seared alligator tail, and veggie yogurt puffs. Granted, he's a little high strung much to his own detriment, but he has game and he brings it. The way he talks about food, you'd think it was his own personal Jesus (and said almost as much last week at Judges Table). I have my doubts that he can be this season's Top Chef chiefly due to his disorganization in the kitchen. He cooks a lot off the cuff and tends to lack a degree of control. If the competition was strictly based on passion for food, he would win hands down. The guy is seriously fired up about some vittles and it shows.
Casey
Casey is executive chef at the Shinsei in Dallas, TX but hasn't always been so high on the food chain. Casey was not classically trained but worked her way to the top on sheer hard work and good instinct. There have been rumblings amongst the bloggers that Casey has gotten several breaks based on her looks, but you can't win three quick fires and three elimination challenges on looks alone. Or maybe you can, not sure. She does tend to cook more conservatively than the other two, but her pairings work well [yawn]. I believe Casey may have the goods to take her game pretty far, but she needs to get seriously creative to make it happen. People are tired of eating the same old coq au vin. Mushroom crusted loin of elk? Mushroom crusted?! Sounds like a crock pot recipe. Come on. This is Top Chef. We are down to the wire. Get with it, woman!

Hung
This guy preps and cooks like he has a liquid cocaine drip. I have never in the history of Top Chef seen anyone with these kinds of knife skills. In one episode I watched him cut up a raw chicken in three minutes...gross but impressive. He is incredibly meticulous at plating, as well. His presentations are orderly and well designed. (His butter poached chicken was gorgeous.) As far as technique, his is better than any I've seen on the show in all three seasons. It's absolutely amazing and fun to watch. His only downfall is that while Dale is all over the place (throwing out side dishes at the drop of a hat if they don't work), Hung is too controlled. Although beautiful, his dishes lack any kind of signature style. As with Casey, I wonder if he sees the world in color. He's a food geek of the highest order...all brain and no heart. Regardless, Hung is clearly the front runner in this competition. It will be fun to "watch what happens" this Wednesday at 9 p.m. (Live!)
Namaste