Season 20: Episode Live Chat

[Souris]

God damn it.

For a second, I thought they were going to send them both to the finale.

[CrazyInAlabama]

So, Sara, Buddha, Gabri are final 3, and Ali goes to the sous chef pool.   I'm thrilled for Sara winning this.  I think final two will be Sara and Buddha. 

 I wish Ali and Gabri could both go to finals.  I'm sad they both couldn't stay. 

I'm guessing next week they will have the usual two sous chefs each from the group of eliminated contestants?   

[Bastet]

I hope Sara wins, and if not her Gabri, but this is going to be a great finale any which way.

Edited June 2, 2023 by Bastet

[Thumper]

Preview:  Gabri in a beret!  😁❤️

[Bastet]

I can't believe this is the last time I'm going to watch Padma on Top Chef!

I knew I liked her, and greatly enjoyed her on here, but didn't realize just how much until her departure was announced.

I'm excited for the finale, but also kind of nervous to see who wins, and mostly just tripping about the Padma thing.  I wish that hadn't been announced until this season was over.

[Straycat80]

Padma is leaving Top Chef!? Why? 
I think this has been my favorite season of Top Chef. Sad it’s over. 

[Bastet]

Just now, Straycat80 said:

Padma is leaving Top Chef!? Why?

Yes, it was announced last week.  She wants to focus on Taste the Nation and other endeavors relating to her work regarding immigrant rights.

"He's good for a laugh."
"For a German guy."

I love the way these cheftestants rib each other; it's so good-natured.

[CrazyInAlabama]

I'm happy to see Ali and Amar as sous chefs, but Tom makes me nervous.  He screws over the other chefs too much.   

Buddha and Ali look like a good team, Sara and Amar look good too.   But Gabi and Tom concern me since the preview showed Gabri charcoaling something again, and Tom and Gabi may not be a good combination for multitasking.  

I love seeing the grocery shopping.   That butter looked amazing.  

I love that all three chefs are doing their own food, and staying true to the food that represents them the best. 

Edited June 9, 2023 by CrazyInAlabama

[bosawks]

I feel tonight like I always feel when I like everybody, “Please everyone cook well, please everyone cook well!”

[Bastet]

1 minute ago, bosawks said:

I feel tonight like I always feel when I like everybody, “Please everyone cook well, please everyone cook well!”

Yeah, I want everyone to kill it and one just happen to be the best by a slim margin; I don't want anyone to fumble in the finale.

[Straycat80]

I’m interested to see what Sara does with the Burgoo. It’s a thing where I live but it’s in the negative, people call it roadkill stew. Amar seems to be questioning her choices. I hope she does well though. 

[susannot]

If Buddha wins, it was smart of him and the show to emphasize his mixed heritage from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Australia, and the US.  He can argue he is a World All Star all by himself.

 

Ugh. Sara's roadkill stew.  Gross.

Gabri is doing what I wanted him to do--elevated modern Mexican cuisine, showing that Mexican is one of the world's great cuisines.  Oh no he can't find plantains!  Maybe use bananas?

Edited June 9, 2023 by susannot

[Bastet]

Oh look, Gabri is burning something.  He's lucky his competitors always let him know, as he could be left with even less time to figure out how to fix it.

Edited June 9, 2023 by Bastet

[Bastet]

Sara needs to have a lot of things go right to make her meal appeal to French chefs.  I hope they do. 

[blixie]

Ah I've been so sure Sarah was gonna win but Buddha's menu definitely sounds better, she's made them Burgoo before too. I think she won the challenge but I'm not sure about repeating herself at this moment.

[Lamb18]

I'm behind you all by 10 minutes ... lucky Gabri, finding the Mexican food store.

The rooftop view from Galeries Lafayette is so beautiful. I'm trying to think whar the gold-domed building is and what the large building across the way is.

Team Sarah here.

[susannot]

Lamington - Wikipedia

 

Hmm.  Not appetizing.

[Bastet]

All of them are cooking at least one thing I've never eaten, and sometimes things I'd only try if someone of their caliber made them for me.

[susannot]

I would not try burgoo, no way, no how.

 

Love your kitty avatar Bastet.

 

I can see this coming down to dessert.  Chocolate tamales sound divine if Gabri can pull it off.

Edited June 9, 2023 by susannot

[Bastet]

Just now, susannot said:

Love your kitty avatar Bastet.

Thank you.  That's the late, great Maddie.

I want Sara to win, but if nothing else I want this cake that means so much to her to be a huge success.

[Straycat80]

I’m worried for Sara. Burgoo. Pea cake? At least whatever was too spicy calmed down overnight. 

[Bastet]

I am so fucking tired of those things Buddha keeps putting on his dishes.

I want Sara's first course!  Buddha's, too, I'm just annoyed by those leaves, butterflies, etc.

Oh, no!  They did it again, with undercooked meat.

[CrazyInAlabama]

Undercooked liver probably has ruined Sara's chance.    How could this happen?   After the lamb Wellington, it's a bad thing to repeat undercooked food. 

Buddha is leading after two courses, but Gabri is still in there.   

Third course was a winner for all three, I think.  Marcus Samuelsson is certainly enjoying the food. 

Edited June 9, 2023 by CrazyInAlabama

[susannot]

I would not try burgoo, no way, no how.

 

Love your kitty avatar Bastet.

Rare liver?  HARD no.

[Straycat80]

Oh no raw liver! 
 

That one judge keeps saying ‘ it’s different’. 

Edited June 9, 2023 by Straycat80

[Bastet]

And the cook on the liver wasn't even the only problem in that course.  Sara bombed on that one, so she needs to kick ass on the rest AND someone else fumble as big as she did on the second, to have a shot.

Woo -- she killed it on the third course!  Good job describing it as a Kentucky cassoulet.

Edited June 9, 2023 by Bastet

[susannot]

They liked all 3 of the third courses, even Sara's burgoo, which she called a boudin.  Well, OK.

[Bastet]

Oh, I want all the desserts, especially Gabri and Sara's.

[CrazyInAlabama]

The desserts all look amazing.   Padma getting choked up is so touching. 

[Bastet]

Aw, Padma tearing up has me getting emotional.

[Straycat80]

I think this is the first time I’ve seen Padma get emotional. 
I think it might be between Buddha and Gabri. 

[VintageJ]

Gabri might pull this off if he keeps surprising them

[Lamb18]

I think Buddha's going to win. I think Sarah's liver will cause her to lose.

[susannot]

I dislike Buddha's pissy face when another chef gets praise.

Sara loses.  Undercooked liver.  Yuck.

Edited June 9, 2023 by susannot

[CherryMalotte]

I'm enjoying the level of cooking in this finale for sure.  Just sad knowing that it's Padma's last go around with Top Chef.  She's been an excellent host.

Sara's undercooked meal is going to def work against her.  I'm kinda pulling for Gabri since while I appreciate Buddha, his cooking is so precise it's almost...boring?  Maybe that's not the right word.  

 

[Bastet]

LOVE the praise for Sara's cake.  If she hadn't undercooked the liver, she would have been right there in consideration.

[marybennet]

Thanks to you all! I can’t watch until the episode appears on Amazon, but I can’t wait, so I’m spoiling myself with your comments. 

[susannot]

The French judge may have put the kibosh on Buddha.  She likes her desserts plated a little bit more spontaneously and not so precisely.  I agree!  I don't need my dessert plate to look like a work of art.  I would rather have a messy homemade chocolate tamale.

We'll see.

[Bastet]

Goddammit, if not for that liver!  Padma even said it.

Bleh.  He earned it, but there is something about Buddha that has made him someone I can never get excited for.

[CrazyInAlabama]

And all three are winners by making it here. 

Congratulations to Gabri, Sara, and Buddha. 

Especially the winner.  Buddha, the first two time winner. 

[Straycat80]

Buddha wins! I know he was not everyone’s favorite but I liked him, I think he deserved the win. The raw liver took Sara out. I’d love Garbri’s food the most because I love Mexican food. At least he still has the Top Chef Mexico title. 
 

I think Gail should take Padma’s place. Until next season all! 

[susannot]

5 minutes ago, Bastet said:

Goddammit, if not for that liver!  Padma even said it.

Bleh.  He earned it, but there is something about Buddha that has made him someone I can never get excited for.

Same.  Extremely boring end to the season.  So predictable.  Well, Gabri has been elevated on the world stage of cuisine.  And sara was already a popular chef in Kentucky.

[MerBearHou]

Thrilled for Buddha!  My absolute favorite.  I admire him, like him, enjoy his personality and humor, and am not put off whatsoever that he’s serious.  

Gabri should be very proud of how well he did — this will be such a great addition to his chef resume.  I started out the season so frustrated by him, and ended up really cheering him on.  No, I didn’t feel he should get the win, but I’m delighted he was in the final.  And I really got a kick out of Tom being his sous when Tom had seemingly given Gabri a bit of trouble during some of the challenges.  They found a good friendship and that’s great to see.

As said above by Susannot, Sara already is very popular in Kentucky and this will only add to her success.  She’s not a favorite of mine (wasn’t on her prior season either — apologies to those of you who love her) but I’m sure her food is comforting and tasty.  

[Lamb18]

I think Sarah would have won if her liver hadn't been raw. The judges seemed to like her food overall the best.

Congratulations to Buddha!

[susannot]

I would say Gabri was the runner-up, 2d place finisher.  Do you all agree?