'Top Chef Masters' finale: Watching the pros do their thing

It was a most un-"Top Chef"-like finale. The remaining chefs -- Rick Bayless, Hubert Keller and Michael Chiarello -- were given plenty of time, zero curveballs and even an extra pair of trusted hands in the kitchen.

Much like the entire inaugural season of "Top Chef Masters," it gave me the warm fuzzies all over.

So much praise was handed out during the final meal that when it came time to choose a winner, I wasn't sure the judges were going to be able to get picky enough. But it's also no surprise that Rick took the crown.

Technique is everything in "Top Chef." Searing a scallop or getting a cut of lamb to perfect medium rare has always been big coup with the judges, and it's true that ingredients are nothing if they are not cooked correctly. In the end, though, Rick's big bold flavors gave him an advantage -- a 27-ingredient mole! -- even in the face of overcooked seafood. As we saw in tonight's episode, most of the judges haven't been schooled in Mexican cookery like they are in French and Italian. 

Or, then again, Michael could simply be right: Maybe James Oseland just doesn't like him!

He and Rick tied with straight 4.5 star ratings from the diners and the judges -- except for the 3.5 rating he got from James. And as the series' producers pointed out, there has been a pattern. The finale featured an entire vignette about the rivalry and evidence that James does like to give him low scores. Michael's downfall tonight was a polenta that everyone raved about. Everyone except for James, who said it "could have been more delicately seasoned" before handing him 3.5 stars -- the cause for his defeat. Something to chew on...

Asking the contestants to tell their culinary autobiography over a four-course meal was a sumptuous end to what has been an eye-opening look at what the A-list chefs can come up with under reality show conditions.

The ambitious, hungry amateurs who compete in "Top Chef" proper are put through the ringer come finale time.

But for "Masters," the end was about letting the chefs simply do their thing. They were given an entire day to ponder their menu, time to chop and plenty of time to prep. They were asked to cook a dish reflective of their first food memory, the food that inspired them to become chefs and to open their first restaurant, and a final dish that showcased the direction their food was going. All were excited by the challenge.

So instead of clashing egos, there was storytelling and listening. Instead of strategy, there was comraderie. Many were turned off by Michael's behavior in last week's episode, but tonight we saw him helpfully alert Rick to keep his eye on a dish. They all knew it was going to come down to the evening's minutiae. And so it did. 

The first two courses were a dead heat from what viewers were shown: Hosea picked Bayless' barbecue quail as his winner, but everyone seemed to love it, Hubert's stew and Michael's gnocchi equally. Stephanie wanted to lick up the sauce that went with Keller's salmon souffle, Gail wanted to bathe in Michael's polenta -- the same one that James said was seasoned incorrectly -- and Gael went loco for the mole. Later on at the judges table, the mole also earned spontaneous gutteral noises from Jay.

Unlike past "Top Chef" finales, the judges here really had to get down to the nitty gritty in distinguishing who put out the best overall meal. Hubert's souffle could have been more "cloudlike" and "luscious." Michael's fried fish, while technically perfect, could have used more "interpretive flair." These are the imperfections that banished the two seasoned pros to runner-up land.

Rick, "King of Mexican Cuisine in America," got to keep his crown. 

So what did you think, "Top Chef" fans? Did you enjoy the finale? Do you think the right chef won? Do you want to see another season of "Top Chef Masters"? (I do!) If so, which chefs are you hoping to see compete?

-- Denise Martin

Photo credit: NBC Universal

Comments

[lovelovetopchefmasters]

nothing but good things to say about this show. top chef masters has ruined me for the regular top chef. kelly is better than padma. the method of choosing a winner (rating by stars) is so much better than leaving it in colicchio's hands. it was a pleasure to watch because it was about the food and about the skilled chefs, not about manufactured drama (at least the final episode). please, please bring back top chef masters again!

p.s. didn't padma seem a little jealous of kelly? that was kind of funny.

[Vita]

Just want to say I loved watching Rick Bayless, Hubert Keller and Michael Chiarello. They are very different skilled people with such respect for each other. It was a joy to watch.

BTW, that's a reminder to Dale, if he ever wants to fit in with the 'Elite.' Need I say more?

Cheers to Rick!

Vita

[Kaz]

I do believe 3 1/2 stars given to Michael from Editor-in-chief of “Saveur” magazine, James Oseland, was not given for Michael's food but perhaps given as a slap-on-the-wrist for using Oseland's magazine as a doily.

The previous praises from Oseland for Michael's food did not match up with his scoring of 3 1/2 stars.

Ah, be careful of a food-critic scorned!

They were all winners - such gentleman - a pleasure to watch and learn from.

[Eric C]

I found TCM to be a breath of fresh air. I enjoy the regular Top Chef, but the level of good humour and camaraderie in TCM was amazing. The entire season was fun to watch, and narry a f-word laden tirade until the appearance of the also rans from old Top Chef seasons. I agree completely that Micheal Chiarello was back to his normal charming (if a bit over the top) self. It was good to see.

I think the right person won. These guys are all at the top of their game. The mole seemed to seal the deal.

It was great that they didn't throw any more foolish twists at the end, and the addition of the sous-chefs was great. The reactions on the chef's faces when they walked in was a highlight of the show.

Here's hoing they return with a new season next year, and also that the contestants for the new Top Chef follow the example of the Masters and act like pros.

[danw]

i wish "top chef's" finale could be like this - about the cooking and not all the tricks. let's so who is the really best chef. several of "top chef's" winners were not really the best chefs from their seasons - it becomes more about who can survive all the twists and turns than who is the best.

[CDibs]

This has been my favorite food series of its kind.
Loved having the seasoned chefs, would prefer to dispense with the "curveballs" thrown in for drama's sake, and could do without the editing designed to sway the audience one way or the other (e.g., Michael was mean to the sous chefs - boo, hoo!). Loved the finale where they got to cook well, and do what they do best. Would like to see more of what they are actually doing...

[eg]

Loved Top Chef Masters so much more than regular Top Chef. And how great was Jay? They should get rid of that awful Toby guy as quickly as possible and replace him with Jay. His bit about let's just use "guttural" sounds to judge this was awesome.

[Dianna]

I LOVED THIS SHOW!!! WHAT A PLEASURE TO SEE THESE GENTLEMEN INTERACT WHILE COOKING FABULOUS CUISINE. WHEN YOU SEE THE BEST, IT IS HARD TO SETTLE FOR LESS. BRAVO RICK. BRAVO TO YOU ALL!

[Brad'll Do It]

Top Chef Masters was brilliant. The format didn't tie up the chefs' schedules until they were in the finals, which would then be worth it. The challenges were great, and it was fun to see these "Masters" have to do some line cooking, under acute time constraints, which they don't tend to do in their restaurants. Actually thought Hubert Keller would win, and was surprised when he came in third. Chiarello lost a lot of points/"stars" with me with his behavior; so, I thought Bayless' winning was a combination of good food and good person, and truly felt he deserved it. With this inaugural success, I bet recruiting the "masters" show for next year will bring even a stronger competiton from the top names in "chef-dom". Bravo, Bravo.

[di]

Maybe there should be a top chef judges show....the judges sure can dish it out!

[Sservi]

I thought the show it self was awesome. Its a totaly different set up than the regular Top Chef,so it is hard to compare. I was a little dissapointed in the Judging, it was obvious that James had a problem with Michael and his 3 1/2 stars for the Finale were not even closely consistant with the other Judges. If there is another Top Chef Masters , it would be nice to have truley fair Judges. I think James was completly out of his league and let personality get in the way of the food,
With That said congratulations to Rick Bayless , That Mole must have been out of this world

[Bailey]

Wow, I just found this blog thanks to an Eating Las Vegas link. I totally agree with the writer and the comments below - TCM was one of the best series. I, too, loved the respect these chefs demonstrated for each other. I was hoping Hubert Keller would win because I respect his food so much.

So chefs for a new TCM? I do hope they run this run again and include my favorite chef, Kerry Simon. Or could you imagine the series with the likes of Tom Keller????