Top Chef Final Four

Last week in the "real" restaurant wars we saw Dale eliminated, which left Stephanie, Spike, Antonia, Lisa, and Richard to battle it out for the opportunity to go to Puerto Rico as one of the final four. Top Chef has yet to find a woman chef to crown as the winner so it is getting really interesting. With three out of the five being women, there is definitely a chance for a woman to win. However, as much as I have enjoyed Stephanie and Antonia, both very likeable, I also have to admit pulling for Richard too who has been surprising and successful on this show.

This week Spike showed excellent butchering skills to win the quick fire challenge. He was given the opportunity to choose his dishes before the other four and he flubbed badly when he chose frozen scallops. Everyone else said at the beginning that they wouldn't have used them because they were frozen.

All the chefs were told they would be the chefs at Rick Tramonto's Steak House there in Chicago. Tramonto's Steak and Seafood is well known as a restaurant of the highest quality and the chefs were expected to keep up that eminence as they served the meals for the whole restaurant. Each chef chose an appetizer and an entre with the VIP guests; Ilan the winner of Season 2; Hung the winner of Season 3, and a tough competitor; and Harold the quiet and controlled winner of Season 1. Tom Colicchio served the dishes to the judges and he didn't sit back but rushed them to get the food out quickly.

At the judges table Richard was praised for his appetizer, Stephanie was praised for everything, but she still looked frightened. The judges liked Lisa's main course but complained about the appetizer. Antonia was also praised for the whole meal, although at the table they liked the pouched egg but not the salad it was on top of. Spike was taken to task for the scallops and chose to argue with Rick Tramonto, once again "what were you thinking?" I said that before when writing about a chef arguing with the judges. If you plan to try out for this show, don't argue with the judges. That said, in the end Stephanie was the winner with her sweetbread appetizer and beef tenderloin entre, although she was nervous at the judges table she was more than professional and calm while she was cooking. Antonia and Richard, who the judges said had the best dish of the night, were told they were going to Puerto Rico with Stephanie. That left Spike and Lisa who had the worst dishes and one of whom would go home. Most people don't like Lisa's general attitude, at least on the blogs I have read, and she has been up for elimination 5 times. But, Spike has been up for elimination 7 times, so who would be the loser this week? It came down to the dish and Spike had the worst with the frozen scallops that ruined his dish.

Stephanie won a new GE kitchen, along with Tramonto's new book. Now, here we have a more than good chance to see a woman win Top Chef because the final four consist of Richard, Stephanie, Antonia, and Lisa. They will be in Puerto Rico next week and it is difficult not to believe that Lisa may crash very soon. The other three are fan favorites and it is anyone's guess who will come out on top. Antonia has been very consistent in the last half of this contest, Stephanie's fare seems to amaze the judges, or at times she has been in the bottom, she will either be the best or the worst, you never know. Richard has consistently won challenge after challenge often startling the judges with his innovative and tasty dishes.

It is a big deal that these four chefs will be going to Puerto Rico because it will be the finale and they should all be proud of getting to be one of the final four. As Padma tells them every week, the winner will receive $100,000, a feature in Food & Wine magazine, a showcase at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, a gourmet dream vacation in the French Alps, and the title of "Top Chef." Can't wait to see who wins, I will be shocked if it is Lisa, surprised but not amazed if it is Antonia, happy if it is either Richard or Stephanie. Who do you think will win?