Top Chef's season finale is this Wednesday, with Richard, Stephanie, and Lisa competing for the title. Head judge Tom Colicchio recently sat down with Salon to talk about season four of Top Chef, the judging process, and other celebrity chefs. Here's a rundown of some of the chef's remarks:- Colicchio doesn't feel pressured to give a woman the title of Top Chef. Plenty of female contestants have been in the finale or come close to winning.
- He called season four's contestants the "strongest group as a whole."
- If you meet one of the Top Chef judges, resist the urge to second-guess their decisions. Colicchio likes to "lecture" people who criticize him. He explained that the judges' deliberations last up to two hours, and viewers only see a few minutes of that discussion. The judges also make their choice to eliminate a contestant based on that week's performances alone.
- Fans were shocked when Dale, a favorite to win, was sent home. Tom Colicchio wasn't judging that week, and confessed that the elimination surprised him as well. However, he was told that Dale's dish was clearly the worst dish of the week.
- He disagreed with a contestant's claim that the key to winning Top Chef is "getting your point of view across." Cooking good food is the way to win.
- When asked if he would hire any past Top Chef contestants, Colicchio singled out Tiffany and Harold from the first season, Sam (season two), and Hung (season three).
[via PopCandy]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-11-2008 @ 9:56AM
deebopalula said...
I wonder if any of the chefs on Top Chef watch the "chefs" on Season 4 of Hell's Kitchen for a little comic relief.
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6-11-2008 @ 10:05AM
deebopalula said...
I wonder if Tom Colicchio has a bumper sticker that says "My Top Chefs can kick Hell's Kitchen's chefs butts!"
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6-19-2008 @ 3:08AM
S.L.Watkins said...
I am appalled by the behavior displayed on season four by contestants. The reunion show was particularly annoying when one of the hosts seemed to find the unprofessional language and behavior displayed through the season funny.
I thought your show was to encourage not only good food preparation but encourage professionalism. Instead I was treated throughout by gutter language, especially from Andrew who takes himself far too seriously. This kind of language is disrespect in its worst form to the viewing audience. Then they show up for what should be a class contest, with weird, unkempt wild hair, piercings and dressed like unmade beds. If I saw my chef preparing my food looking as they do I would be out the door. They have no respect for themselves and the judges should be looking for standards that go beyond just the preparation of food.
This is a lously example to those watching who would be chefs and the finest schools do not allow it. Just for ratings do you have to pander to the lowest level of social behaviors?
I will not be watching any more because by continuing to watch is to condone this needless behavior. It is a shame because the celebrity chefs who judge, especially Tom behave like professionals and should expect and hold their contestant chefs to the same standards. This would be responsible television.
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