Top Chef 5: New York - Let's Dish!

Jamie's attitude was atrocious. Leah should be the next to go.

An obvious Prediction = Stephan will be Top Chef.

Leah, I agree with your prediction.... however, if they throw him a culinary curve ball (i.e. cuisine he is not familiar with and there is bound to be something ), then it's anyone's game. Hosea surprised me, Carla I thought would cave, but came through in the end! shocking!

I kinda think Carla deserved to win last night, Stefan's dish was too easy.

I thought Carla should have won also, for degree of difficulty especially for the sauce.

Wasn't it a great episode? I was scared when they showed Fabio on the "sidekick of doom" at the beginning of the show, but am happy with the end. I quickly couldn't stand Jamie bc of her attitude at the beginning of the season, grew to find her tolerable, and then watched her stumble last night and finally get caught up in her own attitude problem.

That said, Eric Ripert is such a gentleman! Instructional and constructive commentary. None of the cheftestants were humiliated, and seemed to learn during the process as well. What a novel concept~ this is the reason I watch the show.

And for the record, my husband and many others seem to really dislike Stefan, but I think that he has behaved himself (as edited) quite nicely the last few episodes and I don't see the toolworthy behavior he is so criticised for. As he accumulates more wins he at least acts more and more humble. Much like Marcel did, he annoys people to their faces, but you don't see Stefan in the confessional whining about anyone behind their back... Hosea. If the Euros are described as cocky, how has team USA represented itself?

I am sure that in the solo shots the contestants are asked and encouraged to diss each other to make better TV.

Carla REALLY surprised me. I predicted she would be the most clueless by far.

I don't like Stefan, but he's miles above everyone else that's left.

The thing to remember everyone...It's a cooking competition, not a personality contest...I think Stephan is a douchey Euro F---stick, but he seems to have the skills to back it up. But nothing would surprise me after seeing Leah sticking around this long.

The thing to remember everyone...It's a cooking competition, not a personality contest...I think Stephan is a douchey Euro F---stick, but he seems to have the skills to back it up. But nothing would surprise me after seeing Leah sticking around this long.

The one thing that really kills me about Stefan is when possible, he always tries taking the easiest option. and even has noticed Collichio has called him on it before. I understand the whole point is point is winning, but easy dish after easy dish makes me feel as if he would rather be safe and borderline mediocre in terms of difficulty and creativity (though preparing that dish well) than "rising above". A number of the dishes that Stefan has won with have been pretty boring in terms of preparation and "safeness". Aside from Carla (who is truly this season's dark horse - and i continue to root for), he is the only one comfortable preparing desserts which has on a few times been his saving grace.

Leah has gotten to the point that she pisses me off with her "it's too hard" "i give up" attitude. Most times it's better to fall flat on your face and give a valiant effort than to just stop. Hosea is starting to appear to have that delusional denial thing going on that Danny had at the end. You can smell defeat already.

Fabio and Carla have become the most enjoyable personality wise and cooking wise for me as the season goes on...

Did anyone else find Fabio's phone conversation with his wife hilarious?
This guy has to be a riot to work a line with.

leah finally goes home........... what took them so long. i'm shocked she lasted this long. carla is finally shining thru in this competition. fabio my favorite is still in there. so here are the 4 chefs left. carla, fabio, stephan, hosea. it's anybody's game now.

I dunno about that, I think Hosea's toast. He just doesn't have the skills to compete with the other 3. As I've been saying all season, a so-called seafood chef from COLORADO? Yeah, right, dude can barely even cook seafood well.

I kinda thought based on dish alone that Stefan should've gone home last night, but clearly Leah has been struggling for so long it makes sense that she was the one to go. But I agree with what Ethan says above, Stefan is coasting, always looking for the easy way out, and really isn't any fun to watch.

I'm totally pulling for Carla now! She had a rocky start but has come on VERY strong. And I can't help but love Fabio as well. "If I cut off a finger, I will just sear it off on the flat top and deal with having 9 fingers tomorrow."

I'm a huge Carla fan, I think when the chefs really started to cook real food as opposed to the first challenges her classical training really kicked in. And she is a hoot.
I am sure Fabio will have his own show soon- TV execs will not let a personality like that go off into the sunset.

Watched a re-run episode last night on a snowy tv (ran it off the generator), because power was out Wed. night. I was thrilled to see Carla do so well.

My prediction.... Carla, and Fabio in the end!

I agree Hosea is gone next week, and Carla and Fabio in the finale. Even if Stephan is in the final three, I think he will not win as the judges can see he's coasting.

Like Heather, I watched a re-run episode last night, because I lost my satellite signal Wednesday evening. I, too, was thrilled to see Carla step up to the plate. But the best part of the evening for me was seeing Jacques Pepin and Marcus Samuelsson who presided at a culinary event that I went to in Puerto Rico four/five years ago. I sat next to Pepin's wife at a couple of the sessions and thus ended up having dinner with them two evenings. She is a lovely person; he is totally remarkable and such a warm and open human being. So, for me, last evening brought back a rush of wonderful memories of a remarkable long week-end. I'd like to find a similar upcoming culinary event to attend. Let me know if you hear of one.