Top Chef Finale

[Jenn! 918]

Here's a good article I found. Who do you guys want to win?? I love Top Chef!

Nobody knows whether Casey, Hung or Dale will take home top honors on Wednesday night's live finale of Bravo's "Top Chef." But for behind-the-scenes insights, we spoke to Shauna Minoprio, the executive producer of the show the past three seasons. Keep reading for Web-exclusive questions and answers.

Does Padma Lakshmi get teased for being so skinny?

"She does get teased a lot, 'cause Padma eats like no one I've ever seen. So she mostly gets teased for eating like a pig ... but she always manages to somehow irritatingly remain incredibly slender and, you know, gorgeous-looking."

Do the chefs really have to cook in the time they're given?

"People often ask me, 'Are the times the chefs given real? When it's a quick-fire [challenge] and it's 10 minutes, do they really get 10 minutes?' And they really get 10 minutes. Anytime you're watching the show and you're seeing that the chefs have been given four hours or whatever it is, that is absolutely, very strictly the amount of time they get."

How does TV production change the way chefs prepare the food?

"On pretty much every single challenge on the show, the chef has to make two plates of everything. And before the judge gets to it, we sneak in and grab it for [photography purposes]. We have a camera set up in the area that we call the food-porn area, because we want the food to look as sexy as possible."

Do you get to taste everything on the show?

"There's only one person on the whole production team who pretty much tastes everything, and he is a guy called T-Bone, and he is our technical coordinator. But he is also the man that shoots all the [closeups of the dishes]. So he's sort of the inside mole, and if you want to get a sense of whose food tasted the best and who he thinks might do well at the judges' table, go ask T-Bone."

Do the cheftestants hook up?

"I try to remember who it was from season two who had a great answer to that question - that I completely believed - and I think it was that they're basically a combination of too stressed out, too exhausted and feeling too unattractive because they've been running around in sweaty kitchens. ... They're more excited about getting some sleep than getting some nookie."

What challenges didn't make the cut?

"For a long time, I was so keen on having a challenge where they had to use Easy-Bake Ovens - so I finally had to come to terms with the fact that it was a really stupid idea."

What do you do with the leftovers?

"It's funny, but there never seem to be very many."

What's the hardest part of producing the show?

"If you've told a bunch of chefs that their food is going to be served in 4 hours and 3 minutes time, then they're going to be focused on making sure their food is going to be perfect to eat in 4 hours and 3 minutes time. So what may seem like quite an insignificant delay [like a foggy camera lens or someone using the bathroom] is just completely unforgivable. Because when the food is ready, we have to be ready to shoot at all costs."

Do you get to know the chefs well?

"Nobody really talks to the chefs unless they really have to, otherwise they relay things through the field team [who interviews them on camera and transports them around]. We basically operate on something we call 'the line' -- and that's the line that shall not be crossed. Because it's very, very important that this competition is fair and is also seen as fair by the chefs. So we want to avoid a situation where one of the production team is kind of palling around with any one chef. We sometimes have to say, 'sorry guys – we can't go there, just remember the line.' It's a little odd to begin with, but then everyone gets used to it."

What do the chefs eat or cook in their condo?

"We are basically shooting all the time, so they cook breakfast more than anything else. There's not that many evenings when they have the whole night to cook – but we stock their fridge with really nice food. There's a little team that kind of takes care of the house and takes care of them [and their special requests]. We had a chef from season one who was focused on healthy food and specific types of oatmeal that were a little tricky to get a hold of."

Who cleans up the challenge kitchen?

"We have a production manager called Bill Egle and he basically is the man who looks after the kitchen from the planning stages through construction and through the shoot. You know, he's the lord of the kitchen. … We call it 'turning the kitchen,' as in basically getting cleaned, getting it all back to shipshape again for shooting. He's basically in charge for all of that stuff – all of the equipment and cleaning and keeping it looking nice and any adjustments that need to be made. He's been with us for three seasons so he knows the "Top Chef" kitchen better than anyone.

Don't some of these challenges seem to be too hard?

"The challenges are extremely difficult, and I think it's kind of easy after watching the show for a little bit to forget how difficult it really is. The challenge with that we had to do [in the last episode filmed outdoors in Aspen] by the Frying Pan river with the trout [Le Bernardin chef] Eric Ripert, was like, 'oh my god, this is really difficult.''

Why are the chefs always over- or under-seasoning their food?

"You know, it's a really good question. I don't know the answer to that. I think that under the pressure of the competition, they're worrying so much about timing, presentation and everything else they're worrying about that … it must be something to do with the pressure of time. And it seems like such a simple thing."

Source

[Jaseball 0]

I want Dale to win. Casey? The last female chef just seems like an ice princess. I think Hung is the token non-white, but he is screwed because every time they talk about him being technically perfect, but no heart and soul to his cooking.

[Sister Fracas 5]

I'd be happy with either Dale or Casey winning. I just don't like Hung's arrogant manner.

[Jenn! 918]

I'd like to see a woman win Top Chef, though I would have much preferred Elia from last season to Casey.

I don't like Hung's personality much either, but I bet his food tastes pretty darn good. I have a hard time imagining eating food that has been cooked perfectly and commenting, "This is technically perfect, but it has no soul." I don't even understand what that really means...

[sara535 15]

I think Hung is a jerk. I am sure his food is good but his attitude SO turns me off. I like Casey or Dale also. I guess I am kinda pulling for Casey.

Edited October 3, 2007 by sara535

[Caladan 19]

I'd like to see a woman win Top Chef, though I would have much preferred Elia from last season to Casey.

I don't like Hung's personality much either, but I bet his food tastes pretty darn good. I have a hard time imagining eating food that has been cooked perfectly and commenting, "This is technically perfect, but it has no soul." I don't even understand what that really means...

I'm not sure, but I think it's that nothing of the dish says 'Hung made this dish and you couldn't get it anywhere else.' He's technically perfect, but everything he does is classic.

[Jenn! 918]

I'd like to see a woman win Top Chef, though I would have much preferred Elia from last season to Casey.

I don't like Hung's personality much either, but I bet his food tastes pretty darn good. I have a hard time imagining eating food that has been cooked perfectly and commenting, "This is technically perfect, but it has no soul." I don't even understand what that really means...

I'm not sure, but I think it's that nothing of the dish says 'Hung made this dish and you couldn't get it anywhere else.' He's technically perfect, but everything he does is classic.

I see, so what they mean is that he's unimaginative then. I don't know why they don't just say that instead of trying to be all esoteric about it.

[*julez* 124]

I'm kind of rooting for Casey. I think she's really come into her own as the season has progressed. Dale would be my second choice.

I understand why Hung has made it to the finale in some respects, because he is technically perfect in many ways. But I get the sense from the judges that his dishes lack originality (hence the lack of soul comment). I just hate his self-importance. UGH!!!

I am psyched for tonight's show!!!

[Sister Fracas 5]

Yeah, the lack of orginality, that little something extra that makes a dish really stand out. I also don't think I remember him doing anything that would put him out on a limb, something risky that if it doesnt' work is a disaster, but if it DOES work, turns a great dish into a superb dish. Blah... hope he doesn't win!

[Jenn! 918]

Yeah, the lack of orginality, that little something extra that makes a dish really stand out. I also don't think I remember him doing anything that would put him out on a limb, something risky that if it doesnt' work is a disaster, but if it DOES work, turns a great dish into a superb dish. Blah... hope he doesn't win!

What about the one where his plate looked like Candyland?

[Jaseball 0]

Yeah, the lack of orginality, that little something extra that makes a dish really stand out. I also don't think I remember him doing anything that would put him out on a limb, something risky that if it doesnt' work is a disaster, but if it DOES work, turns a great dish into a superb dish. Blah... hope he doesn't win!

What about the one where his plate looked like Candyland?

That was horrible. Was like a Kindergarten coloring project. Then again I'm not sure what you are supposed to make with stuff from the cereal aisle.

[*julez* 124]

Yeah, the lack of orginality, that little something extra that makes a dish really stand out. I also don't think I remember him doing anything that would put him out on a limb, something risky that if it doesnt' work is a disaster, but if it DOES work, turns a great dish into a superb dish. Blah... hope he doesn't win!

What about the one where his plate looked like Candyland?

That looked more like a diorama I made in 3rd grade than something to eat!

[Ladylethal 12]

On season 1, Lee Ann was my favorite, on season 2 it was between Cliff and Elia, then when Cliff left I was all out for Elia. Season 3 was tough, I didn't get a vibe from any of them and am not really cheering any of them on. I do think Hung is arrogant and from the 3 left he'd be my last choice.

I won't be able to watch the finale tonight, since I'll be at work, but I'll watch it as soon as I can.

[Sister Fracas 5]

I won't be able to watch the finale tonight, since I'll be at work, but I'll watch it as soon as I can.

well it will only be on about 45 times in the next week..... I LOVE Bravo... hehehe

[Fandango 1,439]

I don't like Hung's personality much either, but I bet his food tastes pretty darn good. I have a hard time imagining eating food that has been cooked perfectly and commenting, "This is technically perfect, but it has no soul." I don't even understand what that really means...

took the words outta my mouth on this one...

Meanwhile, am I the only one who gets annoyed with the way Padma speaks?