TV Talk: Kristen Kish Kicks Ass Again And Wins Top Chef

The battle of Seattle was decided last night. With a prizefight atmosphere that included a cheering live audience of 300, and the judges seated ringside for a birds-eye view of the action in the kitchen, the Top Chef winner was crowned last night in Bravo's Top Chef reality television competition.

She defied the odds by winning 5 rounds, and besting 6 other eliminated cheftestants in the Last Chance Kitchen competition  - in order to return to the main event - and Boston chef Kristen Kish was chosen as the winner of Top Chef Seattle. Los Angeles chef Brooke Williamson was the runner up.

On Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live chat show, Kristen and Brooke were his guests. During the show it was announced that Sheldon Simeon won the “fan favorite” competition, and the ten thousand dollar prize.

This year's finale consisted of 5 rounds. Once a chef won 3 rounds, they would be declared the winner.

Round One

Brooke's First Dish: Crispy Pig Ear & Chicory Salad, Six-Minute Egg, Apricot Jam & Candied Kumquats

Kristen's First Dish: Chicken Liver Mousse with Frisee, Mustard, Prune, Hazelnuts & Pumpernickel

Winner: Kristen

Round Two

Brooke's Second Dish: Seared Scallop with Salt Cod Puree, Speck, Black Currant & Mustard Seed Vinaigrette

Kristen's Second Dish: Citrus & Lavender Cured Scallop with Bitter Orange, Meyer Lemon & Apple

Winner: Brooke

Round Three

Brooke's Third Dish: Vadouvan Fried Chicken with Sumac Yogurt-Tahini & PIckled Kohlrabi Fattoush

Kristen's Third Dish: Celery Root Puree with Bone Marrow, Mushrooms, Bitter Greens & Radishes

Winner: Kristen

Round Four

Brooke's Fourth Dish: Braised Pork Cheek & Red Snapper with Collard Green Slaw & Sorrel Puree

Kristen's Fourth Dish: Red Snapper with Leeks, Little Gem Lettuce, Tarragon, Uni & Shellfish Nage

Winner: Kristen

Top Chef Crown

Top Chef Seattle Season 10 Winner: Kristen Kish

Last night’s conclusion to the tenth season of Top Chef was fun, and Kristen and Brooke worked their butts off to get there. I hope that their success inspires other women to pursue a career in the culinary arts, because this male dominated field will be better for it.

I didn’t like the new format for the finale with the live audience, and thought that the table of past Top Chef winners front and center, and their catty commentary, was a little over the top.

What makes this show work is the intimate and up close nature of the camera. We watch the cheftestant’s interact with each other, and that allows us to be a fly on the wall. We see them making decisions and choosing ingredients, and preparing their dish. We form opinions about who we like, and we cheer for our favorites, and yell when they get eliminated.

During the finale, we didn’t see how the finalists came up with their menu, or decided on the ingredients. We didn’t see them prepare the meal, and the focus was on the audience and the judges. We tune in to watch the competition between the cheftestant’s, not to hear the past winners wax on about nothing. I hope that during the next season, that Top Chef gets back to basics for the finale episode.

Kristen Kish and Brooke Williamson are two of the nicest and most affable and likable competitors to reach the finals in a long time. I would have been happy whether either competitor won, and both chef’s should be happy and proud.

In the end, Kristen kicked ass - and her classical approach to cooking - where she embraced using fresh local ingredients, with a clean flavor profile, prevailed.

BRAVO Kristen!

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