by Gina Scarpa

It’s the season finale of Top Chef: Las Vegas tonight and it all comes down to Kevin Gillespie and the Voltaggio brothers.  All three chefs have been pretty damn outstanding, rarely landing in the bottom and winning almost all of the challenges.  In fact, I think the other contestants were probably sick of them by the second or third episode.  If my predictions are correct, Kevin will walk away the winner tonight but it won’t be an easy road to victory.

Kevin feels confident going into the final challenge but is well aware of the competition he has in Michael and Bryan.  Michael points out that Bryan has not won a quickfire this season but Bryan is just excited to find out which brother is the better chef.  Can’t you both be great?  So competitive!

The final three chefs meet up with Padma and Tom to find out their final challenge: cook a three course meal.  Sounds simple enough, right?  Never, on Top Chef!  For the first course, they’ll each receive a box full of identical ingredients and must use them all.  The second course can be whatever they would like but the third course must be a dessert, which often spells rough times for Top Chef contestants.

Formerly eliminated chefs return (as always) as the final three chefs draw knives to find out their teams.  Kevin draws Preeti and Ash, Michael gets Jesse and Eli, and Bryan has Jennifer and Ashley.  Kevin is not happy at all with his sous chefs… understandably so.  The brothers lucked out a little bit more with their teams, especially Bryan. 

After a day of prep work, the final three chefs are surprised by their moms at their hotel.  The reality of the situation, that Bryan and Michael must compete against each other for the title of Top Chef, sets in and it must be tough on their mother.  Kevin lets out his stress and anxiety to his mom over trying to battle the sophistication that the Voltaggios bring to the table.

You didn’t think it would be all warm and fuzzy feelings, did you?  There’s a reason their moms are in town and Tom meets up with the chefs to tell them that they’ll have make a fourth dish, inspired by their mothers and their favorite childhood memories.

Here are the menus:
BRYAN
1st Course: “Tuna Noodle Casserole” Reinvented - Sardine, German Butterball Potato, Panko Bread Crumbs, Fennel Cucumber Linguini
2nd Course: Mystery Box - Sous Vide Rockfish, Diced Matsutake, Meyer Lemon Jam
3rd Course: Chef’s Choice - Venison Saddle, Brussels Sprouts, Sunchokes, Maple Glazed Carrots
4th Course: Dessert - Sheep’s Milk and White Chocolate Dulce De Leche Cheesecake, Dry Caramel, Fig Sorbet, Poached Pear

MICHAEL
1st Course: “Broccoli” Reinvented - Cream of Dehydrated Broccoli, Spot Prawn, Fried Broccoli
2nd Course: Mystery Box - Butter Poached Rockfish, Tomato-Kombu Sauce, Sweet and Sour Salad
3rd Course: Chef’s Choice - Fennel Scented Squab, Pistachio Cassoulet, Textures of Mushrooms
4th Course: Dessert - Chocolate Caramel Coulant, Butternut Squash Ice Cream

KEVIN
1st Course: “Chicken and Fixings” Reinvented - Fried Chicken Skin, Tomatoes, Liquid Squash Casserole
2nd Course: Mystery Box - Rockfish in Duckfat, Roasted Matsutake, Roasted Crab Broth
3rd Course: Chef’s Choice - Slow Cooked Pork Belly, Roaster Broccoli and Brussel Sprouts, Carmelized Ham Jus
4th Course: Dessert - Roasted Banana, Chocolate Bacon Moussse, Peanut Bacon Brittle

The dishes are served to the judges, their guests (including Douglas Keane, Bill Terlato, Donatella Arpaia, Stephen Starr, Drew Nieporent, and Sam Nazarian), and Kevin’s, Bryan’s, and Michael’s mothers. 

Based on the comments, it seems Kevin’s first dish goes over best.  During the second course, Bryan is repeatedly criticized for not seasoning his food enough but Michael’s is a hit.  Tom says it was “perfectly cooked”.  Bryan redeems himself with the third course and the panel calls it delicious.  He also has a strong showing with his dessert and maybe those two dishes were enough to put him at the top of the pack.

In panel, each chef sells themselves on why they deserve to be the Top Chef.  After deliberating, it's time for some decisions.  Kevin is eliminated first, which sucks... but, at the same time, I'm not surprised that the Voltaggios are the last two standing.  So which brother is better?  The winner of Top Chef: Las Vegas is MICHAEL!

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

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