by Gina Scarpa

On last night’s season finale of Top Chef: Las Vegas, the final three chefs were asked to create a four course meal for the judges, a group of renowned chefs and restaurateurs, and the contestants’ mothers.  The panel felt that Michael Votaggio’s dishes were the best and named him the winner, but not before eliminating Kevin Gillespie, leaving Michael and his brother Bryan to find out the results.  Today, Kevin and Bryan spoke to reporters in a press conference call about their experiences on the show. 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Kevin, I love that you’re aware of the Facebook group honoring you and your beard.  Are you happy with the way that fans reacted to you?
A. Kevin:  It’s really funny.  It’s definitely been very positive.  I’m happy to be the People’s Champion.  I think people judge books by their cover.  I had this underdog thing going on, visually more than anything else.  If people are in love with my beard, so be it.  It gives me a reason never to shave.
A. Bryan: I joined that group!

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Kevin, did you assume that the brothers were going to be your biggest competition this season?
A. Kevin:  From the very first day, I assumed that was going to be the case.  When everyone talks about where they worked, I was like these guys are going to be really tough.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When the eliminated chefs came back for the final challenge, were you worried about who was going to end up on your team?
A. Bryan: I wasn’t worried.  I talked a lot about this earlier today.  Everybody that was there was very talented.  When you go in, you know you’re going to write a menu.  You have to just plan your dishes out.  I wasn’t that worried.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Bryan, based on the talent you and your brother had, I fully expected to see you two in the finale.  Were you two prepared to go up against each other from the get go?
A. Bryan: I wouldn’t necessarily say we were prepared for it but we were striving for it.  We obviously knew we were going to be on together and do whatever it takes to get to the end.  It was definitely tough but it was a fun ride.


Q. Kevin, how do you feel that you did in the final challenge?
A. Kevin: There was a lot going on in my life at the time.  I don’t think I showed up 100% in the game, not to make excuses.  I was actually happy with the meal I produced.  Was it my best meal ever?  By no means but I think I was being hard on myself.  I’m my own harshest critic.

Q. Kevin, I think people were upset about the way that you were eliminated in the final challenge.  What were your thoughts?
A. Kevin: It was a little strange and upsetting.  One of the privileges of making it to the finals is that nobody gets eliminated.  To get sent out of the room, it hurt my pride.  I question why they chose to do it that way.  I just have to move past it and know I did really well.
A. Bryan: I, too, believe that he should’ve stayed.  We all worked very hard to get where we were and we all deserve to be there.  Any one of us could’ve taken this.  I know it’s easier for Kevin and I to say.  Kevin put up some fantastic dishes.  I respect him and he’s a great friend.  I wish he was there for that moment.

Q. Do you feel like Michael’s dish was better than yours, in that final challenge?
A. Bryan: I can only look at it from one perspective.  Michael takes a little more risks when it comes to flavor combinations and textures.  I don’t want to have to go out there and convince people about my food.  I want people to recognize things in my food and find familiar flavors.  That’s what I’m about.

Q. You stood up for your pork dish in the finale.  Would you have done anything differently with the dish?
A. Kevin: I wouldn’t change it.  I stand by that dish. The texture of the pork belly is something that I do every day.  If anything, I didn’t explain myself very well.  Maybe I chose to do something that was too regionally specific and it didn’t make a lot of sense.

Q. Do you think the show made too much of the sibling rivalry and that’s why you ended up in the final two?
A. Bryan: No, I think we earned our spots.  It was about the food, the competition… I think that was just an added dynamic.

Q. How long was the final judges’ table?
A. Kevin: It was like 10-12 hours.  It was crippling.  It was a long time there, that’s for sure.

Q. Bryan, what’s next for you?
A. Bryan: Right now, I’m focusing on my restaurant.  Michael and I put up a new site last night because we’re going to be doing some things together.  One thing Michael and I took away from this is that we can actually work together in a kitchen.  Growing up, things have changed.  We’re a little bit more mature now.  We want to work together.


(Image courtesy of Bravo)

SEE ALSO
Top Chef: Las Vegas - Finale (Part 2) Recap
Top Chef: Las Vegas - Finale (Part 1) Recap

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