by Michael J. Lamp

 

The final episode of Top Chef: DC begins right where the last one left off; with Padma calling the three finalists back to Judges' Table. She wastes no time introducing the final challenge, which is for each chef to create the four-course meal of their lives. Gotta love Top Chef and all its flowery challenges. First will be a vegetable course, followed by a fish course and a meat course. Naturally (and much to Ed's dismay), each chef's meal must end with a dessert.

 

Former Top Chefs have been brought back to assist the finalists. Angelo gets Hung (which sounds crazy to say, or even type), Kevin gets Michael Voltaggio and Ed is paired with Ilan.

 

Angelo is mucho sicko and has basically been in bed for the entire episode thus far. He's complaining about stabbing pains in his stomach, so methinks he ate some food prepared by a booted cheftestant. Kidding. All the chefs are prepping their meals, while Angelo continues to lie in bed, writhing in pain. Hung has prepared the entire meal up to this point.

 

At the start of finale challenge: day two, Angelo's Singaporean doctor gives him the OK to cook, he suits up in his chef coat and is on his way. Ed seems upset that Angelo is feeling better, but - then again - Ed has pretty much been a big ol' douchie douche since he landed in Singapore. I don't even particularly like Ilan, but Ed has been so bossy and condescending to him all episode long. Where's the "Thanks for all your help, pal!"? Then there's Kevin, who is working with Voltaggio, minding his business and being far less annoying than the other two.

 

The final group of diners is a wildly intimidating group, featuring all the usual suspects, plus some special guests, including the food world's current ‘it boy,' David Chang.

 

Much like the past two challenges, all the guests seem to love most of the food each chef has prepared, although Tom manages to find small flaws in nearly everything, as per usual.

 

Ed's corn dish is the favorite of the first course, but the strength of Angelo's seafood dish and his apparently delicious broth makes him the top pick in round two. The judges get a little less specific toward the end of Judge's Table, which is clearly an attempt to keep us - the viewers - guessing as to who will be named TOP CHEF. That being said, the judges really seem to love Kevin's duck dish, and they definitely love his dessert, the Singapore Sling, which makes me think maybe he's done enough to sweep in and yank the title from longtime frontrunner Angelo and recent golden boy Ed.

 

The cheftestants return to Judges' Table and Padma instantly tells Kevin that he ‘is Top Chef.' (Yeah!!!) Campaigning for best reaction ever, Kevin replies with "I am?" Giggles and smiles follow. Oh the joy.

 

The season ends just like all the others, a circle of foodies toasting the latest Top Chef with champagne. Lots of hugs, along with some looks of passive-aggressive resentment, bring this season to a close.

 

 

Top Chef: Just Desserts premieres next. "Hope you saved room for dessert!" Because I know you're not sick of that commercial yet!

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

 

 

Follow Michael at twitter.com/mjlamp

 

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