by Michael J. Lamp

Jaws across America dropped yet again, as Dale (and his knives) were sent packing on this week's Top Chef: All-Stars. The latest culinary cast-off talked with RealityWanted and other reporters about his favorite challenges, cooking for Paula Deen and giving all the prize money back for another shot at the title.

Q. Michael, RealityWanted: While winning was obviously the goal, you won a lot more individual challenges - and prize money - than some of the chefs that are still in the competition. Does that lessen the hurt of losing, or was winning the title the end all goal?
A. Dale: I'd trade it all right now [to get back in]. Not even a question. You can make money. To be called the best and to win [is the highest honor]. I don't need the money.

Q. Michael, RealityWanted: Richard mentioned on the show that he was unsure how Angelo's mental state would be, having just been defeated. Did that worry you at all when you teamed up with him?
A. Dale: I would like to cook anything, but it's tough. Think about Angelo. He went through 45 straight challenges. He rolled right from his season to this one. That is exhausting. I was nervous, too. I liked his protein. I like Angelo. I also wanted to work with Trey, [but] I didn't have an option. I got Angelo.

Q. What do you think about Mike stealing Richard's recipe - and winning with it - during the Quickfire Challenge?
A. Dale: It is what it is. You can't put a patent on food. That's Jersey Mike. I love him for that. He's gonna sit there, talk shit and throw it in your face.

Q.  What did you think of being judged by Paula Deen?
A. Dale: I have the utmost respect for her and what she's done. She's not a professional chef, and she's' the first to tell you. She makes food people want to eat. Who nicer to kick you off than Paula Deen? She's like your grandmother.

Q. What do you think went wrong with your last challenge
A. Dale: Time. The dish was a little ill conceived. They [the judges] were right. When you pound a fish like that with spices, it's not gonna taste like anything. Time really caught up with me.

Q. What were your favorite and least favorite challenges?
A. Dale: My most favorite was the fishing challenge. My least favorite was Isaac Mizrahi. That was brutal. "Make food, but no one's gonna eat it." What?

Q. Tom mentioned your maturity level this time around. Can you talk about the difference in your personality, from your perspective?
A. Dale: I'm a different person. I've done a lot of maturing. You look at yourself and how embarrassing your behavior is to you and people you love. My mom never would say she was openly embarrassed, but I could tell some of the things I did were embarrassing to her. That's not me. I'm not going to put my loved ones in a position to be embarrassed by me. I looked in the mirror and [decided] to talk to someone.

Q. Would you do Top Chef again?
A. Dale: I like to compete, so I don't know. I mean, I'd love to compete. It's fun. I don't know if people want to see my face anymore. (Laughs)

Q. Do you think Antonia's Quickfire disqualification was valid?
A. Dale: Of course. You have to make two. You didn't do what they asked you to do, so you can't win. If you think about it, she did half the work that everyone else did.

Q. Do you feel like you're in a special family of Top Chef alumni?
A. Dale: It's a very unique experience for 118 people to know what you go through. It's tough. It's been such a blessing in my life. I can't thank Bravo enough for the experience.

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

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