by Michael J. Lamp

Antonia's run on Top Chef: All-Stars came to an end this week, as she was the final cheftestant ousted prior to the final episode. Antonia caught up with RealityWanted and other reporters to talk about guys vs. girls, competing against family and falling just short of a finale appearance for the second time.

Q. Michael, RealityWanted: I know leaving was incredibly hard, but I'm curious to know if there was any redeeming quality in being the last woman standing?
A. Antonia: I've been asked that a lot. I try not to put too much emphasis on the male vs. female roles. It should be about the last chef at the end. The whole experience was redeeming. I felt like this time around I competed with a lot more confidence.

Q. Michael, RealityWanted: Is there a challenge that sticks out in your mind as your favorite?
A. Antonia: Two were really my favorite. Jimmy Fallon and fishing. I mean, we were sleep deprived, but being out on the water and pulling in fish was outstanding.

Q. Michael, RealityWanted: Aside from the cookbook plans, what else can we expect from you in the future?
A. Antonia: I'm looking into opening a specialty market in Los Angeles. We really only have Whole Foods in LA.

Q. Did Mike picking on you ever start to really get to you?
A. Antonia: It was all playful banter. In the restaurant industry, we are all snarky and antagonistic, if you hadn't noticed. (Laughs.) It kind of is what it is. He was definitely annoying on every level. It was never malicious. I have two brothers, so I could handle it.

Q. Had you ever cooked Japanese food before? How daunting was it to cook something that Morimoto would compare to his mother's food?
A. Antonia: I have to say, I was very nervous. There's no doubt about it. I kind of felt the same way about it with the beef tongue. There were elements of both those dishes that I had done before. Wolfgang Puck taught me to cook sushi rice. I don't do bento box, by any means, for a living.

Q. Fabio told us that he felt you, Carla and Tiffany were like him, in that you are cooks that specialize in a type of cuisine and aren't as well-rounded. Do you agree with that?
A. Antonia: I don't think I even need to answer that question. I succeeded at all the challenges that were given to us.

Q. What has the Top Chef experience been like for you? Do you feel like you're part of the family?
A. Antonia: I felt like I was part of the family from the first time I did it. Bravo and the magical elves have done a lot for all of us. In the end, I have felt like they've had our best interest in mind. It's a great family to be a part of, and yes, I do feel like I'm a part of one.

Q. Can you tell us about the cookbook you're working on?
A. Antonia: Absolutely. It's really about the dichotomy of my life. I'm a skilled, passionate chef, but - at the same time - I have an 11 year-old that I have to come home and cook dinner for. I want to have recipes in there that are 10-15 minutes. It could be something that my dad used to make me. Either way, you sit at the table, you have dinner and you start to create those memories with your loved ones.

Q. How did it feel when you found out that you and Mike were related?
A. Antonia: I have to say that I was relieved. I couldn't figure out why this man irritated me as much as he did. (Laughs.) Finally, when it was revealed, it made sense. Once I got into that mindset, I felt better about his irritation.

Q. Was it harder leaving before the finale this time or last time?
A. Antonia: This one was much harder. Bravo totally tricked me. It's been the final three forever. And then they changed it again. I guess I just had the mindset [of] the final three and then I ended up totally screwing myself in the end. It was harder this time. I just felt like I competed much differently this time.

Q. Has your daughter watched the show?
A. Antonia: She has, and let me tell you, she's obsessed. The funny thing is she had parents at her school who were bribing her with play dates with their kids if she would tell them how far I made it.

Q. Who are you rooting for in the finals?
A. Antonia: If you asked me that before I found out Mike and I are related, I would've said Richard. I feel some sort of familial obligation to say that I hope the best chef wins.

Top Chef: All-Stars airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on Bravo.

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

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