There are only four chefs left in this season's Top Chef competition and all will be participating in the Hawaii finale. The decision of the judges as to who will win the title of Top Chef will be decided based on their performance throughout the competition and on their dishes in the finale. As viewers, we have seen a little more of their personalities and interactions, but let's take a look at the backgrounds of the final four, as well:
Marcel Vigneron - Marcel, 26, lives in Las Vegas, NV where he is a Master Cook at Joel Robuchon at the Mansion. He attended the Culinary Institute of America, where his strongest subjects with butchery and, of course, molecular gastronomy. He prides himself on his creativity and skill in the kitchen and, as those are what landed him his job at Joel Robuchon, he is certainly right to do so.
Sam Talbot - Sam, 28, is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina and currently works as executive chef of Punch Restaurant in New York City. He attended Johnson and Wales University, but has been involved in food since his first job as a production chef at Dean & Deluca in NC when he was just 16 years old.
Ilan D Hall - Ilan, 24, is a line cook in New York City at Casa Mono, Mario Batali's Spanish restaurant. Given that is where he works, it isn't surprisng that he says that most of his culinary expertise is in Spanish cuisine, although he also studied at the Culinary Institute of America and took part in the Lorenzo de Medici Apicus Program, which is a flexible culinary school program in Italy. Bravo notes that "one of the things he enjoys the most is imitating people around him," but without saying whether that refers to cooking style or actual mockery.
Elia Aboumrad - Elia, 23, also resides in Las Vegas, where she works as an Assistant Room Chef at The Hotel. Originally from Mexico City, she studied at the Ecole Lenotre in Paris and - apparently - "earned 34 different culinary degrees and specializes in everything from French cuisine to chocolate making," which makes you wonder exactly how the school's grading system works, even if it does tell you a good deal about the range of her skills.
May is National BBQ Month and National Hamburger Month
Cupcakes, not for dessert (unless beef is your idea of a treat)
Because eating French Fries in the car is so tough
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-24-2007 @ 10:40AM
Laura said...
I'm routing for Sam. I just hope that I can stay up late enough to watch it tonight!
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1-24-2007 @ 1:18PM
Miss Tiffie said...
I'm thinking Sam or Ilan will when. I want Ilan to win tho :)
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1-24-2007 @ 3:22PM
John Adami said...
Am I the only one who believes that Marcel should go all the way. He seems like the only mature person in the group. I think Sam will go to the finals, but he has been loosing me with his cockiness. The other two, Ilan and Elia are too immature. Elia gives up when she gets pressured and when Ilan decided to bad mouth Marcel he lost my respect.
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1-24-2007 @ 4:03PM
Jason said...
After last week's episode, none of them deserve to win. What's up with the shaved heads? And the dude that held one of the other chefs down and got kicked out for assaulting another contestant?
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1-24-2007 @ 4:04PM
Jason said...
After last week's episode, none of them deserve to win. What's up with the shaved heads? And the dude that held one of the other chefs down and got kicked out for assaulting another contestant?
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1-26-2007 @ 11:56AM
Alice Moore said...
What a great show. I typically do not watch reality tv yet due to injury have been perusing stations, and have been swept away by this genius show.
I vote for Marcel; in all the shows, I have yet to see his actions to be meanspirited or rooted in jealously,unlike most the others. Elia, very much suprized me with her inciting an act of deceit that crossed the line into violence (idea of cutting Marcel's hair against his will).
Marcel's requests have been reasonable and his composure under blatant abuse has been astonishing. I see his social ineptness as shyness. And if he's a bit full of himself, big deal, he is talented, even gifted, even if not humble which I see as a result of youth. I imagine following the show he will acquire some, even if he wins, which he deserves.
I also commend Joe for the manner in which he addressed the abuse perpetrated on Marcel, which from my perspective echoed rape and was both inexcusable and abhorrant.
Good job, crew.
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1-27-2007 @ 4:29PM
MJ said...
Marcel needs to go to.........Somewhere else. That one needs help. He may be a good cook.one needs to bea ble to get along with people. He thinks too well of himself. I think they are keeping him on for the drama!!!
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1-27-2007 @ 6:59PM
Devera Larson said...
I dont think Marcel is as bad as they are making him out to be. He has some nice qualities. Are the producers creating conflict? I was getting tired of sam-boring. I sIlan up to the task? It all reminds me of sibling rivalry
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1-28-2007 @ 8:14AM
christian said...
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!MARCEL IS GOING TO FINAL ROUND HAS COLICCIO STARTED DRUGS!SAM AND ILAN WERE THE ONLY TWO WORTHY OF GOING.I THINK MARCEL THEATEND A LAWSUIT FOR WHAT CLIFF DID AND GAVE PRODUCERS A CHOICE!COLICCIO SAID SAM DIDNT ACTUALLY COOK HIS PRODUCT IN FINAL ROUND.HEY CHEF, THIS A CHEF COMPOTION NOT JUST COOKING AND DID YOU FORGET ABOUT THE RAW CHALLENGE?YOU TOSSED SAM UNDER THE BUS YOU SELL OUT!MARCEL IS A WINEY LITTLE PUNK THATS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FINAL ROUND ! I WORK FOR A CELEB. CHEF IN VEGAS AND WE ALL FEEL THE SAME ! SAM WE FEEL FOR BUDDY!WE STILL SAY YOUR TOP CHEF !
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1-29-2007 @ 7:10PM
Donna said...
Marcel should win. I was surprised during the last episode when the three had to take one last swipe at Marcel. I would feel as if they are afraid of being beat...and, two of them were. Marcel may carry himself a bit differently than the others, but that is nothing compared to what they have tried to make him out to be. And, thankfully they producers had the sense to kick Cliff off of the show. What is wrong with these people? Good luck, Marcel.
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