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Richard Blais took home the title of Top Chef at the end of Wednesday's nights finale, and all is right with the world. After a long, surprisingly spirited "All-Stars" season, Richard, the heavy favorite, nabbed the crown -- but not without a tough fight from challenger Mike Isabella. The four-course menus both chefs created were short on gimmicks, focusing heavily on technique and flavor, and the judges came down to the wire before giving Richard the title. Find out how he prepared for the finale -- and why he says he's o.k. with being perceived as neurotic.
What did you do to prepare for the finale?
I really just kind of got back to basics. I think people expected me to come out with a laser gun or a robot to cook the food or something, but really, I was baking bread and roasting chickens. I wanted to come back to the Bahamas and emphasize that although I enjoy using some modern techniques, I can also cook with a spoon, a pot and some butter and salt and pepper. So I really focused myself and did basic cookery.
Traditionally, the judges have given contestants a lot of freedom to create what they want for the finale. Were you worried they were going to throw you a curve ball?
Going back into the final round, I think all of us were surprised that it wasn't going to be just two challenges, it was going to be four. Then also knowing it wasn't going to be three contestants left for the finale, it was only going to be two. I think the pressure throughout the whole season kept building and building. So certainly by the end of it, you know you can't control it, you're just going to have to accept that and go with it. So the final challenge was a little bit different. Go build your own restaurant -- it was surprising to me, but also thrilling. You saw on the show where I said I got goosebumps -- well, I really did. For a chef to be given the task of building your own restaurant, I mean, this is what chefs dream about on the subways or commuting back and forth to work. We're dreaming of that while we're sitting there chopping carrots or peeling potatoes.
Are you glad the finale was two chefs instead of three?
I think it's a better way to go about determining the winner because it's more direct. The more food the judges are presented with, the greater the chances of things getting clouded. I think it's kind of neat to go head. Obviously it's easy for me to say that I enjoyed it, but I think it was a good way to go about it.
Everyone keeps saying how different All-Stars was from their regular seasons. Do you agree?
Yeah. This season was longer, so it turned a long-distance race into a definite marathon. And the challenges were extremely difficult. I'm sure everyone has mentioned that, but multiple times just finishing a challenge -- I had to stand back and say wow, I can't even believe that I finished that. I couldn't believe that my non-aquatic person was actually out there getting conch, or that I actually finished a challenge in nine minutes, or that I just ran around Target for two hours with no equipment. And the talent pool was just amazing -- you had 18 chefs with amazing culinary talent, and if things had gone differently you could easily have had 18 different winners.
It was obvious you wanted to win, and the camera captured a lot of your personality quirks. Are you happy with the way you got portrayed this season?
In my season I was portrayed -- whether it was true or not -- as being a really good guy, a lovable loser who just couldn't do it and choked. This time, coming back, some people are saying this guy is a neurotic mess and he's insane and he's crazy and he's just a ball of nerves. I think this time around I really wanted to express my true personality, and I was happy with the way things were done. That's me, you know? Sometimes I do over-analyze and I'm a touch neurotic perhaps -- but yeah, I'm happy with the way I got portrayed because I think it's true.
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3-31-2011 @4:20PM JohnBom said... Thanks for ruining it for me. Waiting to watch it at home on the DVR.
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3-31-2011 @4:49PM Jaguar said... Seriously.....How about learning what the rest of the internet seems to have figured out and not put spoilers into the titles of your posts.
The rest of the world isn't on the same broadcast schedule as slashfood may be.
3-31-2011 @5:57PM J said... It's a live show, this is a food blog, what do you expect? Do you go on ESPN and it says SPOILER ALERT SPORTS SCORES INSIDE!
3-31-2011 @10:29PM Luke said... WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE, DON'T PUT THE NAME OF THE WINNER IN THE HEADLINE. IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN 24 HOURS.
Why don't I just throw my dvr in the trash, is that what you want
4-01-2011 @1:48AM T said... Thanks for saving me an hour of television. You ~really~ needed to put his name in the title didn't you? So it shows up in RSS feeds and all. "Our Exclusive Interview with 'Top Chef All-Stars' Winner" works just as well. Not to mention STILL LEAVING IT UP there after numerous complaints pointing it out.
4-01-2011 @4:42AM Jen said... What the h*$%!!! Why would you post the winner's name in the title!!! Many of us watch this on DVR, and now you've RUINED the finale for us!!! I am removing Slashfood from my blogroll, and not coming back. Shame on you.
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3-31-2011 @5:06PM rpmcmurphy said... Thanks, thanks a lot for ruining that. My wife and I were waiting to watch it together.
Out of the 100+ rss feeds I subscribe to that cover Top Chef, yours was the only one that managed to spoil it in the title of the post. Kudos.
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3-31-2011 @5:07PM Tom said... Was just going through my RSS and loading the episode. No point in watching it, I guess.
I think this at least the 3rd time an episode/finale has been spoiled.
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3-31-2011 @6:03PM freisss said... OK, guess I'm not watching it either.
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4-01-2011 @2:30AM Nathan said... Yep, I had managed to avoid it this whole day and then bam, spoiler in the title. WTF.
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4-01-2011 @2:51PM Serah said... I guess this brilliant contributor doesn't quite understand the concept of a DVR, or of the pleasure of surprise. This blog is officially a waste of my time.
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4-01-2011 @3:58PM Kelly said... Thanks for ruining it. I've been able to avoid all the articles, but you had to put the winner in your title. Unbelievable.
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4-02-2011 @1:28PM Rock said... Grow up already. If you don't want to find out who won, don't look around on the net before you watch the frickin episode. Sheesh.
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4-03-2011 @7:42PM freisss said... I really don't think we're asking for anything other than common courtesy. It was an issue before on this blog, and then it was rectified. Unfortunately, they've slipped again.
4-04-2011 @12:59PM Jena said... I didn't even realize the finale had aired in the US! The finale airs in Canada today! *sigh* So much for surprise.
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4-04-2011 @9:50PM Len said... What a bunch of self important, spoiled cry babies you are...boo hoo, me me me and my DVR...Piss OFF all of you...and you know you still watched it!
4-06-2011 @2:27PM Steven Ruza said... I wouldnt watch this show if there werent beautiful ladies on there. - Steven Ruza
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4-25-2011 @12:50AM doris jarrell said... It's hard to say. I think Richard is better than Mike, but he's a head case. Mike's on a roll and could pull it out.
http://www.articlespeak.com/lavalife-free-trial-log-in-to-find-love-on-a-dating-site/
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