Excellent book I just finished, and highly recommend:

“Prose and Kahns: A detailed history of Mongolian Novelists”

This summer G and I began watching on Bravo, natch, a reality show called “Top Chef“. Now, I am certainly not one to get into reality shows, but this one has me hooked. Even Mr. Samback (fastest orator west of Big Bass Tack and Feed) approves of the show. There is no gimmick, it is typical reality style format: 1 person voted off per week. I like it because it involves a real skill (cooking), and people are voted off for real reasons (lack of cooking skill). Only they are not voted off, they are removed (“Please pack your knives, and go!”), by a panel of:

1. The super-hot ex-Mrs. Rushdie, Padma Scararm.
2. Bear-community pundit and baldie Tom Colecchio (sp?)
3. Gale “Nose Tackle” Simmons (of Food & Wine Magazine)
4. Random guest judge who intimidates/inspires/awes the contestants.

Tonight is the finale, so I’m going to break down the contestants and hopefully come to a prediction. Mr. Samback will continue his stunningly obvious prognostications on the sideline.

Contestants: Dale, Casey, Hung

Likeability: Dale is, in his own words, “A big gay chef”. He is finding himself through this competition, and realizing that he is actually a really good cook. He always is good for a funny line (“I don’t know anything about cowboys. I’ve slept with some, but thats it.”), and is generally good-humored and willing to help out the other contestants

Casey also is very sweet, willing to aid other contestants, despite the fact that she is in competition with them. Shares a passion for food, learned from her grandmother, which she enthusiastically displays.

Hung is the token A-hole. He is “nice”, but he obviously says what the judges want to hear. He rarely will offer any advice or help to other contestants, and is clearly in it to win it, burned bridges be damned.

Advantage: Dale/Casey

Socio-Political Factor: Bravo prides itself on offering a variety of shows, directed at various lifestyles. Unfortunately their first two season winners were straight white dudes. (Although Ilan from season 2 wore plenty o’ skinny black jeans, mitigating the blandness a bit). <- not sure where to put this period, if at all. Bravo is in desperate need of a different kind of winner, and they got just what they are looking for: A gay man, a woman, and a Vietnamese son of immigrants. All of them bode well for Bravo’s desired demographic.

Advantage: 3-way tie.

Technical Skill: Advantage Hung. No debate. Every judge, when judging his food, has said “You are clearly the most technically skilled here, but…”. I wish I could try his food to get a better sense for what “technically skilled” steak and eggs taste like (must be the brandy).

Advantage: Hung

Leadership: A constant theme throughout the show, and often a reason for dismissing a contestant, is the chef-as-leader component of chefmanship. During team events, the elected/appointed leader had the most on the line, as the judges often looked to them for the successes and failures of the cuisine. This led to the dismissal of Tre (one of my early picks), but he took it like a man. Judge Tom constantly reminds us of the need for a Chef to be responsible for what food is served in the restaurant. So, even if they didn’t personally cook the food, they will be praised/scorned for its result. They also must have the appropriate personality for the lil’ underlings to wanna work for ‘em.

That said, none of these candidates really have that *something* which is the mark of a leader. Dale is a great guy, and seems like a good friend, but I don’t see the competitive fire necessary for leadership. Casey is awesome and kind, but there is no way she could command a presence in the kitchen. And then theres Hung. He might inspire with his skill and his energy, but no one is going to go to bat for him when shove comes to push.  I

I think Casey wins this category. I can see her assembling the proper staff and leading a calm, productive kitchen. She wins, but by a smidgen. Mr. Samback disagrees, but what do you expect from someone who once participated in a Wiffle Ball and Yodeling fantasy weekend?

Advantage: Casey

Historical Showings: While the chef dismissed each week isn’t really allowed to present their overall case to the judges, I think that in the finale this will be different. I think Padme et al will consider the body of work produced by each chef and that will factor into the final decision. Dale only has one event challenge win, and Casey has come on strong only recently with some impressive victories. Hung, with some exceptions, has been most consistantly near the top for the entire season.

Advantage: Hung

Wild Card: Gut instincts here. I think that Dale’s food just isn’t skilled enough, he makes good sauces, but thats about it. Hung’s food is too cold, too surgical. Casey has the widest range, the most heart. Dale will be eliminated first, and Hung and Casey will go head to head.

Hung’s food will be impressive, the judges will love the skill, the precision, the technique, everything. But Casey’s menu will just feel right, it will be food that they would order again and again, and want to share with their friends. It won’t be perfectly plated, or sauced, but it will have that *extra* something that Hung cannot create.

Casey wins.