Who did you think really deserved to win Top Chef 2? and why?

Question

me? 1. sam - best all round cook and leadership skills (though not the best at any single one thing).
2. Marcel - most innovative and creative, has the most potential to make a big impact in the culinary world.
3. Elia - best techniques, very good chef, needs to work on personal stuff however.
4. cliff - just a good chef, not the best however
5. ilan - good skills, but needs to be original and stop cooking stuff thats served in the restaurant he works at.

Answer 1

I was actually rooting for Mikey since I like underdogs! Of the ones you mention I would say Marcel simply because he mentioned Xanthan gum which I use quite often to replace gluten and eggs in recipes (I'm vegetarian and I also cook for folks with allergies).

What I see as a problem with the show is the judging!! In future seasons I want *all* the judging to be totally blind! That means no chef Tom lurking in the kitchen to see who's doing what and then basing judgments on how they prepped the food etc. If the show *really* is about the food and not a personality contest lets see independent servers bring the food out and the judges have no idea who made what. Much fairer and much more like the contests I have cooked in where judges get numbered platters and those of us that cooked aren't around to react to what the judges are doing/saying about our food.

Answer 2

Too bad that they couldn't have team winners. My vote went to Sam and I was crushed when he was eliminated. However, I was delighted when Ilan kicked Marcel's butt. I think the turning point came when Marcel took nearly all the credit for Sam's rescuing dish that got substitued for the missing fish. Marcel may be a great cook, but cooking is about teamwork and cooperation. He was excellant at alienating everyone around him, and for that alone he deserved to lose.

Answer 3

I think Ilan deserved to win. He was a more mature Chef than Marcel...I don't mean his personality, I mean that his techniques were more refined than Marcel. I liked Sam, but I think he lacked leadership and was a very good Chef, but was sort of mamby-pamby. Couldn't stand Marcel. He is a little creep.

Answer 4

I agree with all your points. Sam should've taken home the title. My theory is (and I've said this before), Sam will be the most successful (i.e., Clay Aiken; he didn't win American Idol but has done more than the one who did). Hopefully, we'll see more of him instead of Ilan.

BTW, Elia always cooked with her personal preferences. I understand that's what makes a chef unique but come-on almost everybody likes CHEESE. She was always against using cheese in her meals. And she always complained if something was added that she personally didn't like. If the customer likes it and the chef doesn't....go figure. Sam was diabetic and couldn't eat most of the food he prepared but he never complained. Because the food is for the customer not the chef. Elia never got that across her mind. Watch the episodes and you'll see what I'm referring to.

Answer 5

Ilan! I loved how his food was presented and made. He was very presices.
Marcel was to crazy with the foam.
Elia was my second choice, but Her food was amazing looking.
Cliff was just eh to me, to safe.
Sam was almost to hippy in his food for me. Which is odd because I'm a vegan...

Answer 6

Definitely Sam. He has the most skill overall. I agree with you on the leadership skill and he was the most ethical. He should not have gotten penalized for not "cooking" with heat or fire. Preparing food is not strictly defined by cooking over a stove. Tom Colicchio was unimaginative and simple minded for eliminating Sam for that reason.

Answer 7

I was pullin for Sam all the way, but I'm gald Ilan won. Spanish food kicks a$$.

Answer 8

Marcel- creative and resourcefull