Top Chef on Bravo - Stephanie Izard wins! I thought she was the best choice and my choice through out, though I would have been okay with Richard winning. The show was in Chicago this season, and that is where Stephanie resides. Where was Charlie Trotter? The best chef in the city was MIA. They did have some local celebrity chefs for judges, such as Gale Gand, Rick Tramonto, Rick Bayless, and Art Smith. I like Anthony Bourdain, but they did not need to fly him in from NYC. And give me a break, Rocco DiSpirito judging Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, AUGH!
Hell's Kitchen on Fox - Christina Machamer wins! At first thought this was a bad choice. Petrozza should have won, but Gordon Ramsay decided to go with the youth movement. The contestants for this show are generally pretty lousy, but they provide entertainment value. With legitimate chefs competing, Gordon wouldn't be able to yell as much. Gordon figures he can whip the young culinary student from St. Louis into shape. Petrozza was 47 and a decent guy, but not the future. I'm 50, and I understand Gordon's move, but the true winner was Petrozza in my book.
The Next Food Network Star on The Food Network - Aaron McCargo, Jr wins! Absolutely! I'm a cook in a hospital and we rock! His food was consistent throughout and he had an easy going personality, which is good for television and his new show Big Daddy. If Adam would've won, I would have been ok with it. The guy can cook and came on strong near the end, but struggled to get there, and Bobby Flay was not in his corner. Bob and Susie I thought were much warmer during this season and it made for friendlier judging.