Harold is named Top Chef
Tonight was the last show in the first season of Top Chef, and Harold is the winner. You could almost feel sorry for Tiffani – almost. All things being equal, Harold and Tiffani are both outstanding chefs. The difference comes in how people relate to them. All of the other contestants on Top Chef had respect and admiration for Harold – it spoke volumes when three of the four eliminated contestants asked to work for Harold on the final challenge. I also think it spoke volumes how Harold resolved the issue, having Miguel and Dave pull knives.
You could see how much respect Lee Anne and Miguel had for Harold by calling him Chef. Harold thought they were just busting his chops. On the contrary, I think they wanted to give him the recognition and respect he deserved being a finalist in this competition. Dave and Stephen, on the other hand, were late showing up to help Tiffani on the day of the elimination challenge, and I think they might have still been drunk from the night before. If they truly respected Tiffani they would have showed up early to help her. Stephen and Dave did give a good effort in working with Tiffani, but I think they would have given even more of an effort working with Harold.
Looking at Tiffani in the finals and listening to her interviews you can tell she has changed, and was trying to change. Watching Top Chef was a big wake up call for her. But the damage was already done. Her fellow contestants didn’t like her, and most of them didn’t respect her either. While guest judge Lorraine Bracco stated that what she cared about was the food in the dining room and not the drama in the kitchen, it mattered to the other judges.
Harold did play the final elimination challenge conservatively, but he did appear to put out a good product. Tiffani got lots of points for being bold with her menu, but probably lost every single one of them when Dave and Stephen trashed her to the judges at the judges table.
Harold stated he was planning on opening his restaurant in New York City in the fall of 2006 and might just possibly be calling on some of his cast mates. Do you smell a reality television show here or what?
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May 24th, 2006 at 10:14 pm
Glad that Harold won the competition. I think Harold was smart by involving Lee Anne and Miguel with putting together his menu. I still dislike Tiffany. Claiming that the dessert was her idea just really showed her true colors.
May 25th, 2006 at 8:54 am
Tiffani is an outstanding chef, but has a lot to learn about interpersonal relations. That really cost her.
May 25th, 2006 at 10:42 am
I agree. Harold is so easy going and thoughtful of his co-workers. I could not believe Tiffani actually took credit for the dessert when she was so obviously relieved when Dave offered to take that responsibility off of her shoulders. It made me think back to when she lied to Miquel when it was on tape that she said he should be the next one to go. In the end, she did herself in.
May 25th, 2006 at 2:17 pm
Harold deserved to win. Didn’t Tiffani say something to Harold along the lines “my back fell in to your knife.” How does she figure Harold stabbed her in the back? Showing her true colors yet again.
May 26th, 2006 at 7:03 am
That’s exactly what she said, “my back fell on your knife”. The comment was not relevant because Harold did nothing to back-stab her. I’m glad Harold won. Tiffani has delusions. The girl has a lot to learn about managing people. Being a top chef is not just about the food, its about earning and keeping the respect of the people who work for you, the people you rely on to have your back on a daily basis. No man or woman is an island and the faster Tiffani learns this, the faster she will become a master in the profession she has chosen to work in.