Feb 1, 2007

Top Chef: Ilan Wins

After last week's dismissal of Top Chef favorites Sam and Elia, replete with fireworks and tears, last night's finale was quiet by comparison.

Both chefs pulled out all the stops for a fabulous meal, but in the end, the judges seemed to think Ilan hit the mark more than Marcel. And while they didn't specifically come out and say it, you got the idea they felt Ilan had more leadership potential than Marcel.

My problem with last night's Top Chef was that I wasn't rooting for anyone.

I didn't want Marcel to win, because I felt he is too self-centered. That is, his cooking is all about his own interest in experimenting with food, and he seems to have little interest in pleasing the people for whom he's cooking.

His presentation is on the mark, but his attention to the diner's needs and palate is non-existent. I can only imagine how he would have fared if given the cooking-for-kids challenge the first season's contestants got.

A chicken fingers gelee anyone?

Ilan worries me too. Clearly, of the two, he is more mature and will likely grow into a great culinary leader.

But at 23, he still has far to go toward developing his own culinary vision. He seems to be able to create technically wonderful food, but his range seems limited. Could he hit the ground running in a four-star French restaurant today? Maybe....then again, maybe not.

In the end, both chefs appear to be up-and-comers. Ones to watch. But are they truly Top Chefs? I think not.