Top Chef

Finale (1)

Season 2, Episode 12, Aired 1/24/07

Episode Summary

Location, location, location! The remaining chefs travel to Hawaii for this round, and must use food native to the island for a luau that ends with naming the final contestants.

Guest Judge: Alan Wong

Quickfire Challenge: There Is None in This Round

Elimination Challenge: Prepare a Birthday Luau, Reformulating Traditional Luau Fare into Each Chef's Own

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8.0

EPISODE RATING: Great

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Cast & Crew

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Tom Colicchio

Head Chef/Judge
Gail Simmons

Judge
Padma Lakshmi

Host/Judge

Fan Episode Reviews (7)

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Going to Hawaii

8.1

"Great"

By lsburton, Mar 30, 2008 Report Abuse

It was nice to see the finl=al for return for the season finale. I must say that i love Ellie's hair now that it has grew back a little. I was excited for all of them ecause i have always wanted to go to Hawaii. I think that Marcel has changed a little since being able to watch the preivious episodes. They will be sending two people home after the elimination challange so all of them are pretty nrevoius at this point. After deliberation the jugdes decided to send Elie and Sam home. Marcel and Ilan will be compeating against each other for the title Top Chef.moreless

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What happened? When did the rules change? I love it when they cut down in edit... NOT!

5.0

"Mediocre"

By missraye, Jul 16, 2007 Report Abuse

I had a serious issue with one of the judge's decisions. They were in Hawaii, my home state, the challenge was to make two dishes for a Birthday Luau. Sam (my favorite chef on Season two) make a dessert like Haupia (coconut gelatin) and Poke. They booted Sam off because he didn't COOK anything... well, first of all a lot of Hawaiian food isn't cooked... and secondly, there were a NUMBER of challenges when they didn't have to cook (ice cream challenge, vending machine challenge,) so why is this NOW a rule?

While I understand that they make decisions using help from the producers to make it the show they want. I don't agree with that decision... it was arbitrary and unfair.moreless

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0 0
Tom review these tapes and see what happened and realize ending them the way you are isn't fair and right for the chefs. They need to win on their own cooking skills not some who want to ruin it for them.moreless

7.5

"Good"

By WendyLJ, Mar 02, 2007 Report Abuse

I am very upset to see that Ilan won over Marcel. They were out to get Marcel from the beginning and just because he focused and didn't play around he wasn't a favorite. The judges admitted Ilan did the same kind of theme for his food and in doing that he was boring and uncreative in other areas. Marcel tried many angles and gave it his all, in spite of many sabotaging him and his work. It isn't right to have the team mates help in the final because just like in the first one when Tiffani is assisted by former competitors Stephen and Dave, they were drinking and not really helping Tiffani. She graciously didn't expose what they did but it was obvious as they even stated they didn't want her to win! Same with Marcel he was way better then Ilan and he deserved to win!moreless

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Suprise, suprise not what i expected

8.3

"Great"

By ravenslight, Jan 27, 2007 Report Abuse

Well, I am truely surprised. I was not surprised to see Elia go, as much as I would have liked a woman to be in the finals. Elia stayed to true to her nature and did not incorporate the Hawaian food into the mix. I was truely suprised and sorry to see Sam go. I really think that overall, he is the strongest chef, but by the same token, he did not cook any of the dishes. It is obvious that his work during the hiatus paid off. He said it over and over again during the show that he was not strong in the pastry/sweet areas, so what did he do. He went to a top pastry chef and learned. I really like his attitude in the kitchen and in the show. I really think that he is probably the most level headed and strongest of the chefs. It is unfortunate that he did not make it to the final. Remember this is reality TV, just like Rudy should have won the very first survivor, he was hands down the best in all aspects, but the snake one instead.. Reality tv is just that.. it is a game show, lasting weeks to get to the end. It is a game of psychological warfare, and in this case, cooking as well. I am sorry to see the pair.. i really do not thinkn either is quite ready for the top chef position, but it is what it is and i still love the show, despite it being a little painful at times. Anyone that has never spent weeks on in couped up wtih someone needs to get a grip. This reminds me of basic training in some ways
You are stuck with the same 60 girls for 8 weeks or so.. and you make some of the best friends you will have for life and the little things that other people do, make you want to kill them. I have seen girls do some crazy things when stuck together with someone that constantly grates on their nerves, much like what took place in the previous episode.

I will watch season 3 and see where it goes. Can not wait to meet the new people..moreless

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Not the outcome I expected

9.3

"Superb"

By soulfood2dvd, Jan 26, 2007 Report Abuse

I'm so happy Bravo repeats the shows. I finally watched it Thursday evening, and when I saw who the final two were I was shocked!! I really, really thought Sam was going to be in the final two. I figured Elina would not make it. So that was not a huge surprise to me when she was sent packing. But Sam? I did not expect that. I thought the episode was very good, but the way they tried to go after Marcellus was pretty lame. I don't like the guy either, in the end Elina was doing all the talking, and the others stayed quiet. I think Marcellus found the whole thing amusing.

Well it will be interesting to see who ends up winning. Very Interesting.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- Native Dishes Shown: • Poi – Ulu (breadfruit), Sweet Potato, & Taro. • Lau Lau – Butterfish, Short Ribs & Pork. • Lomi Lomi Salmon – Salted Salmon with Tomatoes, Onions & Green Onions. • Poke – Raw Fish mixed with Seaweed and Kukui Nut Relish. Edit
- Elimination Challenge Dishes: Sam • Dish #1 – Opakapaka (Hawaiian Snapper) Poke with Sea Beans. • Dish #2 – Haupia: Mascarpone Mousse with Hawaiian Salted Coconut Milk & Citrus Tuile. Elia • Dish #1 – Ahi Poke with Olives, Capers & Lemon Confit. • Dish #2 – Snapper Steamed in Ti Leaves with Carrots & Bell Peppers. Marcel • Dish #1 – Salmon Lomi Lomi: Seared Salmon with Tomato Foam, Scallion Oil, Chili Water & Lotus Root Chip. • Dish #2 – Hamachi Poke with Pineapple Poi. Ilan • Dish #1 – Morcilla (Blood Sausage) & Squid Lau Lau. • Dish #2 – Saffron Haupia Frita: Saffron & Coconut Milk-based Pudding. Edit
- Sam and Elia are asked to pack their knives, and Marcel and Ilan are chosen go on to the finale. Edit
Notes
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- In the third season reunion episode "Watch What Happens" Tom said that the major thing that swung the Judges in Ilan's favor over Marcel was his decision to use taro, since it's so important to Hawaiian cuisine and so difficult for a novice to prepare correctly. Edit
- The producers were crossing every finger during production, because every island in Hawaii except the one they were on was experiencing typhoon warnings and flash floods during the nine days filming the finale. Edit
- Padma says in her blog that while she was the only one at the Judges' Table that had a reaction from the taro in Ilan's dish, there were other diners at the party to experience the same thing, but this was edited out of the episode. Edit
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