r/TopChef • u/prolly_not_62 • 27d ago

Discussion Thread Top Chef

Of all the seasons of Top Chef, can you name your favorite contestant of all seasons? Mine; Sheldon Simeon season 10 and season 14. Who’s yours?

103 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

234 comments sorted by

184

u/whistlepig4life 27d ago

Carla Hall. Easily.

The closest runner up is Shota.

67

u/AddictiveInterwebs 27d ago

"Un-done-te" popped into my head randomly yesterday and made me laugh for several minutes, Carla is a GEM

67

u/TransientSWer 27d ago

“That is my belief, Tom!”

When she talked about the love coming from her through the dessert…I think it was Restaurant Wars. She’s the best. 😁

23

u/bork00IlIllI0O0O1011 27d ago

I appreciate that Tom backed off immediately after she said that.

8

u/Sullygurl85 27d ago

Every time I cook lentils.

3

u/Ok_Interest9427 26d ago

I actually giggled when I saw the episode where her husband appears and mentions that he met her on match.com and I'm just like "dude, you hit the jackpot. I'm not surprised you got married in only eight months!"

I'm just bummed that her place in Red Hook BK didn't last long.

1

u/prolly_not_62 24d ago

I really do love Carla Hall!! She truly is a gem!!

49

u/Science_Teecha 27d ago

Y’all. I was in the class behind hers in culinary school. She was wildly successful right out the gate, and everyone loved her then too. 😌 She is great.

I remember coming home from a run back in ‘04 or so, and my husband was watching Top Chef. I was like… why the hell is Carla Hall on TV?! It was disorienting.

31

u/cssc201 27d ago

There's a hilarious anecdote I read from a later season contestant who said that when he was a line cook, his coworker quit, disappeared, and then was everywhere a few months later when he won Top Chef. He was like "wow, this guy can't cook, but he won this big competition!" It was no one's favorite Ilan Hall, S2.

37

u/BornFree2018 27d ago

Chicken Pot Pie!!

32

u/nilknarf114 27d ago

The LOOK on Carla’s face; just to have the chance to make chicken pot pie. And, when she won…! She gave a great imitation of a contestant on the Price is Right

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u/Ansee 27d ago

Shota was robbed! I'm sticking to this story. LOL.

10

u/Ok_Interest9427 27d ago

Gabe outcooked him. I don't like that Mike Isabella, Paul Qui, and Gabe all turned out to be terrible people (and I worked with Paul Qui and had a pleasant professional experience), but they weren't like that on the show and I can't imagine that the show runners knew about them.

If Shota had made anything other than a simple Japanese curry, he probably would have won. You don't just give away a course to make something that anyone walking around in Tokyo can grab for the equivalent of $10.

1

u/gratefulgirl55 24d ago

Honestly I think Paul is a good dude when he’s sober.

31

u/TransientSWer 27d ago

Another awesome Carla moment was on All Stars where they had the head to head matches and Carla was up next with a bean stew. Mike Isabella said he was going to go ahead and start his plate, to insinuate that she was going to lose and he would have to go. Not only did she win the match, but won the episode. That’s the way to do it. 😁

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u/CPA_Murderino 27d ago

Toups, 10000%

34

u/WinterAd6596 27d ago

Toups was great. I was so pissed how Margerie treated him during restaurant wars. Made me dislike her a lot. 

24

u/bork00IlIllI0O0O1011 27d ago

Marjorie was such a snob. Skilled and talented, yes, but snobby.

2

u/Ok_Interest9427 25d ago

To be fair, she clearly didn't really know anything about him. That said, it's not a smart thing to not at least try to learn about your competition, especially if that person actually runs a famous restaurant in New Orleans. (I'd been to Toups Meatery long before he went on the show; it wasn't like those weird private chefs.)

17

u/NiceYabbos 27d ago

I've been to about ten restaurants of contestants and Toups has one of the two best, by a wide margin. Must stop if you're in NOLA

6

u/Ok_Interest9427 27d ago

I stayed about 500 feet away from Toups Meatery on one trip to NOLA and I must have gained five pounds.

5

u/WinterAd6596 27d ago

Dammit. My wife is actually in New Orleans right now.

I am not.

13

u/CPA_Murderino 27d ago

Yeah her constant questioning of his abilities just because he’s more “rustic” was ridiculous. But tbh I love that episode because he WINS.

7

u/Vivid_Bumblebee_9655 26d ago

She worked for Mike Isabella....explains a lot.

1

u/Ok_Interest9427 25d ago

I think it's more just Thomas Keller / Jose Andres / etc. Marjorie was, IMO, the most technically proficient cook on that season (Jeremy arguably tied, except that I doubt he could bake) and she just didn't see Isaac's chops for what they are.

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70

u/sketchahedron 27d ago

Shirley and Kristin

7

u/BeKind72 27d ago

Yessss. Shirley was amazing to watch.

2

u/bd-1beepboop 26d ago

Ah how could I forget Shirley! And Fatima. RIP 😭

1

u/biguyreacts 22d ago

My exact answer

63

u/RudyPup 27d ago

Sheldon is definitely up there, Gregory, Amar, Isaac.

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u/Adorable-Lack-3578 27d ago

Mr. Toups. He's funny and fed a lot of service employees when Covid shut down New Orleans tourism. Him and his wife and team still feed thousands of kids every year. I'm on my phone and cant link to his causes.

27

u/AriesRedWriter 27d ago

He said on his season how Emeril Lagasse wrote personal checks to help his employees during Katrina. I love that he paid it forward and continues to do so.

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42

u/DRC_Michaels 27d ago

Stephanie Izard , Melissa, Kristin.

If I had to pick just one, it'd probably be Melissa. But all three seem like incredible talents who are just pure, calming joy to be around.

43

u/YoungGambinoMcKobe 27d ago

Fatima ! May she rest in peace.

38

u/ShadyPinesMa78 27d ago

Carla. Hands down.

39

u/bork00IlIllI0O0O1011 27d ago

I liked crotchety ole Ed Lee. He has mellowed out since his season, which is overshadowed by the Beverly bullies.

I also liked Bryan V and Melissa King .

34

u/flowersinmyteas 27d ago

Fabio always cracked me up. I was a big fan of Shirley Chung as well.

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u/[deleted] 27d ago
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u/LilCinBoise 27d ago edited 27d ago

In no particular order:

Sheldon
Carla
Shota
Amar
Stephanie Cmar
Antonia
Toups
Tre

My criteria is whether I would like to hang out with them and eat their food☺️

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