I was happy for him - I actually got a little misty when he started crying. It was kind of sweet. I wanted Kevin to win but honestly, all three were obviously very talented. Since I can't taste the food, I respect the judges decision on it.

I've never heard of that mushroom before - does anyone know what it tastes like?

Thing I learned #5:
We are going to grow mushrooms in our backyard, and were considering something random, like, maybe, matsutake. I learned that is a BAD IDEA.
poor kevin. that broke my heart.

My mom said it was a win for all little brothers everywhere. Which I suppose is nice since first borns seem to get a lot of fan fare in various arenas.

I enjoyed the episode. And although I voted for Kevin, I would have been happy with any of the three winning.

My real issue was how much Bravo exploited the brothers. They clearly invited the mothers because two of the top three were brothers. And asking her which she preferred was so inappropriate.

My breath was held at the end. Brother v. Brother. I think its somewhat unfair to view Brian's reserved nature as a flaw. His brother is so much more headstrong and creative. But I gravitated much more to Brian all season. That being said I understand why Michael won. But gosh, what a hard thing for them both, and their mother.

I softened a little bit toward Michael when he hugged his mommy and cried. I would've done the same thing.

I agree that it was awkward to have the moms at the judging table. It seemed unnecessarily cruel to them to put them in that position.

I felt much less tension during this finale than I have in past TC finales. I think it was because I felt that all three were equally deserving, even though I found Michael obnoxious. I'm sure I've eaten a lot of great food produced by obnoxious chefs, so if he's the best chef, so be it.

The second Tom said they were required to make a dessert, I knew it wasn't going to happen for Kevin. Tears. I'll never understand why the Chefs don't spend their time before the finale perfecting some kind of incredible dessert, because it really is an inevitability in the final challenge. Alas, Kevin...

The mystery box contained kabocha squash, not kombucha.

Thanks, aichan! Fixed.

I am here to answer the Nikkita's question about the Matsutake mushroom. It is Japanese mushroom and very expensive like truffle. Texture is similar to trumpet mushroom. Very meaty and crunchy. This mushroom has incredible scent and we mostly cook it in a way to maximize it. I had it once here in DC at the restaurant called Bibiana but it does not same as what we have in Japan. I could not smell that distinctive scent at all. At my home, we usually wrap it in the aluminum foil and grill it if we are lucky to get the whole Mastutake.

Some thing tells me that Kevin will win Fan Favorite.

I really thought Bryan was going to win.

It seemed from the comments that Kevin took Course #1, Michael took Course #3 and Bryan Course #2 and #4.

I thought they faked us out with the editing, and made it look as though Bryan would win it despite the seasoning critiques, so I was disappointed in Bravo when they announced Michael. For my money, all three will likely become superstar chefs, I just don't personally support the arrogant ones who are abusive to colleagues or subordinates (or who insult their diners intelligence). My heart was with Bryan and Kevin for the win... sigh.

oh I KNEW it! I heart Michael big time. Proof that sometimes arrogance is warranted?

Arrogance is never warranted.

If you have to ask if something is warranted, then you know already that it isn't.

I was bummed for Kevin. I feel that if he had nailed his pork dish, he would have had it. That was the benchmark that they were grading him on for sure.

That said, I think any of the top five or six this season would have mopped the floor with the chefs last season. Much stronger group this time around.

That episode was the most boring of the whole season. In fact half way through I was certain that maybe this was the semi-final and the final would be 1 on 1. Was it the editing?
Regardless of who my favorite chef was, the show just didn't capture any competition, drive, passion, or big creativity like we've seen in past seasons.
oh well.

This is always my favorite episode to watch because it's the one where they really get to make what they want and have all the time they need to do it.

I was cheered out loud when Tom said they had to make a dessert. Finally! Even if you can't make a dessert--learn how to make one during the weeks or months before the championship! Every time they've been asked to prepare a full meal and leave the dessert out it has just seemed wrong and unprofessional. How many people in restaurants order a steak after their main course? I hope that this is for good.

It was a good competition. Kevin lagged behind but the other guys are used to cooking in more formal, fine-dining perfectionist environments if that makes any sense. I have a feeling that the Bocuse d'Or will give Kevin some new tools to take into battle with him if he is ever in this type of arena again.

It was nice to see someone use venison as a main ingredient. I have to say though, I couldn't imagine having to work under the type of pressure that those guys had--their moms, the judges and a handful of some of the most powerful restaurateurs in the country!

I don't mind a little cockiness or arrogance--but it's no excuse for treating people badly.

But judging from Micheal's comments throughout the show, he doesn't think he's being inappropriate or a jerk. I'm hoping that seeing himself will open his eyes to his attitude problem. Sometimes we don't recognize how bad a behavior is until we recognize a bit of ourselves in someone else. I'm hoping the opportunity to actually see his own ugliness will help him grow as a professional and a person.

I'm so optimistic!

This finale was pretty disappointing. I never particularly cared for Michael, but beyond that, it seemed crass the way they handled the final judging. To my knowledge, they've never told one of the final three that they weren't top chef, and doing so seemed cruel to Kevin. I felt like it was the producers playing up the sibling rivalry/reality TV aspect of the show at the last minute, and that isn't why I watch Top Chef.

Not being able to pick your sous chefs also seemed to be an unnecessary and uninteresting curve to throw at them. At this point in the show, don't you just want to see the last 3 best chefs do their best work? It wasn't interesting watching Preeti fumble around with squash and probably mess up Kevin's night. It wasn't entertaining. It was just sad.

I thought it was silly to have a dessert course, one that they have judged so harshly in the past, and not care that Michael messed up his cake so badly. It would have been like Michael not letting his meat rest before cutting it and then still won.

That said, I agree with Rucy. I was disappointed in the way the critiques just didn't match up with who won. It seemed that Brian had it all through the critiques, and then when they didn't even let him talk about his dishes as long as the other two, I knew he didn't have it. I guess his restraint and better execution was worse than Michael's creativity and poorer execution.

That said, I can appreciate that two talented brothers can compete against each other. I can't, on the other hand, appreciate the obvious exploitation of that fact. Poor Kevin.

Another comment to say, "that said" just one more time. I didn't think I used it enough in the first comment. Jeez.

I think they all made mistakes but they should have taken in the ENTIRE competition, the entire body of work by the chef into account...and by that...I think that Kevin should've won.

I , too, wished they hadn't had to waste their talents on a dessert. My partner identified with Brian but Kevin had my admiration with his attitude through the entire competition. Greatness doesn't need to yell--people truly talented are the most humble. And he passed on MIT? wow.

I was disappointed with Bravo's choice. Michael had several mistakes in his final final meal. I wanted Kevin to win (he won so many quickfires and challenges!) but even I admit that Brian had the best meal in the end. But why Michael?

I, too, was amazed by the fact that Kevin passed on MIT - especially beaing a maths student (not at MIT, but still) who dreams of going to the kitchen one day, it made my heart beat faster.

I wanted Bryan or Kevin to win, I didn't really care for Michael, even though I'd love to eat his food. This being said, I believe that this season was the strongest one, chef-wise, of all.

"Cook whatever you want! Except you have to use this box of ingredients, <I>and</I> make dessert, AND by the way your mom is coming."

What a mess. I would have liked to have seen a straight final meal, no restrictions. The hodgepodge of requirements threw everyone off their game and nothing truly stellar was served.

I felt bad for Bryan, just standing there all sad waiting for a consolation hug from Mommy after Michael won.

Kevin/Bryan fan for the win, but unfortunately not in the end :( That said Michael probably didn't mess up his dessert as badly as it was implied. No one mentioned it being burnt, just dry. I think that the cake was supposed to be moist and goey, like a molten chocolate lava, but with caramel. I think it was probably still good just crunchier, like a cookie. If he hadn't said it was a cake and said it was a brownie instead he may have gotten away with it. Though his honesty right from the beginning (I believe he mentioned it at service) that it was not what he had wanted to serve may have given him some extra points (instead of trying to say it was "toothsome")

am i the only one really disappointed this season? i didn't really feel feel much spark from any cheftestant. i like kevin a lot but even watching him get screwed over by sous chef selection was (to echo another commenter) not entertaining, just depressing.

i don't think any TC finale will top the blaise/lisa/stephanie one.

The disappointment is in the lack of growth. It is hard to grow when you are already extremely talented. The challenges are interesting, but it is most exciting to see someone - like Carla or Hosea - make big strides. I think the quick fires with high stakes ruined it. It was exciting for the contestants, but the viewers lost. Losing someone through quick fire is a risk. The Carlas might just end up going home. Filtering the most talented at that moment does not make for the best television.