1. I did think she was going to take it. During the meal, plenty of comments about Stephanie's seafood and red meat courses pointed to her being the winner, but at judges table, it wasn't looking so hot. I started to lose heart then, but kept in mind that perhaps it was just a way to increase the drama through selective editing.
2. I was in Richard's corner going in - as much as it'd be great to have a woman Top Chef, I just thought he was the better technician and innovator. I think he, to borrow Andrew's phrase, "plays with honor", and this blatant honesty was proof. But he fell hard on that sword. What hurts the most is that he had to stay in the stew room essentially overnight *knowing* he didn't win. Ouch.
3. Dessert always seems to come as a surprise. The only person who's come to the final destination prepared for dessert was Sam (season 2) and he didn't get to use it.
4. I was impressed. That said, I'm a little tired of seeing Chef Ripert on Top Chef. There are so many other phenomenal chefs across the country - why is he their go-to guy?
5. Yeah - and I was surprised. Perhaps Lisa just has a problem with authority, so she cheers up when there's someone she respects nearby. Weird.
6. These competitors seem to love recycling. Andrew's chicken paillard got served back to back. Dale's halo-halo got reused. And the banana scallop made its third appearance last night.
7. I was impressed with Stephanie's menu the most. I tend not to go for high-end Asian food, as I'm really familiar with medium-grade Asian. Thus, Lisa's didn't impress me much. I'd love to try Richard's food, but based on the menus themselves, Stephanie.
8. I really enjoyed the tailgating challenge, since it showed off the chefs more whimsical sides: Andrew and that football helmet, Dale starstruck by old Bears greats, and Ryan completely missing the point. I was also impressed with Richard giving his prize to Stephanie after Wedding Wars, and her splitting it back with him after finding it had cash value. Oh, and finding out that only 4% of viewer voters wanted Lisa to win was pretty funny last night.
9. I think last season's chefs were stronger across the board. Casey, Dale, and Hung could wipe the floor with Antonia, Lisa, and Richard. As for Stephanie, I think Hung would just destroy her technically. I enjoyed this season, but it wasn't as food-centric for me.
10. I just hope they cast well and get rid of the catering challenges.

I was SO scared Lisa was going to win. I'm happy it went to Stephanie.

I agree with Trnsmleshiftrpt. Stephanie has been my favorite pretty much the whole season but the way there were talking last night I was afraid it was going to be Lisa. As long as it wasn't Lisa I didn't really care if it was Richard or Stephanie. I didn't like how Richard was talking about if he didn't win pretty much his life was over.

My friend and I were watching it and were so scared that Lisa was going to win because the judges seemed to like her food overall the most. I didn't think she deserved to be in the top there AT ALL! I hate Lisa! I love how only 4% of voters thought she should win. It was probably her friends and family voting.

I was really happy for Stephanie! Slightly disappointed that Richard wasn't able to put his best foot forward. I think it would've been much more fun to see it come down to the two of them at their best.

I DID notice the chopping-without-looking! Impressive. =)

Yay Stephanie. Consistent and strong throughout. Lisa had a few good dishes but overall throughout the season she was not that great.

I'm very happy for Stephanie. Yes, for a while there I thought the judges were leaning towards Lisa. I thought it was noble of Richard to admit that he choked. He knew that he didn't put his best foot forward and I like that he said it although b/c of the previews I thought he was going to say that Lisa didn't deserve to be there. LOL. That would have been great. I think the win would have been better had they all been at the top of their game that day. I really wanted to see Stephanie and Richard duke it out. I think if next season they cater another block party or a neighborhood gathering they provide a grill and fryer. I'm tired of this whole "crispy food getting soggy in transit" business. When it's an upscale party, yes make them worry about that. But don't have them provide food for a block party without block party equipment! I want to see a grill! As far as dessert, they need to stop being surprised. It also shocked me at how surprised they were about not having the Sous Chefs again on the second day. I'll always remember the tailgate episode and the improv episode. The two times we got the best excuses. I'd never serve polish sausage. I don't give a rats butt, that was your ingredient. Nikki running out of food. Lol. Classic. Oh and Nikki will always be the famous pasta chef whose pasta dishes never went over well. The mac and cheese at the block party. If she'd not put those bread crumbs on it and actually baked it uncovered, she wouldn't have had a problem. The top would have been crispy and the inside moist. Plus it all depends on what she mixed the cheese sauce with. Looking forward to next season.

Yay, Stephanie! I thought her menu looked the most appetizing overall.

I too thought it was going to be Lisa, which in my opinion would have been a waste of an entire season! I'm sure it was just selective editing! It's sad Richard choked--it would have been much more interesting if it was between the two of them! I'm happy Stephanie won!

I am so happy a woman won this year!! I think Stephanie rocked so I was happy it was her and not Lisa. I really liked Stephanie's whole menu, even the cake, it was the only one where I thought I could eat the whole thing.

i think they pretty much had to select a woman for the win to keep up the integrity of the show. four seasons with no females would look bad for them. i bet the judges were really glad that richard made it easy for them! there was really only a nanosecond in the finale when i thought that maybe lisa could take it from stephanie. and i think that was just 'good' editing. i thought it was very interesting what the chef's said at the end about WHY they selected the winner; they said they thought of the meal they would like to have again. that made me sure that stephanie won. really spicy asian food might be good once and a while but when it comes to making a menu that people are going to want to come back to again, stephanie was a clear first choice and she deserved it.

I really liked this season. I was rooting for Richard all along, but Stephanie did the best when it mattered most, so she deserved it. Why did Richard do that scallop AGAIN? They should all have been prepared to make a dessert! I ♥ Eric Ripert!

1. I think Stephanie is phenomenal and am so happy she won. I think she can hold her own with the past winners. I would really like to go her restaurant and eat her food! I was really nervous during judging, but going back to the reactions at the table to the dishes, half of them didn't like Lisa's shrimp and they also called her beef pedestrian. You are not going to be called pedestrian and win top chef!
2. Oh Richard! It was his to lose and he did choke, but boy did he win some hearts!!! When his eyes were watering so were mine. And he is going to be a daddy!! So cute! I think he is still an amazing chef who had a bad night, kind of like Casey last year, although I think Richard may be the superior chef. I really want to eat at his restaurant!!
3. Dessert is what I do best so I don't get people being afraid of it. I was pretty surprised with the reaction. I think they should have expected that and though maybe somebody should have looked back at what Ilan did in the finale with the fruit sorbets cause with the produce they have that could have been a winner as it was for Ilan.
4. I am totally with Eric Ripert so I was thrilled to see him standing there. He is one of the most respected chefs in the country/world. His carrot skills were amazing. Did anyone catch the episode of No Reservations when both Bordain and Ripert worked the line at Les Halles? that was great!
5. Lisa was oddly cheerful and annoyingly cocky. The way she kept talking about her food being a reflection of her sounded disgusting, cause I don't think her personality tastes so good...
6. I was really hoping for something new allow I really want to try the bacon ice cream!
7. I was the most impressed with Richard's menu and if it had been executed better he would have won, but sadly he choked. I would definitely want Stephanie's menu, but not Lisa's. I am not so into the high end Asian, although I would want the soup and the dessert. What was with all of the chips?
8. I really liked this season. I love football and food so the tailgating episode was great and I would have done what Dale did. oh Dale! I wish he had made it to the finals, the episode wouldn't have been so painful. I loved the movie challenge and the improv challenge.
9. I thought this season was great, although I think some chefs hung around to long and some were eliminated too early, Spike and Lisa then Jen and Dale respectively. I thought the challenges were original and fun. I like how they addressed real issues of budget and health in more than one challenge and still produced good food. I was more emotionally involved in this season than last, although I still love Dale from last season. Interesting that Restaurant Wars has been were a favorite gets eliminated in both seasons.
10. I am just hoping for more amazing food and ideas. Also I though that Stephanie and Richard performed with such honor and respect and it was really wonderful to watch. Everyone thinks conflict boosts ratings, but i think their integrity made me watch more and wanted to change the channel when Lisa is on screen, I do in reruns.
11. I would like to address Gail's fabulous wardrobe this season. She stepped it up. I loved her dress last night and looking back, wow she has looked really good. She has really dressed to suit her figure so well! Looking good next to Padma is hard and she definitely did that!

sorry that was really long.

I'm so happy stephanie won! i actually thought it looked like they all had little victories last night, but stephanie definitely deserved the overall win. richard was a close second for me though...but i know i'm including all the work he did this season that EARNED him that spot in the finals.

the dessert thing is funny. i know in the culinary world the pastry chef is a very different "breed"...but you'd still think they'd have one or two desserts up their sleeves.

I think the problem with desserts is that there are actually measurements that have to be followed to achieve certain "foundation" results. It's where I tend to screw up if I don't follow recipes too literally. With cooking savory food, you can get away with using your instincts more.

Did anyone else find the way they told Stephanie she won anticlimatic? They just kind of said it...where's the excitment?

I was dying at that point so I was happy it was quick.

I too was a nervous wreck when it looked like Lisa was going to win. But, I am very happy it went to Stephanie, I think she is a great cook. I would have been happy if Richard had pulled it off as well. I have to say I was more into Richard's menu and I was disappointed that it didn't come together. But, I'm a happy camper.

First of all, yay Stephanie! I wasn't really surprised, but I was worried that it wouldn't go her way — mostly because, while the judges were saying they liked her food, they weren't saying it with much excitement. It was like, "I think this is my favorite of the three. *shrug.*"

I think Richard did what Casey did last year — he thought too much, lost his nerve a little, and lost sight of what he wanted to do. I'm surprised he didn't even knock ONE course out of the park.

I was surprised Stephanie was the one who was so freaked about making a dessert. Girlfriend made a wedding cake in a few hours, you know? Also, I was really disappointed that Richard re-reused the banana scallops. Three times in one season -- when you don't have to make dessert very often -- is way too much.

I was bummed this season when a lot of my favorites (Jen, Andrew) seemed to go home early, but in the end, I'm satisfied with the winner. Next season, I hope for fewer team challenges and maybe some new twists at the finale ("cook the best meal of your life" is getting a little old).

I too was very nervous when it looked like Lisa might be a serious contender. I can't stand her, she has such a bad attitude. Love Steph though and am so happy she won! Not just because she's a woman, but she is very humble and collected and she is an excellent chef.

I can't believe Richard made those dang banana scallops again...and I can't believe the judges didn't call him on that! Seriously, THREE times he's made that dish. Sheesh, you'd think w/ all those ideas in his head, he would've pumped something else out.

I'm so happy a woman finally won and that it was Stephanie. I still can't believe that Lisa was in the finale at all. Richard did sort of choke and he was so confident the whole way through and Stephanie sort of snuck up on him. Go Steph!

I am glad they told them last night who won and they didn't do it as they have in the past with the live audience.

I was really worried about Lisa winning. Yay for Stephanie. I also agree with all of the comments Buzz made above!

I didn't have a chance to watch it but i am so glad Stephanie won, Lisa just pissed me off. How can you work in a kitchen but get mad at everyone that you work with? Stephanie won a majority of the different challenges so it was obvious she would be in the finals! How exciting!

1. I'm SOO THRILLED that she won - i think that she deserved it and i've been rooting for her all season.
2. i think the point that was made at judges table was valid - he was letting them know that he knew he could do better and he had a bad case of nerves. i would have been ok with him winning but i'm happier that stephanie did.
3. one would assume that they would know that a dessert is a requirement, especially when they've all said that they've watched the show before.
4. he's got skills. i guess that's what happens when you've worked in a kitchen long enough.
5. that was a SHOCKER - lisa gets along with no one, but maybe april was feeding her ego a bit...or maybe the producers wanted lisa to be more likeable in the finale...so they staged it or edited it a certain way.
6. i was actually waiting for the judges to say 'now we've seen these 3 times, and yes they are good, but is that all you can do?'
7. Stephanie's menu based on presentation
8. i'm not sure what my favorite was. it was a bit more bland than past seasons to be honest.
9. um...it was ok, maybe a little more bland with some of the quick fires etc.
10. i'd love to see an iron chef type thing where there are ODD ingredients. last season they had one like that and it was interesting to watch.

Go Stephanie! Loved her from day one. Thought it would be between her and Richard but was really surprised Lisa made it that far. Mainly because of her sourpuss attitude.

I couldn’t be happier about steph winning, I kept chanting “not Lisa not Lisa” it! Richard did choke, and it takes a real professional to even admit that. I was surprised that they had to make dessert also, since its well known that 90% of them aren’t pastry chefs. Eric Ripert is HOT! That accent, those knife skills, I could watch him chop all day long. Lisa seemed chipper because Lisa knew that woman was going to be part of judging, if it was a former cheftestant she would have been old grumpy lisa again. I love how she was smiling when they were praising her, and than back to arms folded no chin b*tchy lisa when they were critiquing her. When I saw the Banana Scallop I thought “okay this is the third time he has used this preparation, enough already!” besides it SOUNDS like a bad word doesn’t it? Say it slowly. Ba-na-na Scal-lop. I thought Stephanies menu looked the best, although I WANTED richards Foie Gras dish. My favorite part of this season has to be the first episode with the pizzas because looking back its so telling as to who was going to be in the finish.I liked last season better (thanks to CJ) Next season, I hope they STOP WITH THE CATERING challenges and get back to individual dishes.

Question?

Why didnt they do a top chef reunion? dont they do those before the final? I didnt miss it really, I always thought they were filler and stupid.

I'm still kinda mad that Dale didn't end up in the top 3 or even 4 because he would've totally kicked butt. But I'm glad that Stephanie won over Lisa.

Seriously though? I would have boycotted the show forever if Lisa had won. Stephanie was my favorite to win from the beginning, and I was terrified that the pound cake was going to do her in.

Poor Richard. He's an awesome chef, he'll have a lot of success in the future. Maybe he should change the name of his restaurant though... Trail Blais? Really?

Caterpillar — I'm pretty sure the reunion is actually next week. Not sure why they don't do it before the finale like the other Bravo shows though.

I totally cheated. Since the show was aired later at the west coast, I checked AP to see to who won, I wouldn't watch the show if Lisa won, she totally doesn't deserve to even be the top 3. It was a good thing that I checked the results first,, since it would have drove me nuts during the judging, since they made it seem like Stephanie's dish was not as good as Lisa's

I am glad Stephanie won, i have been rooting for her all season. She is always calm, no drama and the most consistent chef this season.

Poor Richard, he totally choked and he knew it! He could have done so much better

I thought it was funny that they showed Lisa doing her little confessional after Stephanie won and she said something like "I really thought I had it..." HA! Sucker. She was completely obnoxious.

Way to go, Stephanie!

Buzz youre right they do it after, but I always thought they asked "who should win" or is that on Pro Run? I am confused.

But i guess we still have to find out who won fan fav right ?

My vote is for richard on that one. or the kiwi

i actually was really irritated they made them make a dessert. the final challenge is supposed to be them cooking whatever they want. that's the prize for making it to the finals. they shouldn't have been forced to make ANY kind of course. silly, in my opinion.

although some one up there did say that sam was the only one that came prepped with a dessert, but didn't get to use it. that's not true. first season dave(!) came prepared to the final 3 with 2 dessert recipes. then selflessly gave them to tiffany. cause he ruled.

I definitely said to myself at the beginning, "If for some strange reason Lisa takes this, I will not, repeat, will NOT watch this show again!" That would make me so sad because I've been following since Season 2 (and have caught all of season 1 now).

I am glad Stephanie won - yay UM Grads well, besides that, after seeing Richard "choke," I knew he was out of the running and Stephanie was our only hope to defeat the constantly in the bottom 2 bronze medalist.

I was mesmerized by the carrot chopping and bored with the banana scallop...I was really excited at first when he was talking about the whole ice cream process, but then he went back to his safety net...however...Tabasco ice cream? Really?

I don't do seafood (although I like looking at pretty plating of it), so I don't know how I would have selected a menu...Lisa's was quite appealing to me, which I hate to admit...

My favorite part of the season - Andrew. Really. I enjoyed watching him twitch like a crazy person and just go off on the most random things. I will try his food (as long as he can give me a non-seafood-like dish...I don't know if that can happen). He definitely reminded me of a slightly larger nosed Ryan Gosling, who I love. I enjoyed the tailgate challenge.

I think I liked Season 3 better, although Hung drove me nuts.

I hope next year Top Chef is fabulous - as well as Top Chef Jr, which could be amusing...my students want to be culinary whizzes, so I would be interested to hear their opinions on it.

I wasnt too impressed with this season. It got boring. I almost had to force myself to tune in every week. Eventually I dropped off and didnt even care. I hope next season will be better.

I liked Stephanie, but I get the feeling that they gave her the win so they could have a girl winner.

I feel like her and Richard were neck and neck equals, and that Bravo didnt want to take the flack for having all male winners.

I'm surprised people were scared Lisa would win. Its so obvious that she sucked. The chefs didnt like her all season long, why did people think she would win?

I think they just kept her in because everyone hated her, to keep it interesting.

I think they knew all along they were gonna have a female winner so that all the fans could go "its so nice to have a female top chef blah blah blah"

Lisa wasnt anywhere NEAR being any sort of competition for Stephanie. And Richard was basically her equal if not better, so they just went for Steph...VERY anti-climatic

yay steph
sad for richard, he was the winner in my book, just a shame he really blew it at this last meal
lisa should not have even been there, she sucks

The reunion should be very interesting. Can't wait to see them all rip into Lisa.