Although many people thought Stefan was a cocky bastard, I happened to like the quick-witted chef. Sure he was arrogant, but he had the skills to back up the ego. However, his impressive culinary expertise wasn't good enough for him to earn the title of Top Chef. When I spoke with Stefan yesterday, I was surprised at how funny he was. He happily endorses bloggers and is coming out with a clothing line. To find out what he had to say — yes he is still madly in love with Jamie! — read more.
On losing to Hosea: In my mind, I won Top Chef. No really, you know what happens? If you win the title of Top Chef, you get a $100,000 egg, but if you are the runner-up, you laid the egg. What I mean is I'm going to make a lot of money, hopefully. I know I will get something out of the experience, but Hosea? Sure he has the money . . . I hope Hosea sells himself properly and that he has a good shot to get himself somewhere.
Hosea won Top Chef. He deserved it. I love the guy. There's no bullshit going on between us. Really everyone should lay off of Hosea. He doesn't deserve the crap that people are giving him. He's actually pretty strung out about people picking on him.
On being confident: I've always been very confident. Some people call it cocky, some people call it arrogant, but everyone has opinions of those on Top Chef. I think I am pretty good. I thought I had a pretty good shot for it. You want to know the truth? I think it was partial editing. They wanted to create drama. Actually there is nothing that can faze me. I cook for a living! It's the only thing I know how to do. I'm a cook. If I wasn't a cook, maybe I would be a gardener, but I love food. I love people in the restaurant business. I have a very strong personality. It's my way or the highway.
On the judges: Toby is a funny guy. Tom is incredible chef, an incredible restaurateur. Padma is smoking hot. I will take her out anytime and Gail? She's cute. I gotta tell you, she's very cute.
On Bravo's portrayal of him as the villain: We all understand it's a reality show. I think people see me different now. I'm not a villain, I am a softy! Jeez, good Lord, Do I look like a villain? Maybe, but look over the entire season. I thanked every judge, I kissed every eliminated contestant goodbye, I shook all the winners hands. When I watched the finale, I had some tears in my eyes when Carla got choked up. I can't see women cry. It breaks my heart.
I am a softy! That's why I picked Marcel because, if I would have picked Casey, Carla would have had a really hard time. She wouldn't have done well with Marcel. I love Carla. Of course, I'm a softy.
On Fabio selecting Hosea's dishes over his: You get honesty from Europeans. I have absolutely no hard feelings. He stopped bullshitting. I love honesty. I love all you bloggers for your honesty. I take it like it is.
On Jamie: How could you not be in love with Jamie? I love Jamie. I've been asked that many times. It's not the first time I fell in love with the lesbians! She has the best laugh. She is beyond fun, she's a great chef. By the way, I love Leah though as well. Not as much as I love Jamie. If Jamie ever reads this: Jamie if you're ready for babies, I'm ready for it! She would make pretty babies, let me tell you.
On being friends with many of the contestants: I have made wonderful friends on that show, including Hosea, Jamie, even Lauren. I'm 36 years old. I've argued in kitchens, now I don't want to do that. I'm too old for constantly arguing. I want friends in my life. You can ride my bus if you want to, but if you don't, get off! I love them all. There is no bullshit behind the whole thing.
On what's next: I'm coming out with a clothing line. It's called Cocky Chef Clothing you should check it out. It's panties and boy shorts. I have a book coming out, it's called Stefan's Dirty Dishes and it's about my life. Sure I want to open a restaurant, but I want to do it the right way. I don't want it to be high scale. I want it to be a cool hangout with a fireplace outside. I would love to do more TV. I'm working on it. I have a great agency working with me and I'm signing today. We are talking about some ideas, kind of something of Gordon Ramsay-like because of my attitude. We will see what happens. Fabio and I would be a hilarious show, but I think I should do a show with Jamie because she is more clever.
Nicoli
Et Vous
People Tree
When can we stop talking about Top Chef?
1Aww c'mon Abby, the finale was just two days ago.
LOL @ Stefan's comments about Jamie and lesbians. This article has definitely made me like Stefan more. I did think he was extremely confident but he backed it up with his cooking.
2This made me laugh out loud! Hahahaha! Love Stefan!
3Awww, I love him! I still wish he was Top Chef, but this definitely made me feel bad for Hosea... I guess we are all giving him a hard time, huh? haha I hope Stefan has a new show coming out!
4I never thought of Stefan as a villan, I thought of him as distinctly Finnish and as a passionless cook.
At least from what they showed of him and from the judges comments he was a robotic chef who put nothing of himself into his meals. That actually sounds gross but hopefully everyone understands what I mean.
He just robotically fell back on his 23 years of experience and never once showed flare and passion or real creativity or innovation.
5this interview made me love stefan even more
6I'm in love with stefan's voice.
7I have changed my opinion of him and look at him as just a confident person.
8*sigh* I want to marry him.
9I also love Stefan and was rooting for him the whole time and this article just made me adore him even more. I never thought he was mean...sure they tried to make him the villain, but you could tell he wasn't disliked. It was kind of like how they tried to make Christian from Project Runway seem like the villain, but you could tell everyone still liked him.
10I just want Stefan to stop saying "buddy" at the end of his sentences. I'm surprised how down he came across on the Bravo interview page: he admitted full-on to being really tired of Top Chef and having his creativity sort of die.
11I have a feeling that Stefan, Carla and Fabio will end up being way more way successful being 'losers' than they would have if they had won.
12He seems so nice. This interview and the finale have definitely made me like him more.
13I was rooting for Stefan from the beginning, I just liked his confidence! I don't feel sorry for Hosea, I still think he's a punk! And I agree with Peggasus, I think that Stefan, Carla, and Fabio will be more successful because they "lost" than if they had won!
14Ugh, I can not stand Stefan. I was rooting for Fabio...I wouldn't have minded sharing his "bunky bed" hee hee, he was so cute. I still can not believe Hosea won though, I liked Carla so I wish she would've won BUT to be honest I think Stefan had the most talent in the kitchen even though he's an arrogant jerk.
15Never was a HUGE fan of him but he grew on me towards the end.
16I would love to see a Stefan Fabio cooking show! I really Like Stefan! He really is a sweet heart it seems.
17i really like that he's not exactly what he seems - it just goes to show that reality tv doesn't always show you the true sense of someone, but more so the editing factor.
it's interesting to me that he has so many things in the works, but i guess whatever works for him.
18stop talking about top chef?? we haven't even heard from carla or hosea yet??? im not over it obv!
i guessssss this made me like stefan more
19he is adorable
20Oh Stefan, you got robbed.
21I loved him the whole time, I thought it was obvious that it was extreme editing, because there were way too many moments where I thought Stefan acted with class and was a helping hand.
22He was SO robbed, but I am sure he will get alot out of the show from his exposure.
don’t know this blog writer but dude, Jake, you are right on target. Couldn’t agree with you more about the choice of Kelly choi. I went to Columbia with her. Choi PINED after JOSH KELLY now at espn. He dumped her for a gorgeous blonde, and Choi screamed at Elliott in the Columbia hallways. choi was a laughing stock at school and she then got hired for ONE month at NEWS 12 BRONX by Camilo Pombo. I saw Choi’s air checks then ( about 6 years ago) Man she Sucked! Choi is NO sincere soul. She is not 32 as wikipedia states and she slummed around NYC writing freelance after news 12 trying to make it some how before she begged Arick Wierson at NYC TV for a shot. PEOPLE at NYC TV (not management) do not think highly of CHOI. CHOI goes to these RED CARPET EVENTS in evening gowns TRYING BEGGING CRYING, “LOOK AT ME PLEASE I AM KELLY CHOI.” She has no purpose at these events and paparazzi friends of mine remark they take her pix because she just bares leg at the male photogs. How many wanna bet CHOI will crash and burn or just end up marrying a rich old geezer like JULIE CHEN OR WENDI DENG. Pathetic.
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