Top Chef: Sizing up the Survivors

I don't know what the hell that was last week on Top Chef. There is only one rule on Top Chef that must be followed, each week someone must go home. The one time the freezers failed or when both teams screwed up Restaurant Wars were the exceptions. This week however, the judges couldn't come to a decision or more than likely the producers wanted to take five contestants to the finals. If this is the way we're playing it now why not bring Dale back for his undercooked potatoes or give Tre another shot after his risotto? Why not bring Marcel back for his......never mind bad idea.

OK now that I've gotten that off my chest lets size up the final five chefs. I'll take them in descending order from the favorite to no chance.

Richard Blais

Strengths - Blais is the only cheftestant left that can legitimately say he was the best chef on his season. He's innovative, takes chances and more often than not pulls it out. His secret weapon? His hair. It works like Captain Caveman. If he's in a pinch and needs a dozen quail eggs, all he has to do is reach up into that perfectly sculpted coif a BAM there it is. The first season he was on I though he just used a ton of product to get his locks like that but now I know he freezes it into place with liquid nitrogen. Genius.

Weakness - The guy is a spaz. Probably the most nervous person in the show's history. I thought he was going to die on screen last week when Padma pulled the old "pack your.....bags" gag on him. If he falters it will be from a completely spaztastic meltdown.

Antonia Lofaso

Strengths - Antonia has been surprisingly focused and consistent this season. She's not particularly innovative but manages to make good food with just enough twist to make it her own. Where as Blais is "nervous guy" Antonia is just trying to not harsh her mellow. She likes to party a bit and it the finale comes down to a dessert, she's got the perfect brownie recipe.

Weakness - There's always a chance she'll sleep through an entire day of competition that's assuming she makes it though customs on her way to the Bahamas. She may lack the wow food the judges will be looking for in a finale. Then again we've seen before sometimes it just takes a good scallop to win.

Mike Isabella

Strengths - He's really good at taking someone else's recipe and winning with it, right Blais. Even though he's a loud mouth, his chef espionage skills are second to none. If anyone is going to annoy the other cheftestants into submission, it's going to be Mike. He went toe to toe with the Voltaggios and Beardy on his season so you know he's a talented chef.

Weakness - If Blais keeps his little black book under lock and key, Mike might be in trouble. He's been prone to wild overconfidence in challenges that are supposedly in his wheelhouse. He is often guilty of using too many ingredients. He definitely has the talent to win but brain farts and overconfidence may sink him.

Tiffany Derry

Strengths - She's big and fierce. If it comes down to a physical throw down my money would definitely be on Tiffany. We know she's a great chef from her season with the ability to combine her southern style with fine dining. If anyone is going to benefit from the layoff between New York shooting and the Bahamas, it's Tiffany. After being on the show two seasons in a row maybe she goes home recharges, refocuses and cooks in a way she's yet to show this season.

Weakness - She's just been OK so far this season. She's been just not bad enough to survive most weeks. She has appeared to be burned out of the competition for the majority of the season. She's done well during the quick fires but come up short of standing out in the elimination challenges. That kind of makes me think she's either over thinking things or more than likely is lacking the energy to put together a complete meal. We'll see how she responds to the lay off.

Carla Hall

Strengths - The judges love her. No one dodges bullets like Carla at the judges table. She must have a dynamic personality because Chef Tom and company just refuse to write her name down. She makes comfort food and being a caterer is more at ease with producing large quantities of her creations.

Weakness - Depending on who you talk to, she either looks like a Muppet or a feather duster with googly eyes. She is Mrs. Spaz but somehow pulls it off in an endearing way. He cooking isn't at refined as the other chefs. If anyone is going to walk off a pier into the ocean while in the Bahamas, it's Carla.

So that's my prediction for how the chef's finish this season. Blais' innovation narrowly out duels Antonia's solid but not spectacular fare. Blais gets his redemption after his stunning defeat in the season 4 finale.