Casey shot herself in the foot and then stuck it in her mouth. I was really shocked at how she tanked.

I saw Sparkle Josh (or whatever they call him), from Design Star, at the place my parents and i went to dinner tonight. i guess he's back in the hometown. i gave him a smile and headnod to let him know i recognized him, but didn't bother him.

Seriously. The only dish of hers the judges really liked was made primarily by Howie? That's not good. I guess the nerves just got to her.

They were all so sweet and gracious. I really liked this year's chefs. What a nice palate cleanser after last year's group.

Oh, Hung. Must be the monkey.

Man. I am disappointed - but mostly just because I was so rooting for Dale. What with him being from Chicago etc. I also feel like they picked a safe choice three years in a row. I say this much as I love Harold and believe that he deserved to win in year one. But - Dale went out there and really put himself on the line and I don't feel like Hung did. I'm very interested to read what the blogs say.

But, I love that they change up the finale every year. I would never have expected to have Rocco DiSpirito, Todd English and Michelle Beard as sous chefs. That was excellent. And watching Day 1 prep - that was a thing of beauty.

But, I love that they change up the finale every year. I would never have expected to have Rocco DiSpirito, Todd English and Michelle Beard as sous chefs. That was excellent.

I thought that was cool too. What I thought was ridiculous was having them all serve at the same seating. It truly irritated me.

I was hoping Casey could pull it out, or that they would pick Dale when it became clear she was out of the running.

Oh well. Good on Hung. I started the season out liking him, but he eventually turned me off over the course of it. But it's clear he's got talent (as do Dale and Casey), so good on him.

But - Dale went out there and really put himself on the line and I don't feel like Hung did.

This ep. Or the last couple, really. But it took him a while to get to that place. I thought what he said about not having cooked in a year was really interesting. I think he hung on long enough to get to this place, and grew back into being a chef along the way, and now he's kind of bursting through. But I'm betting for the judges it was too late to really upend the competition.

Casey was so defensive, or got a really defensive edit, anyway. And then the Howie thing just sealed it.

[Actually, I think the last couple of eps weren't edited very well, and that's where some of this stuff about Hung not having "soul" got so clunky and uncomfortable.]

That's not good. I guess the nerves just got to her.

Nerves and altitude (which she was obviously having problems with, which I can relate to, having once nearly blacked out during a poetry slam in Taos.)

Still, she didn't do a dishonorable job, it's just Hung and Dale did better.

I was rooting for Casey, and then Dale, but I can't really begrudge Hung is win.

And it was nice of him to get his monkey (Marcel) a seat at the live taping.

Oh yeah, that was my other question. WTF is with having the finales in places like Colorado and Hawaii where suddenly they're dealing with crazy altitude or humidity or whatever. For a challenge, sure, but for the finale I'd rather see them just let people cook.

Rocco's blog and Ted Allen's blog - the only two up so far.