Oh man, I was so afraid that Lisa would out-do Wendy Pepper and win the damn thing.

Whew.

I really had a moment of terror when they said Stephanie's name -- I was afraid they were going to go 3-2-1.

I just screamed out loud at Top Chef. At the top of my lungs.

Me, too, Jesse.

Instead, I actually BOUNCED ON THE BED. So happy.

Did you guys guess that the sous chefs wouldn't be around the next day? I did - and I'm happy that that was the "twist." I am also very pleased that they actually required them to make dessert.

Anyone want to lay bets on the sadistic editing elves at Bravo for editing the comments to make it look like Lisa would win? Because there was a moment there when I was absolutely sure she would. NEVER been so happy to be wrong, or more happy for who pulled out the win. Of the final three I wanted (i.e. Dale or Antonia), much as I grew to like Richard, I really wanted it to be Stephanie. So pleased they brought back some of the other cheftestants - Dale looked really happy for his homegirl.

Yes, the editing absolutely had me thinking that Lisa had totally pulled it off.

However, she had the pedestrian and poorly cooked 3rd course.

Man, I thought that Stephanie had done well with her 2nd course until Tom mentioned the leeks. Then, I was afraid she was screwed.

And why make a dessert that is of a sort you don't even like to eat? And that you've only made once? That really worried me.

I don't want to take away from Lisa what looked like a fabulous meal. I'm certain it was excellent, just as I'm certain Richard's wasn't as bad as he thinks it was.

Really, I think Stephanie's one exemplary dish (with braised pistachios!) is what made the difference on the fundamental deadlock between her and Lisa, because when you get right down to it, that seemed to be the only dish that surprised everybody at the table. Lisa proved she can cook well. Possibly even very well. But Stephanie proved, as she's done before, that she can go over and above.

I'll bet there's some serious partying in Chi-Town on her behalf tonight.

I don't want to take away from Lisa what looked like a fabulous meal. I'm certain it was excellent

I will admit that it looked like the best challenge she'd pulled together yet, though I still think her shrimp and dessert looked sloppy as hell (the beef looked good, but I'll take the judges' word on the texture/flavor). Almost like her strategy was do just enough to get to the end and then go for broke.

But yeah, I think it was the lamb that sealed the deal. I thought Lisa's soup had gotten as much love from the comments we saw (apart from - was it Ripert? - the one who said that the lamb was the only dish everyone had said they loved), but I suspect the editing elves had a hand in that as well.

I think that they really enjoyed the soup but that Stephanie's dish was more innovative and even though Stephanie's dessert wasn't that good - it wasn't a complete wreck - the way that Lisa's beef was.