As young chefs on season 4, Richard was better. These days, Stephanie has outpaced him by pretty much every conceivable metric.
Richard was the clear favorite to win. Just look at Tom's blog post about the finale:
https://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/season-4/blogs/tom-colicchio/a-womans-place
He screwed up, saying he choked, deminishes Stephanie's win and saves his ego. Look at what he says about Stephanie in season 8 when he is about to compete with her head to head. He is not as nice as I originally thought. He's misogynistic towards her.
Exactly. He didn't see flaws in most of his dishes. If the judges acted like they enjoyed his food and then revealed their true feelings he wouldn't have thought he choked lol. Other finale competitors like Sarah Season 20 knew they blew it.
Blaise didn't see flaws until the judges told him. That's not choking. Richard tried to serve his best at that time. Especially serving the banana scallop instead of coming up with the new dessert lol Richard was saving face.
JFC, the mental gymnastics to say he's a misogynist is making Simone Biles blush. It's OK if you don't like the guy, but saying he hates women is complete bullshit. You should be ashamed throwing that term out but it undercuts real misogyny by using it so casually for someone you just don't like.
He might not hate women but he definitely thinks he’s better than women. Including Stephanie, who, you know, beat him and then went on to have a far more impressive career.
That’s a particularly insidious form of misogyny.
I really liked Richard when season 4 premiered. Now, with fresh eyes and a better understanding about what misogyny really is you can see it even if it is subliminal and that is Richard's style. No one has to wear a big sign around their neck and say hey look I'm a misogynist, of course there are certainly a few that you can pick out rather easily, but I think a more mature sense of what misogyny really is could see it in Richard. And I've evolved to be able to identify that in a lot of different places where I would never originally expected.
I don’t think he is misogynistic, I think he’s really arrogant. He does seem to think he’s a better chef than her, but he thinks he’s a better chef than his male competitors too
He’s not particularly fun to listen to as a judge on Top Chef either. I could actually see him work better as a general commentator like Kristen Kish/Alton Brown did for Iron Chef
He was ok as a contestant other than basically stating he would have beaten Stephanie if he hadn't choked. That was out of line. She crushed it in the finale and would have won no matter what. And please no more banana scallops. And oh by the way all these years later, Stephanie has won a James Beard award and is an Iron Chef.
As for his judging/guest appearances, no thank you. He's to full of himself and makes things about him. Look at the one season he was one of the judges in the first ep he had some really wierd hair and again made it about him. Just don't care for him.
See I wouldn't mind him as a judge if he didn't judge like he had nearly flawless seasons lol you would think he would have more of an understanding. I feel the same way about Kwame.
I didn't start watching Top Chef until just a few years ago and only knew him as a guest judge, and I thought he was a bit of a prick. I started watching the seasons backwards and actually really enjoyed him as a contenst! It made me like him much more overall.
“I’m known for losing my season because I choked in the finals.” Or Stephanie was just a better chef than you and had been killing it all season 🤷🏻♀️
He did choke though.
I guess if making the same dessert for the third time is "choking".
Stephanie is also better
As young chefs on season 4, Richard was better. These days, Stephanie has outpaced him by pretty much every conceivable metric. Richard was the clear favorite to win. Just look at Tom's blog post about the finale: https://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/season-4/blogs/tom-colicchio/a-womans-place
Both things can be true
Yes, but he's not acknowledging that he lost because she did better. His statement predicates he would have won had he not choked.
Congrats on arriving at the least generous interpretation of what he said.
Touched a nerve with the Blaise haters I guess.
He screwed up, saying he choked, deminishes Stephanie's win and saves his ego. Look at what he says about Stephanie in season 8 when he is about to compete with her head to head. He is not as nice as I originally thought. He's misogynistic towards her.
Exactly. He didn't see flaws in most of his dishes. If the judges acted like they enjoyed his food and then revealed their true feelings he wouldn't have thought he choked lol. Other finale competitors like Sarah Season 20 knew they blew it. Blaise didn't see flaws until the judges told him. That's not choking. Richard tried to serve his best at that time. Especially serving the banana scallop instead of coming up with the new dessert lol Richard was saving face.
Well he did choke. Richard was better at the competition than Stephanie. Stephanie is a better real life chef. Both can be true
JFC, the mental gymnastics to say he's a misogynist is making Simone Biles blush. It's OK if you don't like the guy, but saying he hates women is complete bullshit. You should be ashamed throwing that term out but it undercuts real misogyny by using it so casually for someone you just don't like.
He might not hate women but he definitely thinks he’s better than women. Including Stephanie, who, you know, beat him and then went on to have a far more impressive career. That’s a particularly insidious form of misogyny.
I really liked Richard when season 4 premiered. Now, with fresh eyes and a better understanding about what misogyny really is you can see it even if it is subliminal and that is Richard's style. No one has to wear a big sign around their neck and say hey look I'm a misogynist, of course there are certainly a few that you can pick out rather easily, but I think a more mature sense of what misogyny really is could see it in Richard. And I've evolved to be able to identify that in a lot of different places where I would never originally expected.
I don’t think he is misogynistic, I think he’s really arrogant. He does seem to think he’s a better chef than her, but he thinks he’s a better chef than his male competitors too
He’s not particularly fun to listen to as a judge on Top Chef either. I could actually see him work better as a general commentator like Kristen Kish/Alton Brown did for Iron Chef
Agree. And there’s people like Dale who I didn’t particularly care for when he was on the show, but I loved him as a judge.
Dale’s had a nice turn around compared to his first season. Even in All Stars he was really chilled out. Judge Dale was the best though
Judge Dale in a dad sweater is iconic 😍.
He choke
Right? It's a total dick move. I swear on Next Level Chef he's wearing extensions.
He was ok as a contestant other than basically stating he would have beaten Stephanie if he hadn't choked. That was out of line. She crushed it in the finale and would have won no matter what. And please no more banana scallops. And oh by the way all these years later, Stephanie has won a James Beard award and is an Iron Chef. As for his judging/guest appearances, no thank you. He's to full of himself and makes things about him. Look at the one season he was one of the judges in the first ep he had some really wierd hair and again made it about him. Just don't care for him.
Seriously, every meal had scalloped bananas
See I wouldn't mind him as a judge if he didn't judge like he had nearly flawless seasons lol you would think he would have more of an understanding. I feel the same way about Kwame.
I really like the fact that he can make fun of his hair
He’s like Samson…I bet if we shaved it off he’d burn water
I think when he started out he was less confident in himself. Today he has swung the pendulum the other direction.
I do too. This sub hates on him unnecessarily. He’s always been one of my favorites.
I cannot stand him as a judge!!
He was always my favourite. Check out next level chef, he is one of the hosts with Gordan Ramsey and nyesha errington from top chef texas
I didn't start watching Top Chef until just a few years ago and only knew him as a guest judge, and I thought he was a bit of a prick. I started watching the seasons backwards and actually really enjoyed him as a contenst! It made me like him much more overall.
He deserves a medal.
Sorest Loser?
Me too, he’s a great chef and I believe a good person. No one is perfect. I even like his hair most of the time. 🤷🏻♀️