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Local cheftestant Carla Hall’s bid to be named Top Chef in the hit TV show’s fifth season came to an end late Wednesday evening. Despite a rally through recent challenges, Carla faltered and Hosea—unexpectedly but convincingly—edged out a snooty Stefan for the win. DCist joined Carla, several dozen of her closest culinary partners and friends, and several students from the CulinAerie cooking class she taught just prior to the finale's airing. Check out our gallery for the evening in photos and captions.
Carla gambled by attempting to cook a strip steak in the sous vide style, a technique she had never used in her cooking before. "I was trying to elevate my food and the judges always talk about how you didn't take a chance," Carla told us after the show. But she didn't think the risk is what led to what the judges described as being a tough to chew steak. "The meat was tough. It didn't have any marble in it. Even if I just grilled or seared it, it's still gonna be the same meat. That was the problem."
Carla with husband Matthew Lyons. "I knew from the moment we met in person," said Lyons when asked about their courtship. "It took her about two weeks. She was a little slow on the draw. It was surreal like this show. Everything clicked." The pair met on Match.com in 2005 and were married the next year. After he could not cancel his automatically renewed subscription, he searched for a woman 5' 10" or taller, never married, aged 39 years or older. He found Carla. (Josh Novikoff)
While her meat may have dealt her a bad hand, she did express regrets with her decision to attempt a last-minute blue cheese souffle. "I really wish I had gone with my tart. I had actually tested it. I knew it was really good. I kind of thought about it and developed it for the finale, and I didn't do it."
A spirited crowd was on hand to cheer Hall on. "Jerk," mumbled a man in the front row of one of the classrooms when sharp-tongued judge Toby Young was first shown. "Hot," mumbled another at the first sight of head judge Tom Colicchio. "I could see why she's a really good teacher and why everyone likes her," said Chris Hagan, who had signed up to learn from Carla at that night's basics class. "She's great—exactly like she is on the TV show."
Unfortunately, while the herb roasted chicken, parsnip tarragon puree and sauteed escarole she taught her pupils that night may have been winning dishes, it wasn't so for her three courses in the Top Chef finals. "Everybody has a bad day. And my day was during the finale. I don't think they expected me to bomb as bad as I did. I think they were really pulling for me. Padma was really upset."
Regardless of the loss, the many Carla fans appreciated her grace throughout the competition. Carla carried herself throughout the watch party the same way she had throughout the season: with grace, warmth, kookiness, and confidence. And don't forget her favorite ingredient—a little bit of love.
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I was kinda pulling for her too mostly b/c she developed the most during the competition. Early on, I was amazed that she stayed in week after week but she came on strong. However, I do believe the best chef out of the group was Stefan and that Hosea is the weakest winner of the seasons I've seen.
http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/02/26/casey-thompson-speaks-out-about-top-chef/
nothing says top chef like an insecure whiney sorry excuse of a man with prison poosay on his face.
There's something to be said for going through a reality show with a lot of class. My friends and everyone I know were totally pulling for her...
I think being a chef is more than your food alone - it's the atmosphere you create for your customers. In my opinion, Carla won this hands-down. Congrats to her! Stephan: see what being an unapologetic pr!ck will get you?
i wuvs her!!
I heard love was high in cholesterol.