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.”