The empty scene at Good Stuff Eatery during the final episode. Photo by Eddie Kim.

We finally have a new Top Chef. We’re not going to lie and say it’s been a great road. This season was…a struggle. At times, it felt like it would never end — apparently we aren’t the only ones who felt that way. There were viewing parties for the final episode at a few area spots including Eric Ripert’s West End Bistro, The Oval Room (where contestant Tamesha Warren is the sous chef) and at Top Chef alum Spike Mendelsohn’s restaurant Good Stuff Eatery. But they were sparsely attended. Not that this should be a surprise — it’s hard to drum up interest in a viewing party when there’s no D.C. contestant on the show.

As for the finale itself, it began right where the last one left off with Padma calling the final three — Ed, Angelo, and Kevin — back to judges’ table. Thankfully, Angelo had managed to regain a bit of control after his barely containable sobs during elimination. Padma told the chefs that the judges wanted to make sure the guys had as much time as possible to plan their final menus, so they’d be given their challenge that night.