The Top Chef Finale is here!  Either way we were going to have another female Top Chef.  Let’s find out what happened last night on Top Chef Seattle from our contributor Noelle!

“Welcome to the 75th Annual Hunger Games! Wait, no it is the Top Chef Finale, but I think It should have been called Hunger Games – It sure made me hungry! For the first time ever the Finale was held live, in a stadium, in front of 300 people! The competition was fierce and the food amazing! This year, each finalist had to prepare food for 160 diners, including Top Chef Alumni. All nine winners from the previous seasons were dining, as well as the judges. Talk about nerve wracking!

The finalists will be preparing a 5 course menu and facing off course by course. The first cheftestant with three winning dishes is the Top Chef Winner! They had three hours of prep time before the first course had to be served. The only requirements seemed to be that they both had to use Scallops in the second course, and Red Snapper in the fourth round.

Each Chef had a team of Sous Chefs to assist them in this gargantuan undertaking! Brooke called her team – Team L.A.- Her Sous Chefs were Stefan, CJ, and Kuniko. Kristen had chosen to work with Lizzy, Sheldon, and Josh. The Judges for this final round were Tom Collichio, Padma, Gail Simmons, Hugh Acheson, and Emeril.

A flurry of prep, and an enthusiastic countdown later, it is time for the first round. Kristen served a Chicken Liver Mousse with Frisee, Mustard, Prune, Hazelnuts and Pumpernickel. Everyone found the Mousse to be seasoned well. Tom thought it was a Simple, Classic and Balanced dish, and could really see Kristen in the dish. Gail thought the Mousse to be a little hard to find in the salad.

Brook made a Crispy Pig Ear and Chicory Salad with a Six Minute Egg, Apricot Jam and Candied Kumquats. Everyone enjoyed Brooke’s dish, saying the flavor was great. Some of the Pig Ears had been a little overcooked by CJ, others were perfectly cooked. Tom compliments Brooke’s dressing saying she really has a great understanding of how to balance the flavors in a dressing.

The winner was chosen immediately after each round! Talk about pressure, Kristen and Brooke stood there while the judges ate and then Padma asked each judge in turn who made their favorite dish! I was stressed, so I can only imagine how hard it would have been for Kristen and Brooke! This round’s Winner (unanimous) was Kristen.

While the cheftestants fly around putting together their second course, they show a flashback on Brooke’s road to the finale. Gail sits down for a brief interview with Brooke’s family. Her mom and Dad comment that while other children were watching cartoons, Brooke watched the Galloping Gourmet! Brooke’s husband is very proud of her, and says their son would say the same thing, but he is fast asleep on daddy’s lap!

For her second course, Brooke offers a Seared Scallop with Salt Cod Puree, Crispy Speck, a Black Currant and Mustard Seed viniagrette, with Juniper and Romanesco. There are a lot of flavors going on, but the judges and the previous Top Chef winners all think it is a great combination. The judges scallops are perfectly cooked, and the balance of flavors is a hit.

Kristen opted to serve the scallops uncooked in her Citrus and Lavender Cured Scallop with Bitter Orange, Meyer Lemon and Apple. The judges loved how simple and fresh it was. It was flavorful, highlighting the natural flavor of the Scallop. This time the judging is not unanimous. Brooke wins the round by one vote! So now the score is Kristen -1, Brooke – 1.

Padma sends the two cheftestants back to the kitchen, with a warning that there is only 34 minutes before they have to serve up their 3rd course! This time we flash back to Kristen’s road to the finale. If she wins, she wants to use some of her money to go back to Korea, to see where she comes from. Her adoptive family is so proud of her, her dad looks like he may bust a button at any moment. Her friend, Stephanie, who was competing with her during the beginning of the season, is also at the table, supporting Kristen.

For this course, Brooke wants to redeem herself from her bad showing during the Fried Chicken Challenge. She serves Vadouvan Fried Chicken wings with Sumac Yogurt Tahini Sauce and a Pickled Kohlrabi Fattoush. The Top Chef alumni love this dish, saying Brooke is taking a big risk, but they think it pays off. The judges like the chicken, but are not sure about chicken wings in a finale. Brooke gets mixed reviews from the judges.

Kristen sticks with her asthetic and serves up a Celery Root Puree with Crispy Bone Marrow, Stewed Mushrooms, Bitter Greens and Barely cooked Radishes. Emeril loves the earthy tones of this dish, Tom questions her reasoning and technique on the mushrooms. Padma wishes her dish was hot.

Both Cheftestants got mixed reviews but at the end of this round Kristen is the Winner. The pressure is really on for the next round.

For the Fourth course each cheftestant must use red snapper in their dish. There is a flashback to the previous 9 winners, their winning moments and where they are now.

Brooke decides to do another “surf and turf”. She is very happy with her dish. A Braised Pork Cheek with Crispy Red Snapper, Pine Nut creme, Collard Green Slaw and a Sorrel Puree. Emeril loves the Sorrel. Everyone thinks their snapper is perfectly cooked, and Tom says it is a bright and good combination of flavors.

Kristen created a Red Snapper with Leeks, Little Gem Lettuce, Tarragon, Uni, and a Shellfish Nage. The Nage (broth) has a nice depth and the uni is great. The snapper is well cooked. Gail has a little trouble with the way the leeks were cut, they ended up long and stringy and a little hard to eat. Hugh thinks the leeks were great.

Now it is up to the judges, if Kristen wins this round the competition is over, If Brooke wins, they will head back to the kitchens to cook their desserts. Kristen plans to make an Olive Oil cake with Ice Cream, and Brooke has a Black Chocolate Miso Cake up her sleeve. The judges pick their favorite dish, most of them have a hard time choosing, but in the end Kristen is the new Top Chef! Kristen took round one, three and four to become the second female Top Chef!”