Winer wants a Top Chef winner's prediction, so here it is: My head says Stephanie, but my heart says Richard. The talk is that Top Chef is desperate to have a female winner this year, and though the judges deny that they feel the pressure, the fact that they're having to deny the pressure means they're at least sensitive to the expectation. Stephanie is a fantastic chef -- everything she makes seems to taste really, really good. I'd say there's a near even chance she wins on talent and consistency alone. But when Richard is on, he's playing, as they say, a different game. His compositions are clever and innovative in a way no one else on the show can really match. When he was tasked with "perplexed tofu" and made it by grilling slabs of tofu in beef fat...it was my favorite cooking moment of the season But the final challenge isn't about being clever. It's about the meal. On sheer cooking ability, it's not clear to me he's actually better than Stephanie. But his final meals often are more impressive. I think that might push him over the top, but I'm not certain. So I'm saying Richard because I can't convince myself it won't be him. I think he's the season's Top Chef. But I wouldn't put money on it. What do you guys think?
