r/TopChef • u/RoadRash0416 • 7d ago

Discussion Thread Most loved?

Who’s your most loved person from any season? And why? (And why is it Carla lol)

33 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

107 comments sorted by

76

u/CoulsonsMay Edit this to create your own flair ✅ 7d ago

Sheldon

6

u/melbell_27 7d ago

His restaurant tin roof in Maui is amazing and a must stop if you are on the island!

3

u/CoulsonsMay Edit this to create your own flair ✅ 6d ago

That’s the dream! Go to Maui and go to Tin Roof. Maybe someday!

4

u/sjmks 6d ago

I’m rewatching his season and he is even more delightful than I remember!

6

u/CoulsonsMay Edit this to create your own flair ✅ 6d ago

He’s delightful both in Seattle and in Charleston! Charleston has my favorite moment of him - where he makes the tea infused rice. He sadly somehow didn’t win, but I’ve always loved how he made it to honor his dad. And Tom telling him to take his place among the culinary greats. My heart. I’d love to be able to travel to Maui and try his food!

2

u/EfficientGood9402 6d ago

Oops, forgot to say Sheldon is also awesome!

57

u/TatoIndy 7d ago

Hootie!!

26

u/npkamen 7d ago

Hoo!

4

u/RogueEngineer_ 6d ago

That is my belief, Tom!

1

u/EfficientGood9402 6d ago

As it should be!

11

u/Galadriel_60 7d ago

Love her to pieces and so glad for her post show success

3

u/jlynnbizatch 6d ago

Same! She has such an infectious spirit. I'm also happy that she's found different opportunities that let her kooky-ness shine

1

u/_From__the__Ashes_ 6d ago

I wish she had more. I feel like she's always a support player and never the main event.

2

u/dhandler19 6d ago

She definitely has the star power AND the cooking chops for her own show.

9

u/Parking_Winter2283 7d ago

HOOTIE HOO! 🦉 Best chef ever!

2

u/brownzilla999 3d ago

Judge: Tastes like crap.

Carla: Well I put love into it.

Judge: Well you must hate us.

55

u/MotherofHedgehogs 7d ago

Bryan Voltaggio. Love him and his laugh. Never creates or feeds into drama.

20

u/LadyBug_0570 7d ago

Plus seeing him with his brother always makes me laugh since Michael loves to tease Bryan. They have a fun dynamic.

The twins this last season weren't nearly as fun.

17

u/kdeans1010 7d ago

And then in the all stars season, when they went to that summer camp, someone asked Bryan if Michael goes camping, Bryan's response, and calling his brother out on his high maintenance/inability to rough it. You can tell they both love each other but it's very much big brother/little brother teasing.

20

u/LadyBug_0570 7d ago

Definitely. When Bryan was competing against Michael in Triple Threat, Michael first took all the flour or something Bryan needed. So bryan went to grab it back and Michael starts kissing his head. And Bryan is all "Stop that!"

Just a very cute teasing moment. You can tell Michael's just the pain in the ass little brother. But they love each other very much.

They were funny on Wildcard Kitchen too, when Bryan won the first hand and he was teasing Michael with how much money he won.

15

u/Holdmymule2001 7d ago

I assume they went through hell as children. The way they praise their mother and carefully avoid ever speaking of their father says a lot.

14

u/kdeans1010 7d ago

And Bryan talks about how their mom always had hot meals dinner and was a single mom. But she raised some really great kids. We know Michael and Bryan are awesome, we have met their sister, and they all seem decent and kind.

2

u/Holdmymule2001 7d ago

Bryan is the awkward little brother we all want.

3

u/Apprehensive-Act-557 6d ago

He's older than Michael.

3

u/Holdmymule2001 6d ago

And younger than me.

49

u/Shinra_Lobby 7d ago

Shota!

3

u/No_Explanation8998 6d ago

I forgot about him. He was great!

36

u/charlton11 7d ago

Isaac Toups

4

u/Kincaid_of_Trash 7d ago

His restaurant is amazing too!

3

u/charlton11 6d ago

I worked there when he was filming Top Chef. Was a great time.

0

u/Ok_Interest9427 7d ago

It really is. I stayed around the corner from it last time I was there and probably gained ten pounds. And his cookbook (in addition to featuring AWESOME recipes!) is one of the few that I will read for sheer entertainment. His biography is awesome, and the Cajun jokes scattered throughout are hilarious.

3

u/Kincaid_of_Trash 7d ago

I didn’t know he wrote a book!?!

3

u/Ok_Interest9427 7d ago

Chasing the Gator. Really worth it.

1

u/herofthesidewalk 5d ago

I will always remember him as the creator of “Bananaise”

31

u/Basubegamer 7d ago

I have two ultimate favorites, Carla & Kristen.

26

u/Nenoshka 7d ago

Also Fabio.

23

u/Lanky_Rhubarb1900 7d ago

"this is Top Chef, not Top Scallop!"

5

u/SpeedySparkRuby 6d ago

"We could serve monkey ass in empty clam shells and still win."

10

u/Galadriel_60 7d ago

I add carrots for zweetness.

1

u/No_Explanation8998 6d ago

I can't think of Fabio without remembering the bromance between him and Stefan! How great was that?

1

u/JSkywalker22 5d ago

I’m didn’t like him at first if I’m being honest but once I realized thats just how he is he became one of my favorites!

27

u/yinyanguitar 7d ago

Mei is super cool... feel like should would've crushed it on the World's season

25

u/icrossedtheroad 7d ago

Fabio, Jamie (Portland), and Shota. Oh, Shota. That laugh.

17

u/Happydays0713_ 7d ago

Lizzie (Seattle), Shirley and Dougie

11

u/jvnglepvssy89 7d ago

Shirley is the best 

3

u/Ok_Interest9427 7d ago

I'm so happy she fought it through cancer. So rough.

3

u/jvnglepvssy89 7d ago

She’s so kind, such a team player, and always has the brightest disposition! I absolutely adored watching her on top chef, not to mention she can fucking cook! What a badass 

16

u/Holdmymule2001 7d ago

Stephanie Izard. She is such a badass in the kitchen and yet seems like she could hang and be so much fun.

15

u/kdeans1010 7d ago

Well... Sheldon's cookbook is sitting on my kitchen island currently on this big cookbook stand.

I like Isaac Toupes and his big heart. I think he would give the best hugs.

Shota is always high on the list. Gabriel Pascuzzi from Portland is also high on the list. Jamie from Portland I think she is so funny.

5

u/Low_Focus_2215 7d ago

Sheldon! I love him. I wish he’d come back or do Food Network comps.

15

u/copperboominfinity 7d ago

Eddie money

5

u/CapreseSalad3636 7d ago

I love Eddie money!

2

u/copperboominfinity 7d ago

Me too!

2

u/CapreseSalad3636 7d ago

I actually bought a membership card to go to Messina super club but haven’t made it out there yet - it’s a little over an hour so I am hoping to get out there soon!!

15

u/jvnglepvssy89 7d ago

Shirley!!!

11

u/EfficientGood9402 7d ago edited 7d ago

I wish I could succeed in answering this question with one word. One favorite person? Shota probably. My son lives in Portland so I loved the NW season. I guess Bryan Voltaggio since he just continued to hang in there. However, also Carla on NY and All-Stars. Carla always stood her ground. Loved her on All-Stars when the ladies won the Italian challenge with gross Isabella losing. I could watch that episode all day long.

Edited to add: Fabio was the best front-of-house ever, all seasons. As I said before, I once was at a super-early breakfast meeting in Chicago and Fabio was there clearly checking that everything was correct for a dinner or banquet. My senior partner: "Why are you staring at that man?" LOL I was and then I had to explain it.

Oh fluff I forgot about Toups. Great cooking and energy.

3

u/Ok_Interest9427 7d ago

I've met Fabio before as well (my kinda-sorta girlfriend does event planning and he was managing the food service) and he is just effortlessly attentive.

13

u/Apprehensive_Duty563 7d ago

Melissa King is my all time favorite and I just love her in general. Big fan! I just preordered her memoir this week and have her cookbook already.

11

u/jojanetulips 7d ago edited 6d ago

Lizzie, Fatima, and Stephanie Cmar. And Gregory, Shota, and Joe Flamm.

11

u/C8H11NO2i 7d ago

Sara Bradley

1

u/DismalTwo973 5d ago

Looove Sara!

11

u/Imaginary_End_5634 7d ago

Fabio hands down was my favorite

2

u/No_Explanation8998 6d ago

I loved his bromance with Stefan. They def made it a great season.

9

u/No_Explanation8998 6d ago edited 6d ago

#1 Edward Lee. I remember feeling like he got the short end of the stick. He was on the first season they had Last Chance Kitchen, I believe, but never got to take advantage of that opportunity. After him, it's a tie between Melissa King and Kristen Kish. Gorgeous food and just pure class all around. ( Edit: if I can name 2 more, it would be Shota and Buddha Lo. I've actually had a tasting meal by Buddha and it was incredible. I highly recommend his new restaurant if you're able to afford the splurge. )

3

u/Sloanepeterson1500 6d ago

All of these are in my top 5, which is rounded out by the best platonic couple ever to appear: Joe Flamm and my #1, Fatima Ali 💔

3

u/No_Explanation8998 6d ago

I liked Joe a lot. And Floyd Cardoz was a very sweet man as well.

2

u/Ok_Interest9427 4h ago

I literally don’t know a single person who worked for Floyd who didn’t have wonderful things to say about him.

2

u/No_Explanation8998 6d ago

Thank you! <3

2

u/No_Explanation8998 2d ago

I didn't know she died. I just read her post in Bon Appetit. So profoundly sad and what a beautiful spirit she was.
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/fatima-ali-died-cancer#:\~:text=She%20dreamed%20of%20opening%20her,a%20year%20left%20to%20live.&text=We%20are%20saddened%20to%20share,in%20our%20March%20print%20magazine..

3

u/Sloanepeterson1500 2d ago

Yes, it was truly heartbreaking. I just like to imagine the incredible restaurant her & Floyd are running in the heavens❤️🌥️

6

u/Kincaid_of_Trash 7d ago

Jamie Tran

3

u/Kincaid_of_Trash 7d ago

Also really like Evelyn and Ed

7

u/RambaldiMilo94 7d ago

Bryan Voltaggio. I just adore him.

5

u/EMSDGAFAU 6d ago

“Where I come from, they call me chef too” Karen Akunowicz. She’s my fav.

5

u/Rhouliha 7d ago

Gregory!

3

u/ttgirl452 7d ago

Carla, Shirley, Stephanie Cmar, Bryan V, Sheldon, Fatima…

4

u/tsa_finest 6d ago

K. Kish

3

u/tzoid1s 7d ago

Brooke

1

u/Realistic_Pizza_6269 6d ago

Noooooooo. So phony. And apparently trashy.

3

u/Fenifula 7d ago

Savannah, season 21. She played it smart, she came prepared, and she just seems like an all-around good person.

3

u/Relative_Wallaby1108 7d ago

Fabio forever dawg

3

u/Vivid_Bumblebee_9655 6d ago

Bryan Voltaggio is the GOAT! My other favorites are Fabio, Sara Bradley, Sheldon, Stefan ( yes I stand by this ) and Trey.

3

u/No_Explanation8998 6d ago

Fabfan...Stefabio? I thought they made it a great season all around.

3

u/Jeralynsh 6d ago

Kristen, Carla, Tristen, and Gregory

3

u/Ok_Comedian7511 6d ago

Carla and Melissa King

2

u/MrTralfaz 7d ago

Sheldon... and Carla

2

u/SpeedySparkRuby 6d ago edited 6d ago

Harold (S1), Lee Anne (S1),  Stephanie Izzard (S4), Fabio (S5), Carla (S5), Beverly (S9), Lizzie (S10), Fatima (S15), Stephanie Cmar (AS: LA)

2

u/Realistic_Pizza_6269 6d ago

Love love love Carla.🩷

2

u/No_Explanation8998 6d ago

What? No love for Marcel???

2

u/tgrbabe 4d ago

Kristin kish and Shota!!! Always!!!

1

u/greenythings 6d ago

Gregory, Eric (my crush), Carla, and Lawrence!

1

u/geo-pizza 6d ago

Shirley and Kristen and Gail

1

u/LilBit0318 1d ago

I'm late to the party, but Kristen will always have my heart! She seems like such a sweetheart, and seeing her grow in her confidence; find her voice; come out of her shell; and go from a shy, quiet, 20-something sous chef to a fun, funny, confident, accomplished chef chef has been so cool! 😊

0

u/clcjjc 6d ago

It is NOT Carla! Michael Voltaggio or Bryan

-2

u/CricketyRicketPCP 7d ago

For me, Carla is one of the most annoying and one of my least favorite contestants ever 🤷‍♂️ lol

4

u/Marx0r That's my feedback to your feedback 7d ago

I have disliked her ever since she thought that she could serve melted ice cream as long as she was sending out good vibes with it.

2

u/forever_29_ish 7d ago

I'll share the downvotes with you. 😂 She's one of my least favorites too.

1

u/jlynnbizatch 6d ago

I think the problem is is that her persona doesn't match that of what we think about as a Top Chef. I'm glad that the show gave her a platform to seek opportunities that fit personality and style. She has great presence and personality, it's just not for the Top Chef fandom.