-- Shares Facebook Twitter Reddit Email First off, of course: Spoilers abound, truly. What a peculiar ending to one of my favorite "Top Chef" seasons in a while (I joked with my brother that the subtitle for the season could've been "a preponderance of aguachile "); I'd argue that the way the judges' feedback was shown and edited in this finale felt like it was building to a Dan win, while the season editing at large seemed to favor Danny initially, and then Savannah in the back half. Not that he didn't deserve it, but the way that the episode was shaped didn't lend itself to a Danny win, quite frankly.
As a result, the momentous "you are 'Top Chef'"! moment from host Kristen Kish — her first time delivering the line! — almost rang a bit hollow, unfortunately. But we'll chat more about that momentarily. Related The penultimate "Top Chef" episode highlights Holland America more than the cheftestants or Curaçao We have a new "Top Chef!" That's something to celebrate.
Danny is the first, as he put it, "Puerto Rican-Dominican-Muslim winner" and he walks away with over $300,000, staggeringly enough, which I do believe is the most any cheftestant has ever won. I think after two back-to-back Buddha-led seasons, in which he was ostensibly the clear frontrunner for two years straight, this season may have sort of thrown the editors for a loop. I remember after "Top Chef: Texas," when Colicchio said that eventual winner Paul Qui was so far ahead of everyone else that both product.
