Who Won 'Top Chef: Texas'? (VIDEO)

The season finale of "Top Chef: Texas" (Wed., 10 p.m. EST on Bravo) may have taken place in Vancouver, but it was an all-Texan battle, as Austin resident Paul Qui competed against Houston native Sarah Grueneberg.

Surrounded by their families and fellow cheftestants, the two finalists stood anxiously waiting to hear their fate at the final judges' table of the season.

Head judge Tom Colicchio told Sarah, "you took a lot of risks tonight, and it really paid off."

He then turned to early front-runner Paul: "All season long you've just brought it, and tonight was no different. You just really cooked your heart out.

Then it was time for Padma Lakshmi to announce the winner. Who would take home the $125,000 grand prize and the title of Top Chef?

The winner was ... Paul!

Then Padma said those words all the cheftestants long to hear: "You are Top Chef."

Afterward a delighted Paul said, "I'm Top Chef! I am extremely happy to see my mom and my dad being there ... and everybody that I've met throughout this journey."

Clearly still in shock after his victory, Paul added, "the magnitude of what we've done since San Antonio, it's so broad I can't describe it."

Check out Paul and Sarah -- and Beverly Kim! -- playing "Plead The Fifth" on "Watch What Happens Live."

TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.

Related on HuffPost:

Launch Slideshow

 HIDE THUMBNAILS

SHARE

BACK TO ARTICLE

1 of 20

PLAY ALL

VOTE ON THIS SLIDE

ADVERTISEMENT

[{"entry_id":"1441736","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2012\/04\/20\/fox-anniversary-special-shocking-moments_n_1441736.html","content_type":"video","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/221503\/slide_221503_887315_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/221503\/slide_221503_887315_small.jpg","title":"Fox Anniversary Special: 13 Shocking Moments From The Last 25 Years","slideshow_id":"221503","vertical":"tv"},{"entry_id":"1456575","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2012\/04\/26\/sophia-grace-rosie-ellen_n_1456575.html","content_type":"video","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/219254\/slide_219254_849937_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/219254\/slide_219254_849937_small.jpg","title":"Sophia Grace & Rosie Get 'Ellen' Billboard","slideshow_id":"219254","vertical":"tv"},{"entry_id":"1464213","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2012\/05\/01\/brad-smith-the-bachelor-canada_n_1464213.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/223397\/slide_223397_919692_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/223397\/slide_223397_919692_small.jpg","title":"Brad Smith: 'The Bachelor Canada' Revealed","slideshow_id":"223397","vertical":"tv"},{"entry_id":"1422248","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2012\/04\/13\/titanic-bbc-miniseries-famous-tv-boats_n_1422248.html","content_type":"video","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/220027\/slide_220027_865671_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/220027\/slide_220027_865671_small.jpg","title":"Titanic ABC Miniseries: Famous TV Boats, Cruise Ships, Submarines And More (VIDEO)","slideshow_id":"220027","vertical":"tv"},{"entry_id":"1429328","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2012\/04\/16\/girls-reviews-backlash-hbo-show_n_1429328.html","content_type":"tweet","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/220793\/slide_220793_948019_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/220793\/slide_220793_948019_small.jpg","title":"'Girls' Reviews: New HBO Show And Lena Dunham Face Backlash On Racism And More","slideshow_id":"220793","vertical":"tv"},{"entry_id":"1424281","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2012\/04\/13\/tv-people-to-follow-on-twitter_n_1424281.html","content_type":"tweet","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/220472\/slide_220472_868575_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/220472\/slide_220472_868575_small.jpg","title":"TV People You Should Follow On Twitter: From 'Parks and Rec's' Retta To Eliza Coupe Of 'Happy Endings'","slideshow_id":"220472","vertical":"tv"},{"entry_id":"1435854","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2012\/04\/18\/american-bandstand-dick-clark-greatest-moments_n_1435854.html","content_type":"video","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/221343\/slide_221343_883662_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/221343\/slide_221343_883662_small.jpg","title":"'American Bandstand': Dick Clark's Greatest Moments (VIDEOS)","slideshow_id":"221343","vertical":"tv"},{"entry_id":"1422474","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2012\/04\/13\/revenge-abc-recap-nolan_n_1422474.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/214024\/slide_214024_778423_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/214024\/slide_214024_778423_small.jpg","title":"'Revenge' On ABC: Nolan Hosts Recap Exclusive, Explaining Show From The Beginning (VIDEO)","slideshow_id":"214024","vertical":"tv"},{"entry_id":"1446227","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/vanity-fair\/streaming-television_b_1446227.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/222087\/slide_222087_896733_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/222087\/slide_222087_896733_small.jpg","title":"How to Watch TV Today","slideshow_id":"222087","vertical":"tv"},{"entry_id":"1455213","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2012\/04\/26\/laverne-and-shirley-theme-song_n_1455213.html","content_type":"video","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/222169\/slide_222169_898120_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/222169\/slide_222169_898120_small.jpg","title":"'Laverne And Shirley' To 'Growing Pains': Inspiring TV Theme Songs","slideshow_id":"222169","vertical":"tv"},{"entry_id":"1422023","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2012\/04\/12\/frasier-tossed-salad-and-scrambled-eggs_n_1422023.html","content_type":"video","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/220352\/slide_220352_866558_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/220352\/slide_220352_866558_small.jpg","title":"'Frasier's' Tossed Salad And Scrambled Eggs Among Top 10 Weirdest TV Theme Songs (VIDEO)","slideshow_id":"220352","vertical":"tv"},{"entry_id":"1435415","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2012\/04\/18\/dick-clark-dies-dead-heart-attack_n_1435415.html","content_type":"tweet","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/221319\/slide_221319_883290_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/221319\/slide_221319_883290_small.jpg","title":"Dick Clark Dead: TV Legend Dies At 82","slideshow_id":"221319","vertical":"tv"},{"entry_id":"1442652","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2012\/04\/21\/james-van-der-beek-i-wouldnt-do-dancing-with-the-stars_n_1442652.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/217817\/slide_217817_826254_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/217817\/slide_217817_826254_small.jpg","title":"James Van Der Beek: I Would Never Do 'Dancing With The Stars'","slideshow_id":"217817","vertical":"tv"},{"entry_id":"1546382","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2012\/05\/25\/lee-rich-dead_n_1546382.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/22496\/slide_22496_273980_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/22496\/slide_22496_273980_small.jpg","title":"Lee Rich Dead: TV Mogul Behind 'The Waltons,' 'Dallas' And 'Eight Is Enough' Dies","slideshow_id":"22496","vertical":"tv"}]

Comments

[Madhyamika]

02:50 AM on 03/06/2012

Happy to learn that the nice guy won this time. The fun part of watching the show these days is to second guess to what absurd distance the producers and directors are willing to go to keep the audience interested - the show is getting boring

[cashhhh]

11:11 AM on 03/02/2012

Yay! So excited for Paul. Go Austin :) Impromptu trip to Uchiko is in order before the restaurant gets filled up with goobers.

[playsindirt]

10:27 AM on 03/02/2012

Lackluster season but the right chef won. Paul was the biggest quickfire and challenge winner throughout, I believe. And he's a NICE guy.

[cyoohoos]

06:16 AM on 03/02/2012

I was sort of rooting for Sara as I never really saw her as a competitor for the title until she went head to head with Beverly. But Paul deserved it as much as she did. Just wish she had won more money during the competition

[ThinkCreeps]

01:49 PM on 03/01/2012

Top Chef: Texas?

Probably whoever won Top Genetic Diversity: Kentucky or Most Educated: Alabama.

[Sherrie714]

01:07 PM on 03/01/2012

I am so happy that Paul won. I never forgot how mean and nasty Sarah was to Beverley. No its not a friendship contest, but nasty never gets the last laugh.

[cyoohoos]

06:17 AM on 03/02/2012

Beverly was nice nasty. She seemed to be goofy but in reality she just didn't care about anyone other than herself. Completely inconsiderate and being oblivious to anyone other than yourself doesn't make for a friendship contest either

[justin i]

12:29 PM on 03/01/2012

Paul was consistently the guy to beat all season. I'm glad to see that he won.

[Gonzo36]

10:29 AM on 03/01/2012

There was no way they weren't going to give it to the Texan. Not saying he didn't deserve it, but when it comes down to the finals- unless someone really messes up- they are just splitting hairs and they give it to whomever they feel makes better ratings.

[hptvsux]

07:36 PM on 03/01/2012

Sara is from Texas, but lives/work in ChiTown.

[Gonzo36]

07:56 PM on 03/01/2012

Well that just blows my theory out of the water! LMAO!

[DanoX]

09:20 AM on 03/01/2012

"Who Won 'Top Chef: Texas'?"
Nobody, that's who. Because nobody wins when cooking is reduced to a reality show spectacle.

[B Lumpkins]

09:30 AM on 03/01/2012

If you feel so negatively about the show, why did you waste your time commenting on this article? Why did you even open the link for this article?

[DanoX]

09:40 AM on 03/01/2012

I didn't waste my time. It is because I feel so negatively that I opened the link and posted. It's called freedom of speech! It's called protesting garbage television and the mouth breathers who watch it!

[plasmaorb]

11:57 AM on 03/01/2012

Lets see you cook, I bet you couldnt even cook as well as the first person that was kic.ked off

At least these people have true talent and are working hard, not like shows like American Idol, The Voice and so on.

If you have ever been to Spaggia in Chicago (which I have), you would know its one of the best Italian restaurants in the US right now. Which one of the final two works at.

[DanoX]

07:09 AM on 03/02/2012

I never said the contestants were without talent. I said the premise is bad. Cooking under artificial time constraints and all sorts of bizarre producer invented limitations is bad. Cooking is not a race. Cooking is not an obstacle course. Cooking is an art. Cooking is done for love of food not want of money.