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."
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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...
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...
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...
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...
"Top Chef: Texas" finalists Paul Qui and Sarah Grueneberg stopped by the Bravo clubhouse and played "Plead The Fifth" on "Watch What Happens Live" (Weeknights,...
Feisty cheftestant Grayson went head-to-head with "Top Chef: Texas" (Wed., 10 p.m. EST on Bravo) head judge Tom Colicchio over her decision to serve chicken...
"Top Chef" alum Gail Simmons and Fabio Viviani played "Plead the Fifth" on "Watch What Happens Live" (Weeknights., 11 p.m. EST on Bravo) Wednesday night...
Reality television capitalizes on shortcuts and exaggeration, playing to the lowest common denominator when advantageous, Top Chef has historically dwelled in reputable terrain.
If you haven't had a chance to check out Top Chef this season, you seriously need to. Not because of the cheftestants' popularity -- what makes this show's ninth season the best one has nothing to do with who's competing.
While we spend most of our nights at restaurants with descriptions like "rustic American eatery" or "Italian small plates," there's a world of decidedly wackier restaurant concepts out there that appeal to the sense of humor as well as the palate.
First Posted: 03/ 1/2012 5:40 am Updated: 03/ 1/2012 9:09 am