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HK Finale Live Blog: And The Winner Is...

Hey everyone I can't believe we're already at the finale of HK! I think my local newspaper already spoiled who wins tonight (more on that later) but I'm still excited although skeptical that this will live up to the proclamation of being the "most exciting HK finale ever" (although I've only seen one finale so I really can't judge whether this is the case). I also read another story saying that the winner is one of 62 chefs in charge of his restaurant, so they are not really the executive chef. Not surprising, considering the quality of contestants this year.

Again we get another season recap. Didn't they have a long enough recap last week? This ones just shows the contestants getting yelled at and crying a lot. Luckily we quickly segway into last week's recap and Petrozza's choice- Jen or Matt. Matt is a freak, and Jen is a jerk, so it's a tough call. Like I said I'd pick Jen because at least she can cook, but it's really hard to decide. But he follows my lead and picks Jen, leaving Matt for Christina. Poor Matt gets picked last haha. Christina though seems glad not to have Jen and thinks she can make Matt shine. Well if she can it will definitely help her win.

So now the two bond with their teams, and teach them their menus. Bobby thinks Petrozza will win, and he, Petrozza, and Ben seem close, which will be to his advantage. But Jen may be the weak link on the team. She of course is still upset that she's not in the final two (shocker!). Matt meanwhile has no respect for Christina at first. But then she shrewdly claims that she made her risotto dish with him in mind. Matt immediately changes his tune and starts calling her "chef". To his defense I thought Christina was serious until she told the camera that she was just trying to get Matt on her side. Again it's a shrewd move, but a smart one at that. She continues to show good strategy employing Corey (who shined on meats two weeks ago) on meats, and energetic Louross on appetizers.

Petrozza seems less organized, and doesn't want to write anything down. He seems overwhelmed, and Jen seems like she's on a hopeless team. Thinks look bad for the P-man.

To make matters worse the restaurants are behind schedule on design. The ugly stripes on Christina's side are still there, and the designer tells her that in order to finish on time they should make all the walls chocolate brown. She agrees. I'm not sure how it will turn out but the color does make me hungry, which is good in a restaurant I guess.

Petrozza also fears the room won't be done, but leaves it to the designers, trusting them. They are the experts, so I say why not?

Funny moment from Jen. She's not even two weeks removed from her elimination, she's working in another finalist's kitchen, and she asks Chef Ramsay for a recommendation letter. Priceless!! And so typical Jen. I'm shocked Chef didn't tell her to "bleep" off. Instead he just gave her a weird look and walked away.

But Christina's red team is having troubles with its outcast Matt. He's just acting strange, again. He's acting like this is a joke, even though it's all business for Christina. I think this is minor compared to Jen's concern only for herself, but I can see why Christina is getting annoyed and impatient. She starts shaking him to get him to shut up.

Jen meanwhile remains in a bad mood. She is critical of her teammates and is driving them mad. I wonder if Petrozza made a fatal mistake in picking her over Matt. Petrozza says he'll kick her out if she acts up, although I'll believe it when I see it.

One hour before the restaurant opens, Chef prepares to taste the dishes on each of the menus. Why didn't he do this earlier, so the finalists have time to correct any mistakes? Christina's dishes include a beef sliders trio appetizer, a NY Strip Steak entree (the same one she did in the challenge last week, I believe), and a tropical sundae dessert. Chef likes the sliders but thinks maybe she should have put different meats in each slider. As Christina says, it's a bit late for that. He tells her to slice the meat more on the steak, and to mash up the nuts on the sundae, but overall he's impressed by the menu.

Now on to Petrozza's dishes, including a lobster strudel, his challenge-winning filet mignon with risotto, and a vanilla souffle. Chef thinks the strudel is a bit overcooked, and the risotto is a bit stiff, but loves the souffle. The good thing is most of his mistakes are correctable, and Petrozza smartly listens to Chef's advice. Overall I think Chef likes Petrozza's ideas better but thinks Christina executed her menu better. So it's anyone's game.

Chef says Petrozza's menu is imaginative, but risky. Christina has played it safe, but if she takes it up a notch and makes it exciting it could be really good. Way to state the obvious Chef.

30 minutes to service, and Christina's dining room is ready for inspection by Chef. It's pretty and very white. She put in comfy chairs to make the diners feel at home, and I think they'll like that. It does look very elegant, and very LA, but it doesn't seem to match her simple menu. Chef seems to like it though. Petrozza's too came out nice, and it's not as blindingly white as Christina's. I like the chandeliers in particular. It may be a bit overblown with flowers however. Petrozza says he was going for a rustic yet romantic look. Chef seems to like this side as well, especially the fireplace, which I agree is a nice touch. So the finals will come down to the food itself, since Chef seemed to like both restaurant designs equally.

Chef again tells the contestants what is at stake, and says he'll watch every ticket in every kitchen very closely. Petrozza and Christina try to rev up their troops. Christina's side has 13 tables, and she feels confident about her team, except Matt of course. Petrozza tries also to excite his group, and even shakes hands with Jen to get her to unite with the team.

And now Hell's Kitchen is about to open.
Each side has 13 tables with 50 diners, and customer reviews will help decide the winner. First orders are in. Christina is in charge immediately as appetizers are in. Petrozza is as well. The kitchens are communicating well, and Chef hopes they will keep up the momentum. Somehow, I doubt it.

First dishes out in Christina's kitchen and the diners are impressed. Bobby though has trouble with Petrozza's complex menu, and the first lobster souffles are cold. Petrozza does exercise good quality control and tells Bobby to do it again. I have a feeling this complex menu may be his downfall- the cooks this season aren't good enough to execute difficult dishes. Chef is impressed by Petrozza's high standards. Bobby rebounds and gives Petrozza some hot strudels that he sends out to the table, and the diners enjoy these as well.

In Christina's kitchen Louross is falling behind, making the whole kitchen backed up. She wants to jump in but instead enlists Matt to help out. But as Louross eloquently points out, "Matt sucks". Couldn't have said it better myself. He has trouble with simple salads and gets reprimanded by Chef.

Appetizers have gone out to half of Petrozza's customers. But then he finds out he has run out of blue cheese for one of the salad. Chef blames Jen, but Jen claims it is Petrozza's job to make sure there is enough food, and I think I agree with her for once. This could be a strike against the P-man, but if Chef blames Jen it might not hurt him too much. Bobby then also runs out of strudel. Petrozza's lack of preparation seems to be costing him. Petrozza is not sure what to do, as they can't take two of the three appetizers off the menu. Chef asks if Petrozza wants to quit, but of course he does not.

Petrozza then asks Bobby what he can make from the lobster, and he suggests a risotto. Good for Petrozza's team but shouldn't Petrozza have come up with that idea himself? That becomes the second appetizer to replace the strudel, and it seems popular.

Christina's side is sending out entrees, and the first dishes are coming back as well. A customer complains the steak is cold. This backs up an already frantic kitchen. However Christina impresses Chef with her assertiveness and gets the kitchen caught up.

Meanwhile Petrozza's kitchen is also backed up, as he for some reason spends an inordinate amount of time arranging garnish on the plates while hot food remains on the pass. He admits he's hesitant to ask for help because he doesn't want to take the team away from their stations, but after pressuring from Chef he finally gives in. The team does seem to like working for him, and the diners are pleased to get their food.

In the red kitchen Matt sends up a raw monkfish, but like Petrozza she impresses Chef with her quality control, telling him to cook it over. Chef yells at Matt for good measure, and Matt starts losing it. Louross tells Matt to concentrate, and Matt yells back at him. Christina seems to be losing her kitchen team. Chef finally steps in again to set Matt straight, but shouldn't Christina do that herself.

Over in blue Petrozza waits for an onion ring to top off his meat dish. Jen is behind though and sends up a ring that falls apart in Petrozza's hands. Jen then starts talking back to Petrozza, and Chef tells her to not be disrespectful. Again, shouldn't Petrozza be doing this. Eventually he tells Jen just to relax and cook, and she brings up a crispy onion ring. Chef accuses Jen of blatant sabotage, which would not be below her.

Petrozza has just 3 tables of entrees left. Christina though only has served 8 and is rushing to catch up. Matt sends up another raw monkfish and Christina again takes charge and demands that he fix it. Chef curses at him some more for good measure, and tells Christina that she's not being harsh enough with him. I think that should be the least of her concerns. At least she didn't let any of that raw food go out to customers. And I do feel a bit for Matt- it would be hard for me to concentrate with Chef yelling at me every few minutes. Not that he doesn't deserve to be yelled at, but it must be hard for him to cook well in those circumstances.

Christina then goes over to Matt and tells him to give him fish immediately. He curses and mumbles some more but finally gives her some cooked fish.

We are coming to end of service, and it's close between the two kitchens. Both sides are up to desserts. Both sides are finished, and Christina and Petrozza give each other congratulatory handshakes. Overall both sides had some bumps but did pretty well. Christina struggled with time and had a dish sent back,(and of course had Matt to deal with) but Petrozza ran out of appetizer ingredients and was a little slow at one point. It really is going to be a tough choice for Chef.

Chef tells the teams there were more highs than lows and he's impressed by the results. Petrozza and Christina say goodbye to their brigades and go up to the dorms. Even Jen wishes Petrozza good luck!

The waiting upstairs is torture for the two of them. Both of them want to win, obviously. Chef is shown thinking about the decision, with some highlights and lowlights from the night in between. Petrozza doesn't want to lose to "a kid".

The two are brought downstairs. Chef says the decision was hard, he went back and forth on the decision, and they are both worthy finalists. He thinks both will go on to great success. Aw Chef you softie! The finalists step in front of the traditional doors. Behind them are a large group of people and a restaurant. But only one will open. Whose will it be? I hope it's Petrozza... he's such a good guy and good guys deserve to win.

One final handshaking from the contestants. They each put their hand on the door but do not turn the knob. My hands would be so sweaty I might turn it by mistake haha. Both Christina's and Petrozza's families are in attendance.

And as the contestants pull down the doorhandles we go to commercial, of course. Finally we are back, and.... (after some more shots of the finalists and the other contestants in the audience ready to congratulate them) Christina is the winner! Okay now I can say the spoiler I read. Besides the one online I saw a few weeks ago, my local paper did a story on Petrozza since he is a local, but it mentions that he lost his catering job because he was on the show. Then it went on to say that Petrozza currently works at the University of South Carolina as a sous chef. Either this was a big lie to cover up the truth, or Christina was the winner. So I did kind of see this coming.

Christina's parents are surprised and happy, and Christina is in tears. Confetti for all!!! Her parents are in tears too. Petrozza then comes down the stairs to more confetti, and graciously congratulates the winner. He then tells the camera that he met great people, and there is no price in that. With that attitude I really wish he had won. Christina is gracious too, thanking her teammates, even Matt.

Chef explains his decision. He saw something special in Christina, and thinks she had the most potential. It does seem that her youth played a big part in his decision, as he said he likes to think long-term.

Christina thanks Chef to the camera as the huge crowd toasts Christina's win. Chef then talks some more to the camera. He said this season had lots of highs and lows (more lows than highs if you ask me) but he's glad the season ended on a high note. And then he throws a pen at the camera.... okay kind of random.

Hey HK Season 1 is available on DVD!!! Chef looks really evil on that cover haha.

And as the credits roll Chef has some fun spraying Petrozza with champagne. Sous Chef Scott gets in on the fun too. And we have lots of hugs all around. And fireworks! Wow Chef knows how to throw a party!

So that's it for this season of HK. It's been a blast blogging this for you. My plans next year are still a bit up in the air but I hope to keep blogging this so we can all enjoy Chef Ramsay's crazy outbursts together! Until then happy viewing, and look for some of my other blogs on this site throughout the summer!

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HK Finale Live Blog: And The Winner Is...