Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

jennywren, i am definitely with you on that one...i was in labor for 23 hours and all i could think of were my cravings....please try to resist...but i had to have my corned beef and cabbage and cheesy curly fries, yep, all of that and all the while my mother is telling me (she had 8 kids and i still didn't listen to her) you really shouldn't eat all that...OK, so we get to the hospital and i leave my husband and run into some poor unknown's room and regurgitate my stupid heart out...at least a half hours worth...my husband finally finds me and asks if i were going to throw up the baby...it was that intense...

didn't they learn from last season...they coddled Amy and look where it got them...remember she through a hissy and wanted to quit...i really liked Amy but it hasn't translated...sans no more episodes...

i can't explain it but homemade pico de gallo is good with just about everything and it's not extra or a lot of more calories but it seems like you are eating more, whole grain mustard is great or dijon, i use Parmigiano-Reggiano religiously--it is the best flavor intensifier...whatever works!!! and finally, good ole Frank's hot sauce--there were a few people before me who mentioned these things...sorry!!!

shortening not butter is the key according to a friend's mother and her cookies have the best texture to me and it's the Tollhouse recipe...she indicated that the original recipe on the package 20-30 years ago indicated shortening and now it indicates butter!!! just my 2 cents

Don't eat too much...if you end up having an epidural (or worse, general anesthesia for an emergency c-section) having food in your stomach is a problem. I've never heard of anyone being allowed to "nibble and sip" during labor either...except for the "clear liquids" thing, which I was thrilled to find with baby #3 included 7-UP. Yessss...blood sugar... =)

And I second the dropping-the-hot-sheet-pan caution. You will have enough to think about. =)

I was so afraid that Lisa was going to win. She's not the strongest as far as execution and her attitude was AWFUL. I was happy for Stephanie even though I did feel that Richard was the strongest cook on a show to show basis, even through the obsession with the banana scallop. Stephanie made the strongest showing during the finale and I guess that's what it's all about.

Ever since the season started, Richard and Stephanie were my 2 favorites. They were always courtious, hard-working, inventive and always complimentary to their teammates. Really first-class.

I am soooooo glad that finally a girl, and even more Stephanie, won the Top Chef title. And in my Puerto Rico... Love it!!!

Even though Richard did not win, he was stellar through-out. I am confident, that just like in American Idol, the runner-up will have as stellar a carreer as the actual winner. The exposure they receive is outstanding and he will be sought out by many after this experience. I truly do not doubt he will be invited again and again to the Aspen Food & Wine Classic to showcase his skills...

Congrats to Stephanie and Richard, both... they're awesome!!!

I'm so happy Stephanie won. It's great when the winner of a reality show is humble and talented. If she had not won, I would have voted for her as a favorite or most likable or miss congeniality.
I wasn't weirded out by the olives or the braised pistachios. I just figured the pistachios might be similar to boiled peanuts or like the walnuts that are in some braised dishes in a Korean cookbook I have.

I feel bad for Richard bc he just looked sick to his stomach while listening to the judges' comments. My husband and I aren't worried about his career, though. He has definitely shown well on Top Chef. We hope he goes far.

I choose not to say anything on the topic of Lisa.

Wow - now I get the 4%. I caught a little here and there and I liked Antonia and Stephanie. Lisa looks a lot like a friend of mine, so I guess I gave her some undeserved points based solely on that. I didn't watch enough to see her dark side. Thanks for the explanations!