|
|
Top Chef on top.
June 24, 2008
For the first time in Top Chef history, the winner of Top Chef was also voted Fan Favorite. This does not surprise me, considering the recipient of both honors is Stephanie.
I was a big fan of Stephanie from the first episode down to the season finale. At first, she did not stand out from the crowd because there were plenty of characters more willing to dominate the air time. Even as she earned her spot on the show by performing well on challenges, she did so unpretentiously, without much pomp. Honestly, Stephanie is not the ideal personage for reality TV; if all the contestants had similar temperaments, Season 4 would have been one long string of boring episodes in which everyone was courteous to their fellow chefs, honest with themselves and the judges about their dishes, and consistently turned out delicious food. (Sounds more like the ideal working environment than good ratings fodder.) But in part because there were contestants who exploded in foul-mouthed anger in front of the camera, employed devious strategies to get ahead, and were unreliable or hostile teammates in the group challenges, Stephanie stood out to me as the calm eye of the hurricane.
On his blog, head judge Tom Colicchio explains that "Stephanie was loved by fans for her equanimity, her grace under pressure, her humility, and her great smile." I would argue that those are the traits that enabled her to win as well. From the first episode, it was obvious that she was centered, grounded. (One exception: I think it was in the first episode that she spoke about a potential weakness, explaining that she had to be careful not to get anxious. Save for a few moments in which all contestants were nervous, I did not see this fear manifest itself.) Many of the chefs were clearly talented, but I believe what what put Stephanie on top was the combination of qualities that Tom Colicchio identified. She kept her cool, focused her energy in the right direction, and, as much as this harkens back to elementary school report cards, she played exceptionally well with others.
While visiting the Doc's blog last week, I read an entry that resonated with me. Among "The Difficult-to-Achieve Essentials," he named the following:
Speak clearly to be understood.
Speak softly to frighten no one.
Speak loud enough to be heard. I hadn't been thinking of Top Chef at the time, but after watching the show's reunion episode, I realized that these particular essentials are what drew me to Stephanie. I have known people (chief among them: teachers) who have moved through the world in a way I admire. They have shown me what I have come to believe is possible: to be successful without being malicious, to be proud of your work without over- or underestimating your skill, and, along the way, cheering on those who are struggling beside you.
And so I celebrate the success of one who seems to have managed all this. Bravo for a stellar performance, which rightly earned Stephanie the admiration of many!
0 Comments
|
|
