top chef winner

On the season finale of Top Chef 3, Casey Thompson, Dale Levitski, and Hung Huynh faced their final challenge. At the world famous Aspen Mountain Club, the chefs were challenged to cook their best three course meals. In a twist, the chefs had to prepare their dishes in the same kitchen.

Michelle Bernstein, Rocco DiSpirito and Todd English make special guest appearances to serve as sous chefs for the contestants. Todd assisted Dale, Michelle assisted Casey, and Rocco assisted Hung.

To add some additional pressure, head judge Tom Colicchio told the chefs that they had to prepare an additional fourth course. To help the chefs, former contestants CJ, Howie, and Sara returned. CJ helped Dale, Howie helped Casey, and Sara helped Hung.

The Top Chef finale dinner was served to the judges, the sous chefs, and former Top Chef contestant Brian Malarkey. After the meal, the three finalists received feedback from the judges. The judges agreed that two courses went to Hung and two courses went to Dale.

At the live part of the finale, Casey, Dale, and Hung joined host Padma Lakshmi and the judges in Chicago. Padma Lakshmi announced that the winner of Top Chef 3 was Hung Huynh. Hung said "I'm so excited. I worked so hard to get here and to prove myself and to have so much
After digesting four courses prepared by the final three contestants judges conferred and Padma Lakshmi made the announcement that Hung Huynh was the winner of Top Chef 3.



Huynh was joined by Casey Thompson and Dale Levitski as the Top Chef finalists who were called upon to cook their best three course meals at the Aspen Mountain Club. To raise the tension among the competing chefs it was decided that the trio would have to prepare their meals in the same kitchen.



There was some good news for the contestants as they were assisted by world famous chefs Todd English, Rocco DiSpirito and Michelle Bernstein who all served as sous chefs for Top Chef contestants.



With the extra help came some additional pressure as Hung Huynh, Casey Thompson and Dale Levitski were told that they would have to prepare a fourth dish. Former contestants Sara, Howie, and CJ were back to help with Sara pairing with Hung, Howie with Casey and CJ with Dale.



Following the meal it was announced by the judges that Hung and Dale split the four meals. When the contestants arrived in Chicago for the live announcement it was Hung Huynh declared as the winner of Top Chef 3.
Those of us who have tuned in to watch Top Chef: Miami this season know why: Seeing the sights. And you know that by sights we mean Padma Lakshmi.

But seriously, there has been a lot of local action around the production, which wrapped its stint at the Fontainebleu months ago. Here's a quick recap to get you ready for tonight's finale:

Episode One: As is generally the case with reality show participants a la The Real World, our cast acclimates to the kind of swanky pad not a one of them -- nor of us � could afford in the real world. In this case, a Fontainebleu penthouse. The contestants do their shopping at a local Fresh Market*. Guest judge: Anthony Bourdain.

Episode Two: We meet guest judge Norman Van Aken (owner of Norman's Restaurant in Coral gables, soon to shut down). Eliminated: Sandee, a former executive chef at SoBe's Tantra. She lives by the motto, "Dream as if you'll live forever; live as if you'll die today."

*Correction courtesy of ED

Episode Five: The chefs have to create a Latin-inspired lunch for the Telemundo telenovela Dame Chocolate. Winning the elimination challenge: Miami native Howie, previously a chef at The Food Gang in Surfside. (Here's his winning Braised Pork Shoulder with Yuca Sour Orange Mojo recipe.)

Episode Six: Rocco DiSpirito!

Episode Eight: Christopher Ciccone -- Madonna's brother -- an interior designer!

Episode Ten: Just in time for peak hurricane season, Miami peaks on Top Chef. The task: Chefs cater a party for designer Esteban Cortazar ON A YACHT*. Appropriately in the episode before the remaining finalists decamp to New York, Howie gets the boot. From Bravo's site: "And Howie, perhaps this year's recipient of the most negative comments on our Top Chef blogs, goes home." Guest judge: Michael Schwartz � owner of Michael's Genuine Food & Drink, winner of New Times' 2007 Best Restaurant to Open Past Deadline.

Episodes Eleven, Twelve, and the Finale: We go from snacks on a plane in Newark to Manhattan, to Aspen, and, tonight, at some point, live results from Chicago. They'll probably drag it out, as they do with all these reality show finales. But remember: At least there's Padma Lakshmi. --Frank Houston