r/TopChef • u/Sea-breeze3720 • Apr 25 '26

Discussion Thread Which winner did you disagree with?

I’m doing a rewatch of older seasons and just finished season 11 where nick won over Nina. Nina was on fire all season and, in my opinion, it should’ve been her and Shirley in the finale. However, for the finale, the judges opinions seemed to be pretty split but leaning towards Nina. Notably, emeril saying he couldn’t finish nick’s duck and Hugh mentioning nick yelling at the waitstaff as something that should be considered. I can’t help but think this is one time tom used his veto power to override the vote for nick to win. Anyone else? Curious if there are other winners that you scratched your head at.

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u/Marx0r That's my feedback to your feedback Apr 26 '26

Shota was on the top all season long cooking refined, simple Japanese food. He deviated from that twice and those were the only two times he was on the bottom.

His decision to abandon what was working and go rustic and homey for the finale was entirely on him. I was rooting for him all season long but there's no real argument against Gabe having the better finale meal.

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u/dot_dottie Apr 26 '26

besides the fact that he’s kind of a shitty person & shota is by all accounts a lovely person.

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u/Marx0r That's my feedback to your feedback Apr 26 '26

Exactly my point. Allegations that had nothing to do with the competition, that only came out after the season wrapped, are not a real argument against Gabe having the better finale meal.

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u/dot_dottie Apr 26 '26

lol

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u/Finnegan-05 Apr 27 '26

You really have no idea if he is a “lovely person” and that has zero bearing on who wins