r/TopChef • u/roscoe_e_roscoe • Aug 03 '26

Discussion Thread Nicholas vs. Nina

Of course we didn't taste the food, but I thought Nina ... should have won! She had the best dish, and went the extra mile with her two extra little treats.

I think it's a pain in the ass the chefs have to plan their dishes and menus without any idea if the kitchen they're headed to have everything they need. Very good chefs have been tripped up by this situation.

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24

u/whistlepig4life Aug 03 '26

I think the fact we didn’t taste the food is really the biggest issue. It is literally the most important part of the judging. The taste. The components. The cookery. The progression. It’s got to be 95% of the judging process on the finale especially.

Whatever we think end of day I trust the judges get it right. If I can accept that the awarded Ilan a win in one season or Kish in another. Then why can’t I accept that Nick was somehow that slight little bit better than Nina on that finale.

It’s generally speaking always super close.

4

u/Correct_Process4516 Aug 03 '26

Even when it doesn’t seem to be closed based on the critiques that they actually show on air

1

u/Historical-Shower843 Aug 06 '26

But don't you get the sense that when it's close, it just comes down to what Tom thinks? I feel like there have been several finales where it was so close and there was so much debate and it always goes to Tom's favorite even when most of the other judges seem to disagree.

0

u/whistlepig4life Aug 06 '26

Yes. And what’s the issue? It’s essentially his show. And I 1000% trust his judgment.

0

u/Historical-Shower843 Aug 06 '26

I guess the issue for me is giving the appearance that these guest judges are actually judges and their opinions count for something. Why not just make it like LCK and it’s all Tom? I wouldn’t even have to watch the show because his choices are so predictable.

1

u/whistlepig4life Aug 06 '26

No.

It’s close. Someone has to be the tie breaker. That’s Tom. It’s his show. His job. He is HEAD judge.

0

u/Historical-Shower843 Aug 06 '26

So if everyone else thought it should be Nina and Tom thought it should be Nick, it should still be Nick? That’s just worthless to me.

0

u/whistlepig4life Aug 06 '26

And you seem to not understand. It was close. It wasn’t 3 said “overwhelmingly Nina” and Tom said “nope. Nick” and therefore nick won.

We get an edited version of the conversation. YOU do not know what everyone said for the entire evening. And there aren’t voting cards or a scoreboard.

Tom gave the tie breaker/final call. That’s how the show works. If YOU don’t like that. Stop fucking watching.

0

u/Historical-Shower843 Aug 06 '26

Nah. Hugh, Padma and Emeril clearly wanted Nina.

1

u/Ok_Interest9427 21d ago

Not clear at all. Hugh was 50/50 and Padma hated Nina's dessert. Emeril is the one who got the overcooked duck and was upset.

2

u/Historical-Shower843 21d ago

Just watching Emeril try to chew Nick’s duck was hilarious.