Watch What Crappens Podcast Episode #2849: Top Chef Season 22, Episode 10 - "Season’s Eatings" Part Two
Release Date: May 19, 2025
Hosts: Ben Mandelker & Ronnie Karam
Platform: Wondery
Introduction
In episode #2849 of Watch What Crappens, hosts Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam dive deep into the finale of Top Chef Season 22, Episode 10, titled "Season’s Eatings." This two-part recap, particularly the second part, dissects the final culinary showdown with their signature blend of humor, wit, and candid critiques.
Recap of the Final Dishes
Lana’s Spaetzle Creation (03:46 - 07:01)
The episode kicks off with a detailed critique of Lana's spaetzle dish. Ben expresses mixed feelings:
Ben (04:09): "So Lana is doing her spaetzle smaller than normal. It's gonna be like butterfly risotto because they're cuter."
Ronnie humorously notes the attempt to blend German heritage with modern presentation:
Ronnie (04:09): "Tiny spaetzle. So hold me closer. Tiny spaetzle. German heritage."
Despite acknowledging the technical execution, Ben criticizes the lack of depth:
Ben (06:22): "This is the first episode that Tristan's ever gotten on my nerves, but I don't even know what the fuck he's talking about at this point."
Tristan’s Trout Roe Infusion (04:50 - 07:28)
Tristan's dish involves trout roe, which Ronnie finds problematic:
Ronnie (07:28): "Finally, someone's shading these chef Testins. Do it again, Antonio. I love that. Did you mean to add such salty roe into your butter sauce?"
Ben further mocks the overly complex justifications for dish components:
Ben (08:43): "Everything doesn't have to be a fucking TV Answer, for fuck's sake. Just make your boring ass dumpling, dude."
Vinny’s Lamb Dumpling with Morel Mushroom Consommé (07:40 - 09:25)
Vinny’s dish is scrutinized for technical flaws and mismatched seasoning:
Ronnie (12:07): "They're like, wait, you ate the potatoes with the sauce that goes with the potatoes? That's just crazy."
Ben (11:09): "It's just stuffing leftovers. Anything that was trimmed, that didn't get added to the stuffing is in the consummate. But if they didn't make it into the stuffing, is it really worth even putting into the consummate?"
Cesar’s Summer-Inspired Corn Dish (14:09 - 16:11)
Cesar presents a colorful, summer-themed dish that Ronnie deems extravagant yet lacking:
Ronnie (14:36): "He says his dish screams summer. I say it screams poor person. Without famous friends."
Ben (15:21): "Filled with pistachio cream and a lightly poached lobster."
Judging and Critiques
The judges provide a mix of praise and harsh criticism:
Antonio’s Feedback (18:04 - 19:54)
Antonio praises Massimo’s dish while critiquing others for being excessively salty or under-seasoned:
Antonio (16:17): "It's a good dish, but there's no excitement. Where's the excitement?"
Ronnie (19:23): "I liked the polenta was fantastic. Crispy, not greasy. Aggressive agrodolce. But I liked it."
Gail’s Harsh Comments (17:57 - 20:32)
Gail doesn't hold back, especially targeting the overuse of lamb and lack of seasoning:
Gail (12:07): "I found the potato is under seasoned."
Ben (33:02): "You think it sucked? It was amazing. It's my best work."
Ronnie (35:46): "What are things that taste sweet? You. Cardboard, rocks, paper, fingernails."
Kristen’s Summations (28:14 - 36:11)
Kristen balances critiques with observations about presentation and seasoning:
Kristen (38:36): "So Lana's dish, I think it ate totally one note."
Ben (32:15): "It was a huge dish. Spaetzle should be the spaetzle."
Elimination and Final Judgments
As the competition narrows down, Ben and Ronnie humorously discuss the prospects of eliminating contestants based on their performances:
Ben (33:21): "If you didn’t rob me of a radish today. So for that, I thank you."
Ronnie (34:51): "Tristan made a hot dog soup with a croissant in it. So I don't know that that's much better."
Ultimately, the elimination focuses on Vinny’s and Tristan’s dishes, with Gail heavily influencing the decisions:
Ronnie (37:46): "She says the ratio of corn to the ground cherries to the yellow peppers, what was that? Were they all equal?"
Ben (38:36): "Titlastylant go to the Netherlands."
Hosts’ Personal Anecdotes and Humor
Throughout the episode, Ben and Ronnie interject personal stories and jokes to keep the recap lively:
Ben (24:56): "I mean, whoa. It was like David Blaine there. One minute there's a spaetzle, next minute, there's the top hat."
Ronnie (28:25): "I gained power off of your tears. So if someone Would like to cry. Do you want to cry over that squash? No."
Conclusion
Ben and Ronnie wrap up the episode with final thoughts on the chefs' performances, highlighting standout moments and lingering disappointments. Their candid and humorous approach makes the recap both entertaining and insightful for listeners, regardless of whether they've watched the episode.
Ronnie (42:34): "We're on the floor with Molly Dorset. There's a chance of meatballs."
Ben (43:00): "Nomad. Nomad. Nomad. Go. Just go."
Final Winner
The episode concludes with the announcement of the winner, Punky Brewster, whose agrodolce dish received praise for its balance and flavor intensity:
Ben (29:21): "The winner today gave us a delicious dish, which really connected to the season. Punky Brewster, congratulations. I love your work."
Ronnie (29:40): "So Shuai is saying how, oh, my God, it's his first solo win, and it's so personal to him. It was a very proud moment being Chinese."
Key Takeaways
- Humorous Critique: Ben and Ronnie maintain a light-hearted yet critical tone, balancing genuine feedback with comedic relief.
- Detailed Analysis: Each dish is dissected for its technical execution, flavor balance, and adherence to seasonal themes.
- Engaging Narrative: Personal anecdotes and playful banter keep the recap engaging and relatable.
- Conclusion Highlights: The episode effectively summarizes the competition's outcome, providing closure while maintaining the show’s signature humor.
Whether you're a culinary enthusiast or just in for the laughs, episode #2849 of Watch What Crappens offers a thoroughly entertaining recap of Top Chef Season 22's finale.