Watch What Crappens: Podcast Episode #2893 - Top Chef Season 22, Episode 14 Part 2: Fin

Hosts: Ben Mandelker & Ronnie Karam
Release Date: June 17, 2025
Platform: Wondery

Introduction to Episode's Focus

In episode #2893 of "Watch What Crappens," hosts Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam delve into the season finale of Top Chef Season 22, specifically Episode 14, Part 2, titled "Fin." This episode offers a comprehensive analysis of the final challenges, the chefs' performances, and the ultimate crowning of the season's Top Chef.

Recap of the Final Challenge

At the outset of the episode ([03:16]), Ben and Ronnie transition from advertisements to the heart of the discussion: the concluding moments of Top Chef Season 22. They discuss the chefs' final dishes, the judging criteria, and the overall atmosphere of the finale.

Analysis of Chefs' Final Dishes

Shuai Chuai's First Course ([03:16] - [06:01]):

• Dish: Pani puri with cured scarlet red shrimp, aji verde, salsa matcha, garnished with a photograph of his grandma.
• Ben's Commentary: Appreciates the homage to traditional Chinese cuisine but feels it mimics his own lack of familiarity with Shuai's background.
• Notable Quote:
  Ronnie ([04:25]): "So he said the black sauce is bacala mango, something that he grew up with and was disrespected."

Tristan Monteverde's Dishes ([06:16] - [07:11]):

• Dish: Durango (chicken poached in nitar kibe with Ethiopian fermented spice butter) and shrimp toast with jam and butter.
• Hosts' Take: Highly praise Tristan's ability to blend cultural influences seamlessly.
• Notable Quote:
  Ben ([06:55]): "It's the most perfect fish I've ever eaten. Congratulations."

Bailey Monteverde's Performances ([10:32] - [12:14]):

• Dish: Black and white dorado with Calabrian chili crunch and whipped tahini.
• Critique: While visually appealing, the execution was flawed with overcooked elements.
• Notable Quote:
  Ronnie ([10:32]): "Some are salty, some aren't. ... it's perfect. Basically, this tastes like an award that we're giving to Tristan."

Shai's Ravioli and Dessert ([08:23] - [16:29]):

• Dish: Ambrosia salad elevated with pears, goji berries, Italian meringue, and polydent.
• Critique: While innovative, some hosts felt it lacked coherence.
• Notable Quote:
  Ben ([09:38]): "Gail's like, so schwy. Have you ever made this size of soup dumpling before? Did you mean to make a human head sized dumpling, you dummy?"

Judging and Critiques

The finale featured rigorous critiques from the judges, focusing on the balance, execution, and originality of each dish.

Under/Overcooking Issues:

• Bailey's Fish Dish ([12:14] - [17:51]): Multiple hosts pointed out that the fish appeared undercooked, despite claims of perfect execution.
  • Notable Quote:
    Kristen ([26:16]): "The cooking of the fish, it looked undercooked, but it didn't eat undercooked. What were you thinking with that fish?"

Storytelling Through Cuisine:

• Tristan's Narrative ([13:03] - [37:00]): Emphasized personal stories and cultural heritage, which resonated well with both judges and hosts.
  • Notable Quote:
    Ronnie ([36:32]): "So Gail's like, you know, Tristan came in with such a mission. Every single ingredient on every single plate had so much of an every single story, every single tell. It made it stand out."

Originality and Personal Touch:

• Bailey's Octopus and Mozzarella ([23:31] - [34:07]): While innovative, some felt the dish leaned too heavily on borrowed concepts without sufficient personal flair.
  • Notable Quote:
    Ben ([24:00]): "Putting your own spin on it is showing your vibe, I think it, like, you're setting a ground level limit to how high your scores can really be."

Final Deliberations and Winner Announcement

As the episode progresses towards the conclusion ([38:07] - [42:06]), Ben and Ronnie recap the strengths and weaknesses of each finalist:

• Tristan Monteverde: Lauded for his balanced, flavorful dishes that encapsulated personal and cultural narratives. His final dessert received mixed reviews but ultimately secured his position as the Top Chef.

  • Notable Quote:
    Ronnie ([38:36]): "So Tristan's saying, like, how he's a dweeb and he looks up stuff..."

• Bailey Monteverde: Despite some high points, inconsistencies in dish execution and over-reliance on gimmicky elements hindered her chances.

  • Notable Quote:
    Ben ([27:01]): "You know what? It was vile and disgusting. Why do Canadian Alps when you've got the Italian Alps right here?"

• Shuai Chuai: His ambrosia dessert, though innovative, didn't resonate as strongly with the judges compared to Tristan's offerings.

  • Notable Quote:
    Ronnie ([31:10]): "Seems like this was their favorite thing of the night. I mean, they loved dessert."

Winner Announcement: Tristan Monteverde is declared the Top Chef of Season 22, receiving unanimous praise for his culinary prowess and consistent performance throughout the season.

• Notable Quote:
  Ben ([38:55]): "Tristan has already shot his first Saratoga ad, so. Padma. Padma."

Hosts' Final Thoughts and Recap

In their concluding remarks ([39:30] - [43:14]), Ben and Ronnie reflect on the season's highlights and Tristan's deserving victory. They humorously critique their fellow hosts' disparaging remarks about other contestants and share light-hearted banter about the season's events.

• Notable Highlights:

  • Tristan's resilience in cooking amidst personal challenges.
  • Bailey's unique but flawed approach to final dishes.
  • The overall competitive spirit and high-caliber performances of the finalists.

• Final Notable Quote:
  Ronnie ([43:14]): "It's always a good time when you're wasting time with Bravo."

Conclusion

Episode #2893 of "Watch What Crappens" offers an entertaining and insightful recap of the "Top Chef" Season 22 finale. Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam provide candid critiques, humorous insights, and a thorough analysis of the finalists' performances, culminating in a well-deserved victory for Tristan Monteverde. For fans of Bravo and culinary competitions, this episode serves as a comprehensive guide to the season's finale moments.

Note: This summary excludes advertisements and promotional segments, focusing solely on the content-rich discussion of the "Top Chef" finale.