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"You needed to cut it in half and sear it to get a nice caramelized flavor to it," says Jacques.

"I didn't want to do something too rustic. I didn't want to put anything on the table that wasn't beautiful," protests Hosea.

"You should shoot for good taste," retorts Jacques.

Meanwhile, Stefan is in shock. He cannot believe that the universal opinion at the table was that his salmon was overcooked. And that his "spinach two ways" tasted like one way. And that it was a mistake for him to use a creamy sauce on the salmon and to make creamy spinach as well. Toby wishes that he'd made the potatoes crispier to bring a different texture to the dish. Stefan is slapping his head in disbelief. I'm thrilled. Someone turn off the oven. Stefan is done.

I know that there's still 15 minutes left in the show but I'm busy imagining tomorrow's headlines. "Pompous Chef Loses On Top Chef." "Top Chef is Stupid-Chef-Free." "Over-Cooked Salmon Makes Toast of Finnish Chef." "Ding Dong, The Finn is Gone." There will be parades tomorrow down Main St., I am sure.

Meanwhile, both Fabio and Carla are clearly in the clear. Toby says that Fabio's chicken tasted like something out of everyone's childhood while Jacques says that Carla's peas were "incredible...I loved it."

The chefs go back to mull over the comments while the judges decide who's going home. It's a close decision between Fabio and Carla for the winner of the competition. Though Carla's squab may have looked overdone, Jacques seems firm in his belief that the taste was perfect. Tom says that if Fabio were to open a restaurant and serve his chicken, he would be known for that dish (in a good way) despite the airplane salad. Hrmmm, I'm sticking with my guess that Carla wins.

As for the bottom, the choice is even murkier. Though Stefan's salmon was way overcooked, Tom thinks that it was well seasoned and the garnishes were nice. He has a bigger problem with the thin hollandaise sauce and undercooked eggs (which almost got Jaime sent home a couple of episodes ago). Toby says that Hosea was his least favorite because it was dull. Tom counters that "its dullness is why he didn't win but I don't know that he deserves to lose for that."

Sounds like Padma thinks Stefan should go, Tom wants Leah to go and Toby wants Hosea to go home. Interesting.

The chefs are called back out and Tom lets them all know that the judges were unanimous in their choice of a winner. I'm sure it's Carla. NOPE. Fabio. Boooooo. Oh well, Carla's peas draw great praise from Tom and the two of them are sent back to the kitchen to celebrate their entrance to the finale.

As for the bottom three, as usual, they have their final accusations leveled against them by Tom. Leah second-guessed her sauce and undercooked her eggs. Stefan overcooked his salmon and Hosea went outside of what a shrimp scampi should be.

I'm praying, PRAYING, that Stefan goes home. I think there's a good shot but with Bravo's editing, you never know. Please oh please oh please oh please let him go home. I never thought that I'd be rooting for Leah or Hosea but amazingly enough, it's what I'm doing.

"Leah," says Padma, "pack your knives and go."

GO WHERE, PADMA? GO TO THE FINALE? IS SHE SAFE? SHE'S SAFE, RIGHT? SHE'S GOING TO NEW ORLEANS FOR THE FINALE??? STEFAN IS GOING HOME?

...

No.

...

ARGH. Stefan and Hosea are safe. Pot-smoking, couch-kissing Leah is going home. Amazingly enough, she doesn't seem all that upset about it. She shrugs and shakes the hands of the judges and the tromps out after a cursory goodbye to the remaining four chefs who are busy trying to hide the fact that they're THRILLED. New Orleans, here they come.

In looking at the final four, I note that I got three out of four right. I correctly predicted that Stefan, Hosea and Carla would make it. I only thought that Jaime would have Fabio's place. I'm really only rooting for Carla at this point - I loathe Stefan and Hosea while I only marginally like Fabio. It's going to be an interesting finale for sure but considering that it takes place in New Orleans, you gotta think that Stefan is at a disadvantage.

Maybe we'll see him go home after all. One can hope, right?

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