Malarkey Rising

And so we’re down to the Top Chef Final Four: Hung, Casey, Brian and Dale.

Here’s my basic take on the whole banana … Dale is there by luck, he seems the most susceptibe to pressure and in the final countdown, he might crack. Hung is being set up as the front-runner, but he’s being cast as the Tin Man: the robot without a heart. Will his ego and desire for technical mastery overpower the necessary quest for flavor and appeal (remember the cereal wonderland)? Casey has an amazing palate, which they keep telling us. She keeps calm, seems directed, but does she have enough spark and zip to produce some WOW food? She could be the contender to beat. And then there’s Brian, who I think has the skill and the personality to slip in and split the difference.

I spent the last three days hanging out with Brian and I have to say, I think he’s got all the tickets. Granted, I haven’t had the chance to run around Universal Studios with the other contenders, so my comparison may be weak, but whatever. Don’t let the stupid hat fool you, Brian is a smart cookie: he listens to what the judges say. He has great technique and a beautiful sense of flavor, but he also possesses the understanding that he can always improve. Plus he knows how to use his huge personality to motivate and inspire his team. A true top chef needs to be able to manage a whole kitchen staff, not just one dish.

The Malarkey Machine is hitting town this week. While he’s here to preside over a relative’s wedding (yes, the ordained chef is also known as Prophet Brian Malarkey … ahhh, the internet) he’ll be making the rounds on Andrew Zimmern’s show and KARE 11. Of course he’ll be dining at our own Oceanaire with a cadre of local chef buddies (Steven Brown among them), but you might catch him prowling around the hot spots like Brasa or one of his old favorites like Azia.

Next stop … Aspen.