Media meal: Top Chef is over!

.... and the winner is the Chi-town girl, Stephanie! I'm so psyched to see a woman as Top Chef, it's about time.

And it really is representative of the business on the whole. Although the professional kitchen is usually dominated by men, more women and rolling up their sleeves and demanding respect.

Now that I'm off my soapbox, the elimination challenge tonight was a classic four-course tasting menu progressing from seafood, poultry, red meat and dessert.

There were some stellar dishes, including a great soup with chicken dumpling from Lisa and an interesting dessert by Richard that was a banana slice prepared and seared like a scallop with bacon ice cream. I still can't wrap my mind around bacon ice cream, but oh well.

Now I'm hungry. Cheers to Chicago chefs!