[johnjimbc]

I love Top Chef! The funny thing is I moved to Vancouver from DC and lived in Vancouver during the DC season. Then I returned to DC and watched the Vancouver ending filmed there. It was a pleasant surprise to see both Whistler and Vancouver featured. I've no doubt some of the footwork probably began when they were plotting out future seasons while the Olympics was underway.

So glad Paul won. Have never been so disappointed with how grating personalities on the show overwhelming the cooking. And for once I wasn't sure it was producer meddling like on countless other reality shows. Top Chef is the only one I can stomach, along with Project Runway once they narrow down the field a bit.

But this year on Top Chef it seemed a handful of the contestants were just bitter people who liked mouthing off. Some of the relentless slamming of Beverly seemed nearly racist, and I don't use that word often. But it was unsettling to see the persistent, unwarranted attacks on a fellow contestant.