So the finale of Top Chef's sixth season came down to a showdown between the Voltaggio brothers. Surprise! If you didn't see that coming, you need to read up on basic story-telling. And (spoiler alert!) despite some last minute histrionics, the underdog won. Face it, it's more interesting to have the petulant younger brother win the $125,000 and the title. When Padma asked each of the three finalists why they should be Top Chef, Michael Voltaggio actually said, “because I don't want Bryan to win.” Sure he comes off as a brat, but at least he's honest. Which was a welcome bit of clarity in the midst of all the touching nonsense about being true to yourself.

In fact, the last episode played out almost like a Chekhov play: sibling rivalry, sudden appearance of mother, flashbacks to childhood, jealousy and building tension, possibly incompetent underlings, the weapons introduced in the first act reappearing, well, in every scene with a chef's knife.

So now what? Does the victor continue cooking here in Pasadena, in the subterranean, old-fashioned and rather atavistic kitchens of The Langham? Readers should text their answers to the hotel's owners.

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