Top Chef Power Rankings: Week 10

By Chuck Sudo in Food on May 19, 2008 3:00PM

We wrote in last week's power rankings that one of the things that keeps us coming back to Top Chef Chicago week after week is to finally see when Lisa will leave. That seemed imminent last week, after she landed in the bottom three in both the quickfire and elimination challenges.

Then she threw Andrew under the bus, causing viewers to say "WTF?" We began to wonder what Lisa's doing to be one of the final six contestants. She's so bratty she makes Dale - who should be drawing comparisons to "TC3" winner Hung with his attitude - look nice in comparison. She openly shows disdain to the cooking styles of the guest judges. She rolls her eyes and acts churlish to Padma and Tom during final judging.

And need we start on the hair again? One of the many things that will be seared into our memory for the immediate future will be that mangy mop barely concealed with a bandanna which could start a grease fire. At this point we don't even want her to discover Aveda; a bar of Lava will suffice. Ultimately, her behavior makes for good reality television, and she managed to cook bacon with enough proficiency to win an elimination challenge and a trip to Italy. Perhaps this will be the week where she gets cut and gets to use the trip.

On to the power rankings.

1. Richard (last week – 1): His vinaigrette marked the first time in a while he landed at the bottom of a challenge.

2. Antonia (last week – 2): Did just enough to maintain her position in the rankings this week.

3. Stephanie (last week – 3): Landed in the bottom during the quickfire (again), but finally untracked herself with a strong showing in the elimination challenge.

4. Dale (last week – 4): Antonia may complain about how he always cooks "Asian," but the saying goes, "you dance with those that brung ya." Besides, Antonia's been feasting off Italian comfort food through this competition herself.

5. Spike (last week – 7): Won the quickfire challenge, then screwed the pooch during elimination.

6. Lisa (last week – 6): Lucky, crafty, bratty and still alive in the competition.

7. Andrew (last week – 5): Went home to his girlfriend, his constant erection, and multiple viewings of "8 Mile.".