Top Chef Power Rankings: Week 11

By Chuck Sudo in Food on May 23, 2008 2:30PM

In the weeks leading up to the Top Chef Chicago premiere we said of Dale Talde that he was a candidate deserving of "hav(ing) the smirk smacked off his face with a greasy, red-hot spatula." He was confident in his abilities and rubbed some contestants the wrong way. But it was tough watching Dale as he knew his time on the show was up. Watching him break down in tears made us think, "this is the same guy who shook his junk in front of Lisa a few episodes back?"

As he leaves, viewers are faced with the very real possibility that Lisa could sneer and whine her way into the top four. She sure isn't around at this point for her cooking skills. Kelly Dobkin on Eater yesterday wrote that she has the "sneaking suspicion that producers may have chosen (Lisa) in the casting for her difficult nature and inability to get along with others." Welcome to Planet Obvious. Population: Kelly Dobkin.

Dale's ouster and the performances of Antonia and Stephanie also led to a shakeup in the power rankings.

1) Antonia (last week- 2): Worked the Hole at Lou Mitchell's like a pro, and was executive chef for the winning Restaurant Wars team. "YO BIOTCH" is on a major roll and will head into Puerto Rico in two weeks as the front-runner to win this season.

2) Stephanie (last week - 3): Created the winning elimination challenge dish, won a trip to Spain, and worked the FOH like she'd done it before. Wait, she has.

3) Richard (last week - 1): Still looks like a lock for top three, but his Achilles heel - seafood - could have put Warehouse Kitchen in a bind had they not caught the grit in those clams in time.

4) Spike (last week - 5): Cleans up nicely and wisely avoided the toxic atmosphere going on in his team's kitchen, guaranteeing him another week of airtime.

5) Lisa (last week - 6): If cheffing doesn't pan out for her, she could always work as a bouncer at Big Chicks.

6) Dale (last week - 4): Even cocky chefs who try to thug it up have feelings.