TOP CHEF viewers shared their frustration after Danny Garcia was crowned the winner during the season 21 finale.
Danny emerged triumphant against Dan Jacobs and Savannah Miller on Wednesday night – although fans accused producers of intervening to ensure his victory.
Danny and the other Top Chef finalists were tasked with preparing “the best four-course meal of your life.”
They went head-to-head in the final challenge, which took place aboard a Holland America Eurodam cruise ship docked in the Caribbean.
Danny, who is a classically trained executive chef at Saga Hospitality Group, prepared a breadfruit tuile, smoked mussels, and lobster, among other “meaningful food memories,” as he put it.
He impressed judges Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons and newcomer Kristen Kish with his quartet of dishes.
The chef won $250,000, as well as the $53,000 he earned from weekly challenges — the most any Top Chef contestant has ever won on the show.
Fans, however, felt that Dan was “robbed” at the end and questioned how Danny managed to win with a dish of “undercooked lobster.”
“Dan was ABSOLUTELY ROBBED. Easily had the best meal of the night and lost? Top Chef, please explain??” one wrote on Instagram.
“Dan should have won…how could undercooked lobster win?” another asked.
“What a scam. This winner was chosen a long time ago. And no, I didn’t eat the food, but I listened to the feedback. Dan was totally ripped off,” a third posted.
“I watched 12 seasons of Top Chef and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a chef win even an elimination challenge with a very undercooked protein, let alone the finale,” added another person on X, formerly Twitter.
“I’m not sure what happened there, but the judges’ criticisms didn’t match the result.”
“I’m sorry, but this seems more like the producer’s decision than the judges’ decision,” said another furious viewer.
“There’s no way Danny could have surpassed Savannah and Dan! You can season your food and win best chef, that’s bullshit!”
Danny spoke with Us Weekly about how he plans to spend the massive prize money following his win.
Top Chef Season 21 Contestants
TOP Chef returned for season 21 on Wisconsins in March with 16 new contestants and judges Gail Simmons, Kristen Kish and Tom Colicchio.
- Alisha Elenz
- Amanda Turner
- Charlie Pierre
- Daniel Jacobs – finalist
- Danny Garcia – winner
- David Murphy
- Kaleena Bliss
- Kenny Nguyen
- Kevin D’Andrea
- Laura Ozyilmaz
- Manny Barella
- michelle wallace
- Rasika Venkatesa
- Savannah Miller – finalist
- Valentine Howell Jr.
“My wife and I are looking to find our first home, plant our roots more than we already have here in New York, and begin the next journey of our lives,” he said.
“We’re staying in Brooklyn, this is our home.”
He also shared more details about the new restaurant he’s opening.
“Time and Time is the name of the restaurant. We will open in the fall. It will be focused on seafood,” she explained.
“The idea is that I don’t want to take myself too seriously with food. Are we looking at this through the lens of what is a steakhouse like a seafood restaurant?
“There will be lots of large-format things and fun decorations on the sides, if you want. When you’re at the beach, it’s all seafood.
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