Top Chef Holiday $20,000 Competition special

Last night, there was a special $20,000 Top Chef Holiday Special that had 8 Top Chef contestants through the different seasons come back for an hour and half tv special. After all was said and done, Tiffani Faison (finalist and season 1) and Tre Wilcox (season 3) were the two left standing to duke it out for the grand prize. Since they did such a great job, the judges threw them for a loop to make a fourth course and they only had half an hour to make it. They were free to use their leftovers and the other contestants' as well to make their fourth and final dish.
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Tiffani Faison is the winner and finally a female chef won something through all these competitions through all these seasons.She originally was in the first season and she lost to Harold Dieterle. Her winning fourth dish was a sophisticated pastry dish utilizing the "leftovers" theme and Tre went with a crepe dessert.

Buddytv recap of this special holiday episode:

The chefs have $350 and three hours, and they head out to Whole Foods to shop. There's plenty of protein to go around, and so the shopping goes fairly smoothly. Tre misses out on the celery root he wanted – Stephen got it all – but the quality was not that great, he thinks, so he's not upset about it.Shopping went well for all…until they get back to the kitchen. When they return, Betty realized she did not buy yeast, a necessary component for her first course. After a momentary panic, she figures out a solution. She has phyllo dough for a baklava final course. Since she can't get to the final course without a good first one, she decides to change her first course to a cherry-duck “baklava” and will figure out the final course later.Sandee is taking a big risk: she's making a chocolate pecan pie for the third course, and she has only made pie crust once before. Um, crazy much? I like Sandee but isn't pie crust like one of the most difficult things to do well without practice?

Tom Colicchio comes in and makes the rounds. Stephen seems a little nervous – as he did in the Quickfire. He admits he's been focused on his restaurant, and might be a little rusty.The three hours is up and chefs serve. In addition to the usual judges, Tom, Padma, Gail Simmons and Ted Allen, there are several guest judges from previous episodes, including Eric Ripert again, Alan Wong, and more.The dishes are served and they dig in. Marcel's fish impresses; Sandee's soup does not. They find it “watery.” Stephen's gnocchi is too heavy – Ted Allen drops it on a plate to demonstrate how heavy and it sounds like a rock. The judges are a little confused by Betty's “baklava.” Tre's dish goes over well, but Tiffani's seems a little too light for some.

The chefs have returned to the kitchen; they have a half hour to finish the next course, although two people will be bringing down a dish that will not be eaten. Marcel is having trouble, as are Josie and Betty, who both overcook their protein.The judges discuss the first round; Betty, Sandee, Stephen and CJ are the worst. CJ, however, is safe due to his Quickfire win.The chefs all come back with their next course, but it's Stephen and Sandee who have to return to the kitchen with their courses uneaten. Stephen looks stunned at first, but later says he realizes he is maybe more of a restaurateur than a chef. For the second course, as expected, Betty and Sandee get dinged for being overcooked. Marcel's is just “bad” says Ted Allen. Tre's and Tiffani's dishes go over well, though.For the second course, it's Sandee and Betty who will not be returning.

This leaves Marcel, Tiffani, Tre and CJ in the final four. Both Tre and Marcel made lamb, and the judges think Tre's is a clear standout over Marcel's. CJ's dessert course tastes nice, but looks sloppy. Tiffani's butterscotch pudding, however, Tom thinks is the best dish of the evening.

When the final four are called back, CJ and Marcel are dismissed right away. CJ looks really devastated, and admits he needs the $20,000 pretty badly.But did you think that was it? Of course that's not it! Tiffani and Tre must have a cook-off! Tiffani looks absolutely pissed off, but in interview, she says she's mad at herself for not realizing this would happen. They have to return to the kitchen, and use any and all leftovers to make another course.

They dash back and Tiffani grabs Stephen, Sandee and Josie to help her, to Tre's chagrin. He wanted Stephen and his uneaten braised veal. Tiffani decides to make a refined “leftover sandwich” using puff pastry and some of the veal. Tre mainly has Betty's dessert ingredients, so he has to make a dessert, just what he was trying to avoid. He makes a raspberry and walnut crepe with a white chocolate sauce.The chefs enjoy them both, but it appears pretty obvious that Tiffani's is the winner. They are called back to the official judges' table, where that is, in fact, the verdict. Tiffani is thrilled to win it for the ladies, and Tre is still glad he could redeem himself in another Top Chef competition.