About this episode

The episode recaps the finale of Top Chef Season 23, highlighting the chefs' strategies, emotional moments, and judging criteria.

Top Chef Season 23 Finale Recap Top Chef season 23 comes to a close as Haley Strong, Curt Clark, and Chef Jim Smith break down the finale in the Carolinas. With the finalists tasked to create a four-course progressive meal, the hosts spotlight clever strategies, unique menu choices, and surprising emotional moments. They examine how chefs honor their roots and mentors, navigate vague theming, and tackle high-stakes technical challenges in the kitchen. The hosts analyze how the “toast to someone or something” requirement shapes each chef’s menu, from Rhoda’s California-inspired sweet potato and uni opener to Sherry’s ambitious multi-component dishes. They dig into the logistics and fairness of judging four-course meals course-by-course versus as a whole, with Chef Jim Smith offering firsthand insights from his own Top Chef finale experience. Stories behind each dish come to life, such as Lawrence’s Chinatown duck homage and the impact of family visits that bring everyone—including listeners—to tears. Rhoda’s bold choice to skip dessert and serve a rich Filipino-inspired calderetta stirs debate on menu strategy and finale traditions. Sherry’s complex, ingredient-heavy dishes spark…

More episodes of RHAP: We Know Reality TV

• The Pride Has Spoken | Episode 21: Carolyn Wiger · June 12, 2026 · 1h 29m
• Purple Pants Podcast | Survivor 50: What Worked? · June 12, 2026 · 1h 10m
• Love Island USA Daily June 11, 2026 – Sincere is LYING! · June 12, 2026 · 52 min
• The Circle is BACK | The Reality Flash · June 11, 2026 · 44 min
• Love Island USA S8 Eps 5-7 Recap · June 10, 2026 · 1h 36m
• Purple Pants Podcast | Casual Tea: Theories, Trials & Trademark Trouble · June 10, 2026 · 1h 17m

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the RHAP: We Know Reality TV podcast page.