Catching Up With Top Chef’s Ilan Hall, Second Season Winner

Posted by realitycooking

August 22, 2007 |

Ilan Hall

It was not easy to make people feel affection for Marcel on the second season of Top Chef but somehow that smirk and attitude from ultimate winner Ilan Hall drove a number of viewers into Marcel’s camp. Ilan’s status as a villain in the making was not helped by revelations that he spent his winnings on ostentatious bling. Despite debunking by the folks at Food & Wine magazine, there was a definitive aura of conceit in the air. Fast-forward and it seems that Ilan’s reputation is in the process of a makeover. Is Ilan Hall back in your good graces?

When Top Chef bowed to fans wishes and gave Ilan and fan favorite Sam a head-to-head cookoff, more than a few viewers figured Sam would win in a walk. Ilan’s win made many of us think again. Perhaps his victory was valid and supported by the quality of the food. Ilan even mentioned that the relationship with Marcel had become “amicable.” A recent video showing Ilan explaining his process for auditioning and ending up on Top Chef has surfaced. The presentation and audience discussion took place at Maryland’s Great Grapes Festival. Ilan is approachable, friendly, and snark free.

Recently, in an almost affectionate tone, Top Chef blogger Amuse-Biatch relates how Ilan was mistaken for judge Ted Allen. Is the warm and friendly image of Ilan Hall on its way? Stay tuned…and let us know your opinion.

Comments

3 Comments so far

kd griffin on August 23, 2007 5:37 am
I didn’t dislike Ilan until the very end but maybe he’ll redeem himself.
Melanie on August 25, 2007 10:50 pm
I’d hardly call the Amuse-Biatch blog entry about Ilan Hall being mistaken for Ted Allen as almost affectionate. Read again: http://amuse-biatch.blogspot.com/2007/08/tedilan-reality-without-pity.html

Ilan continues to be a target of disrespect because he has earned it by his behavior during TC Season 2 and his comments in the media during and afterward, all of which are not soon to be forgotten, and his lack of remorse or apology for any of it. If he would just get on to the more serious aspects of his culinary career instead of focusing on celebrity, he might improve people’s perceptions of him.

He’s still a laughingstock to most people who read and post on the Top Chef blogs and message boards. I don’t expect that to change any time soon.
art on August 31, 2007 10:22 am
I think this idea that it’s Ilan’s occassional snarkiness that makes people detest him is off-base. Nor does it have much to do with his failed career.

He’s a wimp. A mommy’s boy at 27. A Chef isn’t just a good cook, they have to be a leader.

Ilan’s probably “friendly and approachable” 95% of the time. But he’s not a leader and he’s incredibly immature for his age.

My 8th-Grader has more adult qualities.