Photo from BravoTV.com

I’m not going to spill the beans if you haven’t seen the second-to-the-last episode of Top Chef, don’t worry. As the two reality shows that rile me up the most (I can’t even bring myself to say that I have a favorite reality show or not) come to an end, I feel the need to write about my favorites and why I like them so much.

Which brings me to Top Chef’s Carla Hall. She apparently describes herself the dark horse of the competition, and I gotta tell you, I didn’t think she would last this long at the beginning of the season. She kind of freaked us out with her loudness, her out-there-hair, her big, huge eyes (which some unkindly describe as bug eyes) and her hippy-like declarations of putting love out there with her food.

But, she grows on you.

The last few episodes, it is now obvious that even though she is competing to win, she’s still going to help her rivals however she can, and be nice and gracious about it. Her energy and joy are infectious.  She gets excited when its time to get excited, like grinning a huge smile when she’s told she won a quickfire or elimination challenge and getting super excited when she found out she won Super Bowl tickets. Everybody else, when they win challenges, they’re just like, oh. I won. Thanks. Ugh. You people are no fun! Be excited!

In last night’s episode, I liked her even more. She seemed to have mellowed out during the break between New York and New Orleans. She cooked creative, yet simple, Creole-inspired food that impressed even Emeril Lagasse, the guest judge and unofficial New Orleans ambassador to the world. She stood her ground bravely with the non-alcoholic cocktail. (This makes me like her even more, because there’s nothing less fun than a person who’s only fun when they’re drinking.)

I think, even if she doesn’t end up being named Top Chef, she’ll still end up as fan favorite. Before, my pick for fan favorite was Ariane. It’s now Carla. Plus, I think she’s making out the best — Super Bowl Tickets and a car? Shoot.

In my other Top Chef news, I have already made a pact with my friend Belinda to visit Fabio Viviani’s restaurant in Moorpark, Cafe Firenze, this summer when she visits for a friend’s wedding. Hootie Hoo!