Hosea Rosenberg beat out rival and predicted winner Stefan Richter to take home the title of Top Chef on last week’s finale episode. The 35 year old Boulder, CO chef who hooked up with fellow contestant, Leah, during filming spoke with Entertainment Weekly after the big win. Here are some highlights:
Did you think you had it in the bag all season? You were a formidable competitor…
Early on, I really thought that I would do well. Up until halfway through the season, I was really in a groove and really felt like I was showing myself to be one of the top players. And then things got a little unraveled for me. Toward the end of being in New York, I didn’t really feel like I was putting my best foot forward and creating my best food, and I was kind of just getting by. It was all mental. I was getting too stressed out. I had stuff on my mind about my parents and about my relationship and a lot of things. It kind of threw me off my game for awhile. [But] I had that break [prior to filming the finale], and I was able to just recollect, and I was able to put my head back on straight and remember what I was doing. And going back to New Orleans, I felt confident, I felt happy, I was relaxed. I really felt good about being there. I felt I deserved to be there. And I was there to show everybody that I had what it took.
Constantly throughout the season, you said that Stefan was cocky. We viewers really didn’t see too much cockiness until the final two episodes. Was he worse than what we saw on TV?
Stefan is cocky. But he’s cocky for a reason. And he backs it up. I have a lot of respect for Stefan, and I also consider him a true friend. And what you see are those little interactions where we’re getting into it, but overall, 95 percent of the time living with him, we really got along really well. We enjoyed each other and we had a lot of great conversations. We talked a lot about everything. About life, about cooking, about food. There’s a reason he’s cocky. He’s cocky because he knows he was dominating the competition, he’s one of the best chefs the show has ever seen. That’s his style and that’s who he is. I have a lot of respect for Stefan. All the jabbing and all the smack talk you saw in the show was just more playful than it was meant to be mean.
Carla was really doing well toward the end of the season, but you guys seemed to ignore her as a competitor. Why?
Toward the end of being in New York, I was shocked by Carla. She totally surprised every one of us that was there and really showed us that when she’s in her groove, she can really get it done. Going into the finale in New Orleans, I definitely considered her a threat… I was hoping that if I didn’t win it was going to be her. Not that I didn’t think Stefan didn’t deserve the title, but it would have been nice to see her win. And honestly, when she told me what her menu was for that last meal, I really thought she had it. I really thought she was going to end up with the title… It just came down to details in the end. It wasn’t that anybody’s food was bad.
Are you and Leah still in touch? Any potential for a future relationship?
We’re still in touch. We’re good friends. I care about her. I think she’s an amazing chef, and I consider her a good friend.
Are the two of you still dating the significant others you were seeing during the show?
No, neither one of us is still with our significant others.
So what are your plans for the future?
Looking to open a restaurant in the very near future. I’m also looking on a product line that will be in Whole Foods, some prepared foods. I’m working with a company that’s already established. But we’re going to be expanding their line and doing a lot of work with them. I’ve also been invited to a bunch of food festivals, so that’s something that will be really fun.
It’s interesting that both Hosea and Leah are no longer with their significant others. I am sure the cheating had something to do with that. I still can’t believe Hosea won- I mean he seems like a decent chef, but none of the final 4 were anything special. None of them would have made it halfway through the competition in previous seasons. Pick up the talent next season, Bravo!!!
[image: Bravo]
POSTED BY:
Eva Elise
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