It’s top 10 week! This is going to be less of a ranking based on LAST week, and more of a ranking on the season as a whole. Macaroons sent Wuta home, and now it’s time for the top 10 to step it up a notch.
10. Subha Ramiah- Subha really hasn’t been terrible these past couple of weeks, and while he was on the bottom for his macaroons, I don’t think they were nearly as bad as Wuta’s. My only issue is that he is in the top 10, and the contenders continue to emerge, while the pretenders get picked off one by one. With no more pretenders left, Subha’s vulnerability definitely increases, and it’s safe to say he could be leaving this week.
9. Bri Baker- I said three strikes and she’s out…I was wrong. This week was her third strike, and she still stuck around. I think Bri is a bigger contender in the judges’ eyes than we are led to believe, so I really think they’re keeping her around because they see a spark in her. For this reason, I am also keeping her in the safe category, but only by a spot. She is in some dangerous water, and I truly think the next misstep will send her home. She needs to pray for a good week this week.
8. Nick DiGiovanni- Nick takes risks, but these risks have not been paying off. He spent the whole first half of the season safe because he was on the right teams, but now, on his own, he’s starting to get weaker. I worry that Nick has peaked, and if it weren’t for Subha’s inconsistency and Bri’s recent decline, he’d probably be next on the list.
7. Noah Sims- Noah should be lower, but I still see him as a contender. I don’t know why. I think he has a fight and spirit that is admirable, and while I even often groan when he speaks sometimes, there’s still something worth rooting for. He’s right outside the top 5, but I could see him still being there in the endgame.
6. Micah Yaroch- Micah has been much better recently than early on in the season. But Micah did have a scrappy start, and when he does fail, it shows. I think Micah is the underdog of this “top 5,” but I see him still hanging with the pack.
5. Sarah Faherty- I feel like we’re always led to believe that Sarah is in danger, and then she does something to redeem herself. I honestly don’t know where she stands, but I think she always finds a way to stay safe. She may never be the best, but she’s never the worst. This is great until finale night comes. Then, she’ll have to be the best, but we don’t have to worry about that yet.
4. Shari Mukherjee- Shari, Shari, Shari. Shari not only had the best macaroons of the night, but I think she’s finally gaining the confidence she needs to excel in this competition. I’m actually a huge fan of hers right now, and if she can keep this up, I could see her making a run for the win.
3. Jamie Hough- Jamie is consistent, and probably the most consistent at that. I think we’ve been sleeping on Jamie. He’s quiet. He’s not cocky. He’s a good chef, but hasn’t really been THE top dog in any challenges. I think this is why he’s not the most highly edited, but you have to credit him for being so consistent. This consistency is what I can imagine that of a contender for the win. The edit still needs to pick up a tad (especially compared to the top 2), but I think he’s right there in third.
2. Dorian Hunter- Two weeks on the top, and this week in second place…ain’t too shabby for these rankings. She’s still a top contender, and my personal favorite. All she needs is to win a team challenge. She’s had her fair share of cook offs because luck has not been on her side. If luck is on her side, and she ends up winning a few team challenges, I think Dorian will be the one to beat.
1. Fred Chang- If I had to look at this entire top 10, I think Fred is the one who immediately comes to mind as the fan favorite, as well as the top contender. He had one bad week, but has otherwise rocked every single challenge he’s had. He’s been on top of the most recent challenges, and keeps pushing the envelope, never playing it safe. I like Fred, and I think, going into the top 10, it’s safest to say we’ll see Fred in the end of it all (if not the finale, 4th place).
I love Dorian, I love Jamie, I love Fred, I love Sarah, I’m starting to love Shari, I like Micah and Nick and I’m impressed by their age, I feel for Bri and want to see her bounce back, and I oddly enough find ways to connect to the loud Noah and inconsistent Subha. I do like everyone, so it’s gonna be tough to let someone go, but I think Subha is the weakest in retrospective.
It’s top 10 week! This is going to be less of a ranking based on LAST week, and more of a ranking on the season as a whole. Macaroons sent Wuta home, and now it’s time for the top 10 to step it up a notch.
1. Fred (+1)
2. Dorian (-1)
3. Jamie —
4. Shari —
5. Sarah (+2)
6. Micah (-1)
7. Noah (+2)
8. Nick (+2)
9. Bri (+2)
10. Subha (-2)
Biggest Rise: Sarah, Noah, Nick, and Bri (+2)
Biggest Drop: Subha (-2)