Padma comes to the final question: why do you deserve to be Top Chef? Mike says that he feels like he's shown them the chef he's become through this food, and his wife supports him, and he's going to break down, and it's everything he wants in life. That doesn't really answer the question. He deserves it because he wants it? Blais says that he hopes his restaurant showed creativity, whimsy, and that he's learned that the food is about the guest and not him. He gets tears in his eyes and then goes on to say that this would give him an opportunity he wouldn't otherwise have, due to money. Aw. Blais.

Mike and Blais head back to the Stew Room. Blais immediately states that he thinks Mike will win. Mike is more measured, and thinks that it's a tie. If you throw out the desserts, Mike thinks that Blais won the first course and he won the third, and the second is a toss-up. As they wait, some people come into the room: it's Blais's uncle and Mike's mom, sister, and wife. Those are three different people, of course. Blais explains that his wife couldn't come because she's really, really pregnant. I am so curious about his family situation. It's none of my business, but where are his parents, siblings, or whatever?

The judges deliberate. Gail thinks that both chefs really stepped up, and Tom says that he's truly on the fence. Hubert Keller thinks it's remarkable. Then they start going through the courses. Blais's amuse bouche gets high marks but I don't think it really counts in the overall scheme of things. Tom points out that Blais's first course, the hamachi, was great and Mike's first-course salad was the weakest (non-dessert) dish of the night. So point to Blais, there. For the second fish course, it seems like the judges are leaning towards Blais. Padma reminds Tom that he said that Mike's fish was the best he'd ever had on the show, and Tom says he said that before he tasted Blais's fish. So I guess point to Blais? For the third braised meat course, they thought Blais's was good, but Mike's was better. So now we're at 2-1 Blais. The judges are split on the dessert; basically, those who had Blais's first version didn't like it, and those who had the second did like it better. Tom sums up that the first two courses are going to Blais and the second two are going to Mike. So who will win? Each of the judges states that they are divided and then somehow they come to a decision. I hate that we're not privy to it. I get that you can read the blogs, but it would be kind of nice if, after the winner was announced, they did a flashback to show what exactly swayed the judges, especially for the finale.