dogabone wrote:

Dave—
You and Lee Anne were my favorites on TC, and I am saddened to see you so busy but reaping so little in terms of monetary reward.

You write extremely well (I'm a copyeditor by trade and very picky). Is there a chance you could get a paid gig as a food columnist for a magazine or produce a syndicated column for distribution to the Food sections of newspapers? If you were in the Washington Post, you can be sure I'd be reading you every Wednesday.

posted at August 30, 2006 06:52 AM

JohnW wrote:

Dave,
I hope that you find employment commensurate with what you had prior to Top Chef. You're too talented to be out of the kitchen very long.

posted at August 30, 2006 10:26 AM

inkkling wrote:

Dave, you may turn out to be the true winner of Top Chef; making a good showing before all the culinary world, demonstrating not only your ability to cook, but to write, laugh, cry, and connect---you are now recognized as valuable to the culinary world. Perhaps running round the world is actually better than tying yourself down to a restaurant right now. At any rate, hooray for you!! Best and warmest regards.

posted at September 4, 2006 01:09 PM

Mike wrote:

Dave,
Never watched TC till today. Although things may be tough for now, they are sure to get better for you. Hang in their as you are truely a personality that will emerge. Luck and Life...

posted at September 4, 2006 03:48 PM

taralynne wrote:

Dave,

I got addicted to TC and was sad when it ended. I felt the only two who really, truly "loved to cook" and were able to tap into the customers' psyche were you and LeAnn. I don't feel your creativity was appreciated and in the end, if you HAD made 3 dishes in Vegas, the final two would have been you and Harold. Tiffany just lucked out and should stick to cooking for her biggest fan only..Tiffany.

If you are looking for a permanent place, the San Anotnio/Austin cooridor is ever growing - come to Texas, we love comfort food!

posted at September 5, 2006 02:07 PM

Amanda wrote:

I was completely addicted to Top Chef last season, and I was really disappointed that you weren't in the final. You deserved ALOT more than Tiffany!

posted at September 6, 2006 06:10 PM

C.Hyde wrote:

Dave,
I think you are great. I love your passion and integrity and most of all I love that you didn't take crap that Tiffany dished out. I hope you find employment soon that is worthy of your talent and start reaping the rewards of all your hard work. You rock!!

posted at September 7, 2006 12:03 AM

Dave R wrote:

Yo Dave,

Glad you had a great time in NOLA - My favorite town in the U.S., besides my native Philly. As you can probably tell, everybody grew to love you on T.C. as you grew as a chef and stretched yourself. As for turning your celebrity into cash, consider churning out a cookbook of some of your favorites or possibly a book of catchphrases for the new chefs to use on TC2. "I'm not your bitch, Bitch!" will be hard to top. Still LMAO about it. Hope you enjoy the fame and all that life offers.

posted at September 7, 2006 01:57 PM

Barb Cole wrote:

Way to go, Dave! And you brought our favorite buddies along!! GREAT!!
9They waited so long, I was afraid they were not going to do another TopChef... :o( How could anyone outdo you all?!?!?!
Glad we can still keep in touch with everyone and hear from everyone on your trips across America! SO! When are you coming to St. Charles, Mo??? ;o) Barb Cole

posted at September 8, 2006 02:21 AM

Brenda wrote:

Hi Dave! I too am a welfare celebrity...well celebrity in my own mind...but the finacial part is true haha! You were my favorite chef by far. I think your passion and tenacity is inspiring! Thanks for keeping us all up to date on whats happening with you! Take Care & I feel the riches comng to you soon!

posted at September 8, 2006 07:07 AM

Katharine wrote:

Dave,
It is like so unfair like you got eliminated and I think you should be the TC!

posted at September 8, 2006 06:38 PM

gypsy wrote:

Your post speaks volumes. You have all the love and passion required of an influential chef. It will happen for you, Dave, and I hope to hell it happens someplace where I can taste what you create. You're a good person, and a wise one, and there is a special place for you in the culinary world. It just hasn't found you quite yet.

posted at September 11, 2006 02:34 PM

Laura H wrote:

Dave! I didn't know that you were a very close High School buddy of my sister Martha. She had never seen "Top Chef" until it was re-run on Bravo. You should have seen the aneurysm she had when she recognized you. She's thrilled.

posted at September 12, 2006 06:42 AM

damien tyler wrote:

Hi Dave. I'm glad I finally found a way to leave you a message. Yes, I got into Top Chef like everyone else, and this is from a guy who hates prime time tv! I was pulling for ya buddy! I would visit any city in the U.S. to eat anything that you prepared! Good luck in future. Damien T.

posted at September 12, 2006 06:00 PM

Sheryl wrote:

Hi Dave,

You are my hero!! You are very passionate about cooking, and life! I loved that you kept Tiffany in her place. I would have loved to see you in the final chalenge because you actually cook things that the average american could adapt into their own daily menus. I hope you reap financially as much as you do spiritually. God Bless.

posted at September 18, 2006 12:31 PM

Curtis langer wrote:

Dave,

Enjoyed your blog page after hearing from your friend Brad Arithson today. Good luck on your future. Do you have a cook book for sale.

Curtis Langer

posted at September 18, 2006 01:19 PM

turtle wrote:

Hi Dave,

I enjoyed Top Checf last season--you were one of my favorites. I was very disappointed went you didn't make it to the final 2--you truly deserved to be there. But c'est la vie, eh?

What I really liked about you is that stayed true to yourself. You were exactly who you were. And I liked you exactly for who you were. Which is why I'm not pleased to hear you're just squeaking by financially. I hope your situation changes soon. You deserve much much better.

Turtle

posted at September 21, 2006 10:32 AM

flaming_mo wrote:

Dear Dave,
While I'm sure it's been hard to be a welfare celebrity, it looks like things are really looking up and going well for you. That is wonderful! You are definitely a winner no matter what the resulting ranking on "Top Chef"; you were a special gem and held your own amongst some strong and marvelously talented competition.
Many congratualtions on all of your success! You have more than earned it. I definitely look forward to seeing more of your future endeavors!

posted at September 21, 2006 01:56 PM

chantellesse wrote:

Dave,
I absolutely enjoyed watching you on the show. I love that you stood up for yourself and did what you knew! Good luck and I certainly hope things look better for you soon. The comment suggesting that you write for a column--are you interested? That seems like a great idea, but you'd have to want it. I'd hire you. Anyhow, take care--from sultry Louisiana, much love!!!

posted at September 22, 2006 08:55 AM

Karen wrote:

Dave,
I want to wish you all the luck in the world and hope things turn around for you. I just loved watching you because I felt you were so real...and the dishes you were making looked great.

posted at September 22, 2006 05:48 PM

Dillon wrote:

Dave-

You and Miguel were by far my fav top chefs. You should have won but Harold was an excellent chef. Kepp up your carreer and keep doing what you love to do. Be a true TOP CHEF!

posted at September 23, 2006 07:28 AM

GH Peterson wrote:

I thought you were extremely unprofessional in the final showing up to assist Tiffany hungover. I also think you did everything in your power to sabotage her, and frankly your whining was twice as annoying as any bossiness she displayed in the kitchen!

posted at September 25, 2006 03:07 PM

Ann E. Bermingham wrote:

I also felt that Dave was the true winner of Top Chef. He was honest and dedicated to do the best he could. His remarks were always entertaining and my husband predicted his mac n' cheese with truffle would be the winner! If the old Top Chef eps are run again on Bravo I sit and watch them for the nth time.

posted at September 25, 2006 07:55 PM

Janet wrote:

Greetings Dave,
I liked you on the show and enjoyed knowing you were among the Top Three. Keep up the good work -- and keep your chin up!

posted at September 29, 2006 07:53 AM

bill wrote:

dave, i was cheering for you but, harold was very good.i am a chef for a catering company in mass.and would like to try my luck on the show, how do i do this? any info would help thanx and good luck to you.

posted at October 4, 2006 09:24 AM

Hoda Allen wrote:

Love you and enjoyed getting to know you on Top Chef. You make me hungry with all these wonderful menues. LOL Please give us an update on what the gang is all doing now, if you have time. Does Harold have his restaurant going? Is Lee Ann back to teaching? What are they all doing? Great success to you and all your needs be met. God bless you.

posted at October 5, 2006 10:50 AM

angel wrote:

Dave, You were my absolute fav and I wished you had won. You #$%^&*ing deserved to win. You are a WINNER.

posted at October 5, 2006 10:11 PM

Rose Pedone wrote:

dave:loved your anxiety and your spunk, but also your all out caring! For not only the food, but the consumers at the end of the foodchain! I battle dailey with spinal pain, I was born with spina bifida, undiagnosed until my adulthood, and had to suffer through four surgeries so far. I was just diagnosed with a tumor, non-malignant in th spine and another ruputured disc

My encouragement to you is to never give up! I began college at age 38, with two little kids and four back surgeries behind me allready!

There I was a 'freshman' (not so fresh by the way!) in college, took the LSAT lying on the floor in a body brace@@ .and in lots of pain!!!

well...passed and was enrolled that year at the NYS Univ of BUffalo School of Law...and then began the challenge! the School was difficult for me, some of the students were even more difficult!!! Oh gosh, I say all this to tell you to keep on, we are never too old or too imfirm if we can just keep the spark going, my spark; besides the Lord Jesus, was the fear of poverty!!! Not being able to help our two great sons accomplsh their goals, and to be a real partner to my wonderful husband who sacrificed some of his goals...he is a very brilliant guy, actually is. As I took the LSAT laying on the floor in my body brace, he was there praying and encrouraging me on with the promise of donuts!!

Then when we had to take the NYS Bar exam, again laying on the floor, he enticed me with whatever diamonds he could afford, which turned out to be a really perfect, pretty 1/3 ct. ring!

But my husband's face said it all when I came down from the podium at graduation from law school, and my kids' too! My mother, well; she wanted to know why I didn't graduate magna cum like the other ladies did! Never mind I was still recovering from my fourth serious spine resconstruct!! Jesus, Tony (My spouse and kids and my favorite aunty Jean) Ziggy, and Seth and Aunty Jean knew the struggle and sacrifices our little family went through!

I know work for a public interest law firm that deals with low income persons and protecting their rights.....my particular work at the firm is funded through the New York state Dept. of Health Aids Insitute, my self and my co attorney provide free, (FREE) legal services to anyone affected/infected by HIV/AIDS...and I love my job.

I babbled enough, just wanted you to know you have a diverse fan base. If you ever come to Buffalo New York, you will have a place to stay and a great dinner because my husband is a great cook also!

Godspeed!
Rose M. Pedone
email: rmarieesq@adelphia.net

posted at October 10, 2006 12:15 AM

Daphne Lorraine Easter wrote:

i just do not know how I can watch this season of TC. You guys were all like family and I can't imagine another group can live up to last season. Anyway, Dave, best of luck to you. You are a wonderful caring human being with outstanding culinary skills. I am still laughing about the finale when Tom asked Terrible Tiffany about the dessert and she totally lied, again!, and said it was all her idea! Talk about egg on your face. Good luck Dave you will be missed this season!

posted at October 18, 2006 01:48 PM

nika wrote:

Dave - While I can not begin to imagine how your life has changed and what it is like to be a "welfare celebrity" (I would prefer to be an exceedingly obscure filthy rich hermit myself) I send you hugs and hope that you find a way to maximize this time to create a living that makes you happy and fulfilled. I am about your age and know the value of a fulfilling career, it is an extremely precious and rare thing. Happily you are able to "play" in the food world where it CAN be fun and you meet some amazingly down to earth real people (both those pesky rich celebrities and the non-celebrity foodies like me :-). *winks*

Nika
Nika's Culinaria

posted at October 20, 2006 11:06 AM

Melissa Middle wrote:

Dave,

You BY FAR were mine and my hubby's Top Chef all along. You showed the heart, the passion and the drive I think it takes. I too desire to be a professional cook, I even attended CSCA in Pasadena (like you!) until I had to leave for financial reasons. But I will go back I loved it too much. It should have been you and Harold, that would have been a competition. Tiffany was too.........well bitchy to put it mildly. In class we always said "It is what it is" and "I'm not your bitch, BITCH!" I nearly cried with laughter when you said that. Or when you said that harold and Stephen could go and make out somewhere. That too, was funny. You are a true Top Chef, and a true foodie. Keep your heart and passion my friend, YOU will reap the rewards. Great things come to those wait. But hopefully not too long, right?

All my support, prayers and Best Best Wishes for you

Melissa Middle
Hemet, CA

posted at October 20, 2006 02:51 PM