I'm getting irrationally angry that Maria is still in the competition. Not that I think she doesn't make tasty food - it sure seems like the does - but she has one lane that she shoehorns everything into, and even at that one lane she is tops out at average compared to the other chefs. I think she's like the 10th best chef this season and has had a ton of fortune in avoiding elimination. I know I'm probably in the distinct minority on this, but I think she should be have been one of the first 5 chefs eliminated.
Shoda, Gabe, and Dawn have clearly separated themselves and, hopefully, will be the finale. My personal order is Shoda, Gabe, Dawn, but my gut feeling is that Dawn is the eventual winner. It took her a while to find her footing, but once she did she has been coming on like a freight train. We have no way of knowing, but I'd have loved to hear the judges' feedback on her fried tofu dish that was DQ'ed for not having enough plates. I think that might have been the best overall tofu dish and why I was absolutely sure Byron was going home when the desserts were essentially even.