Oo, this is a fun thought exercise. I’m borrowing heavily from OP, but here’s my order:

my list exactly, I think!

This is a good 5.

I think Antonia deserves a win for sure

Antonia it's amazing, she did exceptionally well in two great seasons so she has my 5 titles, I love her

That's a good one.

Great post, your list is pretty perfect, but I would swap out Kevin for Sheldon.

I agree. I would take Kevin off the list. I don’t find his “my gramma taught me this” schtick very impressive.

It was toss up between Kevin and Sheldon for me. They're both crazy good. And Doug and Dale definitely deserve a lot of credit. Dale went out too early both seasons IMO and Doug just had the misfortune of going up against some strong competitors. Would love to see him again

I was hoping someone would mention Dougie!!!

I’d give Angelo a shout out, he would have demolished Kevin if he wasn’t sick and if the sous chefs had been fair. Getting Michael Voltaggio fresh off his season win…whew.

I think people just forget Kevin exists. Kevin wasn't a particularly memorable character in a fairly unmemorable season. And in this unmemorable season, Kevin never once affected the plot of anything. Other contestants who are often mentioned as undeserving winners were main characters in their seasons, but Kevin spends the first half of the season as Kenny's sidekick and then fades more into the background after Kenny's elimination (and I don't think that's an edit, I think that was just the reality of the situation).

I almost put Angelo as well. Kevin definitely didn't deserve the win over him. Same with Hosea. Angelo and Stefan should be top chef

Angelo was one of my favorites. Would definitely pick him. So bummed he lost.

Firstly to the three Top Chefs who should have been:

I don't think Carla had a poor sous chef at all.

Dang OP- I opened this to basically type your list. I feel like Tiffany Faison got super screwed in her season, but she’s so successful now I don’t mind.

Great minds think alike! And true, I'm glad to see she's doing very well gor herself now!

All to BV. Second in his own family.

They practically gave him a bonus title since he's been there so many times hah.

I think your list is pretty spot-on. I might add Carrie Baird from season 15 — I was convinced she was going to win the season when she went on that tear towards the end, and she went out on a great dish that was only slightly less good than the others that week

Carrie was really good! I was a little bummed when she got 4th. I'd love to see her in a 3rd all stars!

Antonia, by far. Especially after Mike being her long lost cousin. The worst possible happy/sad ending.

My picks would be: Bryan Voltaggio, Shota, Sheldon, Shirley, and Edward Lee.

Sheldon all day. Every dish he made looked so good.

Always thought about the ones I'd love to taste their food and strangely most of them weren't winners. Here's my list

If I could eat the finale meals of 5 non-winners, they would be Bryan V., Nina, Gregory, Shirley, and Evelyn. Honorable mentions to Antonia, Stefan, Sheldon, and Doug

Nina

I think we all know the real answer here:

Bryan, Nina, Angelo, Carla and Stephanie

Jen Carroll

I agree with you, OP.

Chef GG for sure

Nina, Shirley, Tiffany Derrick, Shota and Marjorie.

Nina, Doug, Sheldon, Gregory, Adrienne!

Carla, sheldon, shirley, Nina, Gregory

Gordon Ramsay deserves one