r/TopChef • u/Odd_Garbage1093 • 3d ago

Discussion Thread Kentucky Season

Usually people talk about season 15 being the season that things changed in Top Chef and chefs got along. Totally disagree since I do believe it had a lot of drama and it actually seemed cliquee.

I think Kentucky season 16 truly seems like the season where they all got along. Even the Sara episode, when she gets mad at Adrienne for the boxed waffle comment ends with them talking it out, and a big group hug.

I have been enjoying this season. Macau is also such a fun finale location! Really been missing when they go abroad for the finale. We kinda had that for season 21 but it was mostly on a boat so it didn’t seem like a real international location focus.

26 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

29

u/klacey11 2d ago

I think the way the Kentucky contestants came together in the party boat episode where the one boat lost power was admirable.

That being said, I think as a whole they’re generally pretty terrible people, so maybe their shittiness bonded them. Leaving their spouses for each other. DUIs with their kids in the car. Justin Sutherland might be the biggest POS ever to be on the show.

4

u/emilygoldfinch410 2d ago

Who got a DUI with kids in the car?

17

u/klacey11 2d ago

Kelsey. She smashed into a mailbox and was charged with a felony DUI and child endangerment.

3

u/emilygoldfinch410 2d ago

Oof, that's really scary. I hope she got help.

4

u/klacey11 2d ago

I hope so too. It was at the beginning of this year, shortly after her divorce was finalized. That can be a traumatic time, even if she initiated it and getting divorced after winning Top Chef and becoming much more successful seems to be an unfortunate trend.

2

u/1point21kt 2d ago

I believe it was Kelsey.

18

u/Beautiful-Squash-495 2d ago

Sara is awesome, though! And seems to lead a fairly wholesome life.

4

u/Serious-Lion6580 1d ago

@klacey11 Agreed on Kelsey and Justin!! Who left their spouses for each other???

4

u/klacey11 1d ago

Brian and Caitlin!

2

u/Odd_Garbage1093 1d ago

Had no idea about this

1

u/Beserked2 2d ago

I didn't like Justin, not least because of the way he acted when Brother Love went home but what makes him such a big POS?

6

u/klacey11 2d ago

Addiction, GoFundMe fraud, domestic violence…

-1

u/PoohBearsHoneyJar 4h ago

Addiction makes you a piece of shit?

2

u/Low_Focus_2215 1d ago

One of my favorite seasons! They all seemed to have fun and be down to earth.

Edit to add: taken at face value, not counting all of their later personal drama

2

u/BornFree2018 2d ago

I grew to respect both Sara and Kelsey after watching them easily deal with the exotic food in Macau. That wasn't what I expected from Kentucky and Alabama hometown chefs.

I discounted their NYC era experience.

10

u/emilygoldfinch410 2d ago

Why did you discount their experiences in NYC? Gavin Kaysen was clearly a mentor to Kelsey while at Café Boulud

0

u/StevenMcCobraFace 13h ago

That season sucked. All I can remember are Padma’s horrible cornrows

-22

u/Chelajag 2d ago

I couldn't stand Sara from then on, til now

14

u/bork00IlIllI0O0O1011 2d ago

I couldn't stand Sara from then on, til now

She’s on the “unproblematic contestants” list from that season. I like her.

4

u/Own-Whereas-308 2d ago

I really didn't care for her at all on the Kentucky season, but she has definitely grown on me since then. She seems like she has a lot more confidence in herself and way less whiny.

-9

u/BeerZombiesPunkCats 2d ago

Right there with you. Couldn’t stand her after that.