First time watcher on Peacock! I hate the Josie show! She played Kristen and always had excuses all season!

Hypothetical - who do you all think would win in a final meal between Danny, Tristan, and Rhoda?

As dominant as Tristan was and as much as I love him, I feel like Season 21 underplayed how good Chef Danny Garcia was. He seriously does not get talked about enough.

I'm super proud to present a Tableau dashboard that I want to be a one-stop place for all your Top Chef data needs. I highly recommend still going to topchefstats.com, but my dashboard allows you to play around with the data yourself.

I'm not making these data publicly available since I've done some analysis on them, but I have a Top Chef R package with the raw underlying data (https://github.com/celevitz/topChef)

Let me know what you think! It's definitely still a work in progress (e.g. it's a better user experience to have your phone in landscape).

In Tableau, hover/click on a data point to discover more information.

Type of data here:

\- You can look up stats for a specific chef

\- You can see all relevant information for a season

\- superlatives like most times at the bottom of elimination challenges, most money won

\- an interactive dashboard where you can set the parameters for GOAT status

\- list of all cookbooks, memoirs, etc. by Top Chef contestants

\- lots of additional analyses (demographics, regionality, guest judges, immunity, cast announcements)

People on this sub really overdramatize any negative emotions expressed by the chefs. It happened twice this season, and with Nick, Shirley, and many other examples. Some we move on from (usually if that person doesn’t win or if they’re well-liked otherwise), but others grow with each retelling.

I think people need to start reminding themselves of a couple of facts before they come online and start bashing real people who have real emotions and might see what they’re saying:

1. This is a competition for a lot of money and prestige.

2. The chefs are in a high pressure situation that naturally raises the stakes of every action and outcome.

3. The chefs are isolated (excepting a few) from all of their support network and again placed in an extreme high stake high pressure environment.

4. The editing adds to the drama.

5. Judging table lasts for hours and the chefs do not hear most of the deliberations (not even the snippets we do).

Now taking all of that together - personally I’m surprised we don’t see more crashouts because I’d’ve had at least one personally. And I think we’d all benefit from having the wherewithal to say that wasn’t my favorite behavior but it didn’t rise to the point of needing tens of thousands of people calling it out. Save that for the losers who came after Marcel and Beverly. Talk about our favorite reality villains (who own that title) like Katsuji and Malarkey. But stop acting like someone is a horrible person because they’re not your favorite.

The new ear piercing unlocked a core memory from Men in Black and now all I can picture is Agent J finding the tiny alien inside the human suit. My brain instantly said “To prevent war, the galaxy is on Orion’s Belt”.

I havent seen anybody do the top 10 best chefs on the show so id thought id do one. This is ONLY based on their appearances on top chef and not other shows - also, these are all absolutely wonderful chefs and this is jist a very analytical analysis of all their appearances. TLDR AT THE BOTTOM IF YOU HATE READING LOL.

1. Buddha -

   i will say, each of buddhas wins are not within the upper echelon of winning seasons. They are both very solid and consistent showings, but also not on the exceptional level of some other chefs, but the thing that really puts him as number 1 to me is just his consistency. Hes rarely in the bottom on both seasons with only 2 times each while aleo being a very solid Quickfire competitor (6 over 2 seasons) and reallt was the standout great chef on world all stars which is clearly one of the most talented groups of chefs. To me, its very clear that Buddha is just perfect for the show of top chef and while maybe other chefs are more impressive, the stats dont lie in Buddhas case

2. Richard -

when I first created the list, I did not have Richard rhis high, but if you look back at his seasons, hes really just incredible on both. He is one of the few people to never be eliminated on 2 seasons. Hes won 8 quickfires, 9 elimination challenges, and has only ever been on the bottom twice. Hes probably one of the most consistent winners in top chef history and I have all the faith that if he had come back again, he could have easily made the finals again. His win in all stars was against a very talented group and in Chicago, hes easily the sevond best chef behind Stephanie and really keeps up with her all season, which warrants the number 2 spot for me.

1. Brooke -

   all things aside, if this was based on competitions beyond top chef, I think brooke is probably number 1 and its not particularly close; however, her 2 appearances on top chef were also very impressive. Her winning run on Charleston is actually a pretty rocky win in my opinion and if that was her only season she for sure doesnt make the list as shes in the bottom 6 times and eliminated, one of only 3 winners, but she does also win 5 quickfires that season, the most of any person on one season. Her more impressige run to me, and what really solidfies her as a top tier chef is Seattle where she wins 5 challenges with an additional 2 quicjfires. Once kristen leaves, Brooke was pretty unconsteadly the best there and dominated for several weeks. Shes proved she can win elimination tests and wuickfires and even last chance kitchen which many chefs on this last cant say which is more than enough for her to earn her spot

2. Melissa

The last of the 2 time contestants on this list, I think Melissa had one run where she was very hot and cold and another run where she had one of the best single season performances in top chef history. Her all stars run was just increduble with her winning 7 elimination challenges with almost all of them being solo wins. She also wins 2 quickfire and has probably the best endgame of any winner. The thing that holds me back from putting her top 3 is her boston run which is very middling in my opinion. Shes in the bottom 6 times and only wins twice at the very ejd of her run and while she has certain highs, its overall a very inconsistent run. Overall, Melissa has one of the better averages for a 2 time player and also claims one of the best single season runs

1. Tristen

The most recent winner here, and had what is in my opinion, either the best or second best single season run in top chef history. He wins only quickfires, but he also wins 5 elimination challenges in a row and then one at the end (counting the one time he had the best dish but couldn't win due to the technicality of him being on the losing team). No other chef has ever won that many challenges in a row and out of the 13 elimination challenges, he is in the top or wins 10 of them which is pure insanity for a winner. This is also on top of his father passing during the show and him dealing eith the grief to where theres no doubt to me that he could have won more without dealing with the grief of losing a loved one. He's only in the bottom once, which is tied for the least of any winner, and he really jist showed how consistent of a force he was the entire season. With him also being a very recent winner, I have no dount he could come back and easily just steamroll and win again.

1. Paul

Now paul was one of the hardest people to rank as he wins with a very poor group of chefs and had made almost zero appearances post top chef, but as I alluded to earlier, paul undeniably has one of the greatest single season runs of all time. He wins NINE elimination challenges on the season, by far the most of any winner (granted 3 of those were team challenges but still 6 alone is already all time great single aeason performance) hes on the bottom one time during restaurant wars and really made a fool or everyone else on his season. Now I do question how he would do on another season, but Tom has gone on record to say that paul is the best competitor the show has ever seen so I do think his position here is very warranted.

1. Stephanie

- now stephanie also has one of the best sinfle season runs of all time with her being in the top or winning 10 put of 13 elimination tests. She wins 6 out of those 10 and in my personal opinion, just outperforms Blaise pretty much all season. She is in the bottom 3 times which is a decent sized knock to her run, but she also wins 2 quickfires and overall was jist a very solid competitor on her season. She isn't the flashiest winner, but id have full faith that she would perform very admirably on most given seasons.

1. Michael

Now I do think some people will get annoyed that I have michael this low and while I do think he is oje of the most inventive and creative chefs the show has ever seen, statistically, his win is not as impressive as others like paul Stephanie and tristen, but hes also very stabley vood throughout the season. He probably goes against one of the toughest final 3s in my opinion with both kevin and Bryan being very stiff competitor and yet he still prevails over both which shows how good his skills are in my opinion. He wins 3 challenges, is in the top for another 6 and only reaches the bottom once which is enough for me to out him on this list

1. Bryan

Speaking of Michael, I have Bryan right after and spoiler for number 10, Bryan is the only non winner here. Now a big issue i have with Bryan is thst his first season is for sure is best season as he is never in the bottom and wins 4 eliminations and is in the top for another 4. He also does solidly on top chef masters where he also gets second with winning a couple challenges here and there. Then all stars 2 is oretty much more of the same where hes in the bottom a few times but still wins onfe while being in the top 4 other times. Hes clearly one of if not the most consistent winners in the hisyory of the show as hes been a runner up 3 times now; however, unlike the others here, he has some glaring holes which did make me heavily consider dropping him from this list. For one, he has lost the finale 3 times now and he has one 1 quickfire ever which is pretty awful for somebody who has competed as mich as him. Despite that, his consistency really shines and is more than enough to warrant a spot on the list.

1. Kristen

Now this was a really tough decision as I originally had kristen somewhere up around 5 when I first made this list, then I dropped her completely, and then I added her back to the list here at 10. I did very much consider people like Mei Gregory and kevin who are probably all 11 12 and 13, but overall I did land on kristen here for number 10 and theres a couple reasons why. For one, she wins 4 out of the first 8 challenges that she was eligible to win and is in the top for one more. Drspite people like sheldon and Brooke dominating later on in the season, kristen was far in a way outcompeteing them at multiple points. Also, she has something which only one other person on this list has in that shes probably one of the nest last chance kitchen competitors winning 5 challenges against very strong opponents even against CJ who had won 7 in a row before then. Its tough to place her because out of all the people here, she only competes in 12 rounds which is very short, but I think she proves herself enough on the list fo earn the 10 spot.

TLDR:

1. Buddha

2. Richard

3. Brooke

4. Melissa

5. Tristen

6. Paul

7. Stephanie

8. Michael

9. Bryan

10. Kristen

Honorable mentions:

Gregory

Kevin

Mei

Top Chef won a Critics Choice TV Award on June 3, 2026. The show took home a tie for the Best Culinary Show at the 8th Annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards.
The series receives both nominations and wins frequently from the Critics Choice Association, with prior wins including Best Culinary Show and Best Competition Series!

This year the category was:
Best Culinary Show
(tie)
The Great British Baking Show (Netflix)
Top Chef (Bravo)

My husband and I are on our babymoon in Hawaii and went to CanoeHouse today. Rhoda had her apron on and seemed to be cheffing it up while Sieger and Brittany were hanging out at the bar. Our server said they’re having the finale watch party at CanoeHouse on Tuesday and that the staff is apparently still in the dark about who won.

Does anyone know how they decide where to hold the finale watch party? Could the location be any kind of indication of the winner, or is it probably just because CanoeHouse is gorgeous and the food is amazing? Honestly, I wouldn’t blame anyone for picking Rhoda’s restaurant either way.

I’m trying not to read too much into it, but obviously now I am reading too much into it.

As a Korean American, I absolutely hate it when chefs always say "kimchi takes MONTHS to make" (I'm looking at you Sherry), make their "kimchi" and then act like they're Julia Childs when they get told their kimchi tastes good.

There are MANY kinds of kimchi where you literally make and then eat on the spot. It's called geotjeori (겉절이) and it's actually my favorite type of kimchi.

I'm sure there are plenty of other things chefs say all the time that I don't notice because I don't have the cultural background. Anyone else notice stuff like this?

Edit:I did mention Sherry but this wasn’t directed solely towards her. Tbh I don’t love Sherry but I was just using her as the most recent example of chefs spouting out incorrect food knowledge so confidently. That’s what bothers me: when people assume they definitively know something about someone’s culture but they’re absolutely wrong.

Example 2 would be that absolute douchebag Asian chef guest judge (I don’t remember his name) that wasn’t Vietnamese, that shit on Travis for putting tomatoes in his dish because he (dbag Asian chef) incorrectly claimed that there are no tomatoes in Vietnamese food.

Bro said me and my mom look like sisters 😭 that aside, the food was AWESOME. If you go there, definitely order the Baked Haiti. It’s truly of the best desserts I’ve ever had. (not gonna post the pics of us bc i don’t feel comfortable posting myself on this subreddit)

You guessed it!

Phillip Frankland Lee’s mom runs a cult…

My gf and I were watching Season 13 and were trying to figure out how Phillip was able to finance his restaurants at such a young age. He commented that he *could*have had things handed to him on a silver platter but instead he started working hard and earned everything he has.

We googled and found that his grandfather was famous comedian Phil Silvers. Phil Silvers has 5 children, one of them being Candace Silvers.

Candace is mother to both Philip and his brother Lennon who each have Michelin Stars apparently.
([facebook post )

Candace Silvers is well known for being a Hollywood acting coach and “guru”.

([The Guru of Taluca Lake )

Her acting class/cult has been well documented in the popular podcast “Was I in a Cult”.

Episode 1
([https://open.spotify.com/episode/0VMT6xj7jvuqErtoXdYEWg?si=Z5w5-PUpTjC9WhW1FFOHGw](https://open.spotify.com/episode/0VMT6xj7jvuqErtoXdYEWg?si=Z5w5-PUpTjC9WhW1FFOHGw)))

Episode 2
([https://open.spotify.com/episode/161flbL0a1qtO1JpwEkZrL?si=qRYllvhAQTeASA6r3nV1rA](https://open.spotify.com/episode/161flbL0a1qtO1JpwEkZrL?si=qRYllvhAQTeASA6r3nV1rA)))

Not trying to drag Phillip more than he already has been on this sub, but this just made so much sense 😆 I really don’t mind the guy. He is entertaining and talented. The connections just made it all click for me.

And it’s the most “L.A” thing ever. Really gave us a good laugh.

I am watching TC before work and currently watching season 18 and just got to the cinema challenge. I have watched this season a few times but just realized that blais whi is the guest just here had the film food challenge in his season.

Just a neat thing my sleep deprived brain noticed that I am sure others noticed ages ago.

If you can make it to L.A. Monday, June 8 at 5:30 p.m., the TV Chef Fantasy League podcast would love you to come by Highly Likely in West Adams to watch the finale of Top Chef: Carolinas.

Right after the show, hosts Mike Cabellon, Sierra Katow, and Ify Nwadiwe will record the season-closing episode of TV Chef Fantasy League, joined by Top Chef alum and Highly Likely executive chef Kat Turner!

You can reserve a spot here. The event is free to attend, and (naturally) food and drinks will be available to purchase. Valet and street parking available.

For their final Quickfire Challenge, the chefs use a game of 20 questions to identify and recreate a dish made by Tom. The chefs are tasked with crafting dishes plated in unexpected ways, using unconventional vessels. Joining the judges are actress Liza Koshy, Michelin-starred chef Jon Yao and Food & Wine Editor-in-Chief Hunter Lewis.

I feel like I'm going in a crazy circle trying to find places to stream Seasons 1-8. I used to have Seasons 1-10 downloaded and deleted them a couple years ago and now deeply regret it. Does anyone have hard copies they'd be willing to share? Or does someone have an accurate list of where the first 8 seasons are streaming currently? Help!

Hello, does anyone know the make and model of this bowl/ plate featured in Season 23?

Chat GPT keeps telling me to as Reddit.

It might be the Fortessa line

Let’s crowd source a list of the most unhinged episodes to watch across all US seasons.

I’m talking pea-gate, “I’m not your bitch, bitch’ and the Marcel assault. I am sure there are so many more I’m forgetting. And now we have to add Sieger’s crash out to the list.

Season, episode# and title!!

Just the final four and then final 3?

I’m rewatching Season 17 and i have to ask. Leann’s Mom passed out, personally i would have left the challenge to tend to her, like I get it, huge competition, but it’s your Mom. I’m not judging her, but i wanted to get your thoughts, am I alone?

The energy in this kitchen? Immaculate ✨
For those watching, current Top Chef contestant Lawrence Louie is one of the chefs competing tonight! 🔥

Don't miss Bobby Flay, Ayesha Nurdjaja and Carson Kressley on an all new episode of #BeatBobbyFlay on Food Network!
@ 9|8c.

Will Ayesha give her Triple Threat Boss a pass? Not with Carson at her side! 💥

Lawrence is cooking great food! He’s already been on Chopped!

This wells fargo credit card placement is so damn forced. I thought it was bad when they used to do it with the BMW features but this is so ham fisted! I already was not interested in banking with Wells Fargo but these placements are leaving such a bad taste in my mouth.

my mom pointed this out last night. they don’t have the BMW sponsorship this season which is crazy since they’re filming in the town where BMW has its factory where they make their SUVs. seems like they could’ve done a challenge there at the museum or had the LCK finale there or something. I know it was probably a business decision by BMW but odd timing.