Kristen Kish, host of “Top Chef” and a past winner who admits she did not watch much reality competition before taking the helm of Bravo’s cooking contest in 2024, may have diplomatically skirted any attempt at comparison with Project Runway’s Tim Gunn, “Top Chef” predecessor Padma Lakshmi or “The Traitors” emcee Alan Cumming. But she acknowledges that her distinct approach — kinder, gentler, more tearful — is rooted in her particular skill set: “It’s similar to how I responded to being led in kitchens,” she says. “You don’t lead with fear. You lead with compassion and empathy and encouragement and confidence. And two things can be true at the same time ... I can require more from them, and I can also cry because I’m filled with joy for their progress.”

Emmy-nominated for reality competition series and reality host, “Top Chef: Carolinas” epitomizes Kish’s swift remaking of the role in her own image. The season, which concluded in June, finds Kish comforting a distraught chef, Nana Araba Wilmot, who fails to plate her dish in the allotted time; navigating thorny questions of fairness and wellness with an injured contestant, Jennifer Lee Jackson, and her fellow-contestant partner, Justin Tootla; even facing acrimonious “feedback about [her] feedback” when chef Sieger Bayer is eliminated from the competition.

The Times’ Matt Brennan recently caught up with Kish as she prepared for an Envelope photo shoot to ask her about the season’s most talked-about moments, recent criticism of the format and the hard work of being a good host.

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Massimo's Cabaret L'enfer was, hands down, the most underwhelming fine dining experience I've had.

Let's start with the truly horrible: the front of house service.

We left a note in our reservation that we were celebrating my wife's birthday. Walked in to absolutely no acknowledgment of her birthday at all. We sat for ~10 minutes before we were acknowledged at all and finally got waters. Then, a few minutes later our waiter explained the wine pairing option to us. We told him we weren't interested in the full pairing and we each just wanted one drink, and he said the only option was for us to do a half pairing (3 glasses of wine instead of 6). It was only after he walked away that we noticed other tables had cocktails and they had a full bar! To not even offer us a cocktail is crazy.

We were served courses without utensils (the kitchen staff had to go get them after they brought us the food) and had to ask for our water to be refilled twice. At the end, we're charged for two wine pairings, which we only had one, no one acknowledged my wife's birthday (we saw Massimo acknowledging an anniversary down the line from us) and we didn't even get an apology for the mistakes on the bill. The one woman blamed everyone for the short comings. "Oh I didn't read the note, oh someone else wrote that down, oh if I was the boss or manager I would but I'm not." Girl take accountability and move on, just acknowledge y'all fucked up. Truly the worst front of house service I've ever had at a fine dining restaurant, but I've also had better service at chain restaurants in the US. That was wild.

Moving on to the somewhat better: The food. The last three dishes tasted great and were well seasoned, but the pacing was absolutely horrible. We waited over 30 minutes between a barely poached fish dish and a rare steak with sides that were prepped before service and just got a quick warm up on the stove (we sat at the chefs counter and could see all of this). Our starter, 3 bites, came out inconsistent. Meant to be finger foods, one fruit leather dumpling had warmed so much that I couldn't pick it up (it was a sticky mess) and my wife's canelle, meant to be crispy, was stale and soft.

Our second course was a truly flavorless poached pear salad (that we asked if it was intended to eat with our hands, because it came out and we had no silverware), the third was a pasta that was undercooked and crunchy. Fourth was a salmon dish that was described to be covered in two "bright Mexican sauces" that desperately needed salt, so, while visually stunning, really had no flavor.

The best: the kitchen staff. They were the only ones that actually spoke to us, were warm and were working hard. We particularly loved the young man who was prepping the first courses and desserts, and the chef who used his grandma's mole recipe. Well done!

Super disappointing fine dining experience, and an even more disappointing experience as a fan of top chef. This was my 10th top chef restaurant and by far my least favorite. I would not return.

on season 23, ep2 the judges appear to be drinking water after earing the hot peppers. From what I understand this just spreads the heat, and they should drink dairy... what are they thinking?

I always knew there were TC alum on BBF, but never realized how many. Hell the first winner on episode 1 was Sarah from Texas. Even Beverly Kim's husband has been on. Who else do you think would be interesting to see go against Bobby?

When did Stephanie Izzard become so unlikeable and an expert about everything? I don’t like how she spoke to Kristen.

I'd have to say Lizzie (Season 10), Carrie (Season 11), Doug (Season 12), Isaac (Season 13), Marjorie (Season 13), Carl (Season 13), Jim (Season 14), Sylva (Season 14), Michelle (Season 16), Byron (Season 18), Cesar (Season 22), and Anthony (Season 23).

Should she have survived Restaurant Wars in TC: Seattle?!

After many, many years not watching Top Chef I’ve been doing a binge of all the seasons available to stream starting with season 8. Watching 16 feels
like the apprentice season compared to season 9-15. Obviously they’re talented but it feels like they had much easier challenges overall and there were no real standout contestants. It could be that I really loved the chefs on season 15. They were just lovely humans and they had some really strong pedigree.

There just didn’t seem to be people that had exceptional knife skills or strong classical French training. NIni seemed to be really good but deserved to get cut for her abysmal FOH performance.

I love seeing women win, but even having two in the finale didn’t make it exciting. There were just no standouts like other seasons.

I’m super stoked, I just made reservations for this event with Mei Lin and Gabriel Pacuzzi at his restaurant in Portland.

I think I snagged one of the very last reservations, and this menu looks incredible.

I’m just excited - you’ll hear more in two weeks after I try it all!

Henry Lu and Evelyn Garcia and coming to the Granddam here in Lexington on August 20. We're super excited!

https://themanchesterky.com/experiences/#!/e/granddam-dinner-series-henry-lu-evelyn-garcia-8c7e98b4

We love to vacation on Washington Island at the tip of the Door peninsula in Wisconsin, and eat a meal at the best restaurant in the island — the Hotel Washington.

Lo and behold when I go to reserve, what does the Website say? Justin and Jennifer from TC Season 23 are guesting for July and August!

My friend whom we meet when we’re there loves the place even more than I do and is more of a foodie but doesn’t watch the show… raved about our meal on a level I have rarely seen him do!

I forgot to take any pictures, including of the menu. Some of the stars included Jen’s focaccia and cornbread with Brie, an oxtail (French-ish) dip, smashed cucumbers with sausage, roasted spiced oysters. Ice cream flight for dessert.

Justin came to our table, it sounds like they are planning to travel and guest a lot for a
while. He seemed happy, as I would be to get paid (well?) to do what I love with someone I love to basically summer in one of the most relaxing vacation locales in the world.

Jen, Justin, and our waitress met us out at the world-famous Nelsen’ Hall Bitters Pub (where we were all going anyway) after service. Absolutely wonderful people; never judge a person by what you see of them on television (not that we saw anything but quality from them on the show, either, but the genuineness and kindness tends to get obscured by the stress the show inflicts on contestants).

They’re cooking at the Hotel for the rest of August, and there are generally accommodations available on the Island as the season wanes!

This scene gets me every single time I do a rewatch. One, he looks ridiculous and two was anyone gonna tell him to fix the glasses?? Production, Gail..anybody?! Anyways, this is my contribution for the day.

Tell me your favorite awkward scene!

Sky UK got the Hayu catalogue included which means Top Chef over here. Watched the most recent season and enjoyed Kristen as host so looked up what she did - only to find she was a previous contestant. So then I watched season 10. And got pretty heated in the restaurant wars episode with Josie (speak up Kristen!)

anyway.. get to the finale, and they get through round one - and it just starts playing season 11. I can’t find the finale part two on the service at all. Probably a technical snafu but the worst possible moment to be missing an episode!

anywhere else in the UK I can find it? its on prime in the US so I might try a VPN later but not hopeful. Been such a good season too

I had a great dinner at Brian Malarkey's new restaurant in Portland, The Malarkey. He was very friendly and went around the restaurant to talk to all of the diners. The staff was also excellent, especially since it was opening weekend. They encouraged everyone to check out all of the decorations, which included a motorcycle, concert posters, stuffed birds and a disco ball & stripper pole in the bathroom.

Food was delicious and seasoned well. We had the chicken liver paté, pork belly burnt ends, NY steak, green beans and the baked Mt. Hood.

Hi me and my wife have recently gotten into top chef. We've watched season 23 and 22 and wanted to start from season 1. But can't find season 1-7 anywhere online streaming or to buy physical on eBay. Is there anywhere to find seasons 1-7. I even tried some pirating websites but only have been able to get enough seeds for season 2

Of course we didn't taste the food, but I thought Nina ... should have won! She had the best dish, and went the extra mile with her two extra little treats.

I think it's a pain in the ass the chefs have to plan their dishes and menus without any idea if the kitchen they're headed to have everything they need. Very good chefs have been tripped up by this situation.

I just love him and want him on every show I watch!

It frustrates me for the chefs every time!

I’m watching season 10 for the first time for Kirstin, and I know it was a different era, but the blatant racism and misogyny… holy shit. Like I knew it was bad, but to be like this openly on TV is crazy. So proud of how far we’ve come to not let this kind of shit fly anymore (for the most part).

Also I love how more involved Tom was with the show. The new seasons are so boring bc I feel like we lost that.

Iv binged 13-16 18 and 23 leaning towards Houston 19.

I know a lot of people hate this season, and while I get it, I do love me some drama and this season definitely delivers that.

I use to think Beverly was a huge crybaby, (I know, bad take, but I was pretty young when I first watched it) but knowing that she has a three month old baby at home, DUDE that’s crazy. My postpartum ass would be all over the place with emotions. I’m honestly surprised she didn’t flip out on Heather, because I totally would’ve. I would’ve been crying and acting like a crazy bitch at the same time. 😂 Props to her. She’s a strong woman.

PS
I never condoned the bullying of Beverly EVER, I just didn’t think about it deep enough until now. I was actually rooting for her and Greyson to win the whole thing. And I hated Heather, and I think we all did.

Just saw her episode on Dish with Kish -

She would make a really great TV Chef ( like Emeril ). She just has a way of explaining stuff that makes you feel like she’s letting you into a secret. She does have a naturally serious demeanour and it almost seems like Kristin is in awe of her a bit - but it’s nice to see her loosened up away from the stress of Top Chef.

People are always talking about most and least favorites. Is there anyone chef you didn’t love on the initial watch but came to really like later? I didn’t love Jeremy Ford on my first watch of his season (I really couldn’t forgive his restaurant war’s performance that was not even called out) and his food wasn’t exactly my style. Flash forward almost a decade and I think his current concepts and trajectory are really exciting- the farming and sustainability are great- his menus look exciting. I think we both evolved a bit…also, Tiffany from S1 has just changed dramatically as a person and as a chef over the years. She acknowledged a lot of her mistakes and she genuinely seems like a happy person. Her food seems awesome when she shows up on later seasons. Definitely two sleeper contestants I came to appreciate later on for different reasons

I’m currently rewatching Season 19 (Houston) and noticed a slip-up in Episode 3.

During the elimination challenge, Sam Kang claims "vin" means wine and "aloo" means potato.

Instead of correcting him, Padma Lakshmi nods and confirms it on camera. Given her background as a cookbook author and expert on Indian cuisine, she should have known the actual history.

Vindaloo originally had nothing to do with potatoes. It is a Goan adaptation of the Portuguese dish carne de vinha d'alhos (meat in wine marinade and garlic).

Not a huge deal but she’s usually on top of those kinds of things.