“Former ‘Top Chef’ Winner Kristen Kish Steps Up as Host, Replacing Padma Lakshmi for Upcoming Season”
The next season of the popular cooking competition show, “Top Chef,” will feature a new host at the helm. Kristen Kish, the season 10 winner of “Top Chef,” has been announced as the replacement for the show’s longtime host, Padma Lakshmi. Bravo, the network airing the show, confirmed the news in a press release on Tuesday.
Kish expressed her excitement about returning to the show that launched her career in a video posted on Instagram. She described it as a “full-circle moment” and a “homecoming,” emphasizing that “Top Chef” is where her journey started. Kish will join judges Gail Simmons and Tom Colicchio as they discover new talented chefs and witness their culinary creations.
Born in South Korea and raised in Michigan, Kish developed a passion for cooking from an early age. After attending culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago, she gained experience working in prestigious restaurants, including a Michelin-star establishment where she oversaw back-of-house operations. Following her victory on “Top Chef,” Kish served as the head chef at another fine dining restaurant before venturing into travel hosting and publishing her own cookbook.
Kish’s previous hosting credits include the co-hosting role on “36 Hours” on the Travel Channel, as well as hosting “Fast Foodies” on truTV. Alongside her culinary expertise, she launched her own restaurant, Arlo Grey, and authored her debut cookbook, “Kristen Kish Cooking.”
The announcement of Kish as the new host was met with enthusiasm from Ryan Flynn, Senior Vice President of Current Production at NBCUniversal Television & Streaming, who highlighted her exceptional culinary background and her previous involvement as a cheftestant, winner, and guest judge on “Top Chef.” The CEOs of Magic Elves, the production company behind the competition, expressed their excitement for Kish joining the “Top Chef” family, praising her global culinary perspective and genuine passion for food.
The upcoming season, the show’s 21st, will break new ground as it ventures to Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin, for the first time in the show’s history. However, the network has yet to announce the exact airing date for the new season, leaving eager fans anticipating the next culinary showdown in the renowned “Top Chef” kitchen.
