“Top Chef” returned for its 19th season on March 3, 2022, bringing the show back to Texas — Houston, to be exact. The show was set in the Lone Star State a decade ago for season nine, stopping in cities like San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin, but not in Houston, which is the fourth most populous city in the United States of America. So how did this year’s cheftestants do? Scroll down for the results of “Top Chef: Houston,” updated every week as another chef packs their knives and goes. (Spoiler Alert for anyone not caught up on the episodes that have aired thus far.)
The 15 chefs from a wide variety of backgrounds who started the competition were Damarr Brown, Jo Chan, Monica Feybesse, Leia Gaccione, Evelyn Garcia, Robert Hernandez, Jae Jung, Jackson Kalb, Sam Kang, Luke Kolpin, Buddha Lo, Stephanie Miller, Ashleigh Shanti, Nick Wallace, and Sarah Welch. They competed for...
The 15 chefs from a wide variety of backgrounds who started the competition were Damarr Brown, Jo Chan, Monica Feybesse, Leia Gaccione, Evelyn Garcia, Robert Hernandez, Jae Jung, Jackson Kalb, Sam Kang, Luke Kolpin, Buddha Lo, Stephanie Miller, Ashleigh Shanti, Nick Wallace, and Sarah Welch. They competed for...
- 6/3/2022
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
No more “Last Chance Kitchen.” Sarah Welch beat Jae Jung, tying the record for the most “Lck” wins in “Top Chef” history. And no more immunity from elimination. So the six remaining chefs had no margin for error. Joining Sarah in the top six were Damarr Brown, Evelyn Garcia, Buddha Lo, Ashleigh Shanti, and Nick Wallace. So what happened when they traveled to Galveston to make dishes for a special family reunion in “Family Vacation”? Read on to find out in our episode 11 recap.
See‘Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen’ has a historic finale: ‘What kind of fresh hell is this going to be?’ [Watch] Quickfire Challenge
Immediately after Sarah’s “Lck” victory, the chefs were told they were going on the road. And Sarah was already worried, half-jokingly admitting to Padma Lakshmi when they arrived at their destination that she was “horrified” to be back since “Lck” required a different...
See‘Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen’ has a historic finale: ‘What kind of fresh hell is this going to be?’ [Watch] Quickfire Challenge
Immediately after Sarah’s “Lck” victory, the chefs were told they were going on the road. And Sarah was already worried, half-jokingly admitting to Padma Lakshmi when they arrived at their destination that she was “horrified” to be back since “Lck” required a different...
- 5/13/2022
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
“What kind of fresh hell is this going to be?” wondered Jo Chan, sitting on the sidelines for the last episode of “Last Chance Kitchen” for “Top Chef: Houston.” She was responding to the latest devious twist within a twist that was sprung on Jae Jung, who was just eliminated in “Dinner in Zero Gravity,” and Sarah Welch, who has been crushing it in an almost unprecedented “Lck” winning streak. So who won this episode and finally won a chance to return to the main competition? Watch part one of the episode above, and part two below.
See‘Top Chef: Houston’ episode 10 recap: Meeeeals … iiiin … spaaaaaace! ‘Dinner in Zero Gravity’ sent the chefs into orbit
Jae was eliminated for a dish made for astronauts but palatable to no one with mushy beef that fell apart and under-cooked barley. Her textures were off, so for their “Lck” challenge, Jae and Sarah...
See‘Top Chef: Houston’ episode 10 recap: Meeeeals … iiiin … spaaaaaace! ‘Dinner in Zero Gravity’ sent the chefs into orbit
Jae was eliminated for a dish made for astronauts but palatable to no one with mushy beef that fell apart and under-cooked barley. Her textures were off, so for their “Lck” challenge, Jae and Sarah...
- 5/7/2022
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
There were just six chefs left on “Top Chef: Houston” going into episode 10, “Dinner in Zero Gravity,” as the competition gets closer to the home stretch: Damarr Brown, Evelyn Garcia, Jae Jung, Buddha Lo, Ashleigh Shanti, and Nick Wallace. So at this elite level of the competition, it was time for them to shoot for the stars. But their first challenge kept them grounded.
See‘Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen’: Did Sarah Welch ‘destroy’ Luke Kolpin like the 5 chefs who came before him? [Watch] Quickfire Challenge
Before launching into space they found a message from host Padma Lakshmi waiting for them when they woke up: “Grab a map and meet me at the Houston Farmer’s Market.” So that part of the challenge was clear at least. When they arrived, Padma greeted them along with the guest judge for this challenge: “Top Chef” All-Star Claudette Zepeda. They explained a little...
See‘Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen’: Did Sarah Welch ‘destroy’ Luke Kolpin like the 5 chefs who came before him? [Watch] Quickfire Challenge
Before launching into space they found a message from host Padma Lakshmi waiting for them when they woke up: “Grab a map and meet me at the Houston Farmer’s Market.” So that part of the challenge was clear at least. When they arrived, Padma greeted them along with the guest judge for this challenge: “Top Chef” All-Star Claudette Zepeda. They explained a little...
- 5/6/2022
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Last week’s “Top Chef” episode, “Restaurant Wars,” was a giant killer as it ended with the elimination of Jackson Kalb. He’d had the judges’ favorite dishes for the majority of the season up to that point despite not being able to taste his own food, but his poor ideas combined with his poor front-of-house service ended his run on the show. That left seven cheftestants in the competition: Damarr Brown, Evelyn Garcia, Jae Jung, Luke Kolpin, Buddha Lo, Ashleigh Shanti, and Nick Wallace. How did they fare in episode nine, “Freedmen’s Town,” when they had to cook food that nurtured their own souls. Read on to find out what happened this week.
Quickfire Challenge
The show started with an especially consequential Quickfire Challenge as this would be the last time this season that the winner would get immunity from elimination. Host Padma Lakshmi would decide the winner...
Quickfire Challenge
The show started with an especially consequential Quickfire Challenge as this would be the last time this season that the winner would get immunity from elimination. Host Padma Lakshmi would decide the winner...
- 4/29/2022
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
“Top Chef: Houston” went into episode eight with eight contestants left in the kitchen: Damarr Brown, Evelyn Garcia, Jae Jung, Jackson Kalb, Luke Kolpin, Buddha Lo, Ashleigh Shanti, and Nick Wallace. That’s a nice even number that splits cleanly into two teams of four, so during this week’s ominous opener with the chefs driving to their next challenge — as if to the gallows — Damarr wondered aloud, “It’s gotta be Restaurant Wars, right?”
Damarr hit the nail on the head! It was time for one of “Top Chef’s” most notorious challenges, where the chefs team up to create rival restaurants, given only 36 hours to plan, design, and execute the whole thing from top to bottom. Deciding the two teams started with drawing knives, but it didn’t end there. Most of the knives were blank, while Nick drew one that said “First Choice” and Jae drew one that said “Second Choice.
Damarr hit the nail on the head! It was time for one of “Top Chef’s” most notorious challenges, where the chefs team up to create rival restaurants, given only 36 hours to plan, design, and execute the whole thing from top to bottom. Deciding the two teams started with drawing knives, but it didn’t end there. Most of the knives were blank, while Nick drew one that said “First Choice” and Jae drew one that said “Second Choice.
- 4/22/2022
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
With the exit of Monica Feybesse from the “Top Chef: Houston” kitchen last week, there were nine cheftestants left going into episode seven, “Swallow the Competition”: Damarr Brown, Jo Chan, Evelyn Garcia, Jae Jung, Jackson Kalb, Luke Kolpin, Buddha Lo, Ashleigh Shanti, and Nick Wallace. But swallowing the competition had two meanings as those nine hopefuls would learn. Read on to find out what happened this week.
See‘Top Chef: Houston’ episode 6 recap: Ousted chef returned and contestants celebrated ‘Texas Trailblaze-hers’ Quickfire Challenge
Host Padma Lakshmi introduced two guest judges — Ope Amosu and “Top Chef” All-Star Kwame Onwuachi — who explained that the chefs would be dealing with Nigerian cuisine, specifically swallows, which are starches that are cooked (usually boiled) until tender and then dipped into a soup or stew. Each chef was to prepare a dish to complement a particular swallow. But before cooking they had the opportunity to...
See‘Top Chef: Houston’ episode 6 recap: Ousted chef returned and contestants celebrated ‘Texas Trailblaze-hers’ Quickfire Challenge
Host Padma Lakshmi introduced two guest judges — Ope Amosu and “Top Chef” All-Star Kwame Onwuachi — who explained that the chefs would be dealing with Nigerian cuisine, specifically swallows, which are starches that are cooked (usually boiled) until tender and then dipped into a soup or stew. Each chef was to prepare a dish to complement a particular swallow. But before cooking they had the opportunity to...
- 4/15/2022
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
“Top Chef: Houston” contestant Ashleigh Shanti was like a boomerang: eliminated last week in “Don’t Mess with BBQ,” fighting for redemption on “Last Chance Kitchen,” and immediately earning a spot back in the competition for episode six, “Trailblaze-hers,” where she re-joined the other nine chefs: Damarr Brown, Jo Chan, Monique Feybesse, Evelyn Garcia, Jae Jung, Jackson Kalb, Luke Kolpin, Buddha Lo, and Nick Wallace. Did she fare better this week when the contestants paid tribute to legendary women?
Before that main challenge, though, the 10 chefs once again had to rely on teamwork.
See‘Top Chef’ spoilers: Who had to pack their knives and go during Houston season? Quickfire Challenge
Host Padma Lakshmi, joined by guest judges and “Top Chef” All-stars Nini Nguyen and Kelsey Barnard Clark, reintroduced Ashleigh to her teammates and then directed them all towards a collection of ingredients. Five chefs would choose a sweet ingredient, and...
Before that main challenge, though, the 10 chefs once again had to rely on teamwork.
See‘Top Chef’ spoilers: Who had to pack their knives and go during Houston season? Quickfire Challenge
Host Padma Lakshmi, joined by guest judges and “Top Chef” All-stars Nini Nguyen and Kelsey Barnard Clark, reintroduced Ashleigh to her teammates and then directed them all towards a collection of ingredients. Five chefs would choose a sweet ingredient, and...
- 4/8/2022
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Last week’s team challenge on “Top Chef” ended with the double elimination of Robert Hernandez and Sarah Welch, which left 10 cooks in the kitchen: Damarr Brown, Jo Chan, Monica Feybesse, Evelyn Garcia, Jae Jung, Jackson Kalb, Luke Kolpin, Buddha Lo, Ashleigh Shanti, and Nick Wallace. But they didn’t have time to process that before Padma Lakshmi visited them backstage to get them ready for their next challenge. Read on to find out what happened in “Don’t Mess with BBQ.”
Padma let the chefs know that the very next morning they would meet “Top Chef” All-Star Brooke Williamson on location, which worried the contestants because Padma wouldn’t rush to prepare you immediately for the next challenge if it weren’t going to be a doozy. Indeed, they did have their work cut out for them the next morning when they met up with Brooke, who led them...
Padma let the chefs know that the very next morning they would meet “Top Chef” All-Star Brooke Williamson on location, which worried the contestants because Padma wouldn’t rush to prepare you immediately for the next challenge if it weren’t going to be a doozy. Indeed, they did have their work cut out for them the next morning when they met up with Brooke, who led them...
- 4/1/2022
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Last week’s episode of “Top Chef” brought the 13 contestants to an Asian night market to prepare their own versions of Asian street foods. Unfortunately, Sam Kang‘s ill-advised preparation of his potatoes got him eliminated. But that was easy compared to this week’s episode, “Doppelgangers,” where there was a double elimination, cutting the competition from 12 contestants to 10 in one fell swoop. So who were the unlucky duo? Read on to find out what happened when the chefs had to create clever lookalike dishes.
The 12 cheftestants who went into “Doppelgangers” were Damarr Brown, Jo Chan, Monica Feybesse, Evelyn Garcia, Robert Hernandez, Jae Jung, Jackson Kalb, Luke Kolpin, Buddha Lo, Ashleigh Shanti, Nick Wallace, and Sarah Welch. But before they broke up into teams of two, they had to mind their own biscuits.
See‘Top Chef’ spoilers: Who had to pack their knives and go during Houston season? Quickfire Challenge...
The 12 cheftestants who went into “Doppelgangers” were Damarr Brown, Jo Chan, Monica Feybesse, Evelyn Garcia, Robert Hernandez, Jae Jung, Jackson Kalb, Luke Kolpin, Buddha Lo, Ashleigh Shanti, Nick Wallace, and Sarah Welch. But before they broke up into teams of two, they had to mind their own biscuits.
See‘Top Chef’ spoilers: Who had to pack their knives and go during Houston season? Quickfire Challenge...
- 3/25/2022
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Episode two of “Top Chef: Houston” brought the cheftestants out on the football field to try to score a culinary touchdown. They’re back outside again in “Noodles and Rice and Everything Nice,” this time at an Asian night market. Read on for a recap of this flavorful world tour.
The lucky 13 remaining competitors were Damarr Brown, Jo Chan, Monica Feybesse, Evelyn Garcia, Robert Hernandez, Jae Jung, Jackson Kalb, Sam Kang, Luke Kolpin, Buddha Lo, Ashleigh Shanti, Nick Wallace, and Sarah Welch. And there was so much work for them to do this week that host Padma Lakshmi told them there would be no Quickfire Challenge (meaning no immunity), and that they’d be going straight to the week’s main course.
See‘Top Chef’ spoilers: Who had to pack their knives and go during Houston season? Elimination Challenge
The chefs were greeted by Padma, guest judge Hung Huynh (winner...
The lucky 13 remaining competitors were Damarr Brown, Jo Chan, Monica Feybesse, Evelyn Garcia, Robert Hernandez, Jae Jung, Jackson Kalb, Sam Kang, Luke Kolpin, Buddha Lo, Ashleigh Shanti, Nick Wallace, and Sarah Welch. And there was so much work for them to do this week that host Padma Lakshmi told them there would be no Quickfire Challenge (meaning no immunity), and that they’d be going straight to the week’s main course.
See‘Top Chef’ spoilers: Who had to pack their knives and go during Houston season? Elimination Challenge
The chefs were greeted by Padma, guest judge Hung Huynh (winner...
- 3/18/2022
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
“Top Chef: Houston” started last week with a challenge focused around primal cuts of beef. So it’s fitting that episode two, “Friday Night Bites,” took the cheftestants in completely the opposite direction: carbs! Read on to find out what the contestants did with my favorite food group.
See‘Top Chef’ season 19 premiere recap: ‘Primal Instincts’ started Houston competition with a beefy team challenge
The 14 chefs remaining in the competition were Damarr Brown, Jo Chan, Monica Feybesse, Evelyn Garcia, Robert Hernandez, Jae Jung, Jackson Kalb, Sam Kang, Luke Kolpin, Buddha Lo, Stephanie Miller, Ashleigh Shanti, Nick Wallace, and Sarah Welch.
But before the chefs went carb crazy, they had to tangle with my second favorite food group …
Quickfire Challenge
When the cheftestants entered the kitchen, they were greeted by Padma Lakshmi and guest judge Irma Galvan, a James Beard Award winning chef. They were surrounded by piles of cheese and a fondue machine.
See‘Top Chef’ season 19 premiere recap: ‘Primal Instincts’ started Houston competition with a beefy team challenge
The 14 chefs remaining in the competition were Damarr Brown, Jo Chan, Monica Feybesse, Evelyn Garcia, Robert Hernandez, Jae Jung, Jackson Kalb, Sam Kang, Luke Kolpin, Buddha Lo, Stephanie Miller, Ashleigh Shanti, Nick Wallace, and Sarah Welch.
But before the chefs went carb crazy, they had to tangle with my second favorite food group …
Quickfire Challenge
When the cheftestants entered the kitchen, they were greeted by Padma Lakshmi and guest judge Irma Galvan, a James Beard Award winning chef. They were surrounded by piles of cheese and a fondue machine.
- 3/11/2022
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
“It sucks,” admitted Leia Gaccione during her exit interview about being the first cheftestant eliminated from “Top Chef: Houston.” “You don’t put your life on hold to compete in the most prestigious cooking competition to be eliminated in the first challenge.” She had to pack her knives and go after flubbing a beef challenge in the season premiere, “Primal Instincts.”
“I made some very rookie mistakes. I was not focused. I did not pay attention to detail. It was not my best day,” she added. The season premiere was all about teamwork. For the Quickfire Challenge she joined forces with Stephanie Miller and Jae Jung to try to create one cohesive dish despite not being allowed to communicate with one another. They struggled there, producing one of the judges’ least favorite dishes with dry, overcooked pork.
See‘Top Chef’ season 19 premiere recap: ‘Primal Instincts’ started Houston competition with a...
“I made some very rookie mistakes. I was not focused. I did not pay attention to detail. It was not my best day,” she added. The season premiere was all about teamwork. For the Quickfire Challenge she joined forces with Stephanie Miller and Jae Jung to try to create one cohesive dish despite not being allowed to communicate with one another. They struggled there, producing one of the judges’ least favorite dishes with dry, overcooked pork.
See‘Top Chef’ season 19 premiere recap: ‘Primal Instincts’ started Houston competition with a...
- 3/6/2022
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
“Top Chef” has held a season in Texas before, but perhaps surprisingly they never made a stop in Houston, America’s fourth largest city, until now. Season 19 of the cooking competition kicked off in the Lone Star State on Thursday night, March 3, with “Primal Instincts,” a tricky team challenge to see who was a cut (of beef) above the rest.
The 15 chefs from all walks of life competing for the $250,000 grand prize were Damarr Brown, Jo Chan, Monica Feybesse, Leia Gaccione, Evelyn Garcia, Robert Hernandez, Jae Jung, Jackson Kalb, Sam Kang, Luke Kolpin, Buddha Lo, Stephanie Miller, Ashleigh Shanti, Nick Wallace, and Sarah Welch.
Just how steep is the competition? As soon as host Padma Lakshmi invited them into the kitchen for the very first time, she asked how many of the cheftestants had been James Beard Award nominees — several hands went up. Then she asked how many of them...
The 15 chefs from all walks of life competing for the $250,000 grand prize were Damarr Brown, Jo Chan, Monica Feybesse, Leia Gaccione, Evelyn Garcia, Robert Hernandez, Jae Jung, Jackson Kalb, Sam Kang, Luke Kolpin, Buddha Lo, Stephanie Miller, Ashleigh Shanti, Nick Wallace, and Sarah Welch.
Just how steep is the competition? As soon as host Padma Lakshmi invited them into the kitchen for the very first time, she asked how many of the cheftestants had been James Beard Award nominees — several hands went up. Then she asked how many of them...
- 3/4/2022
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
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