‘Top Chef’ Season 19 To Be Shot In Houston, According To Bravo

After safely and successfully filming its final season last year in Portland, Ore., “Top Chef,” the Emmy-winning cooking competition, moved to Houston for season 19. Production began there. and the show will premiere next year.

Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons all return to judge the new group of chefstestants. Also coming back is a variant of last season’s “Top Chef” all-star jury, in which the show’s alumni joined its bubble as guest judges and mentors. The idea arose out of the need for a pre-COVID vaccine, but has proven popular with fans of the series. Tiffany Derry, Hung Huynh, Stephanie Izard, Melissa King, Kristen Kish, Kwame Onwuachi, Sam Talbot, Brooke Williamson and Claudette Zepeda are among the alumni who will appear in the 19th season of “Top Chef’s”, with more names to be announced later.

Houston boss Dawn Burrell, who was a finalist last season, will also be among the returning alumni.

Season 9 of “Top Chef” was shot in several cities in Texas – Austin, San Antonio and Dallas – but did not go to Houston. In a Variety story earlier this year about producing “Top Chef” during the pandemic, Bravo executive Matt Reichman said the “Top Chef” braintrust – the network executives, the show’s producers and his production company , Magical Elves – spotted cities years in advance, in a never-ending cycle of preparation.

Bravo provided a statement from Sylvester Turner, the mayor of Houston, about the show’s arrival there. “I can’t think of a more perfect match than ‘Top Chef’ and the city of Houston. Both represent a celebration of cuisine, culture and innovation, ”he said. “We pride ourselves on the diverse community and unique heritage that make our city such a popular culinary destination – from classics like Tex-Mex and barbecue to local inventions like Viet-Cajun and Japanese tapas. As any Top Chef competitor will tell you, the best food comes from passion, and Houstonians exemplify that idea with every dish we create. “

According to Bravo, “Top Chef” will again run under “CDC guidelines, all state and local orders, as well as NBCUniversal’s own safety guidelines.”

From Magical Elves, Casey Kriley, Jo Sharon, Doneen Arquines, Hillary Olsen and Gaylen Gawlowski are the executive producers of “Top Chef”.