Kristen Kish
Courtesy of Natalie Engel
Top Chef has found its new host – and it didn’t have to go far.
Kristen Kish, who won the Bravo cook-off season 10 and has since served as a guest judge on several occasions, will succeed Padma Lakshmi in season 21. Top Chef will be building its kitchen in Wisconsin for the upcoming season, with a focus on Milwaukee and Madison. Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons will once again sit at the judges’ table.
Lakshmi, who has hosted Top Chef since the second season in 2006/07, announced on June 2 that she is leaving the show. “Having completed a glorious 20th season as Host and Executive Producer, I am extremely proud to have been involved in building such a successful show and the impact it has had on the television and hospitality worlds,” she said. “After 17 years, many of the cast and crew are like family to me and I will miss working with them very much.”
Sources say the search for a new presenter has focused on former Top Chef competitors who also have other on-camera experiences. Kish quickly became the top candidate for the job.
“My journey began at Top Chef – first as a competing chef, then as a guest judge. As the host, I now have the honor of helping to further build this brand,” Kish said in a statement. “I’m so excited to sit next to Gail and Tom as we meet new incredible chefs and see what they cook. It feels like coming home.”
Casey Kriley and Jo Sharon, Co-CEOs of Series Producer Magical Elves, said: “Kristen is a beloved member of the Top Chef family and we are thrilled that she is here and bringing her unique, fresh and global culinary perspective to the competition. ‘ , as well as her true passion for food. We look forward to Season 21 and know our new chefs will be inspired by the burgeoning culinary scene in Milwaukee and Madison, known for blending tradition with innovation and using farm-fresh ingredients.”
Lakshmi also gave the election a thumbs up, write on twitter“So proud of you @KristenLKish and so happy to have you filling in for me!!!” I will be crossing my fingers for you and our entire crew next season.”
In addition to her time on Top Chef, Kish – the owner of Arlo Gray at Austin’s Line Hotel – has hosted several other food and travel shows across multiple platforms. She is the host and producer of Nat Geo’s “Restaurants at the End of the World” and co-hosts “Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend” on Netflix and “Fast Foodies” on TruTV. She also previously hosted the Travel Channel show “36 Hours,” based on the New York Times column of the same name.
Kriley and Sharon are executive producers on Top Chef, starring Doneen Arquines, Hillary Olsen and Tracy Tong.
July 11, 12:30 p.m Updated with commentary by Padma Lakshmi.