Top Chef: Seattle Explained

Season Number:10
Bgcolour:
  1. FFADAD
Num Episodes:17
Network:Bravo
Module1:
Host:Padma Lakshmi
Judges:Tom Colicchio
Gail Simmons
Emeril Lagasse
Hugh Acheson
Wolfgang Puck
Location:Seattle, Washington
Finals Venue:Juneau, Alaska
Num Contestants:24
Winner:Kristen Kish
Runner Up:Brooke Williamson
Label1:Fan Favorite
Data1:Sheldon Simeon
Prev Season:Texas
Next Season:New Orleans
Episode List:List of Top Chef episodes

Top Chef: Seattle is the tenth season of the American reality television series Top Chef. The season was announced on September 19, 2012, and premiered on November 7, 2012. The competition was initially filmed in Seattle, Washington before moving to Juneau, Alaska for three episodes, and then concluding in Los Angeles, California.[1] Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen, the web series introduced in the previous season which puts the eliminated contestants against each other in head-to-head challenges to battle for a chance to re-enter the main competition, also returned.[2] The winner continued to compete in the season finale.[3] In addition, viewers could vote each week for chefs eliminated from the Last Chance Kitchen to move on in the "Save a Chef" competition. The winner of the final vote was "saved", and earned a spot in the final round of the Last Chance Kitchen.[3] In the season finale, Kristen Kish was declared the winner over runner-up Brooke Williamson.[4] Sheldon Simeon was voted Fan Favorite.[5]

Contestants

The cast of Top Chef: Seattle initially consisted of 21 contestants.[2] After the qualifying challenges in the first episode, the pool of chefs was narrowed down to 15. Former Top Chef competitors Josie Smith-Malave (), Chris "CJ" Jacobson (), and Stefan Richter () joined the competition during the second episode.

Eliminated in qualifying rounds

NameHometownCurrent ResidenceAge
Tina BourbeauNew York, New York42
Stephanie CmarBoston, Massachusetts27
Anthony GrayMacon, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia35
Gina KeatleyBoston, MassachusettsHarlem, New York32
Daniel O'BrienClarkson, New YorkWashington, D.C.32
Jorel PierceDenver, Colorado28

Top 18

NameHometownCurrent ResidenceAge
Elizabeth "Lizzie" BinderDurban, South AfricaSan Francisco, California37
Chrissy CambaChicago, Illinois31
Micah FieldsLos Angeles, California28
Eliza GavinTelluride, Colorado38
Chris "CJ" JacobsonEl Toro, CaliforniaStudio City, California36
Jeffrey JewWashington, D.C.St. Petersburg, Florida34
Kristen KishKentwood, MichiganBoston, Massachusetts28
Danyele McPhersonWaynesville, North CarolinaDallas, Texas31
Carla PellegrinoRio de Janeiro, BrazilLas Vegas, Nevada43
Stefan RichterTampere, FinlandSanta Monica, California40
Sheldon SimeonHilo, HawaiiLahaina, Hawaii30
Josie Smith-MalaveMiami, FloridaSan Francisco, California37
John TesarNew York, New YorkDallas, Texas54
Joshua "Josh" ValentineDel City, OklahomaDallas, Texas33
Bart VandaeleRoeselare, BelgiumWashington, D.C.42
Tyler WiardDenver, Colorado41
Brooke WilliamsonLos Angeles, CaliforniaRedondo Beach, California34
Kuniko YagiMaebashi, JapanLos Angeles, California35

Jorel Pierce returned as Jennifer Jasinski's sous chef on the fifth season of Top Chef Masters. Stephanie Cmar returned to compete in .[6] Kristen Kish and Brooke Williamson later competed in Top Chef Duels.[7] Williamson, Sheldon Simeon, and John Tesar returned for .[8] Cmar returned again for [9] Kish took over hosting duties for Padma Lakshmi following .[10]

Contestant progress

Episode #234567891011121314151617
Quickfire Challenge
Winner(s)
John
Kuniko
Sheldon
JosieJohnBart
Sheldon
BrookeKristen MicahMicahBrookeStefanSheldonSheldonBrooke
ContestantElimination Challenge Results
1KristenININWININ HIGHWININWINWINOUTINWINNER
2BrookeLOWININLOWWINHIGHWINHIGH ININLOWWINWINWININ
3SheldonHIGHLOWININHIGHHIGHLOWINWINWINHIGH LOWLOWLOWOUT
4JoshININLOWLOWLOWHIGHLOWHIGHHIGHHIGHWINHIGHLOWOUT
5LizzieINHIGHHIGHININHIGHHIGHLOWLOWINHIGH HIGH OUT
6StefanLOWINHIGHLOWINHIGHININININLOWOUT
7JosieLOWLOWINININLOWLOWINLOWLOWOUT
8MicahININININLOWLOWHIGHINOUT
9JohnHIGHININLOWHIGHLOWWINOUT
10BartLOWININININLOWOUT
11DanyeleININININLOWOUT
12ElizaININININOUT
13CJLOWHIGHLOWOUT
TylerINLOWHIGHOUT
15CarlaINWINOUT
ChrissyININOUT
17KunikoWINOUT
18JeffreyOUT

The chef(s) did not receive immunity for winning the Quickfire Challenge.

Due to the qualifying rounds, the show did not use its traditional elimination format until the second episode.

Former Top Chef contestants CJ, Josie, and Stefan entered the competition following the Quickfire Challenge.

Due to the poor quality of the dishes served in the Elimination Challenge, no winner was declared.

Kristen won Last Chance Kitchen and returned to the competition.

(WINNER) The chef won the season and was crowned Top Chef.

(RUNNER-UP) The chef was the runner-up for the season.

(WIN) The chef won the Elimination Challenge.

(HIGH) The chef was selected as one of the top entries in the Elimination Challenge, but did not win.

(IN) The chef was not selected as one of the top or bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge and was safe.

(LOW) The chef was selected as one of the bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge, but was not eliminated.

(OUT) The chef lost the Elimination Challenge.

Episodes

See main article: List of Top Chef episodes.

Last Chance Kitchen

References

Notes
  • Footnotes
  • External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: 'Top Chef' Season 10 Is Coming Your Way. The Dish. Bravo. September 19, 2012. September 19, 2012.
    2. Web site: Bravo Sets Top Chef: Seattle Premiere Date, Adds New Judge. September 20, 2012. September 20, 2012. Gennis. Sadie. TV Guide.
    3. Web site: Top Chef's 'Last Chance Kitchen' Returns Tonight. November 28, 2012. November 28, 2012. Myers. Dan. The Daily Meal.
    4. Web site: 'Top Chef Seattle': 10 Questions With Winner Kristen Kish. February 28, 2013. March 10, 2017. Abramovitch. Seth. The Hollywood Reporter.
    5. Web site: WATCH: Who's The Top Chef Seattle Fan Favorite? Not Josh Valentine's Mustache. February 28, 2013. March 10, 2017. Mosthof. Mariella. Mediaite.
    6. Web site: Introducing the 'Top Chef' Season 11 Cheftestants. August 12, 2013. November 23, 2019. Bravo.
    7. Web site: Bravo's 'Top Chef Duels' Lands Premiere Date, Celebrity Guests (Exclusive). June 4, 2014. December 11, 2019. Ng. Philiana. The Hollywood Reporter.
    8. Web site: Top Chef Is Bringing Back 8 Fan Favorite Contestants — See Who Made the Cut. October 20, 2016. March 10, 2017. Spence. Shay. People.
    9. Unpack your knives: Top Chef announces all-star lineup for season 17. December 12, 2019. December 12, 2019. Huff. Lauren. Entertainment Weekly.
    10. Web site: 'Top Chef' Winner Kristen Kish to Replace Host Padma Lakshmi in Wisconsin-Set Season 21. July 11, 2023. July 11, 2023. Maas. Jennifer. Variety. July 11, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230711195446/https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/new-top-chef-host-kristen-kish-season-21-wisconsin-padma-lakshmi-1235666966/. live.