Foodies listen up! Top Chef is back for Season 22 and this time they are packing their bags and heading north. That's right Top Chef: Destination Canada is about to hit our screens and it sounds like it's going to be a season you absolutely cannot miss. Get ready for stunning Canadian locations incredible chefs and of course all the high-stakes culinary drama you can handle.
Top Chef Goes to Canada Eh? Season 22 Explores Amazing Canadian Cuisine and Locations
For the first time ever Top Chef is setting up shop in Canada and it's not just any part of Canada. They are hitting up some seriously cool spots. Think Toronto bustling and diverse. Calgary rugged and beautiful. Montreal chic and European. Canmore Alberta mountain views galore. And even Prince Edward Island with its coastal charm. Basically prepare for some major wanderlust alongside your food cravings.
This season is all about showcasing Canadian cuisine and culture. We are talking famous Canadian chefs showing up as guest judges drool-worthy shots of Canadian ingredients and challenges inspired by Canada's diverse regions. Get ready to learn about Red Fife wheat salmon lentils peaches cod potatoes and even Arctic char. It's like a delicious geography lesson.
New Season Premiere Date Chicago Chefs and Kristen Kish Returns as Host: What We Know So Far
Mark your calendars folks Top Chef: Destination Canada premieres on Bravo on March 13th! Yes March 13th is the date to remember. And guess what? Fan-favorite Kristen Kish is back for her second season as host. After winning Season 10 and then joining as host last season she's feeling much more confident and ready to lead the charge.
Judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons are also back to bring their expertise and tough critiques. Gail especially is excited because this season is like a homecoming for her being from Toronto herself. She says it was amazing to see her Top Chef family and her actual family all come together in Canada. How sweet is that?
And get this Chicago is going to be well-represented this season! We have not one not two but THREE chefs from Chicago competing for the Top Chef title. Give it up for Zubair Mohajir (Lilac Tiger Coach House Mirra) César Murillo (North Pond) and Bailey Sullivan (Monteverde). Chicago is known for its amazing food scene so these chefs are sure to bring the heat.
Restaurant Wars Gets a Twist: Bravo Teases New Rule to Shake Up Fan-Favorite Challenge
Restaurant Wars is always a highlight of every Top Chef season right? Well get ready because they are changing things up this year. Bravo is teasing a brand new rule specifically for Restaurant Wars to prevent chefs from falling into "overused concepts".
Judge Gail Simmons explains that in the past Restaurant Wars teams often picked safe themes to avoid conflict and make sure everyone could contribute. Think "global seafood" or something super generic. This year they are putting "guardrails on overused concepts" to push the chefs to be more creative communicate better and really push their limits. No more easy outs for these chefs they are going to have to bring some seriously original ideas to the table.
Meet the Chicago Chefs Ready to Represent on Top Chef: Destination Canada
Let's give a shout-out to the three talented chefs from Chicago who are competing this season. These chefs are bringing diverse backgrounds experiences and culinary styles to the competition:
- Zubair Mohajir: Founder and Executive Chef of Lilac Tiger Coach House and Mirra. Zubair is all about bold flavors and a "multidimensional approach to cooking" drawing inspiration from his mom history and Asian and French techniques. He is going in "blind" not super familiar with Top Chef but ready to cook his heart out.
- César Murillo: Executive Chef at North Pond. César is focused on seasonal and local produce. His journey is pretty incredible coming to the US from Mexico as an undocumented immigrant at age 4. He wants to represent himself well and make his family and supporters proud.
- Bailey Sullivan: Executive Chef at Monteverde. Bailey grew up in the restaurant world and has always loved Top Chef. Her food is "rooted in Italian tradition" but with seasonal ingredients and global twists. She even got some practice tips from Monteverde's Sarah Grueneberg a Top Chef alum herself.
These Chicago chefs are energized and ready to show the world what they can do. Get ready to root for your favorite and see if Chicago can bring home another Top Chef win like Stephanie Izard did in Season 4.
Why Canada? Perfect Timing for Top Chef to Highlight Our Northern Neighbor
Setting Top Chef in Canada this year might seem like just a cool location choice but it actually comes at a pretty interesting time. Eater.com points out that with some recent political tensions between the US and Canada this season could be arriving at a "weird" but maybe also "perfect" moment.
While the show is all about food and not politics the Canadian setting could end up highlighting the importance of US-Canada relations especially when it comes to agriculture and trade. Canada is a major source of agricultural imports for the US and the show might subtly remind viewers of that connection. Plus at a time when maybe some Americans are looking at Canada with even more interest Top Chef: Destination Canada could showcase just how appealing and amazing our northern neighbor really is.
Get Ready for Deliciousness and Drama: Top Chef: Destination Canada is Almost Here
So there you have it Top Chef is going to Canada and it sounds like it is going to be a season packed with incredible food stunning scenery and all the competition drama we love. With Kristen Kish at the helm amazing judges a fresh Canadian backdrop a new Restaurant Wars twist and talented chefs from Chicago and beyond Top Chef: Destination Canada is shaping up to be a must-watch. Get ready to tune in on March 13th and see who will pack their knives and who will become the next Top Chef champion!