Top Chef announces new host and location

Following Padma Lakshmi’s departure after Season 20 of the Bravo TV show Top Chef, fans of the series were wondering who the producers would tap as a replacement for Lakshmi. Now we know that beginning with Season 21, the new host joining Gail Simmons and head judge Tom Colicchio will be former Top Chef winner Kristin Kish.

Kish has maintained a high profile following her win in Top Chef a decade ago (it doesn’t seem that long ago to me!). She hosted 36 Hours on Travel Channel, was a co-host of Fast Foodies on TruTV and Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. In addition, she hosts National Geographic’s Restaurants at the End of the World and has been a guest judge on Top Chef.

“Top Chef is where I started my journey — first as a competing chef, then a guest judge, and now as host I have the honor of helping to continue to build this brand,” Kish said in the Bravo TV announcement. “I’m thrilled to sit alongside Gail and Tom as we get to know new incredible chefs and see what they cook up. It feels like coming home.” Season 21 is being filmed in Wisconsin, a location that surprised many fans.