Tonight's the premiere of 'Top Chef' Season 21, filmed in Wisconsin. Here's what to know about it.
It's finally here — tonight is the eagerly awaited premiere of the new season of "Top Chef" filmed in Wisconsin.
In July, Bravo announced the Emmy-, James Beard- and Critics’ Choice Award-winning series would film its Season 21 in the state.
The show spent about six weeks here last summer, shooting at locations in and around Milwaukee and Madison as the "cheftestants" competed for a chance to be named Top Chef.
New host Kristen Kish, the Season 10 winner, and judges Gail Simmons and Tom Colicchio were spotted, along with the cast and crew, around the two cities.
Here's what to know about "Top Chef" Season 21:
When does 'Top Chef' Season 21 start?
The premiere will be at 8 p.m. March 20. Each episode will be a "super-sized" 75 minutes.
How can I watch 'Top Chef' Season 21?
Viewers can watch live on Bravo on Wednesday nights or stream the next day on Peacock, BravoTV.com or the Bravo app.
Starting March 27, “Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen," hosted by Colicchio, will stream weekly on the same three platforms at 9:15 p.m. Wednesdays. Eliminated chefs face off to get back into the main competition, plus Bravo says a new chef will try to break in, too.
New this season, there'll be another digital after-show, "The Dish with Kish," also streaming weekly on the same three platforms. The premiere is at 9:15 p.m. March 20. Kish will be joined by a "Top Chef" alum to break down each episode.
What's at stake for the cheftestants in 'Top Chef' Season 21?
The cheftestants compete for $250,000, a feature in Food & Wine magazine and an appearance at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado.
Who are the cheftestants competing in 'Top Chef' Season 21?
Fifteen cheftestants from across the country compete for the title, including Milwaukee's Dan Jacobs, who co-owns DanDan at 360 E. Erie St. and EsterEv, which is opening a new space soon at 2165 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Jacobs will be the only Wisconsin-based contestant. Before opening DanDan with Dan Van Rite in 2016, Jacobs worked at Milwaukee restaurants such as Roots, Wolf Peach and Odd Duck.
The other contestants on "Top Chef" Season 21 are:
Kaleena Bliss, an executive chef from Chicago
Kevin D’Andrea, a chef and bakery owner from Austin, Texas
Alisha Elenz, a private chef from Chicago
Danny Garcia, an executive chef from Brooklyn, New York
Valentine Howell Jr., an executive chef from Dorchester, Massachusetts
Manny Barella Lopez, a culinary director from Denver
Savannah Miller, a chef de cuisine from Durham, North Carolina
David Murphy, a chef and restaurant co-owner from San Francisco
Kenny Nguyen, a chef and restaurant owner from Athens, Georgia
Laura Ozyilmaz, a chef and restaurant owner from San Francisco
Charly Pierre, a chef and restaurant owner from New Orleans
Amanda Turner, a chef de cuisine from Austin, Texas
Rasika Venkatesa, a chef de cuisine from New York City
Michelle Wallace, a chef, restaurant owner and pitmaster from Houston
What's new in 'Top Chef' Season 21?
Besides the 75-minute episodes being new, this season the cheftestants have a shot at winning cash prizes at every Quickfire Challenge.
Plus, immunity will be up for grabs at the Elimination Challenges, making the winner safe in the next episode, according to Bravo.
What else do we know about how Wisconsin will feature in 'Top Chef' Season 21?
Bravo says the season will honor Wisconsin traditions, local staples and fresh produce.
Challenges throughout the season will highlight Wisconsin traditions and culinary staples, including a cheese festival competition, a Door County fish boil, the creation of a supper-club menu and showcasing the versatility of Wisconsin-grown cranberries and Door County cherries. Even the Milwaukee Brewers' Famous Racing Sausages will get in on the action.
While most of the challenges were filmed in Wisconsin, the season finale will take place aboard a Holland America cruise ship, where finalists must create a four-course meal for the judges.
Who else can we expect to see on 'Top Chef' Season 21?
Throughout the competition, “Top Chef” winners, finalists and favorites will be part of the show, including Sara Bradley, Joe Flamm, Jeremy Ford, Gregory Gourdet, Stephanie Izard, Carla Hall, Ed Lee, Mei Lin, Buddha Lo, Kwame Onwuachi, Shota Najikama, Amar Santana, Justin Sutherland and Bryan Voltaggio.
A rotating group of judges and panelists also will appear throughout the season, including an appearance from Milwaukee's Dane Baldwin, chef and co-owner of The Diplomat; restauranteur Paul Bartolotta; Adam Siegel, executive chef and owner of Lupi & Iris; Madison's Tory Miller, executive chef and co-owner of L'Etoile; Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger, chefs and owners of Madison's Fairchild restaurant; Joe and Shaina Papach, co-owners of Madison's Harvey House; Elena Terry, executive chef and founder of Wisconsin Dells' Wild Bearies; Wisconsin native and comedian Charlie Berens; and former Milwaukee Brewer Ryan Braun.
Other judges and panelists include W. Kamau Bell, Dominique Crenn, Curtis Duffy, Clea Duvall, Emeril Lagasse, Hunter Lewis, Bricia Lopez, Matty Matheson, Carrie Nahabedian, Justin Pichetrungsi, Sofia Roe, Sean Sherman, Helmi Smeulders, Art Smith, Brittany Snow, Christina Tosi, Erick Williams and David Zilber.
What have host Kristen Kish and judges Gail Simmons and Tom Colicchio said about Wisconsin and the filming of 'Top Chef' Season 21?
On Sept. 24, Kish and Simmons shared on Instagram that their time in Wisconsin had wrapped after nearly seven weeks. While they were in the state, Kish, Simmons and Colicchio talked with the Journal Sentinel's Hannah Kirby about their visit.
Simmons and Kish raved about Three Brothers, a longtime Serbian restaurant at 2414 S. St. Claire St. in Milwaukee. They said they made multiple trips to Leon's Custard, 3131 S. 27th St. in Milwaukee., as well as stops at Kopp's in the Milwaukee area and Culver's.
Also in Milwaukee, Simmons said she enjoyed dining at 1033, 1033 S. 1st St., and Birch, 459 E. Pleasant St.
Kish mentioned having a "wonderful" meal at Vientiane Noodle Shop, 3422 W. National Ave., and hoped to return.
In Madison, Simmons said she dined at Tornado Steak House, A Pig in a Fur Coat and Mickies Dairy Bar.
All three said they've enjoyed the reception they got in Wisconsin.
"It's been lovely," Colicchio said. "The people have been great."
Rachel Bernhard and Hannah Kirby contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Top Chef season in Wisconsin premieres tonight. Here's what to know.
