As Top Chef gears up for its 20th season, fans are in for an international treat. For the first time ever, the show will be taking place entirely overseas, with contestants from Bravo’s version of the show and 10 international editions competing in iconic locations across London, including Highclere Castle, famously known as the filming location of Downton Abbey. The finale will take place in Paris, adding to the excitement of the season. While the series embarks on a new adventure, viewers can expect familiar faces with the return of host Padma Lakshmi.
- Samuel Albert
- Luciana Berry
- Sara Bradley
- Dawn Burrell
- Ali Ghzawi
- Tom Goetter
- Nicole Gomes
- Victoire Gouloubi
- Charbel Hayek
- Buddha Lo
- Dale MacKay
- May Phattanant Thongthong
- Begoña Rodrigo
- Gabriel Rodriguez
- Amar Santana
- Sylwia Stachyra
Samuel Albert
- Winner of “Top Chef France,” Season 10
- Executive Chef/Owner of Les Petits Prés in Angers, France
- Known for French and Japanese fusion cuisine with meticulous plating
- Trained by Joël Robouchon
Luciana Berry
- Winner of “Top Chef Brazil,” Season 2
- Owner of Catering on the Hill and BerryBartt cooking sauce brand
- Ambassador of Brazilian cuisine in Europe, catering for the Brazilian Embassy, Brazilian tourism board, corporate events, and private dinner parties
- Writes recipes for Bossa Brazil magazine in the UK
Sara Bradley
- Chef/Owner of freight house restaurant and bourbon bar in Paducah, KY
- Trained under Michelin star chefs John Fraser, David Posey, and Paul Kahan
- Mission to bring fresh, local ingredients from the community to the community and define the flavor of the “new south”
Dawn Burrell
- Partner/Executive Chef of Lucille’s Hospitality Group in Houston, TX
- Competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics before pursuing a culinary career
- Trained with Chef Tom Aikens in London and Houston’s Monica Pope
- Former sous chef at Uchiko in Austin, TX
- Signature “global comfort” cooking style, earned James Beard nomination for “Best Chef: Texas” in 2020
- Recently joined Lucille’s Hospitality Group as Partner/Executive Chef
Ali Ghzawi
- Winner of “Top Chef Middle East & North Africa,” Season 3: Lebanon
- Chef/Owner of Alee, an upscale Middle Eastern restaurant in Jordan
- Discovered a passion for food in high school
- Worked in high-end kitchens at Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, W Hotels, and two-star Michelin restaurant
Tom Goetter
- Executive Chef/Director, Food & Beverage Scenic Luxury Cruises Ocean
- Finalist, “Top Chef Germany,” Season 1
- Promoted to Director of Food & Beverage Ocean for all Scenic Ocean Vessels in 2022
Nicole Gomes
- Executive Chef/Owner, Cluck ‘N’ Cleaver
- Winner, “Top Chef Canada,” Season 5: All-Stars
- Co-founder of Cluck ‘N’ Cleaver, a chicken joint in Calgary
- Has competed in a variety of cooking competitions and beat Bobby Flay on “Beat Bobby Flay”
Victoire Gouloubi
- Private Chef
- Finalist, “Top Chef Italy,” Season 2
- Cooked at notable restaurants in Europe and served as a Sous Chef under star Michelin chef Marc Farellacci
- Named one of the 100 most influential women of 2021 by F magazine in Italy
- Creator and host of the cooking television programs “Il Tocco di Victoire” and “La Mia Africa” for Sky TV
Charbel Hayek
- Won the fifth season of “Top Chef Middle East & North Africa”.
- Calls his cuisine “New American” with French and Lebanese influence.
- Currently works as a private chef in Lake Worth, Fla.
Buddha Lo
- Executive Chef at Huso, the Michelin plate restaurant inside Marky’s Caviar serving an 8-course tasting menu.
- Worked at the three Michelin-starred restaurants Gordon Ramsay in London, where he met his mentor, Clare Smyth.
Dale MacKay
- Won the first season of “Top Chef Canada”.
- Co-owner of Grassroots Restaurant Group, which has opened five award-winning restaurants in Saskatchewan.
- Features Japanese, Korean, and French influences in his restaurants, including Ayden Kitchen and Bar, Little Grouse on the Prairie, Sticks and Stones, Avenue Restaurant, and Dojo Ramen.
- Appeared on “Iron Chef Gauntlet,” “Fire Masters,” and “Wall of Chefs.”
May Phattanant Thongthong
- Runner-up on season one of “Top Chef Thailand”
- Won “Iron Chef Thailand” twice.
- Executive Chef and Co-Partner at MAZE Dining, voted one of the Top 20 Bangkok restaurants by W magazine in 2020 and 2021.
- Worked for over 15 years as a professional chef, running the very popular Monkey’s Kitchen and My Bistro restaurants in Chiang Mai.
Begoña Rodrigo
- Executive Chef/Owner of La Salita, a one Michelin-starred restaurant in Valencia, Spain.
- Winner of “Top Chef Spain,” Season 1.
- Trained in Amsterdam and London, and has extensive experience from years of training and traveling around the world.
- Her restaurant, La Salita, features two tasting menus with defined flavors and an elegant touch.
Gabriel Rodriguez
- Private Chef based in Madrid, Spain.
- Winner of “Top Chef Mexico,” Season 2.
- Previously served as Executive Chef at fine-dining favorite Presidio in Mazatlán before moving to Madrid.
Amar Santana
- Executive Chef and Partner at Broadway By Amar Santana in Laguna Beach, CA and Vaca in Costa Mesa, CA.
- Mentored by some of the world’s most renowned chefs, including Charlie Palmer.
Sylwia Stachyra
- Owner of CookShe, a cooking school and consultancy in Poland.
- Winner of “Top Chef Poland,” Season 7.
- Trained at Gordon Ramsay’s Savoy Grill
- Combines French-Asian fusion with her traditional Polish background.
Wrap Up!
In conclusion, Top Chef’s 20th season promises to be an exciting one for fans, with the competition taking place in international locations for the first time. The mix of chefs from Bravo’s version of the show and international editions will add an interesting dynamic to the competition. As the contestants travel across London and eventually reach Paris for the finale, viewers can expect to see some breathtaking locations, including Highclere Castle. Furthermore, with the return of host Padma Lakshmi, head judge Tom Colicchio, and judge Gail Simmons, fans can look forward to the familiar faces that have been a part of the show’s success.
