Unveiling the Enigmatic Kristen Kish - A Sneak Peek into the Magical World of the New ‘Top Chef’ Host

Kristen Kish. Gilbert Flores/PictureGroup for National Geographic/Shutterstock

Former Top Chef champion Kristen Kish has been announced as the show's new host, taking over from Padma Lakshmi who left the series after 20 seasons. In a press release on Tuesday, July 11, the 39-year-old Kish expressed her excitement for this new role, stating that Top Chef is where her journey began and she is honored to continue building the brand. Kish will be joined by Gail Simmons and Tom Colicchio as they discover and experience the creations of talented new chefs. This opportunity feels like a homecoming for her.

Kish has come a long way since she got her start in the culinary world, keep reading for everything you need to know:

What Did Kristen Kish Do Before Becoming a Chef?

The South Korea native was adopted by her family in Michigan when she was 4 months old. Before finding her passion for cooking, Kish worked as a model while she was a teenager.

Where Did Kristen Kish Learn How to Cook?

Once Kish found her passion for cooking, she decided to pursue her culinary education at Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago, where she earned her A.A. in culinary arts. Building on her knowledge and experience, Kish joined Stir in Boston as an instructor at their culinary demonstration kitchen. Impressed by her skills, Stir's owner Barbara Lynch promoted her to the position of chef de cuisine.

Youtube

When Did Kristen Kish Compete on ‘Top Chef’?

During her time at Stir, Kish made the bold decision to try out for the Bravo competition series in 2012. Alongside her former classmate Stephanie Cmar, she took part in the audition process for season 10. Demonstrating her culinary prowess, Kish wowed the judges with her exceptional signature soup, securing her a coveted spot on the show.

She achieved victory in four challenges, only to face elimination in the 11th episode. Nevertheless, her determination led to a remarkable comeback as she secured five consecutive wins in the “Last Chance Kitchen.” This redemption propelled Kish into the finale where she outshined Brooke Williamson and emerged as the ultimate winner. Kish's triumph made history as she became the second female champion in the prestigious Top Chef competition.

Has Kristen Kish Hosted Any Other Shows?

After her successful appearance on the cooking show, Kish embarked on a captivating journey as the host of various other food-related shows. These included Travel Channel's exhilarating 36 Hours, TruTV's immensely popular Fast Foodies, Netflix's thrilling Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend, and National Geographic's captivating Restaurants at the End of the World.

Courtesy of Kristen Kish/Instagram

Is Kristen Kish Married?

Kish made her sexual orientation public in 2014 when she openly expressed that she identifies as a lesbian. Later in September 2019, she revealed that she was engaged to Bianca Dusic, who holds the position of VP of Food & Beverage for Standard Hotels. Finally, in April 2021, the two of them exchanged vows and officially became a married couple.