Foodies, rejoice! Culinary competition show Top Chef is returning to your screen with a special season that sees contestants take on challenges spanning various Canadian cities and using Canadian ingredients – a timely production amid the trade war with the U.S. where Canadians are prioritizing buying local products.
With a packed audience, the 22nd season of the popular American cooking competition by Bravo premiered in downtown Toronto on Thursday. The season was created in partnership with Destination Canada, in cooperation with Travel Alberta, Bonjour Québec and Tourisme Montréal, Destination Ontario, Destination Toronto, Niagara Falls Tourism and Tourism Prince Edward Island, Canada’s Food Island.
At the premiere, Senior Vice-President, Marketing Strategy & CMO at Destination Canada, Gloria Loree shared that she’s hoping to see a lot of Toronto, and a lot of Canada, during season 22.
“We always say that community reflects the geography, and we have such diverse geography, and that is reflected in the cuisine we have in this country,” Loree told Now Toronto at the season premiere on Thursday. “And man, do you ever have that in spades in Toronto.”
“This is really all about shining a big, bright light on our culinary scene,” Destination Toronto President & CEO Andrew Weir told Now Toronto.
“This is another way of making sure the rest of the world knows what we already know about our great culinary scene. There’s incredible diversity and this high quality and a depth of product here that is almost unlike any other city in the world,” he added.
“The chefs are some of the stars, the judges are the stars, but I think we’ll see Toronto be one of the stars also,” he explained, adding that viewers will see the DNA of Toronto’s culinary scene shine through.
TOP CHEF: DESTINATION CANADA
Season 22 of the popular series sees 15 chefs go head-to-head in various Canadian cities, including Toronto, Calgary, Montreal and Prince Edward Island, showcasing beautiful Canadian culinary dishes and landscapes. Among the 15 chefs, just one is Canadian: Montreal’s Massimo Piedimonte.
The new season is hosted by Chef Kristen Kish, while judges include Tom Colicchio, Toronto’s own Gail Simmons, and a cast of rotating judges, including actors Sarah Levy and Michael Cera, as well as various renowned culinary experts like Ilona Daniel, Wylie Dufresne, and Janet Zuccarini. Viewers can also expect to see some friendly faces in the form of Top Chef winners, finalists and favourites who will make appearances throughout season 22 to offer participants guidance and expertise, including Richard Blais, Sara Bradley, and Buddha Lo.
Simmons shared that audiences can expect some of the best cooking in the show’s history, saying the talented contestants play a big part in that.
“The food is also spectacular because we are in Canada, and the natural resources here, the ingredients, the products, the agriculture, the climate, the topography, there are so many factors that make the food of this country so special,” Simmons told Now Toronto.
“The people, both Indigenous and immigrants, just make this country so unique and I was so proud to show it off.”
When asked about the city’s culinary landscape, Simmons said the city is extraordinarily vast, and not just in size.
“The immigrant communities, the cultural heritage, the history of Toronto make it a city that has stood out as one of the most diverse cities in the world,” she explained, adding that the city’s population makes Toronto’s culinary scene incredible.
Amid the ongoing trade war, the new season showcasing all things Canadian feels extremely timely.
“It could not be better timed, we could never have scripted it. But here we are, and I’m really proud that Canada is showing up,” Simmons said.
“You break bread with some people and you try their cuisine and your values start to come through,” Loree added.
“I just think it couldn’t be a better time to be breaking bread with our friends whether they’re from the U.S. or around the world.”
LARGEST GRAND PRIZE IN TOP CHEF HISTORY
Contestants are competing for the largest grand prize in the series’ history, which includes $250,000, Delta SkyMiles® Diamond Medallion® Status, and a $125,000 flight credit for Delta Air Lines.
Additionally, the winner will be featured in Food & Wine Magazine, and will make an appearance at the annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. The first place chef will also have the opportunity to headline an exclusive dinner at the historic James Beard House in New York City, and have the opportunity to present at The James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards in Chicago.
Additionally, various competitions throughout the season will give participants the chance to win more than $150,000 in cash prizes.
