Top Chef: Destination Canada
| Top Chef: Destination Canada | |
|---|---|
| Season 22 | |
 | |
| Hosted by | Kristen Kish |
| Judges | Tom Colicchio Gail Simmons |
| No. of contestants | 17 |
| Location | Canada |
| Release | |
| Original network | Bravo |
| Original release | March 13, 2025 – present |
| Season chronology | |
Top Chef: Destination Canada is the twenty-second season of the American reality television series Top Chef.[1][2] The season was filmed in several locations throughout Canada, including Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, Canmore, and Prince Edward Island.[3][4] It premiered on March 13, 2025.[3]
Destination Canada boasts the largest grand prize package in the series' history. In addition to the usual prizes of US$250,000, a feature in Food & Wine magazine, and an appearance at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, the winner received $125,000 in Delta Air Lines flight credits and Diamond Medallion SkyMiles status, their own headlining dinner at the James Beard House in New York City, and the opportunity to present at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards in Chicago.[5] The contestants also had the chance to earn cash prizes, totaling more than $150,000, during every Quickfire Challenge and certain Elimination Challenges.[3][5]
Contestants
[edit]Fifteen chefs competed in Top Chef: Destination Canada.[4] Two additional contestants, Sam Olayinka and Ying Gao, started in the Last Chance Kitchen to compete for a potential spot in the main competition.[6]
| Name[4][5][7] | Hometown | Current Residence[a] |
|---|---|---|
| Anna "Anya" El-Wattar | Moscow, Russia | San Francisco, California |
| Paula Endara | Quito, Ecuador | Lexington, Kentucky |
| Tristen Epps | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Houston, Texas |
| Ying Gao | Beijing, China | Whistler, British Columbia |
| Corwin Hemming | Augusta, Georgia | Brooklyn, New York |
| Katianna Hong | Clifton Park, New York | Los Angeles, California |
| Lana Lagomarsini | The Bronx, New York | Harlem, New York |
| Vincenzo "Vinny" Loseto | Massapequa, New York | Napa, California |
| Henry Lu | The Bronx, New York | Houston, Texas |
| Zubair Mohajir | Chennai, India | Chicago, Illinois |
| César Murillo | Dallas, Texas | Chicago, Illinois |
| Samuel "Sam" Olayinka | Ottawa, Ontario | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Massimo Piedimonte | Montreal, Quebec | |
| Bailey Sullivan | Chicago, Illinois | |
| Kat Turner | Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin | Los Angeles, California |
| Shuai Wang | Queens, New York | North Charleston, South Carolina |
| Mimi Weissenborn | Frederick, Maryland | Portland, Maine |
Contestant progress
[edit]| Episode # | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quickfire Challenge Results |
César ★ Katianna ★ Mimi ★ Lana ↑ Massimo ↑ Paula ↑ Shuai ↑ Tristen ↑ Vinny ↑ |
Shuai ★ Kat ↑ Massimo ↑ Bailey ↓ Henry ↓ Paula ↓ |
Katianna ★ Shuai ↑ Zubair ↑ César ↓ Kat ↓ Massimo ↓ |
Corwin ★ Kat ↑ Shuai ↑ Henry ↓ Massimo ↓ Tristen ↓ |
N/A | Tristen ★ César ↑ Massimo ↑ Paula ↑ Henry ↓ Shuai ↓ Vinny ↓ |
Henry ★ Massimo ↑ Tristen ↑ Bailey ↓ César ↓ Paula ↓ |
N/A | N/A | ||||||||
| Contestant | Elimination Challenge Results | ||||||||||||||||
| Bailey | IN | OUT | WIN12 | IN (+) | IN | ||||||||||||
| César | HIGH | IN (+) | IN | IN | HIGH | IN (-)3 | LOW | ||||||||||
| Lana | IN | HIGH | IN | IN | LOW | HIGH | IN | ||||||||||
| Massimo | IN | IN (-) | LOW | IN | IN | WIN1 | IN | ||||||||||
| Paula | IN | HIGH | LOW | IN | IN | HIGH | LOW | ||||||||||
| Shuai | HIGH | HIGH | IN | LOW | IN | LOW | HIGH | ||||||||||
| Tristen | IN | HIGH | HIGH | WIN1 | WIN1 | IN (-)3 | WIN1 | ||||||||||
| Vinny | WIN1 | IN (-) | IN | IN | LOW | IN (+) | HIGH | ||||||||||
| 9 | Henry | HIGH | LOW | IN | LOW | IN | LOW | OUT | |||||||||
| 10 | Katianna | IN | IN (-) | WIN1 | IN | HIGH | OUT | ||||||||||
| 11 | Corwin | IN | IN (+) | HIGH | HIGH | OUT | |||||||||||
| Kat | LOW | IN (-) | IN | HIGH | OUT | ||||||||||||
| 13 | Zubair | IN | WIN1 | IN | OUT | ||||||||||||
| 14 | Anya | HIGH | IN (-) | OUT | |||||||||||||
| 15 | Mimi | OUT | |||||||||||||||
^Note 1 : The chef(s) won immunity for the next Elimination Challenge.
^Note 2 : Bailey won the first Last Chance Kitchen re-entry challenge and returned to the competition. She was also given immunity for her first Elimination Challenge back.
^Note 3 : Although both ended up on the losing team, the judges specifically cited César and Tristen as having the best dishes of the challenge.
- Quickfire Challenge
- ★ The chef won the Quickfire Challenge.
- ↑ The chef was selected as one of the top entries in the Quickfire Challenge but did not win.
- ↓ The chef was selected as one of the bottom entries in the Quickfire Challenge.
- Elimination Challenge
- (WINNER) The chef won the season and was crowned "Top Chef".
- (RUNNER-UP) The chef was a runner-up for the season.
- (WIN) The chef won the Elimination Challenge.
- (HIGH) The chef was selected as one of the top entries in the Elimination Challenge but did not win.
- (IN) The chef was not selected as one of the top or bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge and was safe.
- (LOW) The chef was selected as one of the bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge but was not eliminated.
- (OUT) The chef lost the Elimination Challenge.
Episodes
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 317 | 1 | "Across Canada, We Go!" | March 13, 2025 | |
|
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs first had 30 seconds to grab one ingredient from the Top Chef pantry. They were then split into groups of three. In honor of Toronto's nickname "The Six", referring to the number of municipalities that form the Greater Toronto Area, each team had 30 minutes to create a dish featuring six ingredients — the three ingredients chosen by the group members, and three ingredients selected by host Kristen Kish, head judge Tom Colicchio, and judge Gail Simmons. Kristen picked tomatoes, Gail picked chives, and Tom picked clams. The winning team received US$15,000.
Elimination Challenge: The chefs, remaining in the same groups from the Quickfire Challenge but now competing against their former teammates, were assigned sets of ingredients inspired by the five-region model of Canada: the West Coast, Canadian Prairies, Central Canada, Atlantic Canada, and Northern Canada. The chefs' dishes were required to include at least three of the six ingredients from their assigned region. One person from each group was eligible to win the challenge, while those with the judges' least favorite dishes were at risk for elimination. The dishes were served at restaurant Casa Madera. The winner received immunity for the next Elimination Challenge. The diners included Top Chef Canada winners and Top Chef: World All-Stars alums Nicole Gomes and Dale MacKay, guest judge and Top Chef Canada regular David Zilber, chef/restaurateur Jeremy Charles, and chef Sheila Flaherty.
| ||||
| 318 | 2 | "Brunch à la Boulud" | March 20, 2025 | |
|
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs were given 30 minutes to put their own spin on poutine. They were allowed to take their dish in any direction, as long as it included a starchy vegetable base, a cheese, and a sauce. The winner received US$5,000. Gail joined Kristen to help judge the challenge. The guest judge was actress Sarah Levy.
Elimination Challenge: The chefs were divided into two teams and tasked with preparing seven-course brunch menus at Café Boulud. In homage to Canadian sugar shacks, all dishes were required to include a maple component. In addition to their regular budget, each team was provided US$50 to shop at St. Lawrence Market for mandatory ingredients for the opposing team, giving them the opportunity to sabotage each other. The Brown Team bought lasagna and white truffle oil; the Green Team bought pizza, gummy and cinnamon candies, and candy corn. While the judges declared an individual winner, who received immunity for the next Elimination Challenge, the entire winning team received US$35,000. The guest judges were Sarah Levy and chef Daniel Boulud.
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| 319 | 3 | "Best Served Cold" | March 27, 2025 | |
|
Quickfire Challenge: The chefs created their own version of a Jamaican patty. They first had 15 minutes to make their dough from scratch. After allowing their dough to rest, they were given 30 minutes to finish their patties. The winner received US$10,000. The guest judge was private chef and recipe developer Dwight Smith. Elimination Challenge: In a tribute to ice hockey, the chefs were asked to create dishes best served cold. Prior to the cook, the contestants chose one of seven cloches, each concealing an ingredient related to an ice hockey term or slang word that they were required to incorporate into their dish: biscuit, apple, muffin, egg, grapefruit, licorice knob, or peanut butter. The dishes were served in the Top Chef kitchen to the judges, Food & Wine editor-in-chief and guest judge Hunter Lewis, Top Chef Masters alumna Lynn Crawford, and professional ice hockey players Natalie Spooner and Sarah Nurse. The winner received immunity for the next Elimination Challenge.
| ||||
| 320 | 4 | "Top Chef Trivia" | April 3, 2025 | |
|
Quickfire Challenge: In three teams of four, the chefs competed in a trivia game hosted by actor and guest judge Michael Cera, and Jeopardy! champions Mattea Roach and Amy Schneider. The answer to each trivia question was associated with an ingredient. After 15 questions, the team with the most correct answers received 30 minutes of cooking time, while the second and third-place teams received 20 and 15 minutes, respectively. The contestants then competed individually to cook dishes utilizing at least three of the ingredients they received. The winner received US$10,000.
Elimination Challenge: The chefs had to use Canadian desserts as inspiration for savory dishes. The available desserts - figgy duff, chocolate potato cake, butter tarts, date squares, Jam Jams, and Nanaimo bars - were randomly assigned via knife draw. The dishes were served at Casa Loma to the judges, guest judge Michael Cera, and pastry chefs Stephanie Duong and Lenore Johnson. The winner received immunity for the next Elimination Challenge. | ||||
| 321 | 5 | "Line Cook for a Day" | April 10, 2025 | |
|
Elimination Challenge: Following Episode 4 of Last Chance Kitchen, Bailey rejoined the competition. After pairing up, the chefs staged at various restaurants around Toronto, working the line and learning about multicultural cuisines. These included the Indian restaurant Dil Se, Portuguese restaurant Mercado, Caribbean restaurant Miss Likklemore's, Filipino restaurant BB's, Greek restaurant Soulas, and Thai restaurant Kiin. The teams were then responsible for creating dishes inspired by their time in their respective kitchens. The dishes were served at The Bentway for the judges, Top Chef: Kentucky/World All-Stars runner-up and guest judge Sara Bradley, and 150 guest diners. The winners received immunity for the next Elimination Challenge. Both members of the losing team were eliminated.
| ||||
| 322 | 6 | "Pickle Me This" | April 17, 2025 | |
|
Quickfire Challenge: In a Chipotle Mexican Grill-sponsored challenge, the chefs were given 30 minutes to take the ingredients used to make their Chipotle lunch orders and rework them into new dishes. The winner received US$10,000. The guest judges were Top Chef Masters alum Susur Lee and his son Jet Bent-Lee.
Elimination Challenge: The chefs, split into two teams, produced five-course progressive menus featuring five different types of pickles: cornichons, full-sour pickles, dill pickles, spicy pickles, and bread-and-butter pickles. As the winners of the previous Elimination Challenge, Bailey and Tristen were able to pick their teammates. The dishes were served in five head-to-head match-ups at the restaurant DaNico. The first team to reach three points won the challenge, and the contestant with the judges' favorite dish from the winning team received immunity for the next Elimination Challenge. The diners included Top Chef: Wisconsin winner and guest judge Danny Garcia, Top Chef Canada Season 3 winner Matthew Stowe, chefs Daniele Corona and Nick Liu, and James Beard Foundation CEO Clare Reichenbach.
| ||||
| 323 | 7 | "You Wanna Pizza Me?" | April 24, 2025 | |
|
Quickfire Challenge: In a Finish-sponsored challenge, the chefs had 30 minutes to create dishes based on a tough dirty dish stain, which included tomato sauce, meat sauce, coffee, guacamole, macaroni and cheese, oatmeal, eggs, rice, and lasagna. The winner received US$10,000. The guest judge was Top Chef Canada host Eden Grinshpan.
Elimination Challenge: In a nod to Hawaiian pizza and sushi pizza, both Canadian inventions, the chefs were tasked with making unconventional pizzas. Their pizza party was held at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery with 70 guest diners in attendance, including Eden Grinshpan, chef John Vetere, Top Chef: Chicago/All-Stars contestant Spike Mendelsohn, and Top Chef Masters alum Wylie Dufresne. The winner received the last Elimination Challenge immunity of the season. | ||||
| 324 | 8 | "Restaurant Wars" | May 1, 2025 | |
| 325 | 9 | "Cooking on the Edge" | May 8, 2025 | |
| 326 | 10 | "From Dep Till Dawn" | May 15, 2025 | |
| 327 | 11 | TBA | May 22, 2025 | |
Last Chance Kitchen
[edit]| No. | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Season Premiere, Eh?" | March 13, 2025 | |
|
Challenge: Eliminated chef Mimi and new contestants Sam and Ying were each instructed to pick one ingredient from the Top Chef pantry; Mimi chose acorn squash, Sam chose eggplant, and Ying chose mushrooms. They then had 30 minutes to cook a dish featuring all three of their ingredients.
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| 2 | "Bacon Got Back" | March 20, 2025 | |
|
Challenge: Mimi, Sam, and Bailey were given 30 minutes to create an elevated entrée featuring back bacon, also known as Canadian bacon in the United States.
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| 3 | "Redemption On Ice" | March 27, 2025 | |
|
Challenge: Prior to the start of the challenge, Sam requested to withdraw from Last Chance Kitchen. Bailey and Anya then competed in an ice hockey-themed cook-off. They were allowed to cook as many dishes as they wanted during their 45-minute time limit. Each dish was judged as either a "goal" or a "miss". The first chef to score a "hat-trick", or three goals, was named the winner.
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| 4 | "Mid-Season Finale Part 1 / Part 2" | April 3, 2025 | |
|
Challenge: Bailey and Zubair had one hour to make a savory dish and a sweet dish. Both dishes had to incorporate at least three of the same ingredients. After 30 minutes, the chefs were required to present their savory dish to Tom Colicchio. The contestant with Tom's favorite savory dish was allowed to continue making their dessert, while the other was forced to remake their savory dish until it met Tom's standards before moving on. The winner rejoined the main competition and received immunity for their first Elimination Challenge upon their return.
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| 5 | "Chop to It" | April 10, 2025 | |
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Challenge: Corwin and Kat spent their first 10 minutes prepping their dishes, not knowing which protein they would have to use. Once their prep period was over, they were not allowed to grab additional ingredients or equipment from the Top Chef pantry, with the exception of pots and pans. Their knives were also confiscated at that point. Tom then brought out their required protein, salt cod, and gave the chefs 20 minutes to finish cooking.
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| 6 | "In A Pickle" | April 17, 2025 | |
|
Challenge: Kat and Katianna were presented with a wide variety of pickled items, such as kimchi, capers, umeboshi, and pickled eggs. Each chef selected three pickled ingredients that their opponent was required to use. Kat received asparagus, cherry peppers, and green beans, while Katianna received cocktail onions, sweet banana peppers, and beets. They then had 30 minutes to create cohesive dishes.
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| 7 | "Dough Over" | April 24, 2025 | |
|
Challenge: Katianna and Henry were given 30 minutes to make dishes using freshly-made dough. | |||
References
[edit]- Notes
- ^ The contestants' city, state, or country of residence during time of filming.
- Footnotes
- ^ "Bravo's "Top Chef" Heads North for Season 22 - Destination Canada". The Futon Critic. January 28, 2025. Archived from the original on January 30, 2025. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
- ^ Selvam, Ashok (January 28, 2025). "'Top Chef' to Premiere in March With Three Chicago Contestants". Eater. Archived from the original on January 30, 2025. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
- ^ a b c Weiss, Sabrina (January 28, 2025). "Top Chef Heads to Canada to Compete for the Largest Prize in the Show's History — Watch the Trailer and Meet the Chefs (Exclusive)". People. Archived from the original on January 28, 2025. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ a b c Raphael, Shannon (January 28, 2025). "Oh, Canada! Top Chef Is Back with Biggest Prize Ever & Major Rule Change for Season 22". Bravo. Archived from the original on January 28, 2025. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ a b c Boucher, Ashley (January 28, 2025). "Meet the chefs cooking their way through Canada on Top Chef season 22 (exclusive)". Food & Wine. Archived from the original on January 28, 2025. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ Bloom, Mike (March 11, 2025). "Get an Exclusive Sneak Peek at 'Top Chef's Newest 'Last Chance Kitchen' Twist". Parade. Archived from the original on March 11, 2025. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
- ^ Vena, Jocelyn (March 11, 2025). "All the Spicy Details on How Last Chance Kitchen Is Turning Up the Heat in the New Season". Bravo. Archived from the original on March 11, 2025. Retrieved March 11, 2025.