Top Chef Contestants 2026: Who Advanced on Episode 1? (Season 23: Carolinas Premiere Recap)
The premiere episode of Top Chef Season 23: Carolinas has hit screens (streaming on Peacock since March 3, 2026, with the official Bravo airing March 9 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT), and Episode 1 delivered high-speed drama at Charlotte Motor Speedway followed by a starchy sweet potato elimination challenge.
Never Miss Your Chance to Audition!
Join our WhatsApp Channel for exclusive casting calls and audition alerts!
Join NowWith 15 rising-star cheftestants competing for $250,000 plus major perks like a Food & Wine feature and James Beard opportunities, the first round set the tone: intense pressure, Southern flair, and a brutal twist—no Last Chance Kitchen for the first two eliminated chefs.
Here’s the breakdown of who advanced safely after Episode 1, who stood out, and who went home.
Quickfire Challenge: NASCAR Track Showdown
The season launched with a high-energy Quickfire at Charlotte Motor Speedway, judged by NASCAR legends Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch (with Johnson mentoring one contestant, Duyen Ha). Chefs were split into teams to create fast, flavorful dishes under the clock.
- Winning Team (Blue): Jonathan Dearden, Jennifer Lee Jackson, and Laurence Louie. Each pocketed $5,000 and enjoyed a thrilling track ride. Standout elements included creative, bold flavors like crab and shrimp hush puppies with harissa aioli, showcasing Southern-inspired innovation.
The other teams placed lower, but no one was eliminated here—setting up the real stakes.
Elimination Challenge: Sweet Potato Spotlight
Chefs drew knives for sweet potato varietals (Covington, Norton, Purple Majesty, Murasaki, Carolina Ruby) and had just one hour to highlight the North Carolina state vegetable. They cooked in groups of three, with one top, one safe, and one bottom dish per group. The top five contenders overall were Anthony Jones, twin brothers Jonathan and Brandon Dearden, Rhoda Magbitang, and Duyen Ha.
- Immunity Winner: Rhoda Magbitang (Kailua-Kona, HI) claimed the top spot with her standout dish, earning immunity for Episode 2. Judges (Kristen Kish, Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons) were blown away—Tom even declared he’d “never forget her name.”
- Eliminated: Day Anaïs Joseph (Atlanta, GA) was sent home first. Her Carolina Ruby sweet potato dish (roasted with herbes de Provence, sos Kreyol, and seared/roasted snapper) suffered from undercooked fish and sweet potatoes, plus overpowering dried herbs. She landed in the bottom alongside Nana Araba Wilmot, but Day couldn’t recover from execution issues.
Who Advanced from Top Chef Episode 1?
14 chefs remain heading into the next episode. All but Day advanced safely, with highlights for the Quickfire winners, immunity champ, and those who avoided the bottom.
| Status | Chef Name | Hometown/Current City | Key Episode 1 Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced (Immunity) | Rhoda Magbitang | Kailua-Kona, HI | Won elimination challenge; immunity for next week |
| Advanced (Quickfire Win) | Jonathan Dearden | Alexandria, VA | Blue Team win; $5,000 prize; top contender |
| Advanced (Quickfire Win) | Jennifer Lee Jackson | Suttons Bay/Detroit, MI | Blue Team win; $5,000; life partner with Justin Tootla |
| Advanced (Quickfire Win) | Laurence Louie | Quincy, MA | Blue Team win; $5,000 |
| Advanced | Brandon Dearden | Hamilton, MT | Twin brother; strong in top five contenders |
| Advanced | Anthony Jones | Alexandria, VA | Top contender in elimination |
| Advanced | Duyen Ha | Los Angeles, CA | Top contender; mentored by Jimmie Johnson |
| Advanced | Brittany Cochran | Charlotte, NC | Local favorite; safe through premiere |
| Advanced | Oscar Diaz | Durham, NC | Local; creative debut |
| Advanced | Jassi Bindra | Houston, TX | Safe |
| Advanced | Sieger Bayer | Chicago, IL | Safe |
| Advanced | Justin Tootla | Suttons Bay/Detroit, MI | Life partner with Jennifer; safe |
| Advanced | Sherry Cardoso | Brooklyn, NY | Safe |
| Advanced | Nana Araba Wilmot | (TBD) | Bottom but survived over Day |
| Eliminated | Day Anaïs Joseph | Atlanta, GA | First out; undercooked elements & overpowering herbs |
Full Top Chef Season 23 Contestants (2026 Cast)
The 15 rising stars include historic firsts: identical twin brothers (Jonathan and Brandon Dearden) and life partners who co-own a restaurant (Jennifer Lee Jackson and Justin Tootla). Others bring diverse backgrounds and local ties to the Carolinas.
- Sieger Bayer – Chicago, IL
- Jassi Bindra – Houston, TX
- Sherry Cardoso – Brooklyn, NY
- Brittany Cochran – Charlotte, NC
- Oscar Diaz – Durham, NC
- Brandon Dearden – Hamilton, MT
- Jonathan Dearden – Alexandria, VA
- Duyen Ha – Los Angeles, CA
- Jennifer Lee Jackson – Suttons Bay/Detroit, MI
- Anthony Jones – Alexandria, VA
- Laurence Louie – Quincy, MA
- Rhoda Magbitang – Kailua-Kona, HI
- Justin Tootla – Suttons Bay/Detroit, MI
- Nana Araba Wilmot – (TBD)
- Day Anaïs Joseph – Atlanta, GA (eliminated Episode 1)
What’s Next on Top Chef?
Supersized 75-minute episodes continue Mondays on Bravo (9:00 p.m. ET/PT premiere, then 9:30 p.m. from March 16), streaming next-day on Peacock.
Expect more Southern ingredients (okra, livermush, Carolina Reapers), guest stars (Southern Charm‘s Madison LeCroy & Craig Conover, Fortune Feimster, Danielle Brooks), and high-stakes challenges across Charlotte and Greenville.
The premiere shake-up has the field wide open—will the twins team up or clash? Can the couple stay united? Tune in and watch the competition heat up!
Top Chef Season 23 airs Mondays on Bravo, with episodes available on Peacock. Spoilers based on Episode 1—stay tuned for weekly updates.
