Kish Wants a Top Chef Finale in Tokyo: “Send Me Anywhere With a Plane Ticket”
Top Chef host Kristen Kish is already dreaming about where the long-running Bravo competition could head next — and Tokyo is at the top of her list.
Never Miss Your Chance to Audition!
Join our WhatsApp Channel for exclusive casting calls and audition alerts!
Join NowSpeaking at Deadline’s Reality TV Summit, Kish floated the idea of staging at least a finale in the Japanese capital, calling it a place where the food is “something to explore and to celebrate.”
But she’s not exactly picky. Australia? Sure. Even “the middle of nowhere in Cincinnati”? Also fine — as long as there are great chefs and compelling stories.
That flexibility is baked into what makes Top Chef tick. Unlike studio-bound formats, the series builds entire kitchens in unexpected places, hauling hundreds of crew members across cities (and sometimes countries) to make it happen.
Season 23, currently set in North Carolina, even had contestants cooking at a racetrack — heat, chaos, and all.
Kish, who first competed back on Season 10, admitted she never planned on a TV career. She was nudged into auditioning by a boss who argued the industry needed more women represented on screen — a pitch that ultimately convinced her.
Years later, she’s not just part of the franchise but leading it, after saying a quick internal “yes” to hosting while mid-flight between Thailand and New York.
Her approach has also helped shift the tone of cooking competitions. Rather than leaning into the harsh, high-pressure critique style that once defined the genre, Kish has embraced a more supportive, human approach — something she says reflects where the culinary world is heading.
And while she’s now a two-time Emmy nominee for hosting, Kish still sounds slightly surprised by where the journey has taken her — from cooking for a handful of diners to rubbing shoulders with stars like Meryl Streep.
As for where Top Chef goes next, nothing is locked. But if Kish gets her way, the knives could be heading to Tokyo sooner rather than later.
