Top Chef: Kentucky


Top Chef: Kentucky is the sixteenth season of the American reality television series Top Chef. Initial details about the season and its cast were revealed on October 18, 2018. The competition was filmed at various locations in Kentucky, including Louisville, Lexington, and Lake Cumberland, with an additional episode set in Nashville, Tennessee. The season finale took place in Macau. Padma Lakshmi returned as host, with Tom Colicchio, Graham Elliot, and Nilou Motamed forming the judging panel. Due to being on maternity leave for the majority of filming, Top Chef regular Gail Simmons did not appear as one of the main judges for the season. Top Chef: Kentucky premiered on December 6, 2018, and concluded on March 14, 2019. In the season finale, Kelsey Barnard Clark was declared the winner over runner-up Sara Bradley. Barnard Clark was also voted Fan Favorite.

Contestants

Fifteen chefs competed in Top Chef: Kentucky. In addition, like the previous season, three returning competitors competed in the Last Chance Kitchen to earn the chance to join the competition: Top Chef: Colorado contestants Carrie Baird and Brother Luck, and Top Chef: Charleston contestant Jim Smith. Following the sixth episode of Last Chance Kitchen, Luck was selected to join the main cast.

New contestants

NameCurrent Residence
Eric AdjepongWashington, D.C.
Sara BradleyPaducah, Kentucky
Kelsey Barnard ClarkDothan, Alabama
Eddie KonradPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Pablo LamonMiami Beach, Florida
Natalie MaronskiPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Michelle MinoriSan Francisco, California
Nini NguyenBrooklyn, New York
Brandon RosenSan Mateo, California
Kevin ScharpfDubuque, Iowa
Caitlin SteiningerCincinnati, Ohio
Justin SutherlandSt. Paul, Minnesota
David VianaAsbury Park, New Jersey
Adrienne WrightBoston, Massachusetts
Brian YoungBoston, Massachusetts

Eric Adjepong and Nini Nguyen returned to compete in Top Chef: All-Stars L.A. Sara Bradley returned for Top Chef: World All-Stars.

Returning contestants

NameCurrent ResidenceSeason
Carrie BairdDenver, ColoradoSeason 15
Brother LuckColorado Springs, ColoradoSeason 15
Jim SmithMontgomery, AlabamaSeason 14

Contestant progress


Episodes

''Last Chance Kitchen''

No.TitleOriginal air date