Previous Winner Kristen Kish to Take Over as “Top Chef” Host

We were VERY sad to learn Padma Lakshmi was leaving her long-standing post as host of “Top Chef.” She’s been a high point of the culinary reality program since she joined it in it’s second season. But, the next host isn’t a bad choice at all!

“Top Chef” season 10 contestant (and winner!) Kristen Kish will be taking over. Both Gail Simmons and Tom Coliccio will be returning as judges. You may have seen Kish in Netflix’s revival of “Iron Chef” alongside Alton Brown, or her own show, “Restaurants at the End of the World.”

“Top Chef is where I started my journey — first as a competing chef, then a guest judge and now as host I have the honor of helping to continue to build this brand,” Kish said. “I’m thrilled to sit alongside Gail and Tom as we get to know new incredible chefs and see what they cook up. It feels like coming home.”

Kish made appearances as a guest judge for “Top Chef” seasons 18 and 19 as well.

There is no release date (or theme) for season 21 yet, but we do know “Top Chef” will be returning to the United States following season 20’s London setting. We’ll let you know what we hear about this and other news.

UPDATE:

Lakshmi has since posted a very nice tweet about the news:

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Mary Anne Butler

Mary Anne Butler (Mab) has been part of the fast-paced world of journalism since she was 15, getting her start in album reviews and live concert coverage for a nationally published (print) music magazine. She eventually transitioned to online media, writing for such sites as UGO/IGN, ComicsOnline, Geek Magazine, Ace of Geeks, Aggressive Comix (where she is still Editor-in-Chief), Bleeding Cool (where she was News Editor), and now Nerdbot as Editor-In-Chief. Over the past 10 years, she’s built a reputation at conventions across the globe as a cosplayer (occasionally), photographer (constantly), panelist and moderator (mostly), and reporter (always). Interviews, reviews, observations, breaking news, and objective reporting are the name of the game for the founder of Harkonnen Knife Fight, a Dune-themed band with an international presence. Though she be but little, she is fierce.

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