Top Chef: Texas is the ninth season of the American reality television series Top Chef. The season was filmed in various cities in Texas, including San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin, before moving on to Whistler, British Columbia for the finale. The season premiered on November 2, 2011. This season of Top Chef featured a much larger number of contestants than any previous season, with 29 chefs. Top Chef: Texas also introduced a new side competition to the series; in addition to the Quickfire and Elimination Challenges featured in televised episodes, the Last Chance Kitchen competition allowed eliminated contestants to compete head-to-head in a series of webisodes, with the winner eventually returning to the main competition. In the season finale, Paul Qui was declared the winner over runner-up Sarah Grueneberg. Chris Crary was voted Fan Favorite.
Contestants
The cast of Top Chef: Texas initially consisted of 29 contestants. After the qualifying challenges in the first two episodes, the pool of chefs was narrowed down to 16.
Eliminated in qualifying rounds NameCurrent ResidenceAgeJonathan BaltazarLong Beach, California36Molly BrandtHollywood, Florida30Chaz BrownNew York, New York29Kimberly CalichioNew York, New York27Andrew CurrenAustin, Texas32Berenice deAraujoMiami, Florida33Janine FalvoAtlanta, Georgia37Simon PantetSeattle, Washington30Colin PattersonSeattle, Washington37Laurent QueniouxLos Angeles, California51Tyler StoneSacramento, California22Nina VicenteSeattle, Washington29Ashley VillaluzSeattle, Washington25
Top 16 NameHometownCurrent ResidenceAgeNyesha ArringtonLos Angeles, California28Lindsay AutryFayetteville, North CarolinaWest Palm Beach, Florida29Ty-Lör BoringKansas City, MissouriBrooklyn, New York34Chris CraryBucyrus, OhioLos Angeles, California29Richie FarinaRiverview, FloridaChicago, Illinois28Sarah GruenebergHouston, TexasChicago, Illinois29Chris JonesFort Lauderdale, FloridaChicago, Illinois30Beverly KimDowners Grove, IllinoisChicago, Illinois32Edward LeeBrooklyn, New YorkLouisville, Kentucky38Whitney OtawkaHesperia, CaliforniaAthens, Georgia30Paul QuiSpringfield, Virginia/Houston, TexasAustin, Texas31Keith RhodesWilmington, North Carolina39Grayson SchmitzNew Holstein, WisconsinNew York, New York28Heather TerhuneSt. Albans, VermontChicago, Illinois39Chuy ValenciaSanta Rosa, CaliforniaChicago, Illinois25Dakota WeissQuartz Hill, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California35
Nyesha Arrington later competed in Top Chef Duels. Grayson Schmitz returned to compete in Top Chef: California.
Contestant progress
Episode # 34567891011121314151617Quickfire ChallengeWinner(s) Dakota Paul Lindsay Grayson Ty-Lör Paul Ty-Lör Lindsay Chris J.Grayson Edward Sarah Sarah ContestantElimination Challenge Results1 PaulWIN INWIN IN IN IN WINLOWWINWIN INWINWINWINWINNER2 SarahLOWWINHIGH IN INWINLOWHIGHLOWLOWLOW INWIN IN3 Lindsay LOW IN IN IN IN INWIN INHIGHHIGHWINLOWWINOUT4 BeverlyWINLOW IN INLOWHIGH LOWWINOUTHIGHOUT5 Edward WIN IN IN LOW WINHIGH LOW LOW HIGH LOW LOW OUT6 GraysonWIN INHIGH IN LOW LOW WINHIGH LOW HIGH OUT7 Chris J.WIN INLOWHIGHLOW INLOWLOWHIGHOUT8 Ty-LörLOW IN LOW LOW WIN IN LOW OUT9 Chris C. IN WIN LOW IN IN LOW OUT10 HeatherWIN IN IN WINLOW OUT11 Nyesha IN LOW IN HIGH OUT Dakota IN IN HIGH IN OUT 13 Whitney IN IN IN OUT 14 Chuy WINWIN OUT15 RichieWINOUT16 KeithOUT : The chef(s) did not receive immunity for winning the Quickfire Challenge. : Due to the qualifying rounds, the show did not use its traditional elimination format until the third episode. : Beverly won Last Chance Kitchen and returned to the competition. : As a reward for winning the Quickfire Challenge, Sarah was allowed to sit out the 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
Last Chance Kitchen
No. Title Original air date
References
Notes
Footnotes
External links
Official website