Top Chef: Seattle is the tenth season of the American reality television series Top Chef. The season premiered on November 7, 2012. The competition was initially filmed in Seattle, Washington before moving to Juneau, Alaska for three episodes, and then concluding in Los Angeles, California. Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen, the web series introduced in the previous season which puts the eliminated contestants against each other in head-to-head challenges to battle for a chance to re-enter the main competition, also returned. The winner continued to compete in the season finale. In addition, viewers could vote each week for chefs eliminated from the Last Chance Kitchen to move on in the "Save a Chef" competition. The winner of the final vote was "saved", and earned a spot in the final round of the Last Chance Kitchen. In the season finale, Kristen Kish was declared the winner over runner-up Brooke Williamson. Sheldon Simeon was voted Fan Favorite.
Contestants
The cast of Top Chef: Seattle initially consisted of 21 contestants. After the qualifying challenges in the first episode, the pool of chefs was narrowed down to 15. Former Top Chef competitors Josie Smith-Malave, Chris "CJ" Jacobson, and Stefan Richter joined the competition during the second episode.
Eliminated in qualifying rounds NameHometownCurrent ResidenceAgeTina BourbeauNew York, New York42Stephanie CmarBoston, Massachusetts27Anthony GrayMacon, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia35Gina KeatleyBoston, MassachusettsHarlem, New York32Daniel O'BrienClarkson, New YorkWashington, D.C.32Jorel PierceDenver, Colorado28 Jorel Pierce returned as Jennifer Jasinski's sous chef on the fifth season of Top Chef Masters. Stephanie Cmar returned to compete in Top Chef: New Orleans and Top Chef: All-Stars L.A..
Top 15 NameHometownCurrent ResidenceAgeElizabeth "Lizzie" BinderDurban, South AfricaSan Francisco, California37Chrissy CambaChicago, Illinois31Micah FieldsLos Angeles, California28Eliza GavinTelluride, Colorado38Jeffrey JewWashington, D.C.St. Petersburg, Florida34Kristen KishKentwood, MichiganBoston, Massachusetts28Danyele McPhersonWaynesville, North CarolinaDallas, Texas31Carla PellegrinoRio de Janeiro, BrazilLas Vegas, Nevada43Sheldon SimeonHilo, HawaiiLahaina, Hawaii30John TesarNew York, New YorkDallas, Texas54Josh ValentineDel City, OklahomaDallas, Texas33Bart VandaeleRoeselare, BelgiumWashington, D.C.42Tyler WiardDenver, Colorado41Brooke WilliamsonLos Angeles, CaliforniaRedondo Beach, California34Kuniko YagiMaebashi, JapanLos Angeles, California35
Kristen Kish and Brooke Williamson later competed in Top Chef Duels. Williamson, Sheldon Simeon, and John Tesar returned for Top Chef: Charleston. Kish took over hosting duties for Padma Lakshmi following Top Chef: World All-Stars. Outside of Top Chef, Kish competed on the fourth season of The Traitors.
Returning contestants NameHometownCurrent ResidenceAgeSeasonChris "CJ" JacobsonEl Toro, CaliforniaStudio City, California36Season 3Stefan RichterTampere, FinlandSanta Monica, California40Season 5Josie Smith-MalaveMiami, FloridaSan Francisco, California37Season 2
Contestant progress Episode #234567891011121314151617Quickfire ChallengeWinner(s) JohnKunikoSheldon Josie John BartSheldon Brooke Kristen Micah Micah Brooke Stefan Sheldon Sheldon Brooke ContestantElimination Challenge Results1 Kristen IN INWIN IN HIGHWIN INWINWINOUT INWINNER2 BrookeLOW IN INLOWWINHIGHWINHIGH IN INLOWWINWINWIN IN3 SheldonHIGHLOW IN INHIGHHIGHLOW INWINWINHIGH LOWLOWLOWOUT4 Josh IN INLOWLOWLOWHIGHLOWHIGHHIGHHIGHWINHIGHLOWOUT5 Lizzie INHIGHHIGH IN INHIGHHIGHLOWLOW INHIGH HIGH OUT6 StefanLOW INHIGHLOW INHIGH IN IN IN INLOWOUT7 JosieLOWLOW IN IN INLOWLOW INLOWLOWOUT8 Micah IN IN IN INLOWLOWHIGH INOUT9 JohnHIGH IN INLOWHIGHLOWWINOUT10 BartLOW IN IN IN INLOWOUT11 Danyele IN IN IN INLOWOUT12 Eliza IN IN IN INOUT13 Tyler INLOWHIGHOUT CJLOWHIGHLOWOUT15 Carla INWINOUT Chrissy IN INOUT17 KunikoWINOUT18 JeffreyOUT : 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 second episode. : Former Top Chef contestants CJ, Josie, and Stefan entered the competition following the Quickfire Challenge. : Due to the poor quality of the dishes served in the Elimination Challenge, no winner was declared. : Kristen won Last Chance Kitchen and returned to the competition. (WINNER) The chef won the season and was crowned Top Chef. (RUNNER-UP) The chef was the 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</onlyinclude>
References Notes
Footnotes
External links Official website