Top Chef Amateurs is an American reality competition series that premiered on July 1, 2021, on Bravo. It is a spin-off of the Top Chef television series, featuring home cooks instead of professional chefs. In each episode, two home cooks compete head-to-head in challenges drawn from previous seasons of Top Chef. Each amateur is paired with a past Top Chef contestant, who acts as an advisor and sous chef. The series is hosted by Gail Simmons, who also serves as head judge. The winner of each episode receives .
Production of Top Chef Amateurs began in October 2020 in Portland, Oregon, following filming for Top Chef: Portland. The show was filmed under the same COVID-19 guidelines, utilizing the same kitchen set established at the Portland Expo Center. The competitors were flown to Portland from across the United States, quarantined in their hotel rooms for several days, and tested several times for the coronavirus. Similar to Portland, Amateurs features Top Chef alumni as guest judges, who rotate between cooking with the contestants and judging alongside Simmons.
Contestants NameHometownOccupationBettina ApplewhiteOwings Mills, MarylandSchool nutrition specialistDanie BakerSeattle, WashingtonTax accountantBrett BanksonPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaNeuroscience studentLorenzo BeronillaSaugerties, New YorkActorKarine CeyhanAltadena, CaliforniaPharmaceutical salesKolby ChandlerHouston, TexasSoftware consultantSteven DeCarloNew York City, New YorkHairstylist Ryan DishmanDenver, ColoradoSoftware salesRodney FaraonArlington, VirginiaInternational business consultantDerek FinocchiaroEdgewater, New JerseyFragrance laboratory managerKayla HardinMontgomery, AlabamaHigh school biology teacherAmirah IslamAustin, TexasUser experience designerDavid JohnsonCarmel, IndianaHome sales consultantTamara JohnsonPembroke Pines, FloridaDental hygienist Antwan JonesLos Angeles, CaliforniaInsurance adjusterZuliya KhawajaSan Diego, CaliforniaReal estate brokerBasil MaqboolMurrieta, CaliforniaPharmacistBree MedleyBremerton, WashingtonArchitectFarah MomenMedford, MassachusettsStart-up company advisorGina MustoeWestford, MassachusettsHigh school teacherMarvin SolomonLos Angeles, CaliforniaWriterNick SouksavatRomeoville, IllinoisVisual merchandiser Sharila StewartJersey City, New JerseyLaw studentSimon SuhNorth Bergen, New JerseyHairstylist
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