Bravo's Top Chef Season 18 Location Revealed
Find out where the culinary competition will be heading next season.
Get excited, Top Chef fans. The culinary competition will be going where it's never gone before in the upcoming Season 18.
Bravo's Top Chef will showcase Portland, Oregon in Season 18, coming in 2021. A new batch of talented chefs will be challenged all over the city, from PDX to the coast, exploring the famous Hood River Fruit Loop, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory, Tillamook Bay, Tualatin Valley, and Willamette Valley wine country.
“Portland has been on our radar for the last few years as a burgeoning culinary destination known for its innovative dining scene driven by independent, chef-owned restaurants, local farms and purveyors,” Shari Levine, Executive Vice President, Current Production, Bravo, said in a statement. “The city’s unique culture alongside Oregon’s natural pantry of indigenous ingredients and incredible scenic beauty makes it the ultimate chef’s playground and an ideal destination for ‘Top Chef’ to explore.”
Casey Kriley and Jo Sharon, co-CEOs of Magical Elves, the production company behind Top Chef, added, "We are excited to highlight the cuisine and culture of the state through our talented chefs and judges. This season promises to be unique in a multitude of ways."
Production on Season 18 is currently underway with a comprehensive health and safety plan developed in accordance with CDC guidance, all state and local orders, as well as NBCUniversal’s own safety guidelines. "The health and safety of the cast and crew is the priority of Bravo & Magical Elves on all of its shows," according to the press release announcing the location of the new season of Top Chef.
“Considering all our community is facing this year, ‘Top Chef’s selection of Portland as its filming location means more than if we had been selected any other year because it recognizes that, in spite of everything, our city remains a world-class culinary destination," Jeff Miller, Travel Portland President and CEO, said in a statement. "The show will serve as a window into what Portland has to offer when viewers are ready to travel again. This confirms what we know to be true, that the collaborative spirit and innovation of our chefs, purveyors and local brands make this one of the premier culinary communities in the world.”
“We are beyond thrilled that season 18 of ‘Top Chef’ will feature Oregon. Our state is known not only for its scenic wonders, but also for its world-renowned culinary bounty,” Todd Davidson, CEO at Travel Oregon, added. “‘Top Chef’ will place an important spotlight on Oregon’s products, places and people, ultimately inspiring visitation and generating economic impact at local and state levels.”
Host Padma Lakshmi, head judge Tom Colicchio, and judge Gail Simmons will all be back to crown the next winner of Top Chef.
Season 17 of Top Chef took place in Los Angeles and featured All Star contestants from seasons past. Melissa King was ultimately took home the title of Top Chef for the season, which was nominated in four categories at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Competition Program, Outstanding Directing For A Reality Program, Outstanding Picture Editing For A Structured Reality Or Competition Program, and Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Competition Program, which honored Padma and Tom.
Want more Top Chef? Catch up on the latest season through the Bravo app.
Relive Melissa's winning moment last season of Top Chef, below.
