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The Daily Dish Bravo Insider

Bravo’s Top Chef Season 19 Contestants Face a Surprising First Challenge

Get your first look at the new batch of cheftestants competing in Houston ahead of the Top Chef Season 19 premiere on March 3.

By Anita Abedian
Start Watching The Season 19 Premiere Now

Get ready to pack your knives and head to Houston! Bravo's Top Chef is back with a supersized Season 19 premiere on Thursday, March 3 at 8/7c. A new batch of 15 contestants will compete for the coveted title of Top Chef in Houston. And, as host Padma Lakshmi notes in the above first look exclusive to Bravo Insider, there will definitely be "some competition in the kitchen" among the bevy of talented chefs serving up their culinary mastery.

How to Watch

Watch Top Chef Season 21 Wednesdays at 9/8c on Bravo and next day on Peacock.

You can get your first taste of the brand new season of Top Chef right now in the Bravo Insider video, above, where you'll get to meet "an incredible collection of talented chefs" as Padma describes the group of new cheftestants, which include chefs who’ve cooked up culinary masterpieces in Michelin-starred kitchens, James Beard nominees, and one chef who has worked in the No. 1 restaurant in the world.

Top Chef alum and Houston local Dawn Burrell also gives the cheftestants a warm welcome to her city as Season 19's first guest judge. "I'm so excited for you guys to be in my city," Dawn tells the chefs, adding, "Houston is a melting pot. Every culture is represented here, the food is really delicious, and it is the reason why I love living here."

But before the chefs officially kick off the competition and get cooking, there are some surprises and twists thrown in both about the Quickfire Challenge and also about one of the chefs, who reveals how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic impacted him ahead of the competition.

Padma will be also be joined by head judge Tom Colicchio as well as Gail Simmons, who all return for Season 19 as the 15 cheftestants put their culinary skills to the ultimate test.

Check out the full Bravo Insider clip, above, to learn more about the cheftestants and to see the surprising twist thrown in the mix for the first challenge!

Top Chef Season 19 premieres on March 3 at 8/7c. And there's even more Top Chef to enjoy as every Thursday directly following Top Chef, Bravo will encore Peacock’s Top Chef Family Style. The series is hosted by Meghan Trainor and Marcus Samuelsson as head judge as 15 talented culinary prodigies compete with an adult family member for the chance to be crowned champions.

For instant access, as well as more exclusive content featuring your favorite Bravolebs, sign up to be a Bravo Insider.

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