Yeehaw! 'Top Chef' Is Headed to Houston — Find Out Which Chefs Made the Cut
![Shannon Raphael - Author](https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/8k4Z0O3Om/200x200/shannon-raphael-1653433770763.jpg)
Jan. 27 2022, Published 11:02 a.m. ET
!['Top Chef' Houston](https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/rkQ2VB5gV/480x251/topchefhouston-1643291449924.jpg?position=top 480w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/rkQ2VB5gV/640x335/topchefhouston-1643291449924.jpg?position=top 640w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/rkQ2VB5gV/768x402/topchefhouston-1643291449924.jpg?position=top 768w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/rkQ2VB5gV/1024x536/topchefhouston-1643291449924.jpg?position=top 1024w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/rkQ2VB5gV/1280x670/topchefhouston-1643291449924.jpg?position=top 1280w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/rkQ2VB5gV/1440x753/topchefhouston-1643291449924.jpg?position=top 1440w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/rkQ2VB5gV/1600x837/topchefhouston-1643291449924.jpg?position=top 1600w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/rkQ2VB5gV/2160x1130/topchefhouston-1643291449924.jpg?position=top 2160w)
The high-stakes culinary competition Top Chef is officially coming back for a 19th season, and host Padma Lakshmi, judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons, and the cheftestants are all headed to Houston, Texas, for the first time on the show.
A teaser trailer for the upcoming season dropped in January 2022, and viewers got a glimpse at what they can expect to see once the food series returns.
"Top Chef is back. Fifteen of the country's most talented chefs have traveled to Houston to compete in one of the most diverse cities in the nation," Padma says in the sneak peek clip.
Since Texas is the Lone Star State, it only makes sense that Houston would serve as the place where the next winner is named.
Before Padma starts asking one chef to please pack their knives and go each week, take a look at the 15 contestants competing in the Texas city.
!['Top Chef' Houston](https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/YUHzZJRv4/480x252/topchefseason19-1643299192628.jpg 480w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/YUHzZJRv4/640x335/topchefseason19-1643299192628.jpg 640w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/YUHzZJRv4/768x402/topchefseason19-1643299192628.jpg 768w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/YUHzZJRv4/1024x536/topchefseason19-1643299192628.jpg 1024w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/YUHzZJRv4/1280x670/topchefseason19-1643299192628.jpg 1280w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/YUHzZJRv4/1440x754/topchefseason19-1643299192628.jpg 1440w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/YUHzZJRv4/1600x838/topchefseason19-1643299192628.jpg 1600w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/YUHzZJRv4/2160x1131/topchefseason19-1643299192628.jpg 2160w)
Leia Gaccione
![Leia Gaccione](https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/jLVlciqK2/480x252/leiatopchef-1643293619661.jpg 480w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/jLVlciqK2/640x335/leiatopchef-1643293619661.jpg 640w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/jLVlciqK2/768x402/leiatopchef-1643293619661.jpg 768w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/jLVlciqK2/1024x536/leiatopchef-1643293619661.jpg 1024w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/jLVlciqK2/1280x670/leiatopchef-1643293619661.jpg 1280w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/jLVlciqK2/1440x754/leiatopchef-1643293619661.jpg 1440w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/jLVlciqK2/1600x838/leiatopchef-1643293619661.jpg 1600w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/jLVlciqK2/2160x1131/leiatopchef-1643293619661.jpg 2160w)
This Season 19 star works in Morristown, N.J. at the American food restaurant south + pine. She opened the eatery in 2015, and she's previously appeared on Beat Bobby Flay, Chopped, Iron Chef Showdown, and Iron Chef America.
Stephanie Miller
![Stephanie Miller](https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/HxV_yUJf8/480x252/stephaniemillertopchef-1643294181535.jpg 480w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/HxV_yUJf8/640x335/stephaniemillertopchef-1643294181535.jpg 640w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/HxV_yUJf8/768x402/stephaniemillertopchef-1643294181535.jpg 768w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/HxV_yUJf8/1024x536/stephaniemillertopchef-1643294181535.jpg 1024w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/HxV_yUJf8/1280x670/stephaniemillertopchef-1643294181535.jpg 1280w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/HxV_yUJf8/1440x754/stephaniemillertopchef-1643294181535.jpg 1440w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/HxV_yUJf8/1600x838/stephaniemillertopchef-1643294181535.jpg 1600w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/HxV_yUJf8/2160x1131/stephaniemillertopchef-1643294181535.jpg 2160w)
Stephanie is based in her hometown of Bismarck, N.D., which is where her restaurants, Butterhorn and Shelter Belt, are located.
Sam Kang
![Sam Kang](https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/0aouoM3iu/480x252/samkangtopchef-1643294254825.jpg 480w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/0aouoM3iu/640x335/samkangtopchef-1643294254825.jpg 640w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/0aouoM3iu/768x402/samkangtopchef-1643294254825.jpg 768w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/0aouoM3iu/1024x536/samkangtopchef-1643294254825.jpg 1024w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/0aouoM3iu/1280x670/samkangtopchef-1643294254825.jpg 1280w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/0aouoM3iu/1440x754/samkangtopchef-1643294254825.jpg 1440w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/0aouoM3iu/1600x838/samkangtopchef-1643294254825.jpg 1600w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/0aouoM3iu/2160x1131/samkangtopchef-1643294254825.jpg 2160w)
After working at several restaurants with Michelin stars, Sam embarked on a career as a chef educator to kids in 2020. The contestant originally hails from Southern California, but he is currently based in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Jae Jung
![Jae Jung](https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/TJ4T8y1L3/480x252/jaejungtopchef-1643294293428.jpg 480w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/TJ4T8y1L3/640x335/jaejungtopchef-1643294293428.jpg 640w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/TJ4T8y1L3/768x402/jaejungtopchef-1643294293428.jpg 768w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/TJ4T8y1L3/1024x536/jaejungtopchef-1643294293428.jpg 1024w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/TJ4T8y1L3/1280x670/jaejungtopchef-1643294293428.jpg 1280w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/TJ4T8y1L3/1440x754/jaejungtopchef-1643294293428.jpg 1440w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/TJ4T8y1L3/1600x838/jaejungtopchef-1643294293428.jpg 1600w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/TJ4T8y1L3/2160x1131/jaejungtopchef-1643294293428.jpg 2160w)
Jae is from Seoul, and she moved to the United States to attend the Culinary Institute of America in 2009. She now is the owner and chef at KJUN, a Korean-Cajun pop-up in New York City.
Monique Feybesse
![Monique Feybesse](https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/rBlI6ZPZt/480x252/moniquetopchef-1643294337280.jpg 480w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/rBlI6ZPZt/640x335/moniquetopchef-1643294337280.jpg 640w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/rBlI6ZPZt/768x402/moniquetopchef-1643294337280.jpg 768w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/rBlI6ZPZt/1024x536/moniquetopchef-1643294337280.jpg 1024w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/rBlI6ZPZt/1280x670/moniquetopchef-1643294337280.jpg 1280w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/rBlI6ZPZt/1440x754/moniquetopchef-1643294337280.jpg 1440w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/rBlI6ZPZt/1600x838/moniquetopchef-1643294337280.jpg 1600w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/rBlI6ZPZt/2160x1131/moniquetopchef-1643294337280.jpg 2160w)
Monique now owns Tarts de Feybesse in California. Before she moved back to her home state, she was a chef in Paris for about three years at Pavillon Ledoyen (which has three Michelin stars).
Jo Chan
![Jo Chan](https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/bVaRrt4wF/480x252/jochantopchef-1643294386736.jpg 480w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/bVaRrt4wF/640x335/jochantopchef-1643294386736.jpg 640w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/bVaRrt4wF/768x402/jochantopchef-1643294386736.jpg 768w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/bVaRrt4wF/1024x536/jochantopchef-1643294386736.jpg 1024w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/bVaRrt4wF/1280x670/jochantopchef-1643294386736.jpg 1280w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/bVaRrt4wF/1440x754/jochantopchef-1643294386736.jpg 1440w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/bVaRrt4wF/1600x838/jochantopchef-1643294386736.jpg 1600w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/bVaRrt4wF/2160x1131/jochantopchef-1643294386736.jpg 2160w)
Jo isn't exactly working at home, but the Executive Chef is normally based in Austin, Texas.
Jackson Kalb
![Jackson Kalb](https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/aJpI1HEg0/480x252/jacksonkalb-1643294644683.jpg 480w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/aJpI1HEg0/640x335/jacksonkalb-1643294644683.jpg 640w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/aJpI1HEg0/768x402/jacksonkalb-1643294644683.jpg 768w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/aJpI1HEg0/1024x536/jacksonkalb-1643294644683.jpg 1024w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/aJpI1HEg0/1280x670/jacksonkalb-1643294644683.jpg 1280w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/aJpI1HEg0/1440x754/jacksonkalb-1643294644683.jpg 1440w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/aJpI1HEg0/1600x838/jacksonkalb-1643294644683.jpg 1600w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/aJpI1HEg0/2160x1131/jacksonkalb-1643294644683.jpg 2160w)
Jackson is the chef and owner of Jame Enoteca and Ospi in Los Angeles, Calif. The Season 19 star works alongside his wife, Melissa, at both of the eateries.
He is set to open up his third restaurant in L.A., Gemma di Mare, in 2022.
Nick Wallace
![Nick Wallace](https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/1EdIViRuS/480x252/nickwallacetopchef-1643294689619.jpg 480w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/1EdIViRuS/640x335/nickwallacetopchef-1643294689619.jpg 640w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/1EdIViRuS/768x402/nickwallacetopchef-1643294689619.jpg 768w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/1EdIViRuS/1024x536/nickwallacetopchef-1643294689619.jpg 1024w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/1EdIViRuS/1280x670/nickwallacetopchef-1643294689619.jpg 1280w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/1EdIViRuS/1440x754/nickwallacetopchef-1643294689619.jpg 1440w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/1EdIViRuS/1600x838/nickwallacetopchef-1643294689619.jpg 1600w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/1EdIViRuS/2160x1131/nickwallacetopchef-1643294689619.jpg 2160w)
Nick lives and works as a chef in Mississippi, and he's the founder of Nick Wallace Culinary, Nick Wallace Catering, and the Nissan Café. The cheftestant is next set to open CHURN Creameries.
Sarah Welch
![Sarah Welch](https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/4tHOHvlif/480x252/sarahwelch-1643294747071.jpg 480w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/4tHOHvlif/640x335/sarahwelch-1643294747071.jpg 640w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/4tHOHvlif/768x402/sarahwelch-1643294747071.jpg 768w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/4tHOHvlif/1024x536/sarahwelch-1643294747071.jpg 1024w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/4tHOHvlif/1280x670/sarahwelch-1643294747071.jpg 1280w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/4tHOHvlif/1440x754/sarahwelch-1643294747071.jpg 1440w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/4tHOHvlif/1600x838/sarahwelch-1643294747071.jpg 1600w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/4tHOHvlif/2160x1131/sarahwelch-1643294747071.jpg 2160w)
Sarah is the Executive Chef at Marrow, and she's a co-founder of Mink. Both food spots are located in Detroit, MI.
Buddha Lo
![Buddha Lo](https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/ZhMauTncv/480x252/buddhalo-1643294803213.jpg 480w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/ZhMauTncv/640x335/buddhalo-1643294803213.jpg 640w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/ZhMauTncv/768x402/buddhalo-1643294803213.jpg 768w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/ZhMauTncv/1024x536/buddhalo-1643294803213.jpg 1024w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/ZhMauTncv/1280x670/buddhalo-1643294803213.jpg 1280w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/ZhMauTncv/1440x754/buddhalo-1643294803213.jpg 1440w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/ZhMauTncv/1600x838/buddhalo-1643294803213.jpg 1600w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/ZhMauTncv/2160x1131/buddhalo-1643294803213.jpg 2160w)
Buddha hails from Port Douglas, Australia, but he's been living and working in Brooklyn, NY at Huso (which is part of Marky's Caviar).
He previously worked at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, which has three Michelin stars.
Ashleigh Shanti
![Ashleigh Shanti](https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/Gb6-RgK2U/480x252/ashleighshanti-1643294851270.jpg 480w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/Gb6-RgK2U/640x335/ashleighshanti-1643294851270.jpg 640w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/Gb6-RgK2U/768x402/ashleighshanti-1643294851270.jpg 768w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/Gb6-RgK2U/1024x536/ashleighshanti-1643294851270.jpg 1024w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/Gb6-RgK2U/1280x670/ashleighshanti-1643294851270.jpg 1280w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/Gb6-RgK2U/1440x754/ashleighshanti-1643294851270.jpg 1440w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/Gb6-RgK2U/1600x838/ashleighshanti-1643294851270.jpg 1600w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/Gb6-RgK2U/2160x1131/ashleighshanti-1643294851270.jpg 2160w)
Ashleigh is from Virginia Beach, VA, but she's been working as a chef at Hot Fish in Asheville, N.C. (which she also created). Though she is trained in Classic French and Northern Italian cuisine, her speciality is in Southern Appalachian food.
Evelyn Garcia
![Evelyn Garcia](https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/HrrPE4eL3/480x252/evelyngarcia-1643294902332.jpg 480w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/HrrPE4eL3/640x335/evelyngarcia-1643294902332.jpg 640w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/HrrPE4eL3/768x402/evelyngarcia-1643294902332.jpg 768w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/HrrPE4eL3/1024x536/evelyngarcia-1643294902332.jpg 1024w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/HrrPE4eL3/1280x670/evelyngarcia-1643294902332.jpg 1280w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/HrrPE4eL3/1440x754/evelyngarcia-1643294902332.jpg 1440w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/HrrPE4eL3/1600x838/evelyngarcia-1643294902332.jpg 1600w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/HrrPE4eL3/2160x1131/evelyngarcia-1643294902332.jpg 2160w)
Evelyn has a home field advantage on the competition, as she already works in Houston, Texas. She's the chef and co-owner of Kin HTX.
Robert Hernandez
![Robert Hernandez](https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/43ekF1IWv/480x252/roberthernandez-1643294940822.jpg 480w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/43ekF1IWv/640x335/roberthernandez-1643294940822.jpg 640w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/43ekF1IWv/768x402/roberthernandez-1643294940822.jpg 768w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/43ekF1IWv/1024x536/roberthernandez-1643294940822.jpg 1024w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/43ekF1IWv/1280x670/roberthernandez-1643294940822.jpg 1280w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/43ekF1IWv/1440x754/roberthernandez-1643294940822.jpg 1440w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/43ekF1IWv/1600x838/roberthernandez-1643294940822.jpg 1600w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/43ekF1IWv/2160x1131/roberthernandez-1643294940822.jpg 2160w)
This chef was working at the San Francisco restaurant, Octavia, when it got a Michelin star during the first year it was open.
Now, Robert works as a private chef.
Damarr Brown
![Damarr Brown](https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/LTtx73ww-/480x252/damarrbrown-1643294983757.jpg 480w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/LTtx73ww-/640x335/damarrbrown-1643294983757.jpg 640w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/LTtx73ww-/768x402/damarrbrown-1643294983757.jpg 768w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/LTtx73ww-/1024x536/damarrbrown-1643294983757.jpg 1024w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/LTtx73ww-/1280x670/damarrbrown-1643294983757.jpg 1280w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/LTtx73ww-/1440x754/damarrbrown-1643294983757.jpg 1440w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/LTtx73ww-/1600x838/damarrbrown-1643294983757.jpg 1600w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/LTtx73ww-/2160x1131/damarrbrown-1643294983757.jpg 2160w)
The Chicago resident may not be a chef at a restaurant with several Michelin stars, but as he expressed in the trailer, his food is good enough to put him at the top of the competition.
Luke Kolpin
![Luke Kolpin](https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/0pfaCVxxc/480x252/luketopchef-1643295034124.jpg 480w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/0pfaCVxxc/640x335/luketopchef-1643295034124.jpg 640w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/0pfaCVxxc/768x402/luketopchef-1643295034124.jpg 768w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/0pfaCVxxc/1024x536/luketopchef-1643295034124.jpg 1024w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/0pfaCVxxc/1280x670/luketopchef-1643295034124.jpg 1280w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/0pfaCVxxc/1440x754/luketopchef-1643295034124.jpg 1440w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/0pfaCVxxc/1600x838/luketopchef-1643295034124.jpg 1600w, https://media.dreamdive.us/brand-img/0pfaCVxxc/2160x1131/luketopchef-1643295034124.jpg 2160w)
Prior to his participation on the culinary competition, Luke spent eight-and-a-half years as a chef in Copenhagen.
When is the premiere date for 'Top Chef' Houston?
Now that we know the identities of the 15 stars competing in the QuickFire and Elimination Challenges, fans may be interested in finding out the premiere date.
Season 19 is set to kick off with a "supersized" episode on March 3 at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
After it premieres in March, Top Chef will continue to air on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET. Episodes will also be available to stream on Peacock.