Top Chef 2024 Season 21 finale LIVE — Winner’s dish slammed as ‘under seasoned’ as fans say Dan Jacobs was ‘robbed’

Top Chef winner pictured

Danny Garcia is this season's Top Chef!

More on first-time All-Star winner Melissa King

Although Melissa King finished in fourth place during season 12, she won season 17.

At the end of All-Stars L.A, she defeated two-time runner-up Bryan Voltaggio.

Get to know Top Chef's first female winner

On June 11, 2008, Top Chef season 4 ended with Stephanie Izard's victory.

Stephanie beat Lisa Fernandes and Richard Blais to be crowned the franchise's fourth winner.

Since winning her season, she has opened six restaurants.

On August 26, 2011, she co-published her first cookbook; Girl in the Kitchen.

On October 6, 2013, Stephanie married Gary Valentine; they have one son together.

Stephanie is also the winner of Iron Chef Gauntlet.

Meet Top Chef's first winner

On May 24, 2006, Harold Dieterle was the first contestant to be crowned Top Chef.

After season 1 ended, Harold went on to open four restaurants.

All based in New York, his list of eateries included; Perilla, Kin Shop, The Marrow, and Ten Hope.

On September 4, 2010, he tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Meredith Davies.

All four of Harold's establishments have closed down and ceased operations.

Richard owns a plethora of restaurants

Since winning Top Chef 8, Richard has opened several restaurants.

With locations on both the US East and West Coast, his establishments include:

• California English (San Diego, California)
• Four Flamingos (Key West, Florida)
• Four Flamingos Orlando (Florida)
• Juniper & Ivy (San Diego, California)
• The Crack Shack (Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Costa Mesa)

More on Richard Blais

On March 30, 2011, he was crowned the winner of Top Chef season 8.

He later appeared as a guest judge during seasons 12, 13, and 18.

Richard has also appeared in Guy's Grocery Games, MasterChef, Cutthroat Kitchen: Superstar Sabotage, and Hungry Games.

He is also a regular judge on Gordon Ramsay's Next Level Chef.

What to know about Top Chef winner Richard Blais

Born on February 12, 1972, Richard Blais is an American chef, restaurateur, and TV personality from Uniondale, New York.

A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Richard worked on the Manhattan restaurant scene during the earlier years of his career.

In 2008, Richard competed in Top Chef season 4; he finished runner-up to Stephanie Izard.

Despite his loss, he returned for the franchise's All-Stars season.

Fans praise Kristen Kish

While some lamented over Padma, others shared their new-found love for Kristen.

One said: "It’s early in the episode but @tomcolicchio and Top Chef really nailed it bringing Kristen Kish in.

"She’s totally different than Padma but provides great commentary and support for the chefs. This is going to be a great season."

"The contestants are cool, the food looks delicious, but what I’m looking forward to each episode?

"Seeing what Kristen is going to wear. She always slays and looks amazing," added another.

Other fans said: "Kristen Kish was a perfect choice," and "I can see why Kristen was chosen to host."

Fans missed Padma earlier this season

Viewers on X, formerly known as Twitter, started to miss Padma in the first few minutes of the show this season.

One wrote: "I miss @PadmaLakshmi already. #TopChef."

"The only thing that makes me sad about Padma not hosting #TopChef is that I won't get to hear Ben and Ronnie do their Padma voice on @WhatCrappens," said another.

"I wonder if Padma is watching," commented a third.

A viewer sobbed: "I need @PadmaLakshmi back #TopChef #topchef2024 #padmalakshmi #itsnotsamewithouther," with crying emojis.

Meet last year's runner-up: Sarah Welch

Welch is the third top finalist for Top Chef Houston.

She is also a chef at Marrow in her home state of Michigan.

Welch grew up in Ann Arbor and is now residing in Detroit where she works.

The chef how nearly 5K followers on Instagram where she often shares the content of her dishes.

Welch is the Executive Chef, Founding Member, and Equity Partner at Marrow.

What to know about last year's runner-up: Evelyn Garcia

Garcia is known for having her own catering company called Kin HTX.

She has gained much popularity during her time on Top Chef now having over 12K followers on Instagram.

While she was in high school she also enrolled at Cy-Fair Culinary Academy.

Introducing last year's winner

Buddha Lo was crowned the winner of Top Chef this season.

Lo took on after his father of his passion for cooking, his father has a family restaurant in Port Douglas, Australia.

After high school, he enrolled at the William Angliss Institute in Melbourne, per his website.

Before graduating from culinary school he won a scholarship to a 2-month stage at the 2 Michelin star Château Cordeillan-Bages in Pauillac, France.

At only 19 years old Lo went on to become the head chef for Raymond Capaldi one of the best chefs in Australia.

More on Tom and Lori's family

While Colicchio and Silverbush might be busy with their respective careers, that has not stopped them from starting a family.

Since tying the knot, Colicchio and Silverbush have welcomed two kids: Luka Bodhi and Mateo.

Colicchio also has an older son, Dante, from a previous relationship, according to Distractify.

At this time, little information is available on the Colicchio kids because they often stay out of the spotlight.

Tom and Lori's love story

Silverbush met her Top Chef husband in 1994 at his New York City restaurant Gramercy Tavern.

Colicchio and his partner, Danny Meyer, had just opened the restaurant when Silverbush was hired as a waitress, according to The New York Times.

They later tied the knot at Martha's Vineyard in September 2001, just days after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Meet Tom Colicchio's other half

Lori Silverbush is a film director, writer, producer, activist, and entrepreneur.

She began her career in the early 2000s after graduating with a Master’s Degree from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Silverbush is also a graduate of the American Film Institute’s Directing Workshop for Women and obtained her bachelor's degree from Cornell University, according to her biography.

In 2005, she was named Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film and has since been critically acclaimed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Vanity Fair, and, Time Magazine, among others.

Silverbush is arguably best known for her work with the films On the Outs (2004) and A Place at the Table (2012).

Outside of the film industry, she is known as the founder of A Place at the Table, an organization that is working to end hunger.

Padma Lakshmi reveals her decision for leaving show

Padma, 53, revealed why she left the long-running Bravo show during a cover interview with New Beauty.

In her first hint behind her decision to leave Top Chef, she told the outlet that the move helped her “make some space for herself, both personally and professionally.”

She later explained: “Last year was all about going out on the road. I was filming for eight months, and it really took a toll on me. That’s one of the big reasons why I decided to cut back and only do one show.

"There were other complex reasons for leaving Top Chef. I had been doing it a long time, and there are other things that we don’t have time for in this interview, but that was one of the reasons I had to leave," she added mysteriously.

Padma emphasized: "I needed to make more space for me. I needed to spend more quality time with my family, specifically my daughter, but also make space for creative growth and intellectual challenge."

Padma Lakshmi's fame and fortunes

Due to Lakshmi's successful career, she has been able to amass an extensive net worth.

As of August 2022, her worth is $40 million with a salary of $50,000 per Top Chef episode, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Her estimated net worth comes from her television success, as well as the success of her books.

More on former judge Padma Lakshmi

Padma Lakshmi is an author, activist, model, and television host who was born on September 1, 1970, in Chennai, India.

Her career began in the late 1990s after making several guest appearances on shows like Star Trek: Enterprise, The Ten Commandments, 30 Rock, and Wasteland.

She has written six books, including Easy Exotic, Tomatoes for Neela, and the New York Times best-seller Love, Loss, and What We Ate.

What to know about Kristen Kish's other half

On April 18, 2021, Kristen married her longtime girlfriend, Bianca Dusic.

It isn't unknown when the two met; however, in 2019, Kish announced they were engaged via Instagram.

Kish shared a picture of the newly engaged couple, writing: "She said YES to a lifetime of Sunday morning coffee dates and bedhead."

Bianca, a health coach and hypnotherapist, is also the vice president of Standard Hotel's food and beverage division.

She has her own Instagram page dedicated to her work, which is called b__within.

Kristen Kish on replacing Padma Lakshmi

On July 11, 2023, Top Chef announced Kristen was taking over from Padma Lakshmi as the show's host.

"Top Chef is where I started my journey...first as a competing chef, then a guest judge," Kristen said of the opportunity.

"Now as host, I have the honor of helping to continue to build this brand.

"I’m thrilled to sit alongside Gail [Simmons] and Tom [Colicchio] as we get to know new incredible chefs and see what they cook up. It feels like coming home."

More on Padma Lakshmi's show

Taste the Nation is a Hulu television series starring Lakshmi that premiered on June 18, 2020.

The show — which explores American food — is in its second season, and, including its Holiday Edition, contains a total of 24 episodes.

The series' description states: "In Taste the Nation, award-winning cookbook author, host, and executive producer Lakshmi, takes audiences on a journey across America, exploring the rich and diverse food culture of various immigrant groups, seeking out the people who have so heavily shaped what American food is today.

Former judge left the show

In an Instagram post, Padma Lakshmi shared that she was leaving the hit cooking show Top Chef.

She wrote: "After much soul searching, I have made the difficult decision to leave Top Chef.

"Having completed a glorious 20th season as host and executive producer, I am extremely proud to have been part of building such a successful show and of the impact it has had in the worlds of television and food."

The 52-year-old continued: "After 17 years, many of the cast and crew are like family to me and I will miss working alongside them dearly. I feel it's time to move on and need to make space for Taste the Nation, my books, and other creative pursuits.

"I am deeply thankful to all of you for so many years of love and support."

Top Chef has had a two-time winner

In the show's 20-season history, there have been 19 winners.

Harold Dieterle was officially crowned as the first winner of Top Chef in 2006, after beating out fellow contestants in Top Chef: San Francisco.

One contestant, Kah-wai Lo, known professionally as Buddha Lo, famously won both Top Chef: Houston, the show's 19th season, and Top Chef: World All-Stars, the show's 20th season.

Past Top Chef winners

Top Chef winners from each season are listed below:

• Season One – Top Chef: San Francisco Winner: Harold Dieterle
• Season Two – Top Chef: Los Angeles Winner: Ilan Hall
• Season Three – Top Chef: Miami Winner: Hung Huynh
• Season Four – Top Chef: Chicago Winner: Stephanie Izard
• Season Five – Top Chef: New York Winner: Hosea Rosenberg
• Season Six – Top Chef: Las Vegas Winner: Michael Voltaggio
• Season Seven – Top Chef: D.C. Winner: Kevin Sbraga
• Season Eight – Top Chef: All-Stars Winner: Richard Blais
• Season Nine – Top Chef: Texas Winner: Paul Qui
• Season 10 – Top Chef: Seattle Winner: Kristen Kish
• Season 11 – Top Chef: New Orleans Winner: Nicholas Elmi
• Season 12 – Top Chef: Boston Winner: Mei Lin
• Season 13 – Top Chef: California Winner: Jeremy Ford
• Season 14 – Top Chef: Charleston Winner: Brooke Williamson
• Season 15 – Top Chef: Colorado Winner: Joe Flamm
• Season 16 – Top Chef: Kentucky Winner: Kelsey Barnard Clark
• Season 17 – Top Chef: All-Stars L.A. Winner: Melissa King
• Season 18 – Top Chef: Portland Winner: Gabe Erales
• Season 19 – Top Chef: Houston Winner: Buddha Lo
• Season 20 – Top Chef: World All-Stars Winner: Buddha Lo