Top Chef Season 19 Comes To Food-Rich Houston

HOUSTON, TX — Top Chef, the Emmy- and James Beard-winning culinary competition show by Bravo, is filming its 19th season in Houston and will air in 2022, the network announced Tuesday.

Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons will return as judges, and Houston chef Dawn Burrell, who was a finalist in Season 18, headlines a group of the show's alumni who will return as guest judges and mentors, according to a news release.

"I cannot think of a more perfect pairing than Top Chef and the city of Houston. Both represent a celebration of cuisine, culture and innovation," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said in the release. "We are proud of the diverse community and unique heritage that makes our city such a hot culinary destination — from classics like Tex-Mex and barbecue to local inventions like Viet-Cajun and Japanese Tapas. As any Top Chef contestant will tell you, the best food is born out of passion, and Houstonians exemplify this idea with every dish we create."