Top Chef: Kentucky is the sixteenth season of the American reality television series Top Chef. Initial details about the season and its cast were revealed on October 18, 2018. The competition was filmed at various locations in Kentucky, including Louisville, Lexington, and Lake Cumberland, with an additional episode set in Nashville, Tennessee. The season finale took place in Macau. Padma Lakshmi returned as host, with Tom Colicchio, Graham Elliot, and Nilou Motamed forming the judging panel. Due to being on maternity leave for the majority of filming, Top Chef regular Gail Simmons did not appear as one of the main judges for the season. Top Chef: Kentucky premiered on December 6, 2018, and concluded on March 14, 2019. In the season finale, Kelsey Barnard Clark was declared the winner over runner-up Sara Bradley. Barnard Clark was also voted Fan Favorite.
Contestants
Fifteen chefs competed in Top Chef: Kentucky. In addition, like the previous season, three returning competitors competed in the Last Chance Kitchen to earn the chance to join the competition: Top Chef: Colorado contestants Carrie Baird and Brother Luck, and Top Chef: Charleston contestant Jim Smith. Following the sixth episode of Last Chance Kitchen, Luck was selected to join the main cast.
New contestants
NameCurrent ResidenceEric AdjepongWashington, D.C.Sara BradleyPaducah, KentuckyKelsey Barnard ClarkDothan, AlabamaEdmund "Eddie" KonradPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaPablo LamonMiami Beach, FloridaNatalie MaronskiPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaMichelle MinoriSan Francisco, CaliforniaNini NguyenBrooklyn, New YorkBrandon RosenSan Mateo, CaliforniaKevin ScharpfDubuque, IowaCaitlin SteiningerCincinnati, OhioJustin SutherlandSt. Paul, MinnesotaDavid VianaAsbury Park, New JerseyAdrienne WrightBoston, MassachusettsBrian YoungBoston, Massachusetts
Eric Adjepong and Nini Nguyen returned to compete in Top Chef: All-Stars L.A. Sara Bradley returned for Top Chef: World All-Stars.
Returning contestants
NameCurrent ResidenceSeasonCarrie BairdDenver, ColoradoSeason 15Brother LuckColorado Springs, ColoradoSeason 15Jim SmithMontgomery, AlabamaSeason 14
Contestant progress
Episode #123456789101112131415Quickfire ChallengeWinner(s) JustinPabloSara David David Michelle Justin Adrienne Eddie Sara Justin Michelle Michelle ContestantElimination Challenge Results 1 Kelsey IN INHIGHLOW HIGH INWINLOW INLOW IN WINLOWWINNER 2 Sara INHIGH INLOW LOW LOW HIGHHIGHLOW HIGHWINLOWWIN 3 Eric IN IN INHIGHWIN INHIGH INWINWIN INLOWLOWOUT 4 Michelle IN IN INLOW IN INLOW WINOUT INHIGHOUT 5 AdrienneLOW HIGH INHIGH INHIGHLOW INHIGHLOW LOW OUT 6 Justin IN IN INLOW INHIGHHIGHHIGHHIGHLOW OUT 7 Eddie IN INHIGHHIGHHIGHWINLOW LOW INOUT 8 DavidHIGHHIGH INLOW IN INLOW OUT 9 Brian IN INLOW WINLOW LOW OUT 10 Brandon INLOW INLOW INOUT 11 BrotherOUT12 Nini INWINWINOUT PabloHIGHLOW LOW OUT 14 KevinLOW HIGHOUT 15 NatalieWINOUT 16 CaitlinOUT : The chef(s) did not receive immunity for winning the Quickfire Challenge. : Following Episode 6 of Last Chance Kitchen, Brother was introduced as a regular competitor. : Despite Justin making one of the judge's favourite dishes, he did not plate a sufficient number of dishes and was thus ineligible to win. : As a reward for winning the Quickfire Challenge, Eddie did not have to compete in the Elimination Challenge. : Michelle won Last Chance Kitchen and returned to the competition. (WINNER) The chef won the season and was crowned "Top Chef". (RUNNER-UP) The chef was the runner-up for the season. (WIN) The chef won the Elimination Challenge. (HIGH) The chef was selected as one of the top entries in the Elimination Challenge, but did not win. (IN) The chef was not selected as one of the top or bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge and was safe. (LOW) The chef was selected as one of the bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge, but was not eliminated. (OUT) The chef lost the Elimination Challenge.
Episodes
Last Chance Kitchen
No. Title Original air date
References Notes
Footnotes
External links
Official website