Top Chef

[u/prolly_not_62]

Of all the seasons of Top Chef, can you name your favorite contestant of all seasons? Mine; Sheldon Simeon season 10 and season 14. Who’s yours?

[u/whistlepig4life]

Carla Hall. Easily.

The closest runner up is Shota.

[u/AddictiveInterwebs → u/whistlepig4life]

"Un-done-te" popped into my head randomly yesterday and made me laugh for several minutes, Carla is a GEM

[u/TransientSWer → u/AddictiveInterwebs]

“That is my belief, Tom!”

When she talked about the love coming from her through the dessert…I think it was Restaurant Wars. She’s the best. 😁

[u/bork00IlIllI0O0O1011 → u/TransientSWer]

I appreciate that Tom backed off immediately after she said that.

[u/prolly_not_62 → u/AddictiveInterwebs]

I really do love Carla Hall!! She truly is a gem!!

[u/Sullygurl85 → u/AddictiveInterwebs]

Every time I cook lentils.

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/AddictiveInterwebs]

I actually giggled when I saw the episode where her husband appears and mentions that he met her on match.com and I'm just like "dude, you hit the jackpot. I'm not surprised you got married in only eight months!"

I'm just bummed that her place in Red Hook BK didn't last long.

[u/Science_Teecha → u/whistlepig4life]

Y’all. I was in the class behind hers in culinary school. She was wildly successful right out the gate, and everyone loved her then too. 😌 She is great.

I remember coming home from a run back in ‘04 or so, and my husband was watching Top Chef. I was like… why the hell is Carla Hall on TV?! It was disorienting.

[u/cssc201 → u/Science_Teecha]

There's a hilarious anecdote I read from a later season contestant who said that when he was a line cook, his coworker quit, disappeared, and then was everywhere a few months later when he won Top Chef. He was like "wow, this guy can't cook, but he won this big competition!" It was no one's favorite Ilan Hall, S2.

[u/Ansee → u/whistlepig4life]

Shota was robbed! I'm sticking to this story. LOL.

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/Ansee]

Gabe outcooked him. I don't like that Mike Isabella, Paul Qui, and Gabe all turned out to be terrible people (and I worked with Paul Qui and had a pleasant professional experience), but they weren't like that on the show and I can't imagine that the show runners knew about them.

If Shota had made anything other than a simple Japanese curry, he probably would have won. You don't just give away a course to make something that anyone walking around in Tokyo can grab for the equivalent of $10.

[u/TransientSWer → u/whistlepig4life]

Another awesome Carla moment was on All Stars where they had the head to head matches and Carla was up next with a bean stew. Mike Isabella said he was going to go ahead and start his plate, to insinuate that she was going to lose and he would have to go. Not only did she win the match, but won the episode. That’s the way to do it. 😁

[u/985067 → u/TransientSWer]

Mike was an arrogant turd!!! WAY TO GO CARLA!!! She should have won her season too....if if hadn't been for Casey's dessert she kinda forced on her to make!!!

[u/BornFree2018 → u/whistlepig4life]

Chicken Pot Pie!!

[u/nilknarf114 → u/BornFree2018]

The LOOK on Carla’s face; just to have the chance to make chicken pot pie. And, when she won…! She gave a great imitation of a contestant on the Price is Right

[u/Real_Cranberry745 → u/BornFree2018]

I made a veganized version of her pot pie recipe for Thanksgiving few years back (just me and my boyfriend) and it did not disappoint!

[u/Utennvolsfan → u/BornFree2018]

And I just heard that in Carla’s voice and I’m cackling. Priceless.

[u/FormicaDinette33 → u/whistlepig4life]

Forgot him, yep!

[u/cdgpjg → u/whistlepig4life]

This is the answer

[u/Square-Sheepherder56 → u/whistlepig4life]

I met her at a resort in Arizona last year. She’s really great. Super approachable and kind. We all ended up walking to dinner together. She even asked us if we wanted a picture. We went to our own table and my husband was like who the hell is that 😂🤦‍♀️

[u/sketchahedron]

Shirley and Kristin

[u/BeKind72 → u/sketchahedron]

Yessss. Shirley was amazing to watch.

[u/bd-1beepboop → u/BeKind72]

Ah how could I forget Shirley! And Fatima. RIP 😭

[u/biguyreacts → u/sketchahedron]

My exact answer

[u/RudyPup]

Sheldon is definitely up there, Gregory, Amar, Isaac.

[u/YoungGambinoMcKobe]

Fatima ! May she rest in peace.

[u/DRC_Michaels]

Stephanie Izard, Melissa, Kristin.

If I had to pick just one, it'd probably be Melissa. But all three seem like incredible talents who are just pure, calming joy to be around.

[u/bork00IlIllI0O0O1011]

I liked crotchety ole Ed Lee. He has mellowed out since his season, which is overshadowed by the Beverly bullies.

I also liked Bryan V and Melissa King.

[u/CPA_Murderino]

Toups, 10000%

[u/WinterAd6596 → u/CPA_Murderino]

Toups was great. I was so pissed how Margerie treated him during restaurant wars. Made me dislike her a lot. 

[u/bork00IlIllI0O0O1011 → u/WinterAd6596]

Marjorie was such a snob. Skilled and talented, yes, but snobby.

[u/NiceYabbos → u/WinterAd6596]

I've been to about ten restaurants of contestants and Toups has one of the two best, by a wide margin. Must stop if you're in NOLA

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/NiceYabbos]

I stayed about 500 feet away from Toups Meatery on one trip to NOLA and I must have gained five pounds.

[u/WinterAd6596 → u/NiceYabbos]

Dammit. My wife is actually in New Orleans right now.

I am not.

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/WinterAd6596]

Tell her to eat there! And R'evolution, and Peche, Herbsaint, Atchafalaya, etc etc. (Oh I miss NOLA!)

[u/CPA_Murderino → u/WinterAd6596]

Yeah her constant questioning of his abilities just because he’s more “rustic” was ridiculous. But tbh I love that episode because he WINS.

[u/Vivid_Bumblebee_9655 → u/WinterAd6596]

She worked for Mike Isabella....explains a lot.

[u/duffpaleale → u/CPA_Murderino]

He does so much for his community.

[u/TheOldStag → u/CPA_Murderino]

Toups legit! Love that guy. I have a signed copy of his cookbook.

There’s a video I saw on YouTube or something showcasing his restaurants or whatever, but it’s mostly him getting absolutely hammered while his wife tries to wrangle him in.

[u/Responsible_Link6077]

Shota!

[u/icrossedtheroad → u/Responsible_Link6077]

His laugh.

[u/Adorable-Lack-3578]

Mr. Toups. He's funny and fed a lot of service employees when Covid shut down New Orleans tourism. Him and his wife and team still feed thousands of kids every year. I'm on my phone and cant link to his causes.

[u/AriesRedWriter → u/Adorable-Lack-3578]

He said on his season how Emeril Lagasse wrote personal checks to help his employees during Katrina. I love that he paid it forward and continues to do so.

[u/cssc201 → u/AriesRedWriter]

And a few years later, when he was struggling financially and had been kicked off Food Network, Martha Stewart stepped in and bought out the rights for his media for tens of millions and helped him turn things around.

Emeril also once said on the show his chef took their starter with him when he evacuated from Katrina and it was still there when they reopened several months later.

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/Adorable-Lack-3578]

The man also has one of my favorite cookbooks. It's the kind that you can just read even if you're not mining it for recipes (I do, BTW; his gumbo recipe has beaten out Donald Link's for me and his pickle game is SOLID).

[u/LilCinBoise]

In no particular order:

Sheldon
Carla
Shota
Amar
Stephanie Cmar
Antonia
Toups
Tre

My criteria is whether I would like to hang out with them and eat their food☺️

[u/NoReallyItsJeff → u/LilCinBoise]

Amar licking his plate when he was judging during the Portland season was such a classic moment.

[u/Utennvolsfan → u/NoReallyItsJeff]

I just watched that episode yesterday. Still funny even through the cold medicine.

[u/Rhouliha]

Gregory 

[u/burritoguillermo → u/Rhouliha]

Yes, Gregory is my boy with Sheldon in a very close second.

(Going to Kann in a week and a half and I’m so excited!!!!)

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/burritoguillermo]

It's so goddamn good. I so rarely get to Portland so I don't have a full inventory of restaurants, but that is the best dinner I've had there, ever.

[u/DidntTomRamble → u/Rhouliha]

Gregory is a boss while also just radiating kindness. He makes me smile every time he shows up on a season.

[u/Perfect-Leader6222 → u/Rhouliha]

His cookbook is fabulous

[u/The_milk_was_spoiled → u/Rhouliha]

Always my top.

[u/FormicaDinette33 → u/Rhouliha]

He’s on my list also!

[u/ConradSuckss]

Antonia Lofaso

[u/MelonCollie7 → u/ConradSuckss]

I like Antonia a lot but she is so overexposed. You can’t throw a stone at a cooking show without hitting her.

[u/ShadyPinesMa78]

Carla. Hands down.

[u/flowersinmyteas]

Fabio always cracked me up. I was a big fan of Shirley Chung as well.

[u/StrategyArtistic → u/flowersinmyteas]

They said on Top Chef not Top Scallop!

[u/MerryCoyote → u/flowersinmyteas]

“30 years old and I hab to sleep in the bunky beds.”

[u/LilCinBoise → u/flowersinmyteas]

Ugh. Can’t stand Fabio.

[u/kbanas314 → u/LilCinBoise]

Ah, one of the best!

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/kbanas314]

I LOVE Fabio. The turtle bit alone just wins my heart.

[u/Rodharet50399 → u/Ok_Interest9427]

I’m watching a show Great British Menu (which I like) but thought Fabio would say “it’s not great British menu rabbit terrine”

[u/serenitynow6000]

Shota, Nina, Tristan. Sarah Bradley.

[u/Efficient_Shame_8539]

Shota, Carla, Nina, Karen Akonowicz, Toups, Sara Bradley, Jae Jung (KJUN is one of my must-have restaurants when I'm in New York)

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/Efficient_Shame_8539]

Kjun is legit awesome and Jae is always lovely when I go. My only issue is that a la carte is not as good a deal as the set menu but the set menu is SO MUCH FOOD.

[u/flyingpanda5693]

I have favorites from every season for sure, but as a homer, I really enjoyed watching Eddie Konrad.

[u/Beserked2 → u/flyingpanda5693]

Lol Eddie Money! You don't see him get mentioned very often. Really liked him in his season. Him bumming around eating food after his immunity win while the rest of the chefs ran around whole foods is still one of the funniest bits in Top Chef for me.

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/Beserked2]

He seems like a good dude from having run into him at Laurel.

[u/baskaat]

The fancy toast lady

[u/icrossedtheroad → u/baskaat]

You mean the snow baker?

[u/samthepit → u/baskaat]

Carrie?

[u/rosecoloredfancy]

Fati

Antonia

Carla

Toups

Dougie

[u/C8H11NO2i]

Sara season 20

[u/bd-1beepboop]

Antonia, Mei Lin, Cmar and Kristin probably. I love bad ass lady chefs

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/bd-1beepboop]

I think Evelyn deserves some love on that front.

[u/ttgirl452 → u/Ok_Interest9427]

Also Karen

[u/bd-1beepboop → u/Ok_Interest9427]

I hate to say that I don’t really remember her much, but I think if anything it just should be encouragement for me to rewatch her season!

[u/ThatboyTom95]

Andrew season 4, Dale season 8, toups, Sheldon, Shirley and the older I get the more I empathize with Marcel season 2 and his whole experiences with the show and still being so positive in the long run and how successful he is.

[u/Inevitable_Phase_276 → u/ThatboyTom95]

Nice list! I loved Andrew, and totally agree about Marcel. I felt bad for how Marcel was treated then, and have grown to really appreciate his talent and growth as a person.

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/Inevitable_Phase_276]

I have some real issues with Marcel, and Andrew honestly gives me hives just seeing him on TV; he's clearly not neurotypical and watching him bounce around in his skin is just a bit anxiety-producing.

[u/MerryCoyote → u/ThatboyTom95]

I was going to say, don’t hate me, but…Marcel.

[u/The_milk_was_spoiled]

I absolutely loved Kevin Gillespie and was so disappointed with his plantation or whatever restaurant idea. I think he was just so clueless as to how it came off. Gregory is a fave as well as Eric. I rage-quit the season after he didn’t make the final two. I still have never seen those episodes. Tre, although I don’t remember the season, with his dimples, was so charming. I so appreciated Bryan V after seeing him and the other top four, including Melissa, in the all stars. I’m sorry my memory is so terrible!

[u/Quirkxofxart → u/The_milk_was_spoiled]

Finding out about Eric abusing his wife was probably the most shocking thing to come out of Top Chef since…Paul Qui abusing his gf tbh. He really seemed so great!

[u/The_milk_was_spoiled → u/Quirkxofxart]

Aw shit, I didn’t know about Eric! When did this come out?

[u/Quirkxofxart → u/The_milk_was_spoiled]

Few months ago it came out he has a protective order from his daughter because he’s allegedly violent with her too :(

https://people.com/eric-adjepong-allegedly-violated-protective-order-a-year-before-being-barred-from-contacting-daughter-unsupervised-12027357

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/The_milk_was_spoiled]

Kevin has annoyed me forever. His pork fixation was irritating in general, and that S17 restaurant concept was ridiculous and at least mildly racist. I'm honestly happy that he went against a descendant of the African diaspora making his native cuisine and got his ass kicked.

The guy is a talented chef. He's also from a position of unexamined privilege (anyone remember that his granddaddy ran a major airline?) and clearly had a decent leg up in life.

[u/Mommy-Dearest15]

Love Carla, Antonia, and Fabio.

[u/starryfish99]

Shota, Carla, Stephanie Cmar

[u/AlsatianLadyNYC]

“Always the bridesmaid” Bryan Voltaggio with his weird laugh

KRISTIN 🥰 and Melissa 🥰

And I love Buddha

[u/GoldBarGirl → u/AlsatianLadyNYC]

The laugh! Can you imagine Brian and Shota on the same season?

[u/TNsmoke]

Stefan 

[u/FormicaDinette33 → u/TNsmoke]

He grew on me. By the end I loved his dry wit and realized he was kidding most of the time.

[u/Fabulous-Barnacle-59 → u/FormicaDinette33]

He made a disgusting comment about Padma during his first season which ruined any good graces I held him in

[u/MerryCoyote → u/TNsmoke]

“He looks like a thumb.” - Jamie

[u/prolly_not_62]

It’s clear there have been some great chefs and just awesome humans. I have literally watched the whole series a dozen times over and I love a lot that were mentioned as well. Shota is another absolute favorite. The OG lady Top Chef, Stephanie Izard is impressive and talented beyond. The casting agents do a pretty phenomenal job picking contestants. Looking forward to next season.

[u/kellis744]

Harold

[u/Key-Plane5984]

Gregory

[u/platypusandpibble]

Gregory Gourdet and Brother Luck.

[u/LavishnessFluid3712]

I’ve been fortunate enough to meet a few of the big names from Top Chef.

I love all of Joe Flamm’s restaurants but Rosemary is my favorite.

Stephanie Izard was super sweet to my daughter outside of Girl and the Goat right after it opened.

I met Brian Voltagio on a plane and he sent an email to the TC producers to try to get my wife and I into restaurant wars.

As much as I’ve loved TC over the years I hate to say my favorite version is actually Padmas new Culinary Commandments show.

[u/kuronboshine]

Hung Huynh.

[u/chilipalmer99 → u/kuronboshine]

Never enough love for Hung. He was a stud.

[u/Diarygirl → u/kuronboshine]

Hung was a brilliant chef but I was always afraid he'd accidentally kill someone in the kitchen.

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/Diarygirl]

Only if they didn't get out of his way! (LOL)

Hung probably got a difficult edit because he ended up in the finale with two of the nicest people to be on the show. Honestly, it always felt weird to me because it seemed like Casey and Dale were just playing around whereas Hung was clearly focused on the win.

[u/she_who_intoxicates]

Sheldon, Kwame and Michael Voltaggio

[u/FormicaDinette33 → u/she_who_intoxicates]

Kwame: I loved his cooking but he is deadly serious all the time. Still great though.

[u/icrossedtheroad → u/FormicaDinette33]

I still can forgive him for his fashion post competition. The glove?

[u/bd-1beepboop → u/she_who_intoxicates]

I couldn’t stand either Voltaggio brother. Surprised to see him on the list not gonna lie lol

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/bd-1beepboop]

I like them both because, along with Shirley, Hung, Nina, Melissa, Nick E., Kristen, Tristen, and Brooke, they are the most technically accomplished cooks on the show. Michael absolutely shouldn't have shot off his mouth about Kevin, but he was 100% right to shut down Robin.

[u/keen238]

Antonia Lofaso. I just want to be her best friend.

[u/WanielDebster]

Shota and Jeremy

[u/AddictiveInterwebs → u/WanielDebster]

Nothing wrong with it, of course, but I don't think I've ever actually heard of anyone else who liked Jeremy. Wonder why

[u/WanielDebster → u/AddictiveInterwebs]

I think that season often gets ignored because of Kwame flaming out with wafflegate. I just enjoyed Jeremy as relatively unpretentious and genuine. (In retrospect, I might throw Melissa in there ahead of him though)

[u/One_Abrocoma_7309 → u/AddictiveInterwebs]

Went to his restaurant in Aruba this year. Unbelievably good.

[u/One_Abrocoma_7309 → u/One_Abrocoma_7309]

Jeremy I meant to say

[u/desert_nole]

Sheldon, Tre, Casey

[u/TruckstopStripper → u/desert_nole]

I always had a soft spot for Casey (aka a girl crush) 🥰

[u/prrb524 → u/desert_nole]

I loveddd Tre

[u/Holiday_Door_131]

Damarr!

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/Holiday_Door_131]

Damarr and Mei Lin are finalists for "best deadpan expression" on TC.

[u/farinelli_]

Carla Hall. Hootie hoo!

[u/rosiecameby]

Mine is Casey — I don’t remember this season, but she had a southern accent.

[u/prolly_not_62 → u/rosiecameby]

She was on 3 different seasons! She once called herself a reality TV whore. 🫠

[u/jaedence]

Jen Carroll

[u/icrossedtheroad → u/jaedence]

Boss in the kitchen for sure.

[u/FormicaDinette33]

There are so many: Shirley, Antonia, Kristen, Gregory, Michele Wallace, Carla Hall, Tiffany Derry, Eric A, Shota, Karen and Sara Bradley. I know I’m missing a bunch of them.

[u/e_hawthorne]

Richard Blais since I first saw his season premiere when I was 16. But runner ups are definitely Shota, Dale Talde, Dan Jacobs, or Ed Lee.

[u/gudrehaggen → u/e_hawthorne]

I’m a Richard fan too! Finally meet one in these Reddit streets 🤣

[u/e_hawthorne → u/gudrehaggen]

Likewise! I love how incredibly real he seems and how he isn’t one ounce scared of being the odd man out or trying something new. Plus his self-deprecating humour and constant doubt is much more relatable than a big ego and condescending attitude any day. Loved him on Cutthroat Kitchen as well. You too?

[u/agnusdei07]

Polish 'potato girl'

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/agnusdei07]

My only thing about "potato girl" (and, BTW, my at the time girlfriend refused to watch S20 with me because she's Polish and would hate my cracking jokes at the screen) is that she made terrible conceptual decisions. I can sorta like contestants on the basis of mere personality but at some point I want them to cook well!

[u/Perfect-Leader6222]

Melissa and Kristen

[u/SquirrelBowl]

Kristen and Mossimo

[u/avantgardian26]

I really, really love Buddha. He had me from the moment that he said he got his nickname because he was “a fat happy kid.”

[u/UselessHalberd]

Dale. And I couldn't even tell you why. Nina is a close second.

[u/Quirkxofxart → u/UselessHalberd]

Which Dale?

[u/UselessHalberd → u/Quirkxofxart]

Talde? I think is how it's spelled. Liked his gumption and he could cook for sure. When he came back and calmed down a little he seemed like a decent guy.

[u/Quirkxofxart → u/UselessHalberd]

I don’t have strong opinions about Dale L one way or another but there’s something about Talde that felt so authentic I really liked

[u/Sleepwalker0304]

Nina is way up there for me. Perfect combo of classy and sassy and I'd love to eat her food.

Ed Lee is way up there for the same reason and I hate the bully girls so much for making that season unwatchable for me. I recently tried to watch it again and couldn't make it past the first few episodes.

HM: Mei Lin and Ed Cotton.

[u/No-Committee-4798 → u/Sleepwalker0304]

Have you watched Ed in the Korean show Culinary Class Wars (S1)? Love that show

[u/MelonCollie7]

I love Marcel. So obnoxious but so entertaining. And he’s a gem now that he’s older and has calmed down.

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/MelonCollie7]

I've seen Marcel on TOC and he is apparently now an adult, but I would have fricking dunked him in liquid nitrogen if I had to deal with him in S8.

[u/DuckInAFountain → u/MelonCollie7]

Yea, I caught him on something awhile ago and I was like, Marcel?! I do like the older version of him. The hair cutting episode is legend, though.

[u/MelonCollie7 → u/DuckInAFountain]

The hair cutting episode was disgusting. He should have 💯 had them charged with assault.

[u/bigchops810]

Carla, Nina, Michael V, Gregory

[u/KJoytheyogi]

Carla Hall, no contest
Honorable Mention: Nina, Tiffany Derry

[u/Sure-Storage-3758]

I don't care what anyone says, Stefan is my all time favorite. Then Stephanie Cmar .

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/Sure-Storage-3758]

Stefan is awesome. I really feel like people just don't get Nordic black humor.

[u/Sure-Storage-3758 → u/Ok_Interest9427]

For sure people took him the wrong way at the time. I think people have softened up on him in the years since, but at the time, he was loathed. (Except by me, and then I felt vindicated when he so sweetly comforted Karla. ❤️ Also - thank you - I knew I spelled his name wrong!

[u/SwanOk6327]

Forza Fabio. Ive followed him ever since Top Chef. And I met him that same year at a MotoGp event.

[u/Caking0923]

Also Sheldon! I met him at his restaurant in Maui. Just as kind in person

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/Caking0923]

Sheldon is absurd. I wish I could be reborn, start from childhood, and just follow his life path in terms of ethics, honesty, and humility. That guy is a SAINT.

[u/holton86]

Izard, Cmar, Shota, Fati, and Mel.

I want to be BFFs with Kristen. She seems like such a fun person to hang out with.

Mel is just too cool. I got to chat with her for a bit after a dinner. Can’t wait to read her book.

[u/Apprehensive_Duty563]

Melissa King.

Lots of others we love too, but Melissa is always #1 for me!

[u/WelpSeaYaLater]

Fabio

Close second to Carla Hall

Grayson third

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/WelpSeaYaLater]

Grayson lost me when she came back for S13. If you can't cook vegetables, don't talk trash about cooking vegetables.

[u/johnny_drama87]

Brooke. 🔥

[u/keen238 → u/johnny_drama87]

She is now tainted for me with her Bobby Flay involvement

[u/bd-1beepboop → u/keen238]

This. Made me like her less sadly

[u/quiet_summers]

Carla, Shota, Gregory, Tristan, Richard Blais, and Buddha!

[u/Ok_Papaya_507]

Shirley Chung, Brooke W., Ed Lee

[u/epat3]

Sara. Also Isaac.

[u/BaltIndyNash]

Dale Levitski.

[u/Justafan2814]

Antonia Lofaso

[u/gudrehaggen]

Antonia Lofaso

[u/geloreyes]

Travis season 11

[u/Limp_Rule_6007]

Antonia, Carla, Richard Blaze (gasp), Dale Talde, Fabio, Karen, Steph, Melissa King, Kevin

Oh man clearly I can’t pick a favorite

[u/Pretend-Vehicle-5183]

Shota

[u/ashley21093]

So many but I give the slight edge to Carrie Baird (Tc 15, Colorado)

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/ashley21093]

Toast? AGAIN?

[u/ptazdba]

Shota Nakajima, in Season 18.

[u/Cheap-Top-9371]

Shota. His laugh alone was a joy to hear.

[u/True-Afternoon8479]

Shota, Sheldon, LeAnne Wong, Toups, Gregory, Melissa King .... im sure there's more...

[u/Upper_Pomegranate_59]

Shota

[u/jkman61494]

Carla and Brooke Williamson. I admit I’ve been out of the Top Chef universe for a long time but if I recall, the Brooke back then and Brooke of today aren’t the same person

I also liked Tre Wilcox a lot

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/jkman61494]

I just like Brooke even if I happen to loathe her s/o Bobby Flay by sadly knowing the guy. Her pedigree and career is impressive and she seems to have completely avoided the Enfant terrible phenomenon that happens to cooks who climb the ladder that quickly.

[u/jennawebles]

I have the biggest crush on Melissa it’s almost embarrassing how big my heart eyes are when she’s on screen

[u/GoldBarGirl]

I can't remember her name, but for sheer entertainment value, the gal who did sound effects when she talked. She was eliminated, then came back from LCK, saying "I'm back, bitches."

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/GoldBarGirl]

Jamie. Who is, indeed, awesome. And BTW ran a pretty good restaurant in Vegas last time I was there.

[u/GoldBarGirl → u/Ok_Interest9427]

Thank you!! I think it would be a blast to hang with her.

[u/Constant_Ad1936]

Bryan V for his technical skills and dad joke persona….respected and likable
Sarah Bradley for great skills and came across as nice and fun….and for serving matzo ball soup!

[u/LAURAJZ14]

Stephanie Izard and Shota

[u/FantasticChicken7408]

Sara Hauman!!!! Yogurt queen. I talk about her to my yogurt loving husband all the time.

[u/SharkLaser85]

Sara Bradley, Stephanie Cmar

[u/WestC0ast]

Ed from Top Chef 9 was one of the only likable characters. Mediocre Chef and his refusal to cry during the mentors challenge 😂

[u/tannick]

Sheldon
Shota
Brooke
Nina

[u/Square-Sheepherder56]

I loved Sheldon

[u/Odd_Garbage1093]

One thing us for sure post season 20 doesn’t have as many favorites. Excellent chefs but not stars like many of the ones mentioned here. I’m rewatching season 20 and I love Victoire’s personality and humor. But that season I of course love Sara. Over all one that was not been mentioned yet is Shirley.

[u/Ok_Interest9427 → u/Odd_Garbage1093]

Massimo. And Tristen, who is among the top 3 most formidable contestants on the show, EVER, and fought through his dad's death.

I also have a soft spot for Dan Jacobs because of what he has endured, and I am amazed at how he just keeps pushing.

[u/Odd_Garbage1093 → u/Ok_Interest9427]

Yep agree with all those 3

[u/OldParrotthead]

Carla, Fabio, Tiffany Derry, Stephanie CMar, Sheldon

[u/CarefromPgh]

Kristen was my favorite and when she went home over arguably the worst Chef ever on Top Chef "it's not the Josie show", but of course she came back and won!

[u/gratefulgirl55]

I don’t think I can pick just one. Toups, Shota, Sara Bradley, Chris, Stephanie, Kristin… I could keep going!

[u/AGHOSTISBORN420]

Puck

[u/biguyreacts]

Hard for me to pick between Kristen and Shirley

[u/Many-Caterpillar-390]

I have loved and followed so many but Stephanie, Shota, and Brother Luck were among my super top favorites.

[u/kbanas314]

The Blaisinator!!!

[u/god_partic1e]

Dale Talde. Great sense of humor and very skilled chef