Top ChefHeads to Canada to Compete for the Largest Prize in the Show’s History — Watch the Trailer and Meet the Chefs (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Season 22 ofTop Chefis going up north!

The long-running Bravo show is taking its “cheftestants” to Canada in the latest season, which airs March 13. PEOPLE,EWandFood & Winehave a joint exclusive look at the trailer for season 22 and peek into the 15 chefs competing.

HostKristen Kishreturns alongside longtime judgesGail SimmonsandTom Colicchioto challenge the contestants, who range from James Beard Award finalists to chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants.

The trailer shows viewers just how Canadian the season will be, opening with the cheftestants getting drenched at Niagara Falls.

“Yeah, this is beautiful!” one chef shouts lightheartedly as they all brace the downpour. “So how are you guys enjoying your time onTop Chef?”

Tom Colicchio, Kristen Kish and Gail Simmons.Marcus Nilsson/Bravo

Marcus Nilsson/Bravo

The chefs will explore Toronto, Calgary, Montreal and Prince Edward Island during the season, which will be airing in “supersized” episodes that about 75 minutes long (rather than the traditional 60 minutes).

In the kitchen, the chefs are seen pouring liquid nitrogen, tying dumplings and setting food aflame. Of course, there are nods to Canadian cuisine like the several poutine dishes shown in the trailer. One guest judge jokes, “I’ve never eaten so much poutine before.”

There is a particularly hefty crown on the line for this season’s winner, Kish reveals. “They’re here to fight for the biggest prize ever,” Kish announces in the trailer. “Over half a million dollars [is] up for grabs.”

Celebrity chefs like Daniel Boulud join the crew in Canada to review dishes along with some less-conventional stars.

“Please welcome today’s guest judge,Michael Cera,” Kish reveals to the excited group of chefs.

The season isn’t all gravy-loaded fries and jokes fromSuperbadactors. The trailer shows squabbles between contestants, a cutting board getting chopped in half and other tense moments.

This season’s winner can grab a grand prize of $250,000, $125,000 flight credit, a feature inFood & Wineand an appearance at Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. The winner will also headline their own dinner at James Beard House in New York and have the opportunity to present at The James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards in Chicago. Plus, chefs can win cash prizes (totaling more than $150,000) during every Quickfire Challenge and some Elimination Challenges.

Meet the 15 chefs fighting for the top prize this season:

Anya El-Wattar.Marcus Nilsson/Bravo

Anya El-Wattar

El-Wattar, born and raised in Moscow, brings her mother’s foraging and preserving teachings to her kitchen. The chef-owner of Birch & Rye in San Francisco, a 2022 James Beard Awards semi-finalist for Best New Restaurant serving Russian-California fusion, was named Eater San Francisco’s Chef of the Year in 2022.

Bailey Sullivan.Marcus Nilsson/Bravo

Bailey Sullivan

The Chicago native had a natural start to her culinary career having grown up in her father’s pub. Sullivan worked under severalTop Chefalums, like Beverly Kim and Sarah Grueneberg, to get to her current position as chef di cucina at Grueneberg’s restaurant, Monteverde, where she blends traditional and new techniques in Italian cuisine.

César Murillo.Marcus Nilsson/Bravo

César Murillo

The executive chef at North Pond blends his Mexican heritage, Texas upbringing and farm-to-table philosophy at the Chicago restaurant. Previously, Murillo worked in other Windy City restaurants and spots in San Francisco, some of which he helped to earn Michelin stars.

Corwin Hemming.Marcus Nilsson/Bravo

Corwin Hemming

After working at Michelin-starred restaurants nationwide for a decade, the Augusta, Ga., native transitioned to cooking as a private chef and in pop-up restaurants in Brooklyn. He hopes to open his own fine-dining restaurant to serve “contemporary Caribbean.”

Henry Lu.Marcus Nilsson/Bravo

Henry Lu

Kat Turner.Marcus Nilsson/Bravo

Kat Turner

Katianna Hong.Marcus Nilsson/Bravo

Katianna Hong

Stints at several Michelin-starred restaurants in California over the last 10+ years brought Hong awards, like 2018Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs, and to her culinary partner and husband, John. In 2019, the pair opened Yangban — which was a 2023 James Beard semi-finalist for Best New Restaurant.

Lana Lagomarsini.Marcus Nilsson/Bravo

Lana Lagomarsini

Massimo Piedimonte.Marcus Nilsson/Bravo

Massimo Piedimonte

The Italian chef was born in Montréal and trained in French cooking. His jobs took him to work under Michelin-starred chefs in New York City and Copenhagen before opening his tasting menu-style restaurant, Cabaret l’Enfer, in his hometown in 2022.

Mimi Weissenborn.Marcus Nilsson/Bravo

Mimi Weissenborn

Now the executive chef at several restaurants in Portland, Maine, the Maryland-native previously worked in New York City restaurants. Weissenborn currently helms the kitchen at Sur Lie, a 2023 James Beard Award semi-finalist and nominee for Outstanding Hospitality, Gather and Catface Cafe.

Paula Endara.Marcus Nilsson/Bravo

Paula Endara

Endara has brought her Ecuadorian background across the country while opening restaurants like Roots in Arkansas. The James Beard Foundation Bootcamp alum lives in Lexington, Ky., and is the executive chef at Grandam and Lost Palm.

Shuai Wang.Marcus Nilsson/Bravo

Shuai Wang

Wang, who was born in Beijing but grew up in Queens, brought his New York City culinary school knowledge to his award-winning food truck in North Charleston. Since then he has opened Jackrabbit Filly and King BBQ and received honors like 2025 South Carolina Chef Ambassador.

Tristen Epps.Marcus Nilsson/Bravo

Tristen Epps

The Virginia Beach, Va., native and Michelin-recognized chef worked at restaurants in Brooklyn and Miami before landing in Texas. He founded a platform for collaborative dinners called Epps and Flows Culinary and is working on a tasting menu-focused spot, Buboy, and a hot dog bar.

Vincenzo Loseto.Marcus Nilsson/Bravo

Vincenzo “Vinny” Loseto

Loseto’s fishing and clamming upbringing in Massapequa, New York and butchery lessons from his Italian family brought him to New York City hotspots and chef competitions. Now he is the chef de cuisine at Press, a restaurant in Napa.

Zubair Mohajir.Marcus Nilsson/Bravo

Zubair Mohajir

The Chennai, India-born chef was a financial analyst before switching to the culinary world. After working under Michelin-starred chefs across the country and world, he opened up three restaurants in Chicago — Lilac Tiger, Coach House and Mirra — and earned James Beard semi-finalists accolades for Best Chef Great Lakes in 2023 and Emerging Chef of the Year in 2024.

TheTop Chefseason 22 will air Thursday, March 13 (at 9 p.m. ET) on Bravo.

source: people.com