40 'Top Chef' Facts That Will Surprise You (2024)

In a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter, Lakshmi revealed that she consumes between 5,000 to 8,000 calories a day testing contestants' meals.

Cliff Crooks was asked to leave the competition after pinning down fellow contestant Marcel Vigneron and attempting to shave his head.

While viewers only see a few minutes of debate, judge Gail Simmons revealed to Parade the judges' table takes about four hours.

It's not just the judges' table that seems to last forever. Contestants must be able to commit around six weeks total to the show. In 2012, it was revealed that each episode could involve filming for 16 to 18 hours per day.

In an interview, a culinary producer for the show revealed they spend up to $5,000 on groceries.

It would be quite the script to remember during Quickfire and the judges' table, so Padma wears an earpiece that feeds her information.

According to a 2007 interview, contestants must make two of each dish—one for photos, the other for the judges.

Since the judges' choices must all be unanimous, it can sometimes be hard to come to a final decision. In 2010, a camera operator named T-Bone would help break any ties, since he was able to taste all the dishes after taking close-up shots.

Like many other reality shows, Top Chef contestants can't have contact with the outside world.

In order to keep the competition fair, chefs are supposed to skip the small talk with judges and only communicate about their dishes. Season five's Stefan Richter broke this rule when he gave Padma Lakshmi leftover roses he had used on his plate, which a producer took away from her almost immediately.

In a 2010 panel, Simmons admitted that black beans give her "the heebie jeedbies."

If you ever find yourself on Top Chef, whip up some fried chicken to get on Padma's good side. It's the host's "go-to meal," and she often cooks it with green mango powder to give it a special flavor.

In a 2017 interview with Delish, finalists Brooke Williamson and Shirley Chung revealed that the chefs don't want to cook elaborate meals for themselves. Instead, they eat mostly carbs and junk food.

From container brands to special types of equipment, certain challenges are given to the contestants because of sponsorships. It's especially easy to tell if you see the camera focus in on a Breville blender's logo, for example.

In fact, retakes are common if lines are flubbed. When you see a close-up of a judge's face talking to a contestant, it's possible that the chef was already dismissed and is not even standing there at all.

This rule is specifically related to Marcel Vigneron, who wasn't allowed to cut his hair due to "continuity errors," according to the show.

Quickfire time limits are enforced, and the same is true of the four-hour challenges. The competition keeps things fair.