Kristen Kish is opening up about her time as the winner of Top Chef Season 10. The now-host won not only the title of Top Chef, but also prize money. And, she has super fond memories of her time as a cheftestant all those years ago.
The Michigan native spoke with BravoTV.com earlier this year, where she admitted that she does not have much advice for her younger self when she competed on Top Chef Season 10. At the time, Kristen got eliminated during Top Chef Season 10, Episode 11, before winning Last Chance Kitchen and coming back into the competition to win the season. “I wouldn’t give myself any advice because I think it turned out just fine,” she said. “And had I probably been a little bit more in my head and taken all the advice and all the notes and different things and tried to apply them, I don’t know if it would have turned out the way it turned out.”
Kristen Kish reveals what she spent her Top Chef Season 10 prize money on
From there, Kristen reflected on how she spent her prize money after her big win. “Gosh, that was a decade ago,” she stated. “My Top Chef winnings, which was, by the way, half of what it is now. So you know, maybe I should come back and compete,” she added with a laugh.
“I took a large chunk of that money, and I put it into a deposit for a condo. And then I paid taxes,” she said with a laugh. “And then it was gone.”
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Kristen Kish reflects on her favorite and least favorite dishes from Top Chef
Following her win, Kristen became the host of Top Chef at the start of Season 21. And over the past three seasons, the chef has tried a lot of dishes. Some good and some bad. She told BravoTV.com that her favorite meal from “recent memory” was made by Tristen Epps-Long, who won Top Chef Season 22. “His finale meal was above and beyond,” she said. “It was outstanding in every way. Not only was it smart and of the moment, but it was very much him, and then he executed it on top of that.”
However, Kristen admitted that the worst dish she tried was created in a Quick Fire challenge. “I mean, it’s very rare to get something bad on Top Chef. And, although, that we’re putting them through challenges and different things that are meant to be difficult, nothing is meant to trick you,” she explained. “I do remember one Quick Fire dish that was a combination of different flavors and ingredients of blue cheese and eggs that was particularly not for me.”
Kristen Kish reflects on Top Chef Season 23
Of course, in addition to tasting lots of food, Top Chef is also known for its epic celeb cameos — and in Season 23 (which took place in the Carolinas), that included Southern Charm’s Craig Conover and Madison LeCroy. “I love a natural crossover. That is the first time…I met [Craig and Madison], and since then, I’ve seen them so many places,” she said. “Having guest judges is really important on Top Chef. It offers another perspective. It adds to the conversation. It gives us a different way of thinking or talking about food.”
Kristen Kish shares Top Chef filming secrets
Once a season wraps, Kristen revealed in 2025 what she tries to avoid eating. “I try not to eat candy for a week,” she noted at the time. It turns out there is a lot of candy on set. So, what kind? Kristen revealed that her go-to choices include all sorts of flavors and textures, “just gummy, chewy, sour. Delicious things.”
Which seasons of Top Chef was Kristen Kish on?
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Learn more about Kristen’s favorite foods to eat on the set of Top Chef.
— Reporting by Stephanie Gomulka
