Where Bravo’s Top Chef Filmed in Charlotte
Discover the Charlotte-area places featured on each episode of “Top Chef” season 23.
by Arielle Patterson
Located between the mountains and the coast, Charlotte pairs Southern hospitality with innovative global cuisine and culinary creativity. It’s no wonder the Queen City was picked to host season 23 of Bravo’s “Top Chef.” Every episode, the cheftestants and judges visit several places throughout the region that reflect the city’s culture, flavor and lush landscapes. Explore these Charlotte-area locations featured during the season.
Episode 1: Carolina Roots
Season 23 of “Top Chef” started full throttle when 15 competing chefs met at Charlotte Motor Speedway for their first quickfire challenge. There, they were greeted by Kristen Kish, Gail Simmons and Tom Colicchio, plus guest judges NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson and two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch. Divided into teams, the chefs had to prepare and plate a dish of their choice in the time it takes a professional driver to complete 23 laps around the track. The winning team received a $15,000 prize, as well as the opportunity to take a victory lap around the track in a racecar.
After the high-speed quickfire challenge, the chefs learned about their first elimination challenge. Since North Carolina is the number one producer of sweet potatoes in the country, the chefs were challenged to create a dish featuring a Carolina-grown sweet potato that showcases their culinary personality.
To prepare for their challenge, the chefs headed to the Uptown Whole Foods to shop for ingredients. After shopping the chefs had some down time and settled into their nearby loft at Element Charlotte Uptown.
The competition then moved into the kitchen of La Belle Helene, a refined French brasserie led by “Top Chef” alum Jamie Lynch. Chefs presented their dishes in groups to Kristen, Gail and Tom, who were joined by special guest judges Jamie Lynch and Sean Brock as well as chef Chayil Johnson of Community Matters Café and chef Cheetie Kumar.
Keep watching this season of Bravo’s “Top Chef,” Mondays on Bravo, then streaming on Peacock the next day.
