Top Chef: Carolinas
| Top Chef: Carolinas | |
|---|---|
| Season 23 | |
 | |
| Hosted by | Kristen Kish |
| Judges | Tom Colicchio Gail Simmons |
| No. of contestants | 15 |
| Location | Charlotte, North Carolina; Greenville, South Carolina |
| Release | |
| Original network | Bravo |
| Original release | March 9, 2026 |
| Season chronology | |
Top Chef: Carolinas is the upcoming twenty-third season of the American reality television series Top Chef. Filming was centered around Charlotte, North Carolina, with additional episodes shot in Greenville, South Carolina.[1][2] It is scheduled to premiere on March 9, 2026.[1][3]
Production
Filming for Top Chef: Carolinas took place between August and October 2025.[4][5] The season was produced in partnership with the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) and VisitGreenvilleSC.[6] The show was approved for a North Carolina Film and Entertainment Grant, receiving a $2.5 million grant rebate.[7] The CRVA paid $1.2 million for the "integration of Charlotte assets" into Top Chef; these included verbal mentions, challenges, and reality segments filmed throughout Charlotte; highlights of local history, culture, and ingredients; and the participation of local chefs and restaurateurs.[7]
Contestants
Fifteen chefs competed in Top Chef: Carolinas.[8] The cast notably includes identical twins, Brandon and Jonathan Dearden, and a pair of life partners, Jennifer Lee Jackson and Justin Tootla, competing against each other.[8][9]
| Name[8] | Hometown | Current Residence[a] |
|---|---|---|
| Sieger Bayer | Chicago, Illinois | |
| Jaspratap "Jassi" Bindra | Kanpur, India | Houston, Texas |
| Sherry Cardoso | Belo Horizonte, Brazil | Brooklyn, New York |
| Brittany Cochran | Columbus, Ohio | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Oscar Diaz | Chicago, Illinois | Durham, North Carolina |
| Brandon Dearden | Sterling, Virginia | Hamilton, Montana |
| Jonathan Dearden | Sterling, Virginia | Alexandria, Virginia |
| Duyen Ha | Binghamton, New York | Los Angeles, California |
| Jennifer Lee Jackson | Statham, Georgia | Suttons Bay, Michigan/Detroit, Michigan |
| Anthony Jones | Sunderland, Maryland | Alexandria, Virginia |
| Day Anaїs Joseph | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Laurence Louie | Boston, Massachusetts | Quincy, Massachusetts |
| Rhoda Magbitang | Antipolo, Philippines | Kailua-Kona, Hawaii |
| Justin Tootla | Detroit, Michigan | Suttons Bay, Michigan/Detroit, Michigan |
| Nana Araba Wilmot | Cherry Hill, New Jersey | |
References
- Notes
- ^ The contestants' city and state of residence during time of filming.
- Footnotes
- ^ a b Clements, Erin (July 23, 2025). "Top Chef Reveals New Southern Location for Season 23 (Exclusive)". People. Archived from the original on July 23, 2025. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
- ^ Leasca, Stacey (July 23, 2025). "Exclusive: 'Top Chef' Just Revealed Its Next Filming Location — and It's a Southern Gem". Food & Wine. Archived from the original on July 23, 2025. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
- ^ Edwards, Christopher (January 29, 2026). "Top Chef Heads to the Carolinas for Season 23, with a Twist! Watch the Trailer and Meet the Chefs (Exclusive)". People. Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
- ^ Mayhew, Jim (August 20, 2025). "'Top Chef' Kicks Off Production of Season 23 in Charlotte". WBAV-FM. Archived from the original on August 20, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
- ^ Nelson, Elise (October 10, 2025). "Top Chef's Gail Simmons Reveals How She's Changed as a Judge After 20 Years, Teases New Season (Exclusive)". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on October 12, 2025. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
- ^ Gravalese, Stephanie (July 23, 2025). "'Top Chef' Season 23 Will Film In The Carolinas—Here's What Bravo Just Confirmed". Forbes. Archived from the original on July 23, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Ramsey, Mary (September 11, 2025). "How much North Carolina will pay reality TV show to film new season in Charlotte". The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on September 13, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
- ^ a b c Leasca, Stacey (January 29, 2026). "'Top Chef' Is Back for Season 23 — Here's Your First Look at the Contestants". Food & Wine. Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
- ^ Crist, Allison (January 29, 2026). "Meet the Top Chef Season 23 Cheftestants, Including a Couple & Identical Twins (Bios & Photos)". Bravo. Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.