Are you scoping out the nearest Whole Foods for a possible glimpse into Season 23 of Bravo’s “Top Chef?” The Emmy-nominated competition is filming in the Queen City this summer, and there’s plenty of excitement.
We sat down with “Top Chef” Season 22 winner Chef Tristen Epps, an alum of Uptown’s Johnson and Wales University, and Charlotte-native and local chef Chris Coleman, about their time competing on television.
For Epps, the road to the show started with discipline. “Johnson and Wales gave me a lot of structure,” Epps told CLTtoday. “It provided a way of filtering things from cooking into an organizational path in my head.” That mindset became essential when facing the fast-paced challenges of the show.
And Chef Coleman also knows a thing or two about competing under the pressure cooker, having won “Beat Bobby Flay” and “Chopped.” “It’s not for the faint of heart,” Coleman explained to CLTtoday. “You have to have a lot of innovation and thinking on your feet, and trying to tackle what’s in front of you.”
When the clock is ticking, there’s no room for second-guessing. According to the chefs, success on these televised competitions comes down to mastering the basics. “Practice until they’re second nature,” said Epps. “The show throws curveballs, so you need to rely on instinct.”
Coleman echoed that sentiment, adding that confidence is just as important as skill. “Just go with your gut and see it through to the end. And hopefully, whatever you choose is going to be the right path.”
As for sharing Carolina pride, both chefs are hoping local ingredients get the spotlight.
“I would love a Cheerwine competition,” said Epps. “I did a Cheerwine-braised pork cheeks for a dish in New York and had to order [it] through Amazon because it was impossible to find.”
“Pimento cheese — you can take it in so many different directions,” explained Coleman. “You can make it spicy, sweet, or savory and apply it to a lot of different cuisines, because at its core, it’s just a creamy cheese spread with peppers.”
Filming for “Top Chef” is expected to last a few months + the show airs sometime in 2026. See you on the small screen, Charlotte.
