‘Top Chef’ Heads to Colorado This December; Here’s a Sneak Peek

Bravo’s smash-hit culinary competition Top Chef returns for its 15th season this December, sending judges and competitors to the Rocky Mountain State of Colorado. Episodes will take place in Denver, Boulder, Telluride, and Aspen.

Padma Lakshmi returns as host, and Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, and Graham Elliot are back as judges. Top Chef typically recruits a roster of chefs from many cities across the country to compete, but this season’s cheftestepants mostly reside three regions: 10 of the 15 are from New York City, the Bay Area, and Southern California. They are:

• Fatima Ali (New York City)
• Tyler Anderson (Simsbury, Connecticut)
• Carrie Baird (Denver)
• Adrienne Cheatham (New York City)
• Laura Cole (Denali National Park, Alaska)
• Joseph Flamm (Chicago)
• Rogelio Garcia (San Francisco)
• Tanya Holland (Oakland)
• Bruce Kalman (Los Angeles)
• Brother Luck (Colorado Springs)
• Melissa Perfit (San Francisco)
• Tu David Phu (Oakland)
• Joe Sasto (Los Angeles)
• Christopher Scott (Brooklyn)
• Claudette Zepeda-Wilkins (San Diego)

As per usual, this season will include a plethora of cameos made by food-universe stars. Richard Blais, Curtis Stone, John Besh, David Kinch, Wylie Dufresne, and brothers Bryan and Michael Voltaggio are among the many guest judges set to appear.

Individual culinary challenges will come with a distinct Colorado flair, ranging from the preparation of Denver omelets to, yes, Rocky Mountain oysters (that’s bull testicles, fyi). When it’s all said and done, the winner will receive the traditional Top Chef prize pack of $125,000, a feature in Food & Wine magazine, and a showcase at the annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen.

Top Chef: Colorado will premiere on Thursday, December 7, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Below, get a sneak preview at the coming season, which appears to be filled with plenty of drama.

• Top Chef [Official]
• ‘Top Chef’ Heads to Colorado for a Rocky Mountain High [E]
• All Top Chef Coverage [E]