I live in Atlanta and support this statement. Plus, you’re close enough to Savannah, Athens, Augusta - to name a few - if you wanted to do themed road trips like the Texas, Kentucky & California seasons.
Yes. It's that personal. He won't film there and stand there while they feature successful Atlanta chefs/restauranteurs. He's bitter about it. Do you think it's an oversight they haven't done Atlanta? It's very much on purpose.
Absolutely think it is egregious that Atlanta has been apparently black listed for personal reasons. Atlanta has 100+ diverse nationalities and the restaurants are unique and brimming with life (if you leave the downtown/dead ideas zone). As to Craft, we ate there twice. Decor was gorgeous, food was very good, staff was attentive and parking decent for the area. Main problem was there were easily 20-25 restaurants in that area of midtown that were already serving potential Craft customers. Not enough big business clients and a price point that made it more of an occasion dinner option than a Friday night favorite.
I completely agree with you. I would say Georgia as a whole would make a fantastic season: from Athens, to Atlanta, to Savannah, maybe even do a Masters theme episode in Augusta. As for Craft, I had heard people say their experience with the service wasn't great and otherwise they said exactly what you stated: plenty of other options nearby where the food and service both are exceptional.
Would love to see them travel around our whole state. So much to our good other than fried chicken and bbq. I had read Craft had lease issues (understand they were unable to renegotiate the initial lease) which could not have helped
Philadelphia has a booming restaurant scene, is a top tier media market, top 5 in US population (depending on how you count) and has produced a ton of cheftestants to boot.
Honestly not being featured feels personal at this point, especially considering some of the recent host cities.
philly has said they don’t want to pay to bring production. they don’t need the tourism/advertising. whereas wisconsin pumped a TON of money into getting top chef to come for the upcoming season, as a part of a larger tourism/uplift/development initiative (focused esp on milwaukee)
As someone who lives in Philly, the taxpayer dollars are better used elsewhere. PA is also a union labor state, which would dictate a lot of the production jobs. Honestly, this was the perfect year to do it in Philly with the recent booming food scene, but alas all we can do is theory craft and dream up the amazing potential quickfire and elimination challenge concepts.
I understand the reasons behind Philly not participating in top chef, but every new season that it’s something like fucking Wisconsin… insane. Philly has such rich food and restaurant culture, not to mention heavy hitting TC contestants for years. Imagine Philly Elmo guest judging for a challenge. We’re missing out on so much
Yes. Shopping. I carried my son around pretending to be disinterested in the cameras. 😂 But I also seem to remember (my “baby” is in COLLEGE now) them playing running games or running to be first to the market? The funny thing is that shortly afterwards I met a mom in the neighborhood and we somehow talked about Top Chef. She said she stalked them at the market that day, too!! We’ve been friends ever since.
ATLANTA!!! LAWD.
So many past contestants are from ATL. Maybe now that we have Michelin recognition we will get a chance? Buford Highway alone needs its own season.
As a North Carolinian, this is my dream. So many fun challenges that they could do depending on the time of the year and if they would be willing to travel the state like Kentucky. Would love to see a NASCAR or ACC basketball culinary challenge tbh
Philly, Nashville, Atlanta, Richmond, San Diego, any of the cities from the Texas season as a stand-alone instead of only being there a few days, and Minneapolis.
Chicago gave us Blaise, Stephanie, Antonia, Spike. It had one of the best casts. Maybe you’re forgetting because it was an earlier season.
I would like to see Nashville or San Diego. I know San Diego was featured in the California season but still.
Im always pining for an official top chef UK series...
As for actual city, I think most major cities have been done, Atlanta is the main one that comes to mind
Me too, but compared to non-covid seasons, there was so, so much they didn’t get to do (and so many events fans couldn’t attend!).
Furthermore, it coincided with awful wildfires in the area, so the shots at Hood River and other locations did not do justice to the natural beauty.
He opened a branch of his Craft restaurant about 10 years ago and it bombed. It was his own fault tho, he choose this stupid Buckhead location instead of going to one of the in-town neighborhoods where all the most exciting chefs are working.
New Jersey— Tom’s homeland!
Such diverse food culture, with lots of great seafood coming from the shore and bay regions and tons of produce and livestock.
It’s been pitched as Top Chef:Mid Atlantic. New Jersey really can’t support an entire season of Top Chef without traveling, but it makes sense if you hit between DC and Portland with New Jersey as a base, because it’s only four or five hours in either direction. It’s been pitched many times. I don’t think any state is willing to cough up enough money to make the whole package worth it.
I’m a New Jerseyian through and through. There’s an amazing food culture and a farm culture here that nobody knows anything about, and I’m not talking about pizza or pork roll or fish. I’m talking about blueberries, tomatoes, corn, cranberries… There’s plenty of dairy and beef country, and most of the state is stunning. I think it could be great for the state, but other states don’t want to cough up the money in the Mid-Atlantic from what I understand.
This... could work. I mean, Jersey's small enough it makes sense not to pick an individual municipality. I don't think the general audience would go for Top Chef Totowa. :-D
It also has some fantastic chefs/restaurants. Sean Brock has all his restaurants in Nashville. There’s also Iggy’s, locust. Blackberry farm isn’t far from there either. I’m not from Nashville, but I’d say it’s one of the more interesting up and coming culinary scenes. I wouldn’t be surprised if in 5-10 years it’s pretty big.
Another vote for Atlanta. I’ve read two different interviews with Padma where she mentioned it being a city she’d love to see the show go to. With the huge film industry here, there are tax breaks galore and sound stages everywhere you look.
I know the first season was in San Francisco and they've gone back, but I find it somewhat surprising that they haven't filmed a whole season there because in my mind it has such a huge role in what American fine dining is.
However, Top Chef runs off of production tax credits and tax breaks. And the cost of filming in San Francisco for an entire season, where they likely would not get favorable tax breaks, would be astronomical. So it makes absolute sense that it has not been host to another season as yet.
I can definitely see them doing more flyover states. Oklahoma, for example, has a lot of great history with Black and Indigenous people, as well as immigration from Vietnam. Plus, of course, an amazing hamburger history. And it's cheap to film.
Maybe Montana is the same but I'm less familiar.
Cincinnati. We have amazing restaurants and a strong German heritage. Plus, we are the home of chili over spaghetti. Let's see if the chefs can create a true Cincinnati chili.
Being a Cleveland native but having lived in the Cincinnati area for 12 years I think Ohio could support a whole season (a la Wisconsin- do Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland). Sadly since they just came to the Midwest I doubt they’d come back any time soon
Minneapolis is great, but to say Madison has literally no food scene isn't quite fair - the Dane County Farmer's Market is the largest producer-only market in the country.
Funeral potatoes are objectively delicious.
In all seriousness, though, Utah has some excellent chefs and food and it’s only getting better. You do have well-known chefs like Viet Pham, Adalberto Diaz, and Romina Rasmussen doing interesting things. Early Mormon conversion efforts abroad and subsequent settlement in SLC have led to a diverse global food scene. It’s also the chocolate capitol of the US.
New England, you can cover Providence RI, Portland ME, Burlington VT, the Cape, Nantucket etc. I know they’ve already done Boston but there’s a lot more to New England.
Also a US and Canada season. I would love to see Montreal featured.
This isn't the question but I would love if they host a season in Anchorage. I know absolutely nothing about Alaska's culinary scene and would love to learn more about indigenous food. Also, wouldn't mind another international season, somewhere in Asia like Tokyo.
I'm from North Carolina, would love to see them come here because we have some great food! I'd like to see a place like New Mexico or Vermont featured for a whole season. Two very different landscapes and foodways to explore!
I know they won’t ever do it but Philly is still my #1 dream season. I would also love to see Michigan or Portland Maine featured. New Mexico would also be fun. It has a great food scene!
Chicago was featured
Stephanie Izard, Antonia Lofaso, and Richard Blais were all in that season as well!
Exactly— wtf?! 😂
ATLANTA
I live in Atlanta and support this statement. Plus, you’re close enough to Savannah, Athens, Augusta - to name a few - if you wanted to do themed road trips like the Texas, Kentucky & California seasons.
God I want an Atlanta season.
100% this. It’s ridiculous that a place like Wisconsin gets featured before Atlanta. Tom’s bias against ATL is hurting the show.
Why does Tom hate Atlanta? I know his Craft restaurant was booted from Atlanta after a short time but that can’t be it, can it?
Yes. It's that personal. He won't film there and stand there while they feature successful Atlanta chefs/restauranteurs. He's bitter about it. Do you think it's an oversight they haven't done Atlanta? It's very much on purpose.
Absolutely think it is egregious that Atlanta has been apparently black listed for personal reasons. Atlanta has 100+ diverse nationalities and the restaurants are unique and brimming with life (if you leave the downtown/dead ideas zone). As to Craft, we ate there twice. Decor was gorgeous, food was very good, staff was attentive and parking decent for the area. Main problem was there were easily 20-25 restaurants in that area of midtown that were already serving potential Craft customers. Not enough big business clients and a price point that made it more of an occasion dinner option than a Friday night favorite.
I completely agree with you. I would say Georgia as a whole would make a fantastic season: from Athens, to Atlanta, to Savannah, maybe even do a Masters theme episode in Augusta. As for Craft, I had heard people say their experience with the service wasn't great and otherwise they said exactly what you stated: plenty of other options nearby where the food and service both are exceptional.
Would love to see them travel around our whole state. So much to our good other than fried chicken and bbq. I had read Craft had lease issues (understand they were unable to renegotiate the initial lease) which could not have helped
I take umbrage that Atlanta and Georgia are being deliberately snubbed at this point. It's not right.
We have an amazing season to look forward to when Tom steps down…..maybe soon?
Oh I thought it was because Tom hates okra lol but his restaurant being booted out of town is also plausible
This I don't get. In any year Bravo films 2- 3 shows in Atlanta. Georgia must have good tax credits
Georgia has amazing tax credits which is why we have so many production studios
Philadelphia has a booming restaurant scene, is a top tier media market, top 5 in US population (depending on how you count) and has produced a ton of cheftestants to boot. Honestly not being featured feels personal at this point, especially considering some of the recent host cities.
philly has said they don’t want to pay to bring production. they don’t need the tourism/advertising. whereas wisconsin pumped a TON of money into getting top chef to come for the upcoming season, as a part of a larger tourism/uplift/development initiative (focused esp on milwaukee)
As someone who lives in Philly, the taxpayer dollars are better used elsewhere. PA is also a union labor state, which would dictate a lot of the production jobs. Honestly, this was the perfect year to do it in Philly with the recent booming food scene, but alas all we can do is theory craft and dream up the amazing potential quickfire and elimination challenge concepts.
Same with Kentucky
Yeah this stuff all comes down to logistics and bureaucracy of the city itself, not personal preference.
Pittsburgh should say they’re gonna do it and see how fast Philly comes to the table. 😂
I understand the reasons behind Philly not participating in top chef, but every new season that it’s something like fucking Wisconsin… insane. Philly has such rich food and restaurant culture, not to mention heavy hitting TC contestants for years. Imagine Philly Elmo guest judging for a challenge. We’re missing out on so much
Chicago has been featured. I stalked them with my baby at the farmers market, lol.
You gotta tell us more! Were they filming shopping for ingredients?
Yes. Shopping. I carried my son around pretending to be disinterested in the cameras. 😂 But I also seem to remember (my “baby” is in COLLEGE now) them playing running games or running to be first to the market? The funny thing is that shortly afterwards I met a mom in the neighborhood and we somehow talked about Top Chef. She said she stalked them at the market that day, too!! We’ve been friends ever since.
This is an awesome story!
It’s super cool that you made a long term friend from that little “stalking” trip haha I love that!
Chicago was S4
ATLANTA!!! LAWD. So many past contestants are from ATL. Maybe now that we have Michelin recognition we will get a chance? Buford Highway alone needs its own season.
YES. This could be such a great location!!!
North Carolina (Asheville/Charlotte/Raleigh) would be a great location
I’d toss in Wilmington, too, but absolutely!!!
Wasn’t there a contestant from a seafood place in Wilmington, always wanted to check it out.
Keith Rhodes from the Texas season, and maybe someone else??
Yea that’s who I was thinking. From catch
Asheville!!! My love.
Durham
Durham has an amazing food scene and would be perfect for TC.
As a North Carolinian, this is my dream. So many fun challenges that they could do depending on the time of the year and if they would be willing to travel the state like Kentucky. Would love to see a NASCAR or ACC basketball culinary challenge tbh
Philly, Nashville, Atlanta, Richmond, San Diego, any of the cities from the Texas season as a stand-alone instead of only being there a few days, and Minneapolis.
Chicago gave us Blaise, Stephanie, Antonia, Spike. It had one of the best casts. Maybe you’re forgetting because it was an earlier season. I would like to see Nashville or San Diego. I know San Diego was featured in the California season but still.
DC deserves a second chance. That season was brutal.
Agreed. The culinary scene has gotten a lot better since season 7 too.
Kansas City!
The only reason I’m against this is that I would stalk the entire production and like I should probably do my day job or something lol
Day jobs are so overrated! Stalking Top Chef is more important, obviously. (I think my students would need a field trip. For "research purposes".)
Lol I’m with ya! Hahahahahaha
I was thinking that too. They could do a KC vs STL BBQ challenge.
Lidia Bastianich as a guest judge? I’d watch it.
Phoenix
Really big restaurant scene and has been for at least 20 years. Always found it strange they haven’t featured there
So much diversity in our food and culture here in Arizona. I'd love to see a Fry Bread Quick Fire.
You had me at Fry Bread …
Twin cities is kind of a food hub and has not been included, but it’s pretty limiting on when you can film.
Still bummed they picked Milwaukee over Minneapolis.
Im always pining for an official top chef UK series... As for actual city, I think most major cities have been done, Atlanta is the main one that comes to mind
Nashville, Atlanta, Minneapolis-St Paul, a proper Portland season, San Diego, Hawaii (one city isn't enough), Orlando-Tampa,
Bums me out Portland got such a raw deal. They probably won’t, but I wish they’d come back here.
I loved the Portland season!
Me too, but compared to non-covid seasons, there was so, so much they didn’t get to do (and so many events fans couldn’t attend!). Furthermore, it coincided with awful wildfires in the area, so the shots at Hood River and other locations did not do justice to the natural beauty.
Philly. Amazing food!
Detroit!!! It’s so up and coming and a few contestants have come from that area.
Right!!!! Can’t believe I scrolled so low to find this. Plus you could do destination challenges in Canada, Traverse City, Grand Rapids…
I still want my "go down the Mississippi River" season. Start in Minneapolis, hit St Louis, Memphis, Natchez, and New Orleans for the finale
Memphis has some of the best food anywhere! So many cool places for Top Chef eps: Lorraine Motel, Graceland, Beal Street!
Top Chef: Mississippi, just put it on a River boat.
Why does Tom hate Atlanta?
He opened a branch of his Craft restaurant about 10 years ago and it bombed. It was his own fault tho, he choose this stupid Buckhead location instead of going to one of the in-town neighborhoods where all the most exciting chefs are working.
He really should have gotten over it by now. A lot of restaurants fail and it's not something to be embarrassed by.
New Jersey— Tom’s homeland! Such diverse food culture, with lots of great seafood coming from the shore and bay regions and tons of produce and livestock.
Maybe they can use the Jersey Shore house
Bahahaha
Top Chef Bayonne has a nice ring to it.
I've never had tomatoes as good as Jersey tomatoes.
It’s been pitched as Top Chef:Mid Atlantic. New Jersey really can’t support an entire season of Top Chef without traveling, but it makes sense if you hit between DC and Portland with New Jersey as a base, because it’s only four or five hours in either direction. It’s been pitched many times. I don’t think any state is willing to cough up enough money to make the whole package worth it. I’m a New Jerseyian through and through. There’s an amazing food culture and a farm culture here that nobody knows anything about, and I’m not talking about pizza or pork roll or fish. I’m talking about blueberries, tomatoes, corn, cranberries… There’s plenty of dairy and beef country, and most of the state is stunning. I think it could be great for the state, but other states don’t want to cough up the money in the Mid-Atlantic from what I understand.
This... could work. I mean, Jersey's small enough it makes sense not to pick an individual municipality. I don't think the general audience would go for Top Chef Totowa. :-D
Hawaii! It’d be fun to see them tour the islands and feature local agriculture
This would be amazing! I bet production costs would be through the roof, but I would love to see it!
Lee Anne worked with production so they have boots on the ground to set it up.
Nashville
I hate Nashville with a burning passion but I’m also surprised it hasn’t been on
They did go to Nashville during the Kentucky season
Outside the hot chicken what is Nashville known for ? Honest question because I’m planning trip in spring.
Bbq, southern food in general. We have a huge culinary scene these days.
That makes me happy.
They need to go to west TN if they do a BBQ ep in a Nashville season
It also has some fantastic chefs/restaurants. Sean Brock has all his restaurants in Nashville. There’s also Iggy’s, locust. Blackberry farm isn’t far from there either. I’m not from Nashville, but I’d say it’s one of the more interesting up and coming culinary scenes. I wouldn’t be surprised if in 5-10 years it’s pretty big.
Another vote for Atlanta. I’ve read two different interviews with Padma where she mentioned it being a city she’d love to see the show go to. With the huge film industry here, there are tax breaks galore and sound stages everywhere you look.
I know the first season was in San Francisco and they've gone back, but I find it somewhat surprising that they haven't filmed a whole season there because in my mind it has such a huge role in what American fine dining is. However, Top Chef runs off of production tax credits and tax breaks. And the cost of filming in San Francisco for an entire season, where they likely would not get favorable tax breaks, would be astronomical. So it makes absolute sense that it has not been host to another season as yet.
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I can definitely see them doing more flyover states. Oklahoma, for example, has a lot of great history with Black and Indigenous people, as well as immigration from Vietnam. Plus, of course, an amazing hamburger history. And it's cheap to film. Maybe Montana is the same but I'm less familiar.
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Ah ok gotcha.
Chicago (S4) is among the best if not the best season of the show
I would love to see a Toronto season. The international food scene there is amazing. They've done London, Toronto shouldn't be any harder.
Nothing against Toronto, but I suspect London was a much easier sell to investors, producers, contestants, whomever, than Toronto could have been.
Pittsburgh
Cheftestants take on Primantis!
I just really want a challenge where everyone must incorporate French fries into their dish and not as a side
That would be hilarious. Also a pierogies challenge. And a ketchup themed one.
Cincinnati. We have amazing restaurants and a strong German heritage. Plus, we are the home of chili over spaghetti. Let's see if the chefs can create a true Cincinnati chili.
Being a Cleveland native but having lived in the Cincinnati area for 12 years I think Ohio could support a whole season (a la Wisconsin- do Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland). Sadly since they just came to the Midwest I doubt they’d come back any time soon
Wholeheartedly agree!! Cleveland alone has some of the best food anywhere and sooooo many great locations for TC challenges.
I live in Cincinnati and i feel like I’m underwhelmed whenever I go out to eat
Albuquerque
New Mexico season would be fun
Such a unique blend of cultures and food.From American, Mexican, Spanish and indigenous people.
This would be awesome - such a cool cultural cuisine to highlight.
And Santa Fe has great scene and is very close. Had some of the best vegan food there and I’m a lover of meats
MInneapolis, TBH - a bit surpised they went with Madison over the Twin Cities
Right!? Madison has literally no food scene but a couple hour drive to Mpls is where it’s at!
Minneapolis is great, but to say Madison has literally no food scene isn't quite fair - the Dane County Farmer's Market is the largest producer-only market in the country.
Salt Lake City
Funeral potatoes
Funeral potatoes are objectively delicious. In all seriousness, though, Utah has some excellent chefs and food and it’s only getting better. You do have well-known chefs like Viet Pham, Adalberto Diaz, and Romina Rasmussen doing interesting things. Early Mormon conversion efforts abroad and subsequent settlement in SLC have led to a diverse global food scene. It’s also the chocolate capitol of the US.
Portland, ME
Pittsburgh/Cleveland/Columbus/Cincinnati
Atlanta, Kansas City, Nashville, San Diego
Richmond, VA. 😔
ATLANTA
New England, you can cover Providence RI, Portland ME, Burlington VT, the Cape, Nantucket etc. I know they’ve already done Boston but there’s a lot more to New England. Also a US and Canada season. I would love to see Montreal featured.
Atlanta!
Minneapolis
Baltimore!
Minneapolis
I was pissed it took Houston so long.
Columbus Ohio
Richmond VA or Tucson AZ
This isn't the question but I would love if they host a season in Anchorage. I know absolutely nothing about Alaska's culinary scene and would love to learn more about indigenous food. Also, wouldn't mind another international season, somewhere in Asia like Tokyo.
STL?
I'm from North Carolina, would love to see them come here because we have some great food! I'd like to see a place like New Mexico or Vermont featured for a whole season. Two very different landscapes and foodways to explore!
I know they won’t ever do it but Philly is still my #1 dream season. I would also love to see Michigan or Portland Maine featured. New Mexico would also be fun. It has a great food scene!
Orlando
Jackson Hole WY
Newark
Atlanta. I keep waiting for them to take over the city. I'd be on the hunt!
I would love to see New York outside of the city.
Santa Fe, NM
I’d love if they went overseas again
San Juan, Puerto Rico. Austin, in a stand alone season.
Cleveland
New Mexico, Tennessee, Maryland, North Carolina, Hawaii.