As of April 4, 2025, the exciting journey of Top Chef Season 22 is well underway, with four episodes already aired. This latest season showcases auditions that spanned across Canada, kicking off with a competitive lineup of 15 talented contestants who immediately faced high-stakes culinary challenges both individually and in teams.
The esteemed judging panel consists of Kristen Kish, Gail Simmons, and Tom Colicchio, each episode features a guest judge who assesses the chefs’ adaptability and culinary expertise. The season premiered its first episode on March 13, 2025.
With challenges ranging from dishes inspired by hockey terms to regional flavors found across Canada, each episode has introduced innovative twists. Contestants have encountered notable Quickfire tasks, with themes including Jamaican patties and poutine, adding layers of complexity to the competition.
Episode 1: Mimi Weissenborn’s Exit After Canadian Challenge
In the inaugural episode, contestants participated in an Elimination Challenge centered on crafting dishes that represented various regions of Canada. Mimi Weissenborn, who began strong by winning the Quickfire Challenge, struggled with time management and execution.
The judges found significant flaws in Mimi’s dish, a potato purée, which they described as overly gummy and lacking refinement. Guest judge David Zilber infamously critiqued it as “elevated hospital food.”
Despite her attempts to incorporate regional flavors, Mimi’s dish was deemed the least impressive among her peers. Acknowledging her shortcomings at the judges’ table, she stated,
“Fundamentally I had a lot of executional flaws,” Mimi said.
The panel ultimately decided that her mistakes outweighed those of her competitors, leading to her elimination. Mimi was sent to Last Chance Kitchen, where she has an opportunity to re-enter the competition later in the season.
Episode 2: Bailey Sullivan’s Elimination in Maple-themed Challenge
The second episode hinged on a maple syrup-themed Elimination Challenge, dividing contestants into two teams tasked with creating an elaborate seven-course brunch menu. Bailey Sullivan encountered serious technical difficulties, particularly with her maple tart.
Her mixer malfunctioned during the preparation, necessitating a complete redo of her dough. Consequently, her final creation lacked a strong maple flavor, which became a focal point of criticism from the judges. Kristen Kish noted it primarily tasted like flour, while guest judge Daniel Boulud remarked that honey overshadowed the essence of the dish.
Despite strong support from her teammates, Bailey’s dish was viewed as the weakest in the round. In a narrow escape, contestant Henry Lu landed in the bottom two, but managed to stay thanks to his commendable fried chicken dish. As she exited, Bailey reflected on her experience and joined Last Chance Kitchen for a shot at redemption.
Episode 3 and Episode 4 Eliminations: A Tough Competition
In the third episode, contestants were challenged to create cold dishes inspired by Canadian hockey terms, each paired with a surprise ingredient. With “eggs”as her designated component, Anya El-Wattar presented a pine-needle ice cream alongside sea-buckthorn cake.
However, the judges found her execution lacking in both precision and clarity of flavor. Anya’s dish failed to adequately highlight the key ingredient, which was essential to the challenge. In contrast, other contestants like Katianna, Corwin, and Tristen succeeded in delivering standout plates that displayed both creativity and technical skill.
Ultimately, Anya’s inconsistencies in texture and flavor led to her elimination, and she moved to Last Chance Kitchen. Reflecting on her exit, she expressed,
“I really thought I could push the boundaries, but it didn’t land,” Anya shared.
In episode four, contestant Zubair faced elimination after presenting a duck dish that he claimed was inspired by butter tarts. Although visually appealing, his dish suffered from overcooking, and the flavors did not resonate with the intended dessert inspiration.
Fans can catch up on all three episodes of Top Chef Season 22, which are currently streaming on Bravo. Stay tuned for more thrilling challenges and culinary surprises as the season progresses!