The new season of “Top Chef” begins this week. While they’ll be cooking in Canada, we’ll still be rooting for hometown contestants from Chicago.
For now, let’s revisit where to check out the offerings from previous local competitors.
🏆 ‘Top Chef’ Winners From Chicago
Rick Bayless won “Top Chef Masters” in 2009. He not only holds a Michelin star and several James Beard Awards, but March 21 is now known as Rick Bayless Day in Chicago. Specializing in Mexican cuisine, Frontera Grill and XOCO in River North are among his restaurants you can check out.
Stephanie Izard, the first woman “Top Chef” winner in 2008, is probably best known for her Girl & the Goat restaurant in Fulton Market. She has launched offshoots like Duck Duck Goat and Little Goat Diner.
Joe Flamm is a native South Sider who won "Top Chef" in 2018. Overseeing Rose Mary and BLVD Steakhouse in Fulton Market, Flamm also opened Il Carciofo in the area late last year.
🥇 Other Favorite Chicago Competitors
Sarah Grueneberg moved to Chicago to pursue her culinary career in the early 2000s. She was the runner-up on the show in 2012 and opened Italian restaurant Monteverde in West Loop in 2015. Monteverde executive chef Bailey Sullivan is competing this year.
Beverly Kim, an alum of Charlie Trotter’s restaurant, also competed on the show in the 2012 season. Kim closed upscale Korean spot Parachute in 2024, but opened the more casual Parachute HiFi in Avondale in September.
Damarr Brown picked up a James Beard Award in Chicago last year. (Jeff Schear / Getty for The James Beard Foundation)
Damarr Brown, chef de cuisine at Virtue in Hyde Park, competed on “Top Chef” in 2022. Since then, Brown was named best emerging chef by the James Beard Foundation.
Soo Ahn, executive chef of Adalina, Chicago Athletic Association executive chef Kaleena Bliss, and private chef Alisha Elenz represented Chicago on the show last season.
📺 Chicago Chefs on This Season
In addition to Sullivan, this year’s Chicago competitors are North Pond executive chef César Murillo and Zubair Mohajir, who founded Lilac Tiger, Coach House, and Mirra.
This article has been updated for the 2025 season. It also corrects a previous version, which incorrectly stated the years Flamm, Grueneberg, and Kim competed.
