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Top Chef Season 16 Episodes
Season 16 Episode Guide
15 Episodes 2018 - 2019
Episode 1
The Fastest 2 Minutes in Cooking
Thu, Dec 6, 201855 mins
"Top Chef" Kentucky begins as fifteen of the country's finest chefs are off to the races at Churchill Downs for the ride of their lives.
Episode 2
Bourbon, Barrels and Burgoo
Thu, Dec 13, 201855 mins
A very pregnant Gail Simmons asks the chefs to feed her cravings in a special Quickfire delivery. Then it's time to celebrate two iconic Kentucky mainstays: local cuisine and bourbon. The Chefs head to Makers Mark, the oldest distillery in America to put their spins on a meal full of Kentucky classics including burgoo, Benedictine, mutton, hoe cakes and dumplings. This is a true battle for Kentucky as the chefs navigate their first team challenge - and one chef makes a potentially fatal shopping error. Can they recover or will they be scraping the bottom of the barrel to make it through? Food and travel editor, Nilou Motamed joins the judges this season, and Maker's Mark's in-house Chef, Newman Miller, sits on the panel as a guest judge.
Episode 3
Naughty and Nice
Thu, Dec 20, 201844 mins
It's holiday time for Top Chef, and Richard Blais and Brooke Williamson help spread the festive cheer by presenting a white elephant Quickfire challenge. Then, the Chefs receive an unexpected gift as Michelin starred super Chef Eric Ripert sits down with them to celebrate an elaborate traditional French Chrismas dinner. However, once the last bite is taken, Padma informs the Chefs that they're missing the final part of the tradition of Le Revillon de Noel... the presentation of 13 desserts. It's a midnight pastry free-for-all as the Chefs try to avoid being on the placed on the naughty list. Screen reader support enabled.
Episode 4
Surprise... It's Restaurant Wars
Thu, Dec 27, 201844 mins
In a massive twist, Padma's favorite challenge Restaurant Wars comes early this year, but before the chefs gear up for battle, they must first duke it out in an amuse bouche-based Quickfire for Top Chef alum turned James Beard Award winning chefs: Karen Akunowicz and Nina Compton. Then, the gauntlet has been thrown and with twelve chefs remaining, three restaurants will be battling for victory. James Beard Award winning restaurateur Caroline Styne joins as the guest judge along with Nilou Motamed. And if this unexpected chaos isn't enough, Tom leaves the Chefs breathless with an announcement that will change the course of the competition.
Episode 5
Restaurant Wars: Part 2
Thu, Jan 3, 201944 mins
The mayhem and drama continues of the biggest Restaurant Wars in the history of "Top Chef." Tom's announcement of a double elimination piles on even more pressure. "Top Chef" alum turned James Beard Award winning Chefs Karen Akunowicz and Nina Compton join the restaurant crawl along with Nilou Motamed and guest judge and James Beard Award winning restaurateur, Caroline Styne.
Episode 6
Roaring Munchies
Thu, Jan 10, 201944 mins
The chefs walk in on an epic battle of Last Chance Kitchen and are drafted into the fight. Once Tom declares a winner, the chefs immediately begin a challenge making dishes based on Prohibition Era cocktails. Chef Ken Oringer joins Padma, Tom and Graham at a Roaring 20's party with Flappers and Dapper Dans.
Episode 7
Carne!
Thu, Jan 17, 201944 mins
Lena Waithe surprises the chefs, by challenging them to make their best version of the trademark Kentucky dish, the Hot Brown. Then super-chef Nancy Silverton brings her internationally renowned friend, butcher Dario Cecchini to break down a whole cow for the chefs to utilize along with locally-sourced Kentucky ingredients.
Episode 8
Whatever Floats Your Boat
Thu, Jan 24, 201944 mins
With more shoreline than Florida, Kentucky is a hotbed for houseboats. For this elimination challenge, the chefs are split into two teams and tasked with throwing raging party in Lake Cumberland. Mega-chef Emeril Lagasse joins Padma, Tom and Nilou along with Captains Sandy and Lee from Below Deck for some houseboat hysteria.
Episode 9
Music City USA
Thu, Jan 31, 201944 mins
The chefs take a road trip to Nashville and cook on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry for country music artist Hunter Hayes. Then, they have to dig deep to create a dish inspired by a vibrant music memory. Next, the chefs work on a plate for a full table of Nashville food.
Episode 10
Hoop Dreams
Thu, Feb 7, 201944 mins
Top Chef alum Ed Lee drops by for a Quickfire that's part trivia, part culinary creativity; Coach John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats host a concession-stand cook-off in Rupp Arena; Food & Wine Editor-in-Chief Hunter Lewis joins the judges.
Episode 11
The Greatest
Thu, Feb 14, 201944 mins
The chefs take a turn at fried chicken; chef Art Smith judges a secret herbs-and-spices blind taste test ahead of the Quickfire fry-off; after the finger-licking goodness, the chefs turn their attention to boxer Muhammad Ali, aka the Louisville Lip.
Episode 12
Kentucky Farewell
Thu, Feb 21, 201944 mins
All season the chefs have been growing gardens at their Kentucky estate. Tom ambushes the sleeping chefs and challenges them to reap what they sowed and make a dish focused on their garden harvest. Then, for the last elimination challenge in Kentucky, the chefs head to Keeneland, a thoroughbred horse auction house, to bid on luxury ingredients for dishes to show gratitude to their culinary mentors. Chefs Bryan Voltaggio, Gavin Kaysen, JD Fratzke, Kim Alter, David Posey and Chris Coombs join the judges to see how far the Chefs have come and who deserves to go to Macau for the finals.
Episode 13
Holy Macau!
Thu, Feb 28, 201944 mins
The final five chefs travel to the Macau in China. Chef Graham Elliot, who has a restaurant in Macau, introduces the chefs to a market full of fascinating ingredients and challenges. The chefs throw a party celebrating the Chinese New Year.
Episode 14
The Tao of Macau
Thu, Mar 7, 201944 mins
The day has come when the final four chefs must cook with the world's smelliest fruit durian. This infamous fruit is a delicacy in Macau, but will Padma and guest judge, James Beard Award winner Abe Conlon be able to stomach their creations for the season's last Quickfire? Then, the chefs get a tutorial in the traditional cuisine of Macau, a fusion of Chinese and Portuguese flavors, and are joined by their family members from back home. For the elimination challenge, the chefs are tasked with blending their own heritage with Chinese flavors in order to impress their love ones and the judges, in order to earn their spot in the finale.
Episode 15
Finale
Thu, Mar 14, 201965 mins
It's the final showdown; the three remaining chefs must create the best four-course meal of their lives; Tom reveals in a twist that only two chefs will get the chance to serve their full menu; only one chef will emerge victorious.
