We love these LGBTQ+ chefs!
Ever since its first season on Bravo, Top Chef has been one of the best reality shows if you want to see talented LGBTQ+ people. Nearly every season of the cooking show has had several queer chefs for us to root for, and several of them have even won!
Now that the show has just recently begun its 19th season, taking place in Houston, we're taking a look back at 32 of the LGBTQ+ chefs that have appeared on the show.
Scroll through to meet them, and catch new episodes of Top Chef season 19 when they air Thursday nights at 8/7c.
San Francisco: Tiffani Faison and Dave Martin
Dave was great in the kitchen, but also gave us the brilliant catchphrase, "I'm not your b*tch, b*tch," and Tiffani finished second place in this first season of the show.
Los Angeles: Josie Smith-Malave and Carlos Fernandez
Neither Josie nor Carlos won this second season, but both made quite the impression, and Josie would come back later to compete in All-Stars.
Miami: Dale Levitski, Hung Huynh, and Sandee Birdsong
Season 3 gave us our first gay winner, with Chef Hung Huynh winning the whole season. Dale, another gay chef, also made the finale, coming in second place.
Chicago: Lisa Fernandes, Zoi Antonitsas, and Jennifer Biesty
Zoi and Jennifer were a couple when they appeared on the show in season 4.
New York City: Jamie Lauren, Patrick Dunlea, and Richard Sweeney
Jamie, Patrick, and Richard formed Team Rainbow in season 5, and Jamie came back for Top Chef: All Stars.
Las Vegas: Ashley Merriman, Preeti Mistry, and Ash Fulk
In season 6, Ashley spoke out about how the contestants were made to cook for a wedding while she, and other gay contestants, couldn't legally get married. Preeti has since come out as nonbinary.
Washington, D.C.: Arnold Myint and Tracy Bloom
Arnold provided some much needed fun in this season of the show.
Texas: Ty-Lör Boring
After a year of All-Stars, Top Chef moved to Texas, where we met chef Ty-Lor Boring.
Seattle: Kristen Kish and Jeffrey Jew
Top Chef got its first lesbian winner when Kristen Kish won season ten of the show.
New Orleans: Travis Masar
Season 11 featured gay chef Travis Masar.
Boston: Melissa King, Gregory Gourdet, and Joy Krump
Gregory came in second place in season 12, and came back for season 17 along with Melissa, who became the second lesbian Top Chef when she won the All-Stars season in 2020.
California: Jason Stratton, Karen Akunowicz, and Frances Tariga-Weshnak
Karen later came back for Top Chef: All-Stars LA.
Charleston: Silvia Barban
The Italian-born Barban appeared on Season 14 of the show.
Houston: Ashleigh Shanti, Robert Hernandez, and Jo Chan
The currently airing Houston season has three LGBTQ+ chefs to root for!
