A “Top Chef” First: New Contestant Will Join the Competition Late by Cooking on “Last Chance Kitchen ”(Exclusive)
The digital series, which is hosted by judge Tom Colicchio, gives eliminated Top Chef stars a second chance to re-join the competition
Top Chef is shaking up season 21.
In a move that’s never been done before on the long-running series, a new cheftestant is set to break into the competition late – after the show’s premiere — PEOPLE can exclusively reveal.
Chef Soo Ahn will have the opportunity to join the other talented competitors as the 16th cheftestant by competing on Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen. The digital series, which is hosted by judge Tom Colicchio, gives eliminated Top Chef stars a second chance to re-join the competition. The companion show premieres its 13th season on Wednesday following Top Chef.
Ahn will certainly turn up the heat in the kitchen with his impressive resumé. He began his career as a professional golfer. After a big pivot into the culinary scene, he climbed the fine-dining ladder in Chicago where he helped Band of Bohemia retain a Michelin star as their executive chef. He is now the executive chef at Adalina.
Last Chance Kitchen competitors are not to be ignored. Several chefs have gone on to make it to the finale (and in some cases even win) after battling it out and re-joining the main Bravo cheftestants. Now-host Kristen Kish, chefs Brooke Williamson and Joe Flamm all ultimately won their respective series after making their way back into the competition through the digital show.
During the trailer, Kish, Colicchio and fellow judge Gail Simmons teased an interesting season in Wisconsin. "There are a few new rules," Kish said in the sneak peek.
"There will be no immunity given for a Quickfire win," added Colicchio. (Quickfire Challenge winners were previously awarded a prize, an advantage or most valuable: immunity during the Elimination Challenge.) Now winners will only be safe from going home in the next episode if they win during the Elimination Challenge.
Buddha Lo, a two-time Top Chef winner, recapped the first episode of season 21 for PEOPLE.
“Every season of Top Chef is amazing but in Wisconsin, it will be really exciting to see where the challenges go as they dive into the local cuisine and culture,” he wrote.
He also commended Kish for her first-time hosting duties.
“After watching (and competing in) so many episodes with Padma [Lakshmi]’s voice, hearing Kristen Kish for the first time gave me goosebumps. Everyone knew she had huge shoes to fill, but she did an incredible job,” he added.
Last Chance Kitchen will be available at the end of each week’s episode of Top Chef on Peacock. Top Chef airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
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Read the original article on People.