With nearly 20 seasons under its belt, Top Chef is one of the longest-running reality shows on television, and the series doesn’t appear to be slowing down. Fans are undoubtedly familiar with how Quickfire challenges and the judges’ table work, and they’ve watched more than one Restaurant Wars, but there are still Top Chef facts that allude them. These 40 surprising facts about Top Chef may surprise even the show’s most avid viewers.
Padma Lakshmi eats up to 8,000 calories a day during filming.
In a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter, Lakshmi revealed that she consumes between 5,000 to 8,000 calories a day testing contestants’ meals.
Only one contestant has ever been disqualified.
Cliff Crooks was asked to leave the competition after pinning down fellow contestant Marcel Vigneron and attempting to shave his head.
The judges’ table can last for hours.
While viewers only see a few minutes of debate, judge Gail Simmons revealed to Parade the judges’ table takes about four hours.