Top Chef is packing up its knives and aprons and heading to Canada for season 22.
The Bravo series is making a rare foray outside the U.S. after the 20th season was shot in London and after the Wisconsin-themed 21st season. Top Chef judges Kristen Krish, Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons announced their Canadian road trip on Instagram on Tuesday, with Kish at point standing in the shadow of Toronto’s CNN Tower.
The 22nd season will be a bit of a homecoming for Simmons as she hails from Toronto. “I’m here checking out the new season location. That’s right, season 22: destination, Canada,” she announced in the social media post modeled like a FaceTime session between the trio.
Bravo has yet to announce a premiere date for the upcoming season of Top Chef or which Canadian contestants will compete. Canada’s Michelin-starred chefs and restaurateurs, along with its top mixologists and winemakers, have long had leading and guest roles on popular reality TV series shot on both sides of the border for Food Network and other American channels.
The Bravo series setting up cameras north of the border will be an opportunity for Canada’s culinary scene, dominated by diverse food built up around immigrant communities in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, to show itself off. Destination Canada, which promotes tourism north of the border, welcomed the Bravo series.
“Canada’s culinary identity is rooted in our vast geography, the rhythm of our seasons, and the culture and traditions of our communities; yes that includes maple syrup and so much more,” Gloria Loree, senior vp, marketing strategy & chief marketing officer at Destination Canada, said in a statement. “We’re excited to see it unfold through the judges, contestants’ challenges and experiences, and surprise viewers along the way.”
