| Top Chef: Portland | |
|---|---|
| Season 18 | |
 | |
| Hosted by | Padma Lakshmi |
| Judges | |
| No. of contestants | 15 |
| Winner | Gabe Erales |
| Runners-up | Shota Nakajima Dawn Burrell |
| Location | Portland, Oregon |
| Fan Favorite | Shota Nakajima |
| No. of episodes | 14 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Bravo |
| Original release | April 1 – July 1, 2021 |
| Season chronology | |
Top Chef: Portland is the eighteenth season of the American reality television series Top Chef. It was first announced by Bravo on September 28, 2020.[1] The season was filmed in Portland, Oregon, and surrounding areas, including the Hood River Fruit Loop, Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood, Tillamook Bay, Tualatin Valley, and Willamette Valley wine country.[1] The winner received US$250,000.[2]
Numerous production changes were made in response to COVID-19, and the pandemic's impact on the food industry became a recurring theme for challenges and discussions throughout the season. Due to the difficulty of bringing in guest judges and diners for individual episodes while observing pandemic safety protocols, in addition to series mainstays Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, and Padma Lakshmi, the season features a rotating judging and dining panel consisting of various Top Chef alumni.[3][4]
Top Chef: Portland premiered on April 1, 2021, and concluded on July 1, 2021.[2] In the season finale, Gabe Erales was declared the winner over runners-up Shota Nakajima and Dawn Burrell.[5] Nakajima was voted Fan Favorite.[6]
- ^ a b Rosenfeld, Laura (September 28, 2020). "Bravo's Top Chef Season 18 Location Revealed". Bravo. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ a b Honkus, Mary (February 8, 2021). "Bravo's Top Chef Returns for Season 18 in Portland, Oregon — Watch the Trailer". People. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ Turnquist, Kristi (September 28, 2020). "'Top Chef' is back, and the new season is based in Portland". The Oregonian. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ Rosenfeld, Laura (September 28, 2020). "Bravo's Top Chef Will Feature a Major Twist When It Returns for Season 18". Bravo. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ Maas, Jennifer (July 1, 2021). "'Top Chef' Season 18 Finale: And the Winner Is..." TheWrap. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ Carlin, Shannon (July 9, 2021). "Top Chef Favorite Shota Nakajima Is Ready to Compete Again". Vulture. Retrieved July 9, 2021.