‘Top Chef: Wisconsin’ Puts Milwaukee and the Midwest on the National Stage

It's always fun to see some Midwestern representation on national TV shows. Just last year, an Iowan competed on Gordon Ramsay's MasterChef and actually won the top prize! However, something even bigger has come to the Midwest. For the first time in its nearly 20 year history, the new season of a mainstay show on the Bravo Network will be coming to the Midwest!

The 21st season of Top Chef will be set entirely in Wisconsin. Top Chef: Wisconsin not only introduces new rules and wrinkles into the format of the show, but this season was shot in Milwaukee and Door County, WI, making it very close to home!

Set to premiere on Bravo on Wednesday, March 20th, Top Chef: Wisconsin doesn't make it a secret that this season will feature a bevy of dairy dishes and dairy-related competitions. In the trailer alone, contestant-turned-host Kristen Kish remarks that there's "too much cheese" in one recipe, to which judge Tom Colicchio jokes "Get out of Wisconsin!"

Cheese, milk, bratwurst, and more look to be a part of a brand new season of Top Chef, which is going right in the heart of the US after season stints in San Francisco, Las Vegas, and other metropolitans.

Even some contestants on the show are Midwestern locals!

• Kaleena Bliss, an executive chef from Chicago
• Kevin D’Andrea, a chef and bakery owner from Austin, Texas
• Alisha Elenz, a private chef from Chicago
• Danny Garcia, an executive chef from Brooklyn, New York
• Valentine Howell Jr., an executive chef from Dorchester, Massachusetts
• Manny Barella Lopez, a culinary director from Denver
• Savannah Miller, a chef de cuisine from Durham, North Carolina
• David Murphy, a chef and restaurant co-owner from San Francisco
• Kenny Nguyen, a chef and restaurant owner from Athens, Georgia
• Laura Ozyilmaz, a chef and restaurant owner from San Francisco
• Charly Pierre, a chef and restaurant owner from New Orleans
• Amanda Turner, a chef de cuisine from Austin, Texas
• Rasika Venkatesa, a chef de cuisine from New York City
• Michelle Wallace, a chef, restaurant owner and pitmaster from Houston
• Contestants per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's website

Of the 15 chefs that will compete in Wisconsin, two are from Illinois. Private chef Alisha Elenz hails from Palatine, IL and Dan Jacobs is from Chicago (but presently lives in Milwaukee).

Others come from Colorado, Mexico, and even India. Jacobs in particular is a James Beard-nominee and chef/co-owner of EsterEv and DanDan on Erie Street in Milwaukee. Moreover, Danny Garcia is a Brooklyn-based executive chef, who will be competing on the show as well.

Besides the setting, also new to this season is a digital after-show called The Dish with Kish, hosted by the aforementioned Kristen Kish.

Like Top Chef: Wisconsin, that show will be streaming on That show will be streaming weekly on Peacock, BravoTV.com, or the Bravo App. Of course, you can catch Top Chef: Wisconsin on Bravo if you have cable or a streaming equivalent as well.

Top Chef: Wisconsin premieres on Bravo on Wednesday, March 20th, 2024. For more information, visit Top Chef's official website.