Head judge Tom Colicchio teases the World All-Stars season.
“I haven’t had any contractions yet!”
Such enthusiasm explains why thePadma Lakshmi-hosted show has lasted so long and spawned an array of international versions.
Judges Tom Colicchio, Padma Lakshmi, and Gail Simmons on season 20 of ‘Top Chef’.David Moir/Bravo
“For the 20th season, we wanted to do something really big.
We thought it would be good to take it on the road.”
There’s a little time before the judges have to go in front of the cameras.
‘Top Chef’ season 20.David Moir/Bravo
Colicchio admits that there are tougher jobs in the world than hisTop Chefgig.
“I always say, this is like going to summer camp for me,” he says.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Obviously it’s early, but how is this season shaping up?
‘Top Chef’ season 20.David Moir/Bravo
Right now, with this competition, it’s hard to figure that out.
It’s really really solid contestants across the board.
But it’s early, so we’ll see.
I think with the level of competition, this is going to be a tough season to judge.
Usually, they’re pretty far apart, and then they start coming together.
Everybody’s starting pretty close together.
What’s interesting is, some of the early seasons, it was much more cutthroat.
And what does “British” even mean in that context?
Oh, part of it will be.
I think there’ll be some challenges that have to do with maybe pub food or things like that.
But we always do that.
London’s restaurant has undergone a radical transformation over the last couple of decades in terms of quality.
There’s good food everywhere.
I think that has more to do with the internet.
You see trends happen very very quickly.
When I watch the show I inevitably think, how would I do?
And I’ve got a theory that I might be able to last one round by cooking risotto.
But risotto is one of those things where, the timing is so tough.
Chefs starting way too soon in most cases.
Risotto plated too soon?
[Pulls face].
Usually the question is, how wouldIdo [on the show].
I say, my 26-year-old year old [self] would have done really well.
My 60-year year old self?
But you’re touching on something here that’s interesting.
Is that the strategy?
Is the strategy to win or not to lose?
I think in some of the early rounds it’s just, don’t screw up big time.
You don’t have to beat everyone, you just have to beat one person, right?
That’s all you have to do.
That’s exactly right!
Unless that lion’s very hungry and decides to kill and then store the food.
But, no, that’s really it, you have to be better than one person.
There’s a lot of strategies.
But my feeling is, if you’re always playing towin, you’re probably better off.
This is season 20.
Do you see the show, and you with it, going on and on?
We all kind of looked at each other.
So that’s the answer we have so far.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
Top Chefpremieres on Bravo March 9.
