Spotlight: Kristen Kish – Top Chef Winner, Restaurateur, and Community Champion
For the past decade, Chef Kristen Kish has enjoyed an remarkable run of successes. Here's a snapshot: winning Top Chef Season 10 as the first woman of color to claim the title; starring in two TV series where she consistently outperformed her co-stars, even on non-competitive shows; securing a book deal; opening her signature restaurant; landing commercial sponsorships; and, just seven weeks ago, getting engaged to her partner.
Yet beneath her competitive drive lies a profound commitment to uplifting others. From her platform, Kish advocates for LGBTQIA+ youth, the Asian-American and adoptee communities—groups she identifies with—as well as Black trans youth, underprivileged children, and elderly individuals needing meal delivery services.
This blend of personal ambition and communal support defines Kish. As she shared in a recent interview, her competitiveness is self-directed: “It’s about challenging myself: ‘Kristen, what are you capable of, and how can you achieve it?’” It’s also fueled by a desire not to let down her supporters—a motivation that ensures her ongoing excellence.
Her fans needn’t worry.
Consider 36 Hours, the New York Times column adapted into a 2015 Travel Channel series co-hosted by Kish and soccer star Kyle Martino. Amid adventures like beekeeping in Berlin and lobstering in Boston, they tried trap shooting near Nashville with country singer Kix Brooks. Martino quipped, “I can’t let Kristen show me up,” but she nailed her first shot, her tattooed arm flexing and smile beaming. Martino needed five tries. Notably, this wasn’t a competition.
More recently, Kish dominated as the top performer in the first season of TruTV’s Fast Foodies, alongside chefs Justin Sutherland and Jeremy Ford. They recreated and reimagined celebrities’ fast-food favorites—from Sausage McMuffins to In-N-Out burgers—with Kish’s versions standing out.
“The guys dubbed me the copycat queen,” she laughed, admitting they tallied wins informally. Her prize? A scooter won from Fortune Feimster after perfecting Panda Express Orange Chicken. She customized it with an “In Diversity We Trust” cap and a nod to Hybrid Nation.
From Bravo to Brooklyn to the Bat Bridge
With Fast Foodies Season 2 “coming soon,” June offers prime Kish sightings. She returned to Bravo’s Top Chef as an all-star judge for Restaurant Wars and stayed for more episodes, including recipe-testing for contestants crafting cookbook-style directions—a notoriously tricky task.
In one standout moment, amid guests like Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein from Portlandia, Kish stole the show. Testing a contestant’s oversized gallina pinta recipe, she quipped, “Girl, what the hell was that?!” as she served vat-sized portions, cracking up the judges.
New Yorkers: Catch her at Malai Ice Cream’s Guest Chef Series on June 17-18 (6-9 p.m.), creating a lemon-cardamom ginger beer soda float with whipped cream, candied fennel, and almond cookies to support Heart of Dinner and elderly Asian-Americans. Can’t attend? Watch via IG Live and try their Special Edition Madame Vice President flavor that hooked her.
On June 26, join Kish and Joel McHale for a virtual cook-along in Red’s All-Star Kitchen finale, benefiting the Global Fund’s COVID Response.
For Pride Month, visit her Austin restaurant Arlo Grey (aka Arlo Gay), her home base alongside her New York apartment shared with her wife. From June 4—its third anniversary—Fridays through Sundays feature a rainbow cake supporting Out Youth.
Arlo Grey gives back year-round. “It’s our team’s ethos,” Kish says. They’ve donated during Restaurant Week, pandemic reopening (partnering with Matthew McConaughey’s bourbon brand for an Old Fashioned variant), and more.
Urban Roots benefited from the 10-day Arlo Grey Helping Hands event, aiding young Austin farmers.
Foodies flock for the cuisine and Lady Bird Lake bat bridge views at sunset. Trained at Le Cordon Bleu Chicago and elite spots (Michelin, James Beard, Relais & Châteaux), Kish elevates dishes with haute finesse.
Her Midwestern roots shine too. Born near Seoul and adopted by a white Michigan family, she cherishes her mom’s canned green bean and barbecue sauce meals—echoed in her book. A Great Chefs of the World fan from age five, she transforms nostalgia into elegance, like mafaldine with champignon sauce, inspired by Hamburger Helper.
Tastemaker Travels
Texas Hill Country informs her menu, as do global trips.
“36 Hours yielded inspiring meals,” she recalls. In Berlin, a simple steamed whitefish with palm puree and vinegar-seasoned spinach taught her to simplify: “I was doing it all wrong.”
A visit to Salgot Organic Farm near Barcelona reinforced ethical sourcing. “It’s a beautiful circle of life,” she says of owner Dolors’ passion.
Her favorite tattoo—from Bicem Sinik in Istanbul during 36 Hours—depicts kitchen tools inked amid the call to prayer: “A profound moment.”
Perfect Pairings
Kish collaborates with standout women, from her mentor who encouraged her Top Chef run to Noona’s ice cream for a Passionfruit Pavlova in their Shine a Light collection.
Upcoming: Classic cocktails with Yobo Soju, crafted with founder Carolyn Kim. Kish loves amplifying underrepresented voices: “Top Chef opened my eyes to representation’s impact—from women, LGBTQIA+, adoptees, Asian-Americans.”
“I owe my success to mentors, team, friends, and family,” she reflects, “driving me to give back.” The world reciprocates.
