Kevin Gillespie (chef) facts for kids

Kevin Gillespie (born September 30, 1982) is a famous American chef and author. He is well-known for his amazing cooking skills and for appearing on the TV show Top Chef. Kevin has opened several popular restaurants in Georgia. These include Gunshow, which he opened in Atlanta in 2013, and Revival in Decatur, Georgia, which opened in 2015. He also has a restaurant called Kevin Gillespie's Gamechanger at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. In 2024, he opened Nadair in Atlanta, a restaurant that celebrates his Scottish background.

Kevin's Journey on Top Chef

Kevin Gillespie became very famous after competing on Top Chef, a cooking competition show on the Bravo TV network.

Season 6: A Fan Favorite

Kevin was a finalist in the sixth season of Top Chef. He was very popular with viewers and was even voted the "Fan Favorite" contestant for that season! As a prize for winning one of the episodes, Kevin was invited to compete in the Bocuse d'Or USA cooking competition. This competition could have led him to represent the U.S. in a big international cooking contest. However, he decided not to compete because he didn't have enough time to get ready.

Returning for Top Chef Duels

Kevin later returned to TV to compete on another Bravo show called Top Chef Duels. He did very well and made it to the final round of this exciting competition.

All-Stars Season and Comeback

In 2020, Kevin competed again on Top Chef in the All-Stars L.A. season. He was the team captain during the "Restaurant Wars" episode, which is a very tough challenge. When his team lost, Kevin took responsibility and was eliminated from the main competition.

But Kevin didn't give up! He fought hard to get back into the show through "Last Chance Kitchen." This is a special mini-competition where eliminated chefs can win their way back. Kevin won "Last Chance Kitchen" and returned to the Top Chef All Stars L.A. competition in episode 11.

Praise from a Master Chef

Even famous chef Wolfgang Puck has praised Kevin Gillespie. In a 2012 interview, Wolfgang Puck said that Kevin Gillespie was his favorite chef who had come from Top Chef.

Awards and Recognition

Kevin Gillespie has received many awards and honors for his cooking and restaurants.

Restaurant Awards

In 2014, his restaurant Gunshow was named one of the "12 Most Outstanding Restaurants" by GQ magazine. It also made Esquire magazine's list of "Best New Restaurants of 2014." Eater, a popular food website, included Gunshow in its "The National 38" list of top places to eat in America in both 2015 and 2016.

James Beard Awards

The James Beard Awards are like the "Oscars" for chefs in America. Kevin was a semi-finalist for the James Beard "Rising Star Chef of the Year" award for four years in a row. In 2013, he was a finalist for a James Beard Award in the "Cookbook: American Cooking" category for his first cookbook, Fire in my Belly.

His second cookbook, "Pure Pork Awesomeness," came out in 2015 and focused on his favorite food: pork! Kevin was also a semi-finalist for the James Beard Award for "Best Chef: Southeast" in 2015 and 2017, and a finalist in 2016. In 2022, he was a finalist for the "Outstanding Restaurateur" award.

About Kevin's Life

Kevin Gillespie grew up in Georgia. When he was younger, he was interested in becoming a nuclear engineer. He even got accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a full scholarship in 1997–1998! However, after high school, he decided to follow his passion for cooking instead. He chose to attend the Art Institute of Atlanta to study culinary arts.

Kevin married Valerie Combs on September 4, 2011.

In May 2018, Kevin faced a health challenge. Doctors found an issue with one of his kidneys during a check-up. On May 24, 2018, he had surgery to address this health concern.

Kevin in Other Media

Kevin Gillespie has also lent his voice to animated TV shows!

• He voiced himself in an episode of the animated series Squidbillies called "Asbestos I Can."
• He also voiced a truck driver character in the animated series Archer.
• In 2012, Kevin voiced a character named Crimson Tightwad in the Cartoon Network and Adult Swim series Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
• In June 2021, Kevin joined the MeatEater hunting podcast and media group as a Culinary Contributor, sharing his cooking knowledge.