Kristen Kish facts for kids

Kristen Kish, born on December 1, 1983, is a famous American chef. She is well-known for winning the tenth season of the TV show Top Chef. Kristen used to be the head chef at Menton restaurant in Boston. She became the main host of Top Chef starting with its 21st season. You might also know her from other TV shows. She hosts 36 Hours on Travel Channel and Restaurants at the End of the World on National Geographic. She also co-hosts Fast Foodies on TruTV and Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend.

Early Life and Education

Kristen Kish was born in Seoul, South Korea. When she was four months old, a family in Kentwood, Michigan, adopted her. As a teenager, she worked as a model during high school. After high school, Kristen went to a special cooking school. She studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago. In 2005, she earned a degree in culinary arts. This means she learned how to cook professionally.

Chef Kristen Kish's Career Journey

After finishing culinary school, Kristen Kish started teaching. She became an instructor at Stir. This was a cooking demonstration kitchen in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2012, she got a promotion at Stir. The owner, Barbara Lynch, made her the head chef, also known as chef de cuisine.

Kristen then became the head chef at Barbara Lynch's restaurant, Menton, in Boston. She worked there until March 2014. In 2017, Kristen wrote a cookbook. It was called Kristen Kish Cooking: Recipes and Techniques. She wrote it with Meredith Erickson. In May 2018, Kristen opened her own restaurant. It is called Arlo Grey and is located in Austin, Texas.

Kristen Kish on Top Chef

In 2012, Kristen Kish joined the cooking competition show Top Chef on Bravo. She had to pass a challenge first. She made a special soup for the judges. Kristen passed and joined the main competition.

During the show, Kristen won four main challenges. She was eliminated in a challenge called "Restaurant Wars." But she didn't give up! She competed in "Last Chance Kitchen." This is where chefs who were eliminated can win their way back. Kristen won five challenges in a row. This allowed her to return to the main competition. She made it to the finale with another chef, Brooke Williamson. Kristen Kish won the final challenge. She became the second woman to win the Top Chef title.

On July 11, 2023, Kristen Kish was announced as the new host of Top Chef. She took over after Padma Lakshmi decided to leave the show.

Kristen Kish Hosting 36 Hours

In 2015, Kristen Kish started co-hosting a show called 36 Hours. It was on the Travel Channel. Her co-host was Kyle Martino, a former soccer player. The show was based on a travel column from the New York Times. Kristen and Kyle would spend 36 hours in a city. They would explore the city, try local foods, and experience new things.

Kristen Kish on Fast Foodies

Since 2021, Kristen Kish has been one of three chefs on Fast Foodies. This is a cooking competition show on TruTV. The other chefs are Jeremy Ford and Justin Sutherland. In each episode, a famous person brings their favorite fast-food item. The chefs then compete in two rounds. First, they try to make an exact copy of the fast-food dish. Second, they have to create a fancy, gourmet version of the same item.

Kristen Kish on Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend

Kristen Kish is also a co-presenter on Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. This show is a new version of the classic Iron Chef series. It started on Netflix in 2022. Kristen works alongside Alton Brown and Chairman Mark Dacascos. She provides comments on the cooking battles. She also goes down to the kitchen floor to talk to the chefs. She asks them about their cooking plans and progress.

Kristen Kish's Restaurants at the End of the World

In 2023, Kristen Kish started hosting a new series. It's called Restaurants at the End of the World and is on National Geographic. In this show, Kristen travels to restaurants in very distant places. These restaurants focus on using local ingredients. They also often have challenging ways of preparing food. The show highlights the amazing skills of chefs from all over the world.

Kristen Kish's Personal Life

Kristen Kish is married to Bianca Dusic. They got married on April 18, 2021.