Kristen Kish, the New Face of Top Chef, on Graza, Gay Bars, and Getting Married

Kristen Kish wears Vest Tod’s.

In 10 short years, Kristen Kish went from Top Chef champ to Top Chef host, after being tapped to replace Padma Lakshmi as the one charged with telling crestfallen cooks to pack their knives and go. But before the 40-year-old Midwesterner enters the pressure-cooker environment of the legendary show’s 21st season, she sounds off on Instacart, IV drips, and getting married.

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CHILI CRISP

“God, every chef has one. There are some really good ones. There’s only been one that I’ve had to throw away because I didn’t enjoy it, and no, I’m not going to tell you whose that is.”

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INSTACART 

“Saved me during the pandemic. Having your groceries delivered? Who knew what a luxury that would be, not having to haul bags over your shoulders once a month to avoid the things that were happening in 2020.”

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POP-TARTS

“Toaster Strudels are far superior.”

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ANXIETY 

“Got it. So does everyone else.”

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CAESAR SALAD

“The real Caesar salad, I’m all for. The dressings that are made with globs of mayonnaise, that’s not a Caesar salad.”

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PACKING

“I have the best wife. She efficiently packs for me most trips. I pull everything out of the closet, and she somehow fits it into the smallest carry-on that we have. I love her for that.”

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Tank Top, Belt, Pants and Shoes Celine by Hedi Slimane. Bra and Ring Kristen’s own. Watch by Omega.

KNIVES

“I have far too many, but a lot of home cooks don’t have enough. Somewhere in the middle is where you should be. Maybe I should start selling mine on eBay or something.”

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SNACKS

“Crispy, crunchy, salty—anything salt and vinegar.”

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SNACKING

“I’m a volume eater, and I want to eat a meal. When I have to eat a snack, I feel like I’m that person that says, ‘I just need to eat to live.’ So if I’m feeling low-energy and I need something in order to keep going, I’ll have a snack. But my preferred way of eating is a meal.”

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IV DRIPS

“I had one once when I was in the hospital, because I had the flu. I got so ill that I could not keep liquids down, and I felt like shit. I know that there’s clinics around where you go if you’re hungover, but IV drips for me remain in hospitals.”

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EXECUTIVES

“Many are my bosses. I am also one because I am an executive chef.”

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GRAZA OLIVE OIL

“Right, okay. It’s very affordable and they really, really crushed it with the squeeze bottle, but there are tastier olive oils out there, in my opinion.”

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FAST CASUAL

“Big fan. I love anything fast casual. I am not a three-hour, go-to-dinner, sit-there-all-night kind of person anymore, unless it’s something really special.”

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OVERSHARING

“It depends on what you’re sharing and who you’re sharing it with. A lot of times we are guilty of undersharing, and everything remains surface-level. Oversharing in some contexts is an opportunity to be vulnerable, to connect with people. It’s an opportunity for someone to not feel alone, by hearing how someone else feels. If that’s oversharing, I’m a fan.”

Sweater, Shirt, Pants, and Shoes Bottega Veneta.

TOPS

“I love a cotton t-shirt or a hoodie.”

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CHEFS

“Oh, I see what you did there.”

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FAST FOOD

“Love-hate relationship. I hate it for all the reasons that it’s not good for you, but there are moments in everyone’s lives where we need fast, easy, cheap, and convenient. It is what it is.”

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BURNS

“I cover mine up with tattoos, but if you’re a cook who has burns and scars all the way up your arms, you’re doing something wrong. It’s time to rethink and reconfigure the way you’re cooking.”

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GAY BARS

“I came out when I was 28. My big bar times were 21 to 26. By the time I hit 28, I was phasing my way outside of bars in general. But I’m all for a place where people can gather and feel safe amongst like-minded people who make you feel not alone.”

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AUSTIN

“Arlo Grey is one of the best restaurants in Austin, Texas. I’m not saying that because it’s mine. I’m saying it because I have a great group of people running it day-to-day, so I can be here with you doing things like this.”

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MARRIAGE

“I used to never want to get married, because less than 10 years ago, I wasn’t allowed to by way of the Supreme Court. But I’m now happily married to the greatest human to walk this earth.”

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Hair: Yu Nakata using Living Proof at 87 Artists.

Makeup: Ayaka Nihei using Dior Rouge.

Nails: Nori using Chanel at See Management.

Retouching: Sacnetinc.

Photography Assistant: Madeleine Dalla.

Fashion Assistant: Nicholson Baird.

Location: Chalet Studios.