"Top Chef" is going international again, this time heading further north than they have before, to the land of poutine, a bevy of maple syrup, the foods of the First Nations and indigenous Canadians — and "Degrassi," of course.
On both Twitter/X and Instagram, "Top Chef" shared a fun (albeit a bit corny!) clip of host Kristen Kish and judges and producers Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons "chatting on a FaceTime call" (complete with a requisite Tom hat joke) in which Canadian-born Simmons shows off where she is and Kish quips, "Are you there for a family visit?" Simmons corrects them both, saying that Canada would actually be the setting for the 22nd season of "Top Chef."
"I'm so excited to show you guys around," she said. "Oh, and by the way, my parents are literally prepping their guest rooms as we speak, so be forewarned."
In a statement, Ryan Flynn, the Senior Vice President of Current Production at NBCUniversal Entertainment, said: "When the opportunity to feature Canada for 'Top Chef' Season 22 arose, it was clear that exploring our northern neighbor was a natural choice. Canada's diverse array of culinary traditions, multicultural influences, and distinctive regional specialties will serve as a perfect backdrop for our next batch of chefs competing for the coveted title."
Gloria Loree, the Chief Marketing Officer at Destination Canada, said the show has a legacy of shining the brightest spotlights on unexpected culinary destinations, which is why the country is eager to welcome the production.
"Canada's culinary identity is rooted in our vast geography, the rhythm of our seasons, and the culture and traditions of our communities; yes that includes maple syrup and so much more," Loree said. "We're excited to see it unfold through the judges, cheftestants' challenges and experiences, and surprise viewers along the way."
While we don't know yet if Season 22 will feature a brand new crop of cheftestants, some returnees or perhaps an entire cast of all-stars, stay tuned to find out.
