Tom Colicchio has been one of the defining faces of “Top Chef” for all 23 seasons, but his long run on the Bravo cooking competition almost never happened.
The chef and restaurateur recently revealed that he initially had no interest in joining the series. Gail Simmons also admitted that she had doubts before stepping in front of the cameras.
Their early hesitation offers a closer look at how the show grew from a new television experiment into a long-running culinary competition.
Colicchio Initially Said No
Colicchio told PEOPLE that a showrunner first approached him about “Top Chef” and suggested that he would be a good fit. His immediate response was simple: “No.”
“I was like, ‘I am not interested in doing this at all,’” Colicchio recalled.
The production team did not give up. They asked whether someone could film him at his restaurant, and he agreed to the on-camera meeting. Two days later, producers asked him to travel to Los Angeles for a screen test.
Colicchio still was not convinced.
“I really don’t wanna do this show,” he said.
Instead of rushing into the opportunity, he sent the producers a documentary about his restaurants. The team eventually called back with an offer. That changed his position.
“They called back and said they wanna make an offer, and so I was like, ‘All right, fine,’” Colicchio said.
His decision also had a practical side. At food festivals, he often found himself signing books next to Bobby Flay, another chef who had already built a strong television presence.
“I’d go to these food festivals, and it was book signing time, and I’d sit next to Bobby Flay. He would sign 200 copies of his book and I would sign 20 of mine,” Colicchio explained. “He was on TV. So I was like, ‘You know what? Let’s do this.’”
That calculation helped lead him to a role that would become a defining part of his career.
23 Seasons Later
Colicchio is now the only person who has appeared in every episode of “Top Chef.” During that time, he has watched the series change in both its production and its approach to competition.
He said the show has become more thoughtful about casting and has developed challenges that are “more serious.” The production itself has also expanded dramatically. What began with a crew of about 40 people has grown to roughly 150.
Despite those changes, Colicchio said one principle has remained steady for the judges: “it’s always been about the food.”
His responsibility, he explained, has been to help viewers understand what the chefs are attempting to accomplish. The judges’ discussions provide context for the decisions made during each challenge.
“It’s only through our conversation they can understand what the chefs are doing,” Colicchio said.
That focus has helped keep the competition centered on cooking rather than personality alone.
Gail Simmons Had Her Own Doubts
Gail Simmons also entered “Top Chef” with reservations. Her connection to the program came through Food & Wine magazine, which partnered with Bravo when the show was being developed.
“They said, ‘If we like one of your editors, we’ll put them on the judges panel,’” Simmons recalled.
She was not immediately excited about the opportunity. “I was not enthusiastic about doing this. I had no idea what I was in for,” she said.
Simmons already had media training and extensive food knowledge, but television presented a different challenge. She worried about how she would appear on screen and whether the role would affect her standing in the food industry.
“I had no idea how it would come across,” she said.
She and Colicchio have often discussed the nerves they felt while filming the first episode. Their concern was not simply whether viewers would like the show. They worried that their performance could hurt their professional reputations.
“Our fear wasn’t that we would be a failure to the world. Our fear was that we’d be a failure to our industry,” Simmons said. She added that they feared being “considered a joke.”
Simmons also noted that Colicchio carried additional pressure because he already had a successful business and a recognizable name in the food world.
Simmons Looks Toward Season 25
After 23 seasons, Simmons sees the show’s longevity as something worth appreciating. She credited the original production team with building a format that could connect television audiences with the culinary profession.
“I wanna say we were lucky, but it was more than luck. ‘Top Chef’ was founded and started by an incredible group of producers,” Simmons said.
She added that the current team continues to present the culinary world in an engaging way. Each season now feels like an opportunity rather than an expectation.
“Every season at this point is like a bonus. I don’t take it for granted,” Simmons said.
She also hopes the series reaches a quarter-century milestone with a possible season 25. According to Simmons, there are still many chefs and stories that deserve a national audience.
“I think we have so many more stories to tell,” she said. “We have so many more young, capable, amazing young chefs that we wanna introduce to the world.”
Kristen Kish Finds Her Place
Kristen Kish, who joined the show as a judge and host three seasons ago, also experienced nerves when she first took on the role. Colicchio recalled that Kish was “nervous as hell” during her first episode, but he believes she has done a “great” job.
Kish has also described the television side of her career as unexpected. Appearing at the Emmys and other Hollywood events can still feel strange to her because television was never part of her original plan.
“TV was never part of my plan,” Kish told PEOPLE. “It just happened.”
She said those moments can still catch her off guard, recalling that she once imagined herself cooking for people attending such events rather than being part of the television world herself.
“Top Chef” Earns 2026 Emmy Recognition
The show’s long run has also brought fresh recognition. “Top Chef” is nominated for Outstanding Reality Competition Program at the 2026 Emmys, with additional nominations for directing, hosting and casting.
For Colicchio, those nominations reflect the amount of work involved in producing each season. Preparation begins well before filming starts, and the production team puts significant effort into maintaining the show’s quality.
He said the recognition shows that the program is doing something “worthwhile” and giving viewers something they can “relate to” and “care about.”
Both Colicchio and Simmons had reservations about joining “Top Chef,” but their roles eventually became a major part of the show’s history. Colicchio has appeared in every episode, while Simmons has remained a familiar face on the judging panel.
After 23 seasons, the series continues to introduce new chefs and challenge them through competitive cooking. Its 2026 Emmy nominations for Outstanding Reality Competition Program, directing, hosting, and casting also highlight its continued presence on television.