‘Top Chef Carolinas’ kicks off with high speed at iconic Charlotte Motor Speedway
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‘Top Chef Carolinas’ was filmed in Charlotte
Bravo’s hit reality TV show “Top Chef” filmed most of Season 23 in Charlotte and a few episodes in Greenville, SC, to create “Top Chef Carolinas.” The show’s announcement said: “This season will showcase the finest in southern hospitality, embracing the rich history, agriculture, and outdoors, as a new batch of accomplished and renowned chefs vie for the ultimate Top Chef title.”
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The Charlotte-filmed season of Bravo’s “Top Chef” is now racing onto screens, starting off a journey in the Carolinas with a steamy competition set at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Fans of the popular culinary competition got an early look on Instagram ahead of a private preview hosted by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. The Monday night event featured “Top Chef” host Kristen Kish and judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons, along with the cheftestants and a host of local chefs, public officials and prominent Charlotteans.
In Season 23, viewers will see that the “Top Chef” team really “took advantage of the majesty of the Queen City,” Simmons told the crowd gathered at Carolina Theatre to watch the first episode, which was filled with sunburns, sweat and sweet potatoes.
All eyes in Charlotte are now on our local contestant, chef Brittany Cochran of Stagioni, and the other North Carolina chef representing Durham, Oscar Diaz of Little Bull and Aaktun. You’ll also want to be on the lookout for familiar faces and places, including local alum, chef/partner Jamie Lynch of Church and Union and La Belle Helene, who appears as a judge in the first episode.
At the Charlotte premiere, Cochran told CharlotteFive how exciting it was “to see all of Charlotte come together to celebrate ... and for me to be the one representing Charlotte.”
“Little bit of pressure. But very proud — very excited,” she added.
Early access to the new season begins today on Peacock, Bravo’s YouTube channel and video on demand. It premieres Monday, March 9 on Bravo at 9 p.m., and on Monday, March 16, the series will move to its regular timeslot at 9:30 p.m., with episodes available the next day on Peacock.
‘Top Chef’ judges return to Charlotte
Before the Charlotte screening, select media were granted a few minutes with the judges, walking a fine line between promoting the season and not giving away too many details.
“You know, we open at NASCAR,” Kish told CharlotteFive.
“It’s big, there’s cars, there’s revving engines, there’s 15 brand new chefs like eager to take the title. We opened pretty big, and I thought it was an incredible way to start the show,” Kish said about filming at Charlotte Motor Speedway on a hot summer day.
The blistering heat of the iconic racetrack not only left many of the cheftestants sunburned, but it also inspired Kish’s latest tattoo — a line tracing the damage — she told the crowd later inside Carolina Theatre.
There was also plenty of talk about food throughout the evening — especially Carolina barbecue.
“When we say barbecue, we do it right,” said Colicchio, a Tar Heels fan who has spent quite a bit of time in the Carolinas.
While Colicchio doesn’t have a strong barbecue style preference, both Simmons and Kish lean toward Eastern North Carolina style barbecue. But they’re not turning away from the traditions of Western North Carolina or South Carolina, either.
“I’ll take it all. I mean, it’s all delicious,” Simmons said.
Throughout the night, Kish made several references to her affinity for Charlotte-based Bojangles — the first place she ate after landing in Charlotte. Her order? Chicken supremes, extra seasoned fries and a biscuit, with Buffalo, ranch and barbecue sauce.
“I came in curious, ready to eat and take in all the recommendations offered to me,” Kish said.
Filming at La Belle Helene
We won’t give away any big spoilers — because where’s the fun in that? But we will share that the uptown location of Whole Foods makes a cameo appearance for a quick shop.
The next day, the chefs headed out for an elimination challenge at La Belle Helene, where several watchful Charlotteans had spotted film crews last fall.
Along with guest judges Lynch and James Beard Award-winning chef Sean Brock of Nashville, James Beard Award finalist Cheetie Kumar of Ajja Eats in Raleigh and James Beard semifinalist Chayil Johnson of Community Matters Cafe in Charlotte joined the table to offer opinions.
But, again, you’ll want to watch for yourself to find out what happens.
“You know, this season was packed not just with food and cooking, but with drama,” Simmons said.
“It felt, in a way, like a bit of a throwback to earlier seasons, many years ago, when there used to be a lot more drama. And the drama is still in the kitchen, but I just think this group of chefs are so interesting, and there’s a lot of wild dynamics between them that I think are worth watching.
“And it all leads to a very exciting, thrilling and unsuspecting finale,” she said.
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This story was originally published March 3, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
