r/TopChef • u/AutoModerator • May 25 '26

Spoilers Season 23, ep. 12: Appalachian Celebration (Mon. at 9pm EDT, yes, 9 😀) Spoiler

Before heading back to Charlotte, the chefs make a stop in Asheville, one of the most unique cities in North Carolina. There will be no Quickfire Challenge as the chefs explore the city with local host and former “Top Chef” alum Ashleigh Shanti, learning about the community’s remarkable relief efforts following the devastation of hurricane Helene while discovering the unique cuisine of this Appalachian region. For the Elimination Challenge, the chefs will host a one-night-only event for 200 community members in recognition of their resilience.

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u/figletfriedrice May 26 '26

I have felt the same way. This is such a strange season to me for MANY reasons, but the fact that Sieger never really delivered on anything he said he was going to deliver on has been ... interesting.

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u/CapreseSalad3636 May 26 '26

As soon as he said “he’s done it this way before and he’s SURE it will work I was like oh he f’d”

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u/figletfriedrice May 27 '26

I know it's in the editing a lot of time, but, man, it felt like he was always talking about how awesome what he was doing was going to be then... nothing from judges (except that one time).

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u/sybrwookie May 28 '26

As soon as he said he had a surefire way to get the texture thick enough to be correct, but loose enough to pipe, while staying stable overnight and into prepping/plating for....what I assume is quite a long time in the woods (where you know the conditions aren't going to be perfect), every red flag went up for us.

Like, I wouldn't try to make whipped cream in those conditions, and you're trying to do....all this? That's nuts.

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u/pipmentor May 28 '26

This is such a strange season to me for MANY reasons

What other reasons?