

The dinosaurs at the Houston Museum of Natural Science rival any similar exhibits across the country. Let's not forget: Houston is a training ground for truly life-changing scientific discoveries, and visitors can learn more about it at the NASA Johnson Space Center. In episode 10, when the chefs are tasked with creating a space-worthy dish, we get a glimpse of some of the challenges astronauts face when they're 250 miles away from the earth. Astronauts live hereĪlthough the oft-used phrase "Houston, we have a problem" serves as an occasional reminder that we do, in fact, live in Space City, it's worth repeating that there's an entire community of people who work, eat and play here when they aren't conducting experiments via zero-gravity. Toward the end of the season, the cheftestants head to Galveston and set out to catch their own fish for the Elimination challenge, highlighting how Houston's close proximity to a seafood bounty makes for an incredible food scene-and beloved seafood towers-with Gulf Coast oysters, plump Gulf shrimp, Texas redfish and catfish galore. Houstonians love their seafood, and are lucky to live so close to the Gulf Coast, which provides an abundance of fresh options to choose from. Fresh Gulf Coast seafood is a way of life "Top Chef" also highlighted Galveston, on which Houston's incredible seafood scene is built.

Many of the city's traditions, Black-owned businesses and culinary influences stem from the storied neighborhood. We all had chills walking down the street," said Arquines.įollowing June 19, 1865, freed Black families left Galveston and traveled to Houston, where they created Freedmen's Town, a vibrant African-American community.

"The Houston tourism board introduced us to Zion, and she gave us the same tour as the chefs got. Led on a tour by Freedmen's Town Conservancy executive director Zion Escobar, the cheftestants (and "Top Chef" viewers) learned about the role Galveston and Houston played in Black American history. Houston doesn't always adequately celebrate its national historical significance, so it was nice to see Freedmen's Town as a focal point in episode 9. Our neighborhoods have historical significance The chefs drove to various parts of the city to shop at Asian markets like Viet Hoa International Foods, Hong Kong Market and 99 Ranch Market, in addition to Seiwa Market for Japanese ingredients and Subhlaxmi Grocers for Indian.Īrquines said the location scouting team also visited West African groceries that didn't make it onto the screen, but the Nigerian ingredients used during a Quickfire challenge in episode 7 can be found at stores like Wazobia African Market.įreedmen's Town Conservancy executive director Zion Escobar takes "Top Chef" contestants on a tour of the historic Houston neighborhood. Houston's diversity is one of its greatest strengths, and that becomes clear when "Top Chef" cheftestants are sent to shop at the many grocery stores specializing in regional cuisines. Our specialty grocery store selection is impressive The first episode of "Top Chef" featured Houston chefs like Dawn Burrell, Trong Nguyen and Monica Pope. Other noteworthy Houston chefs made appearances later, such as Kaiser Lashkari of Himalaya, Christine Ha of the Blind Goat and Xin Chao, and Aaron Bludorn of Bludorn. Robert Del Grande of Cafe Annie, Trong Nguyen of Crawfish & Noodles, Hugo Ortega of Hugo's, Monica Pope of Sparrow, Chris Shepherd of Underbelly Hospitality, Kiran Verma of Kiran's, and Dawn Burrell and Chris Williams of Lucille's Hospitality showed off for the city they call home, starting the season with a bang. It's not a usual move for "Top Chef" to come out with this much star power right out of the gate, but Houston happens to have a very deep bench of diverse, award-winning chefs.
Quickfire restaurant full#
In the first episode of the season, the chefs' Elimination challenge at Annie Cafe and Bar features a table full of Houston's most celebrated chefs offering commentary on the dishes. We have a lot of really talented local chefs
