Top Chef 2024: what's in store for the anniversary season?

Published by My de Sortiraparis · Published on March 13th, 2024 at 08:29 p.m.
Top Chef is back on M6 for its 15th season this Wednesday, March 13. New jury member, Pierre Gagnaire as master of the Hidden Brigade, new challenges, list of candidates: here's everything you need to know about Top Chef 2024.

Top Chef is making a comeback! This year, the cooking show celebrates its 15ᵉ anniversary. So, as you might expect, there are some great surprises in store for this 15ᵉ season of Top Chef, launching on M6 this Wednesday, March 13 at 9:10pm. Stéphane Rotenberg, an emblematic figure on the show since 2010, will once again be at the helm to guide us through this culinary universe. The burning question remains: who will succeed Hugo Riboulet, winner of the 2023 edition?

This new season promises to be a rich one, with a renewed jury. Chefs Philippe Etchebest, Hélène Darroze, Paul Pairet and Glenn Viel return, accompanied by two exceptional new chefs: Dominique Crenn, the first woman to be awarded three Michelin stars in the United States, and Stéphanie Le Quellec, winner of season 2 and two-star chef. This introduction augurs a renewed dynamic and a fresh look at the competitions, with 6 brigades in the running?

Well, no, the candidates will be divided into 2 brigades: the orange ones, led by Hélène Darroze, Dominique Crenn and Stéphanie Le Quellec, and the grey ones, with Philippe Etchebest, Paul Perret and Glenn Viel. It promises to be an epic battle between men and women.

Dominique Crenn, famous for her restaurants in San Francisco and her recent establishment in Paris, and Stéphanie Le Quellec, chef of the restaurant La Scène, bring a refreshingly feminine perspective to the jury, achieving an unprecedented gender balance.

Candidates will have to impress a panel of fifteen Michelin stars, guaranteeing a high-level competition. In addition to the classic tests, expect new surprises and innovations that will stimulate participants and viewers alike. Speaking of the candidates, we still don't know the full list for this season, apart from that of the winner of Objectif Top Chef, who joins the competition de facto.

The winner of the Objectif Top Chef final, which took place on November 10, 2023, will join the Blue Brigade in this season of Top Chef. After a ten-week competition and a particularly intense final week, Anicée triumphed in the 9th season of Objectif Top Chef. Just 18 years old, from La Teste-De-Buch (33), she is currently in her final year of vocational training at a hotel school in Biarritz. Determined and talented, Anicée won first place in the 2023 Best Apprentice of France competition.

Of course, we'll be back at the Boite Noire, which, according to Stéphane Rotenberg, was a logistical nightmare. The format of the " who can beat Philippe Etchebest " challenge is changing: Philippe Etchebest is giving way to four brigade chefs who, forming duos, will take up the challenge against the candidates. For regulars to the show, don't worry: the famous battle of the restaurants is still on the agenda. Among the new features is a long-running challenge, where contestants will have the task of preparing a feast for 50 former participants in the culinary competition.

Another new feature is that, for this year's event, three-starred chef Pierre Gagnaire will be in charge of the Brigade Cachée. You know, the side brigade that sees the losers of each episode battle it out to reclaim their place among the season's finalists. "We suspected something was up, but when we saw it was Pierre, we laughed less," said Hélène Darroze at a press conference. In any case, we can't wait to see our beloved chef, leading the band of motivated candidates.

This season's breathtaking tests:

  • The trompe-l'œil and trompe palais test
    The art of trompe-l'œil, which has historically pushed contestants to push back their visual boundaries, now extends to a new dimension in the competition: for the first time, they'll also have to master the illusion of taste! Iconic dishes such as entrecôte, fried chicken, boeuf bourguignon and blanquette de veau will be at the heart of the challenge. Participants will have to excel in making us savor these gastronomic classics... without any meat ingredients!

  • A feast for Top Chef legends
    For this unique anniversary, Top Chef has brought together 50 of its former contestants at the Château de Ferrières, talents who have touched and left an indelible mark on the public. Contestants from the fifteenth season will have the task of dazzling them by preparing a complete feast, from cocktails to birthday cake. Returning contestants include such names as Mohamed Cheick, Matthias Marc, Danny Khezzar, Justine Piluso, Mallory Gabsi, Arnaud Delvenne, Louise Bourrat, and others.

  • An event on a train
    As part of the event, participants will have the unique opportunity to prepare their dishes on board the famous Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train. Their challenge will be to impress Jean Imbert, winner of the third season of Top Chef, who currently runs the Plaza Athénée as well as the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

  • Boite Noire (Black Box) at Domaine de Chantilly
    The famous black box test makes its grand return in the fifteenth season. Exceptionally, it has been moved to the heart of the majestic Grandes Ecuries on the Chantilly estate. In this historic space dedicated to excellence, the event is hosted by chefs awarded the title of Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (Best Craftsmen in France). They will evaluate the candidates during a first decisive test, based on rigorous criteria. Next, participants will face the mystery of the black box, for which Guy Krenzer, twice Meilleur Ouvrier de France, has designed a special dish.

  • Who will be able to defeat the brigades of chefs?
    For this edition, participants will not be pitting themselves against Philippe Etchebest, but rather against two pairs of exceptional chefs! On the one hand, we have chefs Stéphanie Le Quellec and Dominique Crenn, and on the other, chefs Paul Pairet and Glenn Viel. Our judges will be giving their all to challenge the competing brigades.

  • The famous Restos war in close-up mode
    True to tradition, the Battle of the Restaurants will result in the elimination of one of the three establishments run by the candidates. However, this season brings a new twist: the contestants' relatives will be among the guests, adding an element of surprise and potential dismay...

Discover the list of 15 candidates and their profiles:

Top Chef 2024, qui sont les 16 candidats de cette saison 15 ? Top Chef 2024, qui sont les 16 candidats de cette saison 15 ? Top Chef 2024, qui sont les 16 candidats de cette saison 15 ? Top Chef 2024, qui sont les 16 candidats de cette saison 15 ? Top Chef 2024, who are the 16 candidates in this 15th edition?
Top Chef returns this Wednesday, March 13, 2024 for a 15ᵉ season that promises to be full of discoveries and twists and turns. While we wait to discover what this 15th edition has in store for us, we reveal the 15 candidates. Who are they? Where do they come from? We tell you all... [Read more]

Since its inception, Top Chef has crowned a series of talented chefs. Who will be the next to add his or her name to the roll of honour? As a reminder, here are the winners from previous seasons:

All Top Chef winners by year :

  • 2010: Romain Tischenko
  • 2011: Stéphanie Le Quellec
  • 2012: Jean Imbert
  • 2013: Naoëlle d'Hainaut
  • 2014: Pierre Augé (winner of special season with former candidates, finalist in season 1)
  • 2015: Xavier Koenig (first winner of Objectif Top Chef)
  • 2016: Xavier Pincemin
  • 2017 : Jérémie Izarn
  • 2018 : Camille Delcroix
  • 2019 : Samuel Albert
  • 2020 : David Gallienne
  • 2021: Mohamed Cheikh
  • 2022 : Louise Bourrat
  • 2023: Hugo Riboulet

These chefs have left a lasting mark on the history of "Top Chef" in France, as have other iconic candidates such as Norbert Tarayre, Florent Ladeyn, Thibault Sombardier, Guillaume Sanchez, Adrien Cachot, Mory Sacko and Danny Khezzar.

The 15ᵉ season of Top Chef promises to be full of twists and turns, to surprise us even more. With a renewed jury and new challenges, this edition promises to be rich in gustatory discoveries and memorable moments. Don't miss this new culinary season on M6 this Wednesday, March 13!

Are you ready for new evenings of Top Chef salivation ?

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Dates and Opening Time
On March 13th, 2024

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