MILWAUKEE — Bravo’s “Top Chef” premiers Wednesday, March 20.
This season was filmed in Wisconsin, and one of the contestants, Dan Jacobs, is a chef and restaurateur in the Badger State.
Jacobs said he tried out for the reality show 13 times before making the cut.
The Milwaukee chef said he never takes the word “no” for an answer, but doesn’t see himself as generally competitive.
“I consider myself a competitive person when competition starts. Like, I’m not like the guy who is outwardly competitive, but as soon as I’m in a competition, I’m competitive. All of the sudden it becomes, ‘Well, if I’m here, let’s win.’”
Jacobs said his appearance on the show was the experience of a lifetime, but he admitted he had no idea what he was getting into.
“When you are not used to being on a television show, being on a television show is super weird. It is not like real life; it’s really different,” said Jacobs.
“The whole experience felt a bit like summer camp,” he added.
Jacobs said it really didn’t sink in until his first day on set.
“The hardest thing is just that nervousness you get the first time you walk into the kitchen, and you see Tom, Gail and Kristin and all of the sudden, that moment is real,” said Jacobs.
Jacobs said he hopes that moment and the entire journey showcases Wisconsin and inspires people to challenge themselves.
“You’ve gotta be tough; you’ve gotta be able to never take no for an answer and keep pushing,” he said.
Jacobs and his business partner, Dan Van Rite, own DanDan and EsterEv in Milwaukee. EsterEv is in the process of relocating to a new location from Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood to Bay View.