MILWAUKEE — The long-awaited premiere of the 21st season of “Top Chef,” filmed in Wisconsin, will premiere Wednesday, March 20 on Bravo. 

The show was filmed in late 2023 across the Badger State, with segments filmed in Milwaukee, Madison and Door County. 

This season of “Top Chef” will be filled with firsts. Not only is it the first time that Wisconsin has played host, it is also the first season where former “Top Chef” winner Kristen Kish will take over as host, succeeding Padma Lakshmi who exited the show last year. 

Kish told Spectrum News 1 she enjoyed getting to explore Wisconsin’s food scene while taping the show. Kish grew up near Grand Rapids, Mich. and got to see some familiar food traditions while in Wisconsin. 

“I have eaten my fair share of lake fish. I grew up with my grandfather fishing and he would do fish fries on the back deck and it feels familiar to me, but I think the beauty of ‘Top Chef’ and choosing a different city all the time was that everybody gets to experience that. I definitely am experiencing new cuisines, or new traditions rather, but a lot of the cuisine is what the chefs make us. With that comes a wide range because they are all over,” said Kish. 

Many across Wisconsin are excited to watch the show and see how the Badger State’s culinary scene is shared with the world. In Milwaukee, there are some organized watch parties. 

Zocalo Food Park is teaming up with staff from OnMilwaukee.com to host a “Top Chef” Watch Party every Wednesday during the “Top Chef” season. It will feature a chance for foodie fans to come together to enjoy the episodes together. 

“I think it is going to be really fun,” said On Milwaukee Culture Editor Matt Mueller, “I think the energy is going to be really fun. It is going to be really exciting to see Wisconsin on the screen and profiled in a way that I hope is really flattering to our food scene, our tremendous food scene.” 

The “Top Chef” Watch Party will begin at 8 p.m. every Wednesday.