Kristen Kish
THR Illustration; pictures: Arturo Holmes/Getty Pictures, David Moir/Bravo
Wednesday’s season 21 premiere of High Chef is a tough reset in quite a lot of methods, most evident amongst them being the brand new host. For the primary time in 19 seasons and simply as a few years, it isn’t Padma Lakshmi gently however decisively telling an unfortunate hopeful to pack their knives and go. It’s Kristen Kish.
The season 10 winner, initially kicked off the competitors earlier than preventing again to the finale on spin-off Final Probability Kitchen, emerged as an early and clear favourite to fill Padma’s footwear when she introduced her exit final summer time. Kish has been a well-known face to the franchise since her 2012 win, increasing her TV horizon’s by internet hosting the Netflix replace of Iron Chef and Nationwide Geographic’s Eating places on the Finish of the World. However those that tune in to the begin of High Chef‘s Wisconsin-set cycle will discover that Kish isn’t the one change. Fellow judges Gail Simmons and Tom Colicchio have been infused into the remainder of the printed, providing narration alongside the contestants. And, come mid-season, they’ll even decide the primary phase of every episode — the Quickfire problem — alongside Kish.
Change, nevertheless minor, will be laborious to take. However Kish’s addition to this cooking competitors turned culinary kingmaker does loads to boring any post-Padma shock. Talking over Zoom earlier in March, she previewed the approaching season, shared the recommendation she received from Lakshmi and revealed the one restaurant development she’d wish to see put to relaxation.
One of many first stuff you say in your first episode as host is that you simply didn’t count on to ever be on this place. I’d argue that, when Padma introduced her exit, you ID’d as presumed inheritor obvious on many a High Chef textual content chain and podcast.
Nicely, I didn’t get that memo. (Laughs.) All of it occurred in a short time on my finish. I noticed Padma’s Instagram publish together with everyone else, and it was only a couple weeks later that I used to be on a aircraft to LA to have a gathering with [producers] Magical Elves and Bravo.
If you get the supply, what was the most important attraction to the job and what was your largest hesitation about saying sure?
The hesitation, for certain, was, “Can I reside as much as tens of millions of individuals’s expectations?” Residing as much as strangers’ expectations, that’s almost unattainable. They have already got this concept of their heads of what I’m imagined to be doing. That was terrifying — though, intellectually, I do know that nobody can reside as much as everybody’s expectations. On the opposite aspect, I used to be utterly honored. I wasn’t even anticipating a cellphone name, not to mention the supply. So I used to be residing in two completely different worlds for some time: “Holy shit, that is superior,” and, “Why would I ever flip down such a job?” After which it turned, “Oh my God, can I do that?”
I’m below the impression that you simply’re a really non-public individual. Clearly, you’re no stranger to TV, however this can be a next-level job when it comes to public consciousness and public scrutiny. How a lot did you and your spouse talk about the potential influence in your life?
Possibly I’m not it in the identical manner different individuals are — at what may or will occur as soon as we get rolling into this. Proper now, our life continues the way in which it has. If I’ve my most well-liked Friday evening, I’m at residence. I really like grocery buying at 9:00 p.m. All the traditional issues that we do stay in place. As for the thought of placing myself on the market, I’m a really sure model of myself on High Chef. I’ve a task. I’ve a job and I’m there to satisfy it. I’m additionally me, however that doesn’t imply abruptly I’m going to inform individuals every thing about me. It’s High Chef. It’s not about me.
9 o’clock grocery buying is an influence transfer. Do you’ve got a most well-liked chain market?
We’ve three which are equidistant from our home: Dealer Joe’s, a standard big-box grocery retailer and Complete Meals. For frozen, ready-to-eat issues, Dealer Joe’s — as one does. For maybe some higher produce, we’re going to Complete Meals. It additionally will depend on the place we really feel like going. However at evening, an hour earlier than closing, my God, a grocery retailer is actually some of the calm public locations.
You’re clearly no stranger to this franchise. You’ve gained. You’ve visitor judged. You’re very a lot a part of that High Chef Cinematic Universe. Did you be taught something new after approaching it from this completely different function?
Nicely, that is the primary time that I’ve truly been capable of expertise all the development of all of the cooks. I used to be gone for a piece of Seattle! And I solely visitor judged perhaps 4 episodes in a row. So I by no means received to see it from begin to end — or actually be a part of the opposite aspect. It’s loads like watching it at residence, actually. You need this to be an amazing expertise for the cooks, whether or not they’re the primary one eradicated or the final one standing. So to have the ability to watch the cooks, week after week, that could be a new expertise. You don’t get to know a number of the personalities aside from once they’re in entrance of you — selecting up on their quirks and meals kinds.
That is clearly a turning level for the sequence. Have been you concerned with any of the conversations about tips on how to use this chance to change issues up with the format? As a result of there are a number of different modifications this season — the Quickfires, the judges now narrating the expertise alongside the cooks…
I wasn’t a part of a number of these conversations, and it’s most likely a great factor. Tom, Gail and individuals who have been doing this since season one know excess of I do. However the very first dialog was like, “It’s not going to be the identical.” It’s not meant to be the identical as when Padma hosted, in order that gave me a bit of bit extra permission to only stream with it. In all probability essentially the most thrilling half is that Tom and Gail, come mid-season, we’re all doing the Quickfires.
From that first promo, I half-thought you’d all be cooking the Quickfires — not judging them.
Mid-season, all three of us are current and judging each Quickfire. The entrance half of the season, it’s me and a particular visitor. I believe it really works as a result of now, in the direction of the tip, if one thing is basically shut, we will all revisit the Quickfire of that episode if we have to. It’s additionally simply good to have the corporate of the 2 of them.
Padma famously cherished to speak about how she ate greater than completely anybody else concerned with this present. What was your consumption technique?
I eat quantity. I wish to eat loads. If I’m residence on a Saturday afternoon, I really like a do-it-yourself buffet state of affairs as a result of I wish to strive as a lot as I can with out getting full too quick. Gail informed me the very first few days earlier than we began filming, “Kristen, eat breakfast. Simply belief me. I do know it sounds bizarre, since you’re about to eat loads, however you additionally simply put a base down.” And I used to be like, “However I wish to be hungry moving into.” No, no, no! She stated, “Eat breakfast as a result of in case you’re tremendous hungry moving into, you’re going to come back out of the gate swinging and consuming every thing. You’ll be able to’t be ravenous going into it.” So, each morning, I had hard-boiled eggs, strawberries and beef jerky generally — or only a handful of nuts, one thing to place a base down. So the purpose is to stay just a bit hungry however by no means get tremendous full. And I don’t eat every thing — except it’s actually good. Then I can’t assist myself.
How’d you method your model of “Pack your knives and go?” Have been you practising within the mirror earlier than you filmed the season?
There have been two different individuals to ever say it! Katie [Lee Biegel] on the primary season, then Padma for 19 after that. The way in which I hear it in my head, it’s Padma’s voice. I keep in mind when she stated it to me. (Laughs.) So I keep in mind being nervous, however it’s a part of the job, it’s a part of the function. However it doesn’t really feel good — regardless if the individual actually deserved to go residence. It sucks. So, in my head, I initially thought, “Nicely, perhaps I ought to pad it with a praise sandwich — praise, dangerous information, praise,” However, sadly, you possibly can’t be like, “You have been actually nice. Pack your knives and go. However we actually cherished you.”
I learn that Padma despatched you a notice if you began filming. Did she offer you any recommendation past, “Break a leg?”
We spoke in the beginning, and she or he stated one of many extra useful issues. It’s the identical manner that I look again to how my mother and father parented me, which was at all times for my very own betterment. She stated one thing like, “Know I’m in your nook. I’m rooting for you. I’m accessible. For those who want me, I’m accessible. For those who don’t, that’s OK.” She understands I’ve received to determine it out alone.
Among the many previous High Chef contestants, who’s in your interior circle or mind belief?
Brooke [Williamson], ever since she and I have been on season 10 collectively. Mei Lin, from season… I don’t keep in mind.
I attempt to get her rooster sandwich each different month.
Isn’t it so good? All the things she does is simply distinctive. Stephanie Cmar is clearly my perfect pal. And Gregory [Gourdet]. I’ve a number of pals and acquaintances within the High Chef household. However, when it comes to household, it’s these individuals.
There was a little bit of skepticism within the fan base about filming this season in Wisconsin — particularly after a cycle spent in London in Paris. You’re a midwesterner. I’m a midwesterner. What do you assume the most important false impression about Midwestern meals is and the way did you all wish to method perhaps clearing that up this season?
High Chef followers are passionate. We may have stated, “Oh, we’re going to go to North Dakota.” Wherever. Regardless of the place we go, there’s High Chef followers somewhere else that want you’d go the place they’re. So I don’t assume it was any shade in opposition to Wisconsin. I believe it was simply disappointment that we weren’t someplace else. So far as misconceptions, we’re not asking them to cook dinner Wisconsin meals. We’re not asking them to cook dinner Midwestern meals. Having to debunk the thought of casseroles and meatloaf and issues out of a field — issues that I grew up on — they don’t have to do this. We’re simply pulling from actual traditions, from historical past, from factors of pleasure of Wisconsin meals. We’re asking them to take inspiration from the issues from Wisconsin — cherries, fish boils, indigenous delicacies.
Earlier than I allow you to go, what are your favourite stuff you’re seeing in eating places nowadays — and what are the traits that you simply wish to die?
I really like a chef who’s supplying you with a narrative. I want one thing private. You will discover an amazing meal in a number of locations. What makes it stand out memorable for me is the individual cooking and the way it connects. It’s this unexplainable factor why some meals recollections keep on with me and a few don’t. When you’ve got a meal and might pinpoint precisely why you find it irresistible, that could be a testomony of a private story being the driving drive.And I don’t know if this can be a development or a pet peeve, however there are a number of eating places — What’s the easiest way of claiming it? — the place you get taste fucked. (Laughs.) All the things is excessive acid, excessive spice, excessive salt, excessive this on prime of that on prime of this on prime of texture. For those who’re consuming a complete meal the place that’s all taking place, issues get misplaced. Some locations on the market simply do it for the sake of fanfare, I believe? However these dishes have to be revisited.