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Canada’s culinary competition is heating up once again. Top Chef Canada returns for its landmark 13th season on Tuesday, October 20th at 10 p.m. ET/PT, premiering on Flavour Network and streaming exclusively on STACKTV.
The new season brings together twelve professional chefs from across the country, including three familiar faces returning to the competition with another opportunity to claim the title of Canada’s Top Chef.
The upcoming season also features an impressive roster of guest judges and tasters, including Canadian icon Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Toronto Tempo stars Brittney Sykes and Marina Mabrey, and acclaimed chefs Daniel Boulud, May Chow, François-Emmanuel Nicol, Masaki Saito and more.
In a franchise first, the Season 13 premiere will reveal three standout Top Chef Canada alumni who are returning to the kitchen.
Each previously came close to winning the competition but ultimately fell short of the title. Now, they’ll face nine new competitors while bringing the experience they’ve gained since their original appearances back to the competition.
The nine new competitors are:
Stephanie Baryluk, 36, Tsawwassen, B.C. — Nihkhah Inc.
Samuel Chastenay-Joseph, 35, Montréal, Que. — Head Chef
Kathryn Ferries, 33, Ottawa, Ont. — Around the Block Butcher and Market
Lifini “Lif” Kalikutty, 30, Markham, Ont. — Contrada
Abigail Lopez, 36, Edmonton, Alta. — Private Chef, Don Emiliano Hospitality Inc.
Giovanni Meyer, 34, Milton, Ont. — Private Chef, Pinch of Black Salt
Sara Raspa, 33, Montréal, Qc. — Le Violon
Hilarie Vatcher, 37, St. John’s, N.L. — No.4 Restaurant and Bar & Bite Me Catering
Sebouh “Seb” Yacoubian, 32, Toronto, Ont. — Taline
The complete contestant biographies are available through the official Top Chef Canada materials. Chef, cookbook author and longtime host Eden Grinshpan returns to lead the competition, alongside the show’s returning judging panel.
Joining Grinshpan are powerhouse restaurateur Janet Zuccarini, chef and owner of The McEwan Group Mark McEwan, and content creator and global food expert Mijune Pak. Chef, fermenter and author David Zilber will also return for the finale.
Season 12 winner Coulson Armstrong will also appear as a guest judge during the premiere. Season 13 promises a variety of challenges inspired by Canada’s food, culture and landscapes.
Among the season’s firsts is an elimination challenge celebrating Lunar New Year, while another challenge will spotlight the inaugural season of Toronto Tempo. The chefs will also tackle a challenge focused on the cost of living.
The competition will take the chefs to Charlevoix and Quebec City, including a visit to Restaurant Tanière³, one of only two restaurants in Canada with two Michelin stars, according to the announcement. The season will also feature a challenge inspired by the recently announced Top Chef Canada: The Dessert Table, while the popular Restaurant Wars returns as the season’s final elimination challenge.
Joining the regular judging panel throughout the season will be a collection of notable Canadian personalities and acclaimed culinary figures.
The guest lineup includes:
Coulson Armstrong — Culinary Director of Our House Hospitality Company and Top Chef Canada Season 12 winner
Daniel Boulud — Chef of DANIEL and Café Boulud
May Chow — Founder and CEO of Little Bao, Happy Paradise and Chow Industries
Gregory Gourdet — James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef and owner of Kann and Sousòl
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau — Author and speaker
Marina Mabrey — Toronto Tempo player
François-Emmanuel Nicol — Chef/co-owner of Tanière³
Rob Rossi — Chef/partner at Osteria Giulia and Giulietta
Jessica Rosval — Chef at Al Gatto Verde
Masaki Saito — Chef/co-owner of Sushi Masaki Saito
Brittney Sykes — Toronto Tempo player
Dining and Cooking