Top Chef: Destination Canada, what a fun ride you have been.
Thirteen weeks have come and gone, as have twelve “Cheftestants” (fourteen if you count our two Last Chance Kitchen-exclusive players, Sam Olayinka and Ying Gao). Now we are mere days away from Season 22’s finale, and only three chefs are left standing.
Destination Canada has been a welcome change of pace from recent seasons with more predictable outcomes. While still not without flaws, the numerous surprising (yet justified) eliminations, enticing challenges, and mouthwatering dishes have kept us entertained all season long. However, it is without the lovable cast that makes this season so special. We may have had some devastating goodbyes along the way, but we luckily still have three fantastic chefs to root for.
Without further ado, let’s meet the finalists of Top Chef: Destination Canada and why you should root for them during Thursday’s finale.
Bailey Sullivan
- Occupation: Chef Di Cucina Monteverde
- Residence: Chicago, Illinois
- Quickfire Wins: 0
- Main Challenge Wins: 1
- Last Chance Kitchen Wins: 3
Why you should root for her: There’s never been a more rootable underdog.
In a season full of characters, Bailey has probably gotten the most chuckles out of me (though all three finalists have proven to be comedians in their own right). Bailey began the season with a shockingly quiet edit, one that could be easily dismissed, since she was eliminated in the second episode. I thought that would be the last we saw of Bailey, but was proven wrong when she earned the right to return after 3 wins in Last Chance Kitchen.
Following her return, Bailey’s personality and culinary talents really began to shine. She won the pair challenge with fellow finalist Tristen Epps-Long upon her return, and had two other high placements in future challenges. While she’s had a few bottom placements along the way, her innovative thinking and dedication to the challenge criteria have kept her ahead of her fallen competitors. Yes, she’s the underdog of the finale, but she’s an underdog that we can’t help but root for.
Shuai Wang
- Occupation: Chef/Owner at Jackrabbit Filly & King BBQ
- Residence: North Charleston, South Carolina
- Quickfire Wins: 2
- Main Challenge Wins: 3
Why you should root for him: He’s our “Most Improved” of the season.
Shuai’s personality is infectious. He can make a joke out of anything, regardless of whether he is placing high or low in a challenge. Even though Bailey was once eliminated, I’d argue no one has had a more rocky time in the game than Shuai. She may have had to fight for her life in LCK, but Shuai had a rough middle patch that left his game hanging by a thread. He was at the bottom of 3 challenges from episodes 4-8, a feat that any lesser chef would not be able to survive.
Luckily for us, Shuai not only survived, he thrived. The moment he began to cook more from the heart was when he finally began racking up the wins. From episode 9 onwards, Shuai won 3 main challenges, tying fifth-placer Massimo Piedimonte for the second most main challenge wins all season. His winning wouldn’t be the most predictable outcome for the season, but I also wouldn’t be mad about the decision either. It’s been an honor to watch him come into his own over the course of the season.
Tristen Epps-Long
- Occupation: Houston, Texas
- Residence: Chef/Owner at Epps & Flows Culinary
- Quickfire Wins: 2
- Main Challenge Wins: 4
Why you should root for him: He’s the top dog in Top Chef.
Tristen is truly one-of-a-kind, both as a chef and as a person. His passion for cooking has shown throughout the season, leading to 4 main challenge wins, the highest of the season. His love of history, particularly the history of the African Diaspora, has set him apart from his fellow cheftestants in how he creates his dishes and the story behind them. The judges can’t get enough of him, and neither can the fans.
Despite only being in the bottom once throughout the season, Tristen had to endure more than anyone else during Restaurant Wars, when his father had a stroke and then passed away the night before service. As executive chef of the winning restaurant, Tristen would emerge as the overall winner of the milestone episode in a moment that left everyone (including the judges) in tears.
Tristen was able to turn a tragedy into a victory, but his hardships are not why he’s so beloved. His commitment to setting an example for young, Black, aspiring chefs is admirable, as is his passion for educating chefs, judges, and viewers on the history of Black food. His performance record has set him up to be not just one of the best chefs of the season, but one of the best chefs in the history of the show. He’s the odds-on favorite to win the season, but Shuai and Bailey are formidable opponents in their own right.
The winner of Top Chef: Destination Canada will be announced in the finale episode, airing on Thursday, June 12 at 9/8c on Bravo. We’ll see which chef wins the title and the $250,000 prize that comes with it.