Season 21 of “Top Chef” was the venerated food competition’s first without longtime host Padma Lakshmi. Nevertheless, the show adapted without her, and will culminate on June 19 with a finale set aboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean. Out of 16 chefs who competed in Wisconsin, judges Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons and Kristen Kish —a former winner who stepped into Lakshmi’s role — have narrowed the field to just three contenders: Dan Jacobs, Savannah Miller and Danny Garcia.
All three finalists have compelling narratives and impressive track records both on and off the show. Jacobs is a Wisconsin local who’s spoken candidly about his experience with Kennedy’s Disease, a rare muscular disorder that led him to periodically use a cane throughout filming. Miller, a North Carolinian with a background in Japanese cuisine, came in as an underdog but quickly amassed a string of wins. Garcia stood out for his delicate, elegant compositions, which fellow New Yorkers will soon have the chance to sample at a new restaurant near Madison Square Park.
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