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A Texas father and son are showing their cooking skills on "Top Chef," a culinary competition.
The duo used to live in Detroit. Moving to Houston exposed Khaili Blue to the culinary diversity in the city.
“I would always have family members telling me I needed to be on ‘Top Chef,'” Khalil said on Houston Food Finder.
Khalil and Wille's, the father, perspective of the show will change from watching to participating in it.
“All the challenges were amazing to be a part of,” Khalil said. “There’s nothing like the feeling of a finished product when the challenge ends. We appreciated the feedback from the judges whether it was praise or constructive criticism.”
Willie Blue, who works as a creative director for several Houston businesses, received a casting e-mail and convinced 14-year-old Khalil to participate.
Bravo TV will air the show in 2022. As for the “Top Chef” franchise, its flagship program will film its newest season in Houston.
“‘Top Chef’ Season 19 is in production in Houston, the fourth largest city in the [United States]. The racial and ethnic diversity of Houston’s population is represented in the city’s vibrant culinary scene, making it a perfect backdrop to inspire our next wave of cheftestants,” the network said in a statement, the Houston Daily reported. “We hope to showcase the rich heritage of Houstonians through the food that defines them.”
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he’s happy the show is filming in his city.
“I cannot think of a more perfect pairing than 'Top Chef' and the City of Houston,” Turner said in a release. “Both represent a celebration of cuisine, culture and innovation. We are proud of the diverse community and unique heritage that makes our city such a hot culinary destination — from classics like Tex-Mex and barbecue to local inventions like Viet-Cajun and Japanese Tapas. As any 'Top Chef' contestant will tell you, the best food is born out of passion, and Houstonians exemplify this idea with every dish we create.”
The program focuses on 13 teen chefs competing for $50,000. The show's judges are restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson and singer Meghan Trainor.