Glossary

1. The original series.
2. Does not include spinoffs: Masters, Just Desserts, Duels, Healthy Showdown, Life After Top Chef, or Padma’s Picks.
3. Does not include special episodes: 2007’s 4 Star All Stars, 2007’s Holiday Special, or 2009’s Reunion Dinner.
4. The winner of a season of Top Chef.

Winner of Top Chef Masters.

Contestant competing in a season.

1. Not a permanent or rotating judge for a season.
2. Judge helping to decide the winner of a Quickfire Challenge.
3. Judge who sits at Judges’ Table after an Elimination Challenge.

1. Eats the meal(s) featured in a season’s Finale episode.
2. Introduced by the host or screen text.

1. The primary location where a challenge takes place.
2. Does not include towns, suburbs, or census designated places.

1. A Quickfire or Elimination Challenge in an episode.
2. Does not include Sudden Death Cookoffs and challenges where the chefs must make another dish to avoid elimination.
3. Does not include qualifying challenges/episodes where chefs compete for a spot on the show (e.g. Episodes 1 and 2 of Top Chef Texas).
4. Although called out separately, does not include challenges from Last Chance Kitchen.

1. Chef who is named as the winner or is part of a team named as winner.
2. Does not include the Judge’s favorites or top picks.

1. The number of competitors a chef has eliminated.
2. Not necessarily the number of Last Chance Kitchen challenges the chef wins.

1. Prize described as a dollar amount.
2. Does not include gift cards or some described worth of physical goods.

1. Prize described as a “trip” or “getaway.”
2. Prize described as a pair of plane tickets.