Bravo’s ‘Top Chef’ Season 18 Will Film in Portland Amid Pandemic

Top Chef is back in action. The Bravo show will begin production in Portland, Oregon, despite the coronavirus pandemic, The Hollywood Reporter reports. Filming on Season 18 of the cooking reality series has already begun, with safety protocols in place in accordance with CDC guidelines.

The latest season brings back judges Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons, but also stars some returning Top Chef contestants. Season 18 will feature alums Richard Blais, Carrie Baird, Nina Compton, Tiffany Derry, Gregory Gourdet, Melissa King, Kristen Kish, Edward Lee, Kwame Onwuachi, Amar Santana, Dale Talde and Brooke Williamson.

To keep the contestants and crew safe in Portland, Top Chef has formed a “production bubble,” Doneen Arquines, Top Chef showrunner and an executive producer, told Oregonlive.com. Top Chef competitor Gourdet added that he’s been staying in a local hotel with the cast and crew. “It’s a big bubble, and we have pods in the bubble,” he explained. “We get tested every two days.”

In terms of production, the set will look a little different, too. According to Arquines, the Top Chef kitchen will be larger to allow for more room between competitors, and the judges’ table will be expanded, too. “We’re needing to be at locations longer, because we need to sanitize, and make sure that everything is safe and clean,” she added. “We’re taking things a little bit slower than we have in the past. We can be in locations when they’re closed, so people that aren’t tested aren’t around.”

Filming in Portland will be a first for Top Chef, which plans to begin in the city and later travel to the coast, the Hood River Fruit Loop, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory, Tillamook Bay, Tualatin Valley and Willamette Valley wine country.

“Portland has been on our radar for the last few years as a burgeoning culinary destination known for its innovative dining scene driven by independent, chef-owned restaurants, local farms and purveyors,” said Bravo EVP of current production Shari Levine. “The city’s unique culture alongside Oregon’s natural pantry of indigenous ingredients and incredible scenic beauty makes it the ultimate chef’s playground and an ideal destination for Top Chef to explore.”

Casey Kriley and Jo Sharon, co-CEOs of Top Chef production company Magical Elves, added, “Filming Top Chef in the current climate has been possible because of our strong partnership with Bravo and the city of Portland and the state of Oregon. We are excited to highlight the cuisine and culture of the state through our talented chefs and judges. This season promises to be unique in a multitude of ways.”

Production on Top Chef Season 18 began this month and is expected to continue through October. We’ll have to wait a little while to see the final product, though. Bravo won’t serve up the new season until 2021.

Where to watch Top Chef