Meet the chefs shaking things up on Top Chef season 21

Top Chef is heading to the Badger State... but of course, the chefs competing in season 21 of the beloved reality competition will be focused on something else Wisconsin is known for: cheese!

In the season 21 trailer, which EW can reveal below, the cheftestants are joined by host Kristen Kish and judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons in both Milwaukee and Madison for some dairy-filled challenges (including one at a cheese festival!). The season marks Kish's first season as host after Padma Lakshmi announced her departure from the series last year.

With a new host comes new twists: Kish, who won season 10, and Colicchio explain the latest rules to the competing chefs. They'll have the chance to win cash at every Quickfire Challenge, and immunity will be up for grabs at Elimination Challenges, meaning the winner will be automatically safe in the next episode. Oh, and did we mention that episodes will be 75 minutes this season?

"I love when s--- gets shaken up," Kish says in the trailer as the contestants express their shock... and pop some champagne. This season's competitors come from all around the world and boast culinary careers that include Michelin-star restaurants, James Beard Award nominations, and more.

Below, meet the cheftestants of season 21.

Alisha Elenz
City: Chicago, Ill.
Profession: Private chef

Amanda Turner
City: Austin, Tex.
Profession: Chef de cuisine at Olamaie

Charly Pierre
City: New Orleans, La.
Profession: Head chef and owner at Fritai

Dan Jacobs
City: Milwaukee, Wis.
Profession: Chef and co-owner at EsterEv & Dandan

Danny Garcia
City: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Profession: Executive chef at Saga Hospitality Group

David Murphy
City: San Francisco, Calif.
Profession: Chef and co-owner at Shuggie's Trash Pie + Natural Wine

Kaleena Bliss
City: Chicago, Ill.
Profession: Executive chef at Chicago Athletic Association and Cindy's Rooftop

Kenny Nguyen
City: Athens, Ga.
Profession: Head chef and owner at Pretty Boy (opening 2024) and executive chef at the Expat

Kévin D'Andrea
City: Austin, Tex.
Profession: Chef and owner at Foliepop's

Laura Ozyilmaz
City: San Francisco, Calif.
Profession: Executive chef and owner at Dalida

Manny Barella
City: Denver, Colo.
Profession: Culinary director at Camp Pickle & Jaguar Bolera (opening 2024)

Michelle Wallace
City: Houston, Tex.
Profession: Chef, owner, and pitmaster at B'tween Sandwich Co.

Rasika Venkatesa
City: New York, N.Y.
Profession: Chef de cuisine

Savannah Miller
City: Durham, N.C.
Profession: Chef de cuisine at M Tempura

Valentine Howell Jr.
City: Dorchester, Mass.
Profession: Executive chef

Top Chef season 21 premieres March 20 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo with new episodes every Wednesday. Episodes will be available the following day on Peacock.

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Related content:

• Top Chef has a new host: All-star Kristen Kish steps in as Padma Lakshmi departs after 19 seasons
• Padma Lakshmi is packing her knives and leaving Top Chef after 17 years: 'I feel it's time to move on'
• Top Chef star Lee Anne Wong lost restaurant in Hawaii fires, volunteers to cook meals for shelters