# Top Chef: Boston

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***Top Chef: Boston*** is the twelfth season of the American reality television series *[Top Chef](/source/Top_Chef)*. The season was formally announced on August 20, 2014, and premiered on October 15, 2014.[1][2] Filming for Season 12 took place from May through June 2014 in locations around [Boston, Massachusetts](/source/Boston,_Massachusetts), concluding with a finale in [San Miguel de Allende](/source/San_Miguel_de_Allende), [Guanajuato](/source/Guanajuato) and the surrounding area.[2] *[Top Chef: Chicago](/source/Top_Chef:_Chicago)* finalist and *[Top Chef: All-Stars](/source/Top_Chef:_All-Stars)* winner [Richard Blais](/source/Richard_Blais) debuted as a recurring judge, joining [Tom Colicchio](/source/Tom_Colicchio), [Gail Simmons](/source/Gail_Simmons), [Hugh Acheson](/source/Hugh_Acheson), and host [Padma Lakshmi](/source/Padma_Lakshmi) on the judging panel.[1] *Last Chance Kitchen* also returned for its fourth season, beginning with a two-part redemption mid-season and continuing until the first part of the finale.[3] In the season finale, [Mei Lin](/source/Mei_Lin_(chef)) was declared the winner over runner-up [Gregory Gourdet](/source/Gregory_Gourdet).[4] Unlike previous seasons, no Fan Favorite vote was held.

## Production

According to reports by *[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood)*, members of Boston's local [Teamsters Union](/source/Teamsters_Union) allegedly harassed and intimidated Lakshmi and other *Top Chef* staff during the production's June film shoot at the Steel & Rye restaurant in [Milton, Massachusetts](/source/Milton,_Massachusetts).[5] The Teamsters Local 25, upset that [Bravo](/source/Bravo_(American_TV_network)) hired non-union personnel to drive cast and crew around Milton, protested the filming, threatening staff using racist, sexist, and homophobic language, and slashing the tires of several crew-owned vehicles.[5] While the network insisted the incident was isolated, sources for *[The Boston Globe](/source/The_Boston_Globe)* reported that the threats did prompt Bravo to change the locations of some tapings.[6] Teamsters Local 25 later released a statement denying the allegations.[7] Four Teamsters were then indicted on charges of conspiracy to extort, attempted extortion, and [aiding and abetting](/source/Aiding_and_abetting).[8] The trial began on August 1, 2017.[9] On August 15, 2017, a jury acquitted the four Teamsters of all charges.[10]

## Contestants

Main article: [List of Top Chef contestants](/source/List_of_Top_Chef_contestants)

Sixteen chefs competed in *Top Chef: Boston*.[1][11]

Name Hometown Current Residence[a] Age Doug Adams Tyler, Texas Portland, Oregon 29 Stacy Cogswell Boston, Massachusetts 33 Joy Crump Coatesville, Pennsylvania Fredericksburg, Virginia 46 Ron Eyester Long Island, New York Atlanta, Georgia 40 Gregory Gourdet Queens, New York Portland, Oregon 39 Aaron Grissom Tacoma, Washington North Hollywood, California 27 Adam Harvey New York, New York 29 Rebecca LaMalfa Chico, California Chicago, Illinois 32 Mei Lin Dearborn, Michigan Los Angeles, California 28 Melissa King Los Angeles, California San Francisco, California 30 George Pagonis Washington, D.C. 31 Michael Patlazhan Brooklyn, New York 31 Keriann Von Raesfeld San Jose, California 28 James Rigato Howell, Michigan White Lake, Michigan 29 Katsuji Tanabe Mexico City, Mexico Los Angeles, California 33 Katie Weinner Rosemount, Minnesota Salt Lake City, Utah 35

Katsuji Tanabe returned to compete in *[Top Chef: Charleston](/source/Top_Chef:_Charleston)*.[12] Tanabe also appeared as a contestant on the first season of *Top Chef México*, the Mexican version of *Top Chef* from [NBC Universo](/source/NBC_Universo).[13] Gregory Gourdet and Melissa King returned for *[Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.](/source/Top_Chef:_All-Stars_L.A.)*[14]

## Contestant progress

Episode # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Quickfire Challenge Winner(s) Aaron Adam Doug Keriann James Gregory Katsuji Gregory Katie Gregory George Melissa Mei Doug Gregory Contestant Elimination Challenge Results 1 Mei WIN HIGH IN IN IN HIGH HIGH LOW WIN WIN HIGH HIGH IN IN WINNER 2 Gregory HIGH WIN WIN WIN WIN LOW LOW HIGH LOW HIGH LOW LOW HIGH WIN RUNNER-UP 3 Doug HIGH IN IN IN WIN HIGH WIN WIN HIGH OUT WIN OUT 4 Melissa IN LOW HIGH IN LOW LOW HIGH LOW HIGH LOW WIN WIN OUT 5 George OUT HIGH IN LOW LOW OUT 6 Katsuji LOW HIGH LOW WIN WIN WIN LOW IN OUT 7 Adam IN WIN IN IN IN IN HIGH OUT 8 Katie LOW HIGH HIGH IN WIN IN LOW OUT 9 Keriann IN LOW LOW IN WIN IN OUT 10 Stacy IN LOW IN IN LOW OUT 11 Aaron IN LOW IN WIN OUT 12 James IN IN IN OUT Rebecca IN WIN IN OUT 14 Ron IN LOW OUT 15 Joy IN OUT 16 Michael OUT

- The chef(s) did not receive immunity for winning the Quickfire Challenge.
- George lost the Sudden Death Quickfire Challenge and was eliminated.
- Katie lost the Sudden Death Quickfire Challenge against George. As a result, George was reinstated into the competition.
- There were no eliminations in Episode 11.
- Doug won *Last Chance Kitchen* and returned to the competition.

- (WINNER) The chef won the season and was crowned "Top Chef".
- (RUNNER-UP) The chef was a runner-up for the season.
- (WIN) The chef won the Elimination Challenge.
- (HIGH) The chef was selected as one of the top entries in the Elimination Challenge, but did not win.
- (IN) The chef was not selected as one of the top or bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge and was safe.
- (LOW) The chef was selected as one of the bottom entries in the Elimination Challenge, but was not eliminated.
- (OUT) The chef lost the Elimination Challenge.

## Episodes

Main article: [List of Top Chef episodes](/source/List_of_Top_Chef_episodes)

<onlyinclude></onlyinclude>

## *Last Chance Kitchen*

Main article: [Top Chef#Last Chance Kitchen](/source/Top_Chef#Last_Chance_Kitchen)

No. Title Original air date

## References

**Notes**

1. The contestants' city and state of residence during time of filming.

**Footnotes**

1. The Dish (August 20, 2014). ["First Look at Top Chef Season 12!"](http://www.bravotv.com/blogs/the-dish/first-look-at-top-chef-season-12). [Bravo](/source/Bravo_(American_TV_network)). Retrieved August 20, 2014.

1. Goldstein, Meredith (August 20, 2014). ["'Top Chef' Boston season revealed"](https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2014/08/20/top-chef-boston-season-revealed/U2tXmA6VrRHqgZRiH5xqSJ/story.html). *[The Boston Globe](/source/The_Boston_Globe)*. Retrieved August 20, 2014.

1. ["Top Chef Season 12 Cast Info"](http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/season-12). [Bravo](/source/Bravo_(American_TV_network)). August 20, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.

1. ["Top Chef Winner Revealed: Did Mei Lin or Gregory Gourdet Win?"](http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/top-chef-boston-winner-revealed-mei-lin-gregory-gourdet-season-12-2015122). *[Us Weekly](/source/Us_Weekly)*. February 12, 2015. Retrieved March 10, 2017.

1. Robb, David (August 20, 2014). ["'Top Chef' Host Padma Lakshmi And Crew Flambéed By Boston Teamsters"](https://deadline.com/2014/08/padma-lakshmi-boston-teamsters-attack-top-chef-820137/). *[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood)*. Retrieved August 21, 2014.

1. Shanahan, Mark & Goldstein, Meredith (August 21, 2014). ["Source confirms 'Top Chef' harassment by local Teamsters"](https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2014/08/20/source-close-bravo-confirms-account-teamsters-harassment-during-top-chef-taping/CPgggD1JbQZPO5cDDOUjtK/story.html). *[The Boston Globe](/source/The_Boston_Globe)*. Retrieved August 21, 2014.

1. Scalese, Roberto (August 21, 2014). ["UPDATED: What the Hell Went on Between Boston's Teamsters and the 'Top Chef' Crew?"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140822010930/http://www.boston.com/entertainment/tv/2014/08/20/what-the-hell-went-between-boston-teamsters-and-the-top-chef-crew/EXCFkImT0GP5dUBw3qF92H/story.html). *[Boston.com](/source/Boston.com)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.boston.com/entertainment/tv/2014/08/20/what-the-hell-went-between-boston-teamsters-and-the-top-chef-crew/EXCFkImT0GP5dUBw3qF92H/story.html) on August 22, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2014.

1. Stout, Matt; Planas, Antonio; Sweet, Laurel (October 1, 2015). ["Feds hammer Teamsters in 'Top Chef' extortion rap"](https://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2015/09/feds_hammer_teamsters_in_top_chef_extortion_rap). *[Boston Herald](/source/Boston_Herald)*. Retrieved October 1, 2015.

1. Robb, David (August 1, 2017). ["'Top Chef' Teamsters Trial: Producer Details Taunts & Slurs But Says Show Contestant Was 'Escalating Situation'"](https://deadline.com/2017/08/top-chef-teamsters-trial-first-witness-taunts-slurs-1202140226/). *[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood)*. Retrieved August 1, 2017.

1. Robb, David (August 15, 2017). ["'Top Chef' Trial: Boston Teamsters Acquitted In Extortion Case"](https://deadline.com/2017/08/top-chef-trial-boston-teamsters-acquitted-in-extortion-case-1202149156/). *[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood)*. Retrieved August 15, 2017.

1. ["Cast & Info - Top Chef Season 12"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141021185851/http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/season-12). *[Bravo](/source/Bravo_(American_TV_network))*. Archived from [the original](http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/season-12) on October 21, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2025.

1. Spence, Shay (October 20, 2016). ["Top Chef Is Bringing Back 8 Fan Favorite Contestants — See Who Made the Cut"](http://people.com/food/top-chef-new-season-charleston-returning-chefs/). *[People](/source/People_(magazine))*. Retrieved March 10, 2017.

1. Chavez, Stephen (February 5, 2016). ["Local Chef Katsuji Tanabe of Mexikosher Competes in Upcoming "Top Chef Mexico" on NBC Universo"](https://www.latinofoodie.com/featured-blog-posts/chef-katsuji-competes-top-chef-mexico/). *LatinoFoodie*. Retrieved January 11, 2020.

1. Huff, Lauren (December 12, 2019). ["Unpack your knives: Top Chef announces all-star lineup for season 17"](https://ew.com/tv/2019/12/12/top-chef-all-star-lineup-season-17/). *[Entertainment Weekly](/source/Entertainment_Weekly)*. Retrieved December 12, 2019.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Top Chef: Boston](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Chef%3A_Boston) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Chef%3A_Boston?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.