Top Chef: Texas
Season number9
Bgcolour
  1. 65498D
Num episodes18
NetworkBravo
First airedNovember 2, 2011
Last airedMarch 7, 2012
Prev seasonAll-Stars
Next seasonSeattle
Episode listList of Top Chef episodes
Top Chef: Texas
HostPadma Lakshmi
JudgesTom Colicchio
Gail Simmons
Emeril Lagasse
Hugh Acheson
LocationSan Antonio, Dallas, and Austin, Texas
Finals venueWhistler, British Columbia
Num contestants29
WinnerPaul Qui
Runner upSarah Grueneberg
Fan FavoriteChris Crary

Top Chef: Texas is the ninth season of the American reality television series Top Chef. The season was filmed in various cities in Texas, including San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin, before moving on to Whistler, British Columbia for the finale. The season premiered on November 2, 2011. This season of Top Chef featured a much larger number of contestants than any previous season, with 29 chefs.[1] Top Chef: Texas also introduced a new side competition to the series; in addition to the Quickfire and Elimination Challenges featured in televised episodes, the Last Chance Kitchen competition allowed eliminated contestants to compete head-to-head in a series of webisodes, with the winner eventually returning to the main competition.[1] In the season finale, Paul Qui was declared the winner over runner-up Sarah Grueneberg.[2][3][4] Chris Crary was voted Fan Favorite.[5]

Contestants

Main article: List of Top Chef contestants

The cast of Top Chef: Texas initially consisted of 29 contestants.[1][6] After the qualifying challenges in the first two episodes, the pool of chefs was narrowed down to 16.

Eliminated in qualifying rounds

NameCurrent Residence[a]Age
Jonathan BaltazarLong Beach, California36
Molly BrandtHollywood, Florida30
Chaz BrownNew York, New York29
Kimberly CalichioNew York, New York27
Andrew CurrenAustin, Texas32
Berenice deAraujoMiami, Florida33
Janine FalvoAtlanta, Georgia37
Simon PantetSeattle, Washington30
Colin PattersonSeattle, Washington37
Laurent QueniouxLos Angeles, California51
Tyler StoneSacramento, California22
Nina VicenteSeattle, Washington29
Ashley VillaluzSeattle, Washington25

Top 16

NameHometownCurrent Residence[a]Age
Nyesha ArringtonLos Angeles, California28
Lindsay AutryFayetteville, North CarolinaWest Palm Beach, Florida29
Ty-Lör BoringKansas City, MissouriBrooklyn, New York34
Chris CraryBucyrus, OhioLos Angeles, California29
Richie FarinaRiverview, FloridaChicago, Illinois28
Sarah GruenebergHouston, TexasChicago, Illinois29
Chris JonesFort Lauderdale, FloridaChicago, Illinois30
Beverly KimDowners Grove, IllinoisChicago, Illinois32
Edward LeeBrooklyn, New YorkLouisville, Kentucky38
Whitney OtawkaHesperia, CaliforniaAthens, Georgia30
Paul QuiSpringfield, Virginia/Houston, TexasAustin, Texas31
Keith RhodesWilmington, North Carolina39
Grayson SchmitzNew Holstein, WisconsinNew York, New York28
Heather TerhuneSt. Albans, VermontChicago, Illinois39
Chuy ValenciaSanta Rosa, CaliforniaChicago, Illinois25
Dakota WeissQuartz Hill, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California35

Nyesha Arrington later competed in Top Chef Duels.[7] Grayson Schmitz returned to compete in Top Chef: California.[8]

Contestant progress

Episode #34567891011121314151617
Quickfire Challenge
Winner(s)		DakotaPaulLindsayGraysonTy-LörPaulTy-LörLindsayChris J.
Grayson		EdwardSarahSarah
ContestantElimination Challenge Results
1PaulWININWININININWINLOWWINWININWINWINWINWINNER
2SarahLOWWINHIGHININWINLOWHIGHLOWLOWLOWINWININRUNNER-UP
3LindsayLOWINININININWININHIGHHIGHWINLOWWINOUT
4BeverlyWINLOWININLOWHIGHLOWWINOUTHIGHOUT
5EdwardWINININLOWWINHIGHLOWLOWHIGHLOWLOWOUT
6GraysonWININHIGHINLOWLOWWINHIGHLOWHIGHOUT
7Chris J.WININLOWHIGHLOWINLOWLOWHIGHOUT
8Ty-LörLOWINLOWLOWWININLOWOUT
9Chris C.INWINLOWININLOWOUT
10HeatherWINININWINLOWOUT
11NyeshaINLOWINHIGHOUT
DakotaININHIGHINOUT
13WhitneyINININOUT
14ChuyWINWINOUT
15RichieWINOUT
16KeithOUT
The chef(s) did not receive immunity for winning the Quickfire Challenge.
Due to the qualifying rounds, the show did not use its traditional elimination format until the third episode.
Beverly won Last Chance Kitchen and returned to the competition.
As a reward for winning the Quickfire Challenge, Sarah was allowed to sit out the Elimination Challenge.
(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

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Last Chance Kitchen

Main article: Top Chef#Last Chance Kitchen
No.TitleOriginal air date

References

Notes
  1. ^ The contestants' city and state of residence during time of filming.
Footnotes
  1. ^ "Bravo's 'Top Chef: Texas' Premieres Wednesday, November 2". TV by the Numbers. September 21, 2011. Archived from the original on November 1, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  2. ^ "Top Chef: Texas Picks a Winner". People. February 29, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  3. ^ Brion, Raphael (2012-03-01). "Paul Qui Wins Top Chef Texas". Eater. Retrieved 2026-04-23.
  4. ^ Broyles, Addie (2012-09-24). "Fan favorite Paul Qui of Uchiko wins 'Top Chef: Texas'". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2026-04-23.
  5. ^ Schreffler, Laura (May 6, 2015). "Chris Crary Makes Waves at SBE Hyde Sunset Kitchen". Haute Living. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  6. ^ "Bios - Top Chef Season 9". Bravo. Archived from the original on November 19, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
  7. ^ Ng, Philiana (June 4, 2014). "Bravo's 'Top Chef Duels' Lands Premiere Date, Celebrity Guests (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  8. ^ "Meet Top Chef Season 13's Cheftestants: Part 3". Bravo. November 25, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2019.