Content Warning: This article discusses racism, physical assault, and cancer.
Bravo's hit reality competition Top Chef is about to air the finale of its eighteenth season. While finalists Dawn, Gabe, and Shota have formed a strong kinship with and supported one another throughout the series, these dynamics were not always the norm on Top Chef. In previous seasons, the chefs brought onto the show as competitors could often turn against one another at a minute's notice.
From petty squabbles to mean-spirited attacks and even a physical assault, most competitors are not afraid of pulling all the stops to put their fellow chefs down. Some seasons are more dramatic than others and on Top Chef, the kitchen isn't the only thing steaming hot.
Fabio VS. Anthony Bourdain (Top Chef: All-Stars)
Fabio Viviani is a fan-favorite competitor who appeared on multiple seasons of Top Chef in the past; despite his usually affable demeanor, he has had his own defensive moments. When guest judge Anthony Bourdain compares Fabio's casarecce to 'an inside-out animal' during the first elimination challenge, Fabio loses his cool and confronts Bourdain on his comments being unconstructive.
The conversation takes a briefly unsettling turn into threatening before head judge Tom Colicchio steps in to deescalate. Even still, it's jarring to see a usually laid-back competitor suddenly go on the defense.
Tyler VS. Tom Colicchio (Top Chef: Texas)
Tyler Stone of Top Chef: Texas holds the unenviable distinction of being asked to pack his knives and go halfway through the very first Quickfire. When head judge Tom Colicchio walks in on Tyler clumsily eviscerating a chunk of tenderloin, he quickly realizes that Tyler has no idea what he's doing. Tyler's clueless grin and lack of remorse rub Tom the wrong way, and he sends him packing prematurely.
Overall, the abrupt dismissal of Tyler Stone set the tone for a contentious season of Top Chef and was an early sign of the further drama to come. In hindsight, viewers can't help but feel that Tom was sparing Tyler from further embarrassment had he stayed on the full episode.
Alex VS. Ed (Top Chef: D.C.)
Commonly referred to by viewers as 'PeaGate,' this controversy took place in episode 7 of Top Chef: DC. Contestant Ed plans to use a pea purée as part of his dish, only for the purée to mysteriously disappear in the chaos of the Elimination Challenge. Mysteriously, fellow chef Alex wins the challenge with a dish also using a pea purée. Naturally, Ed and the skeptical viewers at home suspected foul play on Alex's part.
To this day, Alex maintains his innocence and blames the situation on manipulative editing. "PeaGate," however, remains one of the greatest Top Chef mysteries to this day.
Joey VS. Howie (Top Chef: Miami)
Joey Paulino and Howie Kleinberg, two competitors on Top Chef Miami, first introduced themselves through a fiery argument, laden with censored profanities, after judging landed them in the bottom. By the second episode, Howie had established himself as particularly hotheaded, and he pulled no punches. From undermining each other's manhood to Joey insinuating that Howie had the advantage due to being from Miami, a rivalry seemed to be brewing.
In an unexpected twist of fate, the argument seemingly brought Joey and Howie together. The two men formed an unlikely friendship in later episodes, sharing challenge prizes with one another and appreciating each other's dishes.
Robin VS. Eli (Top Chef: Las Vegas)
While contestant Robin Leventhal was abrasive and divisive for both viewers and competitors, it was clear that she had a hard life before entering the Top Chef kitchen. Robin was open about her two fights with lymphoma and won the sixth episode's Quickfire with dishes inspired by her health struggles. Fellow competitor Eli, however, accused Robin of using her illness for sympathy in order to win.
Many believed Eli's comments were out of line and trivialized the struggles of cancer survivors. Eli ultimately acknowledged he was in the wrong and reconciled with Robin in the reunion.
Dale VS. Lisa (Top Chef: Chicago)
Many of the challenges on Top Chef require the chefs to work together as a team to serve the judges. By the time of Restaurant Wars, chefs Dale Talde and Lisa Fernandes had been paired together three separate times. The judges should have realized that pairing them again was a horrible idea, as Dale and Lisa did not get along at all.
Their tension can be best seen in a confrontation outside the judges' table, where Dale ripped into Lisa over her bad attitude and undercutting behavior. When a chef gets frustrated enough with their teammate to the point of punching a locker, it's probably time to reconsider team pairings.
Elia VS. Tom Colicchio (Top Chef: All-Stars Reunion)
Even the Top Chef reunions aren't safe from conflict breaking out. Returning chef Elia Aboumrad decided that the reunion would be the perfect opportunity to take Tom Colicchio to task on how he presented himself as a chef. From Tom's appearance in a Diet Coke commercial to his alleged use of corn-fed beef, Elia presented a case for what appeared to be Tom selling out.
Despite Elia's intense criticisms, Tom kept a level head and turned the confrontation into a teaching moment for the other chefs, reminding them that their words have power. Elia, meanwhile, refuses to take back her accusations and maintains that she stands by them.
Tiffani VS. Dave (Top Chef: San Francisco)
Top Chef has had its fair share of villains, but none as infamous as season one's Tiffani Faison. A talented chef in her own right, Tiffani was not afraid of throwing her weight around and making her skills known to her competitors. Her headstrong nature brought her into contact with fellow chef Dave, who grew tired of being bossed around by her over the course of the season.
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Things came to a head after the very first Restaurant War, where Dave lost his patience with Tiffani and uttered his most famous line. To her credit, Tiffani took the insult squarely on the chin and has seemed to soften in recent years.
Heather VS. Beverly (Top Chef: Texas)
While fights on Top Chef had gotten ugly in the past, Top Chef: Texas took a turn for the worst when a contestant started to be racist against another competitor. Contestant Heather led a multi-episode campaign against fellow chef Beverly, degrading her over her specialization in Asian food. Viewers were horrified by Heather's relentless behavior, which drove Beverly to tears onscreen. To make matters worse, Heather refused to apologize during the reunion.
Beverly hasn't let the racist harassment from her competitors get to her. After winning Last Chance Kitchen and finishing the season in fourth place, Beverly opened an award-winning restaurant and organized the fundraiser 'Dough Something' to fight against anti-Asian racism.
Marcel VS. Elia, Ilan, Cliff, And Sam (Top Chef: Los Angeles)
Throughout season two of Top Chef, tension has been brewing between eventual finalist Marcel Vigneron and his fellow chefs. Things boiled over one episode before the finals when his fellow competitors got drunk and decided to shave their heads. The situation escalated when fellow chef Cliff tackled Marcel to the ground in an act of physical assault.
Tom Colicchio, outraged and disturbed by the actions of the chefs, later wrote on his blog that if the producers hadn't stepped in, he would have crowned Marcel the winner by default. Cliff's actions hung a dark cloud over Top Chef's second season and ultimately disqualified him from the competition.