7.2/1032 votes#1 - The Fastest 2 Minutes in Cooking
Season 16 Episode 1 - Aired 12/6/2018
In Kentucky, 15 chefs are off to the races at Churchill Downs for the the ride of their lives; the chefs must make a dish that will appeal to a crowd of 200 at a Kentucky Derby party; Churchill Downs' own chef David Danielson serves as guest judge.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.1/1030 votes
#2 - Bourbon, Barrels and Burgoo
Season 16 Episode 2 - Aired 12/13/2018
A pregnant Gail Simmons asks the chefs to feed her cravings; the chefs head to Makers Mark, the oldest U.S. distillery, to put their spins on a meal full of Kentucky classics, including burgoo, Benedictine, mutton, hoe cakes, and dumplings.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.4/1028 votes
#3 - Naughty and Nice
Season 16 Episode 3 - Aired 12/20/2018
Richard Blais and Brooke Williamson present a Quickfire challenge; chef Eric Ripert sits down with the chefs to enjoy a traditional French Christmas dinner; Padma tells the chefs they're missing the final part of the tradition of Le Revillon de Noel.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.3/1027 votes
#4 - Surprise...It's Restaurant Wars
Season 16 Episode 4 - Aired 12/27/2018
The Restaurant Wars challenge comes early this year; first, the chefs duke it out in an amuse bouche-based Quickfire; with 12 chefs remaining, three restaurants battle for victory; Tom makes an announcement that leaves the chefs breathless.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.2/1026 votes
#5 - Restaurant Wars Part 2
Season 16 Episode 5 - Aired 1/3/2019
The Restaurant Wars causes drama and mayhem; Tom announces a double elimination piling on even more pressure; chefs Karen Akunowicz and Nina Compton join the restaurant crawl along with Nilou Motamed and guest judge Caroline Styne.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 6.9/1026 votes
#6 - Roaring Munchies
Season 16 Episode 6 - Aired 1/10/2019
The chefs walk in on an epic battle of Last Chance Kitchen and are drafted into the fight; once Tom declares a winner, the chefs begin a challenge making dishes based on Prohibition Era cocktails; chef Ken Oringer joins for a Roaring Twenties party.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 6.9/1027 votes
#7 - Carne!
Season 16 Episode 7 - Aired 1/17/2019
Actress Lena Waithe challenges the chefs to make a trademark Kentucky dish known as the Hot Brown; chef Nancy Silverton and butcher Dario Cecchini break down a whole cow for the chefs to utilize along with locally-sourced ingredients.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.4/1027 votes
#8 - Whatever Floats Your Boat
Season 16 Episode 8 - Aired 1/24/2019
For an elimination challenge, the chefs are split into teams and tasked with throwing houseboat parties on Lake Cumberland; chef Emeril Lagasse joins Padma, Tom and Nilou, along with Capts. Sandy and Lee from "Below Deck" for houseboat hysteria.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.2/1024 votes
#9 - Music City Usa
Season 16 Episode 9 - Aired 1/31/2019
The chefs take a road trip to Nashville and cook on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry for country music artist Hunter Hayes. Then, they have to dig deep to create a dish inspired by a vibrant music memory. Next, the chefs work on a plate for a full table of Nashville food and some music personalities, including Caleb Followill, model Lily Aldridge, and Chef Jonathan Waxman.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.2/1024 votes
#10 - Hoop Dreams
Season 16 Episode 10 - Aired 2/7/2019
"Top Chef" alum Ed Lee drops by for a Quickfire that's part trivia, part culinary creativity; Coach John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats host a concession-stand cook-off in Rupp Arena; Food & Wine Editor-in-Chief Hunter Lewis joins the judges.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 6.9/1024 votes
#11 - The Greatest
Season 16 Episode 11 - Aired 2/14/2019
The chefs take a turn at fried chicken; chef Art Smith judges a secret herbs-and-spices blind taste test ahead of the Quickfire fry-off; after the finger-licking goodness, the chefs turn their attention to boxer Muhammad Ali, aka the Louisville Lip.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.3/1022 votes
#12 - Kentucky Farewell
Season 16 Episode 12 - Aired 2/21/2019
Tom ambushes sleeping chefs and challenges them to make a dish using ingredients harvested from their gardens; for the last elimination challenge, the chefs bid on luxury ingredients at a thoroughbred horse auction house.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.2/1024 votes
#13 - Holy Macau!
Season 16 Episode 13 - Aired 2/28/2019
The final five chefs travel to the Chinese territory of Macau; Graham Elliot, who has a restaurant in Macau, introduces the chefs to a market full of fascinating ingredients and challenges; the chefs throw a party celebrating the Chinese New Year.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.5/1026 votes
#14 - The Tao of Macau
Season 16 Episode 14 - Aired 3/7/2019
The final four chefs must cook with the smelly durian fruit; the chefs get a tutorial on the traditional cuisine of Macau; for the elimination challenge, the chefs are tasked with blending their own heritage with Chinese flavors.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.0/1027 votes
#15 - Finale
Season 16 Episode 15 - Aired 3/14/2019
It's the final showdown; the three remaining chefs must create the best four-course meal of their lives; Tom reveals in a twist that only two chefs will get the chance to serve their full menu; only one chef will emerge victorious.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of Top Chef Season 16
Every episode of Top Chef Season 16 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Top Chef Season 16!
An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs and...
Genre:Reality
Network:Bravo
Season 16 Ratings Summary
"The Fastest 2 Minutes in Cooking" is the best rated episode of "Top Chef" season 16. It scored 7.2/10 based on 32 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 12/6/2018. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Bourbon, Barrels and Burgoo".