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Top Chef: these 10 typical profiles we’re sure to find among the contestants

undefined undefined 13 mars 2024 undefined 10h10

undefined undefined 25 mars 2025 undefined 14h27

The Editor

© Top Chef / M6

Like every year, it's the return of our all-time favorite show, and we couldn't be happier! But it's high time we faced the truth: we see the SAME contestants EVERY YEAR… Here are the typical profiles that have become a staple of Top Chef.

It's here, Top Chef is back FINALLY, and nothing could make us happier! But even before we see the new contestants, revealed just a few days ago, in action, we are ready to bet that we will definitely see these must-have profiles again.


1. The Competitor

Well, of course, competition means a contestant ready to crush everything in their path to reach the end. Because yes, they're not here to just win, they’re here to humiliate. And while it might take them a little while to show their true personality, their superior attitude usually ends up getting on our nerves a bit. And we're quite happy to see them get eliminated by the third week (and if possible, crushed by their opponent in the hidden brigade). It goes to show that getting ahead of yourself (or something like that), never pays off.


2. The Perch

This one, on the other hand, you can spot him from the very first seconds. With a slightly dazed look, a work surface buried under a total mess, and explanations that seem to come from outer space in front of the bosses. That’s all it takes to find the one who, throughout the show, will make us laugh until we cry, and will make us want to try any substance that helped him reach the universe he inhabits. He’s a nice guy, a creative soul, sometimes an alien, and strangely, he always manages to pull it off, even with the most unlikely combinations. We love his style, and even though we suspect he won’t make it to the end (lack of technique, what a shame), we can’t help but support him all the same.


3. The Overachiever

If we had to sum up this candidate in a few words, we'd say "the super annoying young gun." You know, the one who's half your age and has already gone through half of the star-studded kitchens in Paris before landing, at just six and a half years old, as a sous-chef at the Ritz. Got it now? Every season has one, and let me tell you, this kid has enormous potential. Just look at Hugo Riboulet, 23 years old, a sous-chef at a Michelin three-star restaurant, who absolutely crushed all the other competitors by winning (with flying colors?) season 14.


4. The Technician

Also known as « the favorite candidate of Philippe Etchebest », who, from the very first episode, can't help but exclaim « Oh, this is my type of candidate, he's solid, I love cooks like that! » (while the candidate in question, on the other hand, just wants to end up at Paul Pairet's). On paper, he seems impressive. He chops carrots at a dizzying speed and can break down a chicken in 6 seconds, clockwork style. Unfortunately for him, the technician is sorely lacking in creativity, in wildness — in pizzazz, as some would say. And that often ends up backfiring on him.


5. The Belgian

Well, since it's a French reality TV show, we absolutely need a representative from that lovely neighboring country. And while they might not have any super recognizable traits (apart from their sometimes questionable humor), you can always spot them by one thing that's hard to hide: their accent. Just for that, they tend to be really likeable candidates that we instantly bond with. You might say it's unfair. Nevertheless, they are generally quite talented and can even pull off the feat of winning the competition (hello Arnaud from season 13!). Hats off to the Belgians!


6. The (perhaps too?) Chill One

Any aficionado of the show will forever remember Adrien Cachot, a prime example of the laid-back contestant, who casually decided to take a break to visit the restroom during the qualification round while the chefs were waiting for him at his workstation. And that pretty much sums up the mindset of this kind. Like the quirky contestant, the laid-back one is characterized by an incredible style and some pretty wacky ideas. On top of that, he shows masterful composure, sometimes bordering on provocation. He’s hated as much as he’s loved, and that's where all his talent lies.


7. The Good Food Lover

It's impossible to overlook this phenomenon. It's the candidate who swears by butter, meat, and all things luscious, whether it’s with wine or beer. Sometimes, this candidate finds themselves completely lost during challenges about vegetables or healthy recipes, and let’s be honest, they're not shy about cracking some cheesy jokes from time to time. It's definitely a unique style that not everyone can get behind (and we can understand that). But hey, it can have its charm, and it adds a little picturesque local flair to the show. Why not?


8. The Burnt-Out Head

With him, it's all or nothing; you either love him or you hate him. He never listens to the chefs' advice, only does things his way, and has just one goal: to provoke as much as possible, to shock and make people react. Think of Arnaud (season 12) and his plate "toilet bowl" (we promise we're not making this up), or Jordan (season 11), who took great pleasure in doing the exact opposite of what Michel Sarran advised him (a little angel who left us too soon, sniff). In short, he’s the annoying one who thinks he’s being clever, whereas it often backfires spectacularly.


9. The Chemist

Also known as the frustrated one in life, who dreamed of being a laboratory technician but unfortunately found himself stuck in the kitchen. He has just one idea in his head: to conduct experiments on the plate. The mashed potatoes should change color, the roast beef should froth up, and the sauce should sizzle in the mouth. But, sadly for him, it's a flop half the time, and what remains on the plate usually isn't enough to save him. He’s also the one who, thanks to molecular cuisine, thinks he’s going to be the first to make celery loved by Hélène Darroze. A lovely dream.


10. The Sensitive One

In every new episode, we get a spotlight on this contestant, as each dish reminds them of their mom, their sister, their second-grade teacher, or the cousin of their neighbor's nephew's baker. And even though we empathize with their often very touching stories, we admit that we'd rather the show was 30 minutes shorter, or that we could see them cook a bit more instead of spending ages listening to what sometimes feels more like whining than anything else. It's not that we lack heart, don't get us wrong, but food is more important than everything.