Like any other show, in Top Chef as well, contestants try hard to win the coveted winner title. But the same took a drastic turn for one particular participant in Season 22 of the show, whose dream to win the show ended before it truly started. It was Mimi Weissenborn who entered the show in full anticipation, but the critique she got for her food is why Top Chef remains one of the most unforgiving shows on television.
She got such brutal feedback that might be impossible to recover from. In the season premiere, her food was compared to hospital food, and it’s safe to say that she got her fate sealed even before she got to showcase her talent.
Can Mimi Weissenborn ever recover from the criticism she got on Top Chef?
Top Chef is back for Season 22 with host Kristen Kish. While fans have been loving her unique energy on the show, another contestant quickly captured their attention in the season premiere. The show kicked off with high energy and intense competition, but for Mimi Weissenborn, this journey ended almost as quickly as it began. All the participating chefs were thrown into an intense challenge and had to select ingredients from the pantry.
They were also left surprised when the judges themselves presented unexpected ingredients for them to cook. Then came the real test—the elimination challenge—where the chefs had to create dishes based on Canada’s five diverse regions. This was their chance to start the show on a strong level by showcasing their best flavors and techniques.
While some definitely managed to impress the judges with their creativity, Mimi Weissenborn found herself in a tough spot. For the challenge, she had cooked grilled pork loin and potato purée with corn beurre monté and peach relish. While the name surely sounded fancy, Judge David Zilber called it “elevated hospital food.”
Apparently, her dish was dry, and the muddy potatoes tasted as if they were made from powder.
This episode also made its way to Reddit, with users detailing their thoughts on the harsh critique.
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She became the first person to leave the show and later admitted via Gold Derby that she “put up a bad representation” of who she was. While winning and losing is part of the game, the critique she got from Zilber will truly stay with her for a long time.
The main reason why Padma Lakshmi left Top Chef
Padma Lakshmi was the proud face of Top Chef for almost two decades but made the decision to leave the show after Season 20. This obviously left fans wondering what exactly led to her departure, and in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she revealed the real reason behind it.
She explained that the demands of constantly tasting multiple dishes throughout each episode began to take a toll on her body. The challenge of eating and digesting so much food in a short period became too much for her, especially as her metabolism changed over time.
Another element that added to her issues was perimenopause, and she joked, “Nobody tells you that about perimenopause,” adding that she practically lived in the gym to maintain her health. Despite the struggles, she remained proud of the impact she had on the show for 20 seasons. Not only that, but she was also proud of the global influence the show has had on others.
While the choice to step away was not an easy one for her, she is ready to start a new chapter in her life. After her departure, Season 10 winner Kristen Kish was brought in to take over hosting duties.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
