Top Chef Season 23 Finale Recap

Top Chef Season 23 Finale Recap

From We Know Top Chef by RHAP Judges Table

June 12, 2026 · 1h 23m

About this episode

The episode recaps the finale of Top Chef Season 23, highlighting the chefs' strategies and emotional moments during their final challenge.

Top Chef Season 23 Finale Recap Top Chef season 23 comes to a close as Haley Strong, Curt Clark, and Chef Jim Smith break down the finale in the Carolinas. With the finalists tasked to create a four-course progressive meal, the hosts spotlight clever strategies, unique menu choices, and surprising emotional moments. They examine how chefs honor their roots and mentors, navigate vague theming, and tackle high-stakes technical challenges in the kitchen. The hosts analyze how the “toast to someone or something” requirement shapes each chef’s menu, from Rhoda’s California-inspired sweet potato and uni opener to Sherry’s ambitious multi-component dishes. They dig into the logistics and fairness of judging four-course meals course-by-course versus as a whole, with Chef Jim Smith offering firsthand insights from his own Top Chef finale experience. Stories behind each dish come to life, such as Lawrence’s Chinatown duck homage and the impact of family visits that bring everyone—including listeners—to tears. Rhoda’s bold choice to skip dessert and serve a rich Filipino-inspired calderetta stirs debate on menu strategy and finale traditions. Sherry’s complex, ingredient-heavy dishes spark…

People in this episode

Hosts: Haley Strong, Curt Clark, Chef Jim Smith

Topics covered

  • Top Chef
  • finale recap
  • cooking strategies
  • emotional moments
  • judging logistics
  • menu choices

Keywords

  • Top Chef
  • season 23
  • finale
  • cooking
  • judging
  • menu
  • emotional moments
  • strategies

Mentioned in this episode

Products: kanji, ice cream

Places: Carolinas, California

More episodes of We Know Top Chef

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the We Know Top Chef podcast page.