“I had lost 13 kilos on set”: Top Chef is also a physical test, Stéphanie Le Quellec testifies to this

Wednesday March 13 saw the long-awaited return of the Top Chef show. A season which promises to be rich in twists and turns and for good reason the program is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. It was therefore necessary to mark the occasion.

For this, nothing better than shaking up the teams. From now on, there will only be two brigades: the gray ones led by Paul Pairet, Philippe Etchebest and Glenn Viel and the orange ones led by Hélène Darroze accompanied by two new leaders: Dominique Crenn and Stéphanie Le Quellec. The latter, winner of season 2, therefore moves to the other side of the bar. She takes her place not as a candidate, but as a member of the jury, in order to complete the circle. A real advantage for her. She spoke about this new adventure and her participation in the program 10 years ago.

Now double starred, Stéphanie Le Quellec was discovered by the public during her participation in season 2 of Top Chef. The boss will have the advantage of understanding the candidates and will be able to support them in the face of this challenge that presents themselves to them. She herself had been tested by this major challenge, she confided in an interview with Leisure TV : “Top Chef is a very difficult competition. It’s extremely physical. Thirteen years ago, I lost 13 kilos on set. I would have liked to do the same this year, but it doesn’t work as well when you is sworn”.

Despite the pressure, the chef recognizes that the show is a real springboard and a particularly fulfilling experience both professionally and personally: “Top Chef was very disinhibiting. Today, I’ve changed, but I’m formerly shy. When I was younger, I wasn’t very sure of myself. The only place where I was, it was in a kitchen. […] Top Chef shook up who I was. It allowed me to discover myself, to see that we could open up to the world. It changed my life.”

So, being a former candidate is a real asset for Stéphanie Le Quellec. Among the jury, she is the one who is best able to understand all the cooks: “I know exactly what they might be feeling, the state they are in physically and mentally.”

All the candidates say it, Top Chef is an intense experience. Like chef Le Quellec, Danny Khezzar also spoke about his adventure: “In one day, I recorded three shows, from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. I was already not very fat, but I lost 5 kilos”. Just goes to show that the Top Chef adventure is sport!