‘Top Chef’ Host Kristen Kish Plans Memoir

Little, Brown and Company has announced the planned publication of Accidentally On Purpose, the debut memoir by award-winning chef, restaurateur, and Top Chef host Kristen Kish.

The book will be published in hardcover on April 22, 2025. Vivian Lee, senior editor at Little, Brown, acquired North American rights from Kimberly Witherspoon of Inkwell Management.

In her memoir, Kish offers readers an intimate look into her life, detailing the unexpected journey that took her from her childhood as a Korean adoptee in the Midwest to the season 10 winner (and current Emmy-nominated host) of Top Chef. She chronicles the consequential path that led her to finding purpose in the kitchen, coming out in her adult years, and navigating life in the spotlight – all while learning the joy in charting her own nonlinear course.

 “Everyone has their own path — there’s no direct route or right way to do things,” Kish said. I hope my story resonates with people. It’s not just a book about being a chef and a TV personality; it’s a book about life, lessons learned, love and accidentally finding purpose.”

Kish was born in South Korea and adopted into a family in Kentwood, MI. At a young age, she showed an affinity for cooking, and prompted by her mother, attended Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago. After culinary school, Kish spent almost a decade working in several high-profile restaurants, ultimately becoming the Chef de Cuisine at a Relais & Chateaux property.

From 2012-2013, Kish competed on Bravo’s Top Chef season 10, where she ultimately won the coveted title. From there, she went on to co-host 36 Hours, a Travel Channel show that partnered with the New York Times to bring the hit newspaper column of the same name to television.

In October 2017, Kish released her first cookbook, Kristen Kish Cooking: Recipes and Techniques and in 2018 she partnered with LINE Hotels to launch her first restaurant, Arlo Grey in Austin, TX. The restaurant reflects Kristen’s playful yet refined cuisine, pulling inspiration from her classical training as well as nostalgic dishes that highlights her upbringing and love of travel.

In 2023, Kish became the new host of Bravo’s Top Chef for its 21st season. A true full circle moment, rejoining the Top Chef family on air a full 10 years later. She also is the co-star of Fast Foodies (truTV/Food Network), a co-host of Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend (Netflix) and the host and producer of Restaurants at the End of the World (National Geographic/Disney+).

The book’s official site can be found here.