Kristen Kish didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming the first woman of color to win Top Chef—or of one day hosting the show. She grew up in the Midwest as a Korean adoptee and those wins hadn’t crossed her radar. But with a little luck—and a lot of support—she got there. Listen as Kristen shares how one mentor changed everything by challenging her to think beyond day-to-day dinner service and chase a career she never thought was possible.
In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Kristen shares:
Who’s cooking she loves the most (chefs, they’re just like us)
The one woman who helped Kristen unlock her potential
What changed when she went from being a relatively broke chef to winning Top Chef
How she confronted her ego when writing her memoir, Accidentally On Purpose
In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Kristen shares:
On Unlocking Her Actual Passion
Kristen: When I remember the feeling of what it was like to be in school, that's when I say it wasn't for me personally. However, culinary school – I felt a confidence that I hadn't felt before. I felt hope that I hadn't felt before…as it came to skill and talent, I didn't feel like I had to try so hard to be good at it. And I think that inherently will just drive a lot of confidence moving forward for a young person or a 41-year-old like myself now.
On What Happened When She Joined a Woman-Led Kitchen
Kristen: At that time in my life, I hadn't had anyone champion me beyond what my job was in the role that I was, whether that be the cook or line cook or whatever. Barbara saw something in me that allowed me to dream of a future beyond whatever or whenever I left. She was preparing me for a future. The first restaurant I worked for her in was a restaurant that I didn't actually work for her. She owned the company…and so it wasn't like she was there leading me every step of the way, but when my interactions with her were always getting me to think better of myself, believe bigger things for myself, and ultimately present me with opportunities that allowed me to exercise. All those things that she was encouraging me to do – Top Chef – I wouldn't have done it without her. If she did not push me to do it, I would have never done it on my own.
On Being Forced to Drop Her Ego
Kristen: I got out of culinary school and I was like, I earned this job. I have a degree. I can be a chef. I know how to lead a restaurant. I know how to cook great food. I didn't know anything. I knew nothing about any of it. And the ego part that got in my way was thinking that I could just skip up to the top. I’m a good cook, I know what I'm doing. But I hadn't learned leadership skills in order to deploy all those skills in a really good way. And so it's easier now to say, drop the ego now that I've learned what it feels like and what can happen when you do that. But at the moment it's tough. It's a tall order because sometimes ego's protecting your pride. Ego's protecting insecurities. Ego is protecting a lot of things that keep you safe or make you feel like you're safe.
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