Taste Maker

This month, Top Chef takes over Toronto for the first time. Gail Simmons-gourmand, author and long-time judgehas a few things to say about her homecoming

- COURTNEY SHEA

Bravo's Top Chef has toured dozens of American cities over its 20-odd years on air, but never Canada. Why now?

Actually, we briefly visited Vancouver and Whistler in season nine, but this time we're in Canada for the full season. And why not? We go wherever there's good food, and that's definitely true of Toronto and the rest of the country, now more than ever-though I could have made that statement five years ago. Lots of Americans know Toronto, but they're still catching up with its food scene.

You grew up in Forest Hill. Did your Toronto roots play into the team's choice of city?

There was already reason enough to come, but once Toronto was confirmed, I started sharing great locations, chefs and guest judges with the team. I promise: Toronto is going to look beautiful. So many food shows shoot in the same studio from one episode to the next, but Top Chef puts its locations centre stage. They're our secret weapon. We want to show off each city's culinary history, local ingredients and restaurants.

Any other secret weapons? Most shows don't last two seasons, let alone 20.