‘Top Chef’ 2021: Meet The Season 18 Contestants [PHOTOS]

A new crop of chefs is ready to make their mark and take home a “Top Chef” title.

Bravo’s hit reality-tv competition “Top Chef” returns tonight for Season 18, which filmed in Portland, Oregon, and will feature 15 competitors competing in a wide variety of challenges. According to a press release, among them will be celebrating PDX’s Pan-African cuisine, feeding hundreds of frontline workers and crabbing on the Oregon Coast in tribute to James Beard.

Joining host Padma Lakshmi and judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons will also be, for the first time ever, a collection of former all-star winners, finalists and favorites, who will serve as a rotating judging and dining panel.

Get to know the 15 new chefs below:

Brittanny Anderson

Anderson, of Richmond, Virginia, is a two-time James Beard Award semi-finalist for the Best Chef Mid-Atlantic, and is the Chef and Co-Owner of Richmond’s Metzger Bar and Butchery, Brenner Pass and Black Lodge, as well as Washington D.C.’s Leni.

Avishar Barua

Barua, of Columbus, Ohio, is the Executive Chef and GM of Service Bar, and is known for his dish, the Cheesy Brisket Crunch.

Dawn Burrell

Burrell, a Philadelphia Native who competed for U.S. Women’s Track and Field in the 2000 Olympic Games, now resides in Houston and is the Partner/Executive Chef of Lucille’s Hospitality Group. She was also a James Beard nominee for Best Chef: Texas in 2020.

Gabe Erales

Erales, an El Paso, Texas native who previously served as Executive Chef of Comedor Restaurant in Austin, is currently working on a new restaurant concept.

Nelson German

German, a New York native who currently lives in Oakland, California and is the Executive Chef/Owner of alaMar Kitchen and Sobre Mesa Afro-Latino cocktail lounge.

Byron Gomez

Gomez, a Central Islip, New York native currently lives in Aspen, Colorado and works as an Executive Chef at 7908.

Sasha Grumman

Grumman, a Newport Beach, California native currently living in Houston, formerly worked as an Executive Chef at Rosalie Italian Soul and worked as Chef de Cuisine at “Top Chef” alum Bruce Kalman’s Los Angeles restaurant Union. She currently is working on starting a focaccia business.

Roscoe Hall

Hall, a Chicago native, currently lives in Birmingham, Alabama, and works as a culinary director for Post Office Pies. He is also working on an art exhibition.

Sara Hauman

Hauman, a Vista California native, currently lives in Portland and works as the Head Chef at Soter Vineyards. She was also a James Beard semi-finalist Rising Star Chef honoree in 2016 and 2017.

Kiki Louya

Louya, a Detroit native, previously worked as a Chef/Owner of Detroit’s Folk & The Farmer’s Hand restaurants before stepping down in March 2020. She was also named as one of “16 Black Chefs Changing Food in America” by the New York Times.

Maria Mazon

Mazon, a Tucson, Arizona native is the Executive Chef/Owner of BOCA Tacos y Tequila. In 2020, she was a James Beard Award semi-finalist for the Best Chef in the Southwest Region.

Shota Nakajima

Nakajima, a Seattle Native, is the Chef/Owner of Taku and has been a James Beard Award semi-finalist for three years in a row.

Gabriel Pascuzzi

Pascuzzi, a Portland native, is the Chef/Owner of Mama Bird, Feel Good and Stacked Sandwich Shop restaurants.

Jamie Tran

Tran, a Stockton, California native, now works as the Chef/Owner of The Black Sheep in Las Vegas.

Chris Viaud

Viaud, a Randolph, Massachusetts native, is the Chef/Owner of both Greenleaf Restaurant and Culture Scratch Bakery. He lives in Milford, New Hampshire.

“Top Chef” Season 18 premieres Thursday, April 1, at 8 p.m. EDT on Bravo.