In the final episode of our season, host Abraham Kim sits down with the incomparable Kristen Kish—chef, television host, and the recipient of the 2024 Council of Korean Americans’ Inspire Award. Kristen takes us on a journey through her distinctly Midwestern childhood as a Korean adoptee, her path into the culinary world, and the pivotal moments and mentors that shaped her along the way. We hear Kristen reflect on her experiences from culinary school, the humbling realities of starting out in the restaurant industry, and her unexpected foray into the media spotlight as a Top Chef winner and now, host. Kristen also opens up about what it means to carve your own Korean American identity, the importance of vulnerability, and how she’s using her national platform to empower others. Kristen Kish is a Korean American chef, television host, and restaurateur known for her remarkable culinary journey and dynamic presence on screen. Born in Seoul and adopted into a family in Michigan, she trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago before rising through the ranks in Boston’s fine dining scene. Kish gained national recognition by winning Season 10 of Top Chef, becoming the second woman to earn the title, and in 2023, she was named the show's new host. She is the chef and partner at Arlo Grey in Austin and has hosted and appeared in a range of popular food and travel shows, including Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend, Restaurants at the End of the World, and Fast Foodies. Her new memoir Accidentally on Purpose was released earlier this year and is an instant New York Times Bestseller.