Accidentally on Purpose

Accidentally on Purpose dives into Kristen Kish's childhood as a Korean adoptee in the Midwest, finding purpose in kitchens, and becoming the season 10 winner of--and now host--of Top Chef all the while navigating life in the spotlight, coming out in her adult years, and all the life lessons in between.

Kristen Kish never set out to live a public life--not when she was a carefree softball-tossing kid, not in high school working at a pretzel stand, not even, briefly, as a working model. And definitely not when she finally landed her true calling as a chef. But in those early days, becoming a chef meant tethering oneself to a restaurant, not a television set. But it happened naturally (or as naturally as possible, given all the technology and TV magic involved), even if it was totally unanticipated.

Of course, like most things in life, the road to this full circle moment--from Top Chef season 10 winner to now hosting--was so much more winding and complicated than it may have appeared from the outside. From growing up as an adoptee in the Midwest, to trying to fit in with all the other girls who were busy dating boys, to coming out and finding love when she least expected it, Kristen learned that, unlike a map, no set of plans or definitions can dictate or explain a life. In fact, accidents happen. That curveballs will come. And they will often be consequential to one's path.

In Accidentally on Purpose, what defines Kristen's story aren't the missteps or even the pleasant surprises that crop up. It's how to respond when they do, and the decisions made at those intersections. Because while accidents may be unexpected, they don't have to be at odds with purpose. And as Kristen approaches life's milestones, big and small, with intention--the ones she expected, and those she didn't--she realizes she can write her own definitions and chart her own course.

Kristen 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, Kristen spent the next ten years in Boston honing her skills in several high-profile restaurants, ultimately becoming the Chef de Cuisine at a Relais & Chateaux property. From 2012 - 2013, Kristen 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, Kristen 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, Kristen 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. Kristen 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+).

• Publisher: Little Brown and Company
  Publish Date: April 22, 2025
  Pages: 368
  Dimensions: 0.0 X 0.0 X 0.0 inches | 0.0 pounds
  Language: English
  Type: Hardcover
  EAN/UPC: 9780316580915
  BISAC Categories: Cultural, Ethnic & Regional - Asian & Asian American - LGBT - Media Tie-In