Detroit Chef Duo Makes Top Chef History as First Life Partners Competing in Season 23

Jennifer Lee Jackson and Justin Tootla will compete on Season 23 of "Top Chef." This marks the first time the show has featured partners who share a life and co-own a restaurant. The two Detroit chefs join 14 other competitors who'll battle for the $250,000 prize when the season kicks off March 9 on Bravo. 

These two put Metro Detroit on the culinary map back in 2017. That's when Voyager opened its doors in Ferndale—a seafood-forward spot that grabbed attention from critics across the nation. Three years later, Bunny Bunny arrived in Detroit. Critics loved it, even though it launched right when the pandemic hit.

Tootla earned his bachelor's degree in fine arts. He spent years traveling before he fell in love with cooking. Training happened at the Culinary Institute of America, which is where Jackson and Tootla first crossed paths. His externship took him to Le Bernardin in New York—the three-Michelin-starred restaurant known worldwide. After that, kitchens across America became his classroom. He worked under "Top Chef" finalist Kelly Liken out in Colorado, then moved to Eva in Los Angeles. The Midwest called him back. He ran kitchens at Thank You Chinese and Lost Lake in Chicago before settling in Detroit.

Jackson grew up in Georgia. Her passion sparked while she worked at a restaurant during her college years. The chef there became her mentor, which led her to the Culinary Institute of America. New York came next, where she trained under Chef Gabrielle Hamilton. Colorado followed. Then Chicago. Detroit became home after that.

Gilchrist Farm Winery in Suttons Bay brought them on as consultants and co-executive chefs. They've spent recent months traveling and consulting while hunting for a new home for Bunny Bunny. The restaurant popped up at the Shelby—a Downtown Detroit cocktail bar—from Feb. 11 through Feb. 14, taking over the kitchen for four days.

Charlotte, North Carolina, hosts Season 23. Several episodes were filmed in Greenville, South Carolina. Head judge Tom Colicchio returns to the judges' table. Gail Simmons joins him again. Michigan native Kristen Kish—who won Season 10—will serve as host. The cast throws in another twist: identical twin chefs who are also partners, competing against one another.

Peacock streams episodes the day after they air. Michigan has sent several chefs to previous seasons. Season 12 winner Mei Lin hails from Dearborn. Sarah Welch runs Marrow in Detroit and Umbo in Traverse City. James Rigato built his reputation at Mabel Gray.