Kristen Kish headlines 'Top Chef' as host

Top Chef's season 10 winner Kristen Kish will be the new culinary competition host as the long-serving judge Padma Lakshmi made her way out.

NBC reports that the 39-year-old will join Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons on the  table for season 21.

The Seoul native said, "Top Chef' is where I started my journey — first as a competing chef, then a guest judge, and now as host, I have the honor of helping to continue to build this brand."

"I'm thrilled to sit alongside Gail and Tom as we get to know new incredible chefs and see what they cook up. It feels like coming home," Kish said.

The top executive of NBCUniversal, Ryan Flynn, also heaped praise on the chef, saying, "She's an acclaimed chef and her experience as a cheftestant, winner and judge, alongside her culinary curiosity, makes Kristen the perfect host for the next chapter of 'Top Chef' as we take on a new region of the country we haven't explored."