⁠"Tell my story" — Top Chef Season 22 winner Tristen Epps reveals his reasons for competing 

Tristen Epps faced his biggest test during Top Chef Season 22 filming when his father, Russell Long, passed away. Standing in Milan for the finale, the Houston-based chef carried his father's obituary in his pocket and maintained laser focus on his mission.

"I was in the moment in Milan. We could have been in Detroit for all I cared. It wouldn't have mattered if it were there on the moon. I had a singular focus: I wanted to tell my story, cook my food," Epps revealed.

His determination paid off as he claimed the Season 22 crown, beating fellow finalists Bailey Sullivan from Chicago and Shuai Wang from Charleston. Top Chef challenges professional chefs to compete in high-pressure cooking competitions while being judged by culinary experts. Top Chef has become a launching pad for culinary careers since its 2006 debut.

Epps entered the competition with a clear goal: to elevate Black cuisine and celebrate African and Caribbean diaspora foodways. His father's death during filming transformed his motivation into something deeper, creating a singular drive that ultimately led to victory.

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Tristen Epp’s road to victory on Top Chef

Epps received devastating news while filming in Canada. His stepfather, Russell Long, had died, forcing him to choose between returning home and continuing the competition.

His mother, Patricia Lynch Epps, provided crucial guidance during a late-night phone call from Virginia.

"Make it worth it. Just make it worth it. Make it worth it," she told her son.

Those words became his rallying cry.

"My motivation changed midseason because my father passed away," Epps explained.

Elaborating with genuineness:

"It became a choice of do I go along with what I've been doing? Or do I go back to my family? Ultimately, I chose to stay and double down. I could support my family, honor them, and honor my original goal to compete, all at the same time."

His family waited until filming concluded so he could attend the funeral before flying to Milan for the finale.

The finale challenge required contestants to create a four-course progressive dinner. Epps delivered something extraordinary with his third course that sealed his victory.

He crafted an innovative oxtail Milanese, braising the oxtails and picking the tender meat from the bones. The dish was then formed into the traditional circular Milanese cut shape and served over curry-spiced Carolina rice grits.

The creation merged flavors from West Africa, the Caribbean, and the American South while honoring Milan. The judge and guest critic noted the dish's exceptional combination of technique, flavor layering, and storytelling. Fellow judge Gregory Gourdet showed visible delight at Epps' skill, recognizing a peer whose moment had arrived.

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Tristen's future plans

Epps entered Top Chef with clear intentions beyond winning.

"The only reason why I competed on season 22 was to give validation and format and credibility to my cuisine," he stated.

His culinary mission centers on raising the profile of Black food globally. The competition provided a platform to showcase African and Caribbean diaspora foodways.

Now based in Houston with partner Casey Giltner and their infant son, Epps continues building his culinary empire. He plans to open Buboy, an intimate fine dining restaurant named after his grandfather Ken Lynch's nickname.

The restaurant will celebrate diaspora cuisine, with an oxtail bone serving as its emblem - a fitting symbol for a chef who transformed humble ingredients into victory.

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You can watch Top Chef: Destination Canada Season 22 on Peacock.