Top Chef’s Judges Reveal Guest Judge Michael Cera Wore a Wool Suit in 102-Degree Heat: ‘He Was Melting’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Michael Cera; (L-R) Kristen Kish, Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons in ‘Top Chef’.Photo:Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty; David Moir/Bravo via Getty

Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty; David Moir/Bravo via Getty

Michael Cerabraved the heat forTop Chef.The cooking competition show is returning for its 22nd season with hostKristen Kishand long-standing judgesTom ColicchioandGail Simmons, all of whom opened up to PEOPLE in an exclusive interview about one of their celebrity guest judges.Notable Canadian actors Cera andSarah Levyhave been announced to make appearances in the upcoming season, which takes place in Canada and will celebrate the local cuisine.On the day theAdultsstar, 36, was on set, it was “about 102 degrees” Fahrenheit, per Colicchio. The judge continues to tell PEOPLE, “And we were outside with no shade. He was melting. He played it pretty cool.“Kish adds that Cera was “wearing a wool suit” during production, to which Colicchio says, “We were dying."“He was pretty awesome,” Simmons says of the guest judge. “I guess, what we also didn’t realize is that he was a super fan. He was as excited to eat the food as us.“Michael Cera as a guest judge on ‘Top Chef’ season 22.BravoThe judge adds that Cera’s episode is “pretty early on in the season,” which worked out well for the actor for a particular reason. Simmons says Cera told them on set, “I wanted to come as early as possible because I wanted to taste as much food as I could. I’m so curious to taste all the dishes. I didn’t want to be in the finale, because then I’d only taste from three different chefs. I wanted to taste as many chefs as possible.“To Cera’s reveal, Simmons tells PEOPLE, “I sort of love that energy.“Top Chef, which first premiered on Bravo on March 2006, follows a group of chefs as they compete against each other in various culinary challenges. The contestants are judged each round and are eliminated until the final chef is chosen.(L-R) Kristen Kish, Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons on ‘Top Chef’.David Moir/BravoNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.PerBravo, the winner of the new season will receive $250,000, a $125,000 flight credit for Delta Air Lines, a feature inFood & Wineand an appearance at theFood & WineClassic in Aspen. For the first time ever, the wining chef will also headline a dinner at the James Beard House in New York City and present at the foundation’s chef awards in Chicago.The judges and hostalso spoke with PEOPLEabout the season taking place in the Great White North. Simmons, who was born in Toronto, called it “an amazing homecoming.““It was sort of this ‘worlds colliding’ moment of my Top Chef family and my actual, real family, like my brother, and his kids, and my parents all hanging out in one room, which was pretty awesome,” said Simmons, who also serves as guest editor ofFood & Wine’s all-Canada digital issue.“But also just to see how much Canada has changed,” she added. “Toronto, where we were based for most of the season, how much it’s grown, how much great food there is, diversity, how it just really welcomed us. And also I think it gave the show overall just like a fresh new feel.”

Michael Cerabraved the heat forTop Chef.

The cooking competition show is returning for its 22nd season with hostKristen Kishand long-standing judgesTom ColicchioandGail Simmons, all of whom opened up to PEOPLE in an exclusive interview about one of their celebrity guest judges.

Notable Canadian actors Cera andSarah Levyhave been announced to make appearances in the upcoming season, which takes place in Canada and will celebrate the local cuisine.

On the day theAdultsstar, 36, was on set, it was “about 102 degrees” Fahrenheit, per Colicchio. The judge continues to tell PEOPLE, “And we were outside with no shade. He was melting. He played it pretty cool.”

Kish adds that Cera was “wearing a wool suit” during production, to which Colicchio says, “We were dying.”

“He was pretty awesome,” Simmons says of the guest judge. “I guess, what we also didn’t realize is that he was a super fan. He was as excited to eat the food as us.”

Michael Cera as a guest judge on ‘Top Chef’ season 22.Bravo

Bravo

The judge adds that Cera’s episode is “pretty early on in the season,” which worked out well for the actor for a particular reason. Simmons says Cera told them on set, “I wanted to come as early as possible because I wanted to taste as much food as I could. I’m so curious to taste all the dishes. I didn’t want to be in the finale, because then I’d only taste from three different chefs. I wanted to taste as many chefs as possible.”

To Cera’s reveal, Simmons tells PEOPLE, “I sort of love that energy.”

Top Chef, which first premiered on Bravo on March 2006, follows a group of chefs as they compete against each other in various culinary challenges. The contestants are judged each round and are eliminated until the final chef is chosen.

(L-R) Kristen Kish, Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons on ‘Top Chef’.David Moir/Bravo

David Moir/Bravo

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

PerBravo, the winner of the new season will receive $250,000, a $125,000 flight credit for Delta Air Lines, a feature inFood & Wineand an appearance at theFood & WineClassic in Aspen. For the first time ever, the wining chef will also headline a dinner at the James Beard House in New York City and present at the foundation’s chef awards in Chicago.

The judges and hostalso spoke with PEOPLEabout the season taking place in the Great White North. Simmons, who was born in Toronto, called it “an amazing homecoming.”

“It was sort of this ‘worlds colliding’ moment of my Top Chef family and my actual, real family, like my brother, and his kids, and my parents all hanging out in one room, which was pretty awesome,” said Simmons, who also serves as guest editor ofFood & Wine’s all-Canada digital issue.

“But also just to see how much Canada has changed,” she added. “Toronto, where we were based for most of the season, how much it’s grown, how much great food there is, diversity, how it just really welcomed us. And also I think it gave the show overall just like a fresh new feel.”

source: people.com