The kitchen is heating up on ‘Top Chef VIP 4’! We’re in the final week, and the race to crown the ultimate chef is on. Two contestants have already earned their spots in the semifinals. These culinary stars are Mexican actress Lorena Herrera and Spanish journalist Cristina Porta. Cristina just got her ticket to the next round, picked by the judges during Monday’s episode.
Soon, two more celebrities will join them in the semifinals. This means three other hopefuls will pack their bags and leave the show. The pressure is really on!
Still battling for those final spots are Salvador Zerboni, Angélica Celaya, Matías Ochoa, Yany Prado, and Paco Pizaña. They are all hoping to make it to the grand finale, set for October 6th. Interestingly, a new season of ‘La Isla: Desafío Extremo’ will kick off the very next day, October 7th.
Cristina Porta was brief but grateful when she celebrated her big win. She thanked the judges for choosing her. Meanwhile, her friend Paco Pizaña said he feels like half the work for the semifinals is done. He added, “Now the other 50% is left, which is to qualify myself.” It seems he has a clear strategy.
Juan Soler’s Exit and Who Else Left ‘Top Chef VIP 4’
Recently, something many viewers already suspected finally aired: Argentine actor Juan Soler officially left the competition. He told his fellow contestants he had to get a "kidney issue" checked out. It was a very emotional moment. Carmen Villalobos and Salvador Zerboni were seen in tears as he shared his decision.
Last week, Juan Soler appeared on the program ‘Sale el Sol’ from Imagen Entretenimiento via video call. He explained what happened, saying, “It’s called burnout; it’s extreme exhaustion, along with not taking good care of myself.”
He also mentioned that doctors praised him for making the best choice, even though he was sad to leave the show.
“Yes, I did go to the hospital. There was a small problem with my kidneys, and everything was taken care of,” he confirmed. “The doctor said it was good that I decided to leave and take care of myself, because it could have gotten worse. It had nothing to do with blocked arteries or pre-heart attacks.” He stressed again that he left the show to put his health first.
Just a few days after news of his exit from ‘Top Chef VIP 4’ became public, Juan Soler looked much calmer. Pictures on his social media showed him smiling. He even traveled to Europe with his partner, looking completely relaxed.
Here’s a look at the contestants who have been eliminated so far, in the order they left:
- Sergio Goyri
- Christopher Vélez
- Karina
- Elvis Crespo (left the competition)
- Sergio Sendel
- Valeria Cuevas (returned)
- Jerry Bazúa
- Hector Sandarti
- Yany Prado (left the competition and returned)
- Norkys Batista
- Nicole Curiel
- Celinee Santos
- Paco Pizaña (returned)
- CurvyZelma
- Valeria Cuevas (eliminated a second time)
- Juan Soler (left the competition)
The winner of this fourth season will not only earn bragging rights for conquering the show’s kitchens. They will also take home a huge prize of $200,000!
You can catch ‘Top Chef VIP 4’ every Sunday through Friday. It airs at 7:00 pm ET / 6:00 pm CT on Telemundo. If you prefer streaming, it’s also available live on Telemundo’s app and Peacock.