Top Chef: Kentucky episode 9 preview: The Grand Ole Opry and more

On Thursday night’s Top Chef: Kentucky episode 9, you’re going to be heading from the title state to a nearby neighbor in Tennessee. Why is that? This is an opportunity for the remaining chefs to visit Music City! Nashville is the perfect spot for a Top Chef challenge, mostly because we do think that there’s a relationship between food and music. Both require a great deal of creative energy and, beyond that, Nashville has a very-active food scene. It has some similar elements to Kentucky, while also bringing to you a lot of distinctive southern flavor of its own. It’s a hotbed of so many great food cultures rolled into one specific place.

Want a few more details as to what’s coming on Top Chef: Kentucky episode 9? Then CarterMatt has the official synopsis below:

The chefs take a roadtrip to Nashville and have the honor of cooking on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry for country music sensation Hunter Hayes. Then they have to dig deep to create a dish inspired by a vibrant music memory. It’s a personal and emotional cook as the chefs put their hearts on a plate for a full table of Nashville food and music giants including Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill, model Lily Aldridge, and Chef Jonathan Waxman.

Of course, the Grand Ole Opry is going to make for a great setting for a challenge just as much as Nashville is as a whole — this is one of the most-iconic concert venues in the entire country. There’s so much history there and this is a chance for some of the remaining contestants to impart a little bit of food history in there, as well. In the sneak peek below, you can get a little bit of a sense as to what’s coming up here, mostly notable as some of these contestants make a dish inspired by some of their best music memories. We’re being super-positive about everything within this article, but at the same time, it’s merited. There just aren’t all that many opportunities to really see this sort of creative, personal expression on this show. It’s not about replicating an individual dish or style of cooking. It’s instead more about getting to see these contestants open up their hearts and bringing something new and exciting to the table.

Before we go, one more thing: Rest in peace, Fatima Ali. You’ll be very much missed. Her passing over the past few days has hit the community hard and we hope the show honors her directly soon.

Feel free to share your expectations for this episode of Top Chef: Kentucky in the comments; meanwhile, stay tuned for some other updates. (Photo: Bravo.)