‘Top Chef’ head judge Tom Colicchio on Tipping, Female Chefs and More

“Top Chef” head judge Tom Colicchio sat down with Larry King on the multi Emmy-nominated series “Larry King Now” and discussed initially turning down the hit reality show, female chefs, and why he wants to abolish tipping in his restaurants. The six-time James Beard winner revealed the chef he’d trade places with, and his favorite food cities in America.

In this clip, Colicchio explains why, in 2016, there are still fewer women than men running restaurant kitchens, citing childcare and long hours as contributing factors.

“I think it has a lot to do with society in general and what women have to do to have a successful career,” he admits. “Especially, you know, a career that mostly happens at night, and a lot of young women drop out at a certain point and I think if we had a better child care system in this country and we had other ways to support women... I think there’d be more women chefs.” 

Tom Colicchio on the Lack of Female Chefs

The restaurateur is working…